Amy Doerring Photography

I ran into this article again.  It was in the local paper in a story where several people were interviewed.  It was intended to motivate others and to look up instead of down during the whole Maytag situation.  I still wish Maytag was here but I am so thankful I am where I am.

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If anyone exemplifies the success and satisfaction of following one’s passion, it’s Amy Doerring.

For 17 years, the last 10 at Maytag in Newton, Doerring was immersed in the corporate world of information technology. But now, more than three years after being let go by Maytag, she’s traded her megabytes for megapixels as her photography studio continues to grow.

“I had an interest in photography for a long time and now I had the opportunity to do what I wanted,” she said. “But I didn’t know if I had the courage to do it.”

With strong support from friends and family — she was sent congratulatory plant arrangements upon her departure from Maytag in March 2002 — she pulled up her boot straps and went to work. That summer, she set up a sales booth as part of Newton’s annual Ridiculous Day sale and lined up several senior picture portrait sessions. The rest is history.

Today she operates Amy Doerring Photography out of a recently renovated third floor studio at her home. Her client list has grown to include regular customers from all over Iowa, as well as Minnesota and Nebraska.

And Doerring’s is not the typical studio photography work. As often as not, you’ll find her at shooting sessions at some of her favorite light-meets-textured-walls spots around town.

“My tag line is ’still photography, moving images.’” she said. “That’s what I want to create.”

She credits bringing the creative process to her photography work from her continued study of art history. Seeing how the great artists have used light and shadows to create mood and effect is something she continuously tries to improve upon in her photography work.

“I want to get better and better,” she said.

Another important aspect of her efforts go to what she calls her “heart’s work.” She recently completed a photo montage of a young boy stricken with a brain tumor and has helped out Annie Wignall’s Care Bags program.

“It allows me to give something back,” she said.

Looking back, Doerring can better see what her departure from Maytag has meant.

“It gave me wings so I could fly,” she said.

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I think it was worth it. 

And because I just have to post a pic….