Meet Alyssa Perry | Owner and Principal Photographer at Alyssa Morgan Photography

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Perry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance, to me, doesn’t exist. At least not the way we think of it, with set work hours and off days. And that’s not because I believe in a 24/7 hustle; quite the opposite actually. I think entrepreneurs – especially those of us with kids – live in a constant state of flux. Some days, sure, I’m in my office until midnight, eyes bloodshot, considering sleeping under my desk. But other days, I don’t even look at my inbox.

Over the past few years, I’ve just found a way to work that fits into my life, not the other way around. I never want to look back at my life and wish I hadn’t worked so much. Because after all, didn’t we decide to own our own businesses so we could actually LIVE the life we want to?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started this business in 2012, just before I graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in elementary education. I started it out of grief, to be honest. My mom had just suffered from a traumatic brain injury, and photography had always been my outlet. I needed a distraction, and this seemed like the next logical step. Little did I know, It would turn into a successful career! By 2014, I had quit my full time job and making 6 figures.

After a rough breakup in 2016,I moved back home, across the state. It was difficult, traveling back and forth for previously booked gigs, trying to establish my business in a new place, and just licking my wounds. But fate had it’s own plan, and I met my future husband that same year. My business took off.

In 2018, I took a brief hiatus when I had my first son. People tell you parenthood is hard, but man…I was not prepared to run a full time business and raise a child. But my husband and I were determined and we just made it work. Literally, working opposite schedules so we could save money on childcare. We hardly ever saw each other. In 2020, we welcomed a second son, in the middle of the pandemic.

The pandemic is actually what propelled my business, believe it or not. I was supposed to be on maternity leave, but I was fielding emails from couples that were watching their wedding dreams crumble by the second. And I made a big pivot. I started offering smaller scale collections for elopements and mini-monies (small weddings over under 20 people). I added three photographers to my team to take on all the business that was coming in. We ended up photographing about 50 weddings in 2020. In 2021, we raised our collection prices, focused on growing the team, and did over $300k in business. In just one year!

The biggest lesson I learned through each and every change is to jut let the waves come. You can’t stop life from happening, You just have to take stock in what you have going for you and adjust accordingly.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Down here in the Keys, we’re all about relaxing with a drink in hand, enjoying some killer food. Some of my favorite spots to do that are Bongo’s Botanical Garden in Grassy Key (think tropical backyard oasis with all the beer you can drink), Mahina at Isla Bella Beach Resort in Marathon, and The Hideaway Cafe.

For the best people watching, nothing beats Duval Street in Key West on a Saturday night, especially during Spring Break. People seem to lose sense of gravity after doing the Duval Crawl.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Without a doubt in my mind, I’d be lost without the support of my family and friends. I feel like that’s everyone’s go to answer, and it kind of feels like a cop out, but honestly…my husband shares every post I make on Instagram. He follows our shared calendar like a religion. My dad gives my number to people he meets around town when he hears they are getting married. My mom bought me my first camera and editing software. My sister was my first ‘model’ when we were kids. I would not be as successful as I am today with out each and every one of them!

Website: alyssamorganphotography.com

Instagram: instagram.com/alyssamorganphotography

Facebook: facebook.com/alyssamorganphotography

Image Credits
The headshot image (Alyssa 009, I believe) was taken by Ashley Steeby Photography. The rest are all mine, Alyssa Morgan Photography.