Q + A

whats your name?
Allister Ann Dougherty, thank you mum and dad:)

whats your age?
22. 23 January 24. Its been a lovely year.

Since my birthday is this week, could I get a print of one of your photos as a gift?! :) lol
Happy Birthday! send your address:)

what's your height?
5'7 and I always like to wear shoes that makes me taller.

Do you feel like you are an "old soul?"
Have always been told that...but I think my family could say other wise some days ;)

Can you list three of your strengths & three of your weaknesses?
Strengths: dreamer, self motivated, making banana pancakes Weaknesses: dreamer, procrastinator about silly things, sugar

Im from the uk and i read your blog, really love it. I was wondering are you a christian? Do you believe?
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. - CS Lewis
its bigger to me than a label...to seek the greatest example of love and live what you say is the true life to be lived.

this probably sounds stupid, but your blog is like a "happy place" for me. it's so calm and easy to look at. I could probably scroll through for hours. thanks :)
...and its comments like these that make me what to blog more and more:) My heart is so happy to know that this place can be a happy place!

I envy your lifestyle so much! I really hope in five or so years I can travel as much as you do and surround myself with as many genuine people. I guess there's not a question there... how was high school for you?
You can certainly create the life you want to live:) High school was full of good memories, my perspective with schooling was to try everything. Being the sweeper in soccer, a year book photographer so I could attend all the games and eat nachos with extra cheese for free. Cheerleading until I realized how much hairspray was required. Algebra after hours club to wrap my mind around more of a challenge. And hiding in the art room alone with music playing to paint and develop film to earn extra credit...ended up with 117% one year. Prom queen of Jr year with sunglasses instead of wearing flowers. Never had a click, always just hung around doing my own thing. But whom ever had said high school were the best years were SO wrong! Graduated a year early to get out and begin it all...one of my best decisions.

Everyday has it's own beautiful possibilities, but on a regular basis, what do you find your "normal" day looking like?
It depends on what kind of day it is...early mornings and late nights with shooting. But when not shooting:
Body wakes up at 8am
lay in bed to think about the day
Computer to read this,this, and this with blogs in between.
Emails
Emails
Make breakfast+tea and call home
Emails
Make the days "To-Do List"
Edit
Meet with friends for coffee
Errands, film pickup for those special days
Make lunch
Emails
Edit
Make phone calls
Edit
Listen to music while editing
Edit
Emails
Edit
Late afternoon bike ride or walk
Meet friends for dinner and maybe watch our current addiction tv show
Porch time with friends
Emails
Sketch or work on a project with painting or sewing
Make Tea
Read current book
A day spent:)

Is photography your only source of income, How do you get jobs or do you have an agent and how did you move out at 17? haha
Yes it is! The best way to describe it all is the ripple effect. Friends I grew up with were in bands, so I would take their photo...or really anyone who desired a new myspace.com profile photo. Friends of friends wanted their photo taken...and then it began. I dont have an agent and prefer it that way right now...you are in control of your own business, and am a firm believer of learning all aspects of a business before putting it into another pair of hands. Moving out at 17 was working at Hollister and Co. the only place that would hire at the ripe age of 15 and a half and having my online E-bay store selling my clothing designs and vintage clothing.

You are so cool to me! I love that you moved from Denver to LA to Nashville! I recently moved from Tennessee to Colorado to pursue photography. Now I just need to invest in a new DSLR.
Aw, hope you are enjoying Colorado:) A new camera is always so exciting...but one of the most important things I have learned is to not let that hinder your art. Remembering to take photos with your eye instead of through a camera lens I believe keeps you challenged and creative.

Where is your favorite place to go in Nashville?
Social Graces is my happy place. Centennial Park is my quiet place. Ugly Mugs is where friendships continue to grow.

First, I just want to say, you are amazing, truly. Your work inspires me to pick up a camera everyday, and practice, practice, practice. As a ever learning photographer, I have a Canon 50D, and I noticed you also have a canon.
Canons win:)

How did you meet Augustana?
When I was living in LA, a friend invited me watch her friends preform at Jay Leno. Heard Augustana for the first time...and was truly blown away.

Afterwards we met and got to know one another and ever since we have kept in touch. These gentlemen were really the ones who encouraged and inspired me to take photos. They became my muse. Every show and new place we would all be together would consist of pictures and amazing memories. Almost three years later we continue to cross paths across the country, and its exciting every time! Working on their new upcoming album,...what makes me so proud of them is that not only are they incredibly talented, but also each of them have a heart of gold. Listen to their tunes HERE

your photos are beautiful, what iso do u use the most and were the recent augustana photos taken with a completely manual camera?
Thanks! Have always kept it at 400 and always try to up the contrast, creates a romanticism with film that I love. They were all shot with a 35mm Canon AE1.

How/where do you develop your film? I enjoy Lomography's analog cameras, and was told that you could send your film out through Walmart.....they ended up cropping and changing my photos. Very upsetting. Any ideas?
When I was stuck in a wee town in Arizona, went to Walmart because I was too impatient to wait...the coloring was brutal. What I have learned is that film developing is just as important as the film itself. I go to Durys in Nashville, a camera speciality store that develops film. You can find a place in every city...just takes some searching. Go to your local camera store and ask what places would be best to develop film, they should have a good insight. If you have troubles, please send me an email.

Hi! Do you ever have issues with skin tones with your 5D. I seem to struggle to get colors looking as good as they look with film; especially skin tones. Any advice? Thanks!
I always lean more towards cool tones with the 5D and do that in post because I see the same problem. Have learned to accept that digital will never look like film ;)

Do you edit alot of the stuff that you shoot on film, or are most of them sooc? PS I may or may not have the biggest crush on you. /creeper
With film I really don't like to touch it. Keeping it raw is my favorite part about shooting film. If anything I will swing the red to be a little less, and up the contrast. PS haha:)

I'm currently an aspiring photographer and insanely inspired by your work! What's your adivice for us newbies out there? =]
Just follow what you love about life through a series of photographs. Let it remind you of the beauty in this world and be inspired over and over again.

3 questions in 1! (is this allowed?) You have a great sense of style - what inspires your fashion? What's your favorite/least-favorite food? & What do you look for in a guy?
It certainly is allowed! My mood inspires my fashion...last week was all black, this week is what I am beginning to miss of Paris. Fashion to me is having those few key elements in your wardrobe and being creative with them. Favorite food: falafel, mums green bean casserole, broccoli, and everything with sugar. Least favorite food: dark chocolate pancakes. What I look for in a guy: someone with a spirit that shines from all the way across the room.


i know you've already shared a lot of your european travel photos with us but i just can't get enough, since you have 6000+ photos will you be sharing more?
Oh yes, can't show you more photos yet :) Putting together something special for a December read...

I'm pretty sure you just broke my inspiration and self esteem funk. thank you so much 2 questions: how in the WORLD do you organize all your photos? iphoto drives me nuts sometimes:( and how do you go about meeting and talking to people on your trip?
You made my day, so happy to hear that! I keep trying over and over to organize my photos. After getting a new computer my goal was to keep it clean and easy to find. I title and sub title..and subtitle all onto backup drives...music//personal//portrait//travel. Keep all photos off the computer once its been edited and completed.
Meeting, talking, and building relationships with people throughout Europe was my favorite part. Being alone made me get out of my comfort zone and become more open minded and outgoing. Living in different hostels, everyone is in the same position you are in...with desire to explore the world and meet people from different walks of life. Literally. Enjoying each others company for those moments with a farewell of saying "have a beautiful life" is truly life changing.


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