Meet Meredith Amadee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Amadee.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Oh man, I think I’d have to begin at the Rocky Mountains. When I was in Elementary School, my family went on a trip to the Colorado and drove through the Rocky Mountains. I remember stopping at a meadow and being overwhelmed with the view in front of me, Wildflowers upon wildflowers. I was overwhelmed in the best way. That was the first time I remember being truly overwhelmed and in awe of creation. Fast forward to high school and my first Motorola flip phone. I walked around my suburban neighborhood in Phoenix and took pictures up and down (literally, I took so many pictures of my feet and straight up at trees). My best friend’s dad had a DSLR camera, and during a summer trip the beach her let me borrow it to take photos.

There is one photo I took that has stuck with me. I was on the beach, para-sailers in the air, nothing incredible but I remember waiting so intently for everything to line in up perfectly in the frame; for the composition to come together for the perfect shot. I realized that most people don’t photograph that intentionally and that I was really interested in this craft. From there, I took photography in high school and fell in love with shooting film. I fell more and more in love with photographing creation and moments and was beautifully encouraged by my instructors to continue pursuing the art.

This led me to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree from the University of Arizona. I found a love for color landscape photography and was blessed with amazing resources at the UofA as well as amazing professors. I often say that photography is such a selfish thing for me, I see so much beauty and want it for myself so I take it with my camera. It has also become a way for me to share; share my own stories as well as share the stories of others, the story of their business or craft, the story of their love or the story of their wedding.

Please tell us about your art.
I make photographs. I see compositions in the world and capture them with permanency. In its most broad form, I make photographs because I want to keep the beauty for myself, but in more specific forms, photography allows me to express broad and specific stories and time periods in my life. Photography allows me to be an observer and an “appreciate.” I often create work about that deals with questions about home and displacement and the complicated weight, tension and love that result from faith and family.

I also create work for clients who desire for their stories to be told in an authentic, intentional and joy-filled way. These clients include business owners, families, individuals and couples.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
This might not be the best way to start this out, but I don’t think talent is enough to make one successful. Belief in oneself and one’s abilities is incredibly important because there are so many people who consider themselves photographers or artists nowadays. Confidence is something I struggle with as well as comparison. An incredible work ethic is always important. Artists today not only have to create meaningful content but they have to be their own publicists and advocates. It takes flexibility, long hours and the commitment to creativity and trying new things.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
personal work: www.meredithamadee.com @meredithamadee on Instagram. Client work: www.meredithamadeephotography.com @meredithamadeephotography on Instagram. As a photographer that enjoys sharing, sharing my work is always appreciated! I always enjoy hearing in words the ways in which my work affects someone and what they receive from it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.meredithamadeephotography.com, www.meredithamadee.com
• Email: meredithamadee@live.com
• Instagram: @meredithamadeephotography @meredithamadee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meredithamadeephotography/

Image Credit:
My professional portrait: Rachael Koscica Photography.

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