Amanda Meryle | Photographer

Amanda Meryle

Phone: +61 409 541 047

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Businesses
• Local service
• Public figure
• Photographer
• Photography and videography

25.01.2022 So much for 20/20 vision! It got all fogged up, literally and figuratively. One of the things that was going to change for me this year was my health but my intentions somehow got lost along the way. I kept putting it off because of Covid, no time, no motivation, birthdays, Christmas oh may as well wait for new years resolutions now right? But then I started feeling tired and reaching for more and more sugary snacks mid afternoon, then I don't sleep well and I can't conce...ntrate. I know it’s coming up to Christmas and it’s hard to avoid the food and drinks while we’re making merry. And it’s the busiest I’ve been all year trying to fit 6 months of work into just one month so I haven’t had time to walk as much as I’d like. I know that means it’s unrealistic to make ALL the changes I want to right now. So I’m not going to put that pressure on myself. I’m going to let myself celebrate with a few drinks, eat the Christmas pudding (or vanilla slice in my case) and enjoy the choccies I better get in my stocking! But I can make at least ONE change right now and for me that is committing to a healthy start to each day. Enter my favourite breakfast smoothie! I know if I want to stay committed I need to make it super easy for myself, otherwise I’ll still use that I don’t have time excuse that so often pops into my head, and out my mouth. So on the weekend I bagged up banana, spinach and berries and froze them in single portions ready to pop into the thermomix each morning. All I have to do is add collagen, choc protein powder and water - and if I’m feeling extra motivated a spoonful of chia seeds - whizz it all up and I’m ready to go. That means I feel sustained for the rest of the morning so if I’m out and about shopping I’m not looking for quick unhealthy snacks to keep me going. It also means if I am out for lunch I’m not starving and I’m less likely to over indulge. And if I don’t have lunch plans for the day a simple shake or bowl of tuna & brown rice is all I need for lunch. Once this becomes a habit (and the crazy Christmas rush is over) I’ll be ready for the next step!

25.01.2022 You can get all glammed up, keep it casual or dare to bare all; whatever you choose you will love it. You’ll get pampered and treated like a celebrity! You'll get to feel famous without all the cons that normally go with it. Let your inner child out for the day and play dress ups. ... If you've ever dreamed of being a model or a powerful Boss Babe this is your chance? Or maybe the Queen of Hearts or a Greek Goddess. You can be a sexy pole dancer or a femme fatale. A rock star or an actor. Or simply be yourself - the real you without any fear of judgement. Afterwards you'll leave the studio on cloud 9, walking taller and prouder than ever before. And a couple of weeks later you'll relive the experience when you see the photographs, amazing images of you that will help change the way you see yourself. The end result is more confidence and a sense of empowerment, knowing that you are in charge of your story. Plus you'll always have a visual reminder of how fabulous you are, an album or prints to help treasure the moment forever. What am I talking about? A Celebrate You Session of course! Want to know more? Comment below or click here and book your free call to find out if this is for you! http://bit.ly/celebrateyousession

24.01.2022 I am really excited to be speaking at Thriving Biz Collective's next event on Friday 21st August. We'll be taking a look at what Personal Branding is and how it can help you stand out from the crowd. I'll share my expertise about creating content and images that fit your brand so you can start building recognition and rapport with your ideal client in order to grow your business. If you want to join me at this online event click the link for details and to get your ticket. Hope to see you there!

24.01.2022 Happiness - when your work is doing something you love! Samantha's art work for school today was painting and she was in her element... this of course applies to all of us. If our work is our passion then it's easy to 'go' to work. ... If on the other hand we hate getting out of bed every morning because we don't like our job then maybe it's time to look at changing jobs or at least find something we love to do every day that aligns with our purpose alongside the job we don't like so much. Our purpose doesn't always have to be our work but if we practice something that serves our purpose every day then it can make our job much more bearable.... in fact it can even give our job itself new meaning if the income helps support our passion we will be much less likely to hate our paid work. What gives you purpose in life? What are you passionate about? Does your passion pay or do you work an alternative job to support yourself?

24.01.2022 It's National Dog's Day 2020 and it's definitely a dog's life during lockdown in our house. This is Darcy's favourite spot whenever I'm working in the studio. It seems the more cushions the better Share you fur baby photo below

23.01.2022 Lots of excitement here this week with this special delivery from the North Pole when the sleigh arrived back in the studio! Here's Samantha in between my Christmas sessions yesterday...

23.01.2022 If we have to wear a mask we may as well do it in style... This is Samantha and I just about to head off for our walk this afternoon. Hearts and Care Bears I was going to do a FB live but I wasn't sure you'd understand what I was saying so we took a photo instead.... What mask are you wearing? Share a pic with me below.

22.01.2022 Had to share this for a laugh! Mine is in the moments... cant wait to see yours

22.01.2022 Today is International Day of Friendship When it comes to friends I would be lost without them and I just want to give a huge shout out to those friends (and family) who are always there for me and help keep me sane. Friends to have fun with, to motivate me, support me, watch out for me, make me exercise, catch me when I fall, give me advice, listen to everything I say.... the list goes on and on. Suffice to say I need my friends (and family) more then just about anything el...se in the world. With them I have everything. And because friends are so important to me I like to encourage you to have a photo shoot with friends too because like anything else they are often way more fun when you share the experience. In fact shared sessions work perfectly for 'Celebrate You' sessions where you get to dress up with your bestie (or sister, mum or other family members) and laugh at each other behind the scenes or for Personal Branding Sessions where you can support each other, act as clients for each other and both save yourselves some money by sharing the day. What things do you love doing with your friends? It could be something you're now doing online or something you miss and can't wait to do when we're actually allowed to see our friends again for those of you in Melbourne like me. If there's someone you're missing right now that you haven't talked to for awhile International Day of Friendship is the ideal time to get in touch - you could tag them below, give them a call or send a message. And it's also the time to reach out and give thanks to the friends who are there for us every day

21.01.2022 Hands up if you struggle with content creation It's easy to let your marketing content become so hit and miss it becomes invisible. One of the biggest issues my clients face is finding photos to fit the message they want to send. My personal branding photography packages solve this by digging deep into your vision and creating images that will turn your currently time consuming, stressful process into one that is simple and efficient, maybe even enjoyable. Imagine that! ... If this is you put your hand up in the comments below (or hit the message button) and let's work on fixing this together.

21.01.2022 with a photo session designed to do just that. Get glammed up, go casual or bare all (in a classy way of course). ... Professional hair & makeup, studio session and your favourite framed photograph all included for just $390. The perfect way to treat yourself or someone special who would love this experience. Message me to find out more or to arrange a gift certificate in time for Christmas

19.01.2022 Some more colour inspiration from the garden - I can see myself wearing these colours in a floral summer maxi dress - bring on the warm weather! What meaning does this colour palette have for you?

19.01.2022 Today is RU OK day? I was going to do a nice post about checking in with others but then I realised thats all it would be. Just a nice post that has no real meaning because lets be honest - how many of us are really okay? I know Im not. Im struggling big time this lockdown. ... This week Im unfocused, unmotivated, frustrated and almost ready to give up. Usually Im pretty optimistic about life. I have down days but I always manage to pick myself up after a little cry and feel better. But this is different. Im lucky to get five minutes to myself and without the alone time to reset I'm like a shell of my usual self. I crave an hour or so when I don't have to think about anyone else. Time where I dont have to think about whether Miss 7 is doing school work, or if shell be able to get on her next zoom call. A break where I dont have to worry if theres enough milk or if I took meat out of the freezer to cook for dinner. A minute where Im not thinking about whether masks have been washed for the next day, if Ive done the emails and invoicing for my husbands business or updated his work permit. Or if my dad needs his next Coles order so he has food to eat tonight. Plus the other million things I have to do every frigging day. And even as I write this I feel guilt. Im lucky I have a family to worry about. Im lucky I have a house and we have enough money to buy food and support ourselves. And although my husband and I are barely working during the strict stage 4 restrictions I know well survive. Weve got equity in the house because weve both worked bloody hard for years to pay as much as we can off the mortgage. And yet despite this I feel angry and frustrated because at the end of this we might not have any equity left to build that decking or do any of the things we've been dreaming about and working towards. And then I feel even guiltier because so many others don't have the security that we do. They don't know if they can pay the electricity bill this month or even where their next meal is coming from. But no matter what I tell myself I just cant shift this feeling right now. No logic, no change of perspective, no positive self talk or affirmations are helping. Not even the beautiful sunshine can change my mood. So Ive decided to sit with it; to simply give myself permission not to be okay. And I want you to know that it's okay for you to do this too. It's okay for you to not be okay

19.01.2022 Such a wonderful surprise left on my doorstep this morning

18.01.2022 Whats been your biggest challenge this round of lockdown? Is it juggling your business demands with those of your children? Is it home schooling while youre trying to write copy and create content?... Is it studying while your daughter screams and cries because no one will play with her? Is it when you child starts singing loudly in the middle of your zoom presentation? Or maybe you were so overwhelmed that you gave up altogether and your 7 year old did no work for 2 days straight! And worse still watched YouTube totally unsupervised the whole time! And no these are not just any old examples, theyre all things that have happened to me in the last week! So if youre feeling frustrated, worn out and overwhelmed I want you to know that youre not alone and you will get through this somehow! In fact Ive realised today that all those things happened because Ive put so much pressure on myself. After lockdown no.1 when I didnt achieve much at all I was determined to do it differently this time round. But little did I know that very decision would also be my biggest hurdle. And that I would fail miserably! So this afternoon after another round of tears and screaming and stomping (and not all from the 7 year old!) I changed tack and gave her my undivided attention. And as a result I now remember what a syllable is. I know how to measure using hands and feet and how to make a paper plane! And Ive learned that Miss 7 can capably crack 9 eggs into a bowl, pour 2 perfectly measured cups of milk from a 3 litre carton and prick the pastry ready for blind baking! I may still have work to do for my business but bedtime was a much happier event tonight, though that may also be due to not sleeping till 11pm last night and no I did not let her sleep in this morning! Is it a win? Im not sure about that but at least Ive started work tonight before 9.30 rather than at 11.30pm. Will tomorrow be better? I dont know that either! But what I do know is that I can control my own actions and reactions and Ill be working on that for now and praying that it makes life a little more bearable while were stuck at home 24/7.

16.01.2022 The resilience of children amazes me so much. The way they are able to adapt new things into play and accept the changes life brings with an open mind and heart. Although it can be a shock for us as parents to see them playing like this it actually helps kids process what's going on in a way they can understand.... This is my little miss this morning wearing her face mask while she is taking her baby 'shopping'. To her a mask is just a new accessory that looks good and also keeps her safe. It helps that her and I have matching face masks too (big thanks to Jo-Anne Purdie for making them for us). Life is full of twists and turns and the ability to adapt and be flexible is a major part of being resilient. Obviously we need to uphold our own values in the process but if we could all perceive change and difficult times in another way just imagine how different our lives could be

15.01.2022 Getting ready for the final personal branding shoot of the year!

14.01.2022 September is my biz birthday month and I thought I'd share a little bit about how it all began 8 years ago. It was 2012 and we were desperately trying to start our own family. Wed been trying for awhile by then and I was at the point where I didnt think it would ever happen, so I decided to focus on something else instead. Id always been a photographer, Id just never done it for money before. I was doing family sessions for friends in my spare time and I was passionate a...bout getting mums into photos. I'd realised they were often behind the camera or too worried about how they looked to jump in with the kids. So I decided to start by offering family photo sessions on location with a specific emphasis on getting mum in the picture! I registered my business name, hired a small shop as my base and created a FB page. But life had other plans and 8 months later our little miracle arrived. My business was immediately put on hold. Our beautiful baby girl had some health issues and required surgery at just 7 weeks old. All of a sudden nothing else mattered - she was my world. I gave up my shop lease and settled into life as a mum rather than a business owner. Although I loved having my daughter as time went on I started to feel like something was missing. It took me a few years before I could admit, even to myself, that being a mum wasnt enough. I struggled with guilt because Id wanted a baby for so long and now I wanted something more. My entire identity was shaken to the core. With my husband's full support we decided to increase our mortgage and add a studio and powder room to the back of our home and I reopened my business. With a different kind of life experience behind me I quickly realised my focus had changed. Rather than just wanting to encourage mums into the family photo I now wanted a lot more for her. I created my 'Celebrate You' Sessions to help women feel confident and empowered, I wanted them to see value in themselves, not just as a mother but as a woman. More recently I expanded into Personal Branding and I now love helping women step into their power and follow their dreams, in life as well as business. I'd love to know your story. Do you relate to this at all? Have you had to juggle a family and business? Have you felt guilty like me for wanting more from life? If you're comfortable tell me in the comments why you started your business and what is your biggest struggle today? Or if you prefer send me a message as I'd love to know more about your why

14.01.2022 The Story that Defines Us Our physical body does not define us, not by shape, size or the colour of our skin. Our facial features do not define us,... not our hair, eyes, teeth or the size of our nose. It is not what we do that defines us, not our job, our hobbies or if we can sing! And its not even what others think of us either, its not what they do and its not what they say. What defines us is the story we tell ourselves. Its that persistent noise inside our head, The inner critic that never leaves us The voice that is always with us no matter what. Its quick to criticise, it tells us our faults. Its tells us were ugly, too fat or too thin, too short, too tall, too large, too small. Not strong enough, not tough enough, Not smart enough, pretty enough or loveable either; That well never be enough no matter what we do. And it says no one wants to hear what we say, That were boring, too chatty, too loud or too bold. Too passive, aggressive, too young or too old. No matter the logic, its these things we perceive, And thats what defines us, the story that we believe. Amanda Stoneham 2019

13.01.2022 It's Spring - the season of rebirth & awakening! I know it's been a long hard few months through Winter and I hope you're doing okay. Although lockdown in Melbourne isn't over yet, for me, Spring brings with it hope for better days to come along with warmer weather, more daylight hours, new growth in the garden and blossoming flowers. I can't wait till we can connect again in person, and while I'm grateful for technology and the ability to communicate remotely I'm a little ov...er video catch ups! What about you? What's been the hardest thing about being in lockdown for you? And does Spring make you feel better too?

13.01.2022 Life in Lockdown No.2 - 25th July 2020 Almost numb I walked back to the car with my groceries in hand. Ive been ordering everything online but tonight I had to grab a few things that were unavailable with my last order. As I dashed around the aisles I was chilled by the sudden isolation I felt. ... Pre-Covid a trip to the supermarket usually meant a quick chat with someone or at least smiles exchanged with other shoppers or staff. Not tonight. The mood was sombre. No one seemed friendly. People were in a rush. The checkouts were self serve only. I felt like there was no point smiling; even if I did no one could tell. I was wearing one of those expressionless surgical masks. It kept slipping up, not only covering my mouth and nose but, like a hood limiting my vision, much like a skittish horse must feel when blinkers are used to limit its field of view during a race. Am I alone in feeling like this? Its not the first time Ive worn a mask. Ive gotten used to the feeling that I cant breathe; Ive found that by breathing through my mouth more and taking an extra deep breath now and then its bearable. Ive adjusted to my sunglasses fogging up, or at least Ive accepted that they spend more time on top of my head now than covering my eyes. Ive learnt that a mask doesnt hinder the ability to talk nonstop while walking with a friend. In fact its actually good for keeping my face warm in the cold night air. Samantha and I have enjoyed the sunshine with our hearts and care bear masks, even taking selfies to show off our new fashion accessories while walking the dog. So what was different tonight? Why did I suddenly feel like I was grieving something? Was it the realisation that this is our new normal? Was it the reminder that our health hinges on a face covering? Was it sadness for smiles we might never see again? Or was it because my mask moving and disturbing my vision also opened my eyes to something that I didnt want to see?

13.01.2022 Exclusive Cup Day Mini Sessions.... Booking now for November

12.01.2022 Consistency and clarity are two key elements of an effective personal brand. Getting both of these right helps us create recognition and trust and attracts the clients we want to work with. Tell me what's your biggest challenge when it comes to creating content for your biz?

12.01.2022 A couple of weeks ago I attended a Thriving Biz Collective event and I was very lucky to win a mystery box from The Sunflower Philosophy Check out the goodies that came in it below... thanks so much Natasha I love it If you want to learn more about The Sunflower Philosophy group and their beautiful products here is the link to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/384331116297510

12.01.2022 Today I took a break from my studio where I've been madly editing for days and took Miss S and I on an adventure. We headed to Yarra Glen to get our fill of nature at Alowyn Gardens. Of course no day would be complete without photos and both of us had fun capturing the abundance of colourful flowers and plants. We sat in the sun, got lost in the maze, chased butterflies and listened to the birds before treating ourselves to ice cream cones! ... It's been awhile since I spent time taking photos just for fun and I'd forgotten how inspiring it can be. With lots of new ideas I'm excited to get back into the studio and get creating tomorrow! I'll be scheduling more times like this into my calendar this year because it's so good for my mind, body and spirit What about you? Have you done anything to recharge your soul lately?

12.01.2022 It was a yoga kind of day in the studio on Saturday. Hands up if you can do this!

11.01.2022 Out of the studio and into the man cave, personal branding 'tradie' style! Although I talk a lot about empowering women that doesn't mean I don't like photographing men too. In fact it's always good to look at things from the 'other' perspective at times. Here's a peek behind the scenes with Shane from Envirostyle Indoor Plant Hire... #personalbranding #businessowner #portraitphotographer

10.01.2022 What do you see?

10.01.2022 What a lovely birthday I had today with my family even if it was ISO style. And so many beautiful messages, calls and surprise gifts from other friends and family. Thanks Shane, Bailey and Samantha for making it extra special

10.01.2022 The frustration and pent up energy has been building for me since the start of stage 4 lockdown and I can't wait to jump in the car, open the sunroof, turn up my music and drive out of my 5km radius. I want to feel the sun beaming down, breathe in a fresh sea (or country) breeze and bask in the magic of freedom. What about you? What are you looking forward to when restrictions start to ease?

09.01.2022 It's World Emoji Day Let's see which ones are the most popular emojis - mine are in the comments below... which ones do you use the most?

09.01.2022 Great advice right here

09.01.2022 Tune in to hear about the resource program I'm putting together to complement your personal branding photo session plus a reminder about the business grants currently on offer! Happy Thursday everyone, stay safe and well

09.01.2022 Does your personal brand speak for itself? Does it help you stand out and attract your clients? Or does it need something more? ... If you'd like me to share a series of personal branding tips that will help you stand out from the crowd let me know below Personal brand shoot slipped in between lockdowns for Tracey from Pink Drink Weight Loss Warrior

08.01.2022 Some gorgeous animal photos to brighten up your day...

08.01.2022 Yesterday I talked about a package I'm putting together to help maximise your personal branding photo experience. This will be a monthly program that will touch on a variety of subjects including business tips, personal branding, photo session preparation and content planning. It will be provided via a group membership that includes the above as well as your photo session and support from other group members.... I want to help you get the best images possible from your photo session as well as the support you need so your photos are used effectively afterwards. I'd love to hear from you what things you would like to see included in a program like this and what other support would help you through the process? Please feel free to comment below or message me directly

07.01.2022 Monday Inspiration What is your ‘why’? I always thought mine was to empower people but turns out that isn't quite strong enough to keep me motivated. ... Last week I reached out to my coach for some help after I found I was spending far too much time procrastinating. And although empowering others through photos and storytelling is something I love to do it turns out it's not actually my 'why'. No wonder I was feeling stuck and frustrated! After some tough questions including what breaks my heart and what brings me the most joy I discovered my real 'why' is to have greater meaning in my life. Which makes sense because that's a whole lot more personal to me. If you're wondering what's so important about knowing your 'why' well honestly it gives you the reason to keep going when stuff gets hard. Believe it or not motivation just isn’t enough and knowing your ‘why’ can make all the difference when it comes to getting through a pandemic or anything else that life might throw your way. If you need some help getting motivated or finding your own why I can highly recommend Megan Jaworski and her School of Impact Sisterhood or her one on one coaching programs. Photo credit to Paula Brennan Photographer

07.01.2022 "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Dr Seuss You don't need to lose weight, dye your hair, go vegan or wear the latest fashions to shine. You don't need to jump on the latest trend, be the life of the party, meditate or change your opinion to fit in. ... All you need to do is be you! Unapologetically, unashamedly You! Show the world who you are and what you stand for; through your actions and your choice of words. Put on that crown, take back your power and show up as the brave, bold, beautiful woman that you are If you need a little help with that message me or click on the link in the comments below and let's talk about Celebrating You

06.01.2022 Nothing is ever the same twice because everything is always gone forever, and yet each moment has infinite photographic possibilities. (Michael Kenna) A little under 5 years after this photo was taken celebrating Mums 60th birthday we lost her to pancreatic cancer. She never made it to 65. That was 10 years ago today. A moment in time where it felt like I lost everything that mattered in this world. ... Since then I've learned that life is constant and flowing; but one thing is certain, you cannot bring back what is gone. But you can carry the memories with you. You can hold those lost close. You can keep them in your heart. And you can make every new day count. So make sure you tell people you love them. Show them. Celebrate them while you can. Nothing is forever. Make memories. Take photos. One day it might be all you have left

05.01.2022 If you're in Melbourne then you've been stuck in lockdown for pretty much 6 months and if you're anything like me your mojo is a little hard to find right now. So this video is just as much for me as for you... a little reminder to myself of what I actually do for people... because lately I feel more like a school teacher than a photographer! I have everything crossed that I'll be allowed to start working closer to September than Christmas and I just know that it's going to ...get busy. So if you've changed your look (and I don't just mean all that extra body hair or Covid kilos) or you've changed your business model you will want to get new headshots or personal branding photos as soon as you can so people can see who you are and what you do now! If you want to be guaranteed a session before Christmas (providing I'm allowed to photograph you with no mask of course) jump on a call with me and let's start planning today. It might just be the motivation you need to launch out of lockdown ahead of the rest. Link to book your free call is in the first comment below. PS who else is super grateful its school holidays??

05.01.2022 When you don't know what to wear for your photo shoot turn to mother nature for help. Here's some colour inspiration from the gardens at Rippon Lea Estate in Elsternwick. What do you think? Would you wear these colours?

04.01.2022 If you're looking for a role in government this event is being run by a client of mine who is an expert in the field. It is a free event and well worth investing your time.

02.01.2022 "Feels like home. Personal branding is about simply showing people who you really are. The location choice for this shoot was easy. I knew I needed to go home. To the place where I grew up. To the land I looked at from my bedroom window. A special place for me and one where I knew I could express my true authentic self. The purpose of these shoots is to capture a true representation of your personality and I think Amanda has done a beautiful job." Rachel H Personal branding s...essions are always fun but when the location has such special meaning like this I find it adds an extra touch of magic to the photos. What do you think? Can the location really have such a big impact on your personal brand? Where would you like your next photo session to be? #personalbranding #photosession #womeninbusiness

02.01.2022 Once this VIC lockdown of all lockdowns is over.... my home (and studio) will be open once again with the kettle on, wine chilling and of course plenty of Baileys if we need something stronger (thanks to everyone for all my birthday bottles). If you need someone to listen, a shoulder to cry on, a chat or simply some good company and a few laughs you are very welcome! And just as soon as I'm allowed I'll be offering mini sessions for school photos so you don't miss getting a... 2020 photo for the school album! These will include the classic school pose plus a bonus mock home learning setup - happy for parents to make a brief appearance as the 'home' teacher if you want - hopefully for the last time ever! Unless of course you've decided you love home schooling so much you're pulling your child out of mainstream education - if that's you let's talk about how we can capture your child each year to commemorate a different style of learning! Meanwhile stay safe, stay healthy and let's get through this roadmap out of Covid just as fast as we possibly can!

02.01.2022 And for all of you wondering how I'll keep you (and myself) safe during Cup Day Mini's this is what I'll be wearing

02.01.2022 "Beauty is about enhancing what you have. Let yourself shine through" Janelle Mone

01.01.2022 Whatever your reason for choosing a studio session it doesn't have to be formal or impersonal. By bringing props from home you can add your own personality and branding to any type of shoot. 1. Bring along artwork to make your photos unique to you... 2. Your favourite mug is always a winner - pop it on the desk while you 'work' then relax with a cuppa to show another version of you. These are just two simple ways you can incorporate your own style into your Personal Branding Studio Shoot. Want to learn more. Register here and you'll get lots of great tips and resources including my free PDF of 10 Must Have Personal Branding Images - http://eepurl.com/hbyr4v

01.01.2022 Get on the wait list so you're ready to launch out of lockdown with a fabulous new Profile Photo! Book now to be first in line for a session date as soon as restrictions are lifted! Special offer ends 31st August 2020. Message me to find out more or book a free call today!