Meet Allison Klein | Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Allison Klein and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allison, what inspires you?
I think the question “who are you inspired by” is one of the hardest questions for me to answer because I find inspiration in all the people I love. But when I reflected on this question in the lens of my business, I pretty easily determined that my inspiration has always been drawn from my grandfather and my dad.

When I was a little girl, I thought my grandpa was the most fascinating person in the world. He’d walk into our house whistling and wearing his trusty bolo tie, and always had his camera in hand. He’d always find a spot in the backyard to line up all the cousins for family photos, regardless if we were together for a birthday party or a just-because kind of day. I’m very lucky because photography has always been a constant in our family, and it’s purely because of Grandpa’s passion and love for photo. He and my grandma bought me my first camera when I was 8, and by high school I had fallen in love with it the same way he had.

In 2021, Grandpa passed away, and it was a very hard time for our whole family. I remember noticing his camera in the living room and scrolling through some of the photos he had taken a few days before, and had a very real understanding of how photos have the ability to transcend time and tell a story of a person long after they’ve physically left us. This moment was honestly the push that I needed to seriously start my business. I felt like I owed it to him to at least try.

My dad must have had the same thought, because he acquired Grandpa’s favorite film camera and taught himself how to manually shoot film. We’ve spent lots of time talking about ISO and practicing with flash settings, and even taking a family trip to Colorado to photograph the national park. It’s so meaningful to me because my dad and I have bonded over this love that we now both share, knowing very well that in everything we photograph, we are carrying on this legacy that my grandpa started.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I primarily focus on couples and weddings, as that’s where my heart truly lies. (But I also love to work with college grads and expecting mothers!) My favorite part of working on weddings is that each day is so perfectly curated to the personalities of the bride and groom! If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 100 times: a wedding day is not for pinterest, it’s for YOU. Every choice in the wedding planning process should be genuine and true to your heart, and wedding photographs should be no different. I want every couple to walk away from their time with me feeling that their images represent them so perfectly, that they can reminisce every time they scroll through their gallery, open their album, or walk past their prints in their home.

In terms of my “style”, I like to refer to it as “true to color, true to you”. Part of capturing nostalgic and authentic imagery means when you look at your images decades from now, they’ll provide a perfect portal back to your day. Everything from my posing to my editing style is done with the idea of timelessness in mind. Whether I’m working on a wedding day or a mini session, I will always come with poses at the ready and direct my clients in a way that feels natural and easy!

My editing style is a golden hour true to color (which basically means it’s just accentuating the natural color that already exists, while accentuating the natural warmth of the photo !) This way there will never have to be a concern that a particular editing trend will go out of style.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Even though we’re from the west valley, Uptown Phoenix is where I tend to spend a good chunk of time. My favorite coffee shop Lux is a perfect place to study or get a delicious vanilla latte, and Flower Child, Luci’s and Federal Pizza are some of my favorite restaurants. (I know those are very basic answers but I don’t care, I love them!!) I am an AJ’s girl through and through and will sing their praises forever, it’s the perfect spot for lunch or a morning coffee date!

I’m a huge basketball fan (Go Suns!!) and would recommend to anyone going to see a game!! The Footprint Center is gorgeous and the energy is unmatched. And obviously a visit to Arizona isn’t complete without a trip to Sedona, which is one of my favorite places in the whole world. The red rocks are unlike anything you’ll ever see and photos never quite do them justice. It’s not too far from the city which makes it perfect for a day trip!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I think starting a business is a labor of love, both for the person starting and those that are closest to them. So I would love to give recognition to my parents, my sister Emily, and my grandmothers for always being so unbelievably positive and supportive, both now, and as I was growing up. Their constant encouragement has helped me look past my own imposter syndrome on more than one occasion. I am also incredibly thankful for my boyfriend Sam, who has always been overly supportive of all of my endeavors!! I rely pretty heavily on his level headedness and sound advice, as well as his contagious positivity.

Website: https://www.allisonkleinphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonkleinphotography/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/allisonkleinphotography

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/allisonkleinphoto/

Image Credits
First photo of Allison in the studio – Erin Lane Photo + Film