Today we’d like to introduce you to Amelia Tapia.
Hi Amelia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! My name is Amelia Tapia. I am a freelance photographer born and raised in Austin. I started photography 6 years ago because I was enrolled in a photojournalism class at my high school. Over the year of the course, I found a love for capturing moments with a camera. I then enrolled in the yearbook the next year and grew my sports photography skills. In my senior year of high school, I decided to branch out from sports photography by conducting mini editorial-style photoshoots with my friends and enrolling in AP Photo. This prompted me to create my photography business, Off The Viewfinder, where I take senior portraits, editorial portraits, headshots, and wedding photos. Once entering college, I joined a student-led editorial magazine, where my photo made the cover for two issues. From there, I knew I wanted to try concert photography, but I was so scared to join a music publication out of fear of rejection because I had no experience with concert photography. I finally applied for Afterglow ATX my sophomore year and got accepted. The community at Afterglow ATX is everything I could have asked for. They are welcoming, supportive, and have great taste in music (of course). I have gotten to shoot Portugal in the past two years with Afterglow The Man, Alt-J, SZA, Vance Joy, Simple Plan, Dayglow, The Driver Era, and many other amazing bands. Concert photography is truly the best of both worlds for me as an avid music listener & creator.
If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear them! My Instagram is @offtheviewfinder, and my website is www.offtheviewfinder.com.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been as smooth as it can be. I have experienced it all: late models, day-of notifications about press approval, getting a camera stolen, anxiety about not getting good photos, and corrupt SD cards (the worst). It is normal for me to be prepared for something to go awry.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in concert, editorial, portrait, and wedding photography. Typically, a photographer would choose one specialty, but I have found limiting myself to just one immensely challenging. As of late, I am most known as a concert photographer as I have put a pin in editorial photography due to rigorous college work. I am most proud of taking pictures of SZA, The Driver Era, Alt-J, and Portugal: The Man, Simple Plan, The Regrettes, and Dayglow. I am set apart from other photographers due to my age (apparently, being 20 is very young) and because I am a pre-medicine neuroscience undergraduate student. Because I am highly focused on school, it has allowed me to keep photography as a fun hobby and something to destress from a hard school week.
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
Being alive and getting to experience and appreciate all that this world has to offer. I know this is cheesy, but I truly love to savor all of the little moments of my life. Although this world has many not-so-great things about it, there is always something that I can find joy in.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.offtheviewfinder.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/offtheviewfinder
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ameliactapia
Image Credits
Off The Viewfinder by Amelia Tapia
