Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda.
Amanda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m Amanda Kossina — an award-winning portrait photographer and the founder of Kossina Creative Photography, one of the largest luxury portrait studios in Central Florida, located in Downtown Avalon Park in Orlando.
But photography wasn’t my first career.
Before stepping behind the camera full-time, I was an Emmy Award–winning television producer. I had the opportunity to work on nationally recognized projects and produce content for major networks including Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. Storytelling has always been at the core of who I am — first through television, and now through photography.
Photography began as a creative outlet while I was teaching and producing television. What started as a side business quickly grew into something I couldn’t ignore. In 2016, I made the leap to leave my day job and pursue photography full-time. It was one of the most terrifying and rewarding decisions of my life.
I built my business from the ground up — starting in a home studio and growing it into a thriving luxury studio that now serves families, women, and entrepreneurs across Central Florida. Today, my studio offers maternity, newborn, cake smash, family, senior portraits, branding, events, and boudoir photography — with over 300 gowns, 80+ backdrops, and curated sets designed to create a fully immersive, editorial-style experience.
My work has been featured on magazine covers, billboards, and even Times Square. But more than the accolades, what matters most to me is how my clients feel. I’m deeply passionate about creating experiences that help women feel confident, empowered, and seen beyond the many roles they fill every day.
At my core, I’m a storyteller and an entrepreneur who believes photography should feel cinematic, emotional, and unforgettable.
And when I’m not in the studio, I’m living my own love story — married to my high school sweetheart and raising our two children, who constantly remind me why documenting life’s fleeting moments matters so much.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been anything but easy. I was building my business while raising a baby, navigating pregnancy, and then welcoming a second child — all while trying to grow something from the ground up. Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship stretched me in every possible way. There were long days, sleepless nights, and moments of doubt.
But being in that same season of life as so many of my clients shaped me in the most beautiful way. I wasn’t just photographing newborns and families — I was living it. I understood the exhaustion, the overwhelm, the deep love, and the fleeting nature of those early years. That perspective didn’t just grow my business — it made me a better photographer.
One of my most defining challenges came in 2020. I had just opened my first commercial studio in January — a huge milestone. By March, I was forced to shut down due to the COVID lockdowns. It was absolutely terrifying. The uncertainty, the financial pressure, the fear of losing everything I had worked so hard to build — it tested me deeply.
But that season taught me resilience. It forced me to pivot, to problem-solve, and to think creatively. And when we reopened months later, we came back stronger, smarter, and more focused than ever.
Now, as I enter my 10th year as a full-time photographer, I understand that business — like life — has an ebb and flow. Bookings fluctuate. The economy shifts. Costs rise. Rent increases. The industry evolves. Nothing stays the same for long.
What I’ve learned is that flexibility is everything. Growth requires adaptability. And most importantly — everything is figure-out-able.
We’ve been impressed with Kossina Creative Photography, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Kossina Creative Photography is a luxury, full-service portrait studio based in Downtown Avalon Park in Orlando. We are known for creating immersive, editorial-style photo experiences that feel more like a magazine shoot than a traditional photography session.
I didn’t build this business to simply “take photos.” I built it to create moments — confidence-boosting, emotional, cinematic experiences that clients will remember just as much as the images themselves.
We serve families, women, and entrepreneurs across Central Florida, and our studio is designed to make every client feel like the main character in their own story.
We specialize in maternity, newborn, cake smash, family portraits, senior portraits, branding, events, and boudoir photography.
We are especially known for:
• Our luxury maternity and newborn experiences
• Empowering boudoir sessions
• Highly styled, themed cake smash sessions
• Editorial-style portraits that feel polished and cinematic
Our studio houses over 300 gowns and 80+ backdrops, allowing us to fully customize each session. Whether it’s a glamorous maternity shoot, a milestone birthday session, or a romance-novel-inspired boudoir experience, we create artwork that feels elevated and intentional.
My background as an Emmy Award–winning TV producer influences everything I do — lighting, posing, storytelling, set design. Every session is approached with a producer’s eye and a storyteller’s heart.
What sets us apart is the experience.
From the moment a client books, they’re guided through styling, wardrobe selection, and concept planning. When they arrive, they step into a fully designed environment created specifically for them.
We don’t just photograph milestones — we celebrate them.
I also believe deeply in empowerment. Especially for women. Many of our clients come in thinking they just need photos. They leave seeing themselves differently — more confident, more powerful, more seen.
The scale of our studio also sets us apart. We are one of the largest portrait studios in Central Florida, offering variety, customization, and production value that most boutique photographers simply can’t replicate.
I’m most proud that Kossina Creative has grown from a small home studio into a recognized luxury brand in Central Florida — without ever losing heart.
We’ve been featured on magazine covers, billboards, and even Times Square. But what means the most to me is the trust families place in us year after year to document every milestone.
I’m proud that we’ve built a brand that feels aspirational yet personal.
Luxury — but warm.
Polished — but authentic.
High-end — but welcoming.
And as we approach our 10th year, I’m most proud that we’ve built something sustainable, adaptable, and rooted in storytelling.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what this has always been about.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck. Everything I have built in life and in business has come from hard work, discipline, and a willingness to figure things out — even when I didn’t have all the answers.
Every step of my business growth has been intentional. It’s come from research, strategy, constant learning, and being resourceful enough to solve problems as they arise. I’ve invested deeply in education, marketing, and mentorship because I believe growth doesn’t happen by accident — it happens by design.
I’m always evolving. Every shift, expansion, and elevation of my brand has been the result of studying the industry, adapting to change, and pushing myself to think bigger.
As a visionary, I generate big ideas — but I’ve also learned that execution is everything. Leveraging my team, empowering them in their strengths, and building systems to bring those ideas to life has been one of the most powerful parts of scaling my business.
Nothing about this journey has been random. It’s been built — intentionally, strategically, and with relentless work behind the scenes.
Pricing:
- Our sessions start at $400 for the session fee and we have a variety of image collections that can accommodate most budgets.
- Out clients usually spend around $1500-$4,000 on their photo session.
- We also offer payment plans and 0% financing for out sessions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kossinacreative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kossinacreative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kossinacreative
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandakossina/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kossinacreative
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kossina-creative-photography-orlando?dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/kossinacreative_boudoir
Image Credits
All of the photos have been taken by me except my headshot and family photo was taken by my Associate Photographer Alexandra Wagner at Kossina Creative Photography.
