Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Archer.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started photography in 2022 as a hobby, but honestly, I think photography has been a part of my life for a lot longer than that. I grew up watching my mom fall in love with photography, so I was always around a camera and saw firsthand how special it can be to capture memories.
When I finally picked up a camera myself, I had no idea it would turn into what it is today. I started out just learning, experimenting, and taking pictures because I genuinely loved it. Then people started asking me to photograph their families, couples, and eventually their weddings, and it just kind of grew from there.
A few years later, I’ve built Tori Archer Photography into something I’m incredibly proud of. I’m a mom, so I think that has also completely changed the way I see photography. I know how quickly my own kids are growing and how the smallest things can become the memories you wish you could bottle up forever. That’s really what I want to give my clients — images that don’t just look pretty, but actually take them back to a moment and let them feel it all over again.
It’s crazy to look back and realize that something I started just because I loved taking pictures has become such a huge part of my life. I’m still learning, still growing, and definitely still figuring things out as I go, but I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not! I think social media makes running a photography business look a lot smoother than it actually is. There have been plenty of seasons where I’ve questioned myself, compared myself to other photographers, wondered if I was good enough, or worried about where the next booking was going to come from.
One of the biggest struggles has been learning how to balance photography with being a mom, working a full-time job, and just life. I’ve edited galleries late at night, worked weddings while completely exhausted, and once showed up for a double-header wedding weekend just two weeks postpartum. Looking back, I honestly don’t know how I did it!
I’ve also had to learn the business side of photography the hard way: pricing myself, setting boundaries, contracts, marketing, finances, and realizing that being a good photographer and running a successful photography business are two completely different things.
But honestly, I think the struggles have been some of the most important parts of my journey. They’ve forced me to grow, figure out what kind of photographer and business owner I want to be, and learn that I don’t have to do everything perfectly. It hasn’t always been easy or pretty, but I think those seasons have made me a better photographer, business owner, and person.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a lifestyle and wedding photographer, but more than anything, I’m a photographer who wants to document people exactly as they are. I photograph weddings, couples, families, maternity, newborns, and all of those in-between seasons that deserve to be remembered.
I think I’m probably best known for making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. I don’t want my clients to feel like they have to know how to pose or “be models.” I’ll guide you when you need it, but I also want the real stuff to happen — the laughing, the happy tears, the chaos, the little looks between people, and all the moments you didn’t even realize were happening.
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients. Some of my favorite people started with me in front of my camera years ago and have continued coming back through different seasons of their lives. Getting to photograph someone’s wedding and then eventually their maternity photos, newborn photos, or growing family is something I never take for granted.
I think what sets me apart is that I genuinely care about the people behind the photos. I’m not just showing up, taking pretty pictures, and sending a gallery. I want to know my clients, make them feel like they can be completely themselves, and create something that feels like them.
At the end of the day, I want my work to feel timeless but still real. I want my clients to look at their photos 20 years from now and remember exactly how that season of their life felt — not just what it looked like.
What does success mean to you?
To me, success isn’t just how much money I make or how many weddings I book. It’s being able to build a business that I’m proud of while still being present for my family and actually enjoying what I do.
Success is having clients who trust me enough to come back again and again, getting to photograph their lives as they grow and change, and knowing that the photos I create will mean something to them years from now.
I think the biggest measure of success for me is being able to look at what I’ve built and know that it came from something I genuinely love. If I can make a living doing something that feels meaningful, create a life my kids are proud of, and leave people with memories they’ll hold onto forever, I’d consider that a pretty big success.
Pricing:
- 30 minute portrait sessions: $250
- 60 minute portrait sessions: $350
- Pay What You Can Portrait sessions offered periodically
- Pay What You Can Weddings offered for 2026 and 2027 couples
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.toriarcherphotograpyllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toriarcherphotography?igsh=MnE5NnZ6amM3Z2k4&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14mMUjqeAXL/?mibextid=wwXIfr
