How long have you been a photographer? I have been shooting photographs my whole life. I have been a "professional" for about 3 years now.What made you become a photographer? First and foremost, my passion is my family. Just over 8 years ago I lost my husband in an accident. While preparing for the memorial service, I went through hundreds of prints of my late husband and his children that I had snapped over the years. It was at that moment that I realized the enormous gift photography had given me and my children. The memories, the moments in time captured forever on print. They were like gold to us. My children were very young at the time, and I left my job in the nursing field to be home full time while we walked through the valley. In the process of healing, I found great comfort and joy in photography. Whether I was shooting a flower, a branch, or my children, I loved it. I was inspired to learn. I started taking some on-line classes through the Academy of Art University. My intentions were never about starting a business, but about mastering my art. Well, God opened doors, and here I am; Living my dream.
What inspires you in your everyday life? This might sound cliche, but the three L's inspire me. Life , Love, and most importantly the Light. I am obsessed with light. Low, warm, natural light. :)
What advice can you give our readers about looking through the lens in a new way? Hmmm... capture the moment, the emotion. We don't look at life through a square frame. Look beyond the frame.
Most of our readers are papercrafters and wish they could take better photographs. Can you give them advice? What can they do to capture that memorable photograph? It's important to know the technical aspects of your camera, how aperture and shutter speed work together, and seeing the light. Once you wrap your head around that, the skies the limit! I highly recommend the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryon Peterson.
Doesn't Amanda inspire you to go and create memories with your family? You can find Amanda at her website, Celebrate Life Photography or follow her at her blog.
Create Well: Capture the moment. Capture emotion. Don't just live life, celebrate it!
