There’s a big shift when a woman becomes a mother and priorities begin to change. Alicia Levy was in New York City trying to make it in the limelight as an entertainer and comedian.
From auditions for The Daily Show to voice-overs for Taco Bell, she was sure this was the right path… until her son was born.
As she began to photograph and capture special moments of her son Jaxon, she realized a gift she hadn’t tapped into before. JoopaShoots Photography became her new business and Alicia could not be more thrilled about this new endeavour.
Building from the ground up, she went school to school in hopes of bringing elevated school portraits to campuses. She knew her true gift was in capturing children because she herself still feels like a child at heart.
“Michelle Morris who created this genre really inspired me to try elevated school portraits,” Levy explained. “I love the idea of capturing the true essence of who kids are and I believe that we have moved so beyond impersonal, stale school photos.”
Acting is a waiting game: one where you are never in charge of your career. It all depends on others, and emotions are always a roller coaster. Being a photographer has allowed her not only to express her creative side, but to also have a good balance of being a mother and a career woman.
Her son Jaxon brought this new creative outlet to her life and inspired her to capture these precious moments of kids growing up. Capturing the essence of kids has become a true joy in her life. She loves offering these treasured keepsakes for families to frame in their homes.
“I love the reaction I get from my families, they use the words ‘magical’ and ‘special’ and say these photos are a ‘true gift’- that is so rewarding,” Alicia Levy explained. “They are always so excited that they can actually use their school portraits for Christmas cards, which in itself is an amazing compliment and pretty unheard of with other standard companies. Parents respond to the time I take with their children and how much care goes into my sessions.”
Alicia knows from having her own child, that sometimes it takes special care to get them to warm up to photos. When a child is upset or uncomfortable, it doesn’t give parents that photo they truly want that showcases the personality of their kid.
“If a child is shy I never force them- I may take the first 4 minutes talking with them showing them equipment, take a photo and show them the photo,” Levy said. “It is about going with who they are as people. I always play games and let my kids lead. I never make it about an outcome because kids are pleasers and if they feel like they are not doing it right they close off. I praise who they are and am very present with them. I give lots of high fives and never EVER say smile, those smiles are not real and again are asking or telling them to do something- I want them to play and it is my job to find their smile.”
Alicia grew up taking photos. At the age of 9, she even sported a disposable camera at her uncle’s wedding. Photography was nothing more than a hobby until her son became her muse and made her see a new potential future.
She definitely has learned to use comedic relief as a tool to make her photography subjects laugh too.
“I have my assistant hit me on the head with a stuffed monkey…a lot,” Alicia jokingly added.
Alicia’s background in sketch comedy enables her to connect with her subjects, get them laughing and relaxed, and immediately relieving them of the need to do a great job or get a great photo.
With kids, Alicia goes with the flow to really observe who they are and what they love. “I use the ‘yes and’ concept from my improv background. You go with the energy of the child and let them lead creating fun games that result in wonderful images.”
“Their spontaneity, my openness to go with it, and the timing of the shutter captures a once in a lifetime moment that is magical,” Alicia concluded.
