Nonahood News: Tell me more about you and your art.

Ami Brown: I’m a photographer. I specialize in graduating seniors, dancers and families. I also do a lot of branding headshots for a lot of local businesses. My photography company is named @shearosephotography on Instagram, but my real name is Ami Brown. Not be confused with my daughters’ middle names Shea and Rose.

NHN: Ideal mediums?

AB: I’m really just focused on seniors and dancers. I really like that one-on-one interaction. My daughter’s a dancer, so I do shoots at their studio. I also do small business owners here in Lake Nona. I do business branding as well. I’ve done so many people’s headshots in the neighborhood and the community. And personally, I love colors! That’s my vibe, everything’s fresh, colorful and vibrant. And so, I love murals, and there are quite a few hidden murals here. I’ll be driving by and I’m like, “I love it there, I’m going to go and test someone there.”

NHN: Recent artistic achievement(s)?

AB: I’ve always wanted to do a shoot with an airplane. And there’s a neighbor who is in the Air Force now. He was able to get me onto the tarmac, and we used one of those planes. So that for me was like, “Oh, my God, this is one of my bucket list items.” And I just partnered with the Swinging With Purpose nonprofit! I did the pictures for that event, and we had a lot of famous female golfers come in. It is a local charity here in Lake Nona. Basically, they do golf tournaments and raise money for local nonprofits geared towards women and children.

NHN: Who inspires your art?

AB: My people, my kids, these families. They’re all my inspiration. Working with families, I focus on connection. If you look at my pictures, you’ll see that everybody is connected, everybody is touching in some way. With my dancers, it’s all about movement, it’s all about liquidity, and you see that they’re always in motion. Even my own daughter, I’ve watched her since she could barely point her toes, and now the movement, the beauty, and the grace is so amazing to watch. The evolution is a story, and I feel like with my photography I’m telling a story. And these people are keeping me in their lives to continue that story. I’ll do their college graduations, their maternity pictures – it’s really cool to watch. I’ve been taking pictures of these kids since they were kindergartners and now, I’m doing their senior pictures. 

NHN: Future projects?

AB: Doing collaborations with more small businesses in Lake Nona is on the forefront. I’m creating a program where I can do pop ups. It would bring other locals to their business, and we could work with each other and bring more awareness. And, of course, the nonprofit work. I’m always in search of a nonprofit to help promote or to work with. I don’t have anything there just yet. Swinging With Purpose is my biggest one that I’m doing the most work with.

NHN: What inspired you to create art in Lake Nona?

AB: I lived here with my kids, and it was easy to just take pictures in my neighborhood. Everybody loves Lake Nona. I have people that have been with me this entire time. They have never done a shoot with me outside of our neighborhood, so every year we have to keep finding new spots. As it grows, there’s just more things that they’re adding. I never leave my bubble; everything is right here. I scout about once a month to go look for new places, and I find something new all the time. That evolution has been the evolution of my photography and my art. If anybody ever wants to reach out to me, I say, “Oh, have you been to Lake Nona?” That’s always my go to. There’s just so much to offer, if someone wants an open field, there’s an open field. But look, there’s also this beautiful wooden fence that looks a little rustic. There are just all these different areas, especially Laureate Park. You have an open field with a lake right there, but then you have the glass house! Then you have colors on the walls. So, there are tons of canvases.