Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Wagner.
Hi Amanda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My photography business really started out as a hobby when I was finishing my MBA; a creative release if you will. I was living in Japan at the time and I was really unsure what I was going to do when I graduated. I grew up with a societal mindset that “I needed to get a normal, well-paying job,” but as I got closer and closer to graduating, while also I realized the traditional path just wasn’t going to be for me.
So I dove headfirst into creating a sustainable business. It was honestly a lot of trial and error in the beginning. I dabbled in Family, couples, maternity and newborns before pivoting to Brand Photography in 2019. That’s when the magic really started to happen, I like to say. When you find something that you are truly passionate about, it doesn’t feel so limiting or monotonous. I eventually decided to take what I learned in Business school and my own experience of building a profitable business to start helping other entrepreneurs scale theirs with Consulting Services.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I totally laughed reading this question. I think any entrepreneur can agree that it’s never a “smooth” road. Even with education and experience, there’s always something that won’t fall into place, but that’s just entrepreneurship for you. It’s definitely a journey filled with never-ending learning and growth. I think one of the biggest things I “struggled” with was finding the right type of Photography. I’ve never believed in settling & any time I got bored with my work, I would pivot. It took a little while to find Brand Photography, but I eventually got there.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Brand Photographer and Business Consultant. My main mission is to help other Visionaries and Self-Starters really step into their role of CEO with Alignment, Data, and Confidence. It’s all about owning who you are, stepping outside of “industry norms” to build and scale a business you whole-heartedly can stand behind. I believe in throwing cookie-cutter sh*t out the window because entrepreneurship isn’t one size fits all.
It all starts with alignment and ensuring that as a business owner, everything feels right. That you’re confident in what you’re doing, how your brand is represented etc. Your visual identity plays its own unique role in attracting and converting and without alignment, your brand “speaks” to the wrong people. Everything comes full circle and goes hand-in-hand.
Overall I’m most proud of who I have become. After building a business I wasn’t really aligned with, I made it a goal to show up as exactly who I am. Which has inspired others to see they can do it as well. They don’t have to put on some show or take on a persona to make more money. It’s about embracing what makes you, you and utilizing that to connect deeper with your audience/consumer/clients.
I’m cultivating a space that’s fluff and bullsh*t free. Entrepreneurship isn’t about “hiding” all the secrets or setting unspoken rules so that business owners have to wait to feel like they “qualify” to grow. It’s about providing the tools and strategy so they don’t have to struggle to build something that’s life-changing.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@heyamandawagner.com
- Website: www.heyamandawagner.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/heyamandawagner
