We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amandalyn Burson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amandalyn below.
Amandalyn, 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?
As a photographer, I find that creativity and inspiration comes in many ways but whenever I am in a creative rut or feel burnt out, REST almost always helps! It’s so important to take breaks, close the laptop, put down the camera and really give your mind a chance to relax and make space for new ideas. You can’t always be absorbing information and expect to create like a machine. You have to take time to be still and let boredom creep in. Sometimes, in rest, I will practice other creative skills and allow myself to be really really bad at them! Paint, color, dance, sing, bake – anything that is outside of my usual wheelhouse and takes the pressure and stress off of trying to create for profit or business. Rest is how to keep that creativity alive!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a Destination Elopement Photographer, based in North Alabama. I have been doing photography for 15 years since I was in the 10th grade and first learned how to develop my own film in a dark room. Soon after that I was photographing all of my friend’s senior photos, proms and even weddings in my hometown. Today, my full-time photography business has taken me internationally for Destination Weddings and Elopements in 9 countries and 18 states including Italy, Scotland, Iceland and many National Parks including Glacier, Yosemite and Mount Rainier. I travel so much for photography that my husband and I moved into a self-converted Shuttle Bus Tiny Home and together, we drive all over the United States!
Recently, my husband joined the business as a Super 8 Videographer, shooting video on Super 8 film alongside me as I take digital and film photos. We love working together and being apart of so many incredible moments. There truly is no better job in the world!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Discipline – I believe this is the single most important part of owning your own business, of any kind! When you work for yourself, you don’t have the luxury of someone else giving you a daily “to-do” list or expecting you to show up on time. You have to be disciplined enough to show up for yourself every single day. You have to set strong goals and expectations for yourself and work hard. No one is going to do it for you and success doesn’t happen by accident.
Passion – I really love what I do. I love photography. I love being behind the camera and composing images and capturing beautiful moments. I have many returning clients who come to me to document every special moment in their life. I have been told over and over “You can really tell that you LOVE this” and it’s true. I do! Passion makes the discipline a lot easier!
Kindness – It might sound simple or even cheesy, but having compassion for others goes a long way! I always find ways in my business to go the extra mile, relieve stress or exceed client’s expectations. No job is too small and no person is unworthy of kindness. I’ve created bouquets on the fly, applied false eyelashes to brides, helped them go to the bathroom, delivered galleries long before they were due, given gift bags when they weren’t expected. Even a smile, a compliment and genuine interest in others during conversation makes a HUGE impression and always comes back tenfold!!
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents were always incredibly supportive of my sister and I. They put us in just about every sport we had even the slightest interest in. We both were in Girl Scouts our entire childhood and took occasional art and music lessons. I was in 10th grade when I wanted to take a Photography class at my school. It wasn’t a cheap class, you had to have your own 35mm film camera and help purchase supplies to shoot, develop and print your own photos. Plus, there were regular field trips that cost extra money. But, my parents invested in our education and our interests and all of those activities, especially photography, built the foundation of who I am today! I am extremely grateful!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amandalynphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandalynphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandalynphotographyy
Image Credits
All photos taken and edited by Amandalyn Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
