Congrats to our "HAPPY'' theme winner Amanda Lynn Photography!!
1.) How long have you been a photographer?
I have always had some interest in photography, but it wasn’t until a few years ago when I took a step away from my enrollment as a fashion student to ‘figure’ myself out… That I really began to take a step back & figure out what I was into, what I could potentially see myself doing for the rest of my life & be happy doing. My husband was deployed to Afghanistan & I needed an outlet, a distraction of sorts, something to throw myself into. This is when my interest for photography formed into a passion, the more I learned the more in love I fell. Before I knew it all I thought about was taking photos, Youtube, photography books, pinterest (we all do it), anything to learn more. So one day I jumped full force into it, went out & enrolled myself into the New York Institute of Photography. I am now a certified professional photographer & I couldn’t be happier. Of course I still have a lot to learn, but that’s part of the beauty of being a photographer. There is ALWAYS something new to learn, something to improve upon & room to grow.
2.)What is your biggest accomplishment as a photographer?
At this very moment, while I am putting this tell all together, the doorbell just rang & the mailman handed me a package from NYIP. Finally after all the hard work I have done, late nights, balancing husband, baby, & school.. my photography certification certificate has arrived. How perfect is that timing huh?! This is my biggest accomplishment.. thus far.
3.) What is your favorite thing to photograph?
The REAL moments. The little moments in between poses, where you can really feel what the subjects are feeling. A mom watching her children from afar, a husband admiring his wifes beauty, a child laughing uncontrollably from her parents tickling, those are the moments that mean something to the family, & are the reminders why I love doing what I do.
4.) If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Well, 2 things that I wish someone would have said to me when I first started.
One, do not compare your work to another photographers. It is not doing anyone any good. There is always going to be someone who has been at it longer than you & has had the chance to develop their skill. You can gawk & say I would like to get there someday but just know they started where you’re at too. Let it instead, motivate & inspire you to keep pushing forward.
& two.. You can have the fanciest camera in the world.. but if you don’t know how to use it properly then what does it matter? Do your research, study, learn, develop, talk with other photographers. Some of the best photos I have ever seen were on one of the lower end DSLR camera. It’s not about the camera, but rather how you use it.
Check her out on Facebook | Amanda Lynn Photography
