Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Maxine. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amanda , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

A big risk i took in my life was leaving a 9 to 5 job that I had for over 10 years to pursue photography full time and be more present with my family. It was honestly really scary because I was walking away from something stable and familiar, especially after just becoming a mom. But I kept thinking about how I didn’t want to look back one day and wonder what’s would’ve happened if I had just gone for it. Photography has been part of my life since high school and started to fully dive in when I invested a DSLR back in 2015. It started as a hobby but over time I felt more and more pulled toward it especially creating editorial + fashion inspired concept was my speciality
The transition definitely wasn’t easy. I had to push myself out of my comfort zone, build from the ground up and really put myself and my work out there. Right now, I’m still growing my business. I photograph portrait and couples. I second shoot weddings, and I’m continue to refine my style.
For me, taking that risk wasn’t about starting a business. It was about creating a life where I can be present with my baby while building something I truly love. And even though I’m still growing, i can confidentially say it was worth it. It taught me that sometimes the scariest decisions are the ones that lead you exactly where you’re meant to be

Amanda , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Amanda! A wife, a mom and photographer based in Sarasota.
My love for photography started long before i ever picked up a camera, My grandpa was always documenting our lives filming + taking photos, capturing everything of my childhood. I didn’t realize until i got older how much that stayed with me. Those memories means everything now.
I fell in love with photography in high school , where I first started shooting film and developing my own in the darkroom. There was something about watching an image come to life that completely drew me in. It wasn’t’t until 2015 that I bought my first DSLR and started exploring and learning my camera. What started as a creative outlet slowly became something that brought me joy and motivation to create
My style is very nostalgic and inspired by vintage fashion and emotion, especially the 60s-70s era but honestly I LOVE all eras i can recreate. I’m drawn to creating and capturing storylines images that’s feel cinematic, a little dreamy and like a moment you can step back into.
After leaving my 9-5 and becoming a mom. I took a leap of faith into building this as a full time business. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it also allowed me to create a life centered around both my family and my creativity.
Now I focus on couples and portraits, along with creative portrait work where I have the freedom to explore more editorial and storytelling driven concepts. If you’re dreaming of something a little nostalgic like a 70s inspired love story- lets book that van and create something cinematic together!

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Photography started as a hobby and something I love since 2015. For so long I was doing collaborative work, free work and a few paid shoots to build my portfolio and figure out my style. In 2020, my creative side really slowed down as I was navigating grief losing my grandpa and moving to Sarasota to be closer with family and support them. That season was heavy but it also reshaped a lot for me, After that, I continued to do some collaborative work here and there but not the same level when I first started. My focus shifted more toward family and work since i had a far commute.
Everything really changed after I left my 9-5pm in Sept 2025 to be a stay at home mom and purse photography . That’s was the first time I was able to give myself to my business. Looking back, that earlier season of creating without pressure gave me the confidence to finally charge my value. Since then, I’ve slowly started booking more paid work such as mini’s, portraits + senior and also second shooting weddings with my best friend who is also an amazing photographer . I’m still growing in my business and clientele that feels aligned. I’m still at the beginning of my journey with so much room to grow, but I’m really proud of how far I’ve come and excited for what’s ahead.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

What’s been working for me is just staying consistent and putting my work out there. In the beginning , I focused a lot on styled shoots and collaboration to build my portfolio and figure out my style. I’m not the most engaging person online, but i do make an effort to post on instagram and tik Tok so people can see my work. Social media presence is definitely a big factor, and it’s something I’m still growing into and becoming more intentional with. I’ve also found that being in local mom groups and photography groups helps! When someone is looking for a photographer is when I use the opportunity to share my work especially for mini sessions. Having an updated website has been really important, just to have a place where clients can view your work and get a feel for my style and prices. World of mouth has honestly been one of the biggest for me. I’ve had a moment where i was at the park doing a creative shoot and someone came up to us and booked me as photographer for their senior photos. Which was an exciting moment

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Amandamaxine.com
• Instagram: amanda.maxine
• Other: Tik Tok : @amandamaxine

Image Credits

Portrait of Amanda taken by Asia Vassor