Meet Amber Kirchner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Kirchner.

Amber, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Since high school, I knew I wanted to own my own business. But it wasn’t until I was planning my own wedding that I realized what I wanted to do. My husband and I were not planning your tradition large golf course/ballroom wedding. Far from it. We were planning an intimate Harry Potter inspired wedding in the woods. It was perfect for us.

There was only one problem. I had the hardest time finding a photographer who I trusted would ‘get’ us and our wedding. Who would be able to capture our wedding day and rather than fit us in their standard box. After months of searching, we finally found an amazing wedding photographer. But, I knew it shouldn’t be that hard.

That is when I decided I would start my own wedding photography business to be a catalyst for change in the wedding world. I would be a wedding photographer who embraces and celebrates couples for who they are. And to capture the real moments of their relationship and wedding day.

So, after the excitement of our wedding settled down, I officially started my business. I started by offering family sessions while I was second shooting for other photographers to gain wedding experience. I quickly started photographing my own weddings and fell madly in love with wedding photography. While I was building my photography business, I was still working on a traditional corporate job. After hustling and basically working two full-time jobs for three years, I was able to put in my two-weeks notice! And I have been living that high school dream of owning my own business and working for myself ever since!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No way! There are always going to be bumps in the road. Some are little speed bumps that you have to go slow over and others are craters that you have to figure out how to navigate around to get to the other side!

One of my biggest challenges every year is trying to strike a balance during the busy season. There are a few months that are just insane for weddings and engagements. And trying to find figure out how much work I can take on without burning myself out during those months is always challenging.

Another personal struggle is missing out on events with family and friends. Weddings take place mostly on the weekends. Which means, I am often missing birthday parties, pot lucks, and other fun gatherings. My weekends are planned for 9-12 months in advance. So, when a spur of the moment retirement party is thrown for someone, I often miss out. Over the past few years, I have just gotten really good at taking people out to lunch or dinner to celebrate.

Please tell us about PMA Photography.
I am primarily a lifestyle photographer, which means I focus on capturing candid and natural photographs of people. I photograph weddings, engagements, families, and brands/small businesses. It may not sound like these things go together, but it is what gets me excited! I bring my same passion for celebrating and embracing who I am photographing to each type of session. I spend time getting to know my couples, families, and business before each session so I can capture who they truly are in their photographs.

I am most proud of the diverse weddings I have had the opportunity to photograph. Everything from small backyard brunch weddings to large party all night receptions. I have had the opportunity to photograph many different multicultural weddings, LGBTQ+ couples, and even Disney inspired weddings! I started my business to celebrate diversity and capture important moments in people’s lives. So, the fact that so many people have trusted me to do just that, is the proudest part of owning my business and being a photographer.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
This is a tough one. I truly feel like every mistake is a learning opportunity. Something that helped me become the business owner I am today. The only thing I might have done differently is to start early and take the big leaps earlier. Sometimes, I feel like I was waiting for stars to align or a sign from the universe. Those big scary leaps are the best things I could have done for my business and I wonder where I would be if I had taken them earlier.

Pricing:

• Weddings – Full Day Coverage starts at $2950
• Family Sessions – start at $300
• Branding/Small Business Sessions – start at $800

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pmaphotography.com
• Phone: 623-329-6860
• Email: amber@pmaphotography.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/pmaphotography
• Facebook: facebook.com/pmaphotography

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