We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Claire Beasley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna Claire, what matters most to you?
As simple (and silly) as it may sound, the most important value or principle to me (and my business) is the act of caring.

I feel most aligned with clients who care about their experience and value intentional details and moments over following the status quo.

From a personal aspect, having friends who care–about social justice issues, the environment, and living intentionally–is really important to me. I think there are so many things that are out of our control and sometimes it can feel debilitating and make situations feel hopeless, but maintaining hope is a piece of caring, and I really value that.

On that note, I have a mantra written on a piece of paper on the wall next to my desk that says “do good, recklessly” and it’s something I try and live by both in my life and through my business.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I decided to start my own business a few years ago, it came from a desire to bring various passions together into one space and keep my most valuable resource–my time–flexible and open to prioritizing the things that matter most to me.

While my business is technically centered around wedding, elopement, and portrait photography, I feel like “wedding photographer” isn’t the best fit when it comes to job title. Instead, “photojournalist of life” feels more true to my work, and documenting life–in all its beauty, pain, tender, and joy-filled moments– is what I do for a living.

For me, connection is the most important piece of both my photography work and my personal life–though as I’m sure every solopreneur can agree, work and personal life are inextricably tied together.

Connection–to the environment, people, and stories– is what makes me feel most grounded and alive and is the basis for everything I create. Whether I’m connecting with a client over their love story and meeting them in an adventurous location to watch that story step into its next chapter, or I’m taking personal time to travel and chase stories of my own, I love getting to bring all of the little in-between moments together into one cohesive narrative that uses people, the landscape, and the interpersonal aspect as characters in that story.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting the area, I would probably pick them up from the airport, tell them to buckle up for an adventure, and head south towards my favorite corner of Texas, Big Bend National Park.

But, if we decided to forgo the long car ride and stay in town, I’d go out for drinks at Paradiso (huge fan of their mezcal cocktail). The next day, we’d definitely have to head to Marcel Market (a lovely french boutique) and afterward, we could fill our bellies with tacos from Trompo down the street.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I was first starting my business, one of the biggest influences on my business plan and foundation were the words of Yvon Chouinard. In his book, Let My People Go Surfing, he talks about how and why he started the clothing company, Patagonia, and the importance of cultivating company culture from the inception of your business idea. Even as a one-woman-show, I think a lot about my “company culture” and how I can reflect my values in every decision I make, and a big reason why is because of that book.

Not only that, but I care a lot about finding ways to give back to issues I feel passionately about. I feel like Chouinard has modeled corporate social and environmental advocacy really well, and I frame a lot of my business practices based on their approach to social justice in the business world.

Website: www.annaclairebeasley.com

Instagram: @annaclairebeasley

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-claire-beasley-92559710a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annaclairebeasleyphotography

Other: www.elopebigbend.com

Image Credits
Photos of me credit goes to: Anna Elizabeth Photography all other photos are mine that I’ve taken.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.