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

Amanda , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I am very happy being a business owner and with the freedom it allows. I built my business to allow me to have as much time as possible with my family, but also be able to provide nicely for them. I had regular jobs as a teen and a very young adult and knew that type of schedule and obligation to someone else was not what I wanted for my life. Photography has given me the ability and reason to travel, stay connected to my first love of ballet, and be able to homeschool my three daughters. I have to work hard and nearly every day for three months out of the year, but then the rest of the year I’m able to teach ballet and schedule photo sessions that fit with the lifestyle I want to lead. I’ve never looked back and thought a regular job would somehow be better. I love that I control my schedule, my daily routine, and the creative freedom dance and photography allow.

Amanda , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I came out of the womb wanting to dance. I can remember being so very little in my Montessori school watching a group of girls get ready for their off-site ballet class. I so wanted to be a part of that group. My mom put me in my first dance class when I was 8 years old. I took local ballet classes and began dancing with the Georiga Ballet when I was 16 under the direction of Iris Henley. I spent summers in New York City dancing at Steps, Broadway Dance Center, and David Howard. One highlight, was when David Howard was out unexpectedly and Gelsey Kirkland was his substitute. The pianist was late and she hummed the music for the combos until he arrived. I started teaching ballet when I was 19 and I’ve been teaching ever since. Currently, I’ve been at Impact Dance of Atlanta for 23 years. For college, I decided to study photography at Georgia State University. It was a very conceptual program. The Showcase School of Photography is where I learned the most about the business side of photography. I also attended the Creative Circus, numerous educational workshops, and am a certified professional photographer from PPA (Professional Photographers of America). In 2004, I merged the passions of photography and dance and photographed my first school’s recital portraits. The second year I added another school, the third year two more, and on… I photograph for over 20 schools in the metro Atlanta area and travel to North Carolina and St. Augustine each spring for recital portraits. I spend the rest of the year teaching and photographing aspiring professionals and professional dancers for audition photos, headshots, and portfolio builds for summer programs and job auditions. My years of teaching give me a firm advantage for recital portraits. That’s my world! I’m able to organize the groups, run the session, and encourage the kids in a fun way, and I know exactly what the pose should look like. I work with each student to be sure we have the best shot they can get. During professional sessions, I’ve been told many times how nice it is to have someone on the other side of the camera that can give corrections, and knows how to get the best lines for the photograph. I love what I do, and I try to bring that fun and creativity to each session.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Being genuinely kind to people is always a great start. It makes people happy to be around you. I love teaching, and I believe it shows in everything I do. Photographing dancers is an extension of that teaching. I’m constantly correcting posture, giving tips on how to execute the pose, and how to look best for the camera (which can be different than looking the best for the stage). Clients appreciate my knowledge, expertise, and attention to detail. Many of my early clients were my students, then other dancers from studios that met me during spring recitals started coming to me for additional photographs throughout the year. I enjoy doing promo sessions with the studio’s company kids or a select few of their talented dancers. That helps establish a relationship that further helps with word-of-mouth referrals. Instagram is a great tool for showcasing work, but nothing beats one dance mom talking to another dance mom.

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

Photography equipment is expensive! However, I decided not to go with the cheapest equipment to start. I wanted equipment that would last and would do the job well from the beginning. I figured out my price list for the first job based on what my equipment was going to cost. I put it on a credit card. When that first job was complete I was then able to pay off that credit card.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandaneeley.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amnphotographyatl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaNeeleyAMNPhotography

Image Credits
AMN Photography