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Southern California & Destination Wedding Photographer bio picture

welcome.

One part artsy, two parts eclectic, a little bit of west coast, and all southern belle. That’s me.

I’m a photographer. There you have it. And I love what I do. That’s because, I believe that photography offers something else, something more, than just pictures. It is an art form that gives us an opportunity to see the beautiful reality of life in the moment - of life in the in between – and of the world all around us. After all, that’s where the living really happens.

I’m also addicted to blogging. Welcome to my addiction.

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ASHLEY & OWEN - A FAVE NIGHT SHOT {LOS ANGELES WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER}

I cannot WAIT to share the images from Ashley and Owen’s incredible wedding. For the meantime, I’ve been culling down through their digital images - and I have been just blown away by the intimacy in our night series…

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So, this wedding was absolutely gorgeous, and I’m so excited to share it on the blog! Check back soon for a full post once I have the film images. These two amaze me in so many ways - and it was an honor to photograph their wedding day!

Corinna Hoffman - Awww--what a sweet image :)

camille - OMG. love this shot.

EWood Rodgers - They are an amazing couple and it was a WONDERFUL weekend-these are incredible, Amelia! Look how beautiful they are!!

Lucy - Beautiful picture! We're peeking in on a sweet romantic moment. :)

Lydia - I LOVE this one!! Cannot wait to see all of them!!

ERIN & ADAM’S ENGAGEMENT SESSION - SOME DIGITAL FAVES {LOS ANGELES WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER}

Okay, so I shot the vast majority of this session on film, which I’m still waiting to get back - but in the meantime, I intend to make Erin happy and give her something of a sneak peek on the blog!  What does that mean?  You will see this session posted roughly three times on this blog!  Which is fantastic, because how can you NOT just love these two, and also, this will force me to blog more…

I’ll give all the behind the scenes details and location and image information in the next post - so definitely check back for that.  Erin and Adam are a delight!  We had a great time, and really explored some interesting ideas together.  Most of all, I just had a great time with them!  Can you tell?

One from probably my favorite series of the entire day:

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I find this series pretty and interesting…it just feels raw…

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LOVE this one..

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Cristi - this makes me miss beautiful birmingham! awesome images, friend :)

grahamyelton - The blog is looking fan-freaking-tastic. I love the 2 images of them standing. really beautiful. And the last one is perfection.

Marcie Morris - HUGE fan of the 2nd one and the last one. LOVE LOVE LOVE the last one!!

Blaine - He looks like an adult version of Vance...ha ha ha.

ERIN & ADAM’S ENGAGEMENT SESSION - JUST A PEEK

So, while I’m waiting to get back into production mode, I thought I’d put up a couple images from Sunday’s engagement session with Erin and Adam. (Before you get confused - we are working with TWO couples this year named Erin and Adam…I know, what are the odds?)  We did a very themed shoot - which was a lot of fun and a different approach for me.  The original plan was to style outside, but the weather pushed us indoors - so we styled a winter white studio session for the first part of their shoot.  THEN we headed outside when the rain cleared and set up our on location theme and just had a lot of fun with it!

Erin and Adam, you are so much fun, I truly had a blast hanging out with you two!  I am so excited about your wedding and getting to work with you this year.

I’m pretty pumped to share the images from this session on the blog - as soon as they are edited, I’ll have them posted here!

Save The Date…

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A peek at the studio session… A little Anthro inspired perhaps?

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So many gems and awesomeness to come!  So, get stoked for Erin and Adam!  Congratulations to you both…

Erin - Yayyy thanks for posting! You KNOW I've been checking your blog incessantly waiting for a sneak peak. LOVE them! So excited to see the rest! You rock.

Katie - LOVE IT!!!

Mary Alice - Aaaa! LOVE!

Kristen - So fun and so cute...and SO excited to see the rest!! Super cute outfits on both :) LOVE!

Sarah Dudley - HOT MOMMA! That Erin Mosley is one photogenic girl...can't wait to see more!!!

Hillary - So great! Love the styling. I have 2 couples in my life that are Erin and Adam. Strange!

BeckyAbernathy - A friend just directed me to your blog! LOVE your work! Wish I knew you when you were still in Bham! Awesome studio setup. Can you PLS share where you got those branch pillows? Must have. thanks! you do awesome work

ASHLEY & OWEN GOT MARRIED - SOOC FAVE

Yesterday, I had the honor of photographing Ashley and Owen’s incredible wedding. What a blast and what a bash!  There are so many amazing moments to share - but I was so excited about our night shots that I couldn’t wait to throw one up on the blog.  Maybe I’ll add a few others in the next couple days!  So here’s an insta-fave straight out of camera.  I love so many elements of this image, and I certainly love the new Mr. and Mrs. Peak!  Congratulations y’all!

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Spec Info: Shot with Video light, ISO 2000, 85mm, 1.4, 1/40, WB - Tungsten

And yes, it’s raining in this shot - you can see the drizzle more in some of the others - I’ll get them up soon.

Heather Kincaid - Super beautiful! Love the feel and their expressions.

Marcie Morris - Love it!!!! Can't wait to see the rest. And I just LOVE your video too! Such a great idea!

erin - oh my freaking gosh - this is unreal. they are ridiculous.

Mary Brantley - I LOVE this! They are so beautiful, and you are sooo amazing!!!

EWood Rodgers - Beautiful. Classic. Warms my heart!

Whitney Nall - Absolutely LOVE it!

Erin - Ummm... GORGEOUS!

Kristi - I love it! I cannot wait to see the rest. What a beautiful couple!

AMELIA IN ACTION {NEW PROJECT LAUNCHED}

I’m excited to finally share this new project on the blog!

A few months ago I started talking with my buddy Seth Newell about doing a video project for the studio that would show a behind-the-scenes view of a real shoot with real clients. It was important to me to give people visiting my website a taste of a real relationship instead of using models for the shoot. We started brainstorming different concepts, and then just got to work on making it happen. Due to the crazy weather we had been having in Alabama (where we shot the video), we had to really work around a lot of schedules and weather constraints. And then, finally, it just all came together at the right time with the right clients!

We shot video of me on seamless paper run sideways - which I thought was brilliant - and Seth and Sean had me just run around and be. I was pretty nervous about their plan to interview me off-the-cuff, but in the end the guys were right - the monologues are unscripted and from the heart, and I think it lends even more authenticity to the final product.  Following that portion of the day, we met up with Ashley and Owen for their actual engagement session and got behind-the-scenes footage of our afternoon shooting together in rural Alabama.  It was kind of wild driving around with an entourage, but it was a ton of fun!  Unfortunately, we had to wait a couple months to launch the whole thing due to a death in my family and a move to the West Coast. Now, the day has arrived…

A huge thanks to Ashley and Owen for being willing participants in this experiment! Y’all are amazing and I am so thankful to be your photographer. I can’t wait to see you two tie the knot next weekend back in Alabama!

And a HUGE thank you to Seth and Sean of Green Block Productions for your creativity, patience, hard work, talent, laughter, and friendship!

And Graham, yet again - what would I do without you?! Thank you for integrating the website and being so awesome. And for the chapstick and coffee…

Yay for fun projects to kick off the new year! Is it wrong to say that I’m looking forward to tackling 2010 Elin Woods’ style? Yes, I’m sure it probably is…but I just did.

Thanks for checking out our new video!

Bryan Johnson - This is awesome! Great work! Bj

taylorhaynie - Amelia! That is awesome! Your clients are going to love it!

Amanda - Amelia! - This is amazing. Congratulations on such a great piece.

Samantha Warren - This made me miss you terribly. You look, sound and are beautiful! So fun. So true. So you!

Natalie Adkinson - I am truly amazed by your talent! The images and the video are both ASTOUNDINGLY PERFECT!

camille - you make me want to have pictures taken. i'm way impressed. love you.

Jamie Burnett - I am so impressed, I didn't know you could riverdance! LOL!

Kelly Dorough - So awesome! You are so cute! and talented! Wish so bad I could go back and have you as my wedding photographer!

Lisette Price - Look at you Amelia! I love it! :)

Rita and Jason - Totally amazed at your talent, so proud to be your other mom. Roll Tide!

Emily Coe - I love watching you laugh. Your smile is infectious!

Heidi R. - Very cute video! You are spunky, girl! Love it. And I can't hate on your music taste, either. :)

Sara Litten - I absolutely love the video!!!! miss you!

Mary Beth - Looove the video!!! So excited it's up! You are too cute. Matt and I loved the places you took this couple....gorgeous!

Susan - I know that I will be saying, "I knew her when...!"

Mary Elizabeth - uh that is freaking AWESOME.

Erin - What a lovely project - and by the way, this video captures YOU perfectly!

SOME FAVE WEDDING IMAGES FROM DECEMBER {SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHER}

In no particular order, and for no particular reason, here is a smorgasbord of yummy awesomeness from the last month! I’m not going to lie here - I have no clue how to kick off this blog with a bang in 2010 - and this just seemed like a completely nonsensical and yet legit way to do it.

Every image included in this post is one that just kind of grabbed me for some reason or another - a little bit of film, a little bit of digital, and a whole lot of diversity.  The hope here is that I may actually be motivated by this post to blog the overwhelming amount of work and sessions from 2009.  And right now I am!  I have loved looking through the last month and grabbing images that jumped out at me.  It will be so much fun to share the stories behind these, and the many others that are backed up a bit more…

So, here’s to 2010, Los Angeles, new endeavors, and the wonderful encouragement that I was unexpectedly given today…(more on that later).  Enjoy - critique - be confused - embrace the randomness - and leave some love!

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Jessica Otwell - Amelia, you are an ARTIST! I love those green bridesmaid dresses btw... best of luck to you in sunny so. cal!

Cristi - i love the south. i love these images. i love you. matt and emily are the cutest. i miss the south. i miss you. lucky for the bride with the ring on the bullets i wasn't there that day or i might have stolen it. beijos!

Heather Kincaid - Love the randomness! :) I especially love that photo of the couple in the field. xo

Brooke Reid - Loved the pics! My favs: The little boy with his leg crossed was so precious! I also loved that amazing centerpiece and the couple in the field, the sky was amazing!!! Beautiful work, that touches u in a way, so u feel all the emotion of that moment.

robin cornett - Wow, just WOW. So many beautiful images here--you have gorgeous brides and they are lucky to have you! Not sure how to pick a favorite, but the bride on the reflective table (like #3) really stood out to me.

Blake B - awesomeness...my fav is the 7th picture down, very cool. looking forward to 2010 from you!

Mindy Sherk - Your site & photos are just amazing.

HAPPY TO BE BACK

Well, the holidays have come and gone…family members have passed on…we’ve conquered a cross-country road trip…officially moved to Los Angeles…friends and family came to stay…the Crimson Tide won the National Championship…I dominated the 405…my studio has been unpacked…a new life begun…all in the last two weeks.

Needless to say, there’s plenty to blog about.

Let’s just kick things off with this - I’m beyond happy to be getting back to some sort of routine. I can’t wait to really dive into 2010! So many things to share…

And because blog posts always need to be accompanied by an image - here is one that makes me smile. I love this shot of Emily and Matt at their wedding reception - the film grain came out so beautifully, and the emotion is just really raw…love it.

Random post, I know. It’s good to be back.

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Mary Elizabeth - and you can add to that list of things done in two weeks "running buddy sleeps in one last time" :( miss you! and BEAUTIFUL picture, as always!

Mary Alice - Holy Holy Holy I'm loving this pic!

SAD NEWS AT A JOYFUL TIME OF YEAR

A quick update:

My Grandmother passed away on Christmas Eve in Charleston, SC.

Due to time with my family, this blog was not my top priority the last few weeks. I will pick back up with the blog following a cross-country road-trip in a couple of days. At that time, I’ll also pick up the Marcie Morris challenge again. I’m going to make up some new rules and just reset the clock!

I have all kinds of things to share on the blog, so please check back in the beginning of the new year.

All the best as you ring in 2010!

Marcie Morris - Oh my gosh Amelia I am so sorry!!!! I'll be praying for your family. Hope you can still have a great new years.

KATIE & JONATHAN - ENGAGED {LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHER}

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I had a special request to post images from this session…so here you go! Meet Katie and Jonathan, a fun, laid-back, approachable couple who kept me laughing all afternoon.

Katie and I hit it off pretty fast. She came in to meet with me about her wedding coming up in May 2010, and we just clicked. I think I really identify with how expressive she is, and I appreciate her honesty in her relationships. Once we both took a seat and let our hair down, we just got each other right away - and I was really excited about the collaboration. I met Jonathan this fall during our shoot, and immediately I loved how much he loved Katie. He was so easy to work with and had a great time playing with Katie. They’re just fun dangit! So, check out some images from their engagement session…

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Erin - Can you please ask Katie to share where she got that fan-freakin'-tastic necklace she is wearing? Great pictures, but that's all I could focus on!

Cile - The first picture is SO gorgeous!

Katie - Erin, you are too sweet! It's from Anthropologie, they still have it right now, but in different colors. I'm so tempted to get another!

Stephanie - Love the waterfall pic. The colors are so vibrant in all of these photos. Love it!

Ann Bailey - Amelia, these are so unique and emotional. I just love your work!

Laurie Howard - Amelia - as usual, the pics above are amazing. You capture expressions so beautifully. You are incredibly talented!

A BLOG SLACK ATTACK AND THE NEW GOAL {LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHER}

Serious blog slack attack anyone? Here’s the deal…this blog has been DOA. It really should be thriving right now, but instead of coming more vividly to life with more things going on - it has very sadly gotten a little kicked to the curb. I feel like every time I blog, I inevitably say, “this time will be differently…I’ll blog so much more after this post”, and then I fail to follow through. But this time, it really is different…(and yes, I know that the definition of insanity is doing the exact same thing and expecting different results)…but this is why: I have tons of stuff to post, and I’m going to match Marcie. Wait, what? Nope, you read that right.

Here is my goal: I will match Marcie Morris’ blog posts for a month, starting today. Don’t worry, I’ll explain.

First of all, this is not a resolution, nor does it have anything to do with the New Year. It’s a separate goal. So, a little about Marcie: she is one of my clients who is an incredible encourager of this blog, and is also an avid blogger of her own. I am always amazed at where she seems to find the time to do all the things she does…really. Even to re-designing her blog theme on what seems like a weekly basis. But that’s beside the point. Marcie is so faithful to her blog that it constantly inspires me (and also makes me feel like the biggest slacker in the blogosphere) - so I am pledging to match her from now until January 21, 2010. Every time Marcie posts, so will I.

And there you have it. Random? Absolutely. Fun? Yep. Unattainable? We’ll see!

Here is a tiny taste of some yummy posts to come…

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Marcie - WOW!! Wasn't expecting that...you CRACK ME UP!!!! In the words of my husband "you need to make this as hard as possible for her". I see multiple posts in a day in my future ;). Game on friend...GAME ON!!

Lindsey Smith - Okay- I am about to watch my google reader inbox completely blow up between the two of you! Can't wait to see everything you have to post!

Cile - So much fun! I can't wait to see it all!

Mary Alice - LOVE that baby!!!

melissa - You are double awesome, Amelia!