Life & Work with Amanda Rudd

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Rudd.

Hi Amanda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hmm, I’d say that my story as a photographer started back in 2017. I volunteered at a music festival that we have here in Durham, NC, called The Art of Cool Festival. I brought my camera with me, it was a Canon t5, and after my shift, I decided to take my first shot at concert photography. I was able to shoot performances by Nao, Goldlink, Masego, and Ari Lennox.

Fast forward 4 years and I’ve accomplished everything that 20yr old me wanted to do. I’ve been on tour (Ari Lennox’s Debut Shea Butter Baby US Leg), worked with Record Labels, curated my own content, and most recently, started a production company with my best friend, Vertex Theory, LLC. That being said, as of today- I am currently at the stage of needing to re-imagine what’s next for me and set new goals.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been far from smooth. I often say the phrase, “I quit my job every day,” haha. Freelancing is like a never-ending learning curve, always running into new obstacles. In my case, some of those being- learning that every project isn’t for me, having to chase down payments, dealing with seasons where work is slow, and the situations where things go wrong on a shoot.

Luckily, I’ve been blessed to have some amazing mentors and peers in my corner that are always there to help and answer questions. Their support has definitely played an integral role in helping me navigate my career and the tough times.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At the moment, I’m most known for concert/live events and docu-style photography- in reference to Unit Still and BTS. These are easily my favorite things to photograph and I believe that’s shown through my work. While both of these styles require me to be a fly on the wall, they share a duality that I’m drawn to.

One side is the option to take photos that make a viewer feel like they were in the heat of the crowd themselves, or standing beside the director on set. The other side is the opportunity to take a situation that I have no control over and create images that parallel portraiture. Having a lack of control over the external environment is a double-edged sword, but I love every bit of it.

What matters most to you?
Ooo, this is an intense question, haha. What matters most to me is my happiness. This goes for my career and my personal life. Growing up, my parents always told me to do what makes me happy and I’ve always had their support. For that I am grateful, and I carry the memories of those conversations into my adulthood.

Career-wise, it’s not a general love for photography that drives my happiness. When I first started out, I was taking photos for every gig I was approached with and would find myself drained. After some self-reflection, I realized that every style of photography is not for me, nor does every style spark joy. However, the styles that do spark joy are the reason I continue down this career path.

Once making the decision to focus on those kinds of projects, everything has been significantly more fulfilling. In regards to my personal life- my happiness falls in line with self-respect, and it matters the most simply because life is short. Also, focusing on my own happiness allows me to show up better for others in ways that would be difficult to do otherwise.

Contact Info:

• Email: theoryvertex@gmail.com
• Website: www.amanda-rudd.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_amandarudd/?hl=en