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

Amandine, we appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission: what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I always say that I’m more than a photographer. because I offer more than just a photoshoot with beautiful pictures. It’s a container, and I’m just the spaceholder. It’s an invitation to be your most authentic self in a society that doesn’t really give you space to do that. That doesn’t adapt the environment to the individual, but asks the individual to adapt. to experience oneself in a new way and to connect with or reconnect with one’s own essence.

Who are you really? What is alive for you in this moment?

It’s a reclamation. A liberation. a healing experience.

It’s when you realise that you’re beautiful. I’m just the mirror, reflecting your own beauty, joy, and light. Most people tell me afterwards that this is the first time they really see themselves. Who they really are.

I’m only here to shine a light on what already exists in you and in each of us. I’m here to love you and give you strength on the days when you can’t love yourself or see how beautiful you are. I’m a support system.

How it began:

I’ve been taking pictures since I was 16 years old. In my 20s, I left everything I knew about my life and my country and went to Montreal, Canada. I spent three years there trying to fit into a system that wasn’t designed for me in the first place. But it was all I knew. So I forced myself to be like everyone else and immigrate there because I thought it would make me happier. I outsourced my happiness instead of looking inward.

I took a 9-to-5 job, applied for residency, made friends, went to parties, etc.

COVID happened, I got fired for the seventh time, and then I lost my work visa. I had to leave Canada, and I had nowhere to go back to in my own country. I was really struggling with my mental health. I didn’t know who I was or where I was going. I was so lost that it was difficult to even be found.

And then, randomly, someone I didn’t know reached out on Instagram to offer me a room in Mexico. I didn’t know anything about this country, but I had nothing to lose. I took the plunge and went. I found my way back to photography, realised this was my life’s work, moved to Playa Del Carmen, and started my own business while figuring out who I was, restlessly working on myself, discovering I was on the autism spectrum, and building my dream life as a nomadic soul essence photographer. So many things happened in between. The journey is truly more beautiful than the destination.

It was a nice ride, even if it was chaotic at times. During my process, I realised how beautiful I was and how many people didn’t even know they were beautiful, didn’t know who they were, and tried to fit into a system like I did in Montreal. So I decided to incorporate awareness into my photography so people could experience the kind of life and breakthroughs that I experienced on my journey.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights, and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that, can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Amandine, and I’m a soul-essence photographer.

I offer healing experiences for people through the art of photography. I’ve been taking photos since I was 15 years old, intermittently. It has always been a passion.

In 2018, I started AMANDINE LOUIS PHOTOGRAPHY, my independent photography business. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always taken photos. It’s like I’m breathing.

It’s so natural for me that I don’t really remember how it started.

I’m able to shine a light on the beauty of the people that are going through my container. So many people don’t know themselves really well or are disconnected from themselves, their sensuality, their bodies, and their confidence. I’m here as a reminder to remember how beautiful they are. I’m here to help them heal their lack of confidence and to spread love and joy in their lives.

My experiences are different because, first of all, it’s a playful time. We are here to have fun and laugh. And then it’s a healing space where we explore parts of ourselves. We rediscover our essence and our sensuality.

What I’m most proud of is the way I hold space for people. After many years of inner work on myself, I was able to reach the depths of my own essence, allowing me to now hold people in the space, whatever may arise.

I believe I provide a lot of value to people with my container.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth; can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn everything I knew about what life is supposed to look like. I had to learn what I liked, who I was, and what I wanted instead of what I should want.

I had to learn that it’s going to work out in the most perfect way for me, even if it doesn’t look like it; even if I went into my business in Mexico with zero savings; even if everyone told me I needed to get more rational; even if everything seemed difficult; even if nothing made sense.

I had to close my ears and not listen to anyone other than myself.

Every day, I had to believe in myself, my mission, and my vision. I had to keep going and pick myself up off the floor, even on the days I wanted to give up so badly. I was also full of fears—fears of failure, of lack of money, of not having enough. But I did it despite my fears. I had to rewire my brain about all the limited beliefs I’d been exposed to as a child. Such as, I can’t have this nomadic life in Mexico; I will never find the clients; no one wants to invest now, especially in photoshoots; and I should come back to my country and take a 9-to-5 because this way of living wasn’t sustainable or safe enough.

I had to unlearn everything I knew and rewire my brain to believe that the kind of life I wanted was achievable, that so many other people already succeeded and are leaving this life, so if it’s working for them, why not for me?

I had to learn that life could be lived on my own terms.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

More than six months after arriving in Mexico, I’ve changed apartments and moved in with a friend, and we’ve been robbed. They took literally everything I’ve owned, even my camera. I couldn’t work anymore.

I was breaking down. I had literally no money because I was starting my business here and I was living client to client. So at first, I didn’t know what to do.

Then I decided that I would not let this drown me. I came from too far away to give up, especially now that I have clients and can finally make a living from my own art and business. Those kinds of moments, where I’m on my knees and completely breaking down, are usually my fuel to go further. It’s giving me the energy and strength to continue. I think a part of me died that day. And like the Phoenix, I’ve been reborn from the ashes of my old self.

I reached out on Instagram and WhatsApp to literally everyone I knew. I explained the situation. I organised a fundraising event. I asked for help and support. And I discovered solutions.

And I’ve received so much help in all sorts of ways. I was able to buy a new camera and go back to work only one week later. I’ve rebranded all my businesses, and I’ve created some new offers.

This incident was really traumatic, but it made me stronger. It propelled my company even further than before.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandinelouisphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandinelouis.photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.509098/

Image Credits
All the photos are mine