We had the good fortune of connecting with Ayana “AAMP’d” Gordon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ayana “AAMP’d”, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always had an extensive relationship with creativity for as long as I can remember. Creativity was always welcomed in my household, as my parents are creatives themselves. My mom was once a fashion design student; she made and modeled beautiful garments. My pops created a business where he would collect a unique assortment of instrument pieces and fix musical instruments in our basement for families and artists throughout the DMV. It was hard not to pick up a few things along the way in our household. As a multi-hyphenate artist, I wear many hats to keep my creativity and curiosity alive. I love to paint, design, up-cycle clothes, collect furniture, and deepen my love for photography.

My journey with photography began when a close family friend allowed me to use his camera during our family event; I was instantly intrigued. Even from a young age, I loved how the camera captured our family moments, mainly because taking photographs seemed rare in our family. We weren’t big on capturing moments or ourselves. I would sit and fiddle with the camera and try to focus the lens on pure moments of joy and laughter. The results of the photos started a buzz amongst my family; from then on, I was known for having a “good eye” I wasn’t sure what that meant; I just enjoyed the feeling of being able to capture a memory, proof we’ve lived.

Though I had many interests, my artistic insecurities made me feel that I wasn’t good enough in any of them. I would let the imposter syndrome creep in, swallowing me whole. I would compare my abilities to others which eventually took the joy out of creating. I took a step back from the arts to pursue something I believed to be more “realistic” for me. I began my studies in the Sciences and went to school for Biology and Chemistry.

Fast forward to my abrupt end of college, March 2020. The world came to a halt, forcing everyone into their homes, giving everyone a chance to slow down and reflect. I took the opportunity to dig deeper into who I want to be and what I want from my life, knowing today isn’t promised. I began to explore the arts again. I started small and began drawing again; I found new interests like modeling, and I started feeling the warmth I used to have about my art, without all the negative thoughts and self-doubt. Art became my outlet in quarantine, and in that time, I figured I owed it to myself to give film photography a real chance. I started with photos of various landscapes to help myself relearn the basics since I had no access to any models. What began as a “dip of the toe” quickly became an obsession.

I learned all I could about film photography, Youtube became my new professor. As quarantine rules began to lighten, I took the opportunity to reach out to different photographers and creatives across the DMV; learning something new and cultivating relationships as I went along. I began creating concepts, building teams, and executing the ideas. I loved it; I wanted to do it on a bigger scale. Before I realized it, I had found something that I was genuinely passionate about. I thought about film photography when I went to sleep and when I woke up. I am in pursuit of my dreams. I believe in myself enough now to know that I will make it happen with focus and drive. So with support from my ancestors and faith, I quit my first big girl full-time job to become a full-time photographer. It’s nerve-wracking, and I’m learning as I go along, but I can confidently say that I’m meant to be on this path. I’m so excited about where my creativity and photography will take me.

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.

I see my art as an extension of myself, how I think, see the world, and amplify the human experience. I work to push my creative envelope with each shoot, progressing as I go along.

This is just the beginning of my journey, and it has made me stronger and more genuine in what I’d like to create. I’ve learned the art of gratitude during this journey. I become filled with gratitude at the thought of my ability to turn my ideas into reality when I put my mind to them. If I had to give my top lessons or words of wisdom, it would be:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
2. Take it easy on yourself.
3. Find the beauty in failing forward.

I want the world to know what it means to be AAMP‘d. It’s about not fitting into a box, not having to shrink your talents to fit into any industry’s mold. Create loudly and boldly without fear of judgment or fear of continuous learning. It means to embrace the artist within you, no matter what your medium is. My hope for everyone is to find an outlet of expression and follow the feelings it brings.

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?

Lunch at the Papermoon Diner
Taco Tuesday at San Pablo Street Tacos
Eat at Kippo Ramen
Boba Milk Tea from Broadway Market
Eat at Black Swan
**Special Night** Night Brunch at the Sagamore

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to take this moment to thank my family for the endless support and wisdom they’ve shared with me on this journey.

Huge thank you to “The Alchemist”, a book I always return to when I need to remember the importance of following my heart’s desire and understanding that each day I’m working closer to achieving my dreams.

Thank you to Flatform Studios and Digital Factory, both studios that have allowed me to express my creativity freely early on in my journey.

Thank you to all the talented creatives that I’ve met along the way and built genuine connections with.

Thank you to my friends and my Amplifiers for the positivity and love.

Website: aampd.co

Instagram: @aamp.d

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaamp.d

Other: email: create@aampd.co modeling website: ayanagordon.com

Image Credits
Personal Photo – Model pictured: Christina – Styled by: Azmaree Curtis – Makeup by: Breanna Harmon – Hair by: Ajee H Additional Photos: Photo 1 – Model: Baba -Style: Azmaree C Photo 2 -Model: Luna C Photo 3 -Model: Niya A Photo 4 -Model: Gloria P Photo 5 -Model: Alvin -Style: Charae C -Hair: Ajee H Photo 6 -Model: Charae C -Style: Yasmine N -Makeup: Breanna H Photo 7 -Model: Gloria P -Makeup: Breanna H Photo 8 -Model: Me/AAMP’d – Shot by: George C

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