Where do you begin when talking about a photography doppleganger/soul mate? Well, that is exactly what the ever Fab Amanda Hedgepath is to me…my dopplegagner/photography soul mate. With our common affinity for all things pink, sparkly and canon….we also are driven by the love of couples and families so deeply in love. Amanda has built her entire brand around the birth and life of her daughter. If you follow her, you know what I mean. She is all over Mrs. Amandas blog, website and facbeook…and for me…I cant get enough. Would you believe that Amandas entire first wedding season she shot every single wedding prego with her baby girl? Amazing! Despite the fact that she is wonder mom extroadinar to this little angel, she is also an insanely talented photographer and all around sweetheart.

I think Amanda and I connected after I released my promo video. I swooned over hers, she swooned over mine…total photog love at first promo video sight! : P Ever since then…I feel like I always have a friend in my corner…a cheerleader like myself…but cheering me and my business on. She is truly one to keep your eye on yall….so without further ado….lets chat with Amanda and learn a little more about her, her  baby girl, and her amazing business she has created!

An Interview with Amanda Hedgepath: 

1.Tell us something about your business and how long you have been a professional photographer?
Something unique about my story that I love to share is that my first year as a wedding photographer I shot ALL 20 weddings pregnant with our daughter and it was the most amazing experience! Everyone was really worried about me because it was my first pregnancy and my first year shooting but something about that little girl kept me pushing through SO strongly and really handling myself well, the only time I sat down was to eat and sometimes my guests would insist I sat down in a chair WHILE shooting reception dancing pictures hahah! I have the best clients! Now here I am with my little good luck charm Cammy Mae, going into my third year!

2. What equipment do you use?
I have a beautiful Canon 5D Mark III that I shoot with primarily and then my Mark II as a backup OR the camera sometimes I will also have on me when I want to shoot with two, especially during the ceremony! My lenses are 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.2 II, 35mm 1.4, 70-200mm 2.8 II and 100mm 2.8 and I have two 600ex’s for my lighting!

3. Where are you located?
I’m located in Virginia Beach but serve all of Hampton Roads, the Richmond area, DEFINITELY OBX and I definitely love to travel– I’ll be going to ENGLAND this summer to shoot!

4. What type of photography do you like to create?
First and foremost– SUNLIGHT pouring into an image, tons of glow, light, warmth and sunflare! I love images that are warm and happy from gorgeous light! But when it comes to style, I love natural moments, I love the JUST before and just afters…private moments that couples allow me to be a part of (first looks and the moment where the bride and groom exit the ceremony and have that first O-M-G we are married moment..) REAL moments just knock my socks off. They are always my goal!

5. When did you notice you had a passion for photography?
So this one night in college I was working in a bar and this sweet, Southern boy saying please, thank you and m’am kind of stole my heart. He changed my perspective on life by treating me SO well and I suddenly have a new appreciate for LIFE, MOMENTS and LOVE. I just wanted to remember everything about us and how we began because I knew it was going to be forever…so I told him I really wanted to find a creative outlet and artistic way to do this not just for us, but for others…and then came the starter DSLR. It wasn’t too long until I was upgrading to a Mark II, studying ALL night and day on my own and pursuing my dream…and then making it very sweet reality!

6. Most awkward moment during an event?
Besides the fact that I trip a lot (which I’ve just learned to accept, I trip and fall so often now that’s I’m not even phased anymore haha!) — when I was pregnant it was either food on my shirt while eating in a rush that fell RIGHT on my belly for everyone to see, or having to have a groomsman pick me up and carry me over something or lift me up or waddling so fast to try to keep up with everyone…gosh there are so many I can’t even narrow it down!

7. What is the scariest thing that ever happened during a photo shoot?
When I used to shoot family sessions, I had one of my sweet families standing in this tall grass at the beach for a beautiful shot and the POOR dad had on flipflops…and then came the fireants. It scared ME because I know some people are allergic to bug bites and he was getting bitten..I was like SERIOUSLY I am never making people adventure into unknown spots again! But of course since then, I totally have. My clients are always willing to roll around in the dirt, woods, grass or ocean with me!

8. Best advice you have been given in your photography career?
I’m a huge ball of inspired cheerleader happiness running around so I could tell you 10000 things I’ve been told when it comes to amazing advice..but get ready for it, HERE is the best: MAKE IT ALL ABOUT YOUR CLIENTS. Treat them like GOLD. We get really wrapped up in the industry, the what’s cool to have and the pretty websites, cool camera bags and straps (I’m very guilty of this, in fact..guess what just came in the mail last week hah! both of those things!), the cool people to follow and conferences and etc etc etc. The absolute BEST way I believe you could start out your business is to 100% invest your heart into telling that person’s story. Honor them and their future children. Honor their legacy and work hard for them. Be altruistic and I believe it will come back to you ten fold. You will get the most beautiful organic word of mouth marketing if you treat people that way! — I just started abiding by this because unfortunately I wasn’t so great at it in the beginning, I was really overwhelmed at first and stopped seeing the big picture. The big picture is that it’s not about US, it’s about THEM

9. Best advice that you could give someone else that is pursuing a photography career?
Remember that if you truly love this…you have to accept that it’s going to grow at it’s own pace. Don’t be hard on yourself and expect to be shooting 30 weddings off the bat. If you do, that’s GREAT!!!!!!! But if not, don’t beat yourself up and expect to soar immediately..sometimes the best best best things in life take a little longer so when they happen they can be amazing and we can appreciate them with all of our hearts!

10. Best moment of your photography career?
I could say a lot for this  My BIG favorite is when a groom cries…WOOO do I love a crying groom!!!! When I catch that, I’m ecstatic. I always thank them for the amazing shot they gave me haha! I think being published for the first time was amazing for me because I never went into this having goals like that, so it’s nice to see little accomplishments popping up here and there and I love working hard for them. Meeting Justin and Mary was a big one for me, too! But most of all, the “ding” that I hear when my phone goes off and when I check..it’s an inquiry. I am SO grateful for every one and I still get butterflies. I am absolutely in love with what I do! 🙂

Thank you so much Amanda…that was truly an amazing interview and I just loved hearing more about you and your amazing business. I also really, really enjoyed your images….how talented are you?

If you want to follow Amanda, and you should, head over to her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaHedgepethPhotography

xoxo,

Kaitlin Noel