Mari Amor

https://www.mari-amor.com/

What did your 18 year old self see you becoming?

When I was 18, I was on my way to becoming a graphic designer… then my basic photography teacher sat me down, told me I had an eye for light and advised a career change. Having barely shot before that class, I never looked back. 

What was one of the most interesting projects you’ve worked on?

Airbnb sent me to Iceland to shoot photo and video for their experiences division. Working in high winds and sand with only light crew was hard, but I can still feel the exhilaration and roses in my cheeks. After we got done photographing horses we sat around a big table and swapped stories late into the night, rising to catch an Icelandic sunrise… it was epic. 

Can you remember the first time you got paid to (work in this business) take a photograph?

Like it was yesterday. After I landed my first magazine pitch, I worked on a project for an entire week, shot the whole thing on film, and then found out their rate was $50 per shoot. I learned so much… 

If you weren’t a photographer, what would you do?

My BA is in photography but my masters degree is in theology… so I’d be off pastoring, which is what I do when I’m not shooting. I enjoy being a woman in that world, it flips a lot of paradigms. My faith journey was out of the box, which I’m grateful was the case.

When you need it, what inspires you?

How do you get your news?

Unabashed news avoider here, because I’m terribly fond of the phrase “it’s not worth my peace.” Mostly, I prefer to get to know people and bear witness to their story instead of reading headlines that callous the heart with constant sadness. When I must, I read The New York Times because I love their photography. 

What do you know now, you wish you’d known when you first started out?

It’s such a journey and the evolution of an artist is ongoing until forever. I wish I had been less hard on myself and known to trust the process. Also, good production is life on a shoot. 

What might surprise people about you?

Fluent in American Sign Language… paid for photography materials and textbooks in college by sign language interpreting in a local high school. Occasionally I run into d/Deaf people on shoots and we chat. 

What were you like as a 10 year old?

I was flipping precocious. Homeschooled, artist, musician, read books with long words in them… and awkward to boot. On the plus side, I loved dreaming about what life could be and I thought that gathering people together was the most important thing ever. 

When was the last time you watched the sun rise?

What superpower would you want?  Feel free to invent one.

Flying. I want to fly so so badly. I think I would enjoy having some kind of lifting power in my feet like Superman. It would really save on shoot ladders, too.

What is your dream assignment?

Anytime I get sent on a travel job to shoot candids and slices of life I think it’s the best.

What reality show would you invent?

Making people take a spiritual quest of some kind together… or global adventure team challenge. Pretty much, my life would make a reality show. 

What celebrity (actor, writer, musician) would you most want to have dinner with?

Being from Nashville, I have grown up around so many celebrities that I’ve learned that people are simply people…but I’d enjoy chatting with Patti Smith a lot. She is a beautiful soul.

What are the top 2 things on your bucket list?

I’m extremely adventurous so I’m always re making my bucket list as I knock things off… right now India and South America are on my list. Also, I would really love to meet Dolly Parton.