Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Johnson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My love for photography actually started in fifth grade when I did a school project on Ansel Adams. I instantly fell in love with his work and how unique his images were. Soon after that I got my first digital camera and started taking pictures of absolutely everything.
By high school, photography had become more than just a hobby. I had a friend whose parents were professional photographers, and they took me under their wing and taught me not only more about photography, but also about the business side of it. They took my senior pictures and helped shape what I hope to provide my seniors with today, an experience they will remember even more than the photos. (my own favorite memory was riding my grandmother’s vintage bike down a hidden road in my hometown.) My senior year is when my business started, I took several of my friends senior pictures, we would spend the afternoon driving all around town with a trunk full of their favorite outfits.
I went to college for education and became a teacher, so for several years I was balancing teaching with photography. I loved teaching, but photography continued to grow in the background. Eventually, I took the leap and made photography my full-time career.
I’ve photographed seniors throughout that entire journey, and over the years I’ve really found my niche in creating senior sessions that feel like an experience rather than just a photo shoot. Many of my seniors travel to the Tampa Bay area for their sessions and that has become one of my favorite parts of what I do.
Since going full-time, I’ve also started a personal project called 50 from 50. It’s essentially a photography bucket list: my goal is to photograph a senior from every state in the United States. It has been such a fun way to combine my love of travel, photography, and seniors, and it’s introduced me to people and places I never would have encountered otherwise. Currently I’ve checked off 16 and still have 34 to go!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges was making the transition from photography being something I did on the side to making it my full-time career. Leaving the security of a teaching job and trusting that I could support myself through photography was a pretty big leap that I took years to make.
There have been seasons where I’ve had to figure things out as I went. Photography isn’t just taking pictures. You’re running a business, marketing yourself, communicating with clients, keeping up with technology and social media, and constantly trying to grow while still making sure you’re giving your clients a great experience.
As a photographer, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that more sessions, more clients, and more bookings automatically mean you’re doing better. Over the years, I’ve had to become much more intentional about the kind of business I want to build and the kind of work I actually enjoy.
The best part of owning a business is the freedom it brings to live life how you want. For me, building a business that supports the life I want to live has become just as important as growing the business itself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in senior portrait photography and have been photographing seniors since 2011. My business is focused entirely on creating senior portrait experiences that feel personal, adventurous, and true to the person in front of my camera.
I’m based in the Tampa Bay area and work primarily in St. Petersburg and along the Gulf Coast. A big part of my business is working with seniors who travel to Florida for their sessions. I love that I get to combine two things I love, photography and exploring new places, and give seniors an experience that is completely different from what they might get at home.
I’m best known for candid, editorial-style senior portraits with a lot of movement and natural interaction, along with my signature sunset editing style. I don’t want my seniors to feel like they’re spending hours being told exactly how to stand and smile. I want them to feel like themselves. Some of my favorite images are the ones where they’re laughing, running through the water, or just soaking in the moment.
I think senior year is such a special time because you’re standing between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming. What sets me apart most is that I genuinely care about the person I’m photographing, not just the photographs we’re creating. My goal is for every senior to walk away feeling more confident and knowing they were truly seen. I’m there to be their biggest fan behind the camera while creating images that take them right back to this chapter of their life years from now.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I have been very lucky to have people in my life who encouraged me and helped educate me along the way to get me to where I am today.
I’ve also been lucky to have opportunities come along that I never could have planned for, like all of the seniors traveling to Florida for their sessions I’ve been able to connect with.
Luck only gets you so far. You have to put in the work and be willing to recognize an opportunity when it comes along and take the risk to pursue it.
Pricing:
- Senior portrait sessions have an average investment of $500+.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amanda-dawn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelinggingerphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelinggingerphoto
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/travelinggingerphoto
