We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Bear recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

When I was 10, my mom gifted me a red Kodak Easyshare camera and made me the designated picture taker. As I grew up and entered high school, I knew that I wanted to pursue photography as a hobby and a passion. From there, I would spend hours on Youtube searching for educational resources for beginner photographers. While I learned a lot of technical camera skills through video tutorials, practicing in person with either my friends or models taught me the most. As I enter year 9 of being a photographer, it is crucial to me to continue practicing and perfecting my workflow and craft.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

While I started in the industry as a portrait photographer, I slowly migrated towards weddings and elopements. I started with doing senior portraits for my classmates senior year of high school, and then shifted gears towards weddings when I got to college. When I communicate and work with my clients, I want them to feel as comfortable and normal as possible. As someone who is not a fan of being in front of the camera, I know what it feels like to “freeze up” or feel awkward as you’re getting pictures taken by a stranger. Being authentically myself, giving cheers of support, and relating to my clients I believe has been beneficial to my workflow. I would also say that I treat every wedding like it is the biggest day of my life. You can’t reshoot a wedding, so bring it your all (and your backup batteries and SD cards).

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As the world shut down in 2020, so did I. I was feeling uninspired, drained, and scared for the future. These circumstances resulted in an almost 3 year hiatus for me as a freelance photographer. At the beginning of 2024, I knew I had to pivot out of my anxiety & grief and get myself back out there. Not only did I want to get back into the market, I wanted to get my creative juice back. While starting “new” after a long hiatus was scary and difficult, the opportunities I’ve received in return have been so rewarding as a creative. I fell back in love with capturing love, people, and happiness.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the joy I receive from capturing someone’s most important moments. As little girls, we dream of our fairytale wedding. We imagine all the details, the colors, the venue, and of course, the future spouse! Bearing witness to two becoming one whilst creating feelings through imagery never fails to make me shed tears of happiness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amandabearphotography.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/amndabear

Image Credits

Amanda Bear Photography, LLC