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

Amanda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I am so happy as a business owner, it truly is one of the greatest gifts. I’ve owned my business for the last 6 years, and occasionally I do pick up a part-time to fill any gaps throughout slower seasons. And I have to say, anytime I do have a part time job it makes me so incredibly thankful that it’s not something I have to rely on full-time for my income. Being able to make my own hours, be my own boss, and run things in a way that makes the most sense for me are things that will never compare to having that “security” at a 9-5.

Sometimes, I do think about what it would be like if I wasn’t a business owner. I often have these questions during either very slow seasons, where I am worrying about where my income will be coming from that month, or during very busy seasons, where I feel as if I’m missing out personal events when I’m working on weekends. But whenever this comes up, I always remind myself of the benefits of my job – and not just the tangible ones like making my own hours.

My job makes me feel so incredibly fulfilled – every time I come home from a photoshoot or wedding I am just so grateful that I was trusted to photograph something so important and knowing that my work is going to make an impact on someone is the best feeling in the world.

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

My name is Amanda Reed, and I am the founder and lead photographer of Amanda Reed Photos. I am a Vancouver wedding photographer (who will travel anywhere) capturing artful, intentional, and candid imagery of weddings and elopements. I am here to serve my clients – my clients are going to feel like a million bucks, and look like it in their photos, too. I strive to make photography the easiest part of my clients wedding planning process, and help them with anything they need. Every wedding day is approached with care and intention, because I know this is one of the most important days of their life.

I first picked up a camera in high school, but it wasn’t until covid when I began to take it seriously. Now, being behind a camera is where I feel most like myself and it is my joy and honour to be apart of so many love stories and to watch my clients journey through life, from engagements to kids (and be there alongside them to document it).

I am proud of the quality of service I provide, and of the attention I provide my clients. I want them to feel seen, heard, and cared for throughout the entire process.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I first began my business in a different city than I live in now. About a year into starting my business, I had to make an abrupt move back to my hometown, leaving behind the client and vendor relationships I had been nurturing for the entire year. Anyone who owns a business knows that your connections are the most important part – so moving back home where I had no connections in the industry or any clients took a toll on my business. The next year was full of very minimal paid work, and a lot of time and effort spent in meeting new people and establishing myself.

The easy thing for me to do would have been to just give up. I had essentially thrown everything I worked for down the drain and was starting from square one. But instead of throwing in the towel, I chose to go deeper in my business and to work even harder to make up what I had lost. This looked like driving 1.5 hours to downtown Vancouver to meet another vendor for 15 minutes of coffee, connecting with engaged couples through giveaways, and spending hours re-writing blog posts and updating my website to cater to my new location.

I am so proud of myself for not giving up when it seemed almost pointless, and truly am grateful for everything I learned in the process and knowing that I can get through hard times in my business – even when it doesn’t feel ideal for me.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

My biggest is advice is to not overthink it! My second piece of advice is that social media isn’t everything, so don’t put all your energy into it.

Social media is an amazing tool to connect with clients and foster those relationships. But it can also feel like a lot of pressure to post the perfect thing, word your story correctly, or even to understand what hashtags to put on your post. While it is so important to show a beautiful portfolio, it’s better to post something that isn’t 100% perfect than to spend half a day coming up with the most stunning instagram post possible.

I really saw a difference in my social media audience when I started thinking less and starting posting more authentic content. Your clients want you for YOU – of course, they want your service or product, but they are coming to you because of your personality or their connection with you. People want to relate to you, and that’s how you will make the biggest impact on your social media, and in your business

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amandareedphotos.com/
• Instagram: instagra.com/amandareedphotos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandareedphotos/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-reed-49a805316/