Happy weekend

Thought of the day...

"God has not brought you this far to fail."

Words of a mother. I can't wait to get this book. Looks so inspiring.


Have a happy weekend, and just remember, He will help you accomplish miracles.

God bless, amber

Baby Announcements

Let me show you this adorable little baby, displayed so beautifully on new die-cut baby announcements! For some reason, i forgot to photograph the back! :P

It was a cute template, super easy and super fast.

loooove me some linen texture.

For our babies, we did a digital comp on 4x5 photos...
What did you all do when your kids were born?

Happy Friday!

I hope you're all excited it's Friday!

We broke out the kiddie pool... And the kiddos were freezing!!! But they enjoyed every minute of it. :)




What are you all up to for the weekend??


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Photo Classes

I find it so rewarding to see people learning to use their cameras. Those are years of their lives that can be remembered better than they would have been without our classes. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to learn, and i joy at seeing things finally click for our students.

We learned how to turn this brick wall...

Into this yummy softness. :)

Can't wait to see how you all continue to grow, and meet all of you wanting to learn. See you soon!

:) happy almost-weekend!!!

Photo Critique

I am so proud of all our students. I am thrilled to see the growth in all of them. Here's one i chose to focus on this week, by Blake Shropshire.

First of all, i love the tender expression/moment that the bricks lead my eye into. Color has an advantage in this photo, the bright yellow flower pop and the cheery pink shirt. The lighting is nice falling on her face, and i love her hair folding back behind her. And i love the texture of the bricks.... i'm a sucker for texture!! :)

I would suggest moving slightly to the right and letting the bricks take up the left 2/3 of the shot, so there wouldn't be as much distracting elements in the background. Or get on a step ladder and shooting down, letting it go from brick to the gray fence? Just a thought. I don't mind the pop of green, but the pole and house (?) behind bring this photo out of a timless moment and onto the side of the house.

Great work, Blake! Can't wait to see more. :)

Chasing Sunsets

We have our monthly article up at Fuel Your Photography

Do you ever feel like you're burning the midnight oil and even then, it's never enough?

Does this remind you of someone else? Please help them out by passing this on their way. We can learn from each other, and learn to see the joys this life truly can bring.




Hugs, my friends!


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BlogPress

I have just discovered an amazing little app that I think will change my life forever... I'll make a full post about it once I've played around a bit. And you will be so happy!!! :) :)



(my handsome brother holding one of his sweet baby twins, when I was out in CO to photograph them 2 weeks ago. I think she's already got him wrapped around her finger.)

Good night, my friends! Thanks for stopping by!

Hot date...

At 3 in the afternoon. ;)

Finally got to see Harry Potter in the dollar theater. :) :) Forgot how long it's been since we went on a date! Where do you all like to go on dates??

Lunch at taco cabana was great... $3 snack for me, full late lunch for my honey.


Yummy red and normal chips... And a salsa bar. My fav is the tan-colored one. :)




Forgot to snap one at the movie. :)
Gotta squeeze these dates in!

With all these "spring break" tendencies, we have to remember to make it to teach photo classes this week! :p

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Hello, dear friends

Thank you so much for everything you are... you are mothers, high-schoolers, teachers, students, grandparents, fathers, brothers... you are artists, photographers, doctors, physicists... we all have different backgrounds and different loves. We have pains and sorrows, joys and triumphs.

Most importantly, we have each other.

If you haven't heard by now, Japan was hit with 8.9 earthquake and tsunamis that have killed hundreds. Here in Oklahoma, fires have spread today and areas were evacuated. Weeks ago we had snow storms that shut states down for days. These can be scary times.

Times of immense destruction pushes the important things of life to the forefront: the relationships we have; those we love.

I want to do 2 things:
1. Thank you for being who you are. The good you do sends out ripples that touch many lives. Don't stop helping and serving and loving. Your kind work/look/touch can cure unseen sadness in others.
2. Tell someone you love them. Stand up and go to the other room and give a hug to a family member or pet. Email/text/call/skype/chat. Just don't wait.

Looks like i never posted an article we wrote for fuel your photography last fall when we almost lost our son. For now here it is over there.

For pictures like the one below check them out here.



My heart and prayers go out to all those affected by these disasters.

Go, give someone a hug.

Photo Basics 1 Photo Critique

For those of you who have watched our student photo critiques in times past, you'll notice something different about this post. This is not a video. :)

In the past 2 weeks, I've photographed 4 babies and been in Oklahoma, Colorado and Arizona, and all the while my dear husband has held down the fort with both boys. Somehow i came home to a clean house with all the dishes done. Man, he's amazing. It's good to be home.

First of all THANK YOU!! I was so proud of you all seeing how many of you uploaded pictures. That makes this momma proud. :)

I wanted to get our photo critique up before class tomorrow night... This photo was taken by Natalie Greenroyd. I love that she took our assignment, and told a story with still objects. Both versions are entertaining. And it's fun that she included 3 objects instead of 2, telling the hear/see/speak no evil story.

Great depth of field, Natalie. Nice family of colors... the monkeys work with the countertop. The background has some elements that distract a bit, but they're not as noticeable as when you get to the second picture...

Where you see the outlet cover on the left, something on the right...

This is a good skill to work on-- choosing what you'll leave in the frame, and what you select to leave out. Always crop in your camera, not later on. When you leave out those elements, suddenly, the context (countertop) is taken out, and all your left with are the objects and the story they are telling. Both these images could be just slightly brighter. But you're in the right ballpark.

I like the second image kinda feels like a hide and seek game too. :)

Great work, Natalie, and great work everyone else too! Can't wait to see you all in class.

Pretty as a Princess

I was blessed to photograph two kiddos in Aurora, CO last week. I'll share more about the twins in another post once their session is processed, but i just wanted to post one or two before i head off to AZ thursday to photograph another baby! I love tiny babies.

Both mommies are Fife Photography Brides, and it is such a fun thing to see their families growing. :)

What a blessed life I live to capture these special times. I am grateful for every one of you who entrust me with these moments. They become the fabric of my life as well.

Hugs, Amber