Hollimon Photography was started by photographer Alissa Hollimon. Alissa is a freelance photographer who has many clients that she works with. She is the corporate photographer for Zachry Group, a worldwide construction and engineering company. She shoots their various projects throughout the U.S. Alissa helps cover events for Getty Images, which is a worldwide wire service. Alissa also has had the opportunity to work for the NBA (yes basketball) Alissa has a wedding photography business, Blind Apple Weddings, with fellow Aggie and photographer friend, Aaron Cave.
Alissa strongly believes in giving back and spends time shooting humanitarian aid photography and helping various aid and governmental organizations. She has traveled quite extensively for some of her clients such as Doctors Without Borders, CURE Clinic, ALARM, The United Nations, and Compassion International. In 2008 Alissa spent 5 months living in Africa working on a photography book documenting the lives of orphan and vulnerable children. The book is currently being designed and will be published. All proceeds from the book sales will be going back to the kids in Africa that she worked with. Alissa has a huge heart for Africa and has started her own non-profit, Arise Africa, which helps children through providing feeding programs, education, and spiritual development.
On a lighter note here are some random and insightful facts from Alissa:
1. I started the business Hollimon Photo fresh from college in 2005 and knew I would either sink or swim, by the grace of God, I guess I’m swimming! Now having Blind Apple Weddings too, is so much fun.
2. I love shooting all sorts of things but where I feel most “in my element” would have to be in Africa working with humanitarian aid organizations.
3. I am on an airplane an average of 2 to 3 days a week. Southwest Airlines and I are BFF! I was just allowed to add a “companion buddy pass” because I have flown over 50 roundtrip flights in one year. That is not counting all the other airlines I fly or the 6 weeks I was in Africa.
4. My work consists mainly of corporate clients, the NBA (yes basketball), and weddings domestically. Internationally I work with many governmental and aid organizations.
5. Working Blind Apple Weddings with Aaron is really cool! I can’t decide if it is work yet because we have ALOT of fun and Aaron is so talented! Aaron’s wife and I went to college together, and are still close friends.
6. I love Jesus and have been a believer since middle school.
7. I love Canon and have been a loyal user since I started photography.
8. The most exhilirating photo shoot I have ever done was shooting the NBA finals in San Antonio for the Spurs. Getting to be so young and work with amazing and incredible photographers was really awesome.
9. I am all about continued education, and have had great mentors along the way. This job is too hard to try to do it solo, you have to have a photography community around you. The greatest mentor to me has been Clarke Evans, Spurs NBA photographer.
10. I love getting to be creative in my work and am always looking for the next idea. I can get inspired by just about anything!
11. My most favorite piece of clothing I own are my custom made cowboy boots, if my house were on fire I would grab them and run, leaving all those fancy dresses behind!
12. The favorite part of a wedding for me is the cake, not gonna lie!
13. A few months ago I was on a shoot in Africa and was working in refugee camps and got a tapeworm. My checked in luggage on the airplane never arrived so for a month I only had a pair of jeans and two shirts and all my cameras and computer. That was a bummer. But God used it to show me that the people I was working with literally lived everyday like I was having to.
14. I collect old cameras, and my favorite one I got for my birthday a few years ago from my mom and dad and it is a Graflex Speedgun.
15. Friends, music, good food, and wine on my back porch is my idea of a perfect Friday night.
16. I grew up in San Antonio, Texas and Mexican food is very dear to my heart, few places can make it the right way! I have been known to be a bit of a food snob about this.
17. A cool part about my job is all the people I get to interact with, I love talking to brides and families and corporate clients or folks from other countries! It is fun to collaborate together no matter what type of photo shoot it is.
18. The most stressful part of shooting a wedding for me is the time between the ceremony and reception when we are doing all the family photos! I have a list we go by and you have to stick to it! I also have a very loud voice and can direct the masses if needed, Aaron loves letting me take control of this time!
19. I have a Chocolate Lab, Ella, and she is sleeping at my feet right now. She is a raging codependant and doesn’t leave my side when I am at home. I love it.
20. God has led me on a pretty sweet road that we call life. It has its bumps but I always try to look to Him.
