We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Knowles recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
As a professional photographer keeping your creativity alive is a constant. Finding inspiration from lots of places and people helps to keep it interesting. I love to find inspiration from editorial magazines, themes, current events, textures and challenging myself to think outside of the box.
When you are constantly shooting for your clients needs, you have to find the balance of creating for you and for them as well. I love to share my visions and ideas with my clients a head of time for their maternity shoot. During their vision and gown planning consultation we will discuss their vision, I will ask them questions to find out more about them and what they love, and then I start to share a vision that comes to mind to meet their needs as well as show them something outside of their ideas too.
I have found that it is most beneficial to share your ideas with your clients ahead of time. It gets them more excited for their shoot. Plus with my clients I inform them all at the time of booking that I love to do a surprise look at the end of their shoot. I always make sure to keep them informed that it will be something totally different than the 3 looks we have discussed and agreed upon. It allows me to feed my creative side but also satisfying my clients needs and providing them something exciting and surprising at the same time. It’s a win win!!
One tip I can provide is….Be careful not to fall into the comparison trap if you find inspiration from others. When looking at others for inspiration make sure you also do not copy it. Use it to inspire you and create something on your own. How can you make it different?
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I specialize in luxury maternity and newborn portrait experience sessions. Sharing my clients pregnancy journey all the way through baby’s first year is such a fun story to capture for them through portraits. We pride ourselves in going above and beyond for our clients by walking them through their session from their first call to the installation of their wall art and all along the way.
Maternity and newborn portraits are such a special moment in our client’s lives. There are so many different stories to tell from IVF, Rainbow Babies, Embryo adoption, surrogacy, surprise gender, pregnancy announcements, gender reveals, empowerment, and expanding their family. My clients know they can rest assured their story and journey will be capture for them to look back on for years to come. The products from wall art pieces to storybook albums will become heirloom pieces they will pass on their children.
It is way more than just clicking a button. It is empowering mamas, capturing the love and loss that may occur during pregnancy, adding a new family member, being part of a gender reveal or pregnancy announcement. With the importance of building a strong client relationship many times it feels like you become part of the family.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most impactful part of my journey is definitely education, creating connections, and feeding your creativity needs.
Education is a HUGE part of becoming a professional in what you do as well as knowing you can always learn more. I personally believe if we are not learning we are not growing. Education helps you are ensure you have all the fundamentals needed. Whether it is reading books, listening to podcasts, online learning, in person workshops, conferences or one on one mentoring all are great options to grow yourself and skills.
Creating connections can help to provide you with a network of resources as well as learning little tips and tricks from other business owners. Many times you can create networking partnerships with others businesses who share your same ideal client market. So start creating those connections with others.
Feedings your creativity is a must for creatives. I always recommend to do something for yourself each quarter to fuel your creative mind as a photographer. There are many ways to do so. Shootouts are great to capture photos for your portfolio or try something new. It is also great to pull inspiration from. Concept shoots are fun for you to create an idea you have and make it actually happen. Bonus looks, like I do for my clients, are a fun way to surprise your clients as well as push yourself outside of your comfort zone.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
As a maternity photographer I love to create partnerships to collaborate with. My door is always open to form these connections for possibilities in the future. I love working with designers and gown vendors to create concept designs on different themes, textures or color schemes.
But outside of the shoot I also love to connect with business owners that serve my same clients, maternity mamas. So connecting with doulas, boutique mama and baby clothing companies, postpartum assistant, 4D ultrasound vendor, pregnancy massage therapists, or anything else that my clients would be interested in as well.
I find my clients love personal referrals or knowing that I have a connection with these business owners helps them to already establish their Know, Like & Trust factors and helps them to quicker find the additional service they need.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amandaknowlesphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/amandaknowlesphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandaknowlesphotography
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUyVG1Z4KlElTIDASoz9frw
Image Credits
Knowles Photography www.amandaknowlesphotography.com
