Meet Hope Gray | Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer

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

Hi Hope, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I was in high school I was already enjoying using photography to capture special moments between friends, family, and at my local church. Senior year I knew I wanted to pursue photography as my career. There are a few reasons behind starting a career in photography. Firstly, the adventure that comes with being a photographer, I am always meeting new people and traveling to many different places. Secondly, I am able to see all of my hard work come to fruition and it is great to see the fruits of my labor. Thirdly, the flexibility that comes with being a photographer. This is a career that can grow with me through every season of life. It means always having a work-life balance as times change in my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been doing full time photography for three years now, and I aim at capturing authentic moments. My specialties are wedding, lifestyle, commercial, and couple photoshoots. As an individual, I bring a unique eye that is skillfully trained along with a hard work ethic and a fun, professional, bubbly personality. I am so proud of what I have accomplished at such a young age. Professionally, I have come to where I am through hard work, passion, and determination to hone my skills. However, it was not easy starting a business from scratch, there are always wins and losses in having a small business; but through it all the support of my family, close friends, mentor, and most importantly: amazing clients it has been very rewarding. The most important thing I’ve learned is how to deal with many different people, from all backgrounds and walks of life. I will always be committed to capturing people’s love, in they’re big and small moments.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a photographer some of my favorite local spots are: Tandy Hills Nature Area. It is 160-acres of Indigenous remnant prairie located in Fort Worth. It has a great view of the skyline of Fort Worth and a beautiful sunset that is perfect for a picnic, sunset photos, or a light hike. Another cute spot would be, Main St. in Fort Worth near The 4-eleven wedding venue. There are so many cute walls for photos, local coffee shops, great stores, and a cute aesthetic.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success in photography is largely due to the influence and mentorship of Eric Ewing. As my interest and love for photography grew, Eric came alongside me, sharing his wisdom, equipment, expertise, and helped with my first couple of big photoshoots. Also, he helped open various doors of opportunity, while always having my back and being one of my biggest supporters.

Also, I would like to recognize Abraham Alexander for his constant support through the years. It can be overwhelming running your own business, and in the moments when I felt discouraged he always had encouraging words, pushed me to keep going, and gave me more opportunities.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopegrayphoto/

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/hopejgray/_created/

Image Credits
Hope Gray Photography