Honestly, I am a total weirdo. I want to write a bio about how impressive my 11 year career has been for you, but it's just filled with pure laughter, wrapping my arms so tight around my clients and thanking them for being in my life and watching them come back to work with me year after year. Then, I get to teach other photographers how to truly fall in love with working with families, too. If you're still here, maybe you'll want to read some more about me below? :)
When I'm not jumping literally into the ocean with my family session clients, I'm teaching other photographers how to fall in love with working with families.
I'm Amanda.
Hi friend!
My little family and our simple life by the sea here on Hatteras Island. We're a team. Three girls, sand all over our house & car and I couldn't ask for more.
WHAT I LOVE THE MOST...
The thought of starting a business for so many seems completely impossible. I had written it off just as soon as I discovered what it even meant. It seemed TOO hard. Now, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Let me show you how to step into your purpose.
NOW I LIVE LIFE IN THE ARENA THAT BRENE BROWN TALKED ABOUT. A LIFE WITHOUT big RISK IS A LIFE WITHOUT big REWARD.
I wish I could go back and hug the little version of me and tell her that she was going to be okay. Early on, I gave up on anything that required bravery and putting myself out there. I'm glad I changed my mind.
"I see your fear, and it's big. I also see your courage, and it's bigger. We can do hard things."
- Glennon Doyle
I'm the girl without a village who built a business and grew her family at the same time. I used to feel so down that I was in that position until I realized it gave me leverage to show others how to build their businesses despite having zero resources to get started.
Weekly, if not daily.. I make sure to acknowledge how far I've come and stop to express gratitude for where I am in my life. After I graduated from high school, I moved from Glen Allen, Virginia to Norfolk to attend Old Dominion University. I loved it there, but shortly after arriving, things took a turn. I experienced a lot of my worst life moments there, and before I knew it, I was dropping out because I couldn't afford textbooks and I couldn't afford to NOT be working full-time in order to survive. I would get off of the bus from my thankless, low-paying jobs and stop by two drive-thru windows to pick up the coins people dropped on the ground on the way home. If you're an underdog, I get it. You're in the right place.
Hi, it's me. A college dropout who created an incredible business against all odds.
Not only do I love true crime podcasts but I need to watch the shows, too :) I LOVE Law & Order SVU and I do feel like if someone could connect me with Mariska to meet her in real life that would be great :)
TV Show
Watching my girls light up seeing Times Square, watching our daughter with Tourette syndrome make friends who accept her, and any time I work with family session clients.
Memory
I live at the beach and we are kind of weird... it's really all about the leggings or sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt or hoodie for me. I dress up occasionally but most days I'm "island casual" haha!
Go-to Outfit
If you said Amanda, you can go ANYwhere in the world for free... I would still say take me to NYC. I am obsessed and wish I lived there for at least a month out of the year. I only ever want to go to NYC for vacations!
Travel Spot
I just recently discovered kombucha and my first sip was like "is this vinegar?" and then all of a sudden I loved it and haven't been able to get enough since. I'm still puzzled about how this happened but here we are.
Beverage
Glennon Doyle's We Can Do Hard Things has my HEART! And any podcast Brene Brown has ever hosted. And true crime, not because I love to be scared but because I love justice :) Can you relate?
Podcast
I can talk about the deep stuff all day but we can be shallow for a minute. Can you relate to any of the favorites I've listed below?
A few of my favorites.. can you relate?
Ready to hang out by the sea together?
Or learn about family photography from me? Send me an email and let's connect!
