Meet Andrea Miclea: Wedding and Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Miclea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, how do you think about risk?
I believe that risk is not only necessary; risk is crucial to one’s growth, both on a personal and business level. I’ve known this from a very young age, as I have watched my father build a successful business from the ground up, as an immigrant who hardly spoke English. His entire life was marked with risk and stepping into the unknown. Without risk I would not be where I am at today. I vividly remember the day I walked into the camera store and purchased my first Canon camera and lens. It was a hefty investment at the time (a risk, some would say), but I stepped into the unknown and had faith that it would all work out some how. These moments have often been the ones that defined me as a person and produced the most growth in my career. To this day risk is a part of my every day life. Maybe not in huge mountainous ways, but I am always trying to step into things; to step outside of the box. That could look like taking a risk with a different editing style or using unique elements during my shoot/ trying new creative approaches. All of these little changes are risks that better me and teach me more about myself and my craft. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a wedding and portrait photographer that travels for 85%- 90% of her work. Peek seasons can look really– and I mean really — crazy and hectic for me, but I LOVE what I do; I have the honor of uniquely capturing and telling the stories of couples/ individuals through my lens all across the world. I believe what sets me apart from others is my ability to capture the candid, the authentic. Sure, there will be moments when I will specifically ask my couples to do something (I offer prompts, not poses) BUT I usually just like to capture my clients in a way that is genuine and authentic to them. When they look back at their photos I want them to remember, well, them, just as they are; raw and unfiltered. Goodness, there are so many things I can write about that I am proud of and excited about, but I think all of that can be summed up in the fact that I get to be besties with my clients. I genuinely get excited about hearing each couples’ story, learning all about them, and learning how to best capture their story. I believe it is this heart of serving and loving on others that has helped me achieve my success. I truly care about all of my couples and giving them the best experience possible 🙂 Becoming a photographer was NOT easy at first. I spent a lot of time reflecting on my niche, who I wanted to become and how I wanted to grow. Once all of that was figured out the growth came naturally. I kept producing content that I was proud of and people started to notice. From there, the rest is history 🙂 The biggest challenge I faced in my career was adapting and embracing change. I learned that art is something that is ever-evolving. It sometimes even changes with the seasons, and that is precisely something I have come to love about what I do. I have creative liberty to express myself while documenting the stories of others. It has been a beautiful experience through and through.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love questions like this! If my best friend came to visit me in Atlanta I would first take them to the Beltline. There’s just something about being outdoors, walking and talking that comforts my soul in all of the best ways. Our walk on the Beltline would be marked with numerous stops for coffee and shopping. First up would be Academy Coffee. They have a delicious olive oil, basil latte. I know, I know. It sounds funky, but I promise it is incredible. Shopping would include the Merchant, Citizen Supply, and basically anything else at Ponce City Market. From there, I would go to Yeah! Burger, it’s one of my favorite places in town. We would then end the night with rooftop hangs and wine. I love being able to sit on a rooftop and drink in the view while having amazing conversation. The next few days would all be different (I like to change things up, ya know?). We would drive up to North Georgia while having the windows open and good music blasting, drinking in the view every step of the way. From there we would go on a hike and thereafter explore some cute little town in the mountains of Blue Ridge. I would likely have my film camera and we would snap some fun filmy photos that I can have developed weeks later. The following day would be a lake day. We are huge wake-boarders in this house and we will take every opportunity to get back to Lake Lanier for some hangs. I would have the truck packed with snacks, drinks, and all of the fixings. Our entire day would be spent on the lake until we can watch an epic sunset. Then, we would head home and finish the evening off with a bonfire and s’mores in our backyard. Our last day would be spent with brunch at Sun in my Belly and coffee at Chrome Yellow Trading Co. And that would wrap up an incredible weekend with my best friend!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Where do I begin? I am who I am today because of the myriad of individuals that have helped me get to this very place. So, first up, my parents. I want to shout them out for consistently encouraging me, showing me what good leadership looks like, and teaching me character. Second, my husband has been my main source of inspiration, encouragement, and my partner through it all. If it wasn’t for him I know I would have given up a long long time ago, but it was his words of motivation and encouragement that reignited my passion when I felt burnt out. Next, I would like to shout my best friends Alice Gherasim and Ally Burnette (both creatives and in the same industry as myself) that have helped me every step of the way, whether that was through simple instruction, cheering me on, giving me advice at odd times of the night, or just laughing through life with me. I wouldn’t be here today without them. The book “How to Win Friends and Gain Influence” by Dale Carnegie was also a huge eye-opener for me. It taught me a lot about simple communication in life with friends, co-workers, clients, etc. A must read! I could go on and on about those that have impacted me, but I will leave it at this- it truly DOES take a village. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of the special people in my life.

Website: www.heirloomfoto.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrea.miclea/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HEIRLOOMFOTO

Image Credits
Image credit to myself 😉