At Work in 2008

Shooting weddings is hardly what I do all day everyday, but there isn't usually anyone hanging around to photograph me sitting behind my computer processing all the shoots and orders, or when I meet with customers, or make trips to the lab, or work on marketing and business. . .

So y'all get to see the photos of me doing the more glamorous side of my job--I don't document myself on Sunday mornings either, hobbling into church like I'm crippled cause I worked so hard at the wedding the day before. haha. But I so love my job. I get excited working with couples on their wedding day, and shooting engagement photos, and helping the brides feel like models for their bridal portraits, and getting ladies to have fun and feel great about themselves during their boudoir sessions, and collapsing into a chair in my studio after kids sessions. I get so excited when I see the light through my lens, and usually that excitement comes spilling out of my mouth in the middle of the shoot. Most of the time people probably think I'm weird, but hopefully, once in a while, someone recognizes I'm just really passionate about my art. Love love it.

Here are some fun photos (from other photographers and friends) of me at a few weddings this past year.

The first couple shots were taken by April. They're from weddings I worked as a second shooter for Evoke Photography. I have a ton of gorgeous photos from these weddings that I'll share with you all in the coming months.




My friend Becca worked with me at a couple recent weddings. She grabbed these with Jonathan and me at Jennifer and Bill's wedding in October.




Jonathan got my camera during my cupcake and coffee break towards the end of the evening at my sis-in-law, Kathryn's wedding. (More from this wedding here and here.)




And I thought I was going to continue to take photos during my one dance.


But thankfully our friend Dean had better ideas. Here are a couple of his photos.




One more from Becca.


Amanda Dengler, Studio 310 Photography

Merry Christmas

I have enjoyed working with all my awesome clients this year. Thank you all for inviting me to be a part of one of your most important days!! Have a wonderful Christmas.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

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Another Christmas Card

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Mrs. Mitchell

Callie and Devin got married in Wilmington this past weekend at the Balcony on Dock. This is one of her final images from her bridal session in the cotton field this past fall. The guests at the wedding love, loved this photo. yea!! Callie's beautiful veil and dress are from Tre Bella Bridal in Durham, NC.

The Hebrew scripture on the photo is Song of Solomon 8:6-7. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

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Classic

Classic is always classy. Isn't she pretty?

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portraits: emily and jim

We took some photos on Emily and Jim in Downtown Smithfield, NC for some Christmas cards and gifts for family. They had fun trying out their best America's Next Top Model skills.

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Market Street Advisors

Occasionally I take photos for businesses for their websites and advertising. These usually include photos of their office or store space and head shots of the owners and employees. Right now I'm working with Andrea at Market Street Advisors in Downtown Smithfield, NC as they update their website.

Crystal is the lovely receptionist.


They also wanted details from the office to use on the website. Here are a few:






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Christmas Card Sample

These are the front cover and inside spread for a pretty Christmas card. This is also a sneak sneak peek of my November 29th wedding at King Family Vineyards in Crozet near Charlottesville, VA.

This was my sis-in-law's wedding. My husband and I had 3 nieces born in his family this year, so my mother-in-law wanted the main Christmas card photo to be with all 5 grandchildren and the bride and groom--her daughter and new son-in-law.

FYI: I'm in the smaller group photo, 3rd adult from the right, standing next to Jonathan in the tan suit. AND I made the twin girls little navy dresses. I realize all this is microscopic on the screen, but I thought you should all be informed anyway.

jennifer and bill's wedding day

Jennifer and Bill were married at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. It was rainy or overcast most of the day, but the sun peeked out for a few minutes between the ceremony and reception and we had an awesome opportunity to get outside for some fun photos of the new family.

I was told that Bill asked Jennifer out on their first date at this tree & this is where he proposed.












Becca set up this fabulous shot.


some sparkling cider for the toasts.








too much? probably. but it's still fun.


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Texture?

Let me know what you think. with or without. This is my first attempt at using added texture so I'm open to suggestions for tweaks or complete overhauls. (I'm always open for suggestions--critiques are good.)





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Update

1. Jonathan and I have been married just over one year. One year and almost two weeks. On Nov 14th last year we woke up in an awesome bed and breakfast on Lake Como in Italy and got on a train and headed for Milan where we went shoe shopping. hehe. The next day we flew back to Raleigh.

2. I started missing Italy this year when the weather started getting cool. We had such an amazing honey moon traipsing around the country.

3. On Nov 14th this year (that's today) we close on our house we're selling. Big huge deal. I'm really excited our house sold so we can live closer to work and get our lives back, but wow, I'm so sad to leave our house. I think it will be better when we have a new house to live in. A new home.

4. I finally have portrait customers. YEA. My business has been (literally) 10 times better this year than last with weddings, but the portrait side had been kinda slow all year til now. I have been praying for a more balanced schedule--that God would provide portrait shoots like He has provided weddings--and He answered "yes". Not what I would have chosen my schedule to look like, but this certainly works too. Praise God.

5. I'm excited about my family and kid sessions over the next couple months.

6. I'm excited about photos with Santa next week. We still have spots available. Contact me if you want to come.

7. I love how well all the Harvest and Halloween Mini Sessions went. All the parents were super chill, which is sooo helpful when photographing children, and it made my life much sweeter. You can see all these cute kids on three different posts. here, here, and here.

8. My fall mini session customers helped with a food drive. I dropped off the food today with the soup kitchen at First Baptist Church in Smithfield, NC. They'll deliver the food that they can't use for their ministry to food pantry in town.

9. Last week I cut my finger well enough to require stitches--and they are through my fingernail. This has made work interesting and it's been super inconvenient for packing to move. The constant pain is very draining too, which might be helping to magnify being sad about leaving our house.

10. Tomorrow I will (probably) get my stitches out, at which point the PA treating me will show me how to use super glue on my nail and finger until the nail grows out. Lovely.

11. I bought super glue gel yesterday.

12. I'm working hard on a wedding from late October, so you'll get to see some new wedding photos soon.

That's all the life and work updates for now.

Amanda Ward Dengler

Visit with Santa

Skip the long lines at the mall!! Visit Santa Claus at Studio 310 and get a beautiful portrait too.

Thanks again for your help sending this along to friends and family. If you want to sign up to bring your kids, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, or we can even do family photos with Santa--give me a call or send me an email.



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Dates Extended: Christmas Sessions

The Christmas Mini Session dates have been extended. If you want your cards ready by Thanksgiving, you'll still need to schedule your session for this week. But if you're just looking to have your cards and portrait gifts ready in a timely manner for Christmas, you can schedule through November 26th--that's the day before Thanksgiving.



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Little Phillip

I photographed Phillip a week ago when he was just over a month old. These are a few of my favorites from the day.

Whether you regularly check out this blog, or this is your first time stopping by, leave me a comment and let me know. Thank you!!





We got a beautiful photo similar to this one where Phillip is much more content, but this is my favorite from the whole session, so that's what you get to see.

ok, I decided to include it since Phillip's mom, Heather, might like to send this link to family across the country. You can see his fair skin and eyes better in this photo too.


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Christmas Mini Sessions

The Christmas mini sessions are a little different than the other mini sessions I offer--usually we have a certain theme and all the sessions are scheduled in two or three days. This is different. I wanted to offer you all portraits that you can use on your Christmas cards and give as gifts. You get to pick the date, time, and location. If you need suggestions about the place, I'm happy to offer some options.

These sessions are a great deal! You get the session at half of the regular family or couple session price, and you can get prints at 20% off. I have some super cute card designs this year, and we can make sure you have your cards by Thanksgiving, so you can get them all ready to mail.



If you need more than the 25 cards included in the session you can purchase additional cards at the following prices. All cards are sold in sets of 25 and all include envelopes.

4x5 folded: $ 50
5x7 folded: $ 60
4x5 postcard: $ 35
5x7 postcard: $ 45

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Oh Agriculture!

Bridal portraits in a cotton field with a big, very red barn in the background? Yes, please! Does anyone else want to model? Really, let me know.

Even after the cotton is harvested I'll be taking other clients back to this field for portraits. The farmer uses the fields for other crops throughout the year--and the barn probably isn't going anywhere. LOVELY!!

You'll see more from this bride in a few months.



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Fielder's Choice

Time to feature another entrepreneur family member. This month you get to learn about my cousin Caitlyn and her store: Fielder's Choice. CUTE NAME*. Caitlyn and her husband both teach middle school (bless their hearts) in Wayne County, NC; Caitlyn teaches Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly known as home ec). She enjoys cooking and sewing and hopes to one day turn this love into her own full-time business, and she's starting out with this online store. Fielder's Choice was inspired by her son, 7 month old Fielder.

Fielder's Choice features cute baby accessories including handmade bibs, burp cloths and appliqued onesies. Caitlyn uses high quality, contemporary fabrics that are 100% cotton. As a mom she understands that even though those fluffy minky fabrics are oh so soft and cute, they just don't do the job absorbing the messes for which bibs and burp cloths are made. Caitlyn has great introductory prices, so if you're interested in getting a shower gift, or something for yourself, now is a great time!

burp cloth


coordinating bib


*Caitlyn is from a baseball family so the name Fielder's Choice is cute because it's her son's name as well as a play on the term used in baseball stats. Fielder's choice indicates (basically) that the batter reached base when he could have been thrown out, because the fielder chose to get a different runner out. This still counts against the batter's average--like he'd gotten out.

You're welcome. Anytime I can help broaden your knowledge of the Great American Pastime, I'm happy to help.

Amanda Dengler

Fall Mini Sessions

Yea for fall and cool weather and a chance to offer new Mini Sessions. The portrait sessions with Pumpkins and Hay Bales will be at the Studio 310 studio: 310 East Johnston Street in Downtown Smithfield, NC. I'm really excited about working with all the kids in their cute fall clothes or costumes in a few weeks. These sessions are going to be a lot of fun, and I'm already getting a great response.

Let me know if your interested in scheduling a session. And thanks in advance for forwarding this info to family and friends!!

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