Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Green.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a single mother 6 years ago, I had the same daily routine. Get my son off to school, go to the dental office I was managing, work for 8-10 hours, pick my son up, go home. Rinse and repeat. I knew I was created to do more of that. It kept eating away at me. I was no longer comfortable. I always had an appreciation for the arts but did not quite know where I fit. A friend of mine asked me to take photos of her to send to her boyfriend and it was the most exhilarating experience. I felt alive, in control, and most importantly, I felt free. That taste of freedom was new to me and I wanted more of it. I immediately looked into photography schools. I also spent my rent money bought a used DSLR (not know how I was going to cover my rent). I took a few courses of digital an the Art Institute which was unfortunately short lived because the available courses were during my work hours. So, I enrolled in YouTube university. I watched countless videos on how to use my camera, how to shot with it, lighting techniques, etc. I was even blessed with a photography mentor. In the beginning, I was just carrying his equipment. I watched how he moved, the angles he shot with, how he treated his clients. I learned that you always have to keep studying your craft, stay sightly competitive while encouraging your peers, do not cut corners, and just simply do the work. The more I was taking pictures and improve my skill, the calls and inquiries for my services I was receiving were getting higher.
My love and passion for photography have opened doors for me I never knew existed. I have been blessed to work so many amazing people, organizations, companies. The relations I have built with others because of photography are utterly priceless to me. So, now, I am not only doing what I love, I know share my gift with others, especially the youth. I teach at multiple high schools, middle schools, and elementary school the art and business of photography. I have also partnered with numerous NFPs to not only teach our youth a vocational skill but also plant the seed of entrepreneurship at an early age. I have also hired (as in I pay them with money) some of my high school photography students as my second shoots when I need an extra camera for a job.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. In the beginning, I was so focused on being the best photographer that I did not invest any time to learn the business of photography. I did not factor what to charge for my services, contracts, invoices, proposals, incorporation, websites, marketing, branding, insurances, taxes, etc. I made alot of costly mistakes. Remember, I was still a single mother who had personal bills and responsibilities that had nothing to do with photography. I even quit photography for about 6 months. Depressions and desperation set in at the time. “Just go back to a 9-5.” I would tell myself. That steady paycheck was looking really good and safe. But thank God for my mentor Darryl Hammond. He called me one day and said “alright Ams (a nickname he gave me), I gave you your time. Now, pick the camera back up”. And that’s what I did. Its also a struggle at time balance a family and a business as well as time for self care. Every day, I juggling multiple balls. At this point, I know that at times, I will drop a few of them and you know what… IT’S OK! IT’S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD! I’m not as hard on myself when I make mistakes. I’m known to striving for perfection, yet I am always striving for excellence, too.
Please tell us about Amber Marie Green Photography.
The name of my company is AMI LLC DBA Amber Marie Green Photography. I’m known as #yourphotographybae. I am Professional Photographer, Photography Instructor, and digital storyteller(media director). As a professional photographer, I capture the essence of a subject to tell a story. Whether it is a portrait photography, Real Estate photography, event photography, product photography, media content (videography, graphic designing, editing,), all these media I have the gift to get ones story told for the world to consume.
I actually proud of all my students. It takes courage to learn anything new and be artistically yourself. I have the pleasure of learning about each person passion, fears, dreams, and aspirations. To be a part of their journey is a privilege that I don’t take light lightly. When my students dont want to class to end, that’s how I know I doing what God has assigned for me to do.
I think what set me apart from others is that majority of my clients become like my family. I really care about them, their families and their dreams. You can tell by the photos I take of them. People can feel my serenity in want to make sure I do a great job as their photographer. That is some you can not fake. My students know I care about them. I have conducted my photography classes where we did not discuss photography once. We talk about our fears, our childhood, healing, what makes us happy and what we can do to be better human beings. They learned in order to be an true artist, you must first be true and honest with yourself.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory was the neighborhood I grew up in. I grew up in a beautiful brownstone apartment in Hyde Park. Walking to the lake, all the mom and pop shops, the parks, farmers markets and things like that. It was always something to do and just being outside playing was enough.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory was the neighborhood I grew up in. I grew up in a beautiful brownstone apartment in Hyde Park. Walking to the lake, all the mom and pop shops, the parks, farmers markets and things like that. It was always something to do and just being outside playing was enough.
Contact Info:
- Address: 710 E 47th Street Chicago, IL 60653
- Website: Ambermariegreen.com
- Phone: 773-368-8376
- Email: hello@ambermariegreen.com
- Instagram: AMI_LLC
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fromamberslens/
- Twitter: @yourphotobae
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