Today we’d like to introduce you to Schyler Anderson.
Schyler, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was younger, I always had a camera with me. I was photographing Everything; family trips, friends, nature, animals, anything I could find. Those images were terrible. I wouldn’t want to show them to anyone today, but that’s how photography starts.
“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” ― Henri Cartier-Bresson
It didn’t take long for me to outgrow my small point and shoot (Nikon L110). My birthday is in December, so in 2012 I collected all of my Birthday and Christmas gifts then rushed to return them all so I could have enough money to get my first DSLR. It wasn’t anything fancy, only a crop-sensor consumer level camera (Canon Eos Rebel T3i).
With this set up, I began taking small paid jobs here and there. I got started with cosplay at conventions like Phoenix Comicon. At that time I was still in high-school and a lot of my friends were very into cosplaying. I didn’t enjoy cosplaying that much, but I still wanted to be able to fit into the group and hangout at conventions. That’s when it clicked, no pun intended ;). Cosplayers I had never met started coming to me and saying they’ve seen my work and asking how much I charged. I started booking convention photoshoots as well as location photoshoots for cosplay, and before I knew it I was entirely booked!
My next big purchase came in 2016, after graduating high-school, when I bought a Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. I began expanding my horizons, looking into senior photo sessions, weddings, and commercial photography. In April 2017, I left my day-time job at a craft store to pursue photography full time. I slowly began to discover what I enjoyed photographing the most.
I have always been obsessed with clothes, even since I was little. I would always point out cute, quirky outfits on TV or in the mall. I’ve found a way to mix my two passions by working with apparel brands to photograph their clothing. I also love photographing graduating seniors. When I graduated high-school, I never had senior photos taken, so there is always a small piece of me in every session I do. Weddings also bring me a ton of joy, I adore hearing the couples’ love story, how they met, and their plans for the future.
After high-school, I went to a community college for a year and a half. I chose an Arts degree, but never ended up finishing because I prioritized building my portfolio and skillset. The way I see it, nobody is going to ask to see a degree when hiring a photographer – skills, talent, and hands-on knowledge as a full-time photographer will be far more valuable.
In March 2018, I finally upgraded my camera. It was hard saying goodbye to the camera I had used every single day for 5 years, but I needed something that could do more. I always had a theory that you should never upgrade your gear until what you have is holding you back. I outgrew that camera, and it was time to move up. Now, I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark IV, switching between my 50mm f/1.4 and my 24-70 f/2.8 lenses.
I have so many big plans for the future, I hope the world can keep up. I will definitely be pursuing a life-long adventure as a full-time photographer and I can’t wait to see what is coming around the next corner. If you’d like to follow along on my journey, you can find me on Instagram @schylera.photo or at my blog on my website www.schylera.com!
Has it been a smooth road?
Working as a photographer is far from a smooth or easy path. The hardest thing that I have realized is that there is no right way to do this. Every photographer shoots, edits, prices, and works differently. Every photographer’s journey is unique. There is no guidebook or rule set that you can follow to make it where you want to be. Everything you do as a photographer is a learning experience. The only way to learn is to make mistakes.
I was photographing a large event in January. It was one of those jobs that can make or break a lot of opportunities, so there was no room for mistakes. That’s always when mistakes happen. After photographing a full day and filling up an entire memory card, I was looking back at some of my shots from the day on my camera. That’s when it happened and my heart absolutely dropped. I was crying and panicking. I had formatted my memory card, erasing all of my images from the day. I knew that was it, I was completely and entirely done for. I had to fix it. I went to my computer and frantically searched for solutions. Fun fact – A formatted memory card Can be recovered IF you haven’t shot any additional images after the format. I spent hours and finally recovered thousands of images.
I could have easily given up, accepted defeat, and gone home, but I wasn’t giving up.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As a photographer, I strive to bring people joy. Whether it’s from feeling beautiful in an image I’ve taken of them or enjoying looking at an image I’ve taken, I want to spread happiness. So many photographers, especially recently, have been leaning towards a “moody” vibe. The images are dark, the models aren’t smiling, and the editing is harsh. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that! I personally love that style, however, in my own images I prefer bright colors, big smiles, and lots of light. I’m known for clean-looking imagery that jumps off a page and demands your attention.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Phoenix, like any other city, has positives and negatives for photographers. I always like to start with negatives so at the end, after the positives, you are left with happy thoughts :).
The direct sun and heat in Phoenix is probably the biggest struggle for photographers in Arizona. When you are going out to do a photoshoot here, you have to bring lots and lots of water, take a few breaks, and find SHADE. Shade and reflectors will be your best friend when photographing in Phoenix’s harsh sun.
That being said, an hour or two drive North from Phoenix can bring you to different climates!! In the areas surrounding Phoenix, you can find desert, rivers, pine trees, cacti, and even a few waterfalls! If you’re not a fan of nature and prefer city/urban environments, Downtown Phoenix is a perfect place to go. On Roosevelt Row you can find walls covered in graffiti, and all around you can find tall buildings of any kind. I do love being a photographer in Phoenix, because you just can’t get such a huge variety of locations anywhere else.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.schylera.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schylera.photo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schylera.photo
Image Credit:
Schyler Anderson Photography
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