Amanda Mae Steele

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! But this spring chicken isn't quite as springy as her 23-year-old self even though I was acting like one last week running around, working multiple jobs and driving all across town for them, leaving home early, getting home late, and eating way too much pizza and candy in between it all. A decade later rebounding is a little slower physically and mentally - but still SO. MUCH. FUN. It's funny how the saying "when it rains it pours" can also go for good thin

My dear friend Laine and I had been trying to get a session scheduled for FOREVER, but being the fierce girl boss that she is, she was booked with frequent travel over the past few months. Thankfully when February rolled around, both Laine and hubby Sammie were able to carve out some time on a picture perfect Saturday in Downtown Nashville - and it happened to be Laine's birthday weekend! Things couldn't have turned out any better and I'm so grateful I got to celebrate with t

How is Christmas really only five and half days away?! Somehow this season flew right past me even though I've been doing all the typical things - spending time with family and friends shopping, gathering, eating, more eating... But one fun new thing this year has been getting to collaborate with Two Hens Styling & Design! I connected with Julie and Michaela on Instagram because I fell in love with their gorgeous work. I honestly didn't expect to hear back when I messaged Jul

Whew - where has November gone?! I'm starting to lose track of the family sessions I've done and the sets I've been on at my "big girl job" - and I love it! However, life is still life warts and all. There are good times and growing times to be had ("growing" is the nice way of saying tough - or even downright crappy if we're being honest here!) and this season is a pretty healthy mixture of both. I'm thankful for the joy and healing that comes from being able to do what I l

Okay, newbie here - I had no idea how much work - and FUN - mini-sessions could be! I'm so glad I had a few breaks in between but I'll DEFINITELY be packing a lot more snacks next time. WHEW! I am so grateful to live in a city where autumn is a "thing". However, stunning fall in Nashville is a bit short-lived. The six years we've lived here I've noticed a pattern - the trees change color overnight, a big storm comes along and blows/washes all the leaves away, and before we kn

A few weeks ago I attended Story 2018, an annual conference about creativity within various industries. I stumbled upon it a few years ago when a friend asked if I wanted to volunteer and I've been hooked ever since! The first year I attended I remember several people saying Story was a "game changer" for them. Super cliche, right? Kind of like when people go on mission trips and all of a sudden their lives are changed for all of two months before they settle back into their

​"What do we do if it rains?" Crap. It was already beginning to drizzle - little droplets on my windshield enough to warrant using the windshield wiper. I started to respond to the text then deleted; started again, deleted; started again... Finally I replied, "Let me text you when I get there and I'll let you know how it is." I don't love getting wet and I certainly didn't want to subject my pregnant friend to it (I've heard this isn't true but I still believe getting wet in

Yesterday I received a text from a good friend saying, "Good morning! Thinking of you and praying for you today!" I thought that was sweet and Lord knows I can always use prayer. Then one of the volunteers I work with asked me shortly thereafter, "How are you doing today?" His tone sounded more concerned than usual which was a little odd. "Should I not be ok?" I thought to myself. "OHHH YEAH... I forgot! It's Mother's Day!" I said. He chuckled, "Well, I guess that's good that

In May 2017, I started taking photos with our Canon Rebel which had been sitting in our closet for nearly 10 years. I was at a point where life was stagnant and I didn't have much vision for the future; what - and where - I thought I would be was nowhere near reality. But a very expensive career assessment confirmed that I might have a natural gift for photography. I didn't want to waste our investment so I committed to giving the camera a serious shot for a month. One of my

Y'ALL. I have been DYING to post these photos from the most beautiful growing family ever! This may very well be my favorite session to date - I mean, have you ever seen anything cuter than this creature?! Meet Winnie (@winnie_da_pom) I was really excited to get to know Winnie's mom and dad, Noelle and Hunter, during our fun but incredibly chilly session. While I was bundled up in an oversized parka, Noelle was braving the frigid not-spring-like-at-all Nashville March air lik

Over the past few weeks my spirit has been growing increasingly restless. I've been doing a lot of "heart work" (which is also incredibly hard work) with a circle of trusted girlfriends and on my own. Sometimes it's hopeful and exciting, other times I want to throw up. But maybe that throwing up feeling isn't so bad. What if our unpleasant emotions that physically manifest themselves are internal alarms telling us something is off? When something "violates our personal integr

When people ask me what my dream job would be, without hesitation I say, "Hands down, Travel Writer/Photographer." That wasn't always what I wanted to do. I've also wanted to be a: -Touring singer or background singer -Music video dancer (*sigh* if only I were in my 20s in the 90s...) -Songwriter (this is why we moved to Nashville) -Actor Now that I think of it, I actually have done all of those things in some capacity. Maybe not to the extent that I had dreamed of, but never

The first time for anything can be pretty intimidating. I think it's more common than not to be reluctant when trying something new whether it's an exotic food, traveling to an unfamiliar country, parenting, or in this case, doing a maternity shoot. Cristina and I were both new at this - pregnancy for her and her husband, Andy, and capturing it for me! I was obviously very nervous about it since I had never done it, but they were both so gracious and chill which definitely to

I love words and conversation, so when I have a piece with a word that sparks a conversation that's a triple win. This one always gets a lot of interest and the conversation that ensues usually goes like this: "Ooh is that one of those Giving Keys?" "Umm... It's kinda like it but it's not one of the Giving Keys..." "Oh cool! So who gave it to you?" "Umm... (awkward laugh) no one. I gave it to myself." Great. So not only is it a knockoff, I also gave it to myself (I believe th

Hey friends, Thanks for stopping by my new page! I'm thrilled to get my photography business officially underway and am incredibly grateful for your prayers, love and support as I vigorously pursue my passion. For those of you who don't know me, I am ridiculously goal-oriented which is especially the case with this new venture - and I'd love to share some of my dreams for 2018 with you. 18 new photography challenges I'd like to accomplish this year: 1. International travel ph