We recently had the chance to connect with Amelia Pollard and have shared our conversation below.
Amelia, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I shot a bride & groom’s wedding last year and the bride over this past year has started getting into photography. She’s told me she really loves my work and I’m one of her favorite photographers which is an unbelievable compliment to me. She’s wanted to start second shooting lately so I invited her to shadow along for a wedding I was shooting so I could walk her through the process of second shooting and the things that make a good second shooter. She was really appreciate of the opportunity and time and it reminding me how much I love teaching photography to people who want to learn. I felt proud being able to give information I’ve worked and practiced for.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Amelia Pollard, and I’ve been a professional photographer for a little over ten years. I specialize in weddings, families, and couples, capturing stories that feel heartfelt, timeless, and genuine. Photography, to me, has always been about preserving emotion, all the quiet in-between moments that often mean the most.
My business is called Edelweiss Photography, a name that holds deep personal meaning. When I decided to pursue my bachelor’s degree in arts and photography, I was living in Austria for the summer, and the edelweiss flower became a symbol that stuck with me. Known for its purity, resilience, and beauty, it felt like the perfect representation of the kind of work I strive to create; imagery that is both delicate and enduring.
Currently as a mother of two, my family photography has taken on a new level of depth and meaning. Experiencing firsthand how quickly childhood passes has given me a renewed appreciation for capturing these fleeting seasons of life. Every session feels like a chance to bottle up time for my clients, something I treasure deeply.
In 2019, I moved my business from upstate New York to Orange County California, and rebuilding in a new place was no small feat. It took patience, faith, and years of consistent effort to plant new roots and grow a fresh clientele. But that journey has shaped me into a stronger artist and business owner. I truly value connection, community, and the beauty found in both beginnings and continued client relationships.
Today, Edelweiss Photography stands as a reflection of all those experiences, me being rooted in resilience, inspired by beauty, and devoted to preserving the stories that matter most.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Growing up as a female in the United States, I was surrounded by constant messages about what a girl was supposed to look like. From magazine covers to social media, it often felt like there was one “right” way to be beautiful and I didn’t feel like I fit into it. As a young girl, I remember feeling like I was bigger, less pretty, and always wishing I could change something about myself.
But with time, I’ve come to see things so differently. I’ve learned that my individuality, the things that make me, me are what make me truly beautiful. My features, my story, and my personality all come together in a way that can’t be replicated. There’s something incredibly freeing about realizing that beauty isn’t about perfection, it’s about authenticity.
In college, this idea started taking root for me creatively as well. I created several art projects that explored the way Photoshop and digital manipulation can distort how we see ourselves and damage our sense of worth. I also made a video project about makeup, showing how it can be used to accentuate beauty rather than cover it up. Those projects helped shape my understanding of self-image and the importance of seeing real, unfiltered beauty in ourselves and others.
That belief carries into my work today as a photographer. My heart behind every session is to show people how beautiful, unique, and special they truly are. We are all our own worst critics, but through my images, I strive for my clients to see themselves the way others see them; with grace, admiration, and light. When clients tell me, “I can’t believe that’s me,” it’s the best reminder of why I do this. Photography for me, is about helping people recognize that the beauty they’ve been chasing has always been right there within them.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I’d tell her not to be afraid to try new things. To follow her curiosity and not worry so much about getting everything “right.” I’d remind her that creativity thrives in experimentation. I would encourage myself that it’s okay to explore, to make mistakes, and to grow from them.
I’d also tell her not to let the weight of responsibility or the pressure of a heavy workload dim her creative spark. There’s always time to make space for art, for play, and for passion; I’ve found it’s in those moments that the best ideas are born.
And most importantly, I’d remind her that she is talented. That comparison steals joy and that her own path, pace, and story are exactly as they should be. The things that make her different will one day become her greatest strengths.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
In photography, I think a lot of smart people are getting it wrong when they prioritize their own style above all else. On social media, I see photographers proudly declaring, “This is my style. If you don’t like it, I’m not the one for you.” And I get it, I totally do. Clients shouldn’t expect an artist to dim their vision or compromise their creative integrity. That’s real, and it’s worth respecting.
But here’s where I feel differently. For me, photography isn’t just about showcasing my style. It’s about serving the people I’m photographing. It’s about capturing their story, their joy, their emotions in a way that makes them feel seen and understood. My goal isn’t to make my vision the centerpiece but rather it’s to honor the clients’, while still bringing my own autistic eye and intuition into the work.
I’ve realized that you can stay true to your artistry and still be flexible, present, and responsive to your clients’ needs. Serving someone else doesn’t make you less of an artist but rather it challenges you to create something meaningful, intentional, and unique in collaboration with them. To me, is where photography becomes powerful. It’s not about rigidity or rules; it’s about connection, care, and letting your craft elevate someone else’s story.
Smart photographers today are missing that balance. They’re confusing artistic integrity with rigidity. And I think if more photographers embraced the idea that serving their client can coexist with their personal vision, we’d all create more meaningful, beautiful work.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I was just thinking about this recently. The idea that even after I’m gone, so much of what I’ve created will still be here; hanging on walls, tucked inside photo books, passed through generations. It’s kind of wild when you think about it.
As a photographer, I’m capturing moments that will outlive me. The weddings I film, the families I photograph. All those images will become part of someone’s legacy. Someday, a grandchild might flip through an old album and see the way their grandparents looked at each other on their wedding day, or how their mom laughed as a little girl in a family photo I took.
That thought humbles me. It reminds me that what I do isn’t just about beautiful pictures. It’s really about preserving proof of love, joy, and connection. It’s about freezing fleeting moments that mean everything to someone.
If people tell any story about me when I’m gone, I hope it’s that I used my gift to help others remember. That I created something lasting, something honest, something that outlived me. Because maybe that’s the quiet magic of photography, it makes time stand still, even after we no longer can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://edelweissphotography.net
- Instagram: @edelweissphotos
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