Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Rae Moreno
Hi Amanda Rae, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love of photography started as a child with my first 110 millimeter film camera. But it was when I joined the Navy that I truly got the opportunity to capture incredible imagery in situations and places that only a few can ever get access to. In jets, hanging out the side of helicopters or in submarines…I had the opportunity to learn how to take pictures in fast paced environments.
Fast forward to having kids of my own. As a young mother with three kids under three – talk about a fast paced environment! As my children grew every day, my passion to capture every moment grew. Three Chickadees Photography was born out of those first few years of parenthood, dedicating to preserving the memories through photos.
As my family grew, so did my photography business. I started to cover weddings, events, and business needs. When I moved to Bartlett during the early months of the pandemic, our family found our forever home on 5 wooded acres and a perfect indoor space for a home studio.
I retired from the Navy in 2022 and decided to focus more on growing my business and serving more of the Mid-South.
I am now able to offer a full range of professional photography services to help families capture those precious memories and support fellow small businesses in getting branding and content images that will support their business goals.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Photography is ultimately a luxury, not a basic need. So as the world changes, so does the demand for professional photography services. While business has ebbed and flowed over the years, I have focused on continually improving not only my experience, but also the product I provide. When business is booming, I have invested in upgraded equipment. When business is slow, I focus my time on training and refining my skills. All of this ensures that when someone reaches out to Three Chickadees Photography, they know they will have a positive experience.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
It’s not hard to find a photographer. Post a request for one in any social media group and you’ll have dozens of suggestions in just a few minutes. What sets me apart is my military background and decades of experience in the field.
As a military photojournalist, I had to maintain a clear head, a creative eye, and military bearing in even the most stressful environments. I carry that mentality into my sessions. We roll with the punches and so many of my clients end a session with me professing that it was the most enjoyable portrait experience they ever had.
With decades of experience in the industry, I have seen so many fads come and go (selective color, anyone??) I definitely jumped on the bandwagon of artistic trends in my early years. But after time I realized that I wanted to provide my clients with a classic, true to life product that would stand the test of time. Every image I deliver is hand edited, I don’t throw the latest “it” filter on an image and call it a day. There is definitely a place for that within the field, but it’s just not my style.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Oh man, where to begin.
Gary Ward, based out of Arizona, was my Senior Chief in the Navy Reserves. He is an amazing photographer and I love to see how he has grown his business. He’s definitely been a role model for me. I also served with Tim Miller (Dallas, TX) in the Navy Reserves, he’s an amazing photographer, but an even better business and marketing master. Both have been great mentors to me in believing in the power and impact of what I am doing here.
Locally, Vikki Lynch has been a sounding board and confidant on the best and worst days in my photography journey. I am so thankful for her friendship.
But my family deserves the most credit. Since my business is home based, they do so much to support the experience of my clients. My oldest, Bailey, is even following in my footsteps. He is an award winning, paid, and published photographer at only 16. He started out as my assistant and now serves as a second shooter and associate shooter for Three Chickadees Photography. (I highly recommend him for this feature!)
Pricing:
- Standard Sessions – starting at $345
- Branding and Content Sessions – starting at $495
- Weddings – starting at $1800
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.threechickadeesphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threechickadeesphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threechickadees
