Meet Amy Haley | Photographer with Amy Haley Photography

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

Hi Amy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I’ve loved photography since my Grandmother let me play with her camera as a little girl. After my twins were born, I got more serious about wanting to document these fleeting moments. My mom and I took digital photography classes together years ago, and I had been doing photo shoots for friends and family for a while. In 2018, when my husband and I found a special needs bike trailer that we knew our son, Caleb, would love, I decided to put it out there and opened the #GreatCalebBikeFundraiser!

I was astounded by how many people wanted to purchase a photoshoot to help Caleb get his new wheels, but I was even more inspired by how many special needs families felt incredible relief to have a photographer who understood their circumstances. I realized that I wasn’t alone in those feelings of anxiety and stress before a family photoshoot (I think every family can relate to that), and I wanted to help! I got tremendous support from those early photoshoots and decided to jump all in!

Now, my passion is to become the go-to photographer for each and every memory and milestone my clients want to capture, be it a wedding, the birth of a new baby, those fleeting newborn details, each new phase for their children all the way through their emotional Senior year, capturing extended family in a classic image for the mantle, assisting their dreams and passions with business headshots or social media content, and even documenting their power and beauty in a boudoir session! I want to bring the vision to life with beautiful, vibrant color and emotion.

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.

Thank you so much! I am a true to life, vibrant color photographer, so I love to capture the real beauty that’s right in front of me. Interesting light, glowing sunsets, and belly laughs are my favorite, and I’m seeking them out as often as possible! I want each photo session to leave my clients with amazing memories to go along with their beautiful images!

As a special needs mama, I know how stressful just a normal outing can be, let alone planning for a photoshoot (whether it’s your family photos, business headshots, boudoir, etc- it can all be overwhelming). So my goal is to bring comfort and calm to our session, take the burden off of you as much as possible, and help you (and even your kids) find that genuine smile.

This road hasn’t been easy, especially navigating a pandemic with a medically complex child as a small business owner, but it’s been more than worth it! I’ve learned to lean on my support system, and I’m so grateful to my incredible husband and our team of support for lifting me up so I can keep following this dream.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I adore our hometown, especially as a photographer. One of my main jobs is scouting out awesome and unique locations to take my clients for memorable photos!

If I’m going on a week long bestie trip throughout our beautiful state, I’m definitely driving up North to hike the Grand Canyon and stop at Bearizona along the way. My mom and I took my daughter, Grace, up there this past Fall and I couldn’t ask for a better backdrop of beauty. We’d also drive through Pine to our family’s cabin for some secluded photo ops in the thick woods! Then we’re heading back down to hike Superstition Mountain- Treasure Loop Trail is my favorite- and watch the sunset at the top. We’d go rafting down the Salt River and watch for wild horses, and then hit Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix for dinner and drinks at as many restaurants as possible- with graffiti and mural photos all along the way, of course. I’d bring her to my old stomping grounds in Ahwatukee at South Mountain for sunset views and then stop at a casino on the way home from massages at Aji Spa!

Ready to go???

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My twins and my husband are my inspiration. Watching our family grow and evolve, and realizing how fleeting these moments are, is what made me pick up my camera again!

My mama is the reason I learned digital photography after my humble beginnings in the dark room. She signed us up for a class and I was hooked! I loved learning and practicing with her, and I’m so grateful she sparked this passion for me.

All of my friends and family who have hyped me up and supported this dream of mine are cornerstone to what I do! I’m incredibly blessed to have this community.

Website: www.amyhaleyphotography.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/amyhaleyphotography

Facebook: Facebook.com/amyhaleyphoto