Business Spotlight: Cope & Calm (Psychotherapist)
BEHIND THE LENS WITH: Amber Young
Psychotherapist, and owner of Cope & Calm
Amber came into this session with a lot of honesty right out of the gate. She told me she doesn’t love being photographed, doesn’t feel especially photogenic, and that smiling on purpose feels… weird. I know how this feels! I MAKE myself go through being photographed at least once per year, so when people say things like this to me, I really do understand.
As we talked through her work as a Psychotherapist, she summed up her brand as “Come just as you are.” Amber wants her clients to feel competent, supported, and completely unjudged the moment they walk in. Not polished-for-Instagram perfect, just real. She described her vibe as “mom meets best friend,” someone who’s warm, informed, and not afraid to swear a little if that’s what the moment calls for.
She works primarily with teens and young adults, and the way she talks about them makes it clear this isn’t just a job for her, because, as she put it, “For better or worse, I cannot help but be myself.” This session was about creating images that reflect that same energy: approachable, grounded, and safe to show up messy.
Behind The Lens: Crafting the Photoshoot
Behind the scenes of Ambers photoshoot
Amber came in fairly convinced there wasn’t much we could do with her very curly hair, so watching that shift in real time was one of the highlights of the day. LaToya took incredible care with every spiral curl, spending the time needed to get it just right. When Amber looked in the mirror, she was genuinely shocked, saying she’d never seen her curls look so good. Moments like that never get old, I am so spoiled and lucky to have such a caring team!
We stayed mostly true to the session plan I had mapped out in advance, but I left room to experiment a bit, which ended up being a pleasant surprise for Amber, and they quickly became some of her favorites. By the end of the session, I got the feeling Amber was really happy with what we created!
Day-In-the-life
Photoshoot add-on
In addition to Ambers Branding Photography Session we also created authentic fly-on-the-wall documentary-style images for her social media! Here’s a small sampling of some of my favorites!
Photographer: Samantha Dueck
Hair and Makeup: LaToya Santos Beauty
Wardrobe: Skeletons in My Closet
Studio Assistant: Olivia V.
Samantha Dueck is a Connecticut-based personal branding and headshot photographer with over 15 years of experience working with entrepreneurs, professionals, and creatives. Known for her consultation-driven approach, she focuses on understanding the person behind the brand before ever picking up the camera. Samantha is a two-time speaker at the Lens & Light Photography Summit, has appeared on numerous podcasts, and mentors photographers through education and community-building.