Wednesday March 3rd, 2010
Speaking of contests, I’ve never been very lucky. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever won a random drawing, raffle, or even a Sunday school contest in all my life. (I was never the child with the prize hidden under my chair). No, luck was never a friend of mind. In fact, I’m still a little miffed that year after year I was never chosen to be Mary in the Christmas pageant. I still lay awake in bed at night wondering, Was it my blond hair? Was my face not saintly enough? Okay not really, but I suppose after all these years I should really let the whole Mary thing go.
Back to the topic at hand, over the past year I’ve received emails asking if I offer scholarships to my workshops. After giving it some thought, I decided to create an opportunity for someone to attend who might not otherwise be able to. So I’m happy to announce that I’m giving away one workshop seat to a worthy applicant! However, you don’t necessarily have to be financially strapped to enter the contest. And I guess luck or random drawing doesn’t have anything to do with this one either. I’d really like to give this workshop seat to someone with heart- someone who inspires others, even if it’s behind the scenes without a lot of recognition. Tell us how you love, serve or inspire other people in your life, and what attending the workshop might mean for your photography journey.
Also, I wanted to add that Grand Rapids area photographers are also welcome to attend my workshops. You don’t need to have a business to enter. Whether you are a pro, semi-pro or hobbyist with an SLR, I am so, so excited to hear your story!
I’m collaborating with the sweet Angie and Amy over at I Heart Faces for this contest. I’ve had the really cool experience of being a guest judge for them a few times and I think what they are doing is awesome. They have a wonderful community of photographers- fun, genuine and ego free! So if you would like to enter to win the workshop seat, you’ll need to do so through I Heart Faces right here. Be sure to read the complete contest rules and requirements. You have until March 17th to enter, and the winner will be announced on March 31, 2010. Have fun!!
And lastly, I really wanted to share these photos today. This was my absolute favorite session last summer (maybe my favorite session to date), and I never blogged it. Who knows why. Maybe it was just the chaos of my life or maybe I was hoarding the photos because I liked them so much. I do that sometimes. Okay, I need to end this post before I make any more confessions!
Posted by Amy on March 03, 2010 at 02:28 PM |
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Monday January 18th, 2010
I’ve just opened up registration for the two photography workshops I’ll be teaching this year in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The dates are:
May 11-12, 2010
May 25-26, 2010
For more information about the workshops, or to register for a seat please visit the website: www.amywenzelworkshops.com
If you would like to be put on the workshop mailing list please email me.
For those of you considering the workshop, here are a couple of testimonials from last year’s attendees:
“Amy’s workshop was a fabulous experience from every perspective. She delivered what all photographers come to learn: her knowledge and unique fashion influenced photographic style. The accommodations were so elegant, the workspace so comfortable, the food sinful, and the models straight out of a magazine! Spending a few days in her company was such a delight and so refreshing. I strongly recommend Amy’s workshop to anyone in love with her work.” - Arrielle
“After doing your workshop it has brought my business to a completely different level. It’s the truth. I am a different photographer and business owner because of it and I cannot thank you enough.” -Jamie
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And last but not least, all of these images were taken at the October, 2009 workshop. Thanks guys, and I hope to meet so many of you at the 2010 events!
Posted by Amy on January 18, 2010 at 10:07 PM |
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Thursday January 14th, 2010
When January 1, 2010 rolled in I think I dreaded it more than anything. Like oh great, this is that time of year when I’m supposed to re-write my life, set landmark goals, blog more, resign myself to cook more, make all my dreams come true and oh yeah, get my lazy butt back to the gym. In my former life as the ultimate go-getter I would have wall size posters drawn up, ready and waiting for me to conquer the world. But this year was different.
We had the good fortune of celebrating New Year’s Eve with our good friends Jasmine and JD in the beautiful city of Queenstown, New Zealand. As we all sat around the table reciting our New Year’s goals for 2010 I felt my hands start to sweat. I was hoping that somehow they would skip over me. That somehow I could blend into the back of the chair so as to disappear altogether. Can I just say it again? It’s been a long year.
It’s been a year of shock, pain, change, courage, fear, tears, hope, regret, struggle, perseverance, endurance and faith. It’s been a year of learning for me. And the truth is that it’s completely re-arranged me and turned me on my head. My faith in Jesus was strong before David was diagnosed with brain cancer, but being faced with hardship has only intensified and deepened my love and pursuit of God. My whole life has been hi-jacked by my faith in Him. I’m really, truly discovering that every longing and wish my heart ever made has all in a sense just been a reflection of my longing for Jesus… I just didn’t know it. I didn’t know it was all found in Him.
Back to the dinner table when all eyes turned on me to hear my New Year’s goals. I felt the exhaustion from the past year down to my very bones. I felt my secret fears of inadequacy creeping up on me, that I should be achieving. Performing. But there is no performance left within me. I wondered if I should just make something up that sounded palatable, like learning to knit a sweater or something, you know, for polite table talk. Something, anything to keep me from opening the can of worms that would make me start bawling my eyes out at the table. But I knew that making something up would be an utter betrayal of all that is in my heart, just like getting on here and blogging like all I care about is photography would be totally inauthentic and therefore offend my sense of self.
So as I sat in the silent moment of choice, I could not deny the Divine burning in my soul, bubbling up within me like word vomit. The desire to speak of Him was so strong it took my breath away. Through trembling and tears I managed to stutter to my husband and friends that I don’t really have a lot of goals for this year. There is one thing I want so badly though. I simply want to be wrecked by God’s love for me. I want to be so undone that I can never be put back together. I want the Holy Spirit to so utterly consume me that my every breath is to bring glory to God. I want to be so intimate with Jesus that I am like a light shining in the darkness, pointing the way to the most beautiful, wonderful truth you can ever experience. I am a woman consumed by passion to know the living God. I can hardly think of other things sometimes. His love is changing me. Rescuing me. Healing me. I am not the same as I was, and I can never go back. I have found everything I was ever looking for. He’s so beautiful. He’s saving me. And I adore Him so much that I just cannot stay silent. So if there was ever a New Year’s resolution for me this year it would be to unify my voice. To speak my heart no matter what the cost.
Posted by Amy on January 14, 2010 at 11:38 PM |
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Sunday December 27th, 2009
Just wanted to post a quick notice for clients that I am going on vacation from Dec 27 - Jan 7 and will be unavailable by phone or email. I’ll get back with you when I’m home! Thanks!
Posted by Amy on December 27, 2009 at 03:01 AM |
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Wednesday October 28th, 2009
a bit crazy lately. David started having pre-seizure symptoms last week which landed us in the emergency room. We were both pretty rattled at first, but nothing happened. The symptoms continued off and on for days and are finally starting to decline. We are still being very proactive about healing naturally and he’s been heavily detoxing this week and helping his body get rid of the toxins and dead cancerous cells. As scary as this “natural” route is, it’s so, SO exciting. We are learning so much about health, wellness and the body’s amazing ability to heal itself when you give it the right tools.
Anyways, just wanted to explain my absence as I continue to fight for balance in my life between photographer, wife, care-giver, friend, daughter, sister, child of God. Lately I’ve been overwhelmed and feeling pretty run down. It doesn’t matter how much I sleep, the weariness is still there when I wake up in the morning. So I’m spending some serious time on the couch today trying to lay it down at the feet of Jesus. That big heavy burden. I don’t want to carry it anymore.
Posted by Amy on October 28, 2009 at 03:17 PM |
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AND thank you so much for doing this workshop giveaway! the winner will...
Comments
Love the baby chub! Makes me want to be a parent.
Love the baby belly laugh and the bathing suit pseudo-wedgie! How adorable. Great job.
Wow! Those girls are so adorable and the images are priceless. Worth the wait!
We’re excited to be hosting your giveaway! Thanks so much for offering such a generous gift to someone.
Wow, what cute bathing beauties here:-) I’ve got to do this with my daughter while she’s little. This is the perfect inspiration… now I just need a beach!
Wonderful photos as always! Whoever wins this contest is going to be one lucky lady (oops or man!)Hope you are well dear. Praying for you.
These are AMAZING! Love the pictures. And because I was lucky enough to attend one of your workshops, I will just say that the person who wins is really blessed! You are too kind to give away a seat. Awesome.
Ah…Trudy’s girls are absolutely Adorable and your images are too die for! Love.Love.Love! Thank you for sharing…not only your images, but of your heart:)
These photos are beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing, I love everything about them. You are so sweet to be offering the seat at your conference, what a wonderful opportunity!
I adore these images Amy! So so so so cute!!!
These are the most adorable photos! You captured moments in time that this family will treasure forever–simply perfect!
I am really looking forward to entering the contest!
This is so kind of you. Thank you for being so generous and allowing people like me a chance to enter! I look forward to writing my story!
LOVE these photos.
I am SO excited, Amy!
It is very generous and…well…wonderful that you are doing something like this for someone! One lucky person is going to be SO very, BIG TIME blessed by this!!!
In LOVE with these photos! The lighting is beautiful and looks so even, though it looks like its the middle of the day and shooting on the beach, I don’t know how you did it!
Is the contest a random drawing or will you be picking your favorite story?
oh awesome - hope I can win
going to enter the contest now. Going to a photography workshop has been on the top of my list for a while. Just never been able to.
So I got super-duper excited when I read about your contest on i Heart Faces this morning. . . I really, really, really want to win. Seriously want to win.
And plus, my grandparents and aunts and uncles all love in Grand Rapids so it would be like a double perfect reason to go up there and visit!
Ooooh! Those photos are so dreamy
I follow I heart Faces and when I saw that entry this morning my stomach did a little flip! I LOVE your style and techniques and I am so going to enter this!!! Just trying to write out my story in my head
i love this post! they remind me of my little girls - so fun! great job capturing their little personalities!!
I love these. You are so inspiring to hopeful up and coming photog’s like me! The swimsuit wedgie is my fav! Too funny! What cute girls!
Amy, this is by far my favorite series from you recently. These images rock! So many cute shots. Well done!
These images are precious and beautiful! No wonder you were keeping them for yourself!
Those picture are adorable!!!
these are purely magical. perfection.
Oh Amy, these images are divine! LOVE them all
Ok seriously! This my be my fave session I have ever seen! I adore these! Maybe b/c I have 2 little girls about the same age and I am a beach fan-but still AMAZING! Where did yall find those precious boats! HOW CUTE! seriously adorable!
These are simply STUNNING. It helps that the child is so pretty but you have captured her happy soul. Not easy to do. These are some of the first photo’s that I’ve seen that look like they were shot on film. (I only shoot film) and you’ve proven, the media does not matter, the heart and eye it what does. Keep it up.
Tom
What a great giveaway!! Such a very generous offer. And I can absolutely see why these are your favorites. They are beautiful and precious. You do such beautiful work, Amy!!
it’s perfection! I love this whole session, the images are incredible. and how fun to have a client do something entirely different! love it!
Oh Amy - how fun that you posted these. I am so in love with them and am of course so biased to how beautiful my two girls are. I just want to wall paper my whole house with them. The girls and I are so longing for warm beach days. Thank you so much for creating an amazing set of images for us to treasure forever!!
You are the best.
Hi Amy! I just love your work! These photos are too sweet! Would you mind sharing where you found these delicious sailboats?
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! These little girls are dolls:) There’s nothing cuter than little girls in bathing suits. This looks like it was lots of fun. I heart:)
I think those sweet little boats are here. http://www.etsy.com/shop/willowbaus They’re so precious and I just ordered some for my kiddos for the beach and bathtub!
*sigh* I love when you blog.
pee ess…I think you have a saintly face.
Oh my gosh!!!! I think these are THE CUTEST pictures I have ever seen in my entire life!!!! I have never seen anything sweeter or more perfect! Amy, you are truly amazing!!!! I’m so glad you posted these!
This post makes me happy times 3! A give-away (although I’ve never won anything myself), a new post from theeee Amy Wenzel, & these two super adorable girls, in bikinis, at the beach in perfect light!!
These photos are so precious. You did an incredible job capturing their personalities. I am always inspired after visiting your blog. Thanks for sharing and putting yourself out there. I have been praying for you and your husband.
Adorable! Those chubby legs are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!
Amy, these are just gorgeous. I love the colours, the light and …. I just want to jump right in there and enjoy the moment. Thanks for sharing.
These are gorgeous! I live in NC and it has been an usually cold winter this year, so I am READY for summer. Thanks for giving me a taste of it today!
oh.my.goodness. every single image is so… perfect. they are precious!
Amazing photos! I just love the lighting and the bright colors…well done!
first time on your blog. . .your style is superfab . . this is a wonderful shoot. . the girls are so gorgeous and you capture them perfectly! makes me want summer to come now!
i love these.
just adorable.
The colors are these are timeless and perfection in their intensity. All very Amy! Makes me happy knowing you and this family had such a lovely day.
love, love, LOVE them!!!! I wish I’d taken them! Sigh.
Beautiful images. Love them all.
These photos make me want to pack up and head to an island somewhere. Winter has lasted much to long here in the Dakotas, more snow and freezing rain forecast tonight. Hopefully Old Man Winters last Hurrah. Beautiful colors, beautiful little girls they draw you right into the photo!
Amy, I’ve been an admirer of you work for a long time, and I’ve been blessed to read what the Lord is doing in your life. I had to say that this session is unbelievable!! Great work– I love the colors!
These are so beautiful. Love all the colors. Great job, makes me want to go to the beach. I love the boats too. Would love to have one for my kids.
Last one is my favorite!
AND thank you so much for doing this workshop giveaway! the winner will be pooping their pants FOR SURE! 
These pictures are so darling I think I actually started tearing up a little. Mostly because my heart is longing so bad for summer it hurts. And also because that older girl looks just like my daughter with longer hair and so part of me had a little daydream about frolicking on the beach in warm weather and cute bathing suits with my kids. Thanks for posting them now, they totally made my day!
Amy, these are so wonderful…I think they ARE my favorites of all your work I’ve seen! Love them!
I am totally one of those emails! And i am so very excited about this wonderful opportunity. Thank you Thank you for such an super fab chance!