Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Maramba.
Hi Amy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My first introduction into photography was my first job at Volcom HQ as a photo assistant. I loved the fast-paced environment and witnessing entire team do all they could to work for a brand. It was eye-opening for me and definitely sparked my love for the fashion industry and photography.
I’ve always had a passion for storytelling and art. I’d definitely say that’s been my first love since I could remember. I grew up drawing, painting, dancing, and taking photos of everything from landscape to people. So, when I went to junior college, I took a class called, “Intro into the Fashion Industry.” My professor told me that I should consider writing for fashion magazines. So, after 4 years of not knowing what major to pick, I decided on journalism and went full-force from there and graduated with my bachelor’s degree at California State University of Long Beach.
From there, I gravitated towards internships in the same field – working as a social media/website writer for SHEIN and blogger for Power 106’s Lift Off radio show. But it wasn’t until after I completed my internships that I considered being a freelance photographer.
I probably applied to over 30 corporate jobs in the journalism/social media field. I came so close to landing many of them but never ended up getting hired in the end. A lot of the work I did as an intern didn’t give me much to show for everything I had done, being that I was always producing work that I’d never get credit for. So that’s when I thought, “I’m going to take matters into my own hands and create a portfolio.”
With that mindset and my knowledge of fashion, I started styling all my own shoots and contacting all my friends who I knew were willing to model for me and practice on them. Making appointments with showrooms in LA and New York, contacting upcoming designers who were willing to send me pieces, to renting out studios – I used all my money on my photoshoots in order to build my portfolio.
Before I knew it, I thankfully had clients slowly but surely contacting me to collaborate and eventually offer to pay for my services. And I haven’t stopped since.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely a journey lol and still is. The path is never a smooth one, no. I’m constantly questioning myself and my work, trying to grow in my knowledge and technique while finding my niche. With that, too, I think a big thing I’ve learned is understanding my boundaries and not saying “yes” to every opportunity. Not all jobs are the best fit for me, and learning to prioritize my time and energy to what I love is a practice I’m always working on.
Also, a year into photography, the pandemic hit. So, I couldn’t do any in-person photoshoots for a long time. However, the trend of FaceTime shoots came about, and I actually kept up quite a bit while doing that. So, a big thank you to every single person who hired me during that time because you guys kept me going at such a lonely time.
Starting photography, I actually had zero Photoshop or Lightroom experience. I had no idea how to edit anything or create the effects I wanted. So, I was YouTube University queen, and still am! I’m constantly trying out new techniques and searching for photographers that inspire me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d definitely say I’m a fashion, portrait, and boudoir photographer.
I photograph all genders, but I tend to gravitate towards those who identify as women. I love the human body; I think it’s absolutely a work of art in itself. I think what sets me apart from other photographers is that I’m a woman myself and a dancer. And I’ve modeled for my other photographer friends as practice. So, I’m very in tune with my own body while being very comfortable posing others and knowing what other women actually look for in what makes them feel beautiful; I’m the hype woman, stylist, and will most likely become your bestie after every shoot because I want nothing more than to make every woman feel there very best and raise their confidence through the roof!
What I also think sets me apart is that being the dance community, I have a wide variety of clients and friendships in the LGBTQ+ community and of all different ethnicities. I accept everyone as they come and love them as they are, and I think whomever I work with knows that because I’ve worked with all types of humans and I’m so grateful for that. I’m so happy that I can be a safe space for others to be themselves around me or experiment with concepts or outfits they might be too scared to wear in their everyday lives. That’s a realization I had early on that I’m probably most grateful for. I have no one “type” of clientele, and that’s exactly what I strive to be for everyone – a safe space to be yourself.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Nothing is off-limits. Try every vision that comes into your mind. Whatever you believe in – the universe, God, spirituality, etc. – your ideas were put into your mind for a reason. So, if you want to create something, just do it!!! And if it scares you, then it’s even more of a sign to go after it because the growth is in the unknown. You never what magic could come out of your art or the experiences you get from creating it.
Collaborate with as many people as you can, find like-minded individuals who you can not only learn from but also grow with. You can go far alone, but with a team you are unstoppable.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amymaramba.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/amymaramba
