Hello and welcome!
For those new to me and newly discovering my work, welcome! My name is Amanda and I'm a wedding, family, and couple's photographer based out of central Virginia. Dulcis Gratia — Latin for "sweet grace" — is the product of a continual search for beauty and an enthusiasm to accept grace where it is offered.
Born and raised in the hills of the Blue Ridge, I grew up surrounded and inspired by the beauty found in little towns and expansive landscapes. From a young age I sought to capture in lasting photograph the memories and moments that otherwise fade with time. Possessing a strong desire to hold onto what eventually becomes forgotten, I fostered an eye and a heart for what lies in the details, the small moments, the occasions that arrest our attention through their simplicity, their authenticity, and their beauty.
When not behind the camera,
you can catch me enjoying a classic book, baking an unexplored dessert, painting a new landscape, going on a walk, or even making simple rosaries (a great gift and a labour of love!). We were born to participate in creation and what a gift it has been to meet the Lord in his through these small movements!
I believe one of the best ways to get to know a person is by seeing them through the creative work that moves them. For me that would mean the simple pleasures found in watching Good Will Hunting (it's a birthday tradition!), collecting old and new photographs in boxes by the dozen, reading a Graham Greene novel, or listening to the vulnerable lines of a Dermot Kennedy song. Like most, films, books, and music speak to my heart in continually profound and surprising ways, always offering a chance for encounter and a new light by which to see the world. I could talk for days about the brilliance of Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, the heart-wrenching beauty of Loach's The Wind That Shakes the Barley, the thrill of Miller's Moneyball or the tragedy of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities. Beauty abounds and what a grace it is to be able to encounter it again and again.
To know me through the images that speak to my own heart, here's a bit of my journey through Northern Italy: exploring the Dolomites, a pilgrimage to Padua (I was confirmed on St. Anthony's feast day!), and other small morsels the Lord fed me during my hungered search for beauty.
COLLEEN & JASON // ellicott city, md
Amanda beautifully captured a very special day—our daughter’s baptism—and created lifelong memories for us to cherish. Every image she delivered brings so much joy to our family! She was professional yet personable, and made the whole process easy and stress-free. We highly recommend hiring her for all the important moments in your life!
VICTORIA // CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Amanda and Dulcis Gratia Photography! She has captured so many meaningful moments for me from engagement photos to graduation pictures, and even just-for-fun shoots. Every single time, her work has been stunning. Amanda has such a calming and kind presence behind the camera, and she makes you feel so comfortable and at ease during each session.
She has an incredible eye for detail and a talent for capturing both the big moments and the in-between ones that feel so genuine. The final galleries always exceed expectations as there are so many beautiful options to choose from, and it’s clear how much care she puts into every photo. I’m so grateful for the memories she’s preserved, and I can’t wait to book with her again!
Will & Cora // COLLEGE PARK, MD
Amanda is FANTASTIC! She was with us our entire wedding day and gave us higher quality photos than we ever could have imagined. She was easy to work with, patient, and flexible. She made coordinating with our videographer look easy. We are so grateful to Amanda for capturing all of the special and tender moments from our wedding day. We have so many good pictures to choose from, we don’t even know which ones to print!
We have recommended Amanda to all of our friends who are getting married. If you book her for your wedding, you will NOT be disappointed!
GABRIELLA // UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA GRAD
I was hesitant about doing the fuss of graduation photos, but the process was actually pretty fun. Amanda knows what she is doing and she really got the best out of the scenery and out of me. She was very open to any ideas I had for what I wanted, and she also had some creative ideas for poses and motion shots that I ended up really liking. It’s clear that she is very experienced in photography and she helped me feel at ease about the whole shoot.
I’m very happy with the results — never really thought I liked having photos taken of me, but these are some of my favorite!
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
EDITH WHARTON