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

Hi Amber, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Success begins with faith and a dream. I would love to share that all of my achievements come from above. None of this would be possible with faith in my God. I truly believe we were created to learn and grow until our mind and body can no longer. It all starts with a dream. Behind that dream there is a drive or as I like to call it, grit. You want something bad enough that you will fail over and over again in order to reach success. You must go into any dream knowing there will be failure along the way. It is inevitable and unavoidable. The only way to avoid failure is by quitting. I have always accepted that I will fail along the way and believe that this mindset has helped me so much in getting back up and moving forward. Along the way that dream you originally had will likely change and evolve. Once you achieve a dream, you set a new goal to chase.

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

I am a Minnesota/Wisconsin based (I live on the boarder) lifestyle photographer. I focus on capturing the true and authentic connection between loved ones. I love photographing seniors, families, maternity, and newborn, both in-home and outdoor. When photographing others, I make sure to photograph what I would want to remember in that very moment of my life. As a wife and mother to three boys, I want to remember the little moments we have together and the love we share for years to come. Thinking of what I want for myself helps me to bring those moments to life for my clients.

I began photography 5 years ago when I purchased my first camera, a Canon Rebel. At that time, my only goal was to photograph my three small boys and document our days together all while learning to use my camera and learn how to edit. About 6 months into my journey a friend reached out asking if I would take their fall photos and I guess they would say “The rest is history.”

I am now a mentor and educator for other photographers, both in-person and all over the nation via zoom. I am also offering my very first workshop in 2023 with another talented photographer here in Minnesota. I have always known since the very beginning that I wanted to teach someday and to finally see that happen has been nothing short of amazing.

There are so many reasons I love photography but I have to say the part I love most is getting to build so many relationships with so many wonderful people and fellow photographers. Relationships I have gained I know I wouldn’t have found if it weren’t for photography.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

As I mentioned before, I began by photographing my original muse, my boys. Through it all, I have had the most supporting husband. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for his unending support. As I learned and grew my art, I began having friends on social media reach out asking if they could hire me to take their photos. I had never intended for those friends to pay me for the photos but they all insisted and a few months later I nervously created my social media page and my very first website. This “hobby” quickly went from just that to my full time career. I have loved learning all things photography since I began. I was told early on that I needed to find my “style” and while I feel this is true I also feel my “style” is ever changing. I feel art is ever changing. I suggest that anyone pursuing an art like photography should find what they love to photograph, never stop learning, and most of all be authentically you! Some will love it and some won’t but they will all see through your art to see if it is the real you.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I would say my biggest reward is showing my boys that we can follow our heart and not what society tells us we need to follow or do. All three of my boys are very creative in their own ways. I encourage all of their creativity and can’t wait to see all they do in their lives. I assure them often that I support any route they plan to go and will be their biggest cheerleader along the way!

Not only has this creative outlet been so good for me on so many different levels, it also is now helping to support my family which is something I never dreamed could happen when I picked up my first camera. Now I have other photographers hiring me to help mentor them through their journey. Teaching and mentoring others is so very rewarding and is something I have wanted to do for a while now. I love helping others and cheering them on as they learn and grow just as my mentors continue to do for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amberthorson.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/amberthorsonphoto
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/amberthorsonphoto