Laura & Ryan - Wedding

I just returned from photographing a wedding in Dedham, Massachusetts. Never before have I cried more while shooting a wedding than this one. Never. At one point I was feeling super embarrassed thinking about what the people around me probably thought of this crazy choked-up photographer. But alas, the tears still came.

This was a beautiful wedding from beginning to end.... Not just because the couple is absolutely stunning, but also because of the strong, almost tangible sense of love. Both of the couples are blessed with amazing parents whom I admired throughout the day. Between their families, great friends and Laura & Ryan themselves, you could almost cut the love in the air with a knife. It was just awesome.

Here are a few shots of their big day.... Tune in next week for a sneak peak of an engagement session that I also had while in Mass!

.....To Laura & Ryan, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this major time of your life - You were such a joy to spend time with and to photograph! xoxo - Amanda

I adored Laura's Melissa Sweet wedding gown!


I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play off the vintage feel from her beautiful birdcage veil...


Ryan prepping himself to see his bride!


Details, details!



Laura & her sweet dad escorting his baby girl down the aisle...

A speechless and tearful Ryan seeing his bride for the first time... (This is when my tears began!)

Thankfully, Laura's dad (& the couple's Pastor) lightened things up a few times to relieve us all from the tears for a few moments...




The new Mr & Mrs!


More moments to make me cry like a little girl.... Mother/Son and Father/Daughter dances..... It certainly didn't help that Ryan's (gorgeous) mom was singing the words to him as they danced. Just about the cutest thing ever....

The fabulous wedding party..... I thoroughly enjoyed each from this crazy group!



Congrats again guys!

Testing... Testing?? Is this thing on?

Hello blog-readers! I appologize for my absence over the last few weeks. If you've been keeping up with me since the New Year, then you know that one of my resolutions was to become better at this "blogging-stuff"..... obviously I've had a little set-back :o) But I'm back & ready to continue on in my quest to blog semi-regularly.

Here's a few shots from a recent family shoot..... This beautiful family (really, aren't they just beautiful?!) has lots of changes coming up.... and you know what changes call for... new photos! I like their way of thinking!

These two love birds are very dear to my heart.... I photographed Rachel & Ben's engagement photos and then their wedding almost one year ago (I can't believe it's almost been a year, guys!). Now their family photos and SOON maternity photos! Unknown to us all (Rachel & Ben included) there was a little one baking-away during this shoot.... they found out the great news shortly thereafter & Rachel told me by saying "Um, we're going to need to schedule another photo session with you!" I am SO excited for you two! Beyond words! You'll be INCREDIBLE parents..... I am blessed to be a part of your lives!

My photographer friend David Spence @ www.encrephotography.com & I both needed some updated photos of ourselves for our websites..... You know, everyone wants to check out the "About the Photographer" page and.... well the photos I had just weren't too fresh. Anywho, Spence & I spent one afternoon taking photos of each other for our pages & here are a few of the awesome Spence for your viewing pleasure!

If you check out my newly improved "About Me" tab on my website you'll notice a few of the photos Spence took of me..... Also sporting the wicked mustard yellow car featured above. I promise we didn't ONLY take pictures with this car.... But I do love this car..... Just a random car which I can always count on to be parked in the same junky area where I have taken many photos in my day! To prove we didn't ONLY shoot car photos, here's one Spence took of me.... And managed to make me look decently cool :o)

I HIGHLY recommend Spence to anyone in the Tulsa area looking for portraits.... Especially senior sessions..... he's awesome. TRUST me! Go... check him out! www.encrephotography.com (PS, his site is under construction so email him for more info!)

Well, my blogging friends, that's enough for this evening. I'm off to pack my bags.... I'm headed to Boston tomorrow to shoot a wedding for the fabulous Laura & Ryan. Talk about beautiful people!.... hold on to your hats folks.... the next blog will contain shots from their wedding & I can already promise it'll be worth the wait!

The "P" Gang

I'm behind on blogging, as my life is currently being packed up in boxes & I can't keep many things straight, so forgive me as this post is coming on the late side of things.... I'm attempting to begin to get caught up again!

A few weeks ago I played out in a field with the awesome "P" kiddos & their fun loving mama, Stephanie. I LOVED witnessing each child's distinctly different personality. They are so adorable together, but also such fun individually. We had quite an interesting shoot, as the family dog that came along for the ride locked them out of their vehicle at one point... Ooops! We ended up going back to their house to get another set of keys, which is where I took this first shot... and it ended up being my favorite of the day.... So thanks puppy! :o)

I promise I did NOT tell them to hold hands! That's genuine brotherly love, folks!

The beautiful ladies of the family....

Relocating!

It's official! My little family will be doing lots of packing over the next two weeks as we prepare for our move at the end of this month. This obviously also means that Amanda Donaho Photography will be servicing a new area.

Tulsa has been a awesome place for myself, my family, and my camera & I'm so thankful to have met all of you whom I have been able to "shoot" - I appreciate the many of you who have made me your "go-to-photographer" for all things photo related, and the good news is that it doesn't have to end! I have several things going on in Tulsa through the end of the year & beyond, so I will still be scheduling photoshoots during my times in the area. Please contact me for date info, as the dates I will be back in town have already begun to book up quickly!

Cincinnati - here I come! If you don't already know, Cincinnati is the wonderful city from which I originally hail from & though I am sad to leave my family & friends in Tulsa, I am excited as well to catch back up with all of those in the Cincy area. I will be servicing the Southeast Indiana, Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati & Dayton areas beginning June 1st. Please call or shoot me an email (amanda@donahophotography.com) for scheduling/pricing info! There is more exciting info to come SOON on this move!

Music in the Dark

If you're just now joining this blog, then I should preface by saying that while this is a "photography blog" per-say, I also choose to blog about some personal things here as well. Today's entry falls into that category.

One of my favorite things to do is lock myself off into a dark room (usually my bedroom) turn off all the lights & lay there listening to music off my ipod. (In this case, Hayden's ipod as mine is no where to be found). I like the fact that it's so dark that I can't see anything else in the room to focus on so I am forced to focus on the music. I like that I can't hear anything else because I'm listening with earphones, so again, no distractions there. It's just very soothing & helps me wind down.

The last few days, even weeks for us (as a family) have had some unexpected curves. You know, the kind where you're driving along & without warning you're being jerked one direction or the other? Just like that. Anyways, it's at times like these when my music in the dark sessions become really vital to me.... Last night I listened to this song by Over the Rhine about 10 times in a row. It's a beautiful song & somehow really spoke to me in this phase in our lives. I'm so thankful for artists who create music to speak to our hearts.

Happy Mothers day to all the mamas out there..... I hope that today you're able to rest, relax & recoup. And if you get some alone time, go listen to a little music in the dark.

The "A" Kids

Meet the A-Team! These kiddos belong to friends of mine & I just love them! I had lots of fun this weekend in our photoshoot.... Honest to goodness, these 3 are THE most sweet, gentle, well mannered kids I know. Many many kudos to their mom & dad for raising such amazing kids! I've tried to pick up some parenting tips from them in my quest for raising Noah :o)

The whole gang...

Poor Sierra... she was so sleepy.... As I was taking the above shot of the boys I looked behind me to find her curled up in my laundry basket full of props :o) It was too cute!