April Lawrence (@aprilameliaphoto) is a portrait, family and wedding photographer based in Hawaii. Over the past four years she’s dedicated her life to her photography business, creatively capturing moments that will last forever for her clients. “Photography is my platform for mixing various creative talents into my version of art,” she says. I love what I do in every facet of photography.” Her mission with the beautiful portraits she creates is to empower her subjects and create timeless memories for them to hold forever. We saw her Alpha Universe Profile and connected with her to learn more about her portrait photography. Read more below and create your own Alpha Universe Profile HERE for a chance to be featured on AlphaUniverse.com.

Photo by April Lawrence. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master.

“I’m not afraid to fail, because resilience after failure builds confidence and becomes the best teacher.” – Portrait photographer April Lawrence

Career Snapshot

Four years ago, in Oklahoma, I was inspired by a photographer who photographed at fitness competitions. At the time, I worked at a dental clinic. My husband and I agreed to split the cost of my first camera. After receiving my first camera, I was inspired and finally felt I could consolidate all of my talents into one category – photography. I’ve always loved art and considered myself to be a painter at heart. As a military family, we relocated to Italy and I grew tremendously by self-learning various editing techniques, lighting, and technology over the next three and a half years. Because of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) in Italy, I didn’t make a profit from photography, but I took full advantage of the time to grow technically as a photographer.

Photo by April Lawrence. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm f/1.8. 1/160-sec., f/1.8, ISO 125

I love all aspects of photography. I love creating memories and making people smile. I appreciate how I can interpret photography as art. I’ve traveled throughout Europe and Africa during our stay in Italy. Over the past three years, I’ve been featured in blogs, magazines, and a podcast. Currently, I’m collaborating with a few local designers. The world needs more happiness and I want to contribute to that facet. I aim to be well-rounded and the challenging part is deciding what category I like shooting the most. I’ve photographed portraits, families, newborns, weddings, and various events. I’m not afraid to fail, because resilience after failure builds confidence and becomes the best teacher.

Why do I like portrait photography? What do I Iike about it? It's art to me. I envision every image like a painting. I love how images can evoke thoughts and feelings for myself and others.

Photo by April Lawrence. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm f/1.8. 1/3200-sec., f/1.8, ISO 400

My Go-To Sony Gear

I’ve been shooting with Sony for the past three years and have zero regrets. I shoot with the Sony Alpha 1. The camera has extremely high response time and is reliable for various shooting environments. The sharpness is superb. The lightness of the camera allows me to move freely while confidently capturing breathtaking images. I’ve also shot with the Alpha 7R IV and Alpha 7 III which are also both great cameras.

My go-to lenses are the Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master for portraits, Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master or Sony 35mm f/1.8 for close-up portraits, and the Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master or Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master for landscapes and portraits including more of the landscape. The 85mm is a great, sharp, and lightweight prime lens that produces high-quality images. The 35mm is another amazing lightweight lens used for sharp close-up portraits. The 16-35mm and 24-70mm wide-angle lenses help me get those beautiful landscape photos and include more of the scene in my portraits.

Photo by April Lawrence. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 35mm f/1.8. 1/125-sec., f/1.8, ISO 125

What Photography Means To Me

Photography means everything to me. With my family’s support, I’ve been able to fully submerge and face my fears of the photography unknown. Capturing the world’s beauty through my eyes and calling it art is captivating and can’t be put into words. Sony is a diversified family committed to providing quality products and services to families worldwide. I want to be a part of such an elite team to continue a unique tradition. Now, located in Hawaii, I’m confident and ready to accept new challenges.

See more of April Lawrence’s work on her Alpha Universe Profile and on Instagram @aprilameliaphoto.