We’re looking forward to introducing you to Amryn Soldier. Check out our conversation below.
Amryn, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: When was the last time you felt true joy?
For my birthday each year I travel to a country I haven’t visited- this year I chose Greece. Specifically Santorini, Hydra, and multiple cities on the mainland. There is a hike in Santorini from Oia to Fira where you walk along the path and the views of the caldera are breathtaking. I walked about five miles of this path and imagined the history and geological changes over time while surrounded by a never ending ocean. It was beautiful, joyful, and an amazing way to be present.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I specialize in fine art, portraiture, wedding, and elopement photography. I have 10 years of professional portrait and wedding photography experience and have been part of some exciting events and opportunities. Photography is about connecting with people and I believe that’s what sets me apart from others. I love to engage with clients, their family, and friends to create important memories and it shows how much I enjoy my work. That feedback from clients is what I am most proud of! Most recently I was chosen as a ‘Best of Gwinnett’ winner. I studied at the University of North Carolina at Asheville earning a BA with a concentration in Photography and graduated cum laude from the honors program earning the Leadership in Arts Award. I was invited to be a part of Art Suzhou as an exhibiting artist at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre and speaker at the global press conference in Suzhou, China. I also performed a TEDx talk on overcoming fears in artistic endeavors and was a presenter at the Alternative Process International Symposium in Santa Fe, New Mexico demonstrating my process of combining alternative process photography techniques. My photographs are published in a number of print and online publications.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe that bonds between people are broken by not being seen or heard. It’s important to have shared experiences and create memories to reinforce a relationship. In my experience, restoring a broken bond is complex- starting with curiosity about their point of view and being a safe place to speak freely is key to developing a genuine connection again.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fear is complicated for me. The fear of failure, embarrassment that I’ll seem incompetent, or the fear of not being good enough have held me back for many years. At times I believe they were (and still are) paralyzing and limiting, I also think they push me in ways to do more and develop an internal strength that these fears are mostly self imposed. I recently read The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control and it opened my eyes to the way perfectionism can go hand in hand with fear through the desire to control outcomes and control how we are perceived by our peers and society.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Friends would say that curiosity and building an enjoyable life are important to me. I desire new experiences, learning about other cultures, and nature. If I had unlimited time I would spend it exploring the world, taking photos, meeting people, and diving deeper past small talk. I love searching for hidden waterfalls and tiny creatures, getting up insanely early to shoot the milky way, or hopefully capturing a dramatic sunrise takes an immense amount of planning and intention. When sharing the photos I have often received comments that going alone is difficult or would be far too dangerous and it is difficult to explain how important I believe this is for life to feel meaningful.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe I’m doing what I was born to do. Undoubtedly there have been moments of transition in my life which led to me questioning whether this was the right path for me but there have been equally as many moments that affirm my path as well. I value the flexibility of making my own schedule, the ability to be creative, and the accompanying challenges to work within parameters of time, location, and unideal lighting for each session.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.asoldierart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afearfuljourney
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asoldierphoto
- Other: The Knot: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/amryn-soldier-photography-duluth-ga-876140
Google: https://g.co/kgs/etw8RRW
Image Credits
All images by Amryn Soldier Photography
