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Weddings

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Welcome to my blog, where I share highlights of everything from my client's wedding days and portrait sessions, to recent features and our adventures around the world. 

Hi, I'm Alicia.

La Seconde Photography

Mar 10, 2016

In January 2015, I found myself sitting amongst 150 business women at the first Creative at Heart Conference in Staunton, VA. The founder, and now my dear friend, Kat, opened up to us about how she found herself years ago sitting in her cubicle, ready to sign the paperwork to build a website for her wedding and event planning business. But the fear that she wasn’t worthy took over, causing her to rip up the contract and put that dream on hold.  Her story came crashing down on me like a ton of bricks; I felt as if she was up there on stage telling MY story, which she just as easily could have been. 

I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard of La Seconde Photography. Truth be told, with the exception of Rob, no one has. At least not the La Seconde Photography that I used to run (if you can even call it that). In 2010, I bought my first DSLR — my “fancy camera” as I called it back then — and instantly fell in love. I was photographing everything from my kitchen creations and DIY projects to my family and friends. One of our wedding photographers, the person who I purchased that first camera off of, invited me with her to a few photoshoots she had in Old Town Alexandria and that’s when it hit me… THIS is what I wanted to do. 

So, off I went. I followed some amazing wedding photographers like Katelyn and Abby, while continuing to shoot as much as possible. And I knew if I wanted this to be a legitimate business that I had to create a name and a website.  I went with La Seconde because photography was my second career and I studied french for nine years through school — oh, la vache! Then I had my breakthrough moment; I was invited to FL to second shoot a wedding! “This was it!,” I thought, I could really do this. I sat on this idea for a weekend, filling slowly with self doubt. “Sure, Katelyn or Abby could do it, but they are the exception, not the rule”. And so, I eventually said no. I took down that website and never mentioned La Second again. This is a good time for a laugh, so I dug through the archives to find you a picture of that website. Yes, those “travel” photos are of National Harbor. And don’t even get me started on those filters, which were certainly pre-Instagram (#trendsetter). 

A Washington, DC wedding photographer opens up about her first venture into photography and why it was so much more successful the second time around.

Looking back, not starting La Seconde Photography in 2010 was bittersweet. I missed out on years of living my dream that I can never get back. But here’s the thing about dreams — they never go away. In those year in between, I continued to follow Katelyn and Abby, becoming a better photographer through their tips and tricks. When I finally did take the leap and started Alicia Lacey Photography, I could have never been more ready. I second shot 18 weddings in my first year of business, 16 before I ever photographed one on my own. And then I continue to second shoot another 8 before my second solo wedding. By the time that second wedding rolled around, I didn’t lose a minute of sleep the night before — I had literally had no nerves because I knew I worked hard to prepare for that day. So maybe 2010 wasn’t my time. But maybe, that was all just prep to help me fight for my dream when I was ready.

And because I love you, an untouched collection of my early “work” circa 2010… enjoy :) 

A Washington, DC wedding photographer opens up about her first venture into photography and why it was so much more successful the second time around.

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