They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and for Amber McMahan, this saying rings true. As the owner of Growing Sprouts Photography, she cherishes creating memories for families that will last a lifetime.
What sets Growing Sprouts apart from other photography businesses is its emphasis on photographing children in all stages of life. From newborn pictures to those sassy tween snaps, McMahan’s ability to connect with kids is depicted beautifully in her one-of-a-kind photographs.
“I can be as silly as I want, and they don't care,” she said, laughing. “I see kids these days who just don't have confidence. They're getting bullied. They're getting bombarded by everything, and they're not allowed to be kids.
“At my studio, they're allowed to be kids. They're allowed to run around. They're allowed to have fun.”
Growing up in California, McMahan always had an interest in photography. She credits her mother and grandmother for sparking her love of photographs since they always had family photos on display in their homes. She loved seeing the history behind each picture and realized that she can create art and memories at the same time with the click of her camera.
She had her own studio out west, which gave her the creative freedom to establish a home base and ensure her clients were comfortable and happy. However, McMahan easily can work with families and kids outside or in a location of their choice.
McMahan received a degree in marketing and advertising, quickly realizing that the visual aspects are what appealed to her. Now that she has been a professional photographer for over 18 years, she's photographed people of all ages, but the clientele that brings her the most joy are kids and their families.
When she moved to Aubrey three years ago, she set out to find a studio that would allow her to interact fully with her customers to see that she gets the best snaps possible.
"I love being able to control the environment and just fun with lighting and backdrops."
McMahan's favorite and most popular sessions are her imagination sessions. During the pre-consultation, she learns about the child's favorite activities, dreams, and the theme of their room. She wants their creativity to run wild in these sessions, letting them be anything or go anywhere.
She might ask them to pretend to be a princess, ride a bumblebee, or play with a dragon, letting their creativity take over. The photos that come out of these sessions are usually priceless.
McMahan explained, "We have a special approach for every session with every child. During our pre-consultation, we ask what the child's favorite color is. On the day of the session, we use a backdrop in that color for their personality shoot. This helps them warm up to the camera and realize they can be silly with me.
“We might say, 'Okay, you're going to act like a monkey,' and then we make monkey faces. Then we might say, 'How do you get angry? Get angry.' Of course, they can't stay angry for more than half a second, but we capture that angry shot and then that smile."
McMahan appreciates the excitement parents feel when their children’s personalities are captured in a natural, fun way. As a mother of three young kids, she understands how time can fly by.
“I get to create art for these families and for their home so that they can just have those moments,” she explained. “Also, being able to have the flexibility to be home with my family while helping other busy moms and bringing joy to their home gives me happiness.”
As a lover of history dating back to those days looking at photographs in her grandmother’s house, McMahan appreciates that these photographs will create a legacy that generations will cherish.
So how does McMahan manage to be a mom, wife and business owner? The answer is simple, yet profound.
“Prayer,” she said matter-of-factly.
That prayer has allowed other ventures to come McMahan’s way. She and her husband, along with some close friends, have helped start a local church, where McMahan works with the worship team.
Outside of her faith, family and business, McMahan and her family love having game and card nights with their longtime best friends and their family, who live less than 20 minutes away.
To learn more about Growing Sprout Photography’s services or to book a session with McMahan, visit growingsproutsphotography.com.
“I get to create art for these families and for their home."
“At my studio, they're allowed to be kids."