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

Hi Amelia, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I always keep going going. Giving up is never an option unless I am physically unable to perform my tasks. Fear is one big reasons many people give up. Fear of failure. Fear I will not be able to do better than last week. Fear of competitors. Instead of running away from fear, I (F)ace (E)verything (A)nd (R)ise. You never know if the choice to give up today was a blockage of your success tomorrow. I believe in the saying, “keep going until the wheels falls off”.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My love for photography started at the age of 6 when my father introduced me to the art. My love for fashion photography grew when I became a fashion model. At age 17, a fashion photographer suggested I should become a model. And for twenty years, I graced the runway stages and fashion houses in New Orleans, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York and eventually Atlanta. During my time as a model, I studied from the same photographers that photographed me. Today, I specialize in fashion, commercial and portrait photography. My creative images has been featured in many fashion magazine publications. I exhibited photos at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Hammonds House Museum, Auburn Research Library, Southwest Arts Center and other local businesses in Atlanta. It was not always smooth sailing in my profession. Photography is not only a creative medium, it is a business. In any business, you will have challenges. My first year was a year of proving myself. Proving I had the professionalism and quality work to make it in an industry that is highly saturated. Everybody has a camera, whether it is a DSLR or a phone camera. Unfortunately, it is not the pro-photographers that concerns me, it is the amateurs that believe photography consists of point & shoot. The amateurs that doesn’t know the art behind photography. The ones who think because they can take a great photo with their phone that they too can be placed in the same arena as the pros. Due to this I have to consistently evolve and prove myself. What sets me apart from others is the combination of my creative portraiture and the capability to put my client at ease during their session. My portraits looks more like a fashion/commercial editorial than just a simple sit down posed portrait. I use my skills as a fashion photographer to make striking portraits that look like it came out of a magazine. Before my client steps in front of my lens, I take time to learn a little bit about them and how to approach their session. I basically cater their session based by what I have learned about them. I am a kid at heart and I like to have fun. When my clients have fun and is at ease, it is easy to capture their true essence.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am usually spontaneous when it comes to going out with friends. However, I do have a few places I visit often. Sundays is brunch day for me, you will usually find me at Ms Iceys Kitchen and Bar for a great Jamaican cuisine. Plus, they have a great DJ playing great music to enhance the time. Mondays: I usually start off the week with a morning walk/hike at the Chattahoochee River Recreational Park located off of Paces Mill. The walk along the river provides a serene place to meditate and visualize how I want my week to progress. Plus it is a great place to have interruption-free talks with friends. But before the walk we will go get coffee and a snack from the Read Shop located in Vinings Jubilee off of Paces Ferry Rd. Like I say I am spontaneous when it comes to planning events with friends. Places we will visit will depends on our mood and desire for that day. Places we will consider visiting is Atlantic Station for shopping. Catch a movie at the AMC Dine-In Buckhead 6. Bowling at The Painted Duck (Atlantic Station). Play a few competitive golf rounds at Top Golf (Alpharetta). More shopping at Tangler Outlet (Locust Grove). You can never go wrong to visit Stone Mountain Park on a beautiful warm day. For a night club outing, we would either visit the Suite Lounge (Luckie St.) or if in a mood for good reggae music visit Royal Peacock for Jamrock Saturdays (Auburn Ave.)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people to thank for support and mentorship. but one person who I can think of that has showed consistent encouragement is Dr. Courtney Hammonds. Since the day we met back in 2011 on a fashion shoot for Sheen magazine, he has been a constant business and spiritual guider to me. Dr. Hammonds is known as The Dean of Fashion, and a prominent African-American fashion influencer and trendsetter. I believe it was our love for fashion that brought us together. It is also the love of fashion why we have continued to collaborate together on projects such as his published books, magazine editorials and most recently his “Life Is A Runway New York Fashion Week Tour”, where he hosted a group of fashion creatives on a once-in-a-lifetime guided tour of the prestigious New York Fashion Week. My collaboration with him on the tour resulted in multiple magazine publications including a magazine cover photo. Plus, I can now label myself a New York Fashion Week photographer. After 10 years of working together, I not only consider him a business mentor, I am happy to call him a friend.

Website: www.photographybyameliadesign.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ameliadesign1
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-jackson-design1
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ameliadesign1
Facebook: www.facebook.com/photographybyameliadesign