Meet Amanda Swanson | Professional Photographer and Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Swanson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor is definitely the support from my fiance, family, and friends as well as the knowledge I’ve learned from my degree in photography.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Personally, my style is set apart from others from my perspective and ideas that come to photoshoots. When it comes to my cosplay shoots or my weddings, I like to think from my clients’ points of view and give them poses and settings that might surprise them! I can’t help but be proud when a pose and location all come together to make the perfect shot for who I’m working for. Whether it be a photo shoot for a cosplayer who is cosplaying Jon Kent (Superman’s son) and I put them in front of an actual barn while also levitating like they’re flying while on another side- getting photos of wedding clients who are kissing and I have their wedding party walk around them and blur them to show that their kiss is taken in a moment of time while the world is still moving.
It’s always about showing your clients more than what they see and that they are the beauty that is a part of this world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Definitely, if I was showing a good friend around Knoxville for the first time, it wouldn’t be a trip without going to Wildlove Bakehouse first for breakfast and coffee, then to Union Ave Books for a little book shopping, walk around Market Square and enjoy the city life (and the dogs), lunch at Downtown Grill and Brewery, a pop by World’s Fair Park, and then icecream for dinner at Phoenix Pharmacy!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to shout out my parents who have supported me from my photography class that I took in High School, to my degree I received in Photography from my Alama Mater, to running my own photography business present day that helps me survive and thrive. I would be lying if I said that they were not scared for me at first in making this my full-time job, but they grew to know that I was able to sustain myself and that my hard work paid off in being able to make this my career in life. They’re one of the reasons that inspired me to do photography as well, in the sense of preserving memories.

I also need to shout out my fiance, soon-to-be husband of mine in March 2024, Bobby. Not only has he been a big supporter since before we went out, but he has continued to give me pointers and tips on my social media, marketing, and advertising ideas. He is my closest supporter and I wouldn’t be where I am in the present day without him.

Website: https://www.amandaswansonphotography.com/

Instagram: @amandaswansonphotography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandaswansonphotographytn/

Image Credits
Image of me by @adoylible (Other images taken by me @amandaswansonphotography)