Sweet Lily ~ (Sherwood, Arkansas)

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

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

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!

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"

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

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"

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

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

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

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

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

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. :)