Check Out Lillee Ambro’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lillee Ambro.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story begins with my dad’s side of the family. My grandfather was an Animator for Disney and my Dad did Special Effects for the movie business before I was born. Growing up, I heard so many stories from my dad of their experiences in the industry. I played around with my dad’s Canon F1, the same camera he used when he’d shoot bts shots of the films he was working on. It was a catalyst for my interest in photography. I still use that film camera as a reminder that I can do what my dad and his dad before me did and manifest anything I pour my heart into.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It wasn’t an easy road to travel to get to where I am today. I didn’t have a horrible childhood and I still live comfortably, but as a woman in this industry, it didn’t make getting to where I am any easier. Being a woman in an industry mostly made of men has (more times than I’d like to admit) made me question whether I deserved to be here or not.

But in order to survive, you have to keep yourself grounded, carry yourself with poise and have confidence. It took me a while to learn that confidence wasn’t walking into a room with your nose in the air thinking you’re better than everyone else, it was walking into a room and not having to compare yourself to anyone else in the first place.

So I learned that even if I was the most underqualified or even if I was a woman, I deserve to be here.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer, a jack of all trades but master of none. I don’t specialize in any one genre of photography. I branch out into all genres to get my creative juices flowing, to see how far I can push the boundaries of any one genre. Although, I am currently obsessed with shooting Cindy Sherman-style self-portraits. She’s my hero.

My resilience and my ability to keep myself grounded are traits that I’m most proud of when it comes to how I approach photography. My successes make me proud, but it’s my failures keep me going.

I think what sets me apart from others is that, while I may be in competition, it’s always with myself, not with other artists or creatives in the industry. If I can outdo the old me, I’ve already won. I don’t need to focus on other people to see where I’m going and how I’m getting there.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
So many things make me happy, some materialistic, like photography, my boyfriend/family/friends, but others are more sentimental. Being able to love or even like someone as a person unconditionally is a very freeing feeling. Not holding grudges and learning that not everything is as scary or important as people make it alleviates a lot of the stress I had and I’m able to be happier because of that.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: lilleemonetphotography.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: lilleemonetphotography

Image Credits:
Lillee Monét Photography