MOVED!!

I've been working on getting a real website up and running for about 3 weeks now, and my hard work has finally paid off!! I will no longer be using this blog anymore, because my new website has a blog built-in! :) Go take a look at all my pictures, and update your RSS feeds with the new link! :)

www.amanda-joy-photography.com

PS - Go look through the pictures! You might find your face.... :)

Raw - School Project

I always portray happiness, joy and fun. Why not go with the opposite? Why not take off the masks?

Uncomfortable.

Raw.

Just look down.

I try not to blog about boring things. Or boring pictures. But I'm breaking my rule today. These are my boring thoughts and boring pictures. 

This is me. 

I went for a walk today. It was cold.

I made up a game for myself: find something to blog about. 

But I couldn't. I couldn't find anything. Mostly because the sidewalks were so treacherous that I couldn't lift my eyes up long enough to see anything worth taking a picture of. 

And then I stopped. ('Cause there was something in my way.)

Why do I always try to see something new? Why do I always try and look around for something I haven't seen before? 

What if I'm supposed to just look down?

Isn't it that way in life?

Why do I always try and see what's next? Why do I always want to know what God has for me tomorrow?

Can't I just look down? Look down where He's planted my feet?

I was rebuked. 

Proverbs 16:9

The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

The numbers are getting to me.

I've been working like crazy to get my business all in order this past month. I've invested in Quickbooks, and have been doing my best to get accustomed to using it in my workflow. 

What an addicting program! (Did I mention I'm a nerd?)

So... I took a break. 

Enough of numbers, invoices, customers, jobs, and money. I need Cheezits. (Or.... as a friend on Facebook reminded me... Chee-"zits"....)

But I don't care. Really.

I think the numbers got to me. Because all of a sudden... those little joy-filled crackers ended up in my hot chocolate.

So, what's crazier? That I dunk my Cheezits in hot chocolate, or that I moved my mug by the door for a better picture?

But all of a sudden... it didn't matter. I had just dipped my camera strap in ranch.

Maybe I should just stick with numbers today...

The end.

(Isn't that a good story?)

Guilty.

Everyone has guilty pleasures.

Mine is a camera. (Go figure!)

Something about using a Canon makes me feel guilty. 

(Canon's make the best cheap cameras though... so I know my Nikon body isn't offended. I'm sorry if you are.)

Something about using on-camera flash makes me feel as if I'm breaking the rules.

Cause I am.

With my point and shoot.

Cold vs. Happiness

I'm a big fan of shooting outdoors. This we know, right?

And I'm also a big fan of shooting families. This we know as well, right?

So... logically, I love shooting families outdoors.

Even when it's 18 degrees.

I love meeting extended family of people I already know - it's always a treat to watch interactions and relationships.

 

Plus, these kids are adorable.

And I kinda have a thing for kids. Ya know...

I joked with them that I'd "Photoshop" the coldness out of their faces.

It's a special trick I use. It's quite difficult.

I call it...

Happiness.

Studio beauty

I'm getting more and more used to the studio.

A while back, I shot a friend in the studio at my school! She's getting into modeling....

Cause she's gorgeous.

Obviously.

Shooting in the studio hasn't always been easy for me.

I'm much more of a natural light, outdoor shooter!

But hey.

You won't get better until you practice, right?

(Except for being beautiful. Tara didn't have to practice. She just is.)