Amy McKinlay Photography Amy McKinlay Photography

Meet Amy

VOTED SARASOTA'S BEST PHOTOGRAPHER IN 2019, 2020 + 2021 
by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Readers' Choice Awards


My love for photography began when I was young.. Being a professional photographer was my dream for many years. Seeing it come to life has been a huge blessing for me as well as an exciting and wonderful journey. I am so thankful for each person I’ve had the opportunity to meet and/or photograph along the way. 

Hello! Thanks for stopping by!
I’m Amy. I’m based out of my incredibly beautiful hometown of Sarasota, Florida. Being on the beach in the salty air is soothing and inspiring to me, and where I feel most at home. It’s also why I aim to combine the outdoors in so much of my photography. No adventure is too far and no idea is too big- I love to travel and am available for travel worldwide. When I’m not behind the camera, you can find me spending time with my boyfriend, John, our son, Luca, and our beagle, (@dayzeethebeagle). We enjoy boat days with my parents, strolling through many of our beautiful parks in Sarasota, lazy days at home, and the occasional date night at one of our many awesome local restaurants! 

My ideal clients? Ones who aren’t afraid to let go and be themselves!
If there's one thing you need to know about my photography, it's this: I love authentic. My style is all about rawness and honesty. My main goal is to capture authentic moments and genuine interactions by fostering a fun and relaxed environment. I will use gentle direction and years of experience to build such moments in both a flattering and natural progression. I schedule my sessions in the evenings for the warmest lighting, aka- golden hour! I meet my clients at their homes, or, at a local setting of their choice.

Education
My first photography courses and advanced placement art classes were taken at Riverview High School in Sarasota, FL. After graduating, I decided I wanted to turn my passion into a profession. I moved to Boston and attended The New England School of Photography. While in my two year full-time photography program, I took classes in all different types of photography - portraiture, fashion, weddings, advertising, digital art, film, editorial, history, etc. But, my main focus has always been portraiture. After completing the photography program, I moved back to my hometown to start my business! Fast forward ten years, my business is thriving and has been my best and busiest year by far! I am so excited for what the future holds for me!

Availability
I photograph a limited number of sessions per week and I am typically booked anywhere from one to six months in advance. Weddings are usually booked up to one year in advance. If you're expecting a child, it is best to schedule our session several months in advance in order to ensure availability. I recommend photographing newborns within the first two weeks of their life.