Meet Amanda Martin | Photographer & Blogger

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

Hi Amanda, what do you want your legacy to be?
At a very young age, I discovered what my life purpose was – to inspire and be of service to people – yet I never knew how to fulfill it. I allowed myself the freedom growing up to uncover the ways in which I can reach people; I still am figuring it out as I type this. I think that’s the beauty of life though, to find your way and to embark on a quest for your truth and evolution, no matter how long that takes.

Slowly but surely, I recognized that my writing had power since I naturally motivated and inspired my followers on social media and immediately came up with the idea of creating a blog to share my life experiences and wisdom in hopes of aiding those that may be going through similar situations. It granted me the opportunity to realize several life goals.

My ultimate goal in life is to be one of those people who are just light, and transfer this light onto others – to let them bask in the warmth. I want to inspire people of all walks of life to recognize the beauty within them and to integrate this beauty into their daily lives and world.

The reality is that most of our names would be forgotten years after we leave this planet, and I have made peace with that reality. I don’t need recognition or fame or my name printed in history books to be remembered for my achievements, I simply want my legacy to be this: everybody I’ve ever come in contact with will be touched by my presence and affected by the peace that I emanate and aid them in reaching the same level of self-love and peace.

I just want to be remembered for my service, even if it’s as small as having made someone’s day by complimenting their eyes, or to be the friend who says “what were you saying” when someone gets their story interrupted in a group, or to wait on the person who needed to stay behind to tie their shoes as the group proceeded along, or to be that kind soul that makes everyone feel like a somebody.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is my life; it grants me the opportunity to express myself freely and makes me come alive. Photography and videography has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I have been a freelance photographer for over 5 years already – booking photoshoots with local clients and sharing my travel photographs through multiple social media accounts.

I recently launched my website to sell my presets, or filters, that I have custom made for photo editing, as well as a launching a wellness blog for my loyal readers. Personally, this was the largest challenge I had to endure. Not only was it difficult to start from scratch without any knowledge of web design, but trying to overcome the limiting beliefs I had set for myself was the hardest part. With time, I worked up the courage to take the risk and it has been rewarding so far! I am excited to see where it leads in the future.

Believing in yourself is the most important lesson I’ve learned in my creative journey. You have to be your own #1 fan! Forget the fear of failure – you ultimately need to endure failure to be successful.

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.
The culture in Miami is unlike any other place, and the things to do in this city are endless! Miami Beach must be the first place on the itinerary: rent a beach cabana with chairs, order some pina coladas, enjoy the sunshine and ocean breeze, and just sit back and relax…we all deserve a full day of this! Explore Ocean Drive after your visit to enjoy Miami’s famous Art Deco architecture.

Because Miami consists of people from all cultures, the food is exceptional! The majority of the population is Cuban and you will not find authentic Cuban food anywhere else in the country, so you have to take advantage. Some of the best Cuban restaurants are El Palacio de Los Jugos, Islas Canarias, Versailles, or Marabu Brickell.

There’s no better way to end the night by going to a nice rooftop bar or explore the colorful art walls of Wynwood. ASTRA, Lagniappe, Better Days, The Sylvester, Blackbird Ordinary, RedBar, and Broken Shaker are some of my favorite bar spots in Miami!

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’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my family because they are ultimately the ones that have shaped my life and who I am, and I couldn’t be more proud to be the woman I am today. They have supported me in all phases of life and I am grateful to know that they will continue to do so in the next chapters of my journey. I’d also like to note that there have been a few books in which have helped transform my life completely, my top two being The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer and The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

Website: https://www.madebyamandanicole.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/amandaamartin_

Image Credits
Photographer: Amanda Martin @amandaamartin_