Meet Amelie Uchiike

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amelie Uchiike. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amelie below.

Hi Amelie, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
I’ve had this skill since I was little. It’s funny because it’s the opposite of what my mom taught me. I grew up in Japan with a strict mom who always said to play it safe and not take risks. She didn’t think being an artist was a good idea. She wanted me to go to college, study something boring, and learn to cook so I could get married. But she let me draw, paint, play piano, and learn to dance because secretly, she liked those things but couldn’t do them herself. Those things stayed with me. Even though my piano and ballet teachers were very strict, I’m glad I stuck with it because now I enjoy music, singing in the car, and I’ve learned to appreciate dance. And you know, dance has actually helped me a lot with yoga too. Being a freelance photographer in LA might seem some what a ‘risky’ choice, but I think the little me inside is happy because I’ve always liked challenging myself and pushing boundaries.

Doing what I do isn’t easy. It has its ups and downs, and I do get scared sometimes. But no matter how much I explore, I always find myself open to new and exciting opportunities rather than settling on just one stable path. That trait comes from my dad. He’s always been good at finding solutions in any situation. And my grandma, his mom, was a strong lady. She raised my dad and his sister by herself. She was always positive and supported my decisions, even when I decided to move to a different country. Her belief in me really helped me.

So now, I don’t see ‘risks’ as threats anymore. I see them as opportunities for freedom and fun challenges. Life isn’t stable for anyone – you never know what will happen in the future, or even what you’ll be talking about with a friend in 10 minutes. That excites me. I want to make decisions in every moment and fully embrace life, just like dancing in the moment.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m am a Japanese American artist currently living in lively Los Angeles, California. I’ve loved drawing since I was a kid, and I followed my passion by studying art in Japan during college.

Now, I work as a professional photographer in LA, specializing in portraits and digital content. People also know me for my different kinds of art, like drawing, oil painting, watercolor, and digital art.

When I take portrait photography, I use natural light and careful framing to capture the unique style of each person and make portraits that really show who they are. I also love using my visual storytelling skills for marketing projects, product photos, and model shoots, where I’m great at understanding and sharing my clients’ messages.

My art comes from my heart, and it shows my flexibility and diversity. People really connect with my work, and it often brings out strong emotions in them.

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?
Making quick decisions, meeting new people, and constantly critiquing my own work are traits that define me. I’m never completely satisfied with my creations because I always strive for improvement. Jumping right into what I’m thinking of doing has been a great help to me. If I have an idea or if I’ve been contemplating a trip, I just go for it. My trip plans are always spontaneous, which might be overwhelming to some people. Having a solid plan is crucial, but I tend to make quick decisions about many things. Sure, I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way, but those mistakes have shaped who I am today.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m really excited about collaborating with more artists in the music industry. Music has been around me since I was little. Lately, I’ve had the chance to work with a few musicians, taking portrait photos, shooting videos of them recording their music, and I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to few music album covers. Even though I’m not a musician myself, I’ve always been deeply involved in the music scene. I’m excited to work with more musicians because I believe together, we can get better at showing exactly what we want to share with the world.

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