Meet Amanda Ridenour of Colorado Springs

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

Hi Amanda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always had a deep love for storytelling and capturing the moments that make people feel something real. I started Amanda Ridenour Photography over 16 years ago with nothing more than a camera, a creative eye, and a curiosity for people’s stories. My journey actually began long before that, when my family gave me my first camera in the fourth grade. It was a little 3.2 megapixel point and shoot, and I used that thing for anything and everything. From then on, I was hooked.

What began as a passion project has grown into a full photography business that now includes everything from family sessions and weddings to branding, lifestyle, and creative shoots. Over the years my camera has been with me through every season of life, documenting friends’ engagements, community events, small business launches, and local stories around Colorado Springs. That connection to people and place has shaped how I approach photography today. My goal is always to create an environment where people feel comfortable and seen, where genuine smiles, laughter, and love come through naturally.

I have built my business around creativity and community. Amanda Ridenour Photography is not just about photos, it is about connection, storytelling, and preserving the little details that mean the most.

What started as a side passion has grown into a full creative business that now fuels everything I do, from photography to design to helping other small businesses tell their stories visually. I feel lucky every day that this creative journey has become my career and my community.

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 definitely has not always been a smooth road, but I think that is what makes it all worth it. Building a creative business takes a lot of patience, trust, and constant learning. There were years when photography was something I did between other jobs, late nights editing after long days. And then there were some years where it was put on hold. There have been plenty of trial and error figuring out how to turn passion into a career.

There have been moments of doubt, slow seasons, and times when balancing everything felt overwhelming. But each challenge taught me something new about resilience, community, and staying true to my style. Running a small business also means wearing every hat from marketing and scheduling to client communication and creative direction and learning how to manage it all without losing the joy that started it.

The road has had its bumps, but it has also been filled with incredible people, experiences, and growth. Every struggle shaped the business into what it is now, and I would not trade that for a smoother path.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I focus on capturing people and their stories in a way that feels genuine, relaxed, and full of life. My work ranges from family and wedding photography to branding, lifestyle, and creative portrait sessions. I have been behind the camera so much and over that time my favorite thing has always been finding beauty in real, everyday moments the laughter, the chaos, the quiet in between.

What I think sets my work apart is the personal connection I build with each client. I want people to feel comfortable and truly themselves in front of the camera. Whether it’s a family with kids running wild, a couple celebrating their engagement, or a business owner stepping in front of the lens for the first time, I make it a point to create a space that feels easy and natural.

I am also proud of how my creative work has evolved beyond photography. I now I also do graphic design, laser engraving, marketing consulting and photograph. All of my creative passions go hand in hand for me, and I love bringing that thoughtful approach into everything I do.

What makes me most proud is seeing how my photos become part of people’s stories, how families hang them on their walls, how small businesses use them to grow, and how they help people feel seen. Photography has always been more than just images for me. It is a way to connect, to celebrate, and to remind people of the beauty that already surrounds them.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is the people. I have always had a background in customer service, and I have carried that love for people into everything I do. I have always celebrated other people’s wins as if they were my own. When friends, family, or returning clients reach out with another milestone they want to capture, I get just as excited as they do.

I am invested in their achievements and their stories, from graduations and weddings to having their first child or finally deciding to do that fun pumpkin head Halloween photo shoot they have been talking about for years. Those moments, big or small, are the reason I do what I do.

I work for those people and truly love being a part of their lives through my camera. Watching clients grow, change, and continue to include me in their journeys is something that never stops being special

Pricing:

• Family Photos $300
• Couples $300
• Headshots $250
• Maternity $300
• Branding $475

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amandaridenourphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arphotographycos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaRidenourPhotography

Image Credits
Amanda Ridenour Photography for all photo credits.