Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexia Theiss.
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?
With over a decade in the fashion industry, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the world’s top photographers, modeling for Prada, Zimmermann, Calvin Klein, and Ulta Beauty. My work has been featured on billboards, storefronts, and covers. I’ve shot it all—and through these experiences, I’ve gained a deep understanding of lighting, equipment, posing, styling, and composition—skills I now bring to my own photography.
I started this business just a few months ago, when my youngest daughter was born. It was a strong gut feeling I couldn’t ignore. I did a shoot with her in my kitchen using a cheap backdrop stand, and that photo is still one of my favorites. It was that moment I knew I had to take the jump and invest in myself.
Aside from modeling and photography, I have a degree as a middle school math teacher with my master’s in STEM. This reflects my love for children. Most importantly, I am a wife to the man of my dreams and a mother to two beautiful girls—a 3-year-old and a 4-month-old—who are the center of my world!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Balancing motherhood with two young kids, while building a business from the ground up has been super challenging. There were many moments of self-doubt, financial pressure, and exhaustion. I had to devote two nights a week to pulling all-nighters just to teach myself editing and shooting. But my drive pushed me through it. I’ve learned to expect things to not go as planned. At my very first shoot, the lighting I rented showed up with a dead battery, and I had to quickly adapt and figure out how to maneuver different setups on the spot. I’m constantly learning and adjusting and every setback has only made me more capable.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
“If you want something done right, do it yourself.” This is a quote that has always inspired me. As a perfectionist, what sets me apart is that I always strive to make sure every detail is just right. I don’t just take photos; I craft them. I spend hours thinking of outfits, themes, making inspo boards, custom creating wardrobe and even sewing or gluing on extra details. I really love what I do and I can’t help going that extra mile! Another thing that sets me apart is that before each session I have the client fill out a highly detailed questionnaire to ensure I understand their vision and preferences (from concepts, to the amount of my direction, to editing). I guess I would overall say the care I put into my work. As for what I am most specialized in, I would say beauty portraits are my strongest shots right now.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people are surprised to learn that I’m completely self-taught. I learned on my own through my modeling years and or just the manual/ youtube during late-night hours after putting my kids to bed. I think people assume I had formal training, but the truth is, it’s all been built through pure dedication, trial and error, and an obsession with getting things just right.
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- New clients are 15% off
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When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
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Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
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What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
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What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
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If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
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What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
