I'm Amanda. The kind of afternoon I love is the easeful, slow, playful one. Your kids running, your partner laughing, and you in the picture (for once). That's the kind of experience I'd love to create with you.
An hour or two outside in a place where it feels good to let out a big sigh. The kids running through the grass. Your partner laughing because nobody asked him to pose. You in the picture, present and at ease. The kind of afternoon that already feels like a memory you want to hold on to while you're still in it.
No coordinated outfits, no rigid shot list, no pressure to perform. Just the people you love, doing what they do, while I quietly capture those moments for you to hang on your walls.
Before I ever picked up a camera for a family session, I spent years nannying in Bend and even longer studying movement and presence through yoga, dance, and breath. I know how to read the energy of a room. I know when to step in and when to step back. I know how to help a two-year-old forget I exist so they'll actually be themselves.
A friend watched me with kids one afternoon and said, "You know you'd be an incredible family photographer, right?" She was reflecting something back to me that I already knew. I'd just never put the pieces together.
My background is the reason your session feels like hanging out with a friend instead of sitting through a photo shoot. One invites you to be at ease, the other asks you to perform. Everything I know about patience, presence, and supporting people in feeling safe is woven into how I work.
While you're throwing your kid over your shoulder or watching your partner chase the dog through the grass, I'm watching the light shift through the trees. I'm already in position when your toddler reaches for your hand. I'm reading whether your family needs a change of scenery or whether everyone's in a groove and the best thing I can do is stay quiet and let the moment happen.
You don't have to manage the session. You don't have to worry about your kid's meltdown or your partner's stiff smile or whether anyone is cooperating. I'm listening for when your kid needs to take a break and throw rocks in the river for a while. I know when to give your partner a little direction and when to leave everyone alone. And I'm staying camera-ready through all of it, because the photos that end up on your walls are the ones that happen in half a second.
Your only job is to show up and be with your family. I'll handle the rest.
I've lived in Bend, Oregon for the last 8+ years. In this time I've been surrounded by mountains and rivers and children who have very strong opinions about snacks. I'm a part-time nanny, which means I spend half my week playing soccer at the park and the other half scouting out incredible photoshoot locations.
My friends call me Panda (from Amanda Panda), and honestly it fits. I'm gentle and patient and a little goofy, and I will absolutely lose my mind if I see a blooming rose bush on a trail.
I'm a morning person who loves a long hike, a good dance, and any excuse to be outside. I talk to the trees (they're good listeners). I cry at sunsets sometimes - because wow, what beauty! I think dirt is underrated and that kids have the whole thing figured out better than most adults.
Exploring Central Oregon has been one of my greatest joys. When I photograph your family in these places, it's not a backdrop to me. I know these trails. I know this light. I know the spot at Shevlin where the sun filters through the pines at 5pm and turns everything golden. That matters, because the places you love should look the way they feel to you.
Her energy was calming and she was very nurturing. She was very patient and very flexible with our cranky 19 month old. The pictures are stunning and we are so excited she captured us candidly.
EmilyAmanda possesses a remarkable talent for transforming each shot into a true work of art, ensuring it feels organic and genuine rather than staged. Throughout all the shoots, she created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made me feel completely at ease.
Amara D.
I highly recommend Amanda. Her presence creates ease in all the ways needed for the space. She is amazing to work with.
Leona SteelWorking with Amanda is effortless. I loved the preparation call we had, clearly laid out expectations and options... and then was impressed with her promptness and professionalism on site, while also being FUN and going above and beyond.
Jen Lundstrom
You don't need to be "photogenic," whatever that is anyways! You also don't need matching outfits or well-behaved kids or a fool proof plan. You only need to show up as you are.
The mess is a part of your story. So is the dog, the meltdown, and the moment right after the meltdown where everyone's laughing again.
You deserve to be in the frame. Not behind the camera, not cropped out, not "next time."
The best photos of your family won't come from a rigid shot list. They'll come from an afternoon where everyone felt relaxed enough to be themselves.
And what we make together is art, not simply a deliverable. It's something your family gets to keep as a cherished memory AND as art on your walls.
Tell me about your family, the places in Bend that feel like yours, and what you're hoping for. Every session starts here, and there's no pressure. We'll figure out the rest together.
Tell me about your family