When I first started my business and began blogging, I used to have a year-end blog that showcased my favorite images from that year. My bright idea, now that I’m back to blogging my work, was to continue this tradition. Back then, it was easy—I maybe had 15 photoshoots in 2015, so choosing my favorite one or two from any given shoot was no problem at all.
What was I thinking?! I click the shutter on my camera more than 24 times in the first ten minutes of a single photoshoot. I have multiple photoshoots a week, a month, a year—and don’t even get me started on how many images I shoot per wedding (think multiple thousands here). Choosing only 24 images was one of the hardest things I tasked myself with! But it was a fun exercise and one that taught me something about the work I create and choose to show. Some of the images are truly my favorites because they look pretty, and some made the list because of the difficulty I experienced while creating or editing them.
There’s bound to be at least one photo you’ve NEVER seen before and truly didn’t expect me to create… it features a plaid cut-off shirt. Hahha! Yeah, we did that.
Reagan and Robert’s sunset husband and wife portraits could not have been better timed or gone better. With the golden glow of the sun behind them, the flow of Reagan’s veil, this is what dreams are made of.
I told Danielle that I’ve never worked harder on editing a photoshoot in my life. And it’s true, there were some unfortunate events that caused this shoot to be later in the evening than I would have preferred for an indoor location. I knew what my camera could do, Ai technologies, and post processing could allow me to get away with as far as camera settings. And when I look back at their gallery, I’m so impressed with myself. I’m impressed you can’t tell that I was even worried for a second… or the whole drive home… or the days that followed as I edited these. Nick and Danielle are the best! I wanted to give them the best gallery! And Danielle’s vision for an elegant black and white engagement photoshoot inside The Tulsa Mansion was one I was looking forward to!
After Ty proposed to Caylee we did a few “just engaged” portraits in the Philbrook Gardens and this portrait was genuinely them. I took this between pose prompts while they were having a moment.
Hannah and Ike’s intimate wedding ceremony was followed by a first dance in the gazebo at Glass Chapel. I love the framing of her parents and his grandparents also in an embrace as they watch the newlyweds dance for the first time.
This is very different from a typical Amanda Hitchen Photography image and that’s one reason I love it so much. Occasionally, I like to step off the path but it’s rare. Videographer, Jimmy Tran, was directing Braeli as we were doing the “getting ready” portion of her wedding day. I took the opportunity to create a few photos of her that I wouldn’t normally think of or get to do.
Yes, I occasionally photograph families! This was a pose that’s new to me and I honestly wasn’t sure how it would turn out! I love the colors this family has for their outfits in combination with the background of Woodward Park in June.
When I say Lauryn killed it during her senior photoshoot experience, I mean it. This was easily one of my favorite senior photoshoots in a very long time. She was comfortable in front of the camera, her outfits were killer (hello bow ;D) and Philbrook provided her with endless photo spots! I loved this section of portraits I took of her with the last days of the tulips in the Philbrook gardens.
I had so many detail photos that I wanted to include in the list of 24 favorites. All of them were beat out by moments or meaningful portraits. Olivia and Chris’s rings with Olivia’s shoes are just so soft, luxurious, and feminine… they had to be included in the group! Plus, I know all the effort it took to get that specific ring box in time for me to take these detail photos.
I love me a good dress flare moment. Cecilia and Tristan’s private last dance was beautiful. And this perfect split-second photo captured Cecilia’s dress in all of it’s glory! The lights, the beautiful Sparrow Beginnings chandeliers, the couple, it’s all working together.
Kelsey made some very intentional choices for her wedding day. One I had never seen before but LOVED was she wanted to have her mom and her fiancé’s mom help get her into her dress. Not only did it help the buttoning process go faster, it was a very sweet moment for the three ladies!
Kelsey and Robert during their engagement photoshoot. I love the light, the carefully chosen outfits, and most of all the emotion and laughter from Kelsey and Robert. I’ve started to tell couples they’re allowed to be more free with their movements because it’s photos like this that are the result.
A cheers photo for the ages! Olivia and Chris’s engraved champagne glasses with a pop of flash in the background and the perfect amount of bokeh as they kiss. It’s a black and white wedding dream.
Believe it or not, this is full sun. Full sun is one of the hardest lights to capture beautiful portraits in and although I can do it, it’s not my favorite and it’s not as easy as open shade photos (like most of these portraits in this list.) Not only is Andreya gorgeous but there are many things working well, visually, that make it interesting. I love the softness of light that I was able to create in direct sun and her pose was perfection! Nailed it. (Plus, there’s a bow.)
Here is it, the photo you went in search of. The photo you never thought you would see from me. This was a client request and there was a great reason for it. Well timed after a popular movie release but also connected to this family and their life in a funny way. Why is this photo here? I’m impressed with myself on how well I nailed it. Hahha. But also, you try asking four teenagers to run away from an invisible tornado and towards my camera looking at least a little worried. One of them had a brace on their leg and actually couldn’t run with the group so they needed to be staged a few steps ahead and “walk like they were running”. Can you tell who? I bet not. The next part gets tricky to explain so I won’t get too detailed but keeping the camera focused on a group of people who are running toward the camera is not easy. At all. There’s tricks and camera options to help but it’s expert knowledge and again, the best tech that made this a success.
If you’ve been married, you know this group of poses. In the middle of this posing sequence something happened between Tyler and Caitlyn and she burst out with laughter. I’m so glad my camera was up to my eye so I could catch this.
I am starting to live for the candids that are effortless. Complete moments. After Faith and Austin walked down the aisle at Bella Donna, they headed down the hallways toward the bride suite. I followed them in hopes of capturing their joy. What I got was so much more!
Pastels on pastels. This whole series of photos was my favorite of Gracelyn at Philbrook last spring. These were about 3 hours prior to sunset and are still light and beautiful even in direct sun. I enjoyed her senior photoshoot so much and it felt like her layered floral dress was made for her senior photos at Philbrook!
This image makes me think: Now accepting all couples with Macy and Jake’s energy on their wedding day. I’ll never be over how perfect their wedding day portraits were. Spain Ranch has beautiful grounds, Macy’s dress was stunning on her, and the classic black and white look was so elegant. These portraits pop with color and glow all at the same time, they will forever be favorites of mine.
Look back over your shoulder at it’s finest. There’s so many things about this photo that are just working for Reagan and Robert. So many… This is also why you wear heels to your photoshoot.
Steve’s first dance with his mom was a really fun one, it was full of movement and joy. I could tell these two really had fun with their first dance!
Braeli and Matthew’s wedding day was one of constant jazzy feelings and celebrations. I have so many photos of them like this from their wedding day. They wanted to enjoy the day in it’s truest celebration-like-form. And so they did. During bridal party photos, they had walked to the camera and were asked to walk back to ‘start’ for a second set of walking photos. They didn’t simply ‘walk’ anywhere on their wedding day, everything was done with fun. You can see the bride’s sister in the background laughing and wrestling with Braeli’s train and veil as she dances without a care in the world, back to ‘start’ with Matthew.
A new spot. With the best golden hour lighting. Framed by roses with soft greenery in the background. Need I say more? As soon as I took this portrait of Missy last spring, I knew this was a favorite, the IG sneak peek cover, and my favorite from her photoshoot. Her cute smile, white boots and dress was a perfect choice for the park!
A moment that I tear up every single time I see this photo. The impact of a very thoughtful bride and a bittersweet tone to Reagan and Robert’s wedding day. Reagan created a very special boutonniere for Robert to wear. The bottom of the boutonniere has a picture of someone very special that Robert had lost (oh gosh.. the tears… I can’t even type this!) and in this way, Robert could have that person with him on his wedding day. Tears were followed by smiles and heavy ‘thank you’s’ as the special gift gave Robert a piece of something he was missing.
The burst of sun right as Olivia and Chris kissed during their engagement photoshoot is just *chefs kiss* in my world. I love the golden glow along Olivia’s hair and their smiles are the perfect amount of joy and romance.
Honorable Mentions – The final group of photos that ultimately didn’t make it into the final 24 of 2024 group but were all very close… very, very close. You might think this is cheating to include these but they were just… I just love them too!
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I’m going to allow you to go back in time to the very beginning! Here’s my…
So from 2018 to 2024, that’s quite a jump. A lot of life has been lived, changes along the way, and business growth has happened. Thank you to you if you’ve been a part of that!!
Nick and Danielle had the perfect Philbrook proposal, it went off without a hitch, and our careful planning allowed Nick to be more present while he proposed to Danielle. You need to check it out!
Colorful spring and summer wedding color pallets are in style right now and I’m loving every bit of it! Check out this editorial photoshoot from Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs, TX. It provides endless inspiration for wedding day ideas and details!
Ready to book your own photoshoot? If you’re a high school or college senior, start here with my senior web page! And if you’re engaged and planning your engagement photoshoot and/or wedding day, start here with my weddings page.
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