Veritas Photography - A Husband & Wife Team!

Name: Alyssa+Will Paro

Business Name: Veritas Photography

Location: Louisville, KY

Website/Blog: www.vivalaveritas.com + http://vivalaveritas.wordpress.com

 Alyssa & Will with their two little ones...Picture Perfect!

 Questions for you...You Fabulous Photographers, You!

How did you two meet? Tell us why you decided to go into the business together.
We met playing softball and literally ran into each other while trying to catch a ball! We are both creative people and one thing led to another so we bought our first digital camera. A photo business just kind of fell into our laps and we ran with it.

On a shoot, what is your system when working together, ie. Who does what?
We don’t see it as 50/50, we’re more 100/100 and that starts at home with our marriage. It’s very important to us that we give and pull simultaneously. When you’re a rock at home, you can rock out anything together! Will might start the shoot and then I’ll be deflecting the light and have an idea. When he’s done with his shot I bump in and he takes my spot. It’s great!

 What gear is in your camera bags?
At the moment, we share it all! We have a Nikon d300s (patiently waiting on the rumored d800 this fall!), 70-200mm - ƒ2.8, 35mm – ƒ1.8, 50mm – ƒ1.8, 60mm ƒ2.8 macro, sb600 speedlights, 3 pocket wizard plus II, thinktank memory card holder with 4 cf cards and 3 sd cards, tons of batteries, rope, safety pins, carmex, business cards, an expodisc white balance cap, micro fiber lens cloth and an 8 million dollar home crumpler bag

What is your favorite lens to use and why?
Alyssa: 70-200 ƒ2.8 for the sweet compression.

Will: 70-200 ƒ2.8 It gives the most versatility for the style I enjoy shooting in.

Give us one sentence to describe the style of your photography.
Clean+simple with a modern twist. 

 What caused your interest in photography?
Alyssa: I’ve always been passionate about art and drawing, and this was the only channel that came almost effortlessly to me. My sister went to school for it and always had a camera in her hand growing up. It piqued my interest early.
Will: My Dad was a photographer for the Marine Corps and he let me play around with his camera when I was young. I began taking photo classes in high school while living abroad. I continued taking classes into college.

What is your favorite thing to shoot and why?
Will: Personally, our kids | Professionally it’s a toss up between Senior’s and Weddings.
Alyssa: I agree with Will here on a personal level too. We have a 3 year old daughter and a 4 year old son.  | Professionally, I love shooting Weddings because even though every single one has it’s own unique thumb-print, every one has the common theme: unconditional love

 How long did it take before you felt that you established a solid portfolio, enough to start a business?
Around 2 years.

How long did it take you to discover your style of photography?
To have your own style of photography, you really have to know yourself. I am just now beginning to know myself and it’s showing through in our work.

What inspires you most?
Alyssa: Color
Will: Music

How long does it typically take you to edit a portrait shoot? Weddings?
One portrait session typically takes us one week to finalize. Weddings typically take us 3-4 weeks. When we get distracted in the smallest way, we have to step away from the computer otherwise it will show in our work .

 Do you use studio equipment? If so, what would you say is the most crucial piece in your studio and why?
We use studio equipment about 15% of the time. Whether you’re in studio our on location lighting is the most crucial piece in the photography puzzle. Not just the amount, but also the quality of light.

Where do you advertise your business?

Facebook, website, blog, online marketing and most importantly: word of mouth.

On average, how many hours a week do you put towards marketing your business?

I’m not sure about hours, since we get lost on the computer after the kids go to bed- but we generally strive to update our online marketing 4 times a week at least. 

 What are you looking most forward to this year...Both professionally, and personally?

We are thrilled to see where this year will take us since we will be specializing in Weddings and Senior Portraits.  Personally, holding on to every second I get with our kids. With being able to do this as a profession and working from home, we have realized how much every second counts. Sounds backwards right? Once the kids start school, life itself will forever fly by 10 times faster. This is where photography helps us stay sane with shooting every moment we can of our kids! It’s a very colorful journal. 

 Do you ever get "bored" with your work? If so, what do you do to shake things up?

Alyssa: The day we get bored, we will have to get a new job. There is no other job in the world that I can think of that I wouldn’t get bored in other than photography.

Will: Sometimes I get bored with the administrative end, but luckily Alyssa loves doing that kind of stuff.

What's the one thing about your work that you feel sets you apart from the big sea of photogs?
Our #1 goal for our clients is to have the most unique and custom experience we are able to give them. In the end, the only thing that makes us truly unique is ourselves. It’s the one thing that we will always have that no one else will. We love being around people and having fun with them and I think that clients pick up on that right away. We honestly enjoy taking pictures and when your doing something that you love doing everything just falls into place.

 Do you have an idea for a shoot, but have no clue how you are going to make it happen?
Alyssa:  If I think too far ahead, I start overthinking and get panicky. I love to do as much as I can on a whim. Will does this part for me. He’s always coming up with abstract and sometimes grandiose ideas!

How do you balance your personal life with your work life?

Being that we work from home the majority of the time, it’s a definite challenge. We want to spend as much time with our kids as we can, but we still have to get work done. We do a lot of work after the kids go to bed. There have been many all-nighters.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Will: That’s a tough one. I’m kind of a history nerd and have always wanted to live in Europe.
Alyssa: home. It’s where the heart is.

 Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Will: Fully booked and taking pictures… with a BMW
Alyssa: Comfortably living happily…with a minivan ;)

What are you most proud of? Both professionally and personally?

Will: Personally… My family. Alyssa and I have raised two extremely fun kids and each day is an adventure. Professionally… The fact that we are getting paid to do what we love doing is awesome. You really can’t ask for more…except that BMW
Alyssa: What’s up with this BMW I’ve never heard about! I’m most proud of being a parent. It has helped me the most when it comes to being a professional. Professionally, learning to grow a backbone!

Describe in one paragraph what a perfect day for you two would look like.

Will: Victoria Secret model shoot…wink!!
Alyssa: Ghasp! The most perfect day would be the day all of our family moves to the same town and we can all live near each other and live happily ever after! My family lives in Northern Wisconsin/Michigan and those 15 hour car trips are getting a little hairy!

What turns you on the most creatively and what turns you off?

Will: Freedom really gets me going. The ability to do whatever comes to my mind creatively. I really get bummed when there are too many rules and restrictions.
Alyssa: Fashion! I’ve never really thought about how much fashion could affect a photo, but clothing choices and rich colors really get me pumped up! What turns me off is when I have a blank pallet to work with. I guess that’s tons of art classes will do to you. 

 As far as marketing your business goes, what would you say are the most important and beneficial things to do when you want to get your name out there?

You need the skill set first and foremost. Secondly, you need examples of your work. If you want people to pay you, you need to show them what you can do and have the skills and ability to deliver.

What's the one piece of advice that you feel a person just starting a photography business would benefit from?

It’s an expensive profession… a rewarding one, but expensive.

 You guys are awesome! Will, you had us laughing out loud over here! Don't give up on that BMW...Make it happen! Thank you so much Will & Alyssa for your refreshingly honest answers! Your work is beautiful and we can't wait to see where it takes you!