Meet Lindsey McAlister | Commercial & Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Lindsey, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Relationship building has been a huge piece of the puzzle for me. I secretly cringe when someone unknowingly asks, “How is it running a business in such a saturated marketing like Nashville?”

I’ve truly experienced and met some of the kindest industry peers who rally around each other and lift each other up. And I’ve seen firsthand plenty of work to go around. It’s fun to watch different people mesh with their specific niche of clientele. We all find our ideal clients we vibe with.

I moved to Nashville in July of 2019 and experienced only a sliver of what the city had to offer before the world shut down the following year. It took me moving around the city each year before landing on the west side and beginning to make friends and connections. I was admittedly indifferent toward Nashville for a while, to which I blame a lack of connection and meaning. By making connections with other photographers, business owners and genuinely cool people in Nashville, I have grown to love this city even more. And I have seen my business thrive because of it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As with any art, my work and shooting preferences have evolved throughout the years. It’s so easy to see one person say one thing on their Instagram story once and it gets stuck in your head as the way it’s supposed to be. I’m always trying to combat that mentality and stand out in my style and brand.

I photographed families, corporate headshots, weddings, sports, births, graduates, events, elopements, products, maternity, elements for publications, newborns and engagements before landing in the fashion and commercial scene. And boy do I love it here.

It’s fun to combine my marketing brain with the art of creating a photo to translate to my client’s specific audience and needs. Each gallery is so different and I’m perfecting as I go and build stronger relationships with my clients.

I draw inspiration from things like Vogue magazines, fashion influencers, art museums, Nora Ephron movies and Zara’s quirky advertising photos. As I’m writing this, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is playing in the background. The beautiful colors and themes of strong women make my heart flutter. That’s what I want to achieve in my work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m going to give you a quick and dirty list, but please feel free to slide into my DMs and let me know if you need further information or convincing on any of these suggestions.

Is there a fun show or event we should get tickets to? I’m definitely scanning TPAC’s website first for this. But you also never know when Pete Davidson will pop up at The Ryman (on December 29th, that’s when.).

What will we do during the day? I’ll throw out Centennial Park, McCabe or Percy Warner for casual strolls. And then a few fun stops like McKay’s or Nashville Farmers’ Market. I’m also always throwing out the zoo, but for some reason, no one has taken a bit out of that idea yet. But I have taken a lucky few to an aquatic shop on Nolensville Pike.

Where will we eat? In chronological order from breakfast to a late-night snack, my favorites include Pancake Pantry, Hearts, Ladybird Taco, Radish Kitchen, Hawkers, Epice, Lola, and Pinewood. And my absolute favorite for all times of day is Cafe Roze. Their monthly jazz nights are one of my favorite things to do in Nashville.

Honorable mentions go to Midnight Oil, Old Glory, and wandering around Hillsboro Village, Germantown, The Nations, or that one magical street in Green Hills with a Whole Foods, White’s Mercantile and Anthropologie.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It would be nearly impossible for me to list the people who have encouraged and provided opportunities to me in Nashville. And for that, I’m forever grateful.

One group that I’ve been a fan of since the start is Nashville Girl Gang. Girl Gang is a social group that was started in Atlanta by Morgan Sandlin and has made its way to Nashville and Charlotte to spotlight our city and allow a space for women to connect.

As an ambassador, I have had endless opportunities and made many business and personal connections through them. The women behind the brand are the best cheerleaders and bright spots in my life. And if I may insert a shameless self-promotion, check out their calendar online and join me at one of their next events.

Website: https://www.lindseymcalister.com/

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

Image Credits
Lindsey McAlister