Meet Joel Alston, your not-so-traditional Aussie photographer who’s very passionate with analog photography.
And yes, he shoots weddings and elopements barefoot! How cool is that!? If you don’t see him shooting weddings, you will probably catch him rock climbing and hiking all around the world. Check out his story:
Tell us something you think everyone should know about you, your photography business, and what makes you different from other photographers?
Well I guess initially it was my business name “Barefoot and Bearded”, not just because it was a name, but because literally I shoot weddings and elopements barefoot. I don’t even think my work is unique or different from other photographers really… until the new developments over the past couple of months with shooting loads and loads of film.
I also run an elopement collective business called “Anteloping” and co-run an annual photography workshop in Mt Hotham Victoria with my best mate Aaron Shum. I do also get asked to speak at other random workshops/speaking gigs as well… But besides that, just another destination photographer really haha.
Can you share with us how it all started – what got you into photography? How did an aspiring photographer become a full time one and how did you book your very first paid job?
So this is quiet boring to be honest because I know we’ve all heard it before. “Photography was a hobby”, “took landscapes and portraits of friends”, “got asked to shoot a friend’s wedding, loved it, then boom off I went” haha. Sorry, I could go into details, but we’ve all heard this story before haha.
What is it about photography that inspires you to get up in the morning and hustle?
I feel like this changes daily. Some days I just don’t feel like it to be honest, haha! Sometimes you get caught up in all the logistics like finances, bookkeeping, emails etc… but what inspires me at the moment to get up and get to it is shooting film and analog. The constant uncertainty about the images, the rawness, the slowing down, the challenge! That is what is inspiring me at the moment!
I always say photography is getting so much harder because it’s getting easier. Anyone can buy a half decent set up, chuck a preset on, then BAM… you’re a “Wedding Photographer.” I am driving myself to create images that are different from the photography “trendy” rat race.
At this point in your career, are you happy with everything that has happened so far? Can you share with us your goals that drives you to become better everyday?
I am absolutely stoked with all the amazing opportunities that I have had throughout my career so far and wouldn’t change a thing!
But I think honestly for me, I feel I have come to a cross roads in my career. I had done the destination thing to many amazing locations (and loved it) but I don’t think that is sustainable financially, let’s be honest, shitloads of photographers out there would travel for free for couples weddings, sooo how can you compete with FREE!? The crossroads are; keep doing what I am doing and be financially sweet? Or f***ing shake things up and create work that challenges me and inspires me to shoot everyday?! … what would you do? I am gonna shake shit up! hahaha. Like I said before, “photography is getting so much harder because it’s getting easier”, I don’t want to be “another wedding photographer”. I would rather be poor and do what I love, than rich and bored in my work.
Any advice on marketing strategies that you find effective at the moment?
To be honest, I feel like I used to be a marketing whiz! That is what made me go full-time in one year for sure. But right now, I don’t really know? I am still figuring out which direction and what I want to do with my photography in the future, so until I find that out I don’t know how to market anything yet haha. Basics like, keep consistent, be honest and also market your personality not just your work.
Who is your greatest influencer when it comes to photography? How did they influence your thinking, photography, and career path?
I admire people who challenge the status quo, create work or speak honestly to how they feel and what they are trying to do and not wishing and begging for peoples approvals. Fear of judgement is one thing that will destroy creativity! For this reason I really admire Ryan Muirhead. He doesn’t shoot couples or weddings, but I have always “felt” something when I look at his work. It is confronting, intimidating, beautiful and challenging in so many ways. Those type of photos are just beautiful pieces of art, they are self reflections of their personality. I LOVE THAT SH*T! I hope to one day meet Ryan and just get to know him and talk about how he feels! I am more interested in him as a person through his art! He is definitely influencing me in my future direction as I want to be that honest with my work as well. F**k the “trendy” expectation sh*t off. I want to create self reflective art, not just documenting a day.
Any tips on building a good relationship with clients?
Be completely honest with who you are and what you’re about. Don’t just constantly talk about their day, get to know them as people and let them get to know you as a person. Connecting on a human level rather than a “client” level is so much more intimate and the key to creating authentic images with them.
If you can turn back time, is there anything you would have done differently?
I wish I would’ve started shooting film earlier. But besides that, nothing. I am happy with my life.
Any last piece of advice for other photographers who wants to build their business? And words of wisdom that you want to pass on?
Don’t conform to the expectations of those in the “trendy” industry. Feeling like a cog in the wedding industry wheel destroyed me for years. Feeling like I have to use a certain preset, feeling like a have to pose a certain way, feeling like I have to expose a certain way etc… all to conform to the consistency of “closed Facebook groups”. F**k that sh*t off and connect with real and authentic people. Doesn’t even have to be photographers, just be around those sort of people that make you feel inspired.
