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

Amber, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

If I were to start over today the very first thing I would do is find my niche. I’m a creative person so when I was starting out I had an incredibly hard time narrowing down what it was I wanted to do exactly. For this reason I’ve struggled to find my true place. I do interior design, I paint, I bake, I do photography, I do party design, and if I’m being completely honest it’s been a struggle to narrow down my spot in the creative industry.

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

I have always been an incredibly creative person so I always knew that to thrive I needed to do something where I could think freely. My passions are interior design, baking, photography and party planning so I really try to incorporate as many of those avenues into my work as possible. I think something that sets me apart is that I truly just love doing what I do and I don’t ever think it should be unattainable or too expensive for anyone and I will always work within any budget. I remember not being able to afford family pics so I had a friend do them for us and it meant the world to me. I couldn’t afford the cute bows and outfits for my girls, so I made them, but I understand that not everyone has the creative gene that makes that possible. So I want to give back to others in the hopes that I can help in just a tiny way!

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 suffer from something called Imposter Syndrome and it has made it incredibly hard to believe in my own abilities or to accept any praise at all. I’ve had to really learn to trust in my self and believe when I’m given a compliment that it comes from a place of goodness. Learning how to silence the negativity and accepting the praise has been a huge struggle for me.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I truly believe that the most effective strategy is word of mouth and good communication. Do a good job, don’t price gouge, keep communication open, and you’ll have repeat customers time and again.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/justamberarnold
• Facebook: Amber Arnold photography and design