We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amanda Cil. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amanda below.

Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

Where do I start? I strongly believe that my business has flourished thanks to social media. I began to use Instagram for my business as a portfolio platform to show potential clients my work. I haven’t hired a team or company to manage my social platforms. I feel like social media is my safe space to directly talk to my current clients and my future clients. I love to show them the reality of “the behind the scenes” in a photo session. I try to keep everything as raw as possible. I believe that making a business personable is the best gift one can give to a potential client. Just having insight of a business and being as transparent as possible has helped me a lot. I constantly show behind the scenes stories and reels. But the best part is showing my face to my clients and speaking to them because they know there is another human (just like them) working hard and trying to make them feel like family so they are comfortable during their photo session. Social media has been the channel to show others what goes behind the curtain and I’m beyond grateful for that. Has it been hard? Definitely. Algorithms can be extremely hard and confusing. Finding your ideal niche can also be hard. On the other hand I can assure you that consistency has helped tremendously. And just in general and in life, consistency can change the course of failure to success.

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

I always say that I got to the industry by mistake. I remember it was my first year of college and out of the blue I told my parents that I was going to buy a camera to start taking pictures and I also remember that they laughed at first. Most of my friends also called me crazy and they really thought this was going to be just a hobby, but it wasn’t. I really don’t blame them, I was only 18-19 years old, working a part-time job and going full-time to college. Well, to be honest I also thought it was going to be just a hobby even though at that moment I was seeing it as a great potential business. I remember social media was in all their glory because it was becoming a thing and people were constantly sharing. Sharing what? Exactly, photos. I really saw a bit of potential but I was worried I didn’t have enough free time. Now, I’m so happy I didn’t leave photography on the side and that I kept going even though I wasn’t sleeping at all. I took a photography class at school during those years along with some other courses online that my part-time job helped me pay for. Some of my friends helped by modeling for me, my brother too because I needed a portfolio to show potential clients. My mom and dad also began to help me and the rest is history. Fast forward to 2023 I’m a full time photographer.

Amanda Cil Photos is my baby. Giving birth to my business is one of the best things that has ever happened to me and sharing what I do with others is just the cherry on top of the cake. Amanda Cil Photos has an open range of photography services. We offer portraits for families, couples, businesses and individuals. We also offer maternity, graduation and milestone sessions along with birthday sessions (our favorites). Our images are always colorful and full of life. But Amanda Cil Photos is not about me at all. It’s about my clients being the best version of themselves in front of the camera. I always tell them, “Ustedes son la estrella del show” (you’re the star of the show). And I think that’s what helps me differentiate my business from others, I treat all of my clients as if they were my family because I want them (and their babies) to be comfortable, relaxed and happy. In that way, together, we can create some amazing pictures.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

MY CLIENTS. Definitely my clients. I remember and I always tell those that are just starting a business: you’ll have very frustrating moments. And of course, there were times where all I wanted to do was give-up. When I first began, like I said previously, I was relying on the creation of a portfolio. Because in any business if the buyer is not able to see the product they won’t buy the goods (as simple as that) I took a million pictures before charging for a session because I needed the practice to gain experience and to have samples in order to sell the goods (in this case my photography) After having all that all I needed was the clientele, the hardest part if we are being honest. If you thought that starting a business is hard, let me tell you, that is nothing. Getting clients? That is the most challenging part because there are other people doing the same thing and just because you think you are good doesn’t mean that people will see you the same way. So with the practice my friends started telling their friends and those friends also had friends that wanted to take pictures.

It was a crazy time; I was doing everything and anything to get clients. I had a big sticker on my car. If I ever had a conversation with anybody, I would’ve made sure to drop that I was a “photographer.” And then also social media helped (a lot) But still to this day I rely on the oldest way of promotion: word of mouth. And my clients won’t let me lie. It’s in their hands (or mouths, lol) to help me get to other people. There is no better form of promotion than a happy client. My reputation, again, comes from my clients because they are 100% real when they recommend me.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Ahhhh, the most dreaded question to any business owner. In my case I feel very proud of how I got the funding to start my business. Like I said before, during the first years of starting my business I had a part-time job. It was a part-time job at a fast food restaurant. I started saving some money from my paychecks along with all the tips I made and that’s how I bought my first DSLR camera and my portable studio. From there I began to invest whatever I made taking pictures to upgrade or buy equipment. Did it take me longer to see real profit? Yes. Would I do it all again? Also, yes. I had the blessing to be able to start something off the ground with my very own hands and real savings. Everyone has their own journey and there is no right or wrong. That’s what worked for me and the capital I had at hand in that moment and gave me the push I needed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandacilphotos.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacil.photos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandacilphotos/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cil_llc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amandacil.photos

Image Credits
Amanda Cil Photos, LLC