On a beach on the warm West Coast day. Keitaro Cloward and Amber Johnson explore the world of the “now” as the sun moves west into the horizon.

Keitaro: How does it feel being able to dictate how you are presented, and not having to changed your look for an agency or someone else who might be managing you? And that you have full control over the “Amber Johnson” brand that is you.

Amber: Yes, it’s very empowering, because you’re just living life on your own terms and that’s always such a great feeling.

Keitaro: Because there is so much accelerated growth, from one month to the next there’s different opportunities etc that present themselves. Do you suggest other people to keep a level head or do you think it’s better not too, and to just enjoy the ride? What’s your take on that?

Amber: I think it always is very important to keep a level head. For me, I like to keep things very balanced. So if I do need to take breaks from social media, I will take it. Because if you’re not balanced you won’t appreciate everything that’s going on in the moment. Because you’re so caught up on “how to keep growing”, “how to not lose that growth” and such. I think it’s very important to take breaks and balance yourself.

“I think it’s very important to take breaks and balance yourself.”

Keitaro: How do you feel about “Listening to your gut”?

Amber: For a long time it was hard for me to listen to my gut, and to really trust my intuition. Because, I overthink a lot. Sometimes in the past, I over thought a lot of situations where it would’ve been beneficial, but I was just too worried. But now I’m starting to fall into just trust my gut and it’s helped me in certain situations. Like, some brands may want to collaborate and I might not want to do it because I’m not sure if it falls in line with my brand, or sometimes it’s how they operate on the other side. So sometimes it is very important to go with your gut, I’ve been doing that a lot more. I think it very keen to have a strong sense of intuition.

Keitaro: I love the part that you questioned “does it fall in line with the Amber brand”, because even if it’s a job and it seems good, if it doesn’t align with your person brand then it’s not something you want to put out into the world. On that note, how did you consolidate your person brand and decide what the Amber Johnson brand is?

Amber: I think I owe that to my younger self, haha. Because, when I was young I always knew what I wanted to do, how I wanted to take pictures, and as I’ve gotten older I’ve never really lost sight of that. It’s really just been imbedded within me. I sometime see things that other people do and sometimes I think it may work. But, I have that certain place where I am going to do what I like.

“When I was young I always knew what I wanted to do.”

Keitaro: Me too, hopping on to a different topic, what is the “West Coast” style, and how would you describe it?

Amber: I think the West Coast style is, from my point of view, I think about the beach, Daisy Dukes, old cars, old Cameros, Montecarlos, kids playing outside, kids play hopscotch, things like that. I feel like West Coast is very “bright” to me.

Keitaro: Same

Amber: Yes, that’s the West Coast vibe for me for sure.

Keitaro: What’s your zodiac sign for those who don’t know and what does that mean for you?

Amber: I am a full blown Aries, what that means for me, is sometimes I can be a little bit stubborn but I’m also very expressive about all of my feelings, I’m expressive about what makes me mad, very expressive about what makes me happy, I’m just all around a very passionate person. I’m a fire sign, I feel like I do everything with the intention of, like, “ I’m here” , “I’m present”, and you know I’m present because you can see me, haha.

Keitaro: Love that, haha. What are mottos that you live by?

Amber: Mottos I live by, I’m not sure if you heard of this before, but they say “shoot for the stars and if you miss you’ll land amongst the moon”. I feel like that’s been very key for me. Because I do shoot for things I want and sometimes when they don’t fall through I know that I can tell myself that it’s okay, it didn’t fall through but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. Something else will come around, and that’s usually what happens for me. And if I miss another opportunity then another opportunity comes. That’s the main one.

Keitaro: What are some of those stars that you are shooting for?

Amber: We’ll just keep that a mystery for now.

Keitaro: Love it, haha. Top three tracks you’ll be playing in your car over the weekend?

Amber: I’m very old school so I don’t know if it has to be current but…

Keitaro: Not at all

Amber: Ok, awesome, right now, I’m gonna say, the “The Way You Move by Outkast” it makes me feel very very happy, best way to start the day, with dance music it feels good. I’m going to also go with “Just Like Magic by Ariana Grande” because it’s a very key manifesting song and I like to listen to that it’s very reassuring. And “Good Days by SZA” it’s very empowering and a relaxing song.

“I’m expressive about what makes me mad, very expressive about what makes me happy, I’m just all around a very passionate person.”

Keitaro: If there was a song that represented you, when you are in the zone, that you would say “that is Amber”, when you are a 100 percent on fire and in your zone, what song would that be?

Amber: It would be “Boss by Beyonce”, hands down it would be that song.

Keitaro: What song represents you when you’re with your friends?

Amber: I would say, hmm let me think about that, when I’m with my friends… “Do It by Chloe x Halle”

Keitaro: Any other passions and secret skill that anyone else might not know about?

Amber: I used to sing a lot and I’m thinking about getting back into that. Through High school, Middle school, pretty much all of my life. After High school I just kinda stopped and starting up model for a little bit , so I sing and that’s a little hidden talent that I might bring back.

Keitaro: We’ll stay tuned. What’s the one thing that you are unbeatable/ untouchable in?

Amber: I would probably say taking Selfies.

Keitaro: That’s a good one.

Amber: Favorite thing about the now and where we are in this time and place?

Keitaro: My favorite thing about right now, is all these young entrepreneurs. I think that’s my favorite thing. Every time I hop on Instagram I see one of my friends starting a new business, starting a new venture and it makes me so happy.