Alison Conklin is a Fujifilm creator who has spent more than two decades capturing emotional, candid imagery for weddings, engagements, families, and editorial clients including Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, and Brides. She tells us what gear is indispensable, what she learned from Linda McCartney, and why instinct tops technical skill.
What Must-Carry Items Are Always in Your Bag?
Always in my bag: my Fujifilm GFX100S II and X-T5, along with the GF 110mm, GF 85mm, GF 55mm, GF 30mm, and the XF 23mm for good measure. I never leave home without my Profoto flashes, a ridiculous number of extra batteries, protein bars to keep me upright, and—because I’m a heart transplant recipient—my meds are just as essential as my lenses.
Which Photographers Inspired You? What About Their Work Inspired You?
I remember stumbling upon Linda McCartney’s work in high school at a local art museum, and it stopped me in my tracks. There was this effortless, organic quality to her images—like she wasn’t just taking photos, she was witnessing something real and beautiful unfold. Her work felt personal and unpolished in the best way, and I fell in love with that kind of storytelling. It made me realize that photography didn’t have to be perfect to be powerful—it just had to be honest.
What Art Books Should Every Photographer Own?
Okay, hear me out—one of my biggest sources of inspiration has always been the art direction and imagery from old-school J.Crew catalogs. I know that might sound unexpected, but there was something so effortlessly editorial and natural about them. The lighting, the composition, the way they captured real life with polish but without pretense—it stuck with me. When they released Forty Years of American Style, their coffee table book, I added it to my cart immediately. It’s a reminder that inspiration can come from the everyday and that great photography doesn’t always have to shout to be memorable.
What Do You Do to Refine Your Skills?
Working in both weddings and editorial photography has shaped me in very different—but equally valuable—ways. Weddings taught me how to think on my feet, adapt quickly, and chase moments as they happen. Editorial work, on the other hand, taught me how to plan with intention, shoot for print, and art direct with purpose.
Launching Bonus Days, a print magazine I created after my heart transplant, has pushed me even further. As editor-in-chief, photographer, and creative director, I’ve had to think about every image from multiple angles—how it tells a story, how it fits into a layout, and how it will connect with a reader. It’s taught me to see photography not just as a single frame, but as part of a larger experience.
Now, I walk into every assignment with a deeper understanding of how images live beyond the camera. For me, refining my skills is about staying curious, continuing to grow, and never relying on that one great photo from last year to define me.
Do You Have Anything That Is a Daily Practice or Habit?
After more than two decades as a professional photographer—and now as a heart transplant recipient—I’ve learned that caring for my mental and physical health has to come first. Every morning, I wake up early and walk five miles before the day begins. It’s a quiet ritual that clears my mind, fuels my creativity, and helps me show up fully—for my clients, for Bonus Days, and for myself. That daily reset is how I stay balanced in a life that moves fast and asks a lot.
What Advice Would You Give a Photographer Just Starting Out?
Your voice, your vision, and your perspective are uniquely yours—trust them. The most powerful images come from the stories only you can tell. Don’t worry about chasing trends or trying to replicate someone else’s style. Stay curious, stay kind, and keep showing up. The magic happens when you lean into who you are and photograph from that place.
How Do You Know When a Photo Is a Success?
I usually know a photo is a success when I can’t stop thinking about it after the shoot. If I’m still fixated on it at the end of a long day, I know it struck something. For me, a great image has to make me feel something—and often, I can tell in the moment I’m creating it. There’s a shift, a spark, something that just feels different. That’s the photo that stays with me.
What Is the Most Underrated Photo Skill?
Honestly, it’s our words. One of the most underrated skills in photography is how we communicate—what we say, how we say it, and how we make people feel. When you’re photographing people, especially in vulnerable moments, your energy and your words can completely change how they show up in front of the camera. Making someone feel comfortable, seen, and safe is just as important as lighting or composition. It’s a huge part of what makes an image successful.
What Does Success Mean to You? Are Artistic Success and Financial Success Related, or Independent of One Another?
Success, to me, is time with my husband and adult sons. Right before I was wheeled into surgery for my heart transplant, I wasn’t thinking about magazine covers or how many weddings I had shot—I was thinking about the people I love most in the world. That moment gave me absolute clarity.
Post-transplant, I see every day as a bonus day. I am only here because of an organ donor and the unimaginable generosity of their family. That perspective has shaped how I define success: it’s not about numbers or accolades—it’s about leading with kindness, showing up with intention, and making sure every interaction I have is rooted in gratitude.
How Do You Know When to Let Go of a Concept, or to Switch Up on the Fly?
Early in my career, I would show up to weddings with a list of go-to poses, thinking that’s what made a successful shoot. But over time, I learned to trust my intuition. Every couple is different, and what works for one might feel completely off for another. I’ve let go of rigid concepts and instead lean into the energy of the day—their chemistry, their personalities, the small unscripted moments that make their story theirs.
Of course, we still take the expected photos—the “A” and “B” shots everyone needs—but the real storytelling lives in how we get from one to the other. It’s in the in-between. That space is where the connection happens, and thinking on the fly isn’t just a skill—it’s something I crave.
After more than two decades behind the camera, I’ve learned that flexibility and instinct are just as important as preparation. They’re how the real stories get told.
Alison Conklin is a Fujifilm creator and founder of Alison Conklin Photography. After receiving a heart transplant in 2022, Alison launched Bonus Days, a national print magazine celebrating life after transplant and chronic illness. Through both her photography and storytelling, Alison is passionate about documenting the beauty in resilience and the everyday moments that matter most.
Top Ten is a recurring feature in which we give notable photographers a list of questions from which they choose their favorite 10 to answer. Answers may be edited for length and clarity.
