Meet Allie Jorde

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allie Jorde.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Allie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Like any younger sibling, I wanted to be just like my older sister, studying and copying her every move. With a twelve year age difference, she has always been the coolest, most interesting human I’ve ever laid my eyes on and growing up, I worshipped anything she did. So naturally, one year when she asked for a camera for Christmas, I immediately put a camera on my wishlist too. While my sister got her first Canon camera, my parents were not about to trust an eight-year-old with a DSLR and I was gifted a little point and shoot camera. I immediately became the photographer of my friend group, suggesting we go to the park to have full on photo shoots with feather boas and blue eyeliner– oh, the glamour.

Ever since getting that first little point and shoot, I was hooked on photography. As time passed, my sister gifted me her old camera bodies and I started booking paying shoots, shooting high school graduation photos or mini portrait sessions. I then began to work as a second shooter for my sister, the owner of Gabriela Lim Photography, and we shot countless weddings alongside each other. It was a beautiful experience to be able to learn from an amazing photographer who doubles as my best friend, explore some of the most scenic Arizona wedding venues, and celebrate with couples on one of the happiest days of their lives.

While I grew up traveling with my family, the moment I turned 18, I booked my first solo adventure where I would spend a month in Fiji working on a tiny organic farm in a village of 30 people. That trip was one of the most transformative moments in my life, opening my eyes up to the beautiful cultures that fill our earth, triggering my insatiable desire to travel more and see the globe. I would continue to travel all throughout college, studying abroad for a year in Guatemala, where I then began to work with local artisans and business owners as a travel and lifestyle photographer, helping to leverage their brand and work with photos and videos.

Now, as a senior in college, I stay busy with graduate photo sessions, lifestyle photos, travel photography, and video creation. I love that photography and videography gives you the ability to create a story through multimedia, to express emotions and freeze moments in time that an individual can look back on in twenty years and remember exactly how they felt when that photo was taken.

Has it been a smooth road?
As a content creator, it is a constant struggle to not compare yourself to others. With platforms like Instagram being such a prevalent force in a creative’s job, it is easy to get sucked into looking at other people work and to feel insecure about your own. When I catch myself comparing myself to others, I remember that my clients book me because they like my style and how I share their stories and that as long as I stay true to my own personal photography mission, I will continue to evolve and improve in my skills.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I specialize in lifestyle, travel, wedding and portrait photography and videography. In short, if you have an idea for a shoot, we will make it happen. I love working with small businesses to help them generate beautiful content to grow and expand their reach and influence. Just this year, I’ve been so lucky to work with incredible, passionate, and fierce women who are changing our world through intuition and empowerment in so many different fields of work. To see people talk about why they started their business or brand is always inspiring, and I always do my best to bring their vision to life whether it be through a short video or shoot.

I am currently a senior at the University of Arizona and I study Human Rights, specifically in Latin America. So, when I was living in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to work with such incredible brands that are working to better the lives of indigenous women through showcasing and bringing beautiful weavings and textiles to the international market. I also worked with NGO’s who are working tirelessly to support marginalized communities throughout the nation.

I think what makes me stand out as a photographer is my commitment to making people feel seen. Whether it is a graduate, tejerdoras (weavers), or a couple on their wedding day, I want to try my best to portray their personalities and story through photos. I am so passionate about celebrating the differences that we have and celebrating our uniqueness, to be able to capture people in a way that makes them feel strong and beautiful means that I’ve done my job correctly.

Do you feel luck has played a role in your life?
First things first, I am so privileged to be able to travel where I please, to create my own work schedule, and work with industry changers and big thinkers. Yet, I think my biggest stroke of luck was my sister getting that first camera 12 years ago, and me being able to follow her footsteps. To have people that were supportive enough to hire me when I had literally no idea what I was doing is lucky, and to be able to do something I love for a living is luck in itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: It’s currently under construction… BUT when it’s back up it is www.alliejordecreative.com
• Instagram: @alliejordecreative
• Facebook: facebook.com/alliejordecreative

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