Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Wallis
Hi Corey, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My parents gave me a Nikon DSLR for Christmas when our son was born. I had some entry-level knowledge of how to use it at the time, but I relied upon my friends Steve and Andrew and my brother Jeff to fuel my growth through weekly challenges, photo walks, and critiques, and I enjoyed all of it. We started photographing our families and then other families, and we built a small client base while meeting some great new people. Our families grew, and spending time together became more challenging.
I began shooting independently and worked with families, seniors, weddings, and fashion for the most part until two things changed my trajectory. The first was a knee injury, which required surgery. I knew afterward that I couldn’t continue working with families and shooting weddings due to the mobility challenges. Around that same time, I began working on off-camera flash basics. I attended a workshop hosted by a fantastic photographer and model, Hayley Tharp, where I met several experienced photographers. Jorge Restrepo showed me his lighting system and how to use it. In the following months, the purchase and learning how to use this system forever upgraded my photography. One of the people I met there, Casey Otto, an incredibly talented photographer, invited me to one of his events called Studio Daze, where STL photographers and models spent time learning from each other and creating together.
The St. Louis creative community is fantastic and usually up for sharing their knowledge. Another local photographer, Sal Cincotta, known worldwide and hosts a massive photography conference in St. Louis called Shutterfest, hosted a gathering at the Missouri Athletic Club, which I attended and loved. I found myself trying to emulate his shooting style, and he always offered his tips and tricks via his social media and YouTube channel, for which I was grateful. He and his wonderful wife, Alissa, are always up for a conversation to share their insight or lend a helping hand. Using these experiences, I formed my style and focused primarily on working with Metro-St—Louis area high school seniors for their senior portraits. I have been blessed to work with outstanding students, including athletes, musicians, equestrians, performers, and other extraordinary people making their mark on their communities. I also continue to work with aspiring and established models in the St. Louis area. I hope that one of my favorite nights of the year years ago, a fashion show called “Celebrate Style,” which benefited the Siteman Cancer Center, finds its way back into the STL fashion scene.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The biggest struggle for me has always been time management. Over the years, I have learned that a management system was needed, and when I found 17Hats, I found a way to help manage all of the communication, information sharing, invoices, calendar management, etc. Having this system has changed my world for the better. The recent upgrades to editing software have also tremendously impacted how I manage my time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, tell us more about your work next.
One of the things that I strive to give my clients is a positive experience based on input that they communicate to me in advance. I want their photos to be exactly what they are looking for. If that means that I am standing in a lake or a pool, using my smoke machine and colored lights, or capturing a moment with a pet, sports equipment, or instrument, I want to make their photos something they will cherish and be proud to share.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coreywallisphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreywallisphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coreywallisphotography
Image Credits
Michelle Jahns, Destini Lednicky
