Meet Alyssa Tranbarger | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Tranbarger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, we’d love to hear more about your end-goal, professionally.
My end goal is to own my own studio and do freelance work full time! In addition to my freelance work right now, I’m currently working at a studio that specializes in high school senior photography, so I’ve gotten a lot of hands-on experience with studio lighting and the ins and outs of how equipment is managed. I’m looking forward to purchasing more equipment that will allow me to have a small studio setup at home until I can make the transition to full time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey to get to where I’m currently at as a photographer was a little different from what I feel like is the “traditional” path. I started at UNT in 2016 as a music education major with a concentration in saxophone. I dabbled in photography on the side but would go months without picking up my camera. I didn’t know much in terms of the technical aspects of photography and often got stuck putting everything on auto when I eventually did photograph, so I was mostly content with taking pictures on my phone, but was still viewing the world with a photographer’s eye before I knew it. I participated in UNT’s Green Brigade marching band for three years, and in my third year, I took on the unofficial role as the band’s photographer and social media manager. This was the first time I’d ever tried candid photography, but I took it and ran with it. I picked up the basics of proper exposure just from playing with the settings on my camera and taught myself Photoshop and Lightroom via YouTube tutorials in my dorm room. I fell in love with capturing images for the band and could finally picture myself taking photography to the professional level.
Fast forward to 2019, I changed my major to photojournalism and really dove deep into the business of photography. I started getting gigs photographing friends of mine who were graduating and worked on creative projects in my free time while finishing school. In the summer of 2019, I went on a nationwide tour with Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps and then spent the 2020 season with Vigilantes Indoor Percussion. These were two massive roles that I handled on my own creatively, and I attribute much of my networking to these two organizations.
I graduated from UNT in April 2021 and am now a manager CADY, a high school senior photography studio in Grapevine, TX. The end goal is to transition my freelance business to a full-time job and hopefully open my own studio. I’m most excited for all the creative projects I’ve been brainstorming for 2022. I believe I’m the biggest dreamer I know; whatever seems too crazy to the person next to me is something I’ll set my mind to and start chasing. My brand is central to the client’s experience rather than what I create – while the images are the product of a photo session, what’s most important to me is that the client is happy and feels comfortable creating art with me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
After living in DFW for five years, I can still find new places to go and hidden gems to scope out. Here’s a little list of places I’d go:

Eats:
– Thai Square (Denton): Best Pad Thai I’ve ever had. I’m an adventurous eater and I love finding local places that put a twist on traditional dishes! Also would recommend the green tea ice cream.
– West Oak Coffee Bar (Denton): I’m a coffee snob and don’t usually vibe with instant coffee or anything from Starbucks. The environment is super cozy and features art from local artists, and the baristas here make a mean iced latte that satisfy my need for a quality roast.
– Tortilleria La Sabrocita (Denton): As a San Antonio native, I’m always on the hunt for Mexican food that lives up to the 210 standard. This is one of the only spots that goes above and beyond that standard. I’m obsessed with their el pastor tacos with cilantro and onions!

Hangs:
– The Bishop Arts district in Dallas has some super cute shops and photo spots! My favorite store here is Go Easy, which specializes in CBD, self care, and good vibes.
– A photo shoot at the Lumen Room! They have locations in Denton, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano.
– Metaphysical shop Miracles of Joy in Carrollton is so cool. I recently had my aura photographed here by one of their in-house psychics and enjoyed browsing the huge selection of crystals, incense, books, and decor.

Entertainment:
– As a musician and avid concert-goer, DFW boasts some of the coolest music venues and artists. My favorite spots are in Deep Ellum (Trees, The Bomb Factory, Ruins, etc.) I love a sellout show at the American Airlines Center just as much as the next person, but the small shows are really where I thrive.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
What really got me started in photography as a semi-professional gig was my work with Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps. I toured with this drum corps in the summer of 2019 and was working completely on my own – photographing, editing, and keeping the corps social media up to date throughout the summer. I was allowed total photographic freedom and I feel like this time immersed in the marching arts honed my technique in candid photography and let me figure out what my artistic style is. Without Genesis, I wouldn’t have been able to connect with other creatives in the marching arts and beyond!

Website: alyssatranbargerphoto.com

Instagram: @alyssatranbargerphoto

Linkedin: Alyssa Tranbarger