Today we’d like to introduce you to Alina Thomas.
Hi Alina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My photography journey started in a pretty unexpected way. I was born and raised in Romania and moved to the U.S. after marrying my husband, Tim.
My background is in math and computer science, and my first DSLR camera was a wedding gift. Photography started as a hobby, but I quickly fell in love with it.
After we started our family, I left my full-time job to spend more time with my growing family and began building my photography business from scratch. What started as a hobby slowly turned into a career.
Today, more than a decade later, I’ve photographed dozens of weddings and taught hundreds of photographers. I’m now a photographer and educator, teaching weddings, posing, and editing. My background in math and computer science still shapes how I teach, and I love creating simple systems that help photographers get consistent results.
It’s definitely not the path I thought I would take, but I’m so thankful for where it has led me!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road! One of my biggest challenges was starting my business in a new country where I didn’t know many people. I had to learn how to market myself and get my name out there without having an established network.
I also had to learn so many parts of running a business that had nothing to do with photography. There were plenty of times when I felt like I was figuring things out as I went, but each challenge helped me grow and taught me something new.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business has two sides: I’m a wedding photographer, and I teach other photographers how to improve their photography and business.
As a photographer, I specialize in weddings and creating beautiful, natural images for my couples. As an educator, I teach posing, editing, and simple systems that help photographers feel more confident and get consistent results.
I think what sets me apart is the way I teach. Because of my background in math and computer science, I naturally look for ways to simplify things and create systems that are easy to understand and remember. I don’t want photography to feel complicated or overwhelming.
I’m most proud of building a brand that helps photographers not only take better photos, but also feel more confident in what they’re doing.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. I’ve learned that growth happens when you’re willing to try, make mistakes, learn from them, and keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alinathomas.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinatthomas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alinathomasphoto/
