by Amy | Jul 18, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
This is the Gallegos family. Aren’t they just beautiful? The smiles, the personality and those dreamy summer colors–some of the photos from our shoot in the farm lands of Practically Canada go down as some of my favorites to date. Their flash drive is in the mail and they’ll soon be sorting through their whole session. But for now, I’ll share some of my favorites from the day.
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Oh, did I mention that this one is having a train themed birthday party??
by Amy | Jul 15, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
A few weeks ago I undertook a very unique challenge. A photo session of only children. Four children, four and under. I don’t know many big families…and this is the biggest group of very young kiddos I’ve ever attempted to shoot at once. The three brothers recently came to visit relatives Practically Canada with their mom. The little lady is a local. The fam thought it would be a fun time to get together and get all of these cousins in some legit portraits.
Luckily they are all adorable…because it was a challenge. A very fun challenge, but a challenge nonetheless. One would cry while the others would smile. One was consistently facing the wrong way. Someone was trying to dig up grass, someone was trying to walk away. Meanwhile five full-grown adults were shouting their names, making funny faces and shamelessly bribing them with promises of fruit-snacks between clicks of the camera. I adore this family and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. At the end of the day, their photos might not look posed and disciplined….but it wasn’t that kind of day. It was a day full of personality and I think that’s what came across in the images. Here are a few of my favorites from our time together.
There is something ridiculously adorable about this one. I mean, seriously…how about Mr. GQ there in the middle?
Now, somebody get these kids some fruit-snacks! They sure do deserve it.
by Amy | Jun 28, 2014 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Art, The Art of Design, The Art of Projects
Hey all! Well, let me tell you. Lots of things have transpired since I last posted. In case you missed the last post, it was the BIG, Fat Reading List. Much anticipated…lots of great recommendations from my most trusted readers. If you are looking for something to read this summer {or ever} you should check it out.
So, I had surgery. On the back. But I’ll tell you about that another time.
Tonight, I want to do a little show and tell and plug. Tomorrow is Minot’s Integrity Jazz Festival and I’ll be there. Yes, I know I just had back surgery. But I committed before I knew I was having surgery. And I’ll just be sitting there. Very similar to sitting at home, just with better music. And Derek will be with me. So no worries.
For the last few weeks I’ve been in what I like to refer to as Sweat Shop Mode. That’s where I work all day and all night on products. It happens a lot at Christmas time. Since this is my first ever vendor experience I kicked it into high gear to be sure everything was ready and I wouldn’t have anything left to do to prep post-surgery.
That’s what I’m showing off tonight. Some of the things that will be for sale tomorrow. I’m nervous. I just don’t know how this is going to go. Or if anything will sell. Which would be a giant bummer since printing all these pieces wasn’t exactly cheap. So–if it doesn’t go so hot tomorrow…you’ll soon be seeing these items for sale here at amyallender.com. And then I’ll probably drop the prices and beg you to buy–if only to salvage my self esteem.
But enough chat. I’m nervous even showing you this. What if you hate it? Okay. Here goes.
Stationary sets some are hand drawn. The Practically Canada stuff was digitally designed. And I hope the people I meet tomorrow have a good sense of humor like you guys.
These I designed and drew and colored by hand. Then I digitized them to make them printable. They might be my most favorite of everything I’ve got for sale.
You may have seen book clutches floating around online. They are precious. I love vintage books and had a great time designing these. What I think sets mine apart from the loads of others in the world is that I sought out some really cool vintage books. The covers are lovely…and I left their original charm intact. Some are outfitted to be wallet-ish. Others are made to hold e-readers. But they make great carry-alls for toting items to the pool {sunglasses, phone, card, cash sunscreen}, holding make up, stashing stationary, etc.
You know I love canning things. Usually I make labels for myself…so I thought others might like them too.
I came across these vintage flour sacks at an antique store. They were too adorable NOT to make into market bags.
These might look familiar from another post…but I’m really proud of how these summer themed pieces turned out.
And lastly…I’ll have these adorable journals for sale. I made these from salvaged pages of vintage children’s books. I developed a technique for removing the page text and added my own graphic. Then I bound them into journals and notebooks. On a side note, I’ll also have individual pages with printing on them for sale. They’ll look super cute in a frame or decoupaged onto something else!
Now the plug. If you are in Practically Canada–you should totally come by the Jazz Festival. It’s at MSU in Anne Nicole Nelson Hall. If nothing else, you should just come say “Hi” and remind me that I am a fool for committing to do this just two days after surgery. Wish me luck!
Amy
by Amy | Jun 17, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
It’s senior portrait time! Have you booked your session yet? Do you know a senior that needs amazing photos? You should book with me…or send them to me. I love seniors, and I love creating amazing portraits at a reasonable cost–without silly print packages that require you to pay me for every 4×6 you want to hand out to grandparents or 8×10 you want on your wall. That mind set is outdated. I believe in creating amazing photographs that you can have. HAVE.
There’s just one flat rate. You’ll get your photos, a release to print them, a release to share them online, a custom grad announcement and a Facebook cover collage. It’s just that simple. You can print your photos however you like, wherever you like and share them any way you please.
So call me. Email me. Get in touch.
In the mean time–take a look at 10 reasons why I love shooting senior portraits.
***It should be noted that I love all the sessions I do. Otherwise I wouldn’t do them. I love big families and naked babies and wedding days. So, don’t be offended. But…seniors sure do rock.***
- They’re able to pose on command. And even better…they smile on command.
- Seniors never pee on my props. {At least none of them have yet.}
- They’re parents never ask me to shoot them in the nude.
- We never have to stop mid-session for a snack break.
- I’ve never had a senior poop their pants during a shoot.
- They are able to sit up on their own, and aren’t at risk of falling off of chairs.
- A lot of times they bring their own, cool props.
- They don’t cry when it’s time to change clothes.
- There’s only one person in the photograph–that means only one set of eyes to avoid blinks, one mouth to get smiling, and one body to pose.
- And…the biggest perk: Hanging out with a senior for a few hours always makes me a little more hip. Whether that’s because they explain SnapChat to me, or talk about cool music, or just let me drool over their adorable outfits–I always leave a senior session a little cooler than when we started. {At least, I feel a little cooler.}
by Amy | Jun 13, 2014 | Blog, Devotional
It’s been a while since I’ve given you an update on my back situation. {You can see the beginning of the ordeal here.} So I’ll be quick. I really don’t like to dwell, or complain, or belly ache about my circumstances. I hope you don’t see this post as any of that.
I have a pretty nasty herniated disc. To fix me, I’ll need a quick, minimally invasive surgery.
Now, the doors and windows thing.
The news that there was something seriously upset in my spine was pretty life altering. I thought that I’d be able to go back to, or keep teaching {at least the low impact} classes at the gym. The news of surgery and serious disc issues led to immediate orders that I stop teaching all classes…and the major blow that I will {most likely} never be able to go back to that line of work again.
With time, and rest, and following the doctors orders, in the future I will be able to return to exercising. Just not for a long time. And probably never like I had been.
But God is good all the time. Even in the crummiest, poopiest, poop pile. God is good.
Before the initial injury, I had been praying about what I should be doing. With my life, my time, my talents. See, God made a real grab-bag when He whipped me up. I have a million interests and a skill set that is as diverse as the big box of Crayolas. I was feeling like a change was coming. Like I needed to hone in on a few things. However, in order to do that, I would need to cut something out. So I prayed. I prayed about leaving the fitness game, because somewhere deep inside, I felt like I was using the job title “fitness instructor” as a mask. It was an easy thing to tell people when they asked what my job is, or “what I do…” Easier than telling them I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades who loved undertaking giant projects, I work really hard at lots of things but bring home less money than a teenager working the Taco Bell drive through, I kind of do photography, and design, and I write this blog…I volunteer, and really I just do the things that I see need to be done–if I can.
But that title is gone now. And I’m at peace about it. Folks keep asking me how I’m doing with the loss of my fitness career. And, honestly I’m fine. God shut that door. And that’s cool. I asked Him if I should close it and He went ahead and did it for me. But, He is always faithful…and with that direction gone, He was quick to give me other opportunities. Opportunities I didn’t seek out, or even knew existed.
After I got the news that the gym was out of the picture, I started getting calls. One invited me to be an artist as a summer concert series…I’ll be doing visual arts–not musical arts. Nobody panic. Another invited me to be a vendor at our local jazz festival…where I could sell pieces that I’ve made. Another call ended with a freelance writing gig {I love to write.} And another lined up an ongoing commercial multimedia project.
God is so good. And while one door has closed, like the Reverend Mother told Maria as she left the convent, “When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.” I’m feeling very blessed…like I better be sure I’m always fully clothed…because God has surrounded me with lots of windows.
Have you had doors close lately? Have you found your windows, or are you still looking? I’d love to hear from you and know how I could pray for you.
xo
Amy
Pssst! The nifty art in this post is some stuff I’ve been working on since I’m not working out. After the initial sales, you’ll find those and items like it for sale right here at the website!
by Amy | Jun 13, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Everybody, meet Leah. She’s new here. As in, new to Earth. So be nice.
She was born on May 31st. And she is an addition to a beautiful family. You might recognize them. From Zoe’s Cake Smash, Fall, Christmas, or–most recently–an adorable mommy and me maternity session.
Leah is a pure joy. I’m just so happy she has arrived.
All new born sessions make me giddy. I just love putting a sleepy baby into little spaces and cute little headbands…taking a zillion photos of their perfect fingers, toes and noses. But this session with Leah had a particularly magical moment. You see, I got to be there when Zoe was first allowed to hold her new baby sister.
If you read the post about the mommy and me maternity session, you know this one can be quite a handful…and a challenge to wrangle a smile out of. But when Allison and Scott sat her down on a blanket in the yard and told her she could hold Leah, I’ve never seen her happier. She eagerly raised her hands up, grabbing at the air, eager.
It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Really. This was an artful moment.
What a great looking family.
xo
Amy
by Amy | May 23, 2014 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Say “Hi” to one of my favorite families, the Gillman clan.
Now, let me issue a public apology here. I’m very sorry I didn’t get your session finished up and to you before I ran away to Maine for 10 days. But–I did get a sneak set up of some of my favorite images from the shoot. I hope these will hold you over until I get home. In the mean time…enjoy these. Loading them on wi-fi that runs slower than molasses in Minot is proving to be quite the feat. However, I’m committed and I’m sorry. So here goes.
So what if the grass isn’t quite as green as Ireland and the trees are still pretty darn bare? After rescheduling our session multiple times due to weather {read me…snow, ice and 20 wind chills in MAY} we were just happy to finally get out and get some fun photos. Even though it was still a little gusty, the temps were in the upper sixties and we had a great time hanging out at the trestle under the train tracks.
These kids are so fun. And very well behaved. For me, it is always the most fun to shoot kids with personality. And there is no shortage here. I like it when kids are happy. So catching these two playing in these wide open spaces and giggling at their mom’s antics behind my back was a real treat.
Thanks again Gillmans! I can’t wait to see you when I get home…and after a multi-hour lay over, I should have your session pretty much finished up.
xo
Amy
by Amy | May 20, 2014 | Blog, Crafts, The Art of Projects, The Art of the Moment
I did some walk in portrait sessions about a week ago. So I made a new backdrop.
Did I have other things I could have used? Probably. Okay, fine…yes. But I was in the mood for something new, something reusable, and something versatile. So I made a the backdrop you see above. It was insanely easy. Insanely. Let’s go.
You’ll need:
- 2.5 yards of fabric in 3 patterns
- 2.5 yards of lace {if you want it}
- Rope
- Scissors
First, find yourself a good episode of Dateline or Call the Midwife to watch while you are doing this. It’s easy…but a little mindless…so obviously, I like the TV on.
Next, unfold your first cut of fabric. I used flannels since they were on clearance the day I shopped, but any cotton weave will do. Snip along the short edge, making cuts every couple inches. I varied mine a bit to give the finished product a little variety.
After that, pull our your muscles and start ripping. That’s right. Just tear the fabric into strips, starting where you snipped.
Repeat on all your fabric.
For the lace, I accordion folded it a few times, then cut it into strips. You want all of your strips to be 7.5′ long…so be sure you are making strips that extend down the fabric…not across the short side.
You’ll be left with a pile of fabric strips. Take those and tie them onto a piece of rope. I just tied them once…no fancy knots here. This amount of fabric will create a backdrop that is 7′ tall and up to 8′ wide…more if you don’t mind sparse streamers. Once all your strips have been tied on, you can hang the ends from anything that is convenient. Whether that is a backdrop stand {if you are really legit}, a drop ceiling {that’s what I did}, or something you have laying around your house is totally up to you. I just wouldn’t use it outside on a windy day.
Then, keep your eyes out for clearance fabric that would make a good backdrop. These are a little addictive.
xo
Amy
Oh, did I mention that this one is having a train themed birthday party??
