We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amber Hudson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amber below.
Amber, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism is always in the works, I would like to admit that I get a lot of my can do attitude and general spunk from my mother. My mother is probably the happiest person I know and it is incredibly contagious when you are around her. She has given me that same spark of optimism by always reminding me that we can’t always control the situations but we can control how we handle them. Teaching me that everything will be okay and that we have to fight the bad with the good, and the more love we pour the more we receive it. I have learned to accept and feel all emotions that have come with being a human and an entrepreneur. In all honesty starting my photography business highlighted a lot of my insecurities, I have chronic ADHD and tend to be a people pleaser. I started out struggling at every corner where there was something to learn about running a successful business. I was not organized, I didn’t know how to create a workflow or what programs were best for me. It was incredibly overwhelming but I would vent to my friends and family when things got hard and every single one pointed out that everything I am going through will pass and that it takes time and consistency. In order to keep an optimistic outlook on life and my business I look to those who support and believe in me, paint a picture of what I want for the future and take it one day at a time, and do all things with love.
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?
Amber Hudson here, some friends call me Hudson. I am a photographer + videographer based out of Northern Oregon with tendency to travel all over the globe. My business name is Wandering Free Photo + Video, which shows people I am a free spirit calling out adventurous lovers. I document intimate imagery/cinematography, such as coastal cliffside elopement and open field mountain view family sessions. I am thrilled to be able to capture the raw love that comes with human connection and find myself telling their stories through a lens. I am drawn to my clients who see a vision and believes that my art is how they want to show the world their story. I create warm, candid, cinematic, and intentional galleries through stills and film. I want my art to feel timeless in a sense where my clients can revisit their memories and have it feel like they’re right back in that moment with the people they love and get a warm sensation in their souls and fall in love all over again. I am on year three of my business, and always welcoming new clients and new locations. I will be posting a bucket list of the locations that I will shoot for free at as long as my flights are covered! Follow me to keep an eye out for that, and to stay alert for special promos if I do come to your area! Can’t wait to meet and connect with those who’d like me to create their story through my lens and the people who are there just admire it xoxo.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Creativity, communication, and the ability to adapt. In order to fuel creativity, it helps to keep an open mind and try new things in order to get different perspectives. Pushing past what others think and not staying inside a limited belief of what is considered right or wrong. Get inspired by others in a similar field (or in a different field) and put a twist on it and staying consistent. Early on, focus on honing your communication skills by practicing active listening, asking insightful questions, and expressing yourself clearly and confidently. Don’t underestimate the power of building relationships with clients and fellow vendors through genuine communication—they can often lead to referrals and future opportunities. The world of photography is dynamic and unpredictable, requiring photographers to be flexible and adaptable in various situations. From changing weather conditions to unexpected schedule changes, being able to adapt quickly ensures that I can still deliver exceptional photos no matter what challenges arise. To develop adaptability, embrace every opportunity to shoot in different environments and conditions, experiment with new equipment and techniques, and always have a backup plan in place. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, and you’ll become a more resilient and versatile photographer
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
As a travelling full time photographer I tend to get overwhelmed when I am off a routine or allow the balance of my personal/work life to teeter. I have learned to take a pause and reorganise my priorities based on what means the most to me. Normally the heavy feeling over overwhelm can come from overthinking and feeling everything everywhere all at once and not know where to start or where to stop. When this happens, it’s best to break things down and keep in mind we are only human and taking things one thing at a time slows things down.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wanderingfreephotoandvideo.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wanderingfreephotoandvideo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wanderingfreephotoandvideo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClAKvglIK4tay7ckJgR2KOw
Image Credits
photograher + editor: amber hudson
