Life Breaths Photography

Big Changes!

2009-05-13T22:15:00.002-05:00

So where I have been and why has this blog been so quiet? Funny you ask because I've been super busy creating a new website, new blog, and, oh by the way, an all-new name for my photography business. Life Breaths Photography has now become Amy Buchanan Photography.

The new website is located at www.AmyBuchananPhotography.com. And the new blog is located at www.AmyBuchananPhotography.com/blog. This blog will remain active but all new posts will be at the new blog. The old website will remain active for a little while longer, but the new site will be updated more frequently thanks to the fabulous website product, ShowIt Sites. My email has also changed to amybuchananphoto@gmail.com. So head on over to the new website and let me know what you think!

Sneak Peek - Adrianna's 7th Birthday || Little Rock Child Photographer

2009-03-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

A sneak peek to Adrianna's 7th birthday portrait session.

Spring has sprung...finally! | Little Rock Photographer

2009-03-17T22:10:00.004-05:00

I shot these pictures over a week ago and was going to post them last week, but Old Man Winter decided he wasn't finished around these parts. After several days of cold and clouds and a little ice thrown in, the sun has finally reappeared with temperatures in the 70s to boot. It's really starting to get pretty around here.
Don't forget to call and schedule your portrait sessions to capture some of this beauty in your images. I still have a few sessions available for the next couple of weekends.

Lily's 6-Month Portraits - Pt 2 | Lifestyle Baby Photographer - Little Rock, Arkansas

2009-03-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

Lily's 6-month session Part Deux. If you missed the first post of Lily's 6-month session, click here.

Now onto some more sweetness...

I mentioned a fun "prop" of Lily's parents in my first post. Well, there was an old mirror leaning against the wall next to where I shot some of Lily's pictures. I saw her watching herself in it and moved her in closer. I love how they turned out.

Daddy can make Lily giggle, but Lily makes Daddy laugh, too.

Lily's 6 Month Portraits | Little Rock Baby Photographer

2009-03-08T17:47:00.005-05:00

It seems like time is flying by. I can't believe it's already March which also means it's time for Lily's 6-month session. I have so many "favorite" images that I'm doing 2 posts just so you can see them all.

Lily (and her wonderful parents) makes her sessions so easy and so much fun. Her mom gives me a few ideas as to what she would like and then lets me do my thing. We all laughed and chatted the entire time.

A couple of notes on all the images...the entire session was done inside their home with all natural light. And the only prop of mine I used was a cover for their bench. The next post will have a really fun prop of their's you won't want to miss. :)

So all of you who think your house isn't "pretty" enough and doesn't have enough light...think again! It's also where your baby is going to be most comfortable.

The second note is this is the first session I've edited with my new set of Kevin Kubota Photoshop Actions (Artistic Volume 2). And I have to say I'm thrilled with them.

Enough talking... On to the images....

This is probably my favorite image of the entire session. Her eyes seem to speak a 1,000 words while she's curled up safely in her daddy's arms.

Stay tuned for the 2nd edition of Lily's session. (See Lily's newborn and 3-month sessions)

Baby Mason at 6 Months | Benton, Arkansas

2009-03-02T11:01:00.000-06:00

Mason was an absolute delight to photograph. I'm still marveling at his incredibly HUGE eyes. There were so many sweet images from our session that I had a really hard time picking just a few for a blog post (as you can tell by the number of images here).

Babies Sneak Peek | Little Rock Baby Photographer

2009-02-23T00:02:00.002-06:00

A sneak peek at two sweet babies while I finish their galleries.

Mason and his incredible eyes...

Lily and her sweetness...

Little Rock Christian Winter Formal Portraits

2009-02-08T19:05:00.004-06:00

Winter Formal is a special time for Little Rock Christian students and this year was no exception. I had the privilege of capturing formal portraits for three gorgeous couples.

One last sassy group shot before heading to a fabulous night of dinner and dancing...

Moment of Beauty | Little Rock Portrait Photographer

2009-02-01T18:31:00.005-06:00

I'm in the middle of editing images from a really fun session with several students from Little Rock Christian Academy dressed to the nines for Winter Formal. But I had to share this image.
Simply beautiful.

Baby Lifestyle Photography | Little Rock, Arkansas

2009-01-21T00:01:00.001-06:00

Weston's mom is getting her pictures tomorrow, so I thought I would share a few more images of his 1-year session.

A quiet moment with Mommy...

I'm currently working on some new session packages, especially for newborns and children. So moms, stay tuned! For 2009, all sessions will be on-location. I prefer to shoot in your home just as I did Weston's. I think that is where babies and kids are most comfortable. So even if you think you don't have good enough light, you will be surprised at what I'm able to capture.

One of my assistants

2009-01-15T00:02:00.000-06:00

Zoe "helping" me work...

I don't think I'm getting my money's worth. I may have to look for another assistant.

2009-01-07T00:01:00.000-06:00

It's been icy and cold here the last few days. Nasty weather but it made for some beautiful pictures.

A New Look for a New Year

2009-01-04T20:00:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year!

Well, what do you think of the new logo? It was custom-designed by Tara Staton and I tweaked the colors and font. I love the tree and think it fits perfectly into the Life Breaths theme. I hope to have the website updated soon but it's going to require a few more changes than I expected.

Hope you all had a great Christmas break. I spent Christmas and New Years with my family in Tennessee. It was nice to get away but reality hits tomorrow. I'll try to catch up this week with some photos from Christmas.

Wiggles & Giggles | Arkansas Baby Portrait Photographer

2008-12-15T00:01:00.001-06:00

Capturing Weston's 1-year-old pictures was so much fun! He was actually still sleeping when I arrived, but literally 2 minutes after waking up you would have never known. He giggled and laughed and "told" me all kinds of stories. He is Mr. Personality!

Love this series...

For those photographers - I got to shoot this cute baby with my new baby, 50mm 1.4 prime lens. Check out that light and those eyes at shot wide open.

Again, those eyes....

For moms wondering what kind of clothing to wear for sessions, Weston's mom picked out great stuff. Solid, bright colors work marvelous. And I got lucky when I spotted this great little bench she had that complemented Weston's sweater perfectly!

A White House Christmas | Jerry Malzahn Art

2008-12-09T00:01:00.000-06:00

After coming home from Thanksgiving, I headed to Dallas for a couple of days to babysit 9 (yes, I said 9) puppies for my friends. Why, might you ask?

Well, they had somewhere pretty special to be...the White House!

Jerry Malzahn was asked to paint an ornament for the White House Christmas tree. The theme for this year's decorations was "A Red, White and Blue Christmas".

Jerry is a phenomenal landscape painter which could be a bit tricky painting a small round ornament, but I think he did a magnificent job! If you look closely, you can see a tiny white chapel in the background.

While they were attending the artist reception in D.C., I was babysitting the 9 little bundles of joy and their 6 adult counterparts. I didn't take my camera so I don't have any pics of the sweet furballs. Sorry!

Here's a picture of a piece I purchased from Jerry for my dad a few years ago. It is still my absolute favorite one he has done. It is an elk standing in Odessa Lake in Colorado. To see more of Jerry's work visit http://www.malzahnart.com/gallery.html

A Little Cowboy | Family Portrait Photographer, Tennessee

2008-12-08T00:01:00.000-06:00

So I've been just slightly MIA from the blog lately. But I have good reasons! I spent Thanksgiving in Tennessee with my family and favorite nephew. We took the 3rd annual Christmas Card picture. Hayden thought he was the coolest cowboy wearing one of my dad's hats. And, in case you're wondering, he is every bit the little ham he appears to be.

Stay tuned for some more cool posts this week. One involves, oh, let's say, um, .....the White House.

Santa's New Helper | Little Rock Baby Photographer

2008-11-25T00:01:00.003-06:00

Santa has a new little helper this year... :)

Since Lily's 3-month portrait session fell close to the holidays, Mommy wanted something she could use on the Christmas cards. So with a sweet hat from Grandma I think we have a winner.

Love this one with Mommy.

For those of you with little ones or those on the way, take advantage of the First Year Baby Plan and receive a discount when all the sessions for the first year are paid for upfront.

Lily's 3 Month Portrait | Little Rock Baby Portraits

2008-11-21T00:01:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it's already been 3 months since I captured Miss Lily's newborn images. She has grown sooo much and smiled almost the entire time. What was funny is that we had the hardest time getting her to sleep during her newborn shoot and this time we could barely keep her awake! So of course I had to make up for lost time and get some sweet sleepy shots. And the little tulle skirt her aunt made just for her was perfect.
This is just one little sneak peek with more images coming later.

The Price of Freedom | Veterans Day

2008-11-11T00:01:00.004-06:00

Honor. Duty. Courage. Sacrifice.

All may give some. But some have given all. Today we honor the sacrifices of our veterans and our service men and women currently laying down their lives so we may live ours freely. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for what you have done and continue to do.

I remember and will never forget....my grandfather recounting the hours floating at sea after his ship had been torpedoed....Jon as he logged his 1,000th combat hour flying one of many missions over Iraq....Clint as he and his unit dodged sniper bullets searching for Saddam's foxhole....Matt as he spent six months away from his new bride to serve in Iraq....the flag-draped coffin coming home for the final time. Your service and sacrifices are known and will not be forgotten.

Prodigal Arts Festival Results | Fellowship Bible Church - Little Rock, Arkansas

2008-11-10T00:01:00.002-06:00

You may remember a previous post about a very special arts event at my church, Fellowship Bible Church of Little Rock. This year's festival was based on the story of The Prodigal (Luke 15). I was able to enter two canvas images this year.

"Daddy" - In this first piece, I first wanted to draw on the prodigal story from the female perspective hence the "prodigal daughter". But even more important I wanted to highlight the relationship between a daughter and her daddy. Why? Because I have the most amazing daddy of my own. I know that no matter where I go or what choices I make, my Daddy will always be there to welcome me home with open arms and a joyful heart. Even though the persons in this image are very dear family friends my Daddy was the inspiration.

"Returned" - Verse 2 of Luke 15 was the inspiration for this piece. I was struck by the depth of emotion of the father as his son returned home. The father had accepted the fact that his son was dead. Then to see his son returned to him fully alive called for nothing less than celebration.

Results - I didn't win my division but I was able to sell "Daddy" to the precious family that this daddy and daughter belong as well as a second commission. "Returned" did not sell but is available for purchase. Please contact me if you are interested in either of these pieces. They are both 16x20 gallery-wrapped canvases from the incomprobable vendor Pixel2Canvas.

One Vote, Much Power

2008-11-04T00:01:00.001-06:00

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." - John Quincy Adams

Birthday Surprise

2008-11-03T00:17:00.000-06:00

Back in September I traveled to a beautiful farm out in the middle of nowhere. I met up with four precious grandchildren all dressed in camoflauge. Why might you ask? Well, Grandpa was turning 60 and a special surprise birthday was in the works. The biggest surprise, though, would be a 16x20 canvas of his grand-kids dressed in his favorite clothing - camo!

The entire family conspired to get Grandpa off the farm long enough to get the session in. And we pulled it off. He had no idea and was completely surprised.

Happy 59-and-12-months birthday, Grandpa!

It's Fall-ing

2008-10-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

Changing seasons. Falling temperatures. Vibrant colors. Fall in Arkansas is beautiful. A few images from my yard this weekend.

Baby Karlee

2008-10-23T19:48:00.005-05:00

Sore throat. Fever. Yuckiness. That's been my week. Today is the first day I've felt close to normal. So, in other words, I ain't got nothin' done this week. :)

I have to share these images, though. My cousin's daughter, Karlee, came to my nephew's birthday party this past weekend in Tennessee. I haven't seen her since Christmas and my how she's grown. But the first thing I noticed were her beautiful and huge blue eyes.

She smiled, laughed, grinned...until I lifted the camera and then all I got were stares. But still so precious...

Hayden's Big Bash - John Deere Style

2008-10-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

Just got home from a whirlwind weekend. It was my nephew's 3rd birthday party with a "John Deere" theme. He loves his John Deere "twactors".

My sister and I decorated his cake. We were pretty proud of it but I wouldn't confuse us with Martha Stewart or anything. :)

Hayden was pretty proud, too...

He realllly enjoyed the icing!

Now this is the way to eat your birthday cake...
Happy Birthday little man!

Happy Birthday Hayden!

2008-10-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

My sweet nephew, Hayden, turns 3 today. I can't believe he's growing up so fast.

Happy Birthday Hayden! I'll see you Saturday...

MIA

2008-10-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

So I've been a little scarce this last week. I've been under the weather and busy with work as well. The blog unfortunately had to suffer. Should have some more posts up this week. I've got lots of images and orders I'm working on so stay tuned.

Have an awesome Monday!

Take a Guess....

2008-09-30T00:14:00.002-05:00

**Update - So what is this? - The top of a Galileo thermometer.

So what do ya think this is?
C'mon...take a guess.
Can't wait to see some of your answers!

Check back in a few days to find out what this really is....

Noah Turns 1 - Part 2

2008-09-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

I promised some more cute images of adorable Noah and I don't think these will disappoint.
Look at that face. You just want to pinch those little chipmunk cheeks...

The next two I played around with some different textures. What do you think?
This one is absolutely priceless. He just got his dinosaur for his birthday.

I couldn't decide which I liked better of this image....Color or BW.
There are many images and I wish I could post them all, but those are for Mommy and Daddy to see. And in case you haven't seen Noah's baby pictures, click here

If you haven't scheduled your portrait session yet, now is a great time. The weather is wonderful and the light is gorgeous.

The Prodigal Arts Festival (Little Rock, AR)

2008-09-25T00:01:00.002-05:00

The story of the prodigal.

Centuries old and yet timeless.

I have the privilege of joining many artists in the Arkansas community in sharing my interpretation of this powerful parable.

All different types of art will be on display and available for sale including photography, paintings, metal sculptures, etc.

The festival runs from this Saturday, September 27th - October 10th. Click Mustard Tree Arts or the image above for times and location. I'm sure I'll be there at different times, so I hope to see you there!

Noah Turns 1 - (Old State House in Little Rock)

2008-09-24T00:01:00.000-05:00

A Sunday afternoon on the green grass and red brick walkways of the Old State House in downtown Little Rock was the perfect backdrop to capture sweet Noah at the tender age of 1.

There may just be a few more added later this week. Hint. Hint.

Sneak Peek - Noah Turns 1

2008-09-23T00:34:00.000-05:00

Just a sneak peek at Noah's 1-year session...

Tune in tomorrow for more.

My Favorite Canvas Vendor in the whole world! (Pixel2Canvas)

2008-09-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I ordered my first two canvases from this amazing company, Pixel2Canvas. When I opened the box and pulled away the wrapping all I could say was "Wow!" Seriously, I've ordered some other canvases before that were much more expensive, but they can't hold a candle to how beautiful Pixel2Canvas canvases are. And I wish I could show you the two I ordered, but they are for an art show/sale at my church next week. So they're a surprise until then!

But tonight I placed 2 more canvas orders. One is for a surprise birthday party so I can't share it yet either. Sorry! But...don't despair.....I can show you the other one...well, at least the image.

Little Zoe will have her precious picture hanging on her parents' wall in a few weeks.

To get a little better idea of the amazing work Pixel2Canvas offers, a fellow (and amazing) photographer, Carrie Schumacher of San Diego Barefoot Memories, put together a great image of the different types of canvases and was kind enough to share it with me for a donation to the wonderful organization Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (more on NLMDTS later!). I will have more of canvas info on the website soon.

I personally love the Gallery Wrap. It has a thicker edge than a standard wrap plus the image itself can wrap around the edges. They've even started carrying a gallery wrap with a 2-1/2 inch deep edge! I can't wait to order one of those.

If you would like to purchase a canvas using an image of one your previous sessions, please let me know. I will be happy to do so. Also keep the holidays in mind. These beautiful canvases will make beautiful Christmas gifts. Just make sure to allow enough time to order them. They will take about 4-6 weeks, so the deadline to order one for Christmas will be November 21st.

Etsy.com - Great Portrait Ideas

2008-09-15T00:01:00.006-05:00

I've come across an incredible little find....Etsy.com

Perhaps you've already heard of it, but if not you can buy just about anything hand-made on this site from many different sellers. I first found Etsy when I was searching for some cute hats to use in baby/kid portrait sessions. Here are a few that I've found. Please note that these images are NOT ones I have taken. But please keep these precious items in mind for your future shoots.
Many sellers will make custom items for you as well. I would love to see some of the items you come up with. Just bring them all to your session!

From seller Tip Top AppleSauce -

Maybe you need an elf hat for your baby's first Christmas picture?

From seller Two Little Wrens:

from seller My Market Stall:
How adorable would this apple hat be for a fall picture?

or perhaps a little acorn?

From seller A Garden In Bloom:

My Kids - Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, that is

2008-09-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

Being single and living away from my family, my dogs are my family. We talk although sometimes it's more like I yell and they don't listen. :)

But they are very much my girls. I would be lost without them. My sweet friend in Dallas breeds Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and has blessed me with now 3. Be sure to visit her site at Cavalier Country. If you are looking for an awesome family dog, Cavaliers are it!

First up is Gracie. She actually isn't my first Cavalier. My sweet Gretchen passed away 3 years ago on the same day Gracie was born. Gracie is very independent and likes to be in the area of where I am but not necessarily in my lap the entire time unless Zoe decides to land in my lap and then a bit of jealousy kicks in....

And last fall along came Zoe. She's the opposite of Gracie even though they are full sisters (just 2 years apart). Follows me everywhere, has to be in my lap whenever I'm sitting (as she is laid out across my lap while I'm typing this). Zoe just turned 1 this past month. And, yes, she is every bit as sweet as the picture looks.

Gracie (a.k.a - Lulu) getting a bit tired of Zoe running her around the house. Poor baby....

A few weeks after I took this shot, the braided rope was no more. Actually it became shreds of yarn after Zoe won the chewing war.

They both got much-needed baths yesterday after they decided to run through the muddiest part of the yard and were literally covered in it. It was so much fun. :)

A little more sweetness ~ Baby Lily

2008-09-04T22:03:00.004-05:00

*Update - just realized I never added a title to this post. Yeah, it's been a long week...

I know I haven't blogged much this week, but it's been a crazy busy week. Did you watch any of the Republican Convention? I was blown away with Sarah Palin. The more I hear from her and about her the more impressed I am.

Thought I would end this week with a few more images of sweet little Lily. While uploading her gallery, I found a few more "keepers".

Noah Turns 1

2008-09-02T22:05:00.003-05:00

Little Noah is no longer so little. A few days ago we celebrated his first birthday.

His cake was so adorable! You can't see it in this pic, but there was a big monkey on top.

The man himself enjoying his own special cake. It took him a little while to figure out what to do with it, but after that Mom had to take it away to avoid sugar overdose.

This last image was one I just knew I totally blew. Funny thing is it turned out to one of my favorites. The two "big" girls helping Noah walk. So sweet!!

Noah, I've had the pleasure of watching you grow from 1 day old to now 1 year and have enjoyed documenting it all. You are so precious and your parents are amazing. Looking forward to sharing in the birthdays to come. Happy Birthday Noah!

Sweet Lily ~ (Sherwood, Arkansas)

2008-08-26T21:49:00.006-05:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Baby Lily and her mom (Sarah), her dad (Shawn) and Aunt Claire.

We actually had a hard time getting Lily to fall asleep. Turns out she was hungry...all afternoon! But I managed to grab a few sleepy shots.

When I first walked into Lily's room I gasped because the room was decorated so beautifully. Come to find out, Lily's aunts did all the amazing work. I fell in love with the unique fabrics. Incredible job ladies! Will you come do my house?

Wide awake....again :)

Sweet little fingers.

Thank you, Sarah and Shawn and, of course, Lily, for allowing me to invade your home for an afternoon and soak up some baby sweetness. Congratulations on a beautiful baby girl!

Sneak Peek - Noah's 1st Birthday

2008-08-25T01:00:00.001-05:00

I spent Saturday morning celebrating little Noah's 1st birthday. It doesn't seem like it's already been a year since the little guy entered the world. If you don't remember Noah, click here. More images to come later this week.

Some of My Favorite Things

2008-08-21T20:46:00.007-05:00

I've got some fun sessions coming up this weekend, so for the Friday edition I thought I would share some of the favorite places on the internet I love to visit. Some are photography related, some are deeply moving and some are just plain fun.
So enjoy!

Favorite photography sites:
Triple Cord Photography - a dear friend who just happens to be a gifted wedding photographer
Jasmine Star Photography - awesome wedding photographer in Orange County, California
Stuart Vesty Photography - amazing horse photographer
The Image is Found Photography - Incredibly talented and equally hilarious husband/wife team
3191 - A Year of Evenings - two friends who live 3191 miles apart

For Photographers:
Pay It Forward Photography Resources - great site for advice and free stuff (as long as you pay it forward!)
Open Source Photo - wonderful photography forum with tons of information
Design Aglow Blog - another great source of inspiration and resources

Weddings:
Snippet & Ink - Almost daily storyboards for wedding design ideas
Style Me Pretty - "For the style obsessed bride"
The Wedding Chicks - "Connecting Sassy Brides"
Stephanie James Couture - Fantabulous 40s and 50s era wedding dresses/suits

My daily "hits":
Holy Experience - Very rarely a post on this blog that doesn't dramatically move me spiritually
Foxnews.com
Living Proof Ministries (Beth Moore) - You will laugh and cry all in one post!
Facebook - Yes, I confess. I'm somewhat addicted.
Poppy Joy - Great inspiration. And I'll be taking their new family portrait this fall!
Bring the Rain - story of Audrey Caroline
Bits & Bytes Farm - finds new owners for off-the-racetrack Thoroughbreds

I just realized the last few posts and almost including this one haven't had a photo. What was I thinking? How about a couple of my favorite little man? He's my Hayden and I'm his "Aunt-eater". He thought that was so funny.

Note the all important rubber boots....on the wrong feet.

Hope you have an awesome weekend! Monday & Tuesday I'll be blogging about my fun adventures this weekend. Stay tuned.

Website Update!

2008-08-21T00:17:00.003-05:00

I've been working on a website overhaul for a while but not quite ready to release the changes. In the midst of the updates, the live website decided to quit behaving. I tried putting it in time-out but then it just stopped working altogether. That figures.

So to show it who's boss I had to push some of the changes. Yeah, I really showed it, huh?

You will notice a different logo, different colors, and some new images. I'm still in the process of updating the images (which is what caused the major problem to begin with), so stay tuned for that.

Some additions:
A link for Client Galleries from the intro page
Session Pricing update

If you've tried visiting the website and just couldn't get it to work, I am so sorry! But please try again and keep coming back for new updates.

Also, I'm already booking quite a few Fall Sessions, so if you're thinking about getting your session in time for Christmas, please contact me soon. The last weekend to get your portraits in time for Christmas is November 16th.

Wonderful Wednesdays - "Dara Torres"

2008-08-20T13:24:00.003-05:00

It's been Phelps' mania for the last week or so with Michael winning 8 gold medals in swimming, but another swimmer has had my attention as well. She is 41 years old, a mother of a 2-year-old, and now a 5-time Olympian. Dara Torres is an inspiration to all of us to never live a life of complacency.

She quotes on her website:
"My work is other people’s play. I am in a pool doing what I was meant to do, swim. For anyone who feels stifled or stuck in their life, I say break down those barriers of indecision. Never let anyone set your personal or professional agenda. Live every day with the passion of your last. If I can inspire both women and men in anything it would be that age is just a number, not a death sentence. Wake up every morning with a plan and a dream. If you do, like me, dreams do still come true in your 40s and beyond!”"

Read article "41-Year-Old Torres Snags Two Silvers" from the Wall Street Journal.

Mallory Williams ~ Bridal Portraits (Pt 3) ~ Arkansas State Capitol

2008-08-17T21:40:00.005-05:00

Since I've been so busy watching the Olympics, I haven't had time to prepare more images for a post. So, what to do? How about some more beautiful images from Mallory's Bridal Session?

Have you been watching the Olympics? Share your favorite moments so far. Would love to hear from you!

Wonderful Wednesdays - "Eric Shanteau - Olympic Inspiration"

2008-08-12T22:43:00.006-05:00

Since it's the first week of Olympics, I thought this week's edition of "Wonderful Wednesday" should be all about the Olympics. Searching through some blogs I came across this incredible story and one you may or may not have heard. A powerful swimmer. A long-sought-after dream finally accomplished. And yet there's more...

"The U.S. men's and women's 2008 Olympic swim team had finished dinner, had taken a team photo and had filed back into a meeting room at their Palo Alto, Calif., hotel that night, the atmosphere in the room getting drowsy, when men's coach Eddie Reese announced that breaststroker Eric Shanteau had something to say. Only a few people knew what was coming, ..." click here to continue reading

Mallory Williams ~ Bridal Portraits (Pt 2) ~ Arkansas State Capitol

2008-08-11T20:10:00.008-05:00

I promised more pictures from Mallory's beautiful bridal session at the State Capitol Building and here they are. Warning though, be prepared to lose your breath a few times. :)
If you missed Part 1, click here.

Stunning....reminds me of old Hollywood

The lines of the stone wall really caught my eye in this one.

Relaxed and gorgeous.

Having some fun in front of the Senate Chamber. We "borrowed" an awesome wingback desk chair outside the entrance. Shhh. Nobody tell. :)

Mallory Williams ~ Bridal Portraits (Pt 1) ~ Arkansas State Capitol

2008-08-10T22:19:00.009-05:00

I first met Mallory a few months ago after her then fiancee, Aaron, became the new worship leader for the Student Ministries at our church, Fellowship Bible Church, in Little Rock. They were married on May 17, 2008. I didn't shoot their wedding since they had already hired someone else. But Mallory was game for a bridal session at the Arkansas State Capitol Building in Little Rock. So on Sunday afternoon we headed to lunch at the awesome Delicious Temptations for some strawberry pancakes (Yum!) and then off to downtown Little Rock.
As you can see I didn't have to work very hard to get beautiful images.

My hands-down favorite image of the day. Click on the image to see it a bit larger.

Stay tuned on Tuesday to see some more images from this gorgeous session. Mallory, I so enjoyed spending the afternoon getting to know you even better. You're as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside.

Amy

With Hope - Steven Curtis Chapman on Good Morning America & Larry King Live

2008-08-08T21:09:00.011-05:00

On May 21, 2008, Steven Curtis Chapman and his family lost their beautiful daugther, Maria Sue, in a tragic accident at their home. As he is one of my most favorite Christian singers, I have followed his family through their blogs since that terrible day. This week they have opened their lives for all to see as they have shared their story on Good Morning America and Thursday evening on Larry King Live.

My heart absolutely aches for this family. But, as they continue to say, "We grieve with hope."

On the Larry King Live show I was moved most by Larry King himself, though. Click on the following link to see why. Larry King remarks about the show last night, the Chapmans and their faith on a clip at CNN.com.

Visit the blog of Jim Houser, SCC's manager for the links to the full interview. Larry King's Thoughts & Links.

I pray that God would continue to heal their deeply hurting hearts and show Himself in unimaginable ways. Steven and his family haven given so much of themselves to share the Gospel with those of us around the world. Now it's time for us to love on them and lift them up before our Jesus.
If you're in the Central Arkansas area, Steven is performing Saturday night at Magic Springs in Hot Springs.

Photographers 4 Africa

2008-08-05T21:11:00.013-05:00

Today's "Wonderful Wednesday" post is very special to me because it involves one of my favorite wedding photographers, Annette Biggers of Triple Cord Photography in Laguna Beach, California and founder of Photographers 4 Africa along with her husband, Mike. She also just happens to be one of my photography mentors! :)

"In late 2006, Annette and her husband Mike hosted a Ugandan children’s choir at their home, while the group was performing in Southern California. They had several kids spread all over their home, in beds and sleeping bags. One night she struck up a conversation with the choir leader, Alex Mutagubya, and he mentioned that he would be getting married soon back home in Uganda. Annette knew that most Ugandans cannot afford to hire personal photographers for their weddings, so she immediately told him, "I am going to come to Uganda and photograph your wedding for you." The man's eyes welled up with tears as he told her he could not believe he was receiving such kindness from someone he barely knew. When she showed him ..." -click here for the rest of the story

Annette's story was also featured on the blog of highly-acclaimed Daryn Kagan (formerly of CNN).
Watch the powerful video "Power of a Single Gift"

Annette,

Just in the short time I have known you, I have learned so much. Your photography stands alone, but more than that, your servant's heart to share the gifts and talents given to you from God's hands is humbling and inspiring. Through your images we see the souls behind the faces and are forever changed. Thank you for giving of your time and knowledge and most importantly your prayers to me. You do not know the powerful reach of your gifts not only to me but the to the many people your generosity has touched around the world. And I most definitely hope to be joining you and the Heart 4 Africa staff on your next journey to Africa!

With much love and many thanks,

Amy

Scott Kelby's Worldwide PhotoWalk - Little Rock

2008-08-03T22:16:00.003-05:00

I'm really excited about this! I signed up for this awesome photo walk that is taking place on August 23, 2008 in cities around the world. The Scott Kelby Worldwide PhotoWalk has added a walk for Little Rock this weekend, and I think I'm the first to join besides the leader.

So here's the premise:

It's a social photography event where photographers get together, usually in a downtown area or trendy section of town, to walk around, shoot photos, and generally have fun with other photographers.

What's even more awesome is you can win prizes for the best image of the day. Since this Worldwide Photo Walk is to celebrate the release of the update of the world's bestselling Lightroom book (Scott Kelby's "Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers"), the best photo from the day (as chosen by your local walk leader) will win a copy of Scott's new book. Check out the following link for all the F.A.Q.s

So if you're in Little Rock or in any of the cities listed around the world, sign up. It's going to be a ton of fun. Although I am secretly praying it isn't 105 degrees like it was this weekend. :)

Wonderful Wednesdays - "Blink"

2008-07-29T20:43:00.005-05:00

I've decided to start something new for Wednesdays and share something special. Whatever I find during the week that touches my heart or maybe something going on in my life that's uplifting I'm going to share. We'll call it "Wonderful Wednesdays". And the best part, you can join in the fun. Maybe you've had something really exciting happen or something/someone has really blessed you. Just post a comment. Share! Share! Share!

So here's this week's edition:

This incredible post "Blink" is from a blog I've been following for a while. An amazing mom who had to give her baby girl to Jesus after only a few hours. As I read this post I couldn't help but see myself and everything Life Breaths Photography is about woven through it. Be blessed!

And don't forget to share!!!!

Anna Whitford Unique Ring Cushions

2008-07-28T21:14:00.003-05:00

While perusing one of my favorite wedding blogs ("Style Me Pretty"), I came across a post about some very unique and beautiful ring cushions. They are created by Anna Whitford, an amazing textile designer from the UK.

Aren't they just too cool! They make you just want to reach out and touch them to see what they feel like. For the full blog post on, click here "Style Me Pretty".
I love the cream-on-cream, but I have to say I'm pretty partial to the blue one, too. Oh, I just can't decide!

Wall Canvas Sale - 25% Off !!!!

2008-07-27T20:13:00.002-05:00

Until July 31st my awesome canvas vendor is having a 25% sale. So if you have some images that you've been waiting to get a gallery-wrapped canvas to hang on that perfect space on your wall, NOW is the time!

For some examples of all different sizes click here:
http://www.pixel2canvas.com/customergallery.php

Join me on Facebook!

2008-07-23T00:23:00.004-05:00

So how many of you have jumped on the Facebook wagon? I have to admit I've only been on for maybe a year or less, but it's too cool. I have a personal profile under Amy Buchanan in Little Rock, Arkansas and also a group for Life Breaths Photography which you should join and invite your friends as well! So look me up and I will add you as a friend. Mention in the comments you're one of my favorite blog readers. :)

Some of the top photographers in the country are on Facebook as well like Jessica Claire, MeRa Koh, Laura Novak and Crystal Goss. It's a great way to connect with not only friends but business acquaintances as well.

Can't wait to meet you! If you're not on Facebook and don't intend to be, leave me some great comments here. Would love to hear from you out there in blog-land.

Since this is a photography blog after all, here are a cute baby pics from recent sessions.

Baby, it's cold outside...

2008-07-20T20:54:00.004-05:00

Since it's so hot outside I thought it might be fun to have a little snow in July. These shots are from our "blizzard" back in March. The night before my cousin's (Daniel & Monica) wedding which I was shooting we got 12 inches of snow. I know those of you for whom that is a just a snow shower are laughing, but in Tennessee 12 inches of snow all at one time doesn't happen that often.
Anyway, enjoy the snow and try to pretend it's 30 degrees instead of 103. :)

From my cousin's wedding.

Mastering Your Craft with Mike Colon in Little Rock

2008-07-16T14:13:00.004-05:00

"Mike Colón is an intl. photographer specializing in digital wedding & lifestyle photography."
Any given image makes apparent his obvious talent for rendering everlasting life in his subject; all are extraordinary vignettes brimming with pure emotion." - Grace Ormonde, Wedding Style Magazine
"In the photographs everyone seems so relaxed and comfortable, so natural, that you might think the photographer is a member of the family." - Nikon
"His images are beyond the power of speech." - Rangefinder Magazine
-from http://www.mikecolon.com/

Yesterday I had the privilege of spending three hours absorbing all I could from the master photographer himself, Mike Colon. Invaluable information from technical tips and tricks to making long-term goals business-wise instead of short-term. Incredibly humble and giving, I was totally impressed with not only his photographical acumen but as a husband, father and man of God, he left me speechless.

My July 4th in Tennessee

2008-07-10T21:00:00.008-05:00

For the 4th of July weekend, I went home to my parents' farm in Tennessee. It was just the three of us for July 4th, so I walked around and shot a bunch of pictures of one of my favorite things: horses!
I know, how did you guess? :)

One of the neighbors had a young foal that I adored. Isn't she and her Mama just precious?

Look at those eyes..... (I also just now realized how many "eye" shots I took. Guess I was really "focused".)

This cow was just cracking me up. I swear she was talking to me.

If you would like to purchase any of these images, let me know.

Henry Ford III - Arkansas Ford Model T 100th Anniversary - Petit Jean

2008-07-09T21:31:00.007-05:00

Finally! I know I've promised some exciting news but a link that I was waiting for still hasn't come through. But, to heck with it, I'm just going to post the photos anyway!

So what's the big news? A few weeks ago I was asked to photograph a special event. Not only was it a car show with a special focus on the Ford Model T's 100th anniversary held at Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas, but a special guest made an appearance much to the delight of the crowd. And who might this guest be, you ask?
None other than the great-great-grandson of Henry Ford. That's right. Henry Ford III.
And I was thoroughly impressed with him as well. Very genuine and nice guy. He spoke to the crowd and signed many, many autographs.

Is this not the coolest car you've ever seen? It's made of all wood.

Also on hand was Will Rockefeller, son of the late Win Rockefeller.

A clock inside one of the Model Ts. Isn't it beautiful? Of all the "amenities" in a Model T, I never expected a clock.

Breakfast with Arabians

2008-06-26T22:10:00.005-05:00

Arabian horses, that is.
A couple of weeks ago I joined fellow photographers Nancy of Pierce Graphic Design and Tina Poppa of Tina Poppa Photography for a horse photo shoot at Timestone Arabians in central Arkansas. Loving horses and especially Arabians as I do, I couldn't wait even though it meant getting up around 4:30 in the morning!

But it was so worth it.

Thank you Nancy, Tina & John for letting me tag along.
Thank Robin & Andy for allowing me the privilege of capturing your gorgeous horses.

I Know, I Know

2008-06-22T23:12:00.002-05:00

I know a promised a really exciting post last week, but all the pieces haven't come together yet so that I can share it with you. I promise I will as soon as I can. For now, here's this to hold you over....

Duke University Chapel - Raleigh, North Carolina

2008-06-16T00:45:00.007-05:00

I've been meaning to blog my trip to North Carolina (and specifically Duke University) for a while now. I visited there over Memorial Day weekend. I wanted to see the Chapel on Duke's campus and I was not disappointed. It is an amazing grand old place. Enjoy....

Stay tuned tomorrow for some big news from a shoot I had this weekend. It's pretty cool!!!

La Veta - A Little Bit of Heaven

2008-06-08T23:19:00.005-05:00

This past week I had lunch with a friend who is planning her wedding. They haven't decided on a place to hold the ceremony yet but she mentioned the town of La Veta, Colorado. I quickly asked, "What did you just say?"
"La Veta, Colorado."
"Ummm. That's where my friends bought a house two years ago and where I spent my vacation last summer."
"No way."
Keep in mind, this town is tiny-tiiinnny. You have to know it's there to find it, but when you do it's a little slice of heaven. She mentioned a little wooden chapel. I told her I had taken some shots of one "downtown" and would show them to her since she's actually never been there. Some friends of hers bought a house there as well.
So instead of just sending her a few images, I thought I would share them and a few more favorites with you guys as well.

You probably can't see it but there's a sign on the church that says it was built in 1877. How cool would it be to have a small-sized ceremony here? Simple and slightly rustic.
Can you imagine the history and life changes this little church has seen?

"Downtown" La Veta. I use that word loosely since only the main highway that goes through the town is paved and the rest of the streets/roads are dirt. No, I'm not kidding. Dirt.

Not bad for a dirt road, eh?

View from the backyard of my friends' house. And I didn't have to zoom in very much. I woke up to this every morning.

The view from their courtyard to the valley below. This was where you would find me the majority of the day gazing and reading and at night making smores. Yummm.

Hope you enjoyed something a little different. If you ever get the chance to visit La Veta, please do. You won't be disappointed.

For Daddy (Benton, Arkansas)

2008-06-02T22:29:00.005-05:00

I returned from my vacation in North Carolina on Thursday night. I'll be posting a few photos from there soon. I'm so far behind on posting!

After rescheduling their session from a couple of months ago, I finally met with Paula and her sweet kids, Zachary and Kate (a.k.a. - Katie Belle). Paula wanted to do a session with photos just for husband. I so hope he will enjoy his special Father's Day gift.

Aren't those big blue eyes just incredible?

Big Brother Zachary definitely loves his Katie Belle...

This is one of my favorite shots, and you would never guess Zachary never stopped talking the entire time I was there.

I so enjoyed my time with the Benham family. Paula, I'm so glad we reconnected and I'm in love with your kids!

Springtime in Tennessee - Zoe & Jackson

2008-05-06T20:01:00.005-05:00

This past weekend I made it home to my parents' in Tennessee. While I was there I had the pleasure of shooting a photo session that was auctioned off at Christmas as a fundraiser for my home church. Zoe & Jackson's mom was the proud winner of that session. So after Sunday School we headed to their house to grab some shots. It was an incredibly gorgeous day and Little Zoe made my job very easy and very much fun!

Isn't she just a doll?

Big bro Jackson wasn't quite as thrilled about the whole thing but he was a good sport. He's such a good big brother.
A sweet smile and cute little toes....

Turner Family, I totally enjoyed myself and hope you enjoy the pictures. And thanks for the wonderful plants you sent home with me. I love them!

Not So Bad After All (Little Rock, Arkansas)

2008-04-28T21:55:00.006-05:00

This was how the session began....

4-year-old boys and portrait sessions don't usually equal excitement, but ~B~ finally warmed up.

"Go long, ~B~!" I think Arkansas better keep an eye out for their future wide receiver.

Then we had some quiet time with Mommy.

And, finally, the not-so-fun-turned-not-so-bad time was over.
Thanks, ~C~ and ~B~ for a wonderful afternoon (minus the mosquitoes!).

Cool~ness (Maumelle, Arkansas)

2008-04-20T22:52:00.006-05:00

Don't you wish you were this cool?

This afternoon Baby ~E~'s big brother ~E~ paid me a visit. He walked in the door wearing THE COOOOLEST sunglasses (upside-down). After Mom, Dad & I worked through some proofing, I just had to grab some shots of Little ~E~ and his super-cool sunglasses.

The flowers are somehow so much prettier when your glasses are on upside-down.

Little ~E~ you made me smile today! If only I could be so cool. :)

Some Horse Lovin' in Little Rock

2008-04-13T22:17:00.004-05:00

So my horse lovin' side comes out again. Sorry for you non-horse-lovers. You'll have to wait another day for a horse-free post. :)

I spent a few hours Saturday evening at a local Arabian horse show in Little Rock. Since I haven't shown horses in several years I enjoy going to the shows to see others who are able to. There was a fairly low turnout to the event but still was able to capture a few pictures.

Isn't this one a beauty?

These riders were getting ready to enter a Show Hack class which is a bit like dressage without all the patterns.

But the best of the evening was this "little" St. Bernard puppy, Bella. Isn't she just a doll? She kept trying to chew on my sleeve. Her paws are already as big as my little Cavalier Spaniels' heads!

Don't forget about the $25 session special. Only a few more spots left and they're filling up quickly. Remember the session has to be booked for a date through the end of May. Dads, think Mother's Day gifts!

A Pink Princess (Maumelle, Arkansas)

2008-04-02T00:00:00.005-05:00

As promised, some "pink-ness". Baby Emma at barely 3 weeks old was an absolute joy to photograph in an early morning session. I don't think I've ever seen a newborn so active and smiling. I met Emmafor the first time when she was only a week old and Mom & Dad were actually at church! Thank you Mom & Dad for entrusting me with capturing your little princess.

The one below is my absolute favorite.

A Little More Birthday Cuteness at The Old Mill

2008-04-01T00:26:00.007-05:00

Just had to share a few more pics from A's 6th birthday shoot. Don't you just love how she's missing all of her top front teeth? Too cute!
These images were shot at The Old Mill in North Little Rock.

Stay tuned tomorrow for a sneak peek from one of the $25 Special Sessions. The cuteness quotient goes up a ton! Think pink. :)

There are still a few spots left for the $25 sessions but you need to hurry and reserve your spot now. They're going quick.

Little Bit of -A- Birthday (Old Mill in North Little Rock, Arkansas)

2008-03-25T22:51:00.007-05:00

I had the privilege of shooting little A's annual birthday picture this year. Mom decided to forego the usual department store backdrop and I think we all thoroughly enjoyed this afternoon. Mom has made it a point of always spending the entire day with -A- every year on her birthday and, most importantly, getting a picture with the number of years in it. Guess how old we are this year?

Just a sneak peek. There's more to come, Mom, I promise! And for you other parents, having your child(ren)'s portraits done on their birthday is a great idea.

-A- just cracked me up. She is anything but shy. By the end of the session she was telling me where to stand to take her picture! Happy Birthday -A-!!

$25 Portrait Special!!!

2008-03-23T23:56:00.023-05:00

{ Update - 3/26/08 - Only a few spots left! }

In the spirit of Easter, I am running a special on portrait sessions for $25 per session. That's right! Only $25.

Here are the rules and regs. :

- Only 10 available sessions - Once they're gone, they're gone!

- Sessions can be booked through May 31, 2008

- Session fee of $25 due at time of booking

- No more than 5 persons total (Add $15 for each addt'l person)

- Limited to 15-mile radius of Little Rock for on-location sessions

- Any type of session except Bridal Portraits and Weddings

- Mention "25Portrait" when booking

- Includes 60 minutes of photography (2 hours for newborns)

- Includes a CD of 5 low-res images (Print 4x6 prints & email them)

- Includes online gallery of 15 selected images

- A viewing session 1-2 weeks after the photo session

This is an awesome deal so don't wait.

Spots will go fast!

Wedding of Daniel & Monica (McEwen, Tennessee)

2008-03-11T00:43:00.008-05:00

This weekend I had the privilege of shooting the wedding of my cousin, Daniel, and his new bride, Monica. It was an exciting weekend to say the least. The night of the rehearsal we had a blizzard. The snow was coming down so hard and the wind was so bad it was a white-out as my dad and I drove home. What normally would take about 15 minutes took over an hour. When I awoke the morning of the wedding everything was covered in about 10 inches of snow not counting the much higher drifts. Needless to say, we don't get those kind of snowstorms in Tennessee very often much less in March. But all went well the day of the wedding. The snow added an extra special element to the day. Here are a few sneak peeks. More images to come a little later so stay tuned!

Daniel-Monica, it was an absolute joy to document your special day. I'm so glad you allowed me the honor.

This next image is my favorite so far. That's my grandfather in the background looking at his great-grandson who was the ringbearer.

You got snow?

2008-03-05T13:37:00.004-06:00

We got snow! For the first time all winter we got about 1-1/2 inches of the white stuff. I know all you people up North are laughing hysterically, but we enjoyed it for the brief time it lasted. And, yes, the first picture is from my driveway at the top of a veeerrry steep hill. It rivaled any Olympic ski slope for a while till it all melted.

A New Look....

2008-03-01T22:05:00.003-06:00

Website updates are coming soon so stay tuned! A new look and updated pictures are on the menu. I'm working hard to get it online as soon as I can.

This coming weekend I'll be heading home to Tennessee to shoot the wedding of my cousin, Daniel, and his bride-to-be, Monica. Just talked to Monica this evening and she's so excited. We'll be doing an engagement/pre-wedding session on Friday morning at my grandparents' farm, the rehearsal Friday night, and then the wedding and reception on Saturday night. So in a week or so new pictures should be on the blog.

Lots of excitement going on so check back often for updates!

His Way With Thee

2008-02-22T23:26:00.007-06:00

I know this isn't a "photography" post, but I felt led to share anyway. I discovered this beautiful hymn in an old Methodist hymnal tonight.

Valentine's Day blooms from Mom & Dad

"His Way With Thee"

"Would you live for Jesus, and be always pure and good?
Would you walk with Him within the narrow road?
Would you have Him bear your burden, carry all your load?
Let Him have His way with thee.

His pow'r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
'Twas best for Him to have His way thee.

Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you need never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.

His pow'r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see
'Twas best for Him to have His way with thee. Amen."
-Cyrus Nusbaum

Off to the Races! (Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas)

2008-02-04T22:49:00.002-06:00

Haven't blogged in a while thanks to a nice case of the flu. A week or so ago I did make it to Oaklawn, the Thoroughbred Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas with my friend K. Loving horses and watching the Triple Crown Races on tv for as long as I can remember, I had actually never seen a horse race in person. Needless to say, I had a grand time although we froze our backsides off! Here are a few images from the day.

Now these guys...It's a good thing they aren't racing!

Racing to the line. Doesn't get much better than this!

This one is of jockey Calvin Borel who won the 2007 Kentucky Derby on board Street Sense.

Young Love (Houston, Texas)

2008-01-17T01:42:00.001-06:00

Here are a few images I captured from a friend's wedding in Houston several months ago. I made sure I got an aisle seat to get a good view. Thank you, Matt & Kayla, for allowing me to share in your beautiful day.

Sweet One (Little Rock, Arkansas)

2008-01-15T01:05:00.001-06:00

I was able to do a photo shoot with my dear friend's little boy, Noah, on Sunday afternoon. He is so sweet and was so good for the whole time even though he hadn't had a nap all day.

This was Noah 4 short months ago....

And now sooo big.....

Christmas Fine Art Prints Available for Purchase

2008-01-15T00:53:00.001-06:00

Here are a few new photos from the Christmas season. Prints are also available from my website.

Click here to order.

The Colors of Fall (Ripley, Tennessee)

2007-12-02T22:15:00.001-06:00