On a crisp autumn day, a woman stands under the canopy of a centuries‑old oak, camera in hand, watching as a bride takes a breath before walking down the aisle. The photographer closes her eyes for a second, attuning herself to the moment. It is not the gown or the floral installation that she notes first; it is the trembling inhale, the way the bride clutches her father’s arm, the way light pools around them. When she raises her lens, she is ready to capture not just how this looks but how it feels. That photographer is Amanda Sarah Cherish DeMelo, a former fine‑arts educator who left the classroom to chronicle luxury weddings with an emotional depth that has become her signature.
Photo by Laura Cluthé
From Classroom to Camera
Amanda’s creative journey began long before she ever thought of teaching. Raised in Hamilton, Ontario, she spent her childhood surrounded by art supplies and scraps of fabric, constantly drawing, sewing, and building. Her parents, recognizing an artist’s eye, encouraged her passion. In high school, she excelled in fine arts and went on to study at the Ontario College of Art and Design before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from McMaster University, where she graduated in the top 4 percent of her class. She specialised in printmaking, a discipline that taught her patience, precision and an appreciation for process. A municipal grant awarded in 2002 allowed her to create three large woodcut banners for the Cambridge Sculpture Garden, her first public art installation.
Despite these artistic achievements, Amanda felt called to share her knowledge. She completed a Bachelor of Education with a fine‑arts specialization and spent 15 years as a teacher, including nine years working with students with special needs. The classroom sharpened her empathy and deepened her understanding of human stories. “Every story deserves to be understood,” she has said, reflecting on how teaching taught her to listen before she responded. Though she was devoted to her students, Amanda continued to create: on weekends and evenings she photographed weddings, portraits, and personal projects, exploring how a camera could translate feeling into image.
Learning the Craft and Finding Her Voice
The pivot point came in 2012 when Amanda was planning her own wedding. She hired a photographer whose editorial style felt like fine art, and the experience awakened a desire to pursue photography professionally. She reached out to him for mentorship and soon found herself second‑shooting weddings. That same year, she joined Unveil, a Toronto‑based studio known for blending documentary storytelling with artistic composition. Under the guidance of more experienced photographers, she learned how to use light to sculpt an image and how to remain invisible when capturing genuine emotion.
When Unveil closed in 2019, Amanda faced a crossroads. She had fallen deeply in love with photography and knew she wanted to continue. Seeking community, she joined Mango Studios in 2020, one of Canada’s most celebrated wedding photography teams. There she honed her editorial approach, refining the balance between fashion‑inspired aesthetics and intimate storytelling. Eventually, she took a formal leave from teaching to become a full‑time photographer. She also invested in continued education, enrolling in fine‑art photographer KT Merry’s course The Abundance Plan, which she credits with helping her reconnect to her artistic voice and business strategy. Today, she operates under her own brand, Amanda Sarah Cherish Photography, offering a boutique experience to couples around the world.
Luxury Weddings with Soul
Amanda’s weddings are studies in contrast: opulent settings paired with tender, unguarded moments. Clients hire her for her ability to deliver images that could appear in the pages of Vogue and Town & Country, yet feel deeply personal. She works closely with planners and designers to ensure that every detail, from heirloom jewelry to couture gowns, is thoughtfully documented, but her true focus lies elsewhere. “I don’t just photograph how something looks,” she tells clients. “I photograph how it felt.” Rather than staging each frame, she observes quietly, waiting for expressions and interactions that reveal the heart of the day.
Her approach is rooted in the principles that guided her as an educator: respect for individual stories and a belief that moments are most powerful when they are unforced. She encourages couples to slow down, to savour their wedding day, to trust that she will see the beauty in imperfection. The results are images that feel as if they were captured mid‑breath, filled with motion, laughter and subtle gestures. She is particularly drawn to destination weddings and has photographed celebrations across Canada, Europe and the United States. Her Portuguese and Maltese heritage influences her aesthetic, inspiring her to incorporate Mediterranean light and a spirit of hospitality into every shoot.
(Courtesy)
A Wedding with Heart: New Year’s Eve at the Fairmont Royal York, Toronto
One of the weddings Amanda photographed in Canada took place on New Year’s Eve at the Fairmont Royal York. The wedding was held in the Imperial Ballroom, a venue known for its rich history, having hosted many legendary artists over the years. The venue’s blend of classic charm and modern luxury created a fitting backdrop for the couple’s celebration.
The event was a single-day wedding with around 200 guests, mixing the elegance of a traditional ceremony with the joy of a New Year’s Eve celebration. For the couple, the venue held special significance, as it was where the bride’s parents had been married years earlier. This personal connection added an emotional layer to the event that was reflected in the photos, without the need for elaborate details. Amanda captured the quiet significance in the moments between the couple and their family.
The wedding’s aesthetic was understated but powerful. The couple chose classic tuxedos and black dresses for the bridal party, creating an elegant yet simple look that didn’t detract from the venue’s beauty. The floral arrangements, soft in creams and whites, were designed to complement the venue’s vintage charm, not overpower it. Amanda’s work focused on these delicate moments and the connection between the people present.
The ceremony, held at a Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Toronto, honored the bride’s cultural heritage, and the reception incorporated personal traditions. One of the most significant moments came during the couple’s first dance, which was accompanied by a live performance of Ella Fitzgerald’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” by the groom’s first cousin, a classically trained Jazz Singer. As the evening drew to a close, there was a shift in tone, with the bride changing into a second gown and the celebration culminating in a moment of shared joy. Confetti cannons and a champagne tower marked the arrival of midnight, but Amanda’s photos didn’t simply capture these moments; they conveyed the sense of joy and belonging that filled the room.
(Courtesy)
Recognition and Philanthropy
Amanda’s reputation has grown alongside her portfolio. She has been recognized as one of Hamilton’s top photographers and serves as a contributing photographer at Mango Studios, which was named one of The Wed’s Top 10 Wedding Photography Studios in Canada. Her work has appeared in major publications, and her photographs have been credited by People Magazine in coverage of philanthropic events. In October 2025, for instance, she documented “Experience: Austin,” a fundraising gala hosted by Chris Harrison and Lauren Zima to support Experience Camps, a nonprofit providing free grief support to children. The event raised $800,000 to launch the charity’s first Texas location, and People credited “Amanda Sarah Cherish Photography” for the images capturing the evening’s most emotional moments. Amanda focused her lens on the connections rather than the celebrity, photographing Zima wiping away tears and a camper bravely sharing her story. Her inclusion in the article underscored the impact of her work and her commitment to causes beyond weddings.
Philanthropy is a recurring theme in Amanda’s career. She donates a portion of her branding session proceeds to CANFund, which supports Canadian athletes on their journey to the Olympics. She volunteers her time and photography skills to organizations that uplift women and children, believing that art can drive change. The interplay between her creative practice and her philanthropic efforts reflects her core values: creativity, service and connection. “This work is not just about documenting,” she has said. “It’s about telling stories that can be felt, and that live on.”
(Courtesy)
Global Vision and Future Dreams
While Amanda remains deeply connected to her Canadian roots, her vision is global. She is actively expanding her presence in the United States, aiming to work more frequently in New York, California, Texas and Florida, where demand for luxury editorial photography is high. She also plans to spend more time in Europe, drawing inspiration from its landscapes and architecture and building her brand as an international storyteller. Travel fuels her creativity, allowing her to see familiar subjects through new eyes and to connect with clients across cultures.
Looking ahead, Amanda hopes to merge her passions for teaching and photography by mentoring emerging artists, especially women. She envisions workshops and retreats where she can share technical skills, business insights and personal philosophies with those starting their own creative journeys. At the same time, she intends to deepen her philanthropic partnerships, using her platform to raise awareness and funds for causes like Experience Camps and CANFund. Her long‑term dream is to publish a book of photographic essays exploring themes of love, grief and transformation, subjects that have shaped her own life and that resonate with the couples she photographs.
In Partnership with APG
