Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Alexander.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amanda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Let’s see, where to begin? I come from a very artistic family. My dad draws (he’s known for his trucks and unicorns, in our family only, it’s actually a joke between us now), my sister is a painter and I’m the photographer. When I was little, I thought I’d be a fashion designer. I’d draw little outfits in my notebook, mimicking the clothes I saw on movies and TV shows. Drawing clothes turned into playing with pastels and in 5th grade, my mom put my sister and I in an after school art class. My sister was in the art room next to ours, where they made little clay things and I was in the photography class. Okay, so we mostly just played with Polaroids and those awful digital cameras that we all thought were the most legit things but I loved it. We would walk around outside and shoot shadows and she taught us how to draw on the photos when they came out of the camera. It’s one of my favorite memories and that’s were my love for the camera started. I’d ask for little disposables of my own and take them to my friends house for “sessions”. There may or may not be photos of us posed with the street pole.
From there, I joined the photography class at my high school were I took photos for the yearbook. Actually getting to learn about the rules of photography and shoot things around the school was thrilling. When the yearbook came out that year, I went through every page and highlighted all the “Photos by Amanda” with so much pride. Since then, the photography was just a dream that was always on the back burner. In high school, when I was 16, I got pregnant with my son, Aidan. When I graduated, I was a mom, an Army wife and not long after that, the new resident of Fort Lewis Army Base in Washington. All I could do was dream of a fancy camera. My husband was deployed for over a year while I was home in a new state, 19 years old, with no family, and just our son. I won’t go into all of the details but after 3 years, we moved back home to Texas and no long after that, we divorced. As a single mom, that camera went from my back burner to the back burner of the kitchen 3 states over. There was no way! I was a third key manager working full time at Gamestop riding the bus for 3 hours a day and barely getting by. Then, I met a man and on our first date, he took me to a garden full of lights just so I could take pictures and be creative. He talked to me about photography and encouraged me to bring my dream in a little closer. That man eventually became my husband and then came our daughter. I might have only had my phone but she was my little model, my tiny muse. My son was not interested in being my subject and hides from me to this very day.
Finally, for my twenty seventh birthday, my mom told me she was going to get me a camera but only if I really pursued photography. She wanted me to start a business. This was it. Here I come world, with my Nikon D5200 and my 35mm lens, I was going to be the next Ansel Adams. Are you laughing? You should be, because I totally wasn’t Ansel Adams those first few months but I soak in all of the knowledge I could. I read blogs and watched Youtube videos all day. I practiced at home and asked people to model for me. From modeling sessions to my first paid session, from my first paid session to my first wedding. It was all really happening. I upgraded my gear, got more gear, went to worksops, second shot, I absorbed it all. Every year, it just grows and part of me is just amazed that it’s all real. I’m a self taught photographer and I’ve worked so hard to get to a place that I never thought was possible for a sixteen year old teen mom.
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all. It’s hard to find people who are willing to help a new photographer. When I first got started, I decided that I was going to email photographers and ask them if I could assist them or help in any way for the chance to learn more. I couldn’t afford a mentor ship with anyone but I genuinely wanted to learn in any way that I could, even if it just meant watching someone and never touching my camera. I think I reached out to a dozen photographers and I only got one response. Cassie Madden is the kindest person I have ever met. She emailed me back asked if I’d like to meet up for coffee and talk about photography. That small gesture still means the world to me to this day. She didn’t have to respond at all but she did. She even invited me along to shadow her on an engagement session not long after that. Since then, Cassie has moved back home to Wyoming and is killing the wedding photography game but I have had the honor of being her official second shooter. Last year, a funny thing happened, I received my own email from a new photography wanting to learn more or just assist for a day. I couldn’t believe it. It was like the world was testing me and telling me to pay it forward. To do what Cassie did for me a few years before. My little student was so much fun and I get so much pride seeing her work grow and change.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Amanda Raylee Photography is my baby. Well, my 4th baby. I shoot families, maternity, newborn lifestyle, fresh 48, engagements and weddings. I think what sets me apart from, is giving my clients the best experience possible. I answer their questions, help choose outfits, lend maternity clients my gowns and I’m always trying to make sure they’re as comfortable as possible during their session. I’m known for my professionalism. I make my wedding clients a timeline for their day by getting together with them over a month beforehand and telling them exactly what we’ll be doing. I’ve had so many brides tell me that they’ve felt so relieved after that meeting because it’s all laid out. I love building friendships with my clients. My first bride even brought me flowers and balloons to her children’s session. It was the sweetest thing ever!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Oh yes! Everything is here. The nature preserves, creeks, downtown buildings, rustic barns. My recommendation to someone just starting out would be to explore. Use your imagination of what a place could be behind your camera. You’d be surprised!
Pricing:
- My portrait session pricing begins at $275
- My wedding pricing begins at $1750
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amandaraylee.com
- Phone: 9724694142
- Email: amanda@amandaraylee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda.raylee
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaRayleePhotography
Image Credit:
Amanda Raylee Photography
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