Meet Amanda Thorne

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amanda Thorne a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
The past couple of years felt like I really had to do more soul searching to keep my creative brain functioning. I personally love to take random road trips, or unexpected adventures to spark my creativity. I usually find little nuggets of inspiration in the most random places. Sometimes it’s as simple as a pretty landscape on my drive to work or a knotted tree that looks otherworldly.

Over the holidays my family and I went to my childhood home in Ohio. and I wanted to show my kids some of the places that I loved growing up, and we also adventured into some places that I’ve always wanted to visit. I felt inspired by seeing places of my youth in a new and exciting light.

We went to the Ohio Caverns, which are the most incredible crystal caves we’ve ever seen. Even a trip to the Neil Armstrong Museum had me dreaming of some cool photo shoots or styling projects. Barren landscapes, the desert, ocean and any sort of unusual topography gets me excited to create! Like I said, it’s always random 🙂

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Describing to people what I do always seems to be the challenge. I usually say that I’m a Creative Stylist, because it seems like the only description that I’ve been able to come up with that encompasses the rage of what my career actually is. I do everything from hair and makeup, to wardrobe, set styling and even art direction for photo shoots. That’s honestly what I love the most about my job. I never know what exciting project or event is around the corner. I can be with brides on their gorgeous wedding day one moment, and working with Olympic athletes or Bravo stars the next day. My brain is always working a mile a minute with creative thoughts, so I’m so thankful that I’ve stumbled onto my true calling. A traditional 9-5 was never meant for me.

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?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities that come to mind are humility, work ethic, and persistence. I knew I was the new kid in town and didn’t want to step on any toes (I still don’t!). I like to stay in my own lane, stay kind, focused, and open, and know that there’s plenty of work for everyone. I love competing in games outside of work, but not in my career. I strongly believe in community over competition. I try to steer clear of people who get involved in games or feel the need to tear others down. It’s not necessary, and I prefer to keep it positive.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one challenge is growing pains. By nature, I want to do everything myself and not ask for help. It might be my Midwest upbringing, but I always feel like I should do everything myself, and not bother people. As my business grows, I’m realizing that I need a reliable team to lean on. Slowly, but surely, I’ve had to start expanding the business and it’s actually been a really wonderful experience. I’m always on the lookout for talented artists who want to work with me and join the team.

Contact Info:

Cavin Elizabeth Photography – http://www.cavinelizabeth.com


Image Credits
Mandy Ford Photography

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