Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Smith.
Hi Amber, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been a nostalgic person and can remember having a disposable camera on me all the time as a kid and young adult. In high school, I was lucky enough, to have a photo class with a darkroom where I learned the basics of film photography – including developing and printing my own photos.
After high school I decided to pursure photography further and opted to go to art school at College For Creative Studies in Detroit. I graduated in 2011 with my BFA in photo.
After college, while juggling a few different full time jobs, I also started freelancing. I eventually started photographing weddings and soon learned how much I loved it. 10+ years later and I’m still doing weddings and loving it!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There is always hurdles when you start your own business. Learning the “business” side of things has been a huge learning curve over the years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in weddings + portraits. My main focus is mostly weddings and family photos – although I do love to do branding, boudoir and really any type of portraiture. With a saturated photography industry, I feel like our editing is what sets us all apart from one another. I lean towards a more natural color aesthetic with warmer tones. I like natural, candid, posing and heartfelt imagery.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Starting a business and freelancing is always a huge risk. You don’t have an employer giving you a steady paycheck every two weeks, so it’s totally up to you to bring in your own income. It can be very stressful at times, especially during the slower season (winter months). To me, it’s worth the risk – I get the freedom of making my own schedule and not having to answer to anyone except myself.
Pricing:
- Weddings starting at $3,500
- Family sessions starting at $400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amber-marie-photography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amarieHphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMARIEHPHOTO
