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

Amy, appreciate you joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

If I could go back in time, I absolutely wish I would have taken the leap into running my photography business full-time MUCH sooner! I started my business (back in 2009) when I was a student at Algonquin College studying Photography. My first wedding client was looking for a college student to capture their big day, they wanted to stay on a tight budget and mentioned that they liked the idea of having photos to help a student build their portfolio—an opportunity I couldn’t resist. That experience was so wholesome and made me realize that weddings were where my heart was. However, after graduating Photography, I furthered my education and took Business Management and Entrepreneurship at Algonquin. I kept photography as a side hustle while always just taking what felt like the “safe” route chasing jobs that provided a steady paycheque.

So, for over a decade, I juggled full-time jobs and my growing photography business, which often led to a terrible work-life balance and occasional burnout. It wasn’t until January 2023, when I was laid off during the large tech industry layoffs, with the support and motivation from my husband, that I finally took the plunge into pursuing my photography business full-time.

Looking back, I can see how much I held myself back out of fear. Starting sooner would have meant more freedom, a healthier work-life balance, and the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the creative side of my work. The shift to full-time has allowed me to build a streamlined workflow for my wedding and corporate clients, deliver exceptional results, and attract the most incredible clients who truly align with me and my style.

While I can’t change the past, I’m grateful for the journey that brought me here. The timing taught me resilience and reinforced my passion for photography. To anyone thinking about taking a risk to follow their passion, I’d say go for it and don’t wait—you never know how much it might change your life!

Amy, 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?

I’m Amy, an Ottawa-based photographer with a passion for capturing love stories and corporate events.

My journey into photography began out of college, with a few weddings to photograph on the books,. I also dove into working as a wedding planner for a couple of amazing companies. Planning and coordinating weddings was inspiring, but it was the joy of documenting those moments that truly lit a fire in me, and really solidified my love for documenting weddings. I broke into event photography when I was asked to photograph a few charity events as a sponsor. The events I got to sponsor at the kick start of my photography journey were so inspiring, and it felt so impactful to deliver images to a brand that elevated their event to their guests after.

I specialize in wedding photography that’s bright, airy, and full of genuine, candid moments with movement-based prompts that feel natural. (I often work with videographers and hate wasting a client’s precious time on their wedding day needing to repeat poses for both vendors.) My approach is all about making clients feel comfortable and creating authentic moments where their love for one another shines through.

When clients receive their wedding gallery, they’re not just getting photos; they’re getting a chance to relive those butterflies and warm fuzzies over and over again. I deliver sneak peeks within 12 hours (yes, they’ll wake up the next morning already swooning over coffee and photos!) and full wedding galleries in just 10-14 days. Why so fast? Because I know how much they want to keep that wedding high alive while the memories are fresh and raw.

For my corporate clients, I bring the same energy and attention to detail. Whether it’s professional branding photos or event coverage, I create visuals that hit the branding brief and deliver them within 24-48 hours. Fast turnaround times are my jam!!

One of the things I’m most proud of is my lightning-fast turnaround times. This year, my sneak peek galleries averaged 12 hours (yes, really!). My corporate clients love how quickly they can start using their photos for marketing, and my wedding clients adore reliving their day while the emotions are still fresh.

But it’s not just about speed—I’m all about balancing efficiency with quality. Fast deliverables mean I can dazzle my clients while still making time for my family and finding that ever-elusive work/life balance.

Branching Out; Beyond photography, I’ve expanded into a couple of other creative ventures.

– Automatically Amy: I’m a Business Automation Specialist for Creatives! I help fellow entrepreneurs streamline their client management systems so they can focus on what they love most. Problem-solving and creativity? Heck yes!! I am even co-hosting a casual hands-on workshop exclusively for wedding photographers to tackle CRM challenges, get organized and make the most of the off season!!

Art Scanning Services: As a parent of a school-aged daughter, those bins of artwork pile up fast! So I offer professional scanning to preserve little one’s masterpieces, display them digitally, and even create curated yearbooks combining their artwork with family photos. I love the idea of helping parents celebrate their children’s art and create an environment that cheers on their creativity from a young age!

Maybe not applicable to this section but: My clients inspire me every day. Whether I’m photographing a wedding, a corporate event, or helping creatives streamline their businesses, I’m honored to be part of these journies. I’m also so proud of the balance I’ve struck in my life between a thriving business and a full, happy personal life.

Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?

It does! I LOOOOVE this question!

I am a Business Automation Specialist for Creatives, I jumped into the corporate world as a Project Executive for NielsenIQ, where I developed a passion for helping my team streamline workflows to impress clients and other COE Executives. I now work as a full-time Ottawa Wedding Photographer and get to offer my services as an Automation Specialist for Creative Business Owners. I am co-hosting a FREE in-person workshop (exclusively for wedding photographers) to tackle CRM challenges, get organized and make the most of the off-season, I’m so excited about it. Automatically Amy is the balance of my love for creativity, helping people, and problem-solving. I get to use my expertise and work with businesses to get their client management system working seamlessly.

I also offer a premium scanning service for parents and guardians that are looking to archive yet cherish their children’s artwork. I offer parents the opportunity to outsource scanning to a professional, they can then display the art in their home digitally, or create curated yearbooks with their art and family photos! It also is an amazing way to tell children that their art matters beyond the fridge showcase.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Ultimately, I think it’s the combination of being personable, professional, and attentive that has allowed me to build a reputation as someone who goes above and beyond for my clients. They know I’m dedicated not just to delivering stunning photos, but also to making the entire experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible.

My commitment to fast turnaround times and clear communication is also something that has earned me a strong reputation. Clients have often mentioned that they were impressed with how quickly they received their photos, which is something I prioritize to help relieve the stress that comes with waiting for those precious memories.

I’ve been able to build my reputation primarily by staying true to my values and fostering authentic connections with my clients. One of the things that consistently comes through in my feedback is that I create an experience that goes beyond just taking beautiful photos. Many of my clients have commented on how my energy and warm personality help to ease any nerves, making them feel at ease and allowing for more natural, candid moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amygodin.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amygodinphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyGodinPhotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amygodin/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/automaticallyamy

Image Credits

(for clarity, the image credit just for the portrait of me, all the other images are mine)

Photography by Emma, https://photographybyemma.ca/