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Meet Amber Braxton of Valuable Gem Photography in North Denver

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Braxton.

Amber, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Initially, photography was something I did for myself not even as a hobby, but rather as a compulsion. Like many others, I collected the day-to-day throughout the years and kept them in shoe boxes. Every so often I will open up the boxes, reminisce for a bit, and send some embarrassing photos to grade school friends. I suppose nothing has changed, digital storage helped my compulsion from becoming an episode of hoarders. As I started to share these collections on Facebook, others took notice.

Eventually, a friend paid us $75 to capture their newborn in the same style, I’m not really sure I had a style at that point, but maybe it was more of a vision. Looking back now with what I’ve learned I am still shocked she had even taken a chance; however, there is something beautiful about a point in time that began your career. Now my compulsion has turned into my passion and my profession.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are so many idioms and proverbs about challenges and success, and for some reason, they have a lot to do with roads and traveling:

 “There are no speed limits on the road to success”, “Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” “From success to failure is one step; from failure to success is a long road.”, “Problems are not stopped signs, they are guidelines.” These sayings don’t account for the driver and whether or not they’ve had enough coffee, or whether or not they are sassy when they get pulled over.

I’m not sure that success is a destination nor am I sure that the years I have spent honing my craft have felt anything like a road. The time spent has been more like wading through a foggy marsh, there has been fear of the unknown, there has been self-doubt of what I have done and what I am doing. I battle with being my own worst critic, trying to develop a unique style while trying to be as good as others. I question whether or not I’m growing as a business or if I should even stay in business. Over time, as I continue to explore the boundaries and the unknown, there is relief in that I have yet to stumble. The obstacles I face are myself, and as long as I can move out of my own way I know I will do well.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Valuable Gem Photography story. Tell us more about your work.
What we are good at, what sets us apart, and what we are proud of can all be traced to the same fundamental principle. Valuable Gem Photography treats each and every client as a lifelong friend. We like to get to know our clients, build a friendship, become aware of their interests, accomplishments, and what they cherish. If our clients are comfortable with us then it won’t be so awkward as I am flashing lights in their face and staring at them through a giant piece of glass while telling them to turn left or right for the fifth time. We strive to show our clients how amazing they are and how wonderful they look, something that can only be seen and expressed when you get to know an individual. Our guiding principle has made us a well-balanced portrait photographer, we specialize in people.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t think luck has been any part of my success so far, I would like to think my business has been the product of my own hard work. If there is anything that could be perceived as bad luck, I would rather perceive as an opportunity for improvement.

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