We were lucky to catch up with Amaris Sachs recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amaris, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Initially I saw how the practice of photography began to open up my world. It made me curious and built a beautiful foundation for how I live life presently.
Backstory: In 2016, my life as I knew it until 18 years old came to a halt. I was a ballet dancer and had to quit. Years of trauma and pain came to the surface at once and I had to make the choice to begin myself over again. I had moved away to spread my wings and soon I found myself back at square one. Choosing to restart my life when it was only supposed to be beginning was the hardest thing i’ve ever done. It is an ongoing process of joy and difficulty. Like all things that matter in life. Art gave me an avenue through which to express my emotions by connecting with others and giving purpose to my art. It also allowed me to express my C-PTSD experience. After quitting ballet and getting a minimum wage job making sandwiches; I began to slowly explore what life meant. Finding through trial and error who I was and what I wanted but giving myself permission to be human. As I began molting out of the old and discovering the new; I realized that I collected many memories, people, passions and dreams along the way. Photography was the first thing I began playing with after that life halt in 2016 and in a way; I grew up alongside the craft. It taught me about myself and how to hold space for others. It was a steady build to a full-time profession in 2022. My first client hired me in 2018. I’ve captured that same client-turned-friend through her engagement, wedding, two babies and have held her children. Being trusted to walk and see others has shown me how to be a more selfless and intentional person. I began full time in my creative path and knew it was what I wanted because of the freedom and personal boundaries it offered me. I also began to travel in small increments and get a taste for the world outside of my home state. I had just graduated college when I went full time in 2022 and had juggled my classes since 2017 online. Traveling and being hired by incredible people on both coasts of the U.S. has shown me how many opportunities are available to me. I love traveling and in fact moved to Portland, OR from Hampton, VA in January of 2023. I dream of visiting Europe soon.
Amaris, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Amaris and at this moment in time; I capture love in all its forms. I work with couples, families, individuals and businesses. My heart is to offer an empathetic experience to those in front of my lens. In my mind, approaching others human to human as photographers is imperative to trust and respect. We’re all unique and have different histories with photos being taken of us. I try to make that very personal experience calm and pleasant. I’m most proud of recently traveling to NYC and working with several dream clients all over the city. I live in Portland, OR with my husband Sam and three cats. I love thrifting, listening to music (alternative/post-punk/post wave) and savoring my days. I spend a lot of time watching movies, creating visual story boards on Pinterest and exploring new places in my city. My heart as a person is to spread warmth and understanding to everyone I interact with both personally and professionally. I know how it feels to experience life and all its joys and pains in an intense way. As an empathetic person; I prioritize building trust in an organic way and working collaboratively with those I capture. I prefer to approach wedding days and project shoots in general with a laid back, documentary approach.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
It’s really important to remember as a wedding photographer/vendor or creative in general that you get to communicate and offer something unique to those around you. Oftentimes, couple’s are getting married for the first time or folks are getting their photos taken for the first time. It’s important to not assume that their questions, anxieties or concerns are about you personally. Or even about your art. Most people just don’t know how it works or what to expect. I had to unlearn this and to approach these conversations or communication tensions with a lighter mood and listening ear. In all honesty, it’s about humbling yourself and meeting those in front of your lens with curiosity instead of just needing them to “get it” immediately or know what’s going on. It’s an opportunity for education and not just an exchange.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Though my following is on the smaller side; I feel so rich. I’ve connected with many individuals on instagram specifically through either following them or interacting with their content. It takes time; but I’d encourage folks to be yourself online when interacting with others. Open yourself up or even just glimpses of who you are to those around you. I’ve always been a yapper and over time; I’ve just showed up more confidently in that online. I’m not for everyone and that’s not a catastrophe. I feel so loved and appreciated by those who have stayed around and who resonate with me and my life. I also make it a priority to invest back into the followers/people who I interact with. The fruit of that has been lasting friendships and lifelong client relationships. Building a following in my mind is about giving and not just receiving. Some tips: grow as a communicator, give genuine compliments or feedback, respond to your direct messages, interact with every comment, and be persistent. It’s the little things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://amaris-creative.com
- Instagram: @amaris___creative
- Facebook: @Amaris Creative
- Other: spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/amaris.mills-us?si=ef783ee3a2e24c3a
