Our couples can’t get enough Photos by MKay so we sat down with her to talk about wedding planning and photography for our Austin area engaged couples looking for a photographer. Find more about Amanda and Photos by MKay here.

What is a fun characteristic of your Ideal Couple? 

My Ideal couple is a pair who’s down for anything! Ready to stand in a field, ready to play in the rain, ready to walk through fiery sunsets, and capture all the romantic vibes. See a few of my amazing Shiraz brides and couples who are fearless which gives them the most amazing photos.

What are your top tips for couples getting married or newly engaged? Vendors, general marriage advice, etc -- specific or broad! 

Here are my top-3 tips for wedding planning and having a stress-free wedding day!

• Tip #1 - Set your Ceremony Time 1.5-2 hours before sunset. Lighting is important. 

• Tip #2 - Do a 1st look. I know many people want to stick with tradition, but if you do a 1st look you get more bride and groom photos, the groom’s real reaction to seeing you in the dress, and get all your wedding party and possibly family out of the way so you can actually enjoy cocktail hour. The benefits go on and on with doing a first look!

• Tip #3 - Remember to enjoy your day. Your wedding day will go by fast. All you will have are the photos to remember it by. 

What do you wish couples understood about your wedding-day process in capturing amazing Texas Hill Country weddings? 

I wish couples could understand that a pretty dress and venue do not make a great photo. There is a lot of staging, coaching, and performance needed to create a perfect capture. It’s a delicate dance between the couple and the photographer. If you trust the process, then together we can create great images. I strive to have that connection with each couple to ensure the group and couples’ photos are timeless treasures.

Have a great behind-the-scenes memory from a Shiraz Wedding? Have you been the MVP and we or the couple didn't know it?! 

My best behind-the-scenes memory at Shiraz Garden, a wedding venue near Austin, Texas, would be shooting a wedding in the rain the entire day.

But, then the clouds cleared just long enough to capture a beautiful blue sky for the couple’s bride and groom photos.

The staff rushed us up to the overlook just in time.

Champagne glasses in hand. We did an epic champagne spray, and everything came together in the end.

What part of being an Austin Wedding Photographer do you enjoy the most? Prep, wedding day, post-wedding? Specific or broad! 

The part of my work that I enjoy the most would be the bride and groom photos. I wait all day to shoot those, usually during golden hour. It’s the feeling you get when it’s just you and the couple, running around, having fun in a romantic setting. That’s what gets my creativity flowing and my heart racing. 

Amanda is a Recommended Shiraz Garden Wedding Photographer

WHICH COMES WITH A MAJOR PERK!

Our couples who book her for their wedding day have complimentary access to Shiraz Garden for engagement photos. See how Mr. and Mrs. Ho took advantage of that special perk below as well as several of Amanda’s Shiraz Brides who also can use that complimentary access for a bridal session.

What do you wish other vendors/venues knew about your services? 

As a photographer, we heavily rely on good lighting throughout the day. That being said, I do create a mock timeline for the day in order to capture the moment in the best light. It’s been my experience that if other vendors/venues use this mock timeline to create the final timeline things usually run more smoothly and produce better results. 

How do you challenge yourself? 

I challenge myself every day and at every wedding. There are so many different lighting situations and things going on during a wedding. It’s trying to master every lighting situation, and sitting back afterward and thinking how could I have made this better? Not every situation is ideal or runs on time. It’s learning to roll with the punches to create the best outcome. I put my entire soul into my work and getting the reviews from the couples once they get the gallery makes every moment of hard work worth it.