We recently connected with Amanda Novena and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I believe that my resilience comes from a number of factors, including my family, my self-care practices, and my determination.
Having a strong family relationship has been a really important part of my life. I know that they will always be there for me, no matter what. I know that I can always count on them, and that gives me a lot of strength. My children also play a big part as I know that they are watching and learning from me, so I like to set a good example of showing them that even if they are struggling with something they should always keep at it if they want to achieve their goals. I believe that my determination is a big part of my resilience. If you want something you have to work at it no matter what, nothing is going to be handed to you.
I also believe that my self-care practices help me to stay resilient. I make sure to get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and take time to do things for myself. These practices help me to stay physically and mentally healthy, which makes it easier for me to cope with challenges.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a wedding photographer in Columbus, Ohio. I got into weddings because I love watching two people and their families come together to celebrate the start of a new family. One of my favorite parts of the day is watching how each family so lovingly welcomes their new son or daughter-in-law into the family. Often times I find that the immediate family members are just as excited about the marriage as the couple is. I think I love this about weddings because it shows that the stereotype of not getting along with your in-laws is completely inaccurate.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I have a background in working in customer service. My past experience in this field has taught me how to deal with difficult people in a calm and professional manner. I have learned how to listen to their concerns, empathize with their situation, and find solutions that work for everyone. These skills have been invaluable to me as a wedding photographer, as I often have to deal with emotional clients and their family members who are stressed about the wedding day.
Before starting my business I had helped a few friends plan their weddings. By doing so it really helped me to learn the ends and outs of a wedding day. This was a huge help when starting my business as I am able to provide my clients with a great experience not only on the wedding day but also through the planning process.
I am a lifelong learner. I am not afraid to ask for help when I need it, and I am always eager to learn from others. When I start something new, I do my research and find people who have already been there. I learn from their wins and losses so that I can avoid making the same mistakes. By learning from others, I am able to achieve my goals sooner.
The best way to start improving and developing skills is to find mentors who can guide you. We should never stop learning, and I believe the fastest way to do that is to talk to people who have been there before you and learn from their experiences.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
The biggest improvement has been with lighting in my photography. I have spent a lot of time learning about how to get the best pictures with natural light and also learning how to use flash to create different effects in my images. This improvement has saved me significant time with editing and it has also provided more consistency within my images.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amandalaurencollective.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandalaurencollective/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandalaurencollective
