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
_______________________________________________________________________
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 |
Permalink |
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 |
Permalink |
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 |
Permalink |
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 |
Permalink |
Saturday October 17th, 2009
David and I have been conversing quite a bit lately about the ancient tradition of honoring the sabbath and what that really looks like in today’s day and age. Once upon a time it meant that if you bent over to pick something up you were pretty much screwed where the law was concerned! Now days, some of us have to work on Sundays whether we like it or not. But in looking at the idea of why God created the idea of the sabbath, it was really for our own good. It’s more than just going to church or honoring God for a day. It also serves an important purpose for us. Rest. Rest for body, soul and spirit.
I took this photo in Morocco 4 years ago. I remember rolling out of bed in the morning and being smacked in the face with this view, and thinking, “How in the world did I end up here? This is so beautiful how can it even be real life?” As I gaped at the exquisite beauty, it was like that mountain range created a channel from my soul to God’s heart. I’ve always cherished this image as it reminds me of that moment, but as I look at it more deeply I realize it’s also extremely symbolic for me. It represents everything I want my “view of life” to be….Peaceful. Serene. Breathtaking. Filled with wonder and gratitude.
Sometimes it seems like those are impossible ideals, or that moments of serentiy can only happen when you are on vacation in Africa. Yet imagine if you could get out of bed every morning and actually choose how you view the world? Looking out your proverbial window, what would you want to see? Pain? Sadness? Fear? Numbness? Why do we give away our life to these things? Why don’t we choose something different even though we’re only hurting ourselves?
So my question is, how do we choose each day to manifest our own reality? I say I love dogs, nature, reading, painting. But do I own a dog? Each day do I pick up my paint brush simply because I love it? Do I take the time to read a good book and relax? Though I live in an urban area do I make the effort to find nature and immerse myself within it? Do I do these things that refresh my spirit and make me come alive? Do I live with intention? And most importantly, do we truly understand that life is what we make of it, no matter what our circumstances are?
Considering these thoughts, it makes the idea of taking a sabbath seem extremely important. Necessary, actually for happiness. As I take an honest look at my work habits, each week do I truly have a day where I do no work AT ALL and only relax? For some of us, taking a sabbath is painful. It’s virtually impossible not to answer that one email, make that one phone call, or pop into your office just for an hour or two to write a quick blog or edit a session. Me = guilty as charged. As I continue on day after day without ever getting a clean break from the pressures of work, I feel myself wearing thin. I pray and ask God for strength, but then I hear his voice saying, “The reason you are so tired is because you don’t rest. And then you want me to pump you full of energy like a God sized dose of espresso. How am I supposed to re-fill your gas tank if you are driving circles round the pump at 60mph?”
So tomorrow I’m taking a sabbath. I’m going to completely unplug, push a large bureau in front of my office door and turn off the ringer of my phone. I worked really hard today to get caught up on phone calls, invoicing, emails, orders, etc so I won’t have that panicked feeling in the back of my brain.
So if on Saturday you happen to call me, email me, knock on my door, send me a telegram or a even a singing candygram for that matter, I WON’T ANSWER YOU. Because I’ll be too busy laying around, reading books, praying, taking a hot bath and going for a long walk out in nature. I guess the real challenge is can I stay off of twitter and avoid reading new emails on my phone because well, technically I’m not in my office. All things being equal I really don’t trust myself. I can pretty much guarantee that at the end of the day I’ll have to be all, “Father, forgive me for I have tweeted.”
Posted by Amy on October 17, 2009 at 12:26 AM |
Permalink |
Why that...
And know we are praying for you when you no longer can.
Comments
How exciting! I’ll put these on my wish list!
Oh EMM GEE!!! That boy looks like DAVID!!! Whoa, just got a flash of what a future child of yours could look like!
Can’t wait to see how you rock those workshops!
xoxo
Your work inspires me down to the tips of my toes, and I can’t wait to learn and be inspired from one of the best! So excited to be attending that I could barely sleep last night. Seriously, I counted like 10,000 sheep!
Oh, your workshop is high on my photography-related wish list. Your work is amazing and inspiring.
I would love to attend one of your workshops, Amy. But it is just not possible, so I think that maybe it would be a good idea for you to come out and do a workshop in southern california :)! By the way, reaaallly appreciated your last post. Thank you for sharing your heart and desires with everyone. It is truly an encouragement to me and my walk with God. You guys are in my prayers.
You are so talented. I wish I was closer to a workshop.
LOVE these photos, Amy.
This is a beautifully, beautifully written post. Thanks for putting an honest face on the children of God, and putting the “realness” (if that is a word?) on having a relationship with Christ. Blessings and prayers for a peaceful year, and health for your dear David. - PB