mermaid mama
Can you see me? I just want to check...I'm pretty short! I prefer "fun sized" or shorty low...but you can just generally call me Amanda :) I'm in love with Elle Woods, Nicholas Sparks and I say pal WAY too much. I've been running this beautiful business since December 2010 and my baby girls have grown right there alongside of it. I was pregnant for the first wedding I ever shot and have had three little girls over the course of six years, meaning I waddled during 'the Wobble' more times than you can imagine! My favorite things in the world include spending time with my wild sand and sea loving family, shooting weddings and portraits for clients with hearts of gold, hosting workshops and shooting for Outer Banks small businesses! You can find me by the ocean searching for sea glass all year long, journaling, reading, praying, learning to cook, growing a rampant tomato plant that I've kept alive... but mostly, I just love feeling free and watching the girls play in the ocean. I guess that's why God knew we needed to live on the coast of North Carolina!
sunshine chaser
free as a bird
Whoever said orange was the new pink was
seriously disturbed -Elle Woods
Hey there sunshine, I'm Amanda!
Hey! My name is Mike, and you're just now hearing from me because obviously, ladies first, right? You've probably figured out by now that's the story of my life, and I wouldn't have it any other way! A little about me? I grew up in Franklin, Virginia and attended Old Dominion University where I met the woman of my dreams. She did not tell me to write that. Okay she did. I was somehow eventually able to concentrate and graduate with a BFA in Drawing and Design, which explains the sketchbook icon over there (I like to draw. A LOT.). So yeah you guessed it, I'm a huge nerd! Yes, don't let my rugged physique and outdoorsy ways fool you: underneath this tall, dark, and handsome exterior is a Star-Wars-lovin', science-and-history-documentary-watchin', video-game-playin' extrovert/introvert (is there a middle ground for that?)! If I'm not reading, gaming, or playing with the kids, I'm sketching in my sketchbook or feeding my wife ice cream! Yes, I do that last one as well.
he's holding a thermal detonator!
- C-3pO
Oh is it my turn now? I'm Mike...
gamer dad
STAR WARS FAN I AM
sketchbook filler
We live for
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pink sunsets
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We live for
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our sweet pups
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I was told when I started my business that you shouldn't start your family at the same time, one thing at a time...your business is your baby. That wasn't going to work for me...I didn't like the idea that I couldn't have both. The journey to get pregnant with Cammy wasn't easy but we were thankful when it finally happened and I ended up finding out I had actually been pregnant during the first wedding I EVER shot, so she's been a part of this experience for me from the beginning! When she was born ... I knew I had given birth to my absolute best friend. She's brilliant, she's ambitious, extremely Type A and her creativity sometimes shocks us... think crazy colorful artist mixed with nifty engineer! It's unreal!! We are so proud of this little ballerina who will be in Kindergarten this upcoming Fall. Camryn Mae is EXTREMELY maternal, a huge help and is obsessed with science and specifically Outer Space and knows a whole lot of facts that would blow your mind! She's known to cry about wanting to be a bride because she is OBSESSED with our brides, haha! Proud of you baby girl!! :)
The original mermaid ... Cammy
Our hilarious wild child....Ellie
It's hard to sum up this free spirit in a paragraph. Ellie is classic middle child in so many ways and has been charming us since she was born three years ago. Firstly...she's on her own terms. This girl is going to do it when and how she wants it and you're not going to do anything about it. Secondly...you can't get a better hug and kiss from anyone else, she's SUCH a pro and when her chubby little arms are wrapped around your neck you KNOW she loves you and you feel it and it just takes you somewhere else because it's like heaven! A lot of people know this from our posts but little Elliebells LOVES biscuits. I mean...she kind of is a little biscuit herself and when she was about 6 months old she had THE DOUGHIEST LEGS you've ever seen, it was amazing!! She likes to dance, she loves that she gets to go to ballet now like her big sister and she is a joy to be around but she will also Sour Patch on you really fast. For example, one time she said (sweetly) "Mommy, I don't love you. I love Daddy! Ohhhh your hair is SO pretty!" HAHA! Gosh we love you little Elle Marie! The best "middle mermaid" we could have ever hoped for!
The littlest mermaid...Autumn
Have you ever heard Ben Rector's song "Autumn?" I was listening to that when I decided to name our final baby girl Autumn. There was something that pulled me in about the melody...it's SO charming, it's happy, it's light and airy and inspiring. THAT is our baby girl. This kid has been smiling (#autumnsalwayshappy) literally since the day she was born. She's easy beyond easy, the only requirement she has is that you love her and pick her up and show her that you're present with her...and that's a beautiful thing because it makes you slow down and soak her up and pay attention to what matters in life. She's SUPER fast, like her sisters has been walking well before a year old and she was due Christmas Eve but was delivered a week early...and it truly THE best gift we could ever get for the holidays. I love her little eyebrow flexed expressions, the way she walks around saying "I'm the map!" from Dora and that she is quite literally the most incredible balance and fit into this family we could ever have prayed for. Autumn Jean you inspire our hearts to love more deeply and to enjoy life WELL!
