Tag: Lifestyle

Brogyn Rae | Fresh 48 | Fort Worth, Tx

Posted on by Amanda Alexander in Fresh 48, Lifestyle

What’s a Fresh 48?

It’s a question I get a lot. Fresh 48’s are a newer type of session but they are one of my favorites to shoot. A Fresh 48 is a session that is shot within the first two days, and sometimes 3 days, of your newborn’s life while you’re at the hospital. No fancy outfits or woodsy locations, just a mommy, daddy, and a precious baby. Parents still glowing with the love and awe of a new little person in their life. First timers and veterans are exactly the same during those first moments. Everyone loves a new squishy little one. Personally I can’t get enough of those precious cries and oh that baby smell. There is nothing like new baby smell. Seriously, next time you have a chance, smell a newborn. With parent permission of course!

I was lucky enough to follow the Blair family from maternity, to fresh 48, to newborn session. I love being able to do that. It gives me so much time to become familiar with them from pregnancy to the first couple of weeks home. Brogyn was the perfect baby. She was awake for a minute and then out like a light when she was swaddled. She and mommy wore the most adorable matching outfits from Posh Peanut, the colors were perfection. It was probably my favorite Fresh 48 session of the year.

Here are some of my favorite photos from Brogyn Rae’s fresh 48!

Oh and special announcement!!!!

From now until the end of the year, all mommies expecting babies due in April to July who book a maternity, fresh 48, or newborn session with me will get $100 off! I’ll be booking a limited amount of these so book yours early!! Click here to contact me so we can get you on the calendar.

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Aren’t they adorable? Congratulations to the new Blair family!

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The Dollar Wedding | Historic 512 | Fort Worth, Tx

Posted on by Amanda Alexander in Weddings

Would you believe it all started at a Buffalo Wild Wings? Not really where fairy tales usually begin but this one did. One boy, two twin boys, a Time Square engagement later and here we are. Chelsea and Scott’s wedding day!

It was shaping up to be a beautiful April Sunday at the Historic 512 in Downtown Fort Worth. Chelsea and her bridesmaids were finishing their last minute touch ups. Scott was hanging out with the guys, including their three little guys, Maddok, Hatton, and Maxxon. Then came time for the dress, it was a beautiful mermaid gown with intricate lace detail and a high neck. It was perfection on her. I still remembered every detail from our bridal session a couple of months before. I watched as Chelsea floated around the room helping all of her girls get ready. Eyeliner. Hair. Lipstick. Even doing her own.

 

While Scott and the boys had some traditions of there own to share…

 

In the middle of the wedding party photos, Scott and Chelsea took a moment together to just be. To say hello. To take in the day that they become a family. It was probably the sweetest moment I’ve ever witness at a wedding. Sometimes a little breather is needed during the craziness to breath together.

 

And before we knew it, it was time to walk…

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Thank you so much to Chelsea and Scott for choosing me to capture this special day for you. It was gorgeous, so full of wonderful memories, and joy. I’m so glad that I got to be a part of it all. Congratulations to the new Dollar family!

Here are some more of my favorites of the day…

 

 

 

 

 

Photographer: Amanda Raylee Photography
2nd Shooter: Meagan Nelson Photography
Venue: Historic 512
DJ: MWP Customs DJ Services
Caterers: Triumph Catering
Details: Keri Rains Decor

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The Martinez Family | Family Session | Plano, Tx

Posted on by Amanda Alexander in Family

Getting to see a family become a family is a special experience. I met a gorgeous strong woman last year while she was pregnant with her son. Her name is Madeline. She was graceful and beautiful and I fully credit her with my maternity session boom. Her session was amazing and still one of my favorites. You can see it here and I’m sure you will agree with me 100%. She was fantastic! Fast forward to this past fall when she asked me to take family photos of her and baby Mateo. Not just any family photos. Their first family photos.

It was a cold morning but these 2 were bundled up and stuck it out like troopers. Mateo couldn’t get enough of the camera. Looking adorable in his fuzzy hat. We wandered around the park and snuggled in the blankets. We played with leaves and sticks and had all the fun that early morning. It was such a great experience to see this young woman go from being pregnant and excited to meet her baby to being the perfect mommy for her son. Two puzzle pieces that were simply meant to be together.

Being a single mom is not easy. My mother is law was a single mom of 5 boys and just hearing her stories of all the crazy moments, all the fun moments, and all the wonderful memories is amazing. All the credit in the world to single mothers out there doing everything they can for their families. I know Maddy was nervous about taking these photos being just the two of them but I think their perfect. This is their family. This is their life. I know when Mateo is older and graduating from high school, he’s going to see these photos and say “Wow. My mom did so much for me.” and he won’t be wrong. Miss Maddy, you are a genuine, kind, caring person and it’s such a joy to see you be a mom to this little cutie.

Here are some of my favorites from this family session…

 

Happy early mother’s day!

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Jeffrey + Deanna | Couples Session | Lubbock, Tx

Posted on by Amanda Alexander in Couples

When I was 12, I lived in Lubbock with my dad while I was going to Cavazos Middle School. That’s where I met Jeffrey. We hung out after school with our group of fellow mischief makers at the McDonald’s next door to the school. We all rode our trays down the slides and doodled our names in the tunnels. That’s what being 12, almost 13, was like back then for us.

Jeffrey and I always stayed in touch after I moved from Lubbock to Irving. We wrote letters, we emailed, and we talked on the phone about the new Korn CDs out. After some time passed, we fell in and out of touch here and there. When I heard that he found his soul mate, I couldn’t have been more happy for him. Deanna is the piece to his puzzle, the jelly to his peanut butter, his everything. They met at work and, according to Jeffrey, he knew he wanted to with her from the first moment he saw her. Their first date was a wonderful disaster. Jeff cooked her dinner, a bad dinner, but she ate it anyways. They shared their first kiss that night and from that moment Jeffrey knew he wanted to grow old with Deanna. Now he will. They were married on May 4, 2015 in a sweet little ceremony in Lubbock. I was happy to take some photos for them (and finally meet this sweet lady) during my trip to Lubbock this past summer.

Here are some of my favorites…

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I wish the 2 of you safe travels and so much love on all of your adventures in the future!

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The Kline Family | Newborn Session | Little Elm, Tx

Posted on by Amanda Alexander in Lifestyle

Lifestyle sessions have a special place in my heart. I think it’s something about photographing people in their home, their natural environment, somewhere they feel the most comfortable. It brings out their joy and spirit in such a special way. This blog post will be a double whammy because not only did I get to photograph the Kline’s maternity session, I was blessed enough to capture Baby Jaxon’s homecoming as well!

I came to see Elizabeth and Ray for their lifestyle maternity session on a beautiful sunny June morning. I was greeted at the door by a sweet little fur ball named Riley and a happy father to be, Ray. Their home was beautiful, warm, and so inviting. The session was amazing!

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It wasn’t very much long after the maternity session and Jaxon Ray Kline made his debut into the world. You could just feel the overwhelming happiness in the home. Jaxon did such a great job during his newborn session. He was so sweet and calm and loved all of the snuggles he got from mommy and daddy (and even Grandma was there too). Here are some of my favorites from the time we spent together…

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Welcome to the world Jaxon Ray! I can’t wait to see you again!

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