We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Simone Amaduzzi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Simone with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I grew up in a family that taught me to respect other people no matter the age, skin color and religion. My dad was a sport photographer and he always brought friends at home for lunch or dinner from around the world giving me the chance to socialize and learn to speak different languages and relate with different cultures. Working for nature and wildlife magazines I’ve also being trained to ALWAYS respect the nature and the animals because WE are the ones invading their habitat. If we don’t bother them they don’t bother us. I’m lucky to have a job that allows me to spend time with the animals but I always keep the distance and respect them balancing their friendship with the knowledge that they might don’t understand that I’m just there to take pictures and not to hurt them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a professional Nature and Wildlife photographer and I work with the most prestigious related magazines in the world. They usually have their ideas clear on what they need for the article and my goal is to bring back home the most unique photos ever: from different perspectives switching lenses and “play around” the settings. I also participate to many art festivals around the country selling my art: I’m very peaky so I do have my own lab where I print my canvas but also on metal, coasters, slates, wood and acrylic. I do organize photography workshops around the United States that allow amateur photographer and nature lovers to learn more about camera and settings but also allows them to be in the right place at the right time. Over the time I also have the chance to do seminars talking about my career, my challenges as a photographer and what does it take to get the right shot.
Sooner or later I’ll open my art gallery but in the meanwhile I keep my social media updated and keep showing my pictures not only on the website but on exhibitions around the world.
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?
What I’ve learned through the years is that pictures and moments don’t happen but we have to make them happen. Because of that, PATIENCE is definitely one of the three skills/qualities that you need to have if you want to get particular shots. During your vacation you might be lucky to get good pictures but if you are looking for something that you didn’t see yet… you have got to be patience. Look for the perfect angle, imagine what could happen and…wait. As mention above, things don’t happen but we must make them happen which means we always have to THINK OUT OF THE BOX. Second skill/quality is definitely think as nobody ever thought and look through eyes that never look at that landscape/animal. Sometimes it’s not that easy at all and that is why I love my job, because it requires time, knowledge, luck and patience: you also need the right equipment, the right outfit and you have got to know what you are doing not putting yourself and the nature in dangerous. Because of all of that, the third skill/quality is definitely LOVE YOUR JOB. If you like what you are doing it will be easier to wait, it would be fun to experiment and the results will be rewarding. If you take pictures because you have to… they will never look as good and detailed as they will be when you take the pictures because you like it.
My advice for who would like to get into photography is NEVER GIVE UP. Never stop wanting to learn and never listen to who will tell you that you are not good enough. Keep clicking and create memories and one day somebody will fall in love with your picture(s) and your whole world and point of view will change .
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I usually get overwhelmed often because fortunately (or unfortunately) my mind is thinking for about 25 hours per day: – how can I get better
-what can I do to make that picture more spectacular
-when should I go in that place
-oh wow, look at the new lens
-who knows these year when the leave will change colors
etc…
Because of my head often overthink, I try to stay calm and enjoy the moment: no matter where I am, I’m already lucky to be there and no matter what is happening, I always have to think that I’m very blessed not only to do a job that I love, but also to have thousand of people that like my pictures and follow me through my journey on my social media. Their support is a huge push to move forward, to do more and to try to show through my eyes, people, places and animals that they’ve never seen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.simoneamaduzziphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simoneamaduzziphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimoneAmaduzziPhotography
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimoneAmaduzziphotography
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amaduzziphotography/
Image Credits
All photos are by Simone Amaduzzi Photography
