Book Your Portrait Session

amy gray photography

amy gray photography

Boys Running in the Waves

Find out more

Instagram Pinterest-p Facebook-f
contact
Tattoo Photography San Diego

Hunger Games Photography | San Diego Photographer Amy Gray

September 17, 2014

Shortest photo session ever, with absolutely the most prep time. We may be (ahem) in our late thirties, but we still like to play, and my uber-talented friend Erin (of ChoirBox) and I had been brainstorming this session ever since she decided to cover over her previous (less awesome) tattoo with some serious art* (don’t try this at home, kids). Erin has a way with a bow and arrow, and she even MAKES these things . . . plus quivers and all sorts of other leather items. We felt that she should definitely design and sew herself an amazing dress to showcase the tattoo, commission a custom archery target made of natural woven fibers, and head out to the nearest field to take some good photos.

Upon our arrival, we stopped off at my second-favorite photo spot at that location before heading down the hill toward the big, open field. Half way down, we were accosted by a park ranger who, unfortunately, evicted us from the park for possession of a firearm. She was nice about it, but still – no big, open field. So that was sad, but we still had plenty of time to grab a few more portraits at photo spot #2. I love how they turned out! Happy birthday, Erin!

*From Erin:  “Original art made by Chad Whitson based on Psalm 127:4 ‘Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.’ The symbolism is as follows: two arrows; one for Noah, one for Sascha.  Adam is the bow, I’m the quiver, God is the Archer.”

San Diego Hunger Games Photography

Family Photographs at High Tide on Coronado Beach

September 8, 2014

Beach photography always keeps me on my toes. Never boring! Whereas a field or park session is generally either 1) cloudy or 2) sunny, there are sooo many more options for beach photos. At Coronado, one of the major factors is the tide, especially at this time of year when the sun sets farther to the north. The combination of clear skies and high tide absolutely REQUIRES the clients to be really good sports. Fortunately, this familiy was just fine with getting a little damp, so everything worked out and we made some fun memories at the same time.
Family Beach Photography | Amy Gray Photography

San Diego Beach Photos of Cousins at Play

August 20, 2014

Turns out my kids are not the only ones who, when presented with a beautiful, sandy beach, completely forget about the camera and run headlong to the shoreline to get as wet as possible, as soon as possible. This lively bunch of cousins came all the way from Texas, and there was no stopping them when it came to the water! Of course, I was pretty much on board with that, since some of my favorite pictures are not of the posed variety, but more . . . frolicking. Don’t miss the seaweed jumprope! Cousins on Coronado | Family Photographer San Diego

Wedding Photos with a Red Truck

Rustic Wedding Photos at Hidden Oaks in Ramona

August 7, 2014

At first, I was like . . . WHERE ON EARTH AM I?? And then, I was like . . . THIS IS THE BEST WEDDING VENUE EVER!! Hidden Oaks Ranch in Ramona is definitely hidden, but it is well worth finding! Our nephew Ben and his bride Danielle (see also: proposal and engagement photos) tied the knot here on a beautiful July day, and Melanie Monroe Photography and I had a blast photographing the occasion. The rustic scenery was the perfect setting for lots of burlap, lots of lace, and a big red truck. Congratulations to Ben and Danielle!
021 GrayWedding 312118 FB Ben + Danielle | Hidden Oaks, Ramona

Rylee & Lucy Diabetic Service Dog | San Diego Photos by Amy Gray

August 6, 2014

I was excited to meet a very special dog yesterday, when I photographed my friend Keri’s daughter Rylee and her new chocolate lab, Lucy. Rylee (11) was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in April. When I first met Rylee several years ago, she had just saved her mother’s life as a kindergartner who dialed 911 when Keri (also diabetic and pregnant, at the time, with Rylee’s little brother) had a dangerous low and was unresponsive. Now Rylee is dealing with the same disease, and her doctor suggested a diabetic service dog to alert Rylee and her family when lows are eminent – for both Rylee and Keri.

Since the training is very expensive, Rylee’s friends and family joined in with lots of fundraisers to foot the bill. There were hundreds of handmade dog-shaped cookies, Origami Owl necklaces, and a Chick-Fil-A fundraising night! Just last Friday, Lucy, a one-year-old chocolate lab, came home! All $13,000 have been raised, and Lucy is well on her way to being trained to detect lows for both Rylee and Keri. Keri & Rylee’s sweet thank you card to all their friends and donors reads, “To each of you who either sent a donation on our FundRazr page, bought our cookies, attended a fundraiser, bought a necklace, or gave us a donation ‘just because,’ we say THANK YOU! You have helped us more than you will ever know and we could not have done this without you and without God! Thank you for blessing us with this incredible gift and for believing with us that ‘God Will Make a Way!'”
Lucy | Rylee's Diabetic Service Dog | Amy Gray Photography

Kissing Cousins | Extended Family Pictures with photographer Amy Gray

July 15, 2014

I’m always honored when other photographers choose me to preserve their own family memories. It was great to meet fellow Canon-shooter Sara and her whole extended family at the Del a few weeks ago. She even let me borrow a lens out of her bag! Her little niece +1’d my run of confident little model-type five-year-old girls. She had so many poses, I could hardly keep up!
San Diego Child Photographer | Beach Photography in San Diego

Mary Birch Hospital Birth Photography

Gage William Birth Photography| Amy Gray

July 1, 2014

Oh, how I LOVE birth photography! What an experience, each time, to see a brand new little person welcomed into the grateful arms of his parents. Each birth experience is different, and this was my absolute shortest birth story to date! Kristi let me know she was in labor at 7:42pm. I left for the hospital at 8:11pm, and when I got there just before 9:00, she was already pushing! Little Gage William was born naturally at 9:27, without any pain medicine. Kristi is AMAZING. Wow. (Baby is super sweet and cute, too! Just wait till you see the newborn photos!) San Diego Birth Photography

Tattoo Photography San Diego

Hunger Games Photography | San Diego Photographer Amy Gray

Shortest photo session ever, with absolutely the most prep time. We may be (ahem) in our late thirties, but we still like to play, and my uber-talented friend Erin (of ChoirBox) and I had been brainstorming this session ever since she decided to cover over her previous (less awesome) tattoo with some serious art* (don’t try this at home, kids). Erin has a way with a bow and arrow, and she even MAKES these things . . . plus quivers and all sorts of other leather items. We felt that she should definitely design and sew herself an amazing dress to showcase the tattoo, commission a custom archery target made of natural woven fibers, and head out to the nearest field to take some good photos.

Upon our arrival, we stopped off at my second-favorite photo spot at that location before heading down the hill toward the big, open field. Half way down, we were accosted by a park ranger who, unfortunately, evicted us from the park for possession of a firearm. She was nice about it, but still – no big, open field. So that was sad, but we still had plenty of time to grab a few more portraits at photo spot #2. I love how they turned out! Happy birthday, Erin!

*From Erin:  “Original art made by Chad Whitson based on Psalm 127:4 ‘Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.’ The symbolism is as follows: two arrows; one for Noah, one for Sascha.  Adam is the bow, I’m the quiver, God is the Archer.”

San Diego Hunger Games Photography

Family Photographs at High Tide on Coronado Beach

Beach photography always keeps me on my toes. Never boring! Whereas a field or park session is generally either 1) cloudy or 2) sunny, there are sooo many more options for beach photos. At Coronado, one of the major factors is the tide, especially at this time of year when the sun sets farther to the north. The combination of clear skies and high tide absolutely REQUIRES the clients to be really good sports. Fortunately, this familiy was just fine with getting a little damp, so everything worked out and we made some fun memories at the same time.
Family Beach Photography | Amy Gray Photography

San Diego Beach Photos of Cousins at Play

Turns out my kids are not the only ones who, when presented with a beautiful, sandy beach, completely forget about the camera and run headlong to the shoreline to get as wet as possible, as soon as possible. This lively bunch of cousins came all the way from Texas, and there was no stopping them when it came to the water! Of course, I was pretty much on board with that, since some of my favorite pictures are not of the posed variety, but more . . . frolicking. Don’t miss the seaweed jumprope! Cousins on Coronado | Family Photographer San Diego

Wedding Photos with a Red Truck

Rustic Wedding Photos at Hidden Oaks in Ramona

At first, I was like . . . WHERE ON EARTH AM I?? And then, I was like . . . THIS IS THE BEST WEDDING VENUE EVER!! Hidden Oaks Ranch in Ramona is definitely hidden, but it is well worth finding! Our nephew Ben and his bride Danielle (see also: proposal and engagement photos) tied the knot here on a beautiful July day, and Melanie Monroe Photography and I had a blast photographing the occasion. The rustic scenery was the perfect setting for lots of burlap, lots of lace, and a big red truck. Congratulations to Ben and Danielle!
021 GrayWedding 312118 FB Ben + Danielle | Hidden Oaks, Ramona

Rylee & Lucy Diabetic Service Dog | San Diego Photos by Amy Gray

I was excited to meet a very special dog yesterday, when I photographed my friend Keri’s daughter Rylee and her new chocolate lab, Lucy. Rylee (11) was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in April. When I first met Rylee several years ago, she had just saved her mother’s life as a kindergartner who dialed 911 when Keri (also diabetic and pregnant, at the time, with Rylee’s little brother) had a dangerous low and was unresponsive. Now Rylee is dealing with the same disease, and her doctor suggested a diabetic service dog to alert Rylee and her family when lows are eminent – for both Rylee and Keri.

Since the training is very expensive, Rylee’s friends and family joined in with lots of fundraisers to foot the bill. There were hundreds of handmade dog-shaped cookies, Origami Owl necklaces, and a Chick-Fil-A fundraising night! Just last Friday, Lucy, a one-year-old chocolate lab, came home! All $13,000 have been raised, and Lucy is well on her way to being trained to detect lows for both Rylee and Keri. Keri & Rylee’s sweet thank you card to all their friends and donors reads, “To each of you who either sent a donation on our FundRazr page, bought our cookies, attended a fundraiser, bought a necklace, or gave us a donation ‘just because,’ we say THANK YOU! You have helped us more than you will ever know and we could not have done this without you and without God! Thank you for blessing us with this incredible gift and for believing with us that ‘God Will Make a Way!'”
Lucy | Rylee's Diabetic Service Dog | Amy Gray Photography

Kissing Cousins | Extended Family Pictures with photographer Amy Gray

I’m always honored when other photographers choose me to preserve their own family memories. It was great to meet fellow Canon-shooter Sara and her whole extended family at the Del a few weeks ago. She even let me borrow a lens out of her bag! Her little niece +1’d my run of confident little model-type five-year-old girls. She had so many poses, I could hardly keep up!
San Diego Child Photographer | Beach Photography in San Diego

Mary Birch Hospital Birth Photography

Gage William Birth Photography| Amy Gray

Oh, how I LOVE birth photography! What an experience, each time, to see a brand new little person welcomed into the grateful arms of his parents. Each birth experience is different, and this was my absolute shortest birth story to date! Kristi let me know she was in labor at 7:42pm. I left for the hospital at 8:11pm, and when I got there just before 9:00, she was already pushing! Little Gage William was born naturally at 9:27, without any pain medicine. Kristi is AMAZING. Wow. (Baby is super sweet and cute, too! Just wait till you see the newborn photos!) San Diego Birth Photography

Scroll to Top