Fast Five Amber Tyler: Confidence crusader
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff writer
Meet Amber Tyler, a photographer and business owner who was born and raised in eastern Oregon, now living in Coeur d’Alene with her husband and three children.
Generation: “I think I’m technically a millennial, but definitely feel I fall more into the category of an Xennial. My childhood was without technology and I wasn’t introduced to the internet until I was in high school! Maybe growing up in a small town influenced this as well.”
Career and community involvement: “I am a portrait photographer, primarily focused on women’s lifestyle and boudoir photography. I run an empowerment group on Facebook that is just for women to help build up community, as well as create a safe space for them to just be themselves. I am also a volunteer with World Relief in Spokane.”
Parental status: “I have three children, and a husband that sometimes feels like a fourth. I’m just kidding! But really, I know all the married women out there understand that joke.”
1. How do you describe “boudoir photography” and the work you do?
“To me, boudoir photography is all about being vulnerable and brave. It’s about making the decision to set aside your insecurities to allow the best version of yourself to be seen. In today’s culture, we still have so many issues surrounding body weight and attaching our pant size to our worth. The work I do is to help undo that — to show each woman that it doesn’t matter what size you are, you are beautiful and you are worthy of whatever it is in this life you are wanting. And if you were wanting a more literal answer, ‘boudoir’ is a photoshoot done wearing whatever you interpret to be sexy, whether this is lingerie or just a white T-shirt. Whatever makes you feel daring and beautiful.”
2. Why do you feel it’s important to empower women of all shapes and sizes to feel beautiful?
“It’s important because we all have such limited time here on Earth, and what a shame it would be to spend that time hating yourself because of the way you look when you were truly so beautiful all along. It’s important because the next generation we are raising will take their cues on how to treat and view their bodies from us. They are watching us. And the last thing we would want is for our children to grow up hating themselves when all we can see is how beautiful they are. Do you see the pattern here? The only way we can teach them to love themselves unconditionally is if we also show it to ourselves.”
3. What do you love most about your work?
“Oh 100 percent the incredible women I get to meet through my work. I get to hear their stories and literally watch them step into this more confident version of themselves. There’s nothing better than knowing I have had a hand in improving their lives, even in a small way.”
4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
“I used to be the most introverted person ever, but my business has pulled me out of it. I failed my public speaking class in college because I was just so timid and didn’t know how to talk in front of people, and now my profession depends on me directing and talking to people all the time. I have a separate brand in my business for photographing weddings and during weddings I have to direct groups of people. It just blows my mind how I’ve become so much more confident and honestly good at what I used to consider such a weakness!”
5. If you could say anything at all to women around the world, what would it be?
“I would tell them that they are worthy of whatever it is in life they long for. If that’s love, or their dream job, or a family. Whatever it is, they are worthy of it all right now. They are also worthy of self love right now. Not 10, 20 or 50 pounds from now - but right now. There is no magic number that dictates your self worth or happiness. In fact, the more you can love yourself in any given moment, in the present, the easier it is to get yourself to wherever it is you want to be. There is so much power in finding love and gratitude in the present.”