Amanda Megan Miller Photography » Blog

Masthead header
March 10, 2014

Back In The Saddle

Posted in Personal2 comments

Well, I am officially back home in the saddle! I technically got back at the end of last week, but had a weekend full of events that I knew would keep me away from the computer so I kept that ‘Out of Office’ reply on for the whole weekend too! And let me tell you, I needed it! But more on my WPPI recap and recovery later, because today I am tackling that inbox and, to be honest, I’m also hoping to get outside in the rumored 55 degree weather Chicago is supposed to be getting today! I was absolutely spoiled by the 70+ degree weather in Las Vegas for sure, even if I only spent about 7 hours total outside over the entire week I was there! Gah! But, less of my weather whining and more pretty pictures, right?

Here, is a sneak peek of all the goodness I have been working on over the past week or so, all so vastly different but all so incredibly pretty! From Linda and Doug’s sweet as could be wine bar wedding to an insane styled shoot from before I left for WPPI to a ridiculously gorgeous one I did while at WPPI,  I absolutely cannot wait to share it all with you when the time comes! Keep your eyes peeled! More coming soon!

Linda and Doug got the perfect dusting of snow on their wedding day!

ChicagoWeddingPhotographer_0260

A heart stopping-ly gorgeous styled shoot I shot before I left for WPPI that will be a part of introducing an incredible new Chicago venue! I will have to sit on these pretty images for some time, so this is all you get for some time, but it will be worth the wait, I swear!

ChicagoWeddingPhotographer_0256

Give me some sunshine, a desert backdrop, some pretty florals, gorgeous gowns, and 2 couples totally smitten with each other…I’m in heaven!!! More of these two Vegas couples coming soon!

ChicagoWeddingPhotographer_0258ChicagoWeddingPhotographer_0259

Posted in Personal
add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Caili Helsper - March 10, 2014 - 2:34 pm

So much amazing! Can’t wait for these full posts.

Ben Elsass - March 10, 2014 - 2:54 pm

These are all gorgeous Amanda! Great start to the year!

February 27, 2014

WPPI, Take Two!

Posted in Photography2 comments

Remember when I talked about all the things I was going to do this off-season? All the catch up I was going to do on book keeping, website updating, and generally tending to all the things that get ignored during busy season….yeah, that stuff. Well, let’s just say I’m still working on all of it. Things haven’t been exactly slow around here….baby’s first birthday took a lot out of me, my weeks have been packed with meeting after meeting, and this week is just absolute crazy! Today, I’ve got a shoot on the docket and a fancy industry event in the evening. And then it’s prep time for this weekend’s perfectly intimate wedding at Volo Wine Bar (So excited!). And less than 12 hours after shooting the wedding, I am on a plane to the biggest wedding and portrait photographers conference in the country! Yes, I am going to take on Vegas once more for all the photography mecca goodness!

photo-4

I am going to nerd out so hard on all the photo world has to offer. I am going to shoot my heart out. I’m going to wear the crazy heels you can only really pull off in Vegas. I’m going to try to soak up some sunshine and warmth…at least as I walk from the hotel to the convention center! I’m going to learn so much. From speakers, classes, and from my fellow photographers. I’m going to reconnect with (or totally cling to in my networking panic state) people I’ve met before. I’m going to meet so many new people that I’ve only met via Instagram or Facebook. (Please say hi to me if you are going too!!!)  I’m going to drink a margarita…or two…or three. I’m going to dance my heart out. I’m going to walk back and forth from the hotel to the convention center about 20 times a day. I’m going to wait in that 30minute hotel Starbucks line because I’m going to need it. I’m going to drool over new cameras, lenses, and all the pretty albums. I’m going to get up extra early for the morning classes and go to bed extra late for all the industry shindigs. I’m going to come back utterly exhausted. Yes, I’m going to do it all again and I absolutely cannot wait!

But, I haven’t even started to pack yet! Or planned my outfits. Or gotten my nails done. Or picked out what gear I’m bringing. Or printed out my schedules. Gah! So, needless to say, I am going to be running around like a crazy person doing last minute errands while preparing for this weekend’s wedding at the same time. And because cell service (and free time!!) is so hard to come by while in Vegas for WPPI, the blog is going dark next week until my return. It will be worth the mini blog break for the week, I promise, because I will have so much sunshine-y goodness to share upon my return on March 10th! Hold me to that, guys! Photos just dripping in sunshine, I promise!

And feel free to finally get all this polar vortex madness out of your system while I’m gone, Chicago! I’d love to come back to a hint of springtime, kay? See you on the flipside of WPPI!  Give a shout if you are going to be there!

Posted in PhotographyTags: ,,,,,,,,
add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Christy Tyler - February 27, 2014 - 3:23 pm

Have the best time!!! I hope it’s actually warm there this year, not like the year we went! haha. Say hi to everyone for me! xo

Emilia Jane - February 28, 2014 - 4:50 pm

Have so much fun!!

February 26, 2014

She’s a Giver

Posted in Personal6 comments

She knows. She always knows. She makes sure to get us out the door just a few minutes early. She plans the route accordingly. And she gets that Starbucks in my hand. Because she knows I need it. She knows that a venti Starbucks can make me a morning person in mere seconds. She knows that it will take the ‘crankies’ away. She knows it will make me infinitely happier as we are on our way to whatever our destination may be that day.

ChicagoWeddingPhotographer_0254

(Image by the amazing Kari Bedford)

She does the heavy lifting, the dirty work, the not so fun errands like tending to oil changes and dog grooming appointments. She makes sure my car is safely in the garage at night. She shovels all the snow and then drives over to my grandmother’s house to shovel hers too. She brings in all the groceries from the car when I get home.

She surprises me with little romantic gestures that are one part funny inside joke, one part thoughtful and unique. She spends weeks perfecting a gold striped wall in her gold-loving wife’s office, for goodness sake!

She takes over playing, dinner, bath time, you name it, with the baby almost immediately after walking in the door from work so I can go do a million other things. She makes him laugh again and again, which makes my heart sing. She sings and rocks him to sleep, as long as it takes.

She goes out after a long day to track down an ice cream birthday cake like I had as a kid so we could have our own special birthday cake moment with our little boy. She smiles and appeases me as I set up the camera and take picture after picture. Because she knows it makes me happy to have these life moments documented.

She makes sure I take care of me. Reminds me to ask for help when I need it. Bringing me Tylenol and a glass of water when  I have a headache, knowing I will never go take some medicine myself. Tending to my every little need when I came down with the norovirus.

And when it’s an especially bad day, she knows a margarita in my hand will make all the difference in the world.

She’s pretty great…and I’m just so so SO thankful to have her. To have a truly amazing spouse who knows that simply putting a Starbucks in my hand will make the day better and all the little ways I need to be taken care of and loved. She may not be a big gift giver or one to wax philosophical about our love, but she is a giver to the core. A giver of herself day in and day out. And, I pray I never take that for granted. Never ever.

 

Posted in PersonalTags: ,,
add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Caili Helsper - February 26, 2014 - 3:37 pm

Love. Love this. Such sweet and honest words! K is lucky to have you right back. :)

Julie Proffitt Melick - February 26, 2014 - 4:25 pm

This is too sweet! I hope the weather cooperates and I finally get to meet her this weekend!

Rachel Anna - February 26, 2014 - 4:54 pm

A beautiful love story!!!!

Alaina Bos - February 26, 2014 - 9:39 pm

What a special lady and an amazing relationship the two of you have! You just made me get teary ;)

Jenn Gaudreau - February 27, 2014 - 4:02 pm

This is so beautiful, Amanda! It brought tears to my eyes. You two have certainly found keepers in one another. :)

Mary Lindh Regnier - February 27, 2014 - 6:47 pm

I love that wife of yours. She’s a keeper. She has a heart the size of Texas!

February 25, 2014

Gold Elephants on Parade For Baby Gray

Posted in Personal9 comments

Whew, thank heavens I’m a wedding photographer and not a planner, because just planning a little boy’s first birthday totally wiped me out this weekend…hence the no blog yesterday! But, now, that I’ve recovered from spray painting dozens of elephants gold, packaging cotton candy, hanging circus tent curtains, and more I figured I should share a peek at Grayson’s first birthday party. It’s a little bit gold elephants on parade and a little bit of a circus extravaganza. And a whole lot of perfect for our sweet little boy’s first birthday!

ChicagoFamilyPhotographer_0202

Click through for more!

View full post »

Posted in PersonalTags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Jen Sexton - February 25, 2014 - 2:06 pm

I can’t handle how adorable Grayson is surrounded by his circus themed birthday extravaganza! You didn’t miss a detail. I especially love the photos of the three of you w/ his clown cake. Too precious! OH, and your hair is freaking gorgeous!! ;)

Emilia Jane - February 25, 2014 - 2:44 pm

Wow! This is insanely impressive :-)

Bridgette Haight - February 25, 2014 - 3:07 pm

This is beyond perfect and right after my creative heart, good job Amanda! Grayson is one lucky little boy!

Caili Helsper - February 25, 2014 - 3:20 pm

I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this post! You are AMAZING. All those little details are incredible. I couldn’t have done half as good of a job! Grayson is so lucky to have you two as his parents. :)

Dottie Campbell Millwater - February 25, 2014 - 3:44 pm

So Cute!!!

Lorraine - February 25, 2014 - 6:33 pm

Looks fab! Love the theme :)

Jennifer Mercier - February 25, 2014 - 8:23 pm

I love love love the bday decor! You did such an amazing job!!!!

Jacqui - February 26, 2014 - 2:27 am

These photos are so perfect! You guys did such an amazing job – I can’t believe Grayson is 1 year old! I met you when he was in your tummy, so crazy. He’s so perfect and so are you! Well done girls xx

Anita Vaughan - February 26, 2014 - 7:51 pm

He is just the cutest! What an awesome party! Happy Birthday, Grayson!!!!

February 20, 2014

Matt & Nicki – Chicago Proposal Photographer

Posted in Proposals1 comment

You know you picked the right guy when shortly after proposing to you he asks if you might want some champagne and then proceeds to pull a split of champagne and some glasses out of his jacket pocket! So smooth! Nicki knew what she was doing when she said yes to Matt on that cold winter’s day in Millenium Park this past weekend!

ChicagoProposalPhotographer_0184

Click through to see Nicki say ‘Yes!’ and more!

View full post »

Posted in ProposalsTags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Caili Helsper - February 20, 2014 - 3:46 pm

Ummmmmmmm these are fantastic! With every proposal you post, I try harder and harder to go back in time and beg Neil to hire a photog before proposing!

F a c e b o o k
P i n t e r e s t