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

Amanda, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

My first dollar as a creative came from my fabulous friend and client, Elisabeth. Liz approached me for a portrait session, which I jumped at the opportunity, as I was just starting to explore my passion for studio photography and experimenting with color. Over the last several years, we have continued to collaborate and grow as artists. It’s been wild to witness her transformation into a successful entrepreneur, running her own thriving brow business, Esor. I’m incredibly grateful to have clients and friends like Liz who always believed in my vision and have been a constant source of inspiration.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

While I have always had an interest in photography, and I dabbled in black and white film photography in college. It was always a hobby I would pick up here and there. My interest in studio photography began in 2017 with the support from my family. They knew about my passion for photography from an early age and encouraged me to rekindle that passion and pursue it more seriously. I decided to take the plunge and buy some affordable equipment off Amazon. One of the most memorable aspects of my early journey was shooting with my sisters. As I built up that confidence, I began to network with other creatives in my community to collaborate on projects. To this day, some of my favorite portraits have been from my first year of shooting. I think what set it apart from others at the time was the fact that we would combine our ideas to create a set, a scene, and a story. I didn’t want to take a model or client and shoot them in front of a landscape or cityscape. I was living in West Texas at the time, so bringing those glamorous concepts to life was beyond rewarding. I also have to give credit to my models and clients for coming to me and trusting me to bring their ideas to fruition.

At this point in my life, working a full-time tech job and photographing on the weekends, it can be difficult to find the time and energy to come up with original concepts. I have put a lot of personal projects on the back burner, but I know I will revisit them when the time is right.

I love studio photography and experimenting with color and lighting, which is what I mainly get booked for. I think clients enjoy the privacy and comfort of being able to step into a space that allows them to be in the spotlight. Whether it’s taking headshots for another creative, a student wanting their senior portraits to stand out, or just embodying an alter ego, it’s a beautiful journey that I’m grateful to be a part of.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

As a creative who strives for perfection in every piece of work I produce, the amount of time and effort involved can be quite significant, especially when balancing multiple jobs.

Before even picking up the camera or starting a project, there’s quite a bit of planning involved (conceptualizing the idea and visualizing the end result). As much as I’m inspired by my clients, I’m not always able to come up with fresh ideas. I want each session to be unique to each individual. I’ll spend hours on Pinterest and Youtube, study trends, and try new techniques. This process is time-consuming, but crucial if I want to continue to create work that stands out. The post-production process allows me to enhance colors, retouch, and remove any backdrop distractions. This stage can be particularly time-consuming because I perfect every detail.

Balancing 2 jobs isn’t always ideal. It’s not just about squeezing in editing during breaks and evenings after my 9-5 job; it’s about carving out time to focus on future projects and making sure I don’t hit burn out. I plan on documenting my entire process to help my clients and non-creatives understand how much work goes into an hour long photoshoot. The ability to bring ideas to life and create something unique and impactful is what keeps me going.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think the first step is acknowledging the value that artists and creatives bring to the community. A lot of creatives work 24/7 and there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. I think we forget that artists don’t just produce a product, they’re also constantly churning out new ideas, networking, learning, supporting, and creating content to showcase new work. Supporting artists can be as simple as sharing their post on your story, showing up at local events, giving credit where it’s due, paying their worth, supporting a new artist or business, and even providing affordable spaces, access to equipment, and materials.

When I first moved to Austin, I was a little intimidated trying to build a clientele and name for myself. I was fortunate enough to meet a lot of amazing and encouraging creatives and entrepreneurs that were building their own brand/empires. I am so thankful for those who have worked with me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/manderbot

Image Credits
6th b&w image by Xtina @xtinafi on IG 4th/5th images of me by Ella @ellaselva on IG 3rd behind the scenes pink photo by Mandy @heymissmandy