Art & Life with Alex Wilhelm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Wilhelm.

Alex, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Not really sure where to start. I was born in Colorado, but I’ve lived in Arizona since I was 3 and would probably freeze anywhere that gets below 60 on a regular basis.

I grew up here in Casa Grande. Kind of (very) socially awkward, always just had one good friend, and kept to myself. Even at a young age, I found myself wanting to take pictures and pictures that weren’t just someone saying cheese and staring into the lens. When I got to high school, I started to really consider photography as a career option, but after being shut down by a few people, I disregarded it. Soon, none of that was even a priority. At 16 I was juggling, school, color guard (the band one, not jrotc), taking care of a home, taking care of my mom and brother, overseeing my brother’s homeschooling, and taking care of our little farm we had in our back yard, while my stepdad was on the road. When I turned 17, I was lucky enough to meet the man I married last year. He gave me the strength to pull myself out of the toxic environment that was created by my stepdad that I had been dealing with since I was four years old. After years of mental and physical abuse, it took me a while to pull myself out of the low that I had allowed myself to sink into and I have my (now) husband and daughter to thank for that. I had my daughter at 19. Not what I planned for myself but I thank god every day for her because she truly is the best thing that has ever happened to me and the reason I allowed myself to wake up after feeling asleep for so long. Finally, everything in my life was normal. My husband and I had a simple but wonderful wedding last August, and now we’re currently setting everything in place to buy a home next spring. About two years ago now, when I was looking for ways to help save for our wedding, I came across the newborn photography position at our local hospital. Normally being a very anxious person, I was surprised with myself that there was no hesitation in my decision to apply. I worked there for about a year in a half, and it was at that time that I remembered how much I loved taking photographs and started finding outside work. I’m still learning every day and with every session but it’s very clear to me now that besides being the best mom I can be, Photography is what I want to do with my life. I’ve always valued a photograph, and the warmth they bring, and that was truly brought to light when I lost my grandfather this January. He’s one of the most important people to me. Out of everyone, he was the one I always knew without a shred of doubt was proud of me and would love me unconditionally. Watching him go through his brief fight with cancer has been the hardest thing, and now that he’s gone every photo I have of him means the world to me. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do for people than give them those images that they’ll look back onto later and cherish for years to come. It’s been a very hard chapter of my life to go through, but it’s taught me many things, and though God took something very dear to me, we found out two weeks after him passing that we’re finally pregnant again after almost a year of trying.

So that’s my story in a nutshell. From here I can only hope to become great at what I love, buy a home, work every day to have a marriage my children will use as inspiration, and be the best mother I can possibly be.

I apologize if this is way more than I should’ve shared, haha! I just never know what to say when people say, “tell me about you.”

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Honestly, I’m still trying to figure all of this out. When I take a photo, my goal has been to make it something unique, something that captures a connection, a moment, and is just as much a piece of art as it is a photo in someone’s album. In a world of social media, it’s really cool to make “normal, every day people” feel like the people they see on Instagram.  I also just want my clients to have fun and know that family pictures or whatever genre can be a memory of its own rather than everyone forcing a smile and staring at a lens. I think we cherish the candid moments more anyway.

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
I think your art is successful when you and your client (if there is one) walk away proud and happy with what you did. I don’t think you can be a successful artist unless you put you in everything you do. As long as you do what makes you happy, create the things you love, and challenge yourself for you and no one else than that is success.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’m currently doing this as a hobby and plan to make it a business in the coming years. So, for now, I’m on Instagram and Facebook at Alex Wilhelm Photography.

Contact Info:

• Email: alexwilhelmphotography@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexwilhelmphotography
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/Photographer/alexwilhelmphotography/photos/

Image Credit:
The photo of me was done by Jasmine Amber Photography

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