About — Amanda Mendoza Photography

Hi, I'm Amanda.

Des Moines-based photographer, creative director, and the person who will absolutely make you laugh mid-shoot whether you're ready or not.

how it all began…

I didn't start out planning to build a boudoir business. I booked my own session postpartum — nervous, unsure, definitely not feeling like myself. But the weirdest thing happened…I walked out feeling like I'd been let in on something I wish I'd known sooner.

At the time, I was deep in a corporate job, feeling stuck and pretty disconnected from myself. That session is when it clicked: I had a camera, and I knew exactly what it felt like to have someone help you feel that amazing. I figured I could do that for other women too.

Somewhere along the way, I realized the same thing was true outside the boudoir studio. Women don't just need to feel good with their clothes off — they need help showing up in their business, on their website, in the photo they use for their "About" page, the same way they need help showing up in the mirror.

That's why I do more than one kind of session: branding and portrait work for the people who need to see themselves clearly, and A.M.P. Boudoir for the people who need permission to just show up as they are.

Different sessions, same belief underneath all of it — you don't need to wait for the right time, the right weight, or the right amount of confidence. Existing is reason enough to be seen.

View Our Services

I'm the one you're talking to from your first inquiry to the moment you get your gallery — no hand-offs, no guessing who's going to show up on shoot day. I do the directing, the posing, the "here's exactly what to do with your hands" part, so you don't have to know anything about photography going in. You just have to show up.

How I Work

Outside the Studio

- I believe you shouldn't have to earn the right to be seen or heard — that's not just a tagline, it's how I actually run my business. That belief extends to believing in everyone's right to choose what's right for their own body and their own life.
- I keep real work/life boundaries — I'm not going to be texting you at 9pm or on the weekends, and I don't expect you to be either.
- I believe in intuition, good energy, and trusting the vibe of a room (or a client). I'm not 'live by the moon cycle' witchy, but I do think energy is real and some rooms just feel right.Call it woo-woo if you want — it's never steered me wrong.
- Married, mom life, and running multiple businesses — chaos is basically the baseline.
- Used to foster for a local rescue until we foster failed ( and Coba is the best boy!)
- Weeknights and weekends are generally reserved for family and friends
  - You can either find me at the park, or at one of my many book clubs
- Coffee over tea (Iced lattes all the way, no matter the temp outside)
- I re-watch Vampire Diaries every year - i’ll let you guess the season ;)
- I am very social, but I’d generally pick curling up in a coffee shop with a book over partying any day
- I love dancing, and used to teach salsa / bachata locally pre-baby
- I enjoy baking, and my sourdough starter is named Doughphelia (iykyk)
- I talk with my hands and speak in tiktok sounds more than I probably should — ask anyone who's been in a session with me.