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Amanda Elkins Photography bio picture

From the perspective of a client

"A portrait should be more than a passport photo. It needs a backdrop, an expression, a movement, and, in my opinion at least a little bit of natural light. Maybe even a dewdrop or a splinter. When by happenstance I found Amanda, I stumbled onto a visual biographer, someone who could capture the character within us, place it in time and space, and make it a memory.

"Unlike most of us who can detect a Kodak moment but not capture it, Amanda has fine-tuned her professional skills to bring it all together in a single frame. Perhaps it was her knowledge of being the subject that gave her an intuitive sense of what to look for.

"Amanda came into photography honestly, first as a model in Brazil, then as a parent trying to capture her own son's poignant moments. As a model, Amanda discovered the art of environment. As a parent, she learned to tune in to the emotion within a subject. Unlike studio photography where poses seem forced and smiles unnatural, Amanda's pictures reflect the nature of her subjects whether they capture an intimate moment between newlyweds or the fleeting sense of excitement in a toddler.

"Without a doubt, her Brazilian heritage emerges in the colors she captures with her camera. One wonders why we fill our frames with black and whites and sepia tones when there is such vibrancy in the things we take for granted everyday: an old straw broom, a loved leather chair, even the fringe of a much abused rug. I used to be a fan of sepia-toned family shots until I saw Amanda's work. Now they fade into a sea of lost faces compared to the rich intensity of Amanda's prints. Besides bringing life and vibrancy into the expression of the subject, Amanda sense of light and color also captures the subtle nature of distressed wood or rusted steel in the background. I had no idea how much energy a picture could possess. I caught glimpses of my son possessively reaching for his favorite toy, of my husband smirking from the corner of his eye, and of me delighting in a single moment of being a novice mom.

"A picture has a hundred reasons for being taken; to share with friends, to remember for when we are older, to reveal to our children when they ask about themselves. Amanda's pictures capture the weight of a newborn's head on his mom's shoulder, the delighted smile of a toddler jumping in the air, even the tenderness of a couple's hands touching. She finds these moments, as unique as they are to the individuals she is photographing. Each time I revisit pictures Amanda has taken I see something new, something that brings me into that moment even if I wasn't there to begin with."

Ruth Barbie, Los Angeles, CA

Monthly Archives: March 2009

Football – Amanda Elkins family photographer

Friday, March 27, 2009

Soccer is my sport of choice (we call it futebol in portuguese). I grew up watching all guys I knew play it, talk about it, fight about it… Sadly, now that I am older, I am really only into it when the world cup comes around. I am a fan of my home country’s team because they are GOOD! 

Football is this family’s sport of choice. Dad is a coach, older son is a player and both little ones enjoy playing together as a family… and what fun they have! I was able to tag along one sunday for the very last session of their baby plan and mom decided to make it a family day. I am so glad she did! This was an amazing storytelling session and I just know they will treasure this forever. This is a part of their life. This is them, now!

Thank u so much for letting me “part of your family” for the day and document a little of you together. It was an amazing experience! Truly THE BEST part of my job… getting to know the wonderful families I work with and providing them with something as unique and special as a “frozen” day in their lives. I feel so blessed!

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~A

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Casual – Amanda Elkins maternity photographer

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Ok… I captured some of the most gorgeous photos of this beautiful mama, but she asked me not to post the ones showing her baby bump… :( Still, I am happy she will have those images to look back one day and show her girl how Incredibly beautiful she looked when she was pregnant with her.

She wanted to mostly capture her love for her son and things they do together. I had *casual* in my mind, but I also wanted to take a few of her alone in a white button up shirt, taking advantage of the incredible light she has by her bed. The curtains were white as well and so was the bedding… Yup, white wonderland! Sounds boring huh? But, nope… it turned out to be one of my most favorite images to date. So gorgeous!

The lighting in her house is something out of a fairytale book! I kept thinking to myself that if one day she decided to sell that home, I was first in line to buy it! Gotta remember to tell her that…

Here are a few we shot at a nearby field. I *heart* these as well!

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~A

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Best lips of Ventura County – Amanda Elkins children portrait photographer

Monday, March 23, 2009

Seriously, doesn’t she have THE most gorgeous baby lips you have ever seen???  No wonder she likes to kiss so much!

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It’s hard not to fall in love with my little subjects every time I meet them. This lil’pumpkin was simply a delight and faster than I could say “fast”. Photographing her was a true work out, but so worth it too! I KNOW mom and dad will have a hard time picking their wall gallery favorites!

Between shots she would extend her arms to me… so, so cute!!! What can I say? She loves me… :) I quickly became “the cool” aunt Amanda. AKA the lady with the camera. haha!

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Their storytellingsession was sweet and loving, just like they are. I was excited to be there and create these images for them that capture their special bond so well.

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The tub shots are my absolute favorite! They have THE coolest vintage bathroom and I was so excited when I saw it, I could barely breathe!!!!

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~A

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