Lighting the Runway: A Fashion Photography Workshop with Amanda Rowan (In-Person Learning – Six Sessions)

Amanda Rowan is a California-based photographer celebrated for her provocative still life and self-portraiture, which delve into the complexities of womanhood with humor and sensuality. Her vibrant and cinematic images blur the lines between fine art and commercial work, exploring themes of identity, age, and empowerment. Amanda’s work is internationally exhibited, with solo shows in prominent museums and galleries, and her photography is part of the permanent collection at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, alongside pieces by renowned artists like Damien Hirst and Basquiat.

A multi-award-winning artist, Amanda was the recipient of the 2024 Aesthetica Art Prize and the Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers. Her work was also featured in the 2023 Official Selection at the Mill Valley Film Festival. She has been an artist and research fellow at the Women’s International Study Center, where she had a solo exhibition bridging contemporary art with the museum’s historic collections.

Beyond the fine art world, Amanda has a robust career as a commercial photographer, working with high-profile clients including HBO, NBC, Disney, and QVC. She has photographed numerous celebrities and fashion brands, creating striking images that merge artistic vision with commercial appeal. Her expertise in studio lighting and set design, combined with her dynamic aesthetic, has made her a sought-after photographer in both editorial and commercial spheres.

Amanda graduated from NYU Tish and is an educator with over a decade of teaching experience. Her classes emphasize the intersection of fashion, fine art, and digital media, equipping students with the skills to navigate both creative and commercial industries. She has also developed workshops for actors, models, and performers on lighting and posing techniques.  Through her ongoing artistic practice, Amanda continues to explore the relationship between technology, femininity, and the body, examining themes of age, viability, and self-presentation in the digital era.