Cody & Jessica

I shot Cody & Jessicas engagement pictures a couple of months ago. Last weekend I met Jessica at Ashlyn Manor for her bridal session (I cannot wait for you to see them).

Cody & Jessica will tie the knot in April.

P.S. I have blogged seven days straight.

With This Ring

I L-O-V-E ring shots! They are my favorite.

Matt & Stephanie, Hallettsville, Texas. 2.7.2009

Senior Portrait Tip #4

Senior Portrait Tip #4: Don't wait until the last minute.

Your senior year is a whirlwind of events. Graduation will be here before you know it. Be sure to book early enough to give yourself time to proof and place your order. You will want your wallets back four to six weeks before graduation so you can include them in the invitations.

Call 936.334.4403 to book your session today.

Senior Portrait Tip #3

Senior Portrait Tip #3: Bring a parent, friend or sibling.

Bring a parent, friend or sibling along on the shoot, so they can help you with your clothing and hair, and to make you feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Graduating Seniors Need Our Help

LIBERTY, February 24, 2009 – Funding for the senior prom and project graduation at Liberty High School is running behind due to Hurricane Ike and the state of our economy says, Julie Cain. Additionally business contributors to project graduation are tapped out and two large fundraisers have been lost.

Luckily there is a way that we can all help to overcome these obstacles.

Stumps, a company that sells prom and party supplies, is having a contest whereby they give over $65,000 dollars worth of prom and decorations and party favors. One school from each State wins one prize of $1,000.00. The state winners then compete to win one of three grand prizes. The grand prizewinners are determined by the 3 states that have the most votes cast for them. The grand prize takes care of the DJ, party favors and decorations.

Liberty High School has been entered in the Stumps Contest. The greatest number of votes per school determines the winner. You can vote one time per day. If we win, we can have all of our decorations, DJ and favors paid for. That will really lift a burden since we are so far behind in fundraising. This is how you vote for Liberty High School.

1. Go to http://www.stumpsprom.com
2. Scroll down to the Proms Across American window (bottom left) and click
3. Then click on the bubble that says 'Vote Now'
4. Scroll down to Texas, then find Liberty High School, click it, then go to the bottom and hit VOTE. You must hit the vote button for it to count.

You can hit the results button to see how we stand next to other Texas schools that have entered. At this time we are behind in the nation but winning Texas. Seniors ask that you please tell your friends and family to vote each day. Forward this all around town and ask everyone to help our class and vote for us each day on as many computers as they have access to. Like work or school and again on their home computer. We are a great town with a lot of spirit. If everyone helps us, we can win!!!

Style

As a photographer it is important to develop "a style." You want to brand yourself and your images.

I received an email today that brightened my day...

Teresa pulled up your site for me-bravo by the way, they are beautiful. I like the non-traditional photos caught with "abstract" background so much. ~Christi Cossey

Thank you Christi for warming my heart. Your simple words meant so much.

Senior Portrait Tip #2

Senior Portrait Tip #2: Know what you want

Photographers vary in their style. What do you want your senior portraits to look like? What image do you want to portray?

For instance, I as a photographer strive to have MODERN. MAGAZINE STYLE IMAGES. I look through fashion magazines and websites daily. I study the way the models are posed, what they are wearing, locations, etc.

I look for old worn buildings. Vintage surroundings. I have photographed clients using: culverts. abandoned houses. hay fields. bar walls. I am ALWAYS looking for new "unique" places. My eyes are always exploring.

Do not be afraid to ask a photographer about their style. Know what you want and do not be afraid to ask questions!

My "style" is not for everyone...and that is totally understandable. We are unique individuals. We have variety in every aspect of our lives--from fastfood, to books, to professions, to clothes, etc. One "size" does NOT fit everyone!

Senior Portrait Tip #1

Senior Portrait Tip #1: Put thought into your session.

Look like a model: If you ever look in fashion magazines you will notice that they are fashionable from head to toe. Clothes are not enough. Remember the little things that complete a look: jewelry, shoes, handbags, hair, nails, etc.

Need help preparing...don't fret...we can help. Contact us for a 1 on 1 consultation.

Book your senior portraits today. Availability: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays.
Call Amanda 936.334.4403 or 936.336.9976

Best Friends

I love animals. Josh always says I care more and have more compassion for animals than I do people. Animals do not have a voice. We have to be their voice!

One of my New Years Resolution is to give more care and compassion to homeless animals.

Best Friends Animal Society, a wonderful organization! Their new campaign: No More Homeless Pets.

Visit the Best Friends webpage today! Get involved. Their stories will tug at your heart.

Dr. John, of Pet Place gives wonderful advice and tips for pet care.

I was not feeling all that wonderful today, I have a sinus infection and my asthma is acting up...so I stayed in. Of course I cannot just sit around--here are some updated portraits of Mr. Thomas Henry.

Henry was a product of a stray cat we took in. He is now the love of our life.

Please remind me...

My co-worker weirdly looked at me when I said, "would you please remind me to go get my drivers license." I said, "what?" "You really have to have someone remind you to go get something as important as your drivers license?" YES.

I don't think about my license until I need it.

Two weeks ago I could not get Zyrtec D WITHOUT MY DRIVERS LICENSE.

Last Friday, I went all over looking for this movie. I even drove to another city. Was going to open a new membership. But guess what...you need a DRIVERS LICENSE.

I needed to take an iron back to Wal-Mart. Guess what...you have to have a DRIVERS LICENSE.

I cant go tomorrow, I have to let my blemish go away. You have to look beautiful for your picture, since it sticks with you for the next 10-15 years.

So--please remind me next week...to get my drivers license :)

Would you Clone your Pet?

Couple happy with cloned pup



This couple, Edgar and Nina Otto, paid $150,000 to clone their late dog using stored DNA. They say the cloned puppy eerily walks like original and crosses paws like him.

I love my Henry (my cat). After seeing this article/video clip I was so excited to tell Josh all about it. Well the conversation(s) did not play out like I thought it would. I thought Josh would also be excited to hear this. I was wrong. He said I must not believe in "souls."

If I had $150,000 I would have Henry's DNA stored and if anything happened to him, I would have his clone.

Am I weird for wanting to do this? Would you have your pet cloned?

Grahm

One of my oldest and dearest friends was blessed with her new bundle of joy. Grahm decided to enter the world a little early.

Congratulations Heath & Tracy on your baby boy. He is so handsome.

Pictures below, Grahm 7 days old.

Happy Valentines Day

I had a wonderful Valentines Day at home with Josh.

I woke up running fever and have felt terrible all day. However, Josh made this Valentines the best ever.

He got my favorite Pizza, Pizza Inn, for lunch.

Surprised me with a James Avery "lovers knot" ring.

And cooked me steak for dinner.

I hope all of you had a wonderful day filled with love and happiness.

Inauguration 2009, My Experience

Aisle 9 Safe Way Grocery Store (picture taken with phone)


The alarm sounded at 3:30 a.m. (three short hours after I had gone to bed)

We told the students that we would be leaving the hotel by 4:55 a.m. We had made arrangements the night before with the security guard about transporting all of us to the nearby Metro station. The way I had planned is not the way it played out. It took three trips to transport us to the nearby Pier 1 parking lot. Traffic was already at a stand still by 5:00 a.m. We paid him $200 to drive us (I think 2 miles down the road).

We had to hike down a hill, walk about a mile (in a long single file line) to stand in another line to catch the train.

I carefully divided us into two groups (two by two) to catch the next train out. We were ready! The door hit one group (my group) perfectly and the other one--well not so perfectly. My group was able to rest/relax catch some sleep and hear songs like "God Bless America" while the others were stuck in the next section--standing and being pushed and shoved.

I of course could not sleep. Excited and nervous about what was about to unfold.

We got off at our stop and carefully counted to make sure we had all the students (we did this frequently throughout the day).

Walking down the street was amusement to my eyes. Obama shirts, buttons, key chains, stickers, and even Obama music lined the streets. We found a nearby building that read BREAKFAST. We stopped in for a quick bite to eat and a restroom break (little did we know that would be the last restroom break for the day!)

After talking to some volunteers I had decided that it was not in my best interest to use the tickets that we had acquired through our U.S. Senators and Representative. (the volunteer said it was too cold and being so little I would not see anything--that I should just stay on the outskirts).

There were volunteers dressed in red everywhere! Shouting "Change this way", "Change starts today", "Change", "Change", "Change." It really helped the ambiance of the event.

It was time to decided what we would do. Would we use the tickets--or not? My friend/co-worker decided we would later regret it if we did not use the tickets. So we parted ways. Regina and Randy and their group went one way and we (the group of eight) went the other way.

The beginning of the walk was good. The mood was upbeat. Happy. We were heading toward CHANGE! We were feeling it. The students even got to witness protesters. They really enjoyed that. We even stopped to pose for a couple of pictures. THEN we entered the hectic part. We had to push our way through miles of people. Clenched hands and locked arms, we made it through.

We had finally arrived to the Silver Gate "Heaven." Hmmmmm....where does the line begin? People were filing into the silver gate from every direction. Cops shouting and getting a little rude to stand back. We stood in line only to find it did not move. Bad move--we started back to meet the other group only to find we were stuck. They had closed the entrance of the way we came. We went back to the silver gate, and (long. long. long story short) we stayed outside the silver area. We were close. However, I could not see or hear much of anything.

Oh but that was the good part of the day. You see we could not get back to the hotel! After it was over we pushed our way through to the Metro. Stood in line for an hour--the line did not move. We walked to the next Metro. Line did not move. I finally found us shelter at Safe Way (the grocery store). We sat on aisle 9 to defrost. We got kicked off aisle 9 and I moved us to the chip/beef jerky aisle and found us a bite to eat. We could eat--just not drink. Remember--we still had not had the opportunity to use a restroom.

After an hour of warm, dirty floor, grocery store shelter we were on the move again. To where? Who knows? We wondered the city helplessly looking for a way out!

The other group (since they were on the outskirts of the crowd) were able to make it to the Metro station. They took the train to Springfield, VA--where we were staying. Our bus driver met them and they were on their way to save the day and pick us up! OR so we thought. You see there were 14,000 people walking down the interstate which held up traffic. We waited. And waited. And waited. They could not get to us. His partner was "supposedly" within the perimeter and was going to pick us up. We waited. And waited. And waited.

I was over stalking the empty Metro buses that were just sitting there begging to just sit in one. No luck.

Finally one of the students yelled "he will take us to the hotel for $200." I said yes! Yes! Jonathan, the other sponsor, said $200? I at this point would of paid him $500 to get back to the hotel. It was close to five p.m. and we had been outside in the cold for twelve hours. The lovely driver was yelling for his $200.

It was a nice warm ride back to the hotel. As soon as I got on the elevator--I looked at Jonathan and said "my wallet is in car." He ran down--of course the driver was long gone.

I lost over $200, six memory cards, my favorite lipstick, and my gum. Oh and my id. Yes my id!

I cried. Called Josh. Regina calmed me down. Called the airline to see if I would be able to get home without an id. Josh faxed a copy of an old id and I made it home.

Call me positive, but Saturday afternoon we pulled in the driveway and I saw a large envelope sticking out of the mailbox. I said "Josh it is my wallet." "No, it is my defensive driving record and you know Amanda you really need to hang up the idea that your stuff is going to make it back to you." I still have hope. After all...I experienced the CHANGE in the world!

(it is late and I did not proof read this really, "really" long post--so forgive any mistakes)

I Survived!

I figured it was time to come out of hibernation.

I had an absolute blast on the Washington, D.C. trip! I laughed, cried and created wonderful memories!

We were on the go 24/7 it seemed. I think I slept about three hours each night. When we got home--I went into hibernation. Josh woke me up that Saturday morning and said--you have been sleeping for 13 hours--it is time to get up.

I am a night owl. I stay up until all hours of the night. Now--I cannot stay up past eleven.

I will be posting about the trip over the next couple of days/weeks. I cannot wait to share all the stories.