Today we’d like to introduce you to Amie Reinholz.
Amie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was not someone who always wanted to pursue a career in photography. Sure, I loved taking pictures and one of my favorite things to do growing up (and still to this day), was to look through the photo albums of my grandmother’s. I have always been creative. My first love was dance, it fed my soul. I sang, I painted, and I even wrote short stories when I was really young but all of that was just for me, I never shared it with anyone.
When I stopped dancing, I didn’t realize it at the time, but something was missing. It wasn’t until I picked up a camera and started taking pictures of my kids and my family that I realized, that creative part of me needed to be fed again.
I took my cousin’s senior pictures for fun and my aunt showed her friends. All of a sudden, I had customers willing to pay me for my work. I jumped in blindly and eight years later, I’m still here!
Has it been a smooth road?
This has been one of the most challenging things I think I’ve ever done. Taking pictures is only like 10% of what I actually do. The rest is all business. I have to be customer service, receptionist, accountant, editor, etc… and it’s exhausting. There are times that you talk to one bride for three straight months because she can’t decide if she wants your middle package or your highest package… then all of a sudden, she emails you and tells you that you are out of her budget, only to find out she went with someone who is more expensive than you. You’ve got to have some thick skin and know your worth. The biggest advice I could give someone starting out in this business is to get yourself some education. Educate yourself on all things photography and editing, but dive into the business side as well. Believe in yourself, surround yourself with people who believe in you and trust your gut! Don’t be afraid to fail! All successes come straight from failing… over and over and over again!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a wedding and high school senior photographer. I know that to some that sound like I should choose one or the other, but if you think about it. Those two different clientele are actually BFF’s! Senior girls grow up and get married one day! They are all interested in fashion and lifestyle brands.
For my seniors, I work closely with a hair and makeup artist and we strive to give our girls and their mamas a complete experience. We work with them on their outfits, what they do and don’t like for hair and makeup, we personalize each session location to what type of personality they have. We want them to leave their session having had the best time, and if we get tears from mama at some point in the day, we know we have done our jobs with her as well. These people become our friends and family. We don’t want to take your money, do our job and never talk to you again. We want an invitation to your graduation party (we will show up), we want to watch you graduate and walk across that stage. Then, we want to watch you grow in college and have the time of your life. Then, once you find your soulmate, we want you to call us again because we want to give you the next great experience of your life. We want to be part of your wedding.
We have already had a few of our past seniors go on to get married and have babies and we have been there for all of it. So, what sets me apart from others? I’m 100% myself every single time, I give you an experience that you won’t forget and you become part of my life and I become part of yours. We are family.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think Houston and the surrounding areas are a great place to start a business. It’s so diverse and full of all types of clients. I say this to everyone, there are plenty of clients to go around and we can all be busy. Let’s build each other up and build an amazing community! Find like-minded people, build relationships and help each other out. I certainly didn’t make it this far all by myself, you can’t either!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amiereinholz.com
- Email: info@amiereinholz.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/amiereinholz
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/AmieReinholzPhotography
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