Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Brickner.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Alexis Brickner and I am the CEO of Alexis Marie Photography + Designs. I started my business in 2015 and it is growing at a steady pace. When I decided that I wanted to own my own business, I had so many questions. “Where do I start? How can I achieve this goal? Do I have what it takes to persevere through the tough times?”
When I was much younger, I was a disinterested student who was told that I wasn’t meant for college. I came to believe that school was not for me. I didn’t want to study or put in the time needed to do the work.
All of that changed in 2011–eight years after my high school graduation. I was determined to do what I needed to do to succeed. I enrolled in Mercer County College (New Jersey) and received my Associates Degree in Applied Science in Digital Media Arts – Advertising Design. Because my grades and GPA at MCCC were outstanding, I was able to obtain transfer loans, so that I could attend Rider University, a small private school, also in New Jersey.
My love for photography really came to me when I was living in in New Jersey. Raised in a household by two amazing parents and where whatever it was that I needed to succeed was provided, this certainly helped me start to find my way. As I had mentioned before, I did have to take a photography class while attending Mercer as it was required for my major, I always saw it has just a hobby. Certainly not something that would one day be my career and full-fledged business.
While at Rider University, my GPA skyrocketed, and I was feeling better about myself and more confident in my ability to achieve my goals. I graduated cum laude from Rider University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication on the Graphic Design track.
Upon graduating from Rider University in 2013, I was fortunate (a lot of my graduating friends were not) to have a job lined up. My first job out of college was with the Department of Environmental Protection, also known as the DEP, located in Trenton, New Jersey. It was here that I held the title Graphic Designer & Social Media Assistant for the Fish & Wildlife Department. My job was to create, edit and maintain the department’s monthly newsletter. I very much loved this positon as I was able to let my creativity shine through with every single design and article I created. While I was in a creative position, there was something inside of me that made me feel incomplete. “Was this to be it for me?”, “Is this what I will be doing for the rest of my life?” These were the questions that I would often find myself asking myself. In September 2014, I decided to make a career change. One that would really set myself up for what was meant to be. In October of 2014, I found myself moving to Duxbury, Massachusetts from Princeton, New Jersey for a Public Relations and Marketing Manager Position for a Neurologist office in Abington, MA. At this point, I really did not know what was to become of my artistic career. That being said, I have no real experience in being a manager or possess any type of marketing or public relations knowledge. The only real leg-up that I had in this situation was that for years while I was in college, I worked for my dad who is an OB-GYN in New Jersey. I had a great wealth of knowledge when it came to the medical field on my side yes, but I sure as heck didn’t know a thing about neurology. I knew that I was going to have to learn quickly.
I worked for this Neurologist for about a year. It was during that time that I knew that I wanted to establish my own business. I also knew that I had a lot of work still ahead of me to achieve this goal. Yet again, I was determined. I had learned that time, dedication, experience and education are the keys to achieving my goals. I want nothing more than to continue growing my business and improving my skills as a businesswoman. Having gone through a time when I never thought that a college education was in my future, let alone owning my own business, now was my time to shine!
Ok so, maybe the Neurologist’s office was a pit stop on my professional photography journey. The way I see it is that no, it was not my golden job, nor was it what I was going to be doing for the rest of my life. It did however bring me to Plymouth. It is here where my business would really flourish, and I would come to find myself, and my niche as being a high end real estate photographer working with the internationally known RE/MAX Spectrum and The Spectrum Magazine. My photography business, Alexis Marie Photography + Designs, is an independently owned high end real estate, lifestyle and event photography business specializing in high end real estate, events and portraits.
Has it been a smooth road?
Is life perfect – no. Are there ever really smooth roads when it comes to owning a business – never. I believe that there are struggles that one will face in the everyday. As for the business side of life, I myself have struggled, and will always have the struggles with having everything run smoothly, keeping my clients happy and continuing to bring in new business. With me being a perfectionist (thanks dad), somethings can be and seem perfect, but I feel that it can always be better. I can never settle either, which makes the struggle even worse.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Alexis Marie Photography + Designs is a Plymouth based, high end Real Estate, Lifestyle and Events photography company specializing in high end real estate, events and portraits. I am known for my creative eye, capturing precious moments like no one else and being very on point when it comes to customer relations. As I had mentioned in my “Where Did I Come From” bit, I am a rags to riches, believe-in-yourself-and-you-can-do-whatever-you-want type of person. My outlook is if you want it bad enough, work for it and it will be yours. I have worked very hard to get to where I am today. I never in my life thought that I would ever say that I am the owner of a business, my very own company. But I had a dream and I made it come true. I have been told that the way I work, how I communicate and relate to my clients is bar none. I take pride in getting things done and doing the job right the first time. I was always told that there is no room for error, but we are all human after all. We were made to make mistakes, but one must always want to learn from them.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like any city, not just Boston, is the perfect place for a dreamer to start their journey, not just their business. One thing that I have come to realize is that there is a lot of competition no matter where you are. Even more so when it comes to being a photographer in the city. Being able to understand that you won’t be, and will never be the only one doing your craft is essential. It is also important to be able to find what makes you, and why people should be choosing you over another photographer. Reach out to other photographers, let yourself be exposed to different cultures, the arts, the different businesses; everything plays a part in where one sees themselves in life. Whether they are looking to open an advertising firm or open a high end wedding photography boutique. If you are adventurous and willing to find things out on your own, you will thrive in Boston, or any city for that matter.
Contact Info:
- Address: 76 Court Street
Plymouth, MA 02360 - Website: www.alexismariephotoanddesigns.com
- Phone: 609.647.5715
- Email: brickneralexis@gmail.com
- Instagram: AlexisMariePandDs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexismariephotographyanddesigns/
- Other: http://www.chamberdata.net/alexis-marie-photography-and-designs_5005325_3_1_5205244_memberprofile.aspx?dbid2=maply
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