We were lucky to catch up with Amelia Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amelia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Before Covid I was enjoying being a flight attendant and working my photography part-time. I guess you can say I was having my cake and eating it too. I was enjoying my travels around the world while enjoying my passion at the same time. There were many times I toiled with the idea of quitting my airline job of twenty-three years to make my part-time my full-time. However, the “what ifs” always corrupted my thoughts. “What if I can’t make enough money to pay my bills?” What if I can’t maintain my clientele?” “What if I fail?”. Those “what ifs” were my fears. Those fears kept me working in the airline while working my passion part-time until the economical downfall due to Covid. My airline, Express Jet Airlines was one of many companies that closed their doors due to Covid. When that happened, I had to fight off my fears and regroup. So, I emptied my 401k, paid off all my bills, leaving only my mortgage and student loans to start my journey as a full-time photographer. Now I don’t suggest anybody else to do the same thing, but since I was not married with no children and fifty years old, I decided it was best for me. I reinvested money I didn’t spend on bills in my business and bought stocks. The first six months I took advantage of all the free education that was being provided during quarantine. I registered my company as an LLC, and I started to execute a new business plan. Now I am one year in earning a full-time living from my creative work and wishing I had done it sooner.

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

My love for photography started when I was six years old. After months of begging, my father finally allowed me to take my first photo on his Nikon camera. From there, I couldn’t control my desire to capture every moment, and every experience with a photograph.

It wasn’t long before my love for the camera transcended into an admiration for fashion. Coming from three generations of seamstresses, I learned about fabric textures, design, and style at an early age. When a photographer suggested I should become a fashion model at the age of 17, I ran to the opportunity. And for twenty plus years, I graced the runway stages and fashion houses in New Orleans, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, and, eventually, Atlanta. During my time as a model, I studied from the same photographers that photographed me.

After a divorce I decided to go back to school to get my MBA in Marketing, and a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in order to run an efficient photography business.

Today, I am a published Fashion, Portraits, and Event photographer based in Atlanta. My creative images
have been featured in many fashion publications and literary novels. I have also exhibited my images at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta
Fulton County Public Library, Hammonds House Museum, and other local businesses in Atlanta.
.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I mentioned, my life like everyone else’s was turned upside down when Covid hit. However, I was already going thru a life transformation before Covid. In 2013, I lost both of my parents back-to-back. My mother died on September 14 then my father died unexpectedly on October 26th, a day after my mother’s birthday. Losing a parent is trauma enough, but both? That was literally heartbreaking. Especially when I lost my father. I was and still is a daddy’s girl. My father was my heart. Our personalities and characteristics are almost the same. It was him who first introduced me to photography. It was a passion we both shared. But when he died part of me died with him including some of my passion for the art. It took me a long time to take photographs with enthusiasm because every time I picked up my camera, I thought of my father and that grief would hit me all over again. Before my parents’ death, I took family portraits with joy in my heart. After my parents’ death, it was a continued jab in my heart that my parents were no longer here. It was a continued reminder I would never be able to take a photo or share in new milestone moments with them.

When I lost my job due to Covid and decided to take my photography full-time, I had to readjust not only my personal life but my business. Covid was a curse and a blessing at the same time. A curse because I along with many others have lost family members and friends from the virus. A blessing because the quarantine has started an uprising of new entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs who need help in marketing and who needed to increase their social media presence. That is where my new business plan comes in play. While I still take those beautiful family portraits, I now help business owners with their marketing through photos and marketing strategies. Plus, it taps into the moral foundation my father instilled in me. He would say the focus on money will not bring enrichment, being a good steward to others will. Photographer, content marketer and marketing consultant are now my new titles. Finally, my passion was restored.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Staying aligned with being a good steward to others, I am focused on giving back. Although I have no children, I want to leave a legacy in my parent’s name. This year I have started the work to establish the Haynes Foundation. Each year the foundation will give a monetary award to two senior students at my high school alma mater, Drexel Prep (formerly known as Xavier Prep High School) in New Orleans. This foundation is my way of honoring my parents and the school that made me the woman I am today. My father thought me courage, confidence and resilience. My mother thought me self-respect and the importance of prayer. Drexel Prep, an all-female African American catholic school thought me how to walk with pride, respect and power. When I approached the school about my agenda, I was adamant that this is not a scholastic award. I want this award to go to two senior students that go above and beyond to give back to their classmates. Someone who their classmates look up to for encouragement. Basically, someone who is a steward to their senior class. This is what is driving me to continue the elevation of my business, because the award money is coming from a percentage of my earnings. My blessings are their blessings. This is my joy and the driving force to succeed in my creative journey. I just pray that it influences my award recipient to pay it forward in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.photographybyameliadesign.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ameliadesign1
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/photographybyameliadesign
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/ameliadesign1