We recently connected with Amanda Shields 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?
Fueling my creativity is so important to me. Photography started out as a fun hobby for me & I never want it to feel like ‘work.’ I still love doing model calls or setting up self portraits to shoot just for me. Shooting for fun allows me a space to create with no pressure, to experiment + try new things, & to get as weird as I want, ha.
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?
I’m Amanda, a Portrait + Wedding Photographer based in Northern Michigan. My husband, Richard, second shoots weddings with me- we have so much fun getting to work together for those! I currently offer Weddings, Engagements + Couples, Boudoir, & Families + Seniors.
I love to weave creative storytelling throughout all of my work whether it be weddings, families, etc. I strive to create unique, authentic portraits that you can not only look back on, but that help you to relive how you felt in that moment. I have a deep love of learning & am always excited to try new ways of shooting, techniques, or tools to bring greater artistry to my work.
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?
Shooting a lot of different things just for fun & doing a lot of free projects helped me to really hone in on what I love to shoot. It also helped me to gain so much knowledge before I started charging for services. Also, getting my hands on any free education I could was huge, & there is so much more available now than there was when I started- Youtube, social media, other photographers, etc. Lastly, I think the most important thing is to remember why you want to do it- whether it’s to be your own boss, to be able to prioritize time with your family, or something else. There will be a lot of tough times, times you will want to quit, & it’s important to remember why you started & to recognize how far you’ve come.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
This past year has been an intense season of growth for me. I really feel like I’ve been pushing myself creatively & aligning with my path even more. I’ve made an intentional effort to create a self portrait every month which lets me play with no pressure. I’m still trying to strike a balance between being a mother & a business owner- or rather, learning to prioritize what’s most important. I am also learning more & more all the time how to say no to what doesn’t align with my values or what I want for my business. One of the most important things I’ve learned in the last year or two, is when you say no to something that doesn’t align, you are saying yes to something better- whether that be more time with your kids, a project that you’ve been dreaming about, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rootandarrowphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootandarrowphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootandarrow/
