You don’t take a photograph, you make it.
Thank you for being here.
I’m Alyssa—my close family and friends call me Aly. I’m a Black Hills based photographer with a passion for film, a heart full of wonder, and a soul that finds beauty in the simplest things. I believe in the magic of moments—how the soft grain of film can tell a story, how the leaves of a plant hold a quiet kind of wisdom, and how poetry can paint the world in colors words alone cannot express.
Film photography has a special place in my heart. There’s something timeless about it—the anticipation, the imperfection, the magic of developing a moment that’s been captured on film. It’s a process that mirrors life itself: full of surprises, slow to unfold, and always a little bit mysterious.
When I’m not behind the lens—you’ll find me surrounded by my plants, listening to some good soul music, watching basketball, reading poetry, baking, hanging with my husband and our three boys, or creating art in whatever form it takes. Laughing is my favorite form of cardio and I’m constantly chasing the funny moments as much as I can.
Life is a beautiful, fleeting thing, and I try to capture it in ways that honor its quiet grace. Whether I’m admiring the way light hits a leaf or writing a few lines that reflect a feeling I can’t quite name, I’m constantly reminded of how wonderful it is to be alive.
Through my work, I aim to share that feeling with others—the beauty of now, the wonder in the everyday, and the joy of simply being. I want these memories I capture for you to take you right back to this very moment—so you can feel it again.
If you’re looking for someone to capture your family exactly how you see them —you’ve come to the right place.
That’s truly my only goal in photographing your family.
So, if that’s something that’s for you —let’s get together and make some magic.
PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN ART OF OBSERVATION.
IT HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH THE THINGS YOU SEE AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY YOU SEE THEM.
“To say we love them is an understatement. You captured love in a photo that years from now will tell a story of who are family is and how much joy our girls bring to us. Thank you for your time and for using your talent to give us such a precious gift.” - kara
"Alyssa makes having family photos done a cinch. She not only capture photos of all my kids smiling, but she gets the most amazing candid shots I have ever seen. I love it when she posts photos of families, and I can literally feel the love in every photo. And not only is she extremely talented, but she has an inviting and genuine personality, which makes the whole process so much easier! Even my husband- the man who didn’t want me to hire a wedding photographer because he didn’t understand why — looks forward to family photos with Alyssa. I seriously cannot tell her how much her work means to my family, and her kindness and friendship are the icing on the cake." — Megan
“Alyssa is the best! She never disappoints and always captures our families best moments and the love we share! She has a talent like no other!” — Tarren
“Alyssa makes capturing the little moments and big moments so easy. We have been choosing Alyssa as our photographer for 2 years. she has one of the most pleasant, sweet, fun and relaxed personalities you could ever be so lucky to meet.
Unknowingly to us our son was sick our last session but she made the session so easy fun and we got the most gorgeous family photos. Her ability to capture the love and simple candid moments is like no one else. If you are looking for a talented photographer choose Alyssa Crawford!” — Kelsey
“I’m not kidding when I say these are MY FAVORITE PHOTOS EVER! Sitting here with tears in my eyes. You amaze me. Your talent is unreal and you have such a special eye for really seeing people and capturing the best version of them. We are so grateful for you and all the milestones you’ve documented for our family.” — Courtney
“Alyssa... I'm just sitting here at my work computer crying because of how perfect these all turned out. I cannot thank you enough for capturing all of these moments with my family. I'm beyond grateful for you and appreciate you fitting us in to your busy schedule that day. I truly cannot thank you enough!” — Caitlin
