Building Community through Photography

Local photographer Amanda Williams armed with a camera, a squad of enthusiastic collaborators, and a surplus of creativity is the mastermind behind the project, ‘Portraits in the Park’, a series of monthly free photoshoots that have provided Astoria Park with a welcome spark of community building over the last few monthsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Williams’ interest in photography is relatively newGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. “During the pandemic, I was like: You know what, I’m going to get a really great camera, and I’m going to go for it,” Williams saidGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Nowadays, she does all kinds of professional photography work, ranging from sports photography (her true passion) to filmmaking and fashion photographyGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. But the portraits she’s taken in Astoria Park form the core of her portfolio, shining a spotlight on the beauty of Astoria Park and the diversity of the Astoria communityGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Though Williams promotes her events on Reddit and social media, many Portraits in the Park participants find their way to her sessions through word-of-mouth, or by simply stumbling into the canopy that she and her friends usually set-up as a waiting room of sortsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. “We want everyone, from the moment they walk up, to feel good,” Williams saidGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. “To feel like we’re friends hereGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. If you guys want to hang out later, let’s do it!”

Williams has used the latest Portraits in the Park sessions to provide her fellow Astoria residents with an outlet for their own creativityGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. In September, the theme of the shoot was pet portraits; last month, Williams snapped photos of Astorians decked out in Halloween costumesGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. “I do the theme stuff because it brings out a different side of people,” Williams saidGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. “They’re able to let loose in a different wayGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.”

For this month’s shoot, Williams is thinking about inviting participants to wear Christmas get-ups and take photos for their holiday cardsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. “And then November is my birthday month,” Williams said, “so something crazy might happenGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.”

No matter the theme, Williams’ Portraits in the Park series has been a resounding success, bringing Astorians together during a time in which many have spent months cooped up indoorsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. To be notified about the time and date of the next free shoot, follow Williams on Instagram   You’ll be sure to make new friends—and get some quality headshots on the wayGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.