Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ambrie Schumacher. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ambrie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are often hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?
I was contacted by a local musician to essentially come up with an idea for a short promotional video to promote her upcoming single. I was given complete creative control and tasked with building the set. I excel in these situations as complete creative control is any artist’s dream job, right? I built an entire 70’s style living room in the back of a U-Haul… a MOVING U-Haul. The hardest part of this job was securing the furniture to the truck so that the musician wouldn’t get hurt while in motion. I have never used so many zip-ties in my life. After adding the finishing touches and securing all of the props, I was informed I would also be driving said U-Haul. I have never had so much fun on a set; this was the craziest and most creative set I have been a part of. My favorite to date.
Ambrie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
From an outside perspective, most people would define me as a photographer, but I wear many hats. I find myself working in many different areas of the visual arts. I am a photographer, creative director, set designer, and light tech. I have a love for all things creative. I have worked with brand-new models who are just starting their portfolios and with models/musicians/actresses who have been working in the industry basically their entire life. Often, with clients just starting their careers, I hear things like “I’m not photogenic,” “I don’t know how to pose,” and my personal favorite, “What do I do with my hands?”. I love working with these clients, helping them embrace their creative side and pushing them out of their comfort zone. Posing is something I have down to a T. Seeing the reactions to the sneak peeks is everything to me. Working with musicians and brands requires a lot of set design. I build all my sets myself, and I can’t even begin to explain how much dry wall plaster and paint I go through in a month (it’s a lot). I deeply love taking four boring white walls and turning them into a sci-fi fantasy or 70’s MCM dreamscape. There are two things I want potential clients to know about me and my brand. I put my all into every project; on countless nights, I have stayed up all night just cycling through mood boards and building sets with immense excitement. I also want you to know that it doesn’t matter whether you are reaching out for your first professional shoot or you’ve been doing this your entire life; you deserve a photographer who will take their time to pose you, talk you through the set, and make you feel comfortable.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Community! As a baby photographer, I was terrified of contacting other artists for advice. There is an incredible art community not only in person but online! Use online forums, reach out to that local photographer you’ve admired, and ask for help from your community. I have met so many wonderful artists by sending a simple Instagram DM. I have learned so much from these outstanding artists, and they have really helped me find my unique art style.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
It took a few years to learn about social media’s importance and importance (if that makes sense). Social media presence and constant posting are so important, but likes are not everything. As a visual artist, I needed a place to showcase my work, and social media is the place to do that. Consistent and scheduled posting helped me find new clients and more significant collaborations, but I quickly became discouraged if a certain set didn’t get as many likes as others. I had to constantly remind myself that my work’s worth is not gauged by likes on socials. Whether a set gets 100 or 100k likes, I am confident in my work.
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