Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Strickler.
Amber, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Photography happened quite by accident. At a time when I was finishing up my Undergrad at UHCL, where I took my first photography course and when my husband was based out of town for work, taking pictures became a way for me to close that gap during the times he wasn’t able to be home with us. By publishing pictures daily on a free website, he was able to be part in some way of the things the kids and I were doing from day to day. The natural evolution toward photography as a full-time gig just kind of happened. Not long after, people began to inquire about having me taking pictures of their own children and families. From there my business just kind of came into being.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Over the past 11 years I have shot digital photography, medium format and 35mm film. I enjoy the tones and depth differences in each medium. I used film primarily for boudoir and a tattoo photography project for several years. It was soft and dimensional in a way that digital couldn’t emulate. It fit perfectly with the lighting style I used at that time. I have since gone back to 100% digital, mostly due to processing time constraints and cost. But I enjoy film immensely and look forward to incorporating it into another project in the near future. My work is very personal and I hope that the images my clients take away from a session with me are ones they proudly display in their home and pass down for many generations. After losing my father I have an even deeper appreciation for what I do. At the end of the day, it is a photograph that keeps our loved ones with us visually when they are no longer with us physically. That’s quite a hefty responsibility to carry as a photographer but it is one I am happy to have.
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
The biggest challenge for photographers is the saturation of the market of camera phones and consumer level DSLR cameras. This has made it difficult at times to maintain a value on the work created, but even though there are new photographers popping up all the time, there will always be consumers who see and appreciate the value in the art and work of someone who has been around for a few years and has a consistent and strong portfolio.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My work is online and, in several publications, depending on the genre of the image. My tattoo photography project can be found at www.prettyandinked.com as well as in Sexy Ink Magazine, TipOut Magazine and Sinical Magazine. My lifestyle portfolio is online at www.zaseyphotography.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zaseyphotography.com
- Email: amber@zaseyphotography.com
- Instagram: zasey
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/zaseyphotography
- Other: www.prettyandinked.com
Image Credit:
Hair and Makeup by Kristina Frank Makeup Artistry.
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