Wednesday July 16th, 2008
Just some baby photos to share from a recent session. This client was a friend of a friend who kind of spontaneously realized how special it would be to have newborn photos, but her daughter was already two weeks old. So she called me up hoping to squeeze into my schedule and luckily I was able to fit her in right away! (I seriously have trouble saying no to a newborn shoot anyway regardless of how busy I am). And it was fun to find out that they live so close to my house it only took a minute to get there.
I knew when I was capturing these pram shots that they were going to be my all time favorite baby photos to date and I told her mother so. I love when I get that feeling. The one when everything seamlessly comes together for the shot, almost as if by accident… or better yet by destiny. I don’t even know how to describe this feeling except that my heart settles into my chest a little deeper almost as if it’s expanding and I’m flooded with endorphins as I look through my lens, totally connected with what I’m capturing. It’s like some kind of high. Like I never want to stop shooting it, knowing I’m going to be proud of it. Those moments are the ones that create the photos I love to look at when I am having a bad day or questioning myself as all artists do sometimes. But more importantly I just love to live for that next rush, the rush of the moment when photography makes me feel so strong and alive, like a better version of myself.
Posted by Amy on July 16, 2008 at 07:04 PM |
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Monday July 14th, 2008
I’ve been excited to post these photos. You probably recognize the older girl from my blog header above and also plastered on my website from last year’s sessions. These sisters are so darn cute they really should be Disney characters. Anyways, we planned this shoot back in February to go to the farmer’s market and our adorable pastry shop (a local gem thats been around for decades!) I get happy whenever I drive by it and see all of their colorful antique cookie jars lining the windows. It inspires me to start my own collection, although I’m sure david would have a thing or two to say about me turning our kitchen into an obnoxious display complete with clowns, windmills, Dorothy, and The Muppets.
I am prone to nightmares, and due to my extreme love of said cookie jars, it must have prompted my ridiculous dreams before the shoot. First I dreamed that I showed up at the pastry shop early for the session but all of the cookie jars were gone. So I went up to the counter and asked if I was at the right place and if so where were all the cookie jars?? They informed me that I was indeed at the right place but just yesterday they had decided to take down all of the cookie jars for good. To which I started bawling hysterically and raging like a mad woman at the poor counter clerk about the cookie jars being taken away when I had planned this shoot months ago!!! I startled myself awake and was seriously amused by my totally ballistic response in my dream. I lay there thinking, yikes, I must really love those cookie jars. I finally fell back asleep and proceeded to have another dream. This time I dreamed that I went back to the pastry shop to see in “real life” if the cookie jars were really gone or if I had just dreamed it. (I know, weird!) Anyway, in my dream I went there to check and of course, all the cookie jars were gone. So I cried and raged some more. Then the dream turned into me being lost on foot in the wilderness in a blizzard with the two girls I was photographing and trying to find our way to their parents. I’m going to go ahead and just stop now before you all think I am an absolute head case.
Posted by Amy on July 14, 2008 at 10:17 PM |
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Friday July 4th, 2008
My family is all in town and they have turned my home into a miniature bed and breakfast. =) As I lay in bed this morning half awake, mentally packing the cooler for the beach today (stressing a little- is all that food seriously gonna fit?) a 4 year old munchkin knocked on my door and crept into bed with me to cuddle. We lay there for a moment and I whispered that it was time to go get our swimsuits on for the beach today. Her eyes lit up with excitment. I felt like a kid again for a second. Thats when I had the “aha” moment, so this is a taste of the joy of motherhood.
Posted by Amy on July 04, 2008 at 08:30 AM |
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Tuesday July 1st, 2008
The rain drops lightly sprinkled down on us the entire time as we tramped through the orchard holding up her train from the damp ground, but to me she was like a ray of light that parted the heavy clouds above us. With our fingers crossed that we would escape a torrential downpour we decided to take the risk and do the session. She just looked so beautiful, and the light was so perfectly diffused. How on earth could I resist? Thats like yanking a lollipop from a baby! Her sisters patiently stood by watching as their hair got soggier by the minute. I must have wiped sprinkles off my camea a hundred times, but I am glad we we risked it. Everyone needs a rainy day adventure in their life!
On a side note- I would like to wish everyone a happy first day of July because this is my favorite month of the whole year! I am going to have a lot of bonfires, eat a lot of ice cream, wear a lot of tank tops, run through a lot of sprinklers and try out my nephew’s slip and slide. Yee-haw!
Posted by Amy on July 01, 2008 at 10:03 AM |
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Comments
these are simply lovely!
Don’t you just love that feeling! These are great!
I’m thinking “the feeling” is an itch to have a baby. Don’t get me wrong, great photos, as always. I love THAT feeling too. I’m just sayin’…… ummm feeling the chubby-legs-rosebud-lips-intoxicating-smell itch? ;0)
I know for a fact that I live for that “feeling”. Like you said, it’s seriously what keeps me going as a photographer. I love those shoots where you’re torn between wanting it to go on forever vs. getting home so you can pore over the images. We’re so lucky to do what we do….
Gorgeous images by the way. Can’t believe all the hair on that sweet baby!
really? even you question your talent? your work is gorgeous! these are no exception. they’re so peaceful. i love them!
your styling, or just a really cool mum with bundles of style and creative ideas? I love the shoots.such a cool pram,but my favourites are the one with the flamboyant wallpaper in the background, a classic shot but with a twist. The texture of the quilt is lovely contrast to the baby, the chair and that funky wallpaper. Well done, and thanks for posting.
LOL
gisela
The colors in the first shots are amazing! Beautiful photos and what an adorable little girl.
wow, Amy these are really beautiful, love your colors and style!
Absolutely stunning and breathtaking….just gorgeous!
Amy.. you have left me speechless.
these are beautiful. your work is so inspiring and i love your processing. it is so unique and colourful. i love the mix of blues and reds in the pram.
I can certainly see why you got the feeling…these are magical.
Absolutely perfect description of the combination of sensations and emotions surrounding being in the zone and creating what you set out to accomplish in this field, I know exactly what you mean. beautiful shots BTW!
I know this isn’t about this post, but just wanted to tell you that I just watched the Breakfast at Tiffany’s video. How cute did that photo turn out?! I love it!! You rock!
These are gorgeous! Colors are awesome, and all the textures and compositions are wonderful!
Wow Amy. These are stunning. I mean, I think that every time I visit your blog, but this shoot in particular has blown me away. You always manage to find a totally unique way to approach each shoot, which is something I think all portrait photographers strive for. You inspire me so much, and I love the way you described how this shoot made you feel. Thank you for sharing.
Amy these are stunning! You really have outdone yourself! (which is hard to do!) I bet the parents are so pleased!
Good grief these are gorgeous! LOVE the red pram…it couldn’t be more perfect. Congratulations on these. You never cease to inspire me!
Rachel
ooh.. some of my favorite baby pictures ever!
I just saw the update on your Swiss Miss site & I must say I’ve VERY excited! Can’t wait!
Take…my…breath…away. Love these SO much. Mom is going to be jumping up and down with glee!
I totally know that feeling. I think that feeling is why I do what I do, it’s the perfect high isn’t it! Your work is stunning so glad to have found your blog, amazing!
SOOO precious! I really LOVE LOVE LOVE those last shots on the blanket and chair! Gorgeous.
Your use of color to influence the mood of your images is inspiring. Beautiful work !!
cindy