32 BUSINESS WOMEN SCOTLAND interview
Quick Questions with
Amelia Jacobsen
Name: Amelia Jacobsen
Company: Amelia Jacobsen Portraits
Address: 88 Giles Street, Leith,
Edinburgh EH6 6BZ
www.ameliajacobsen.com
Originally from New Zealand, Amelia Jacobsen lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Amelia
spent many years as a professional photographer capturing the best of everyday people,
celebrities and sports personalities for New Zealand’s largest news agency. She built on this
experience producing shoots for some of the world’s top end fashion brands and it was here
Amelia realised she wanted to show ordinary women outside the media spotlight that they
too could look as confident and extraordinary as the models they see in magazines.
What is your background, did you
always want to be a photographer?
Is there one person you would like to
photograph, past or present?
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t own a camera.
Right from a very early age my father taught me the
basics of photography which lead to me taking it
as a subject at school while on an exchange year in
America. Before my passion for photography became
my profession I started in hospitality, and then moved
into the advertising industry. Looking back, I think
these experiences helped form my opinions on the
importance of good customer service and presenting a
clear message for my business.
When I first arrived in Scotland in 1999 I worked
for the Scotland On Sunday Newspaper as a Picture
Researcher, before relocating to London to work for The
Telegraph. I then returned to my native New Zealand
for seven years where I worked extensively in film and
TV before becoming a press photographer for the local
newspaper. The newspaper work was what excited me
most as I was dealing with real people and their everyday
lives, rather than models or film stars. Photographing real
people is infinitely more enriching and rewarding.
When I relocated to Scotland, the second time round
having married a Scotsman, I decided to start Amelia
Jacobsen Portraits. The business is a culmination of all
my experiences: 5 star treatment for everyday people,
bringing out the best in women by using fashion industry
techniques and my personable style of portraiture.
While working as a producer in the fashion industry,
I realised it’s not the make up that makes a woman
beautiful, that just gives confidence, it’s capturing that
natural expression that reveals who we are through the
power of a beautiful portrait.
In honesty, there is not one person in particular. I want
to photograph mothers, daughters, sisters and families.
Whether for business portraits or for more personal
celebrations of our relationships, everyone has a great
story to tell. When I photograph someone I’m fascinated
by their potential. There’s a special relationship between
camera and sitter and it’s bridging that gap to make the
sitter feel at ease that produces the great results.
Have you found that business has
come through recommendations?
Yes, my business is built on personal
recommendations. I like my clients to enjoy the
experience so much that they want their friends and
family to experience it too.
The cost for setting up as a
photographer is probably higher
than any other new start, have you
found it challenging getting the
business started?
I have been a photographer for many years now
so owning professional equipment has been an
expensive, but gradual process. Because of this I
was well prepared when I launched Amelia Jacobsen
Portraits. However, the other costs that most people
don’t appreciate are the day-to-day running of the
studio, paying for top make-up artists, retouchers,
printers and framers and also keeping up to date with
new developments in computer technology.