Amanda James Photography

04/24/2024

02/28/2024

I’m not sure how this never made it into my previous post, but gosh I love this image so much! Also, I did a blog post! Link in profile if you want to check it out 😊

02/26/2024

Does a more gorgeous family exist? They’re kind, beautiful, gentle and expecting twins very soon. What a dream session at the beach ❤️
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01/23/2024

i’ve really missed this special family since moving from Charlotte. When they asked me to come photograph their new baby girl, it was a zero hesitation yes. i couldn’t believe how big their oldest had gotten and how darn smart and funny he’d become. i got to see them navigate life with 2 kids now, but like old pros. i’ve met some pretty incredible people on this journey and tonight my heart is just so very thankful❤️

01/11/2024

i've been updating my website since I've got tons of new content from shooting this year and let me tell you, it's beach, beach, beach! updating a website is a seriously daunting task (ask anyone who has ever done it, or attempted it and gave up because it's just a big ole overwhelming thing) but man was it overdo now that i live at the beach. you can check it out if you'd like (link in bio) and you can see 1st hand just how bad i am at culling down photos. what can i say, send help! lol
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aside from the overwhelm, it is really nice to do a review of your recent work and pat yourself on the back. i feel super proud of all that we've created this past year, and for the 1st time in a very long time, i'm not longing to change what i'm doing, how i shoot or how i edit. maybe i've just relaxed over the years, or maybe it's beach living, but i feel like i've really found a sweet spot and i'm just so happy to be sitting in it. i've been so lucky to photograph so many families at the beach and when i look at the images, i see joy + happiness. i mean just peep at this wildly stunning crew!
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i once took a photography workshop and left feeling that unless your images are sad or serious, or don't depict the "hard side" of life, they're not real art, rather just bubblegum, and that just never sat well with me. i know there's beauty in it all, but the hard stuff is hard enough already without having to stare at it all day, isn't it? tangent over. i guess i'm just here to say, thanks for being awesome, thanks for always bringing your amazing selves to our sessions and thanks for making magic. excited for what's to come. XOXO

12/20/2023

i don't know if it's because i'm a girl mom, or if it's because this image is just dripping with true authentic love, but i love it more than i can adequately put into words.
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12/12/2023

If you recognize these awesome people, it's because I've had the total and complete privilege of photographing them for a very long time. When we moved to the beach, they hopped in the car and came to the beach. I mean, I couldn't love them more. This time was one of my favorites and it solidified why I feel such love & gratitude for them. You see they drove in from Charlotte, changed quickly at their hotel and came right to the beach for our session. The kids were so excited to see the water and before we could blink, they went straight in. Clothes and all. At the beginning of the session. And guess what? Mom & dad kind of shrugged their shoulders, laughed and played with them. And it was pure magic. And it was beautiful.
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12/05/2023

Reuniting with old friends in a place that is so special to them is quite literally the best feeling to me. This amazing family was one of my very first clients when I started my business so many years ago. They asked me to come photograph them at their place in OIB and I can't tell you how amazing it felt to see them- we've both moved several times, but it really was a full circle moment seeing them here with their beautiful family. I really am so thankful❤️
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11/29/2023

I met Kayla & Dillon on the beach one early October morning for our session. They were perfect, the sky was perfect and I'm just sitting here hoping that they come back to the beach for more photos again next year🤞
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10/27/2023

We took a long weekend trip to NYC in September and it was just as great as the last time. We've been a couple of times before at Christmas with the girls, but this time we thought we'd go in the summertime. Flights & hotels were booked, but then Stella's softball team unexpectedly made it to the World Series and we learned quickly that non-refundable airline tickets were in fact non-refundable regardless of how much you sweet talk the agents. So rather than a weekend in NYC in July we spent a week in Louisiana cheering on team NC (an experience like no other that was just so darn exciting & special) and rescheduled for September. We had one gorgeous day of sunshine where we saw the Statue of Liberty, walked a ton, went to Chelsea market and capped the day in the Bronx with a Yankees game. It rained the rest of the weekend but we broke out our umbrellas and enjoyed (almost) every second of it! A highlight was taking the girls to see &Juliet on broadway- so so good and a perfect 1st show for them. Not pictured here- me- because of course when you're the one with the camera... We have another exciting trip planned soon and my goal is to actually get in the frame a time or 2 😊
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10/26/2023

Partly cloudy Carolina blue skies for me please! These are my favorite conditions for a beach shoot, if only I could order them up😊
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I've been so lucky to be able to explore so many Carolina beaches for sessions this year. This one took me to Emerald Isle way back in May. Sometimes I'm able to walk out my doorstep to work, other times I have to take a boat there. Yup, a boat. How cool is that?
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Also when I was looking at images to post, my gallery software program let me know that I had posted 1090 galleries over the course of the past 8 yrs when I started using that system. While some of these were mini sessions, it's kind of mind blowing to know that I've walked out of the house 1000 times for a session, that so many of you have trusted me over the years to capture your family's magic. To that I say thank you, thank you, thank you! Owning a business sure has it's highs and lows, but the highs definitely outweigh the lows and there's just nothing better than that!
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