Local StoriesDecember 22, 2022

Conversations with Amanda Swanson

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Swanson.

Hi Amanda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started photography in 2012 during my junior-year high school photography class. I realized the power of an image while my paternal grandmother was dealing with the effects of Alzheimer’s. Photos helped bring her back to us when looking through the stacks of pictures and albums around her room that contained past parties, reunions, celebrations, and weddings. I was astounded at what could trigger a memory (almost like it was some superpower) and how precious moments could be captured on those prints. From there, I learned how to use a DSLR, honed my knowledge, and graduated high school. I jumped head first into getting a degree in photography at Pellissippi. I graduated with an Award of Merit in Photography, and in 2016 started my own business, proud of what I learned from all my teachers.

Fast forward to 2022. I’ve run my small business for a total of 6 years now! I got here thanks to my teachers, friends, and family, who supported me. I had my business part-time from 2016 to 2021, and I was afraid to leap into going full-time and making this my primary source of income. But now, since August 23, 2021, I’ve successfully run my business full-time! My photography has evolved each year since 2012, and I’ve created my sense of style not only by capturing important memories but also now by capturing fantasy work with a sense of vivid life and cinematics. I even get to teach photography right where I was taught at Pellissippi to students who want to learn to capture the world in their unique way. I always tell myself never to stop improving, and I love to live by that.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a smooth road to a point, for sure. I’m grateful that there have been many more good days than bad, but there have been a couple of struggles with owning a business. Who doesn’t have challenges when doing your own thing?

First, managing money and making sure you’re making the right income. Making sure I wasn’t overcharging or undercharging was a struggle initially. Long story short, I have fixed it to where I can live comfortably while also not charging an arm and a leg from my clients. Second, I’ll admit I struggled with maintaining a schedule and keeping things timely when submitting products to clients. As a photographer, the dreaded backlog can bite us in the butt when we least expect it. Especially with a lot of work and life getting in the way, or in my case, I used to work on a very dinky laptop that had me editing slower than pouring molasses. But I’m doing way better now than in my early years with a better-running computer. I can edit even faster now, especially when working with composites, which means better turnaround times for my awesome clients.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a professional photographer, I do just about all types of photography, but I specialize in Cosplay and Wedding photography the most. They are on different ends of the photography spectrum, but both mean a lot to me, and I love working in both in different ways while still keeping my style.

Creating almost cinematic feels and making your clients look like they’re in a different world while also helping them feel that they look amazing as they are dressed one of the best things in being creative in the cosplay photography business. With my Cosplay Photography, I’m very concise in making sure each character or design that a client brings to me to photograph fits the scene that I take them to and that I get the best poses to suggest to my clients to encapture that character! For instance, I want to use cool grungy areas if I do a photoshoot for a client who is a superhero or villain (Like Black Widow or Scarlet Witch from Marvel Comics). Cool fighting poses or stoic looks and editing powers for my client to have a cinematic and out-of-world feel to their images. OR if I do a photo shoot for someone who is being a Disney princess, I would do the exact opposite and maybe take them to a location that gives off a more soft and ethereal feel, depending on which princess! There is an unlimited end to the possibilities of what kind of characters I get to shoot, what effects I get to add in composite editing, and what feeling each album I finish gives off.

With my Wedding Photography, I love telling a story throughout the day and capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments for my clients, and even capturing what isn’t expected. Each wedding gets to tell a story in its special way, and cataloging those little moments that make the big day is what I live for. Getting crisp details of the bride’s bouquet, the rings, and the kiss during the ceremony that every wedding calls for. But then there are the moments we don’t expect. I’ve had the honor of capturing the high five of the bride’s father and the groom after an awesome ceremony to capturing the singing of a bride during the reception in an ode to her father, who had passed 4 years before. Each wedding I have done takes my breath away, and I love getting to know the people just as much as capturing them.

I’m proud of my crisp, colorful style in both photography types I specialize in. I’m also proud of what sets me apart from others in my photography editing style: being personable with my clients and getting to know them, whether a wedding client, cosplay client or any photography client. I always love getting to know who I work with because they’re more than just a client, which enhances what I get to create with them.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is, as I’ve mentioned previously, never to stop improving. Photography is constantly changing, whether it be new equipment to learn about, using unique trade skills, or making different adjustments to your editing workflow. Stagnant work is never fun, and trying new and different things to improve your work can make you feel refreshed, and that shows in the work you give to others.

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