Kerri and Dave in Celebrity Wedding Reporter!

 I have many things in my life to be happy about and I am grateful. My niece returned from California this month with her team and a National Figure Skating silver medal! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about that. I helped my sister send out files of photographs from that competition last week. We were trying to send out files until all hours of the night. Anyone who knows me unless I am shooting a wedding I am in bed by 8:00pm. I am a big morning person and not so much a night owl. During a break, I decided to check my facebook. I saw a status update from Stacie Francombe asking for submissions for bride's with colorful shoes. The first thing that came to mind was my Bride Kerri's awesome shoes on her big day last September. I decided to pull up a couple files and send them out. Stacie Francombe launched Get Married Magazine in 2006. She is an amazing public speaker in the wedding industry as well as a TV host. Stacie is also a founding board member of Wish Upon a Wedding organization that provides weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances. It is a wonderful cause that I am also a part of. I have been following her since I started my studio and now she has a new blog Celebrity Wedding Reporter which I am really excited about. I go to it daily for inspiration as well as a good education in wedding trends! I was so over the top thrilled to hear that some of my photographs would be featured in the blog. You can see the blog here: http://celebrityweddingreporter.com/2011/03/09/kate-middleton-most-likely-will-wear-flats-brides-what-you-should-know-before-choosing-your-wedding-day-shoes/ 
Here are some other of my favorites from that day. 

 

 

Kerri and Dave looked wonderful on their day. I am so glad I could share it with them and now Kerri's sense of style has been shared with the rest of the world!
xoxo,
Amanda-lee

Party of Six!

  I met parents Kelly and Paul when I shot Kelly's sister's wedding over a year ago. They are parents to three gorgeous boys Kyle, Connor and Caden and now beautiful Miss Keira!

I really adore Kelly. She has been such a great support since I have met her. I appreciate her and all her kindness towards myself and my business. Kelly and Paul REALLY like to dance....Here are some photographs from the first time I met them......

 

 

The older brothers are so proud of their little sister. Here is what the kids look like now, a year later!

 This session was just about 4 hours. Kelly was able to feed and change the baby several times. Kelly's Mom was also there and it was great seeing her again. During the down time, I tested the light and changed the position of my set up which is great. This is another sitting based on natural light, no flash. Ideally a session should last 2-4 hours so I can get in tons of outfit changes! Wraps and outfits are courtesy of  PattyCakesCreations. 

Kelly saw this box that I carry some of my outfit selections in and commented how much she liked it. I thought it would be a good idea to try to take some photographs of the baby inside it!

This is my favorite from the session. She looks sassy! 

I had a great time with Kelly, her Mom and the boys. We chatted and laughed about some of my amazing adventures in wedding photography. I wish this family all the best and you will be seeing Miss Keira again for her 1 year old "Cake Session" Can't wait!
xoxo,
Amanda-lee

Big brother Vinny welcomes baby Daniella!

    I first met parents Nicole and Vinny when Nicole was pregnant with her first child, Vinny Chase. I had worked for several of their friends previous to working for them. We have all become facebook friends and for me that is always fun. It really helps me to get a sense of a clients style, personality and keeps the work very hands on and personal.  To date I have done many sessions for them capturing Vinny Chase's milestones. Going to their beautiful home is always a joy. Nicole has great taste in interiors and makes the BEST coffee! The house is fabulous courtesy of George Parsons Contracting. The floor plan is open which allows for lots of natural light and there was no need for flash. We had baby Daniella's session planned from when Nicole first found out she was pregnant. I flew home from Oregon on Friday morning and shot this session Friday afternoon. I am glad my flights went smooth because there is no way I was going to miss meeting this gorgeous girl! Can you blame me? (Just want to thank my Mom for making most of these outfits and helping me hand dye the baby wraps. Mom, you are awesome!)

   Of course big brother, Vinny almost stole the show. I love how I am getting to know his personality.

Daniella is just two weeks old, but already becoming more active. I was still able to pull off some adorable shots. There is never a rush. I leave lots of time for cuddling, feeding and changing. 

 And then there was this guy.....AGAIN..... :)

   I am so happy for Nicole and Vinny. They are great parents and appreciated clients who I consider friends. They are such nice people and really do deserve the very best. They seem to have that now times two! Baby Daniella is the perfect addition! 

    I can not wait to shoot again for this growing family. I am scheduled to shoot baby Daniella's christening. I am shooting a wedding in DC the night before, but with help from my hubby I should make it just in time! 
xoxo, 
Amanda-lee

Oregon February 2011

 The whole purpose of this blog is to help my clients to get to know me better. I decided to put up some photographs of my trip to Oregon. Half of my family lives in Oregon. My Mom was born and raised on a farm in a very small town outside Portland. My Dad is from Brooklyn. Interesting combo, right?  When he was playing for the Dodgers, they met at an after game hotel party. She actually went to the wrong party, but by the time she realized she didn't know anyone she had already met my father. They wrote back and forth as my father played across the country. She flew to New York and they were married. I grew up being able to travel back to Oregon very often because my Dad went on to work for American Airlines. My parents thought it was important for my siblings and I to know our roots and always stressed how important family was no matter how far they lived from us. I am so glad that I have my parents. They always encouraged me to work hard and be a good person. I always try to do the right thing and I know I have them to thank for that. My grandmother, in Oregon, was actually the first one to encourage me to become a photographer. When I got my first point and shoot, I took some pictures of her beloved dogs and had them blown up for her wall. She told me that I really had an eye for it. I think I bought my first semi-professional camera about a week later! I grew up always having these wonderful photographs of myself and the other grandchildren on all the walls in my grandparents home. The importance of photography is something that was really instilled in me from early on.  Anyhow, Oregon is a very special place to me because of the people, the places and the things I grew up with. Here are a couple of shots I want to share.

It is easy to see why I love Oregon so much!

xoxoxo,

 Amanda-lee