Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis the Greek.
Alexis, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I basically lost my job and had to do something to pay the bills. I could take a decent photo, and I kind-of understood web design, so I gave it a shot, and it worked!
The longer version is that I never thought this would be where I’d end up. At different points in my life I thought I’d be a teacher, an actress, an author. Everyone around me always thought I’d be a book illustrator or TV animator. It was always some right-brained thing, but never design or photography. Those things seemed like they should have been right up my alley; but to me, they felt too technical, and I was very abstract.
I got into photography because I learned that the reason there were so few photos of my mother in our house growing up was that they were lost in a flood when I was a baby. She doesn’t even have any photos from her wedding day. That discovery shook me up a bit. I felt like something hugely important had been lost.
In my family, I was famous for breaking cameras—but around the age of 24, I decided to get over my fear of the technical side of photography so that I could really master the art of capturing real people in real moments. I think in my mind, I was like, “If I ever have a daughter of my own, I want there to be a record that I lived.” But I never expected that anyone would pay me for it.
As for web design… That story is a little more convoluted. I understood the power of the internet very early on. I knew I wanted some kind of online portfolio to showcase the artist I was becoming, whether the artist at that time was an illustrator, a spiritual author, a screenwriter, whatever. I had someone I knew create one for me—a website, I mean—from scratch, because I couldn’t code and there weren’t any WordPress templates out there that I really liked.
I didn’t know what I wanted at the time was a blog—something I could update regularly that captured my personality and work. When I figured that out, slowly I learned how to design.
And then when I lost my job (“lost my job”; I had some notice that it was going to happen), I had to decide: Am I going to go find some other secure, hourly job that doesn’t fulfill me creatively, or am I going to try something different? I figured I could always go back to hourly if I had to, so I took the risk and chose adventure. I am so, so, so glad I did!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have a hard time saying it hasn’t been smooth. There were about four months in my first year that were rough. I had to borrow money from a couple of people to pay my bills, and rent was late, and I felt a certain amount of shame going through that.
But I also knew that most entrepreneurs borrow money at some point. Like, 99% of them. Whether it’s a startup loan or it’s taking out a line of credit a couple years in to make payroll, eventually it happens. And because I had that perspective, I didn’t fold up and go back to a job that would have killed my soul; I just figured it was part of the process and that I needed to grit my teeth and press on—which I did.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Alexis the Greek Web Design and Photography – what should we know?
Oh, boy. That’s the big question, isn’t it? Well, my “elevator pitch” is that I’m a web designer and photographer for creative professionals. I specialize in designs for creatives, wellness brands, and independent restaurants. That’s where a lot of my money comes from.
But realistically, I’m not just a web designer and photographer. I’m a coach. I help young, driven, creative people with their brand development and game plan. I help them get clarity on their vision, and then hold onto that vision and not give up.
I don’t call myself a coach on my website because the kind of folks I work with can’t afford a $10-$30K coaching plan. They just need to get off the ground. What’s the first thing you need to get off the ground, besides a great idea? Well, probably a name. But hand-in-hand with a name, you need a website. You need someplace to send potential customers to, someplace where they can get really excited about what you do and beg to pay you for it. Since photos are a big part of that, I offer those, too.
In the process of building sites for my clients, I help them cut out all the distractions in their business plan, get really clear on where they want to be in one year, three years, five years. And I don’t work with anyone who doesn’t have an awesome vision. I work with visionaries I can really stand behind—the Influencers of Tomorrow.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Both of my parents are small business owners. My mother has an online vintage store, and my father is a strength coach who owns his own gym. Working for myself was made a lot easier not only because my parents were role models in that area, but also because they didn’t roll their eyes when I said I wanted to make money creatively. They didn’t say, “Okay, but what’s your Plan B?”
I’ve had a lot of other inspiring and helpful entrepreneur-friendships along the way, as well. Jon Chastney, a truly great guy and one of the founders of First Scout TV, was very objective and encouraging when I started out. He asked a lot of the coaching-kinds of questions that I get to ask my clients today. Alex Vandermark, a sort-of friend-in-passing and the owner of the Maine Squeeze and Juicery chain, was also super generous with his time when I had a lot of questions about running a business. My business coach, who has just blown up since I first met her and who doesn’t take one-on-one clients anymore, was so much like me that she really made me believe that what I wanted was possible.
Pricing:
- Squarespace Web Design Packages: $950 – $1550
- Brand/Lifestyle Photography, 1/2 day: $450
- E-Courses: $49 and up
Contact Info:
- Address: Portsmouth, NH
- Website: www.alexisthegreek.com
- Email: hello@alexisthegreek.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/alexisthegreek
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexisthegreekphotography/
- Other: www.coursesbyalexis.com
Image Credit:
All photos by Alexis of Alexis the Greek.
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