For me, photography has never been simply about taking a beautiful photograph. It is about creating something that could not have existed without imagination, collaboration and a willingness to see things differently.
I’m Amanda, the photographer behind Akira-Bella Photography, based in Waubra and working with clients throughout Ballarat, Maryborough and surrounding communities. Being recognised as one of the Top 100 in the Creative Arts category is an incredible honour because creativity has always been at the heart of what I do.
My photography is intentionally different. I love vibrant colour, dramatic lighting, unconventional posing, props, costumes and conceptual storytelling. I’m not interested in making every session look the same. Instead, I want to discover what makes each person unique and create imagery that feels like them — even if it reveals a side of themselves they have never seen before.
This is particularly true of my conceptual portrait work. A photograph can be a doorway into another world: perhaps you become a fairy, a queen, a creature from a fantasy story, or simply a more confident version of yourself. The magic comes from taking an idea, however unusual, and turning it into something real.
My studio environment allows me to take that creativity even further. Working with controlled studio lighting, backdrops, props and carefully considered styling means I can build an image from the ground up. I also approach every session individually, from our first conversation through to the final edit, because I believe the best photographs come from collaboration.
I don't use a one-size-fits-all approach to editing either. My work is known for being bold, colourful and sometimes dark and moody, and I deliberately avoid relying on the same preset to give every image a familiar look. Each photograph is an opportunity to create something unique.
Ultimately, what makes me a Top 100 photographer isn't just the images I create. It is the courage to be different, the curiosity to keep experimenting, and the belief that everyone deserves photographs that make them feel something.
I want my clients to walk away with more than photographs. I want them to have an experience, to see themselves in a new light, and to have an image that makes them stop and think, “Wow — that's me.”
Being recognised in the Top 100 Awards is a wonderful acknowledgement of that creative journey. But for me, the greatest reward will always be creating the next image, dreaming up the next concept, and helping another person discover just how extraordinary they can look when we step outside the ordinary.
That is the art of seeing differently. And that is what Akira-Bella Photography is all about.
Unique. Bold. Beautiful.