Her Story
About Serena
Serena Vachon is a nature photographer based in Millbrook, Alabama. With 18 years of experience, she specializes in capturing images of birds, deer and other wildlife, flowers, and animals at zoos and nearby safari parks. After completing her college studies in law and working for many years as a paralegal at law firms and a construction company, she dedicated herself to photography. Vachon is largely self-taught, spending hours each day practicing with her camera and learning its capabilities through hands-on experience and online resources. Her work has appeared in magazines following contest wins and in local exhibitions. One of her most notable achievements is a tiger photograph taken at the zoo that has been featured repeatedly and sold multiple times. She has also been interviewed for local television news segments broadcast in cities across Alabama, including Montgomery.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Serena
01What do you attribute your success to?
I'm pretty stubborn and when I want to learn something I'd go all in! The support from my husband and my mom who was really influential in getting me to do this and stick with it. My love of animals and nature keep me motivated.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't think of it as a career, think of it as just who you are. Let it be an expression of you, like an artist. It is an art form. Be you, don't try to copy anybody else. Stick with it even when frustrated because every shot is going to be better.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenge is to stick with it until you feel good enough to put it out there in the world. Opportunity-wise, lots of contests like Gurushots, ViewBug, and posting regularly on social media to reach people worldwide.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Patience, faith, and hard work.
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