Meet Jane Ammon-a fabulous photographer and AMAZING Mom!
I can’t wait for us all to have two hours with Jane Ammon on during the Soarority Forum Ask and Learn Session on Thursday evening . Â She is building her photography business… the right way ladies… and I know that she will share all of her successes and failures with you on the forum. Â She is making sure she knows herself, inside and out, which in turn will allow her to be an amazing photographer who is out to capture relationships between people. Â Way to go Jane!!
Q: Â When did you start your business and what was the turning point of taking it from a hobby to a business of charging people?
I did a soft launch of my business in January 2010, fully launching into the business by June of 2010. I have been taking pictures all of my life, but it wasn’t until my husband, Erik, bought me my first DSLR in December of 2006 that I realized that my life was about to change. However, we were in the process of adopting our daughter Madeline and I spent 2 1/2 years focusing in on our adoption while slowly learning about my camera. Soon after we came home with Madeline from China, I realized that I needed to make my dream come true and I started taking online courses, joining forums and building my portfolio. After applying for SOAR in 2009 I made the decision to take my hobby to the next level and launch my own cleaning website design business . Recently, I have started working with Jeff Jochum as my business coach to take my business to the level I desire it to go to and I am currently in the process of defining who I am and where I want my business to go.
I am inspired by my family. I am married to an amazing man, Erik, who was my first photography teacher and is also a second grade teacher. My children Connor and Madeline inspire me daily because they are both so full of life and their relationship is nothing short of amazing. My children are best friends and that friendship fills my heart. My extended family is a huge part of my life and they are my daily inspiration.
Q: Â What is one or two pieces marketing/self-promotion ideas that you can give our newbies?
**Tune in Thursday on the SOARORITY Forum from 5-7pm PST, where I will answer this one!**
Q: Â What is the best and toughest part about doing photography while being a mom and wife at the same time?
The best part about photography for me is the pride in my children’s voices when they tell people ‘My Mom is really good at taking pictures!’ or as I walk out the door for a session ‘Bye Mom! Take great pictures and have fun!’ It is also the joy I get from handing people their images and hearing them exclaim in delight when they open their package. For me, the toughest part has been time management. Currently, I am working full time as a Speech Language Pathologist and building my business with Jeff Jochum. In June (less than a month!) I am going from full time to part time because my husband and I have decided that our family and my photography business are the two most important things to us. I have found that finding time to fit it all in is so difficult and I am so excited for this big change in my life that is about to occur! I think that with this huge change my business will get the time, attention and love it deserves. It’s liberating and overwhelming to know that my dreams are coming true.
Q:  Is there one more piece of advice you’d give to newbies?
**Oh, I have so many…Tune in Thursday on the SOARORITY Forum from 5-7pm PST, where I will answer this one!**
Q:  What are the classes/workshops/DVDs/books or websites that you’ve watched or read to teach yourself photography? Were they helpful?
My best teacher has been my husband! However, I love the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson . It really helped me when I was just starting out. I also took an amazing online class with Christi Nelson of Rawsii Photography , where I learned the basics that help me have those ‘AHA!’ moments and finally understood my camera. I love several forums and my time on forums and the type of forums I have visited has evolved as my photography has evolved. Of course, one of my favorite teachers has been Mera. 🙂
Q: Â Can you tell us a fun back story behind this GREAT Â photo?
Q: Â What type of camera equipment did you have when you first started shooting portraits? And what have you added to your camera bag since then?
I started out with a Canon Digital Rebel, it was the first camera my husband bought me. I upgraded to Canon 30D about a year later, however my husband was a Sony shooter! Soon after applying to SOAR (and not being a recipient) Erik and I made the decision to switch to one camera system to save money and share lenses. I spent about three days shooting with his Sony a700 and I was instantly SOLD on Sony cameras because I had finally found a camera that fit well into my hands (I have long fingers!) and lenses that gave me the color I desired. I now have a Sony a700, Sony a900, a 24-70 2.8, an 85 1.4 and a 70-300.
Q: Â How did you find Me Ra and the SOAR! community?
I found Mera through Shutter Sisters and instantly fell in love with her and her message. I have been following her and the SOAR community since just as the first SOARÂ scholarship was introduced.
Love me some Jane Ammon!!! This will be great.
I am so looking forward to this! Hoping I can catch the second half of the forum. Ladies, you will be so blessed by Jane’s input. She is confident, encouraging and full of great ideas. I hope you will be able to tune in. I am so excited for you Jane.
Jane I love ya sista! I cant wait to pick your brain even more on the ask and learn!!
Jane IS an amazing photographer. The beach photo of us with our grandchildren Connor, Maddie, Olivia and Sean is proudly displayed in our family room. Congratulations! Love, Mom & Dad
OH JANE!!!! I love your work! Your heart and bright spirit shows in every image you seem to take. This interview just scraps the surface of your amazing personality. Can’t wait until Ask and Learn!
You are truly one of a kind! Love you!
Can’t wait to hear more tomorrow!
Jane, you’re awesome! Can’t wait till tomorrow night now! 🙂
jane, having gotten to hang with you a few months ago at jeff’s workshop, i know firsthand how talented and genuine you are. reading this post has me grinning from ear to ear for you, darlin’!
you. inspire. me.
xo
Can’t wait to learn more from you tomorrow night! Congrats on your successes up to this point!
Jane, you are loved my friend! Can’t wait to hear more.
I got a huge smile on my face to see that you are being highlighted! I can’t wait to hear your answers, I know they will be genuine and insightful. Hugs to you!!!
Jane you are certainly AMAZING! I think it’s awesome that you’re doing this. Fortunately, I have to leave the photography to you… but you continue to inspire me as a Mom and a person… you’re just so darn good at it all! 🙂
yay Jane I can’t wait to pick your brain!
I love Jane’s photographs! The way colors and details are captured is amazing! What a great chance to share what she loves!
Looking forward to meeting you Jane! I know you will be a blessing to us all.
Congrats Jane! How wonderful to see your smiley face right on top and this is just so inspiring and trust me I need all the inspiration I can find 🙂
I am so inspired to learn more about Jane! I applied for the SOAR scholarship in ’09 as well, and I’m interested to get to know the other participants. What a great community of artists that has grown from MeRa’s vision!!
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