MARRIED!!!

I am so thrilled to say that Stephen and I are officially husband and wife! The wedding was absolutely beautiful and quaint and all that I could have ever asked for. Although we didn't get any significant amount of snowfall, we had a few flakes which was just perfect! And we did brave the outdoors for the ceremony (thank you to all of our kind guests who didn't complain once!). I'm pretty sure the temperature peaked out at about 35 degrees, but it somehow didn't feel that cold, even in a strapless dress. Everything just fell into place like it was all meant to be. I think it was all confirmed when our Reverend apologized to Stephen and I after the ceremony for becoming emotional, as he just had a really good feeling about our marriage. I still can't believe that I am married to Stephen, I seriously think I must be the luckiest girl in the world!

I can't wait to post pics from the day, and I will as soon as I get them. I am anxiously awaiting our photos from the amazingly talented Darren Sheely- now I know what it must feel like for my clients anticipating their photos :) Until then, I do have a few photos to share from the wedding. My two nephews were the ring bearers, and they were seriously so stinking cute you want to eat them up!!! Enjoy!

Christmas session with friends...

I had the pleasure of photographing a good friend of mine and her family this holiday season. Their little girl is so sweet and adorable- when I walked in the door, she began talking to me like she had known me forever. She really just melts your heart. And their family is one that most would aspire to be- loving, supportive, light-hearted and fun. I had a great time with you guys!!!
And now as the holiday photo rush tapers off a bit, I can shift my focus to our upcoming wedding! It seriously snuck up on us, and I am getting sooo excited! Just two weeks away! And the dress... an amazingly talented friend of mine has gone through the painstaking task of making my wedding dress, and it is quite honestly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I cannot wait to show it off which I will definitely do once I have photos from the wedding. Until then, I will post more images from recent sessions in the next couple of weeks!

A busy time of year...

There has been so much going on lately and there appears to be no end in sight! It has certainly been a busy photo season and I have so many images that I want to share. On top of that, Stephen and I are getting married in just one short month and I am sooo excited! Luckily we are keeping it very small and simple, so we've been able to avoid the headaches that coincide with planning a wedding. The plan is to just show up (to the cutest place ever I must add, see below) and have a great time. Did I mention I get to marry the most amazing person in the world?!?!?! Lucky me :)

On another note, we just wrapped up the Baxter Fall Festival and it ended up being the most gorgeous day ever. The Amanda James Photography booth looked amazing! Thank you to everyone who stopped by. I owe all of the credit to my parents and Stephen for pulling it all together while I was at a morning photo session. They did such a great job and I am so thankful for them :) Now for some photos from recent sessions... and a quick photo of the place where we will be getting married (I am crossing my fingers for snow!)

It's time to start thinking about the holidays!!!

And to jump start the season, we are offering a holiday special for a limited time! Book a photo session with Amanda James Photography (sessions must take place by Nov. 1st) and receive 24 complimentary custom press printed holiday cards featuring an image/images from your session (more than a $50 value). These cards are truly beautiful and one-of-a-kind. Please inquire if you would like to preview the cards at info@amandajamesphotography.com or call 704-576-5820 to schedule your session.

Engagement Session...

I had the wonderful pleasure of photographing this couple's engagement session. It was so hot outside during their session, but they were so much fun and complete naturals in front of the camera. I have so many favorites, it is impossible to choose! Thanks "K" and "J" for a great time, I'm so excited to photograph your upcoming wedding!

Catch up

It's time for me to catch up on my blogging. I've had some great sessions recently that I want to share because my models have just been so cute. These siblings have the most amazing blue eyes and were such a joy to work with. Big sister was such a ham for the camera which made my job a lot easier! And at 6 mos old, her little brother got his fair share of face time too! These are the clients that you only dream of photographing!

The most beautiful place...

South Africa has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the world! There is so much to see and do, and I think we really did it all. The wildlife was amazing and humbling, and we were within just feet (and in some cases, inches) of it all! We spent several days in Capetown, headed to Sabi Sands game reserve near the Kruger National Park, then toured the Western Cape's beautiful winelands. I took so many photos of our experience, but they don't even do justice to actually being there. South Africa definitely holds a very special place in my heart for many reasons, and I can't wait until we get the opportunity to go back. Here are some of the pics of our amazing experience, it is so hard to pick just a few...