Ahhh…it’s been a while.  Back to this.  At least for this week.  ;)

1.  It is SUMMER!!  The first day of summer is officially today.  At least I think.  I didn’t pay too much attention to that stuff when I was in school.  Either way I am excited.  Beautiful weather, possibly temperatures NOT dipping back into the 50′s requiring us to do shoots with warm clothes instead of cute summer looks…  Summer.  It’s here and I am so glad to be back outside.

2.  On that note Daily Tea is having a great sale right now on summer dresses if you need some ideas for little girls. Think how cute these would be in pictures!!  I must try to resist….  I love the bright colors and patterns for photos.

3.  And on THAT note, there is a summer calendar update coming up after this post. So if you want to book a session this summer you will definitely want to read that.

4.  I am starting to think ahead to fall sessions.  Yep.  It’s already that time.  We photographers are kind of like clothing stores – we are always planning and thinking ahead to the next season.  I know, it’s crazy to even consider putting on jeans and sweaters or getting photos for holiday cards…I know, really.  But this is when we start shopping for holiday card templates and planning holiday mini sessions, etc.  This year I think I am going to be going to the great state of NY for some sessions if I can arrange it with this one family…

5.  Kind of a big one – we are MOVING!!!  Just about 25 minutes north of where we are now so it won’t affect my business.  But still.  We are moving!  Finally after all these years of my husband’s medical training we are in a place to settle down and stay a while (at least we plan to!) and are buying our first house.  Craziness – we are actually becoming real adults.  Home ownership.  Scary.  It’s happening in early August so I will be unavailable the first part of the month (again, see details in the calendar update post)

And since it WAS just Father’s Day weekend, I am cheating for the last five and posting my top 5 favorite daddy shots from this year so far (in no particular order):

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1.  Spring is almost here.  Can you feel it????  I can!  (So can my little girl – she loves her sunglasses!)  And I can see grass.  For the first time since about December I can see grass in our yard and all of the snow has finally melted away!  We were up to about three feet at one point so that is really quite the change.  AND did you know that the time change happens this weekend?  Yes, we lose one hour of sleep but that means we get more daylight.  No more coming home in the dark at 5:30.  Gone are those days and spring and summer are right around the corner.  It’s a great time all around!

2.  Along with Spring comes time for photos.  The trees are getting leaves back, flowers are starting to grow.  Yes, it is muddy.  No doubt about that.  But it is time to get back outside.  And I cannot wait.  I have a maternity session on the 26th of March and I am just hoping and praying she wants to go outside.  After a winter of newborns (which I do love very much) I cannot wait to be shooting out in the sun again.

3.  Speaking of newborns, I now have four or five newborns in May that are all due within about 12 days of each other.  That is going to be some crazy baby time in there.

4.  If you are free this Sunday, I am giving a beginners workshop on how to take better photos of your kids.  This workshop does NOT deal with shooting in manual or editing.  But I will be teaching about composition, lighting, etc.  Very basic overview things that will help you get some better pictures of your kids.  Again, as we start to go back outside.  (Yippee for outside one more time!)  The class will be held at Bellani Maternity on Route 2 in Warwick on Sunday from 1-3.  The cost is $45 and you can register by calling the store at 401-234-1279.  I am not sure when they are closing registration but it will be soon.

5.  I don’t think I put it out anywhere but I am proud to announce that I was recently accepted into the National Association of Professional Child Photographers    I believe at this time there is only one other photographer in Rhode Island that is a member.

6.  I am headed to Delaware in May!  At least I am 90% sure I am.  When the client officially fills out her paperwork and send the session fee then I will be 100% sure.  This is the second time someone has had me come from out of state for newborn photos so I am feeling super duper loved!!  (Again, about 90% super duper loved )  I am 90% sure I will be in the area the weekend of May 14/15, probably arriving on the 13th.  I might perhaps possibly have time for some other photos while I am there so if you are in that area and wanted to think about it, keep me in mind!

It’s question time!! 

7.  You had an amazing image you posted a few weeks back of an amazing nursery with light flowing into a window, and it was magical! It is definitely one of my favorites of yours. Do you have a favorite image, or shoot?

Right now, that image is one of my absolute favorites ever!!  It was just the perfect combination of setting, light and baby.  As for shoots, that newborn shoot was one of my favorites.  I have a few favorite images and shoots though, all for different reasons.  The newborn shot of the daugher cradled in dad’s arm with the tattoos ranks right up there as does my family shot that I used in my Bigger is Better Version 2.0 post.  For shoots, I absolutely loved the shoot with my friend Dani and her family that I showed some images from HERE. Something about it 

8.  When you have an image including the sun, how do you get it to look like a starburst instead of a huge blob of light? Is it a filter?

Usually just stopping down to a lower (higher?) aperture will produce more defined rays, ie going from f/2.8 to f/5.6 or f/11 or even higher.  That and if you can get the sun coming over the edge of something – a building, a tree, etc, it will help to separate the light into distinct rays or more of a starburst effect instead of the blob.  I will admit freely though, that I rarely get it on the first try!  I often have to change settings to get the exact look that I want!

9.  Hi Amy… just curious how you like (or not like) being a doctor’s wife?

Wow.  This is a tough one!!  Hmmm.  At different points I have liked it in different ways.  Medical school was pretty intense but fun.  Residency was really really tough with the hours and responsibilities, not made easier by having our first baby three months in!  Fellowship, even though it was a short stay, was easier.  Attending has it’s moments.  I knew what I was getting into when we started dating though.  Thankfully I realized that it would be a lot of nights where I wouldn’t see him, a lot of bedtimes that I do by myself, weeks where my kids don’t see him for three straight days.  Weekends where he spends more time at the hospital than he does at home.  But for us it is all worth it.  The job stability (knock on wood!) is there.  He loves what he does.  And it’s really nice if there are health concerns to have an “in”.  Plus you get treated really well when you are in labor if your husband is an OB!  LOL!!

10.  Hi Amy, what do you lay babies on underneath the blanket you use as a backdrop? A bean bag? Pillow? Please help, I’ve been trying to figure that one out for a while now.

I have a large vinyl puck-style beanbag that goes under my blankets and then that is clamped to chairs behind the setup.  I purchased the beanbag from hayneedle (http://www.hayneedle.com).  For certain positions I will also use a rolled up blanket or boppy on top of the beanbag underneath the blankets.  Click HERE to see a pull back (with notes) that I did with an old beanbag last year.  My setup is the same now but much wider and flatter.

The whole snow days last week into the MLK holiday this week has totally thrown my sense of time off.  I thought today was Tuesday.  Turns out it’s not.  It’s Wednesday.  Yay for being one day closer to the weekend!!!  But EEK for having lost a day somewhere!   So today, my Ten on Tuesday on Wednesday!

1.  I am off for an adult vacation starting this weekend.  Can’t WAIT!  It’s only been six and a half years since we really did anything without the kids that wasn’t work related.    So so so looking forward to it.  I even rented a different camera body and fun wide angle lens to play with on the trip.  So look for some ocean / beach landscape stuff sometime in the next few weeks!

2.  Are you due in February or do you know someone who is?  I will be announcing a special for February newborns only tomorrow (Thursday) so check the blog and Facebook Business Page

3.  I keep getting people asking me about how do I get babies to sleep.  Let me tell you, I am soooo due a sleepy baby!!  My last three newborns have slept – but only after a few hours of being awake!    They were still awesome but I just feel that I am due a nice super sleepy the entire time newborn bundle of cuteness.  The upside of not sleeping babies?  Lots of snuggling on my part 

4.  How did you learn Photoshop? If you are “self taught”, are there any books or resources you really like?

Self taught.    Lots and lots of trial and error though, and taking time to learn what the different tools do.  I definitely went through an “actions are AWESOME” phase hahaha!  Then I backed off of that.  I still don’t know what everything does – I was on a board the other day where they were talking about a radial tool (I think?) and I had no clue what they were talking about!!  In terms of resources, I really highly recommend the Scott Kelby books.  He explains everything in very simple, easy terms.  I started with him when i started way back with PS Elements.  I also go the regular photoshop book when i moved to that but I haven’t tried any newer books.  You start learning what things are and what they do.

5.  What is your favorite book?

This is actually really REALLY tough for me!  I even gave myself an extra week to think about it.  It ends up being a tie, but only slightly because they are the same author.  I have to say one of the most powerful books I have ever read was A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.  Absolutely amazing.  So hard to read but so incredibly amazing.  I read the entire thing in one sitting – I couldn’t stop.  My other favorite, also by Hosseini, which was equally powerful was The Kite Runner.  Two just heart wrenching novels.  On a more lighthearted note, I adore the Harry Potter series. 

6. How do you prepare your images for Facebook?

Ahhh great question.  For a while I didn’t really do anything special.  And I still don’t have a “perfect” method because there is something in Facebook’s interface that messes up colors and sharpness.  All of my images from camera to the end are shot in sRGB (though technically because I am shooting in RAW there is no profile until it is brought onto the mac)  I know that the widest image it will display is 600px.  I use a free resize and sharpen action that I got years ago (I believe on ilovephotography.com).  I size it to 600px for horizontal and 428px for vertical.  Then once it is resized the action sharpens it for web with two different unsharp masks.  The last step that I so is Save for Web.  This helps to prepare it for the web.  Then I just add “fb” to the end of the filename so I know which version to upload!

7.  What is your favorite (and most used) lens for newborns? kids/families?

For newborns the 50mm 1.4g.  Definitely.  And for kids, my 70-200 vrII.

8.   Do you ever use off camera flash for newborns?

If a house is really really dark and i find myself having to crank up to ISO 3200 or something, I will throw a speedlight on and bounce the light behind me, preferably off a window.  But in general, no.  You will almost never see me use a flash, ever.  I find the light and make the shoot work there!!

9.  Where do you find your inspiration for new ideas?? Do you ever get the photographers version of ‘writer’s block’?

All the time!!  I feel like I get suck in the rut of doing the same thing over and over.  Sometimes I just peruse Flickr.  Literally, I relax my eyes and scroll through images.  I don’t know if this will make sense, but things register without becoming permanently imprinted on my brain.  Like if I am doing a couple’s shoot, I will go to the blogs of some of my favorite people.  I will set back in my chair, relax and scroll down their blogs.  I don’t stop and read and I don’t really stop and focus on the images – I kind of let them wash over me…  Another new site that I am finding very useful is pinterest.com.  I see things that others “pin” and get ideas from that.  I flip through catalogs, store advertisements, etc.  Ideas come from all over!

10.  Do you have to jump up and down to get the kids to look at you?

HA!  Oh my goodness do I!!  I jump up and down.  I dance, I hop.  I sing songs.  I lay on the ground, I quack like a duck and moo like a cow.  I put things on my camera, my head, my nose.  You name it I’ve done it.  Even farting noises for the boys.  Anything to get their attention. 

1.  Ahhhhhhh does it ever feel good to get back into the swing of things.  This time last week I was writing about how I was still on vacation.  Fast forward to today and I have done two newborn shoots and have another one this weekend.  I love it.  I missed it.  A lot.  Of course I didn’t miss the pressure (that, admittedly I totally put on myself) that comes with editing a session, getting sneak peeks up, etc.  But oh did I ever miss shooting.  And snuggling little tiny ones….sigh.  They smell so good and they are just so squeezable and lovable.  Even if they are pooping on my new white shirt which I just bought…  But I digress.  I am BACK, baby.  Okay.  Kind of.  I go on vacation in two weeks and only have a few newborns on my schedule.  But I am back.  It’s a new year.  And I am SO ready for it.

2.  I want a new camera bag.  And i know somewhere, if Matt is reading this (which he totally isn’t) he is rolling his eyes.  I just got my gorgeous Jo Totes bag which I love love love love love.  But that is my pretty bag.  My take-it-to-my-clients-house bag.  And it’s occurring to me that we are moving out of the phase slowly (very slowly judging by the 12-16 inches of snow we are getting tonight/tomorrow) and I will need a bag for running around the park.  And my equipment has now outgrown my beloved Lowepro Slingshot 200.  The mindless easy way would be to go to the 300.  And I’ll probably do that.  But I’m only 5’4″ and that bag might be half as tall as I am…perhaps I should look around some more.  Any thoughts?

3.  I love love love this shot from last week.  Yes, that is a soothie in her mouth.  She wouldn’t give it up.  But I love the little curl of eyelash.  She had the most gorgeous curling lashes.  And I just love capturing that little teeeeeeeny tiny detail.

4.  My favorite time of the year has started.  Big East basketball season.  If you know me, you know I love sports.  Especially college basketball.  LOVE it.  And I am a Big East girl so it is very close to my heart.  We may suck in football but 7 teams in the top 25 consistently in basketball, we will take your conference on any time.    But every night, I sit on the couch with my laptop working and I have a game on in the background.  So exciting!!!!

5. I have a new website that I have a feeling I will be addicted to shortly.  Pinterest.com.  I started seeing it appear on my Facebook Feed and didn’t know what it is.  But then other friends started talking about it so I joined.  Oh My Gosh.  A virtual pinboard of inspiration.  Anything you see online you can “pin” it to your board.  I have one for inspiring photography, one for food and recipes, one for house decorating ideas, one for clothing and another I am blanking on.  But it’s a giant inspiration board and I love love love it.  Right now I am just loving looking at all of the people I am following on there and their boards – some of my friends have AMAZING taste.  But check it out.  And then ask around for invitations from people.  I guarantee you will be addicted, too. 

6.  One extra.  I have made it a personal goal to get to 2000 fans by June on my Facebook Business page (click HERE!!!!) That is roughly 420 more fans between now and then. It’s ambitious, but I hope think have no doubt I can do it.  (I think I can, I think I can!!)  So go fan me, tell you family and friends to fan me.  I provide pretty pictures and funny commentary.  Really, what better way to brighten up your Facebook feed?? 

And this week’s questions:

7.  How did you get into photography and how long have you been doing it?

I started taking pictures when I was young – probably under ten?  My dad had a film SLR that I thought was just amazing.  And then of course my mom had the long skinny 35mm camera.  The one that looks like a flat rectangle – I think we all had them in the 80s.  I started then and just kind of kept taking photos!  I have been in business for 3.5 years now. 

8. How do you archive all of the photos you take – for clients and personal ones?

Everything goes onto two separate external hard drives as well as a DVD.  Then I print as needed from there which, for my family photos, I admit is very rarely.

9.  How did you meet your hubby?

When I was at Syracuse I was in the marching band in the colorguard (flag).  Matt was also in the band at UConn (trumpet).  I belonged to the sorority associated with the band, Tau Beta Sigma and Matt was in the fraternity at his school, Kappa Kappa Psi.  The two had conferences together several times a year and we were in the middle of nowhere in Clarion, PA when I saw him across the room in his plaid flannel.  (It was the 90′s, remember)  I said to myself “I want to meet HIM.”  So when he showed up at a party a few weeks later in Syracuse I made sure I did 

10.  What’s your favorite day of the week, and why?

Thursday!!!  I know for most people it’s Friday but Thursday is Matt’s day off of work so I get to spend the day with him at home and the kids are guaranteed time with him.  We try to have breakfast together after the kids have been dropped off at school.  Our original goal was to try a different diner each week since Nolan is egg allergic and we never ever get to go out to breakfast, but I keep scheduling sessions on Thursday that prevent us from going.  Oops!  Then when Nolan comes home in the afternoon I have extra work time because Matt is home!

11. Do you have an all-time favorite photo?

You know, I really don’t!  I have a few that are special to me but nothing where I am like “wow, this is my favorite EVER.”  I think I suffer from the same thing a lot of photographers do – I love my work when I shoot it.  And then when I look back on it in two weeks or two months I hate it.  Not hate.  Hate is a strong word.  But I don’t like it as much and I can only see what I did wrong.  I guess for that reason if I had to pick a favorite it would probably be a landscape photo because I could find the fewest things wrong with it that bugged me 

1.  I am so glad to be home!!  I love traveling and I certainly love seeing old friends and making new ones (and holding new babies of dear old friends!!).  But man does it feel good to come home and sleep in my bed in my house and be surrounded by my family!!  I think they missed me too Next trip is in three weeks – I leave for Chicago on August 6th and can’t wait.  I have only been there once and I was six months pregnant.  I plan to have a little more fun this time – along with of course doing sessions for some fabulous families!

2.  I love the unpredictability of newborns.  The newborn that started my trip to Chicago in August made her debut three and a half weeks early, and the newborn I am waiting here right here in RI is going to be about a week late.  Go figure.  Thankfully it shouldn’t (I reallllllly hope) affect their sessions.  I will get an extra young one (four days) and an extra old one (four weeks).  That’s all…I hope.

3.  I will have in my hands later this morning the delicious 135 2.0 lens.  I decided to rent something a little different for two shoots that are scheduled this week with older kids (14-21).  I cannot WAIT to get my hands on it.  I know that I am going to fall madly in love with it simply because Nikon has discontinued it for the moment and there is no word on when they are going to be releasing  new version of it.  Sigh.  Here’s hoping it is as magical as everyone tells me it is.  I know that I am excited for it!

4.  For an availability update, I have July 31, August 1 and August 28 left for summer weekend sessions.  I do have some availability during weekdays but those, too are disappearing quickly

5.  One from a newborn session I haven’t shared here yet…  Sometimes they can look *so* wise for just a few weeks old.

6.  I have three new baskets that I found at my new love, Hobby Lobby.  Sadly, Hobby Lobby does not exist here in RI so I had to buy them in NC and ship them north via UPS.  But I will add it to my list of pro’s for moving to NC.  Do I think it will really happen?  Probably not.  But a girl can hope.  I the meantime I will enjoy my new baskets.  I love love love them.  I have a bad addiction to baskets.  And the ironic part is that I don’t even use them that often.  I just have grand plans to…and carry them around in the back of my Tucson “just in case”  Makes grocery shopping interesting when it comes time to put the bags in the car.

7.If you were one of the people who got in on my mini-maternity sessions I have not forgotten you, I promise.  You will be hearing from me soon, I just need to get through the thick of things here which I can see happening in the next week.  I see the light wayyyy down there at the end of the tunnel of editing but it is definitely closer than it was a few days ago.

8.  Another of gorgeous Charlotte from last week.  I did three sessions with her over three days and ONE TIME I had to shush and soothe her.  That was it.  One time.  She slept like an absolute log the entire time for each session. It was amazing.  More of her photos coming probably Thursday.  I am a *little* behind on the blogging.

9.  Have I mentioned that I have two weddings coming up in the next month with the fabulous Kristina Young of Kristina Young Photography?  I love shooting with her and I adore her as a person so I can’t wait!  Both of the weddings are in Boston – a rooftop deck and then a tent wedding.  Should be SO much fun.  Tiring, and a lot of work, but fun.

10.  Last for this week – I am starting to book fall dates already.  The cutoff for holiday sessions is going to be November 15 so please be aware of that when you are scheduling you session, especially considering that I will be taking few and far between Sunday sessions after August 1.  So I encourage you to book early

1.  I have only a few dates left between now and September 1.  Really, September 18, so don’t wait to book!

2.  If you’ve been my client recently you might have noticed that my packaging is kind of “eh”.  That is because I have been winding my way through the remaining packaging that I had from my last order – well over a year ago.  Well some new packaging is on its way to me since I am now basically out.  The first thing in yesterday were my new stickers.  Yay!!  I love stickers.  (The tins are what my lab gives with them to organize them – SO cute!)

3.  Apparently Layne likes my stickers as well.  While I was wedged between the couch on my left and the rocking chair on my right I felt a little someone pushing to get through my legs and see what I had on the floor:

4.  We are thinking of a family vacation in January or February.  The first thought was a Disney cruise before I realized that I would be in a 240 sq foot room with both kids.  Constantly.  For four or five or six days.  I nixed that.  The next thought was perhaps a Disney World vacation package.  That looks like a good option for us though we aren’t sure of Disney with a two year old.  Any other ideas for where to vacation?  It will be us, a five year old and a two year old.  Probably 4-7 nights depending on where we end up going.  Of course if it is photographically beautiful that is an added bonus

5.  One from Saturday morning’s beauty – more to come tomorrow.  Is she not one of the most beautiful little babies you have ever seen?  Those eyes and cheeks!

6.  My summer part-time nanny / babysitter starts next Monday and I cannot WAIT.  I will have three days per week where I am guaranteed someone else taking care of the kids and I can work.  I can meet clients, I can do sessions, I can do editing, I can go get a cup of coffee, I can actually run my business like it needs to be run!  Yippee!!!

7.  One from the maternity Saturday evening.  This was the first from my belly casting call sessions.  Loved her!  Is the color fabulous or what?

8.  I have a few cool macro shots that I will share with you later this week on here.  Yes, it IS a spider for those of you who saw the FB page but it was so neat.  And come on – I got six inches away from it!!  That alone should make you look (this from the girl who used to clamber up onto the couch and use the floor lamp to attempt to kill the spider that was probably 1/2 inch across….)

9.  Speaking of the FB page – I have shot UP UP UP in numbers!!  As of this moment writing (Monday night) I am at 966 people!!!!!  WOW.  I do not know where they came from or how they found me and I find it so hard to believe that they all like me enough to follow me but only 34 away from 1000.  One THOUSAND people?!?!?!!!  Like my friend Lyndsay said, “It’s like xx number of people standing in a room looking at your work.”  I can’t imagine 1000.  I dreamed of getting to 500.  Now to be so close is so exciting.  No, it doesn’t mean anything but it is really, really cool.  To me.    And to Matt when I make him listen to me and gush about it.  I am trying to think of something fun to do when I hit 1000 but I have no idea what!  Any ideas for me?  Maybe a giveaway that people have to respond to on the page…..

10.  I am going to be a busy lady coming up here soon!  I have a session possibly Thursday, I leave Friday for Philadelphia, back Monday then possibly two newborn sessions next week along with a toddler sessions Tuesday afternoon.  Whew!  Then I take off for North Carolina on the 4th.  Going to be a busy, busy few weeks but I love it!!!  (I must admit though, three nights in a hotel by myself with no early morning sessions is reallllllly appealing to me right now.)

1.  I announced it on Facebook but I have officially booked my summer travels!!  I am going to three fabulous cities – one each month as it turns out.  I do have special sessions and pricing available during these session dates.  The dates and locations are as follows, to book a session while I am in town or for more information just contact me!!  And if you want me to come to your city, just email me.  I LOVE traveling!!

2.  June 25-28 I will be in Philadelphia.  It is primarily to do two newborn sessions for former clients, but I have opened three spots for family sessions.  Only three spots.

3.  July 4-7 I will be in Greensboro, North Carolina.  Again, primarily for a newborn session but I will be glad to consider family sessions as well.  I will take sessions in Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Asheboro.  I also would consider sessions in Raleigh and Charlotte.

4. August 6-9 I will be in the gorgeous city of Chicago!!  Since I am not pregnant this trip, I hope to have a bit more fun than I did last time!  I am (yes, again) going primarily for a newborn shoot but will make up to four additional sessions available in the main Chicago area.  Since I don’t know the geography, I mean not having to travel outside of the city

5.  I hope you all had a great Memorial Day weekend!  We were off to NYC to celebrate my mommy’s birthday (I won’t tell how old she was )  We spent Saturday and Sunday there, and drove back Sunday night.  We got to visit some family I hadn’t seen in, oh, 22 years, and take in a game at Yankees Stadium.  Before the locals start an uprising, it was my sister’s plan to see the Yankees – she is the fan, I promise.  I will say though, the stadium IS quite beautiful.  The game was quite fun even though it was about 95 degrees and we were in direct sun the ENTIRE TIME.  My sunblock, sadly, did not hold up too well for me.  Ah well.

6.  A hint of what is coming tomorrow…

7.  I am booking LOTS of newborns again recently.  I think Rhode Island is having a baby boom!  So expect to see some on here.  I LOVE my newborns

8.  A hint of what is coming Thursday

9.  Tonight is Nolan’s end of the year concert at his school.  I cannot wait to see their little program!  He has told me that they are singing songs and that we “have to clap after each song.”  I certainly will   I will also be taking pictures.  And video.  And figuring out if, in fact, I *can* survive the school concerts.  For someone who used to perform constantly, I have told Matt time and time again that i absolutely dread the school concerts.  The off key singing, the horrible instrument performances, etc.  I don’t even watch American Idol <gasp> because I just cringe watching people who are anything less than perfectly on key and talented.   But I have a feeling since it’s my kid, that will change   I’ll let you know.

10.  Jane Goodall pictures will be up later this week.  I hope!!    The Institute has everything they need from me and I believe they should have archived the shots by now so hopefully I can share soon here.

1.  First, the third Get Manual class has filled up, yippee!  The number that I want it to be filled up to, at least.  A nice small group, I am SO looking forward to it!  Maybe this time I will take a group photo of everyone

2. We should hear on Thursday this week for sure on one of Matt’s job opportunities.  Please please please.  I hate this state of unknowing….

3.  Finishing up my editing for my clients I found this photo which I ::puffy:: heart.  Baby A. was trying to eat Samantha’s chin.  Reason number #1 why I don’t have moms hold newborns during a session – mommy smell equals FOOD   But  adore this picture SO much.  We all remember those moments with our own kids. 

4.  I recently got onto the Photography board of TheBump.com (no I am not pregnant, it is just a board that I visit).  And due to some pretty seemingly-silly rules (ie you can’t say if you are a pro, can’t mention your biz or recommend people) I have been asked by several people on there if I am “really Amy Ro.”  First, I think it is hysterical that they don’t think I’m really me and second it is totally crazy to think that these women from all over the country even know who I am!  How did that happen???  And to that end, I am almost up to 600 fans on Facebook.  How did THAT happen?  Where do these people come from?  I mean I LOVE it, don’t get me wrong at all, but I am just overwhelmed and totally humbled (is that the right word) at the idea of people liking my photography that much.  Or maybe it is my awesome witty writing that gets them in?  And my cute kids? 

5.  I am officially coming to Philadelphia for two newborn sessions on June 25 and 26.  I will have time for an evening (5:00-5:30) family session on Saturday of that weekend, *possibly* Friday night as well if I can get into town during the afternoon on Friday like I would prefer to.  Let me know if you are interested.  Please note, previous clients will be considered first for this.  I am thinking some nice downtown / Old City shooting is called for!  While I don’t miss living in Philly, I do miss shooting in the city.

6.  I am also planning some other trips.  Woohoo!  I have mentioned them earlier but have a few more details now.  North Carolina is almost settled.  We are just trying to predict when my friend’s baby will be born.  And Chicago is happening at the end of July or first week in August.  I already have a newborn and two family sessions tentatively lined up, will let you know if I open more slots.

7.  My haircut is growing on me.  It really is.  It is still too short by about two inches, but it’s growing.  And it will certainly be cooler when I am in warm temperatures chasing after small children!

8.  Lest you think my child is always happy and always poses perfectly for me.  She is working on perfecting her two year old stink eye.  At 16 months of age.

9.  I am thinking about designing new marketing materials.  I had coffee with my friend Heidi from Heidi Hope photography last week (week before?) and her marketing materials are just gorgeous.  They gave me marketing materials envy.  Big time.  (And she has assistants!  I have assistant envy, too.  Nolan doesn’t count.)  Right now I do so many things “green” that I have nothing pretty to put in people’s hands.  Well, I do, I have my wall display guide, but that seems to keep getting lost in the children’s toy room….  So I might be looking at a new marketing materials project.  And that means shopping for templates online.  It is a sickness that they don’t tell you about when you become a pro.  There are always goodies, always *things* that you need.  Templates, lenses, actions, programs, hats.  Too many things to count.  The hidden secrets of being a pro…

10. Are you thinking ahead to Father’s Day yet?  I am.  Matt and the kids did a nice job for me which okay, honestly I wasn’t expecting.  My husband, whom I love to death and is my best friend in the whole world, is the man that stops at the gas station on the way home from work the day that a card is needed.  Or creates an excuse to go to the grocery store the day of the occasion.  This is the man who wrapped up and gave me for Christmas something we had bought at the store together a few weeks earlier.  You get my drift.  So I don’t expect much in terms of special occasions.   But they did a very nice job.  I got to sleep in, they made me pancakes and gave me a very nice day topped off by one of the most delicious steaks he has ever made.    So that brings me full circle.  Are you thinking about Father’s Day yet?   If so, I am trying to come up with some cute little packages to do.  What better than pictures of you and your kid(s) to give as gifts?  I am thinking something along the lines of a day of mini sessions.  Or a weekend.  Stay tuned!

1.  Okay, okay.  It’s late.  I didn’t post anything today   But I have good reason.  Today would have been the day that I posted my photos from my Jane Goodall shoot.  However, for one, I took over 600 photos that I am culling through.  And for another, I have to edit them.  And for a third, they have to go to the Jane Goodall Institute to be archived first before I can share them.  But I will share them when I can.  It’s just going to be a while.    In the meantime, however, I can say that it was AMAZING.  To be so close to someone who is such a legend in the scientific and animal world was incredible. I got to photograph a meeting between her and 25 specially selected zoo staff – they had no idea it was coming so that was very cool.  Then some other shots of her speaking to the gathered groups from her Roots and Shoots program in the New England area and then her speech to the public at 1:30.  It was a very long, very tiring day.  I came home and essentially collapsed.  But it was so so worth it.  She is incredibly inspiring and I highly recommend going to see her if you ever have the opportunity to.

2.  Today was Layne’s first haircut.  We decided we were tired of looking at Cousin It   The girl was, well, shaggy.  So we packed them in the car and took them to the local kid’s haircut joint, Snip-Its.  SUCH a cute place for kids.  Lots of bright colors, cute little characters, etc.  And at the end they put a piece of their cute hair into a machine that spits out a prize.  That is Nolan’s favorite part.   Nolan went first to show Layne how it works.  Layne, in the meantime could have cared less and was much more interested in trying to climb into the stroller with the baby in the next stall.  Then was Layne’s turn.  She sat there suspiciously, tried to take off the cape and was in general none too pleased.  Until the introduction of the bubbles.  BUBBLES!!!  From then on, honestly I don’t think she even knew she was getting a cut.  With Nolan’s first cut, he screamed bloody murder from the first minute the spray bottle water hit his head.  Layne – not a peep!  In the end, they gave her beautiful little bangs and pigtails with ribbons.  ::swoon::  She looks like such a big girl now.  We went grocery shopping afterward and with her sitting in the seat I swear she gained a year with that cut.  My favorite part, though, was that Nolan and Layne sat together for me and I captured some quick shots that make me melt.  There are some times you look at each other in a marriage and you’re like “Oh my God why did we have another??”   This is why.

3.    As I mentioned before I am accepting sessions through mid July right now.  No further news on our future yet but hopefully soon.  Just keep your fingers crossed for us! 

Yes, I slightly cheated with #3.  But it’s late and my brain is tired   See you tomorrow!

1.  I don’t think I will make it to ten.  Just warning you.  So to assist me in my quest, I am using this as number 1.

2.  I am one tired mommy photographer lady!  Over the past week, both kids have been sick, Nolan went into the hospital, and Matt and I have both come down with the kids’ colds.  Of course.  But as my friend said, you can’t say they never give you anything, right?  So I am trying to recover and feel better.  Hit by a truck is more like it in the morning.  As a result I had to put off both Sunday’s session and Monday’s newborn.  As a result I now have sessions Wednesday, Thursday (both newborns), Friday and then Saturday and possibly Sunday.  Want to see how tired I’ll be after that??    And by the way, Nolan is doing much better.  Thank you to all of you who expressed concern, sent good thoughts, etc.  He was released Monday evening and came home.  His breathing is SO much better and not scary anymore.

3.  My mom and dad are coming this weekend.  It is my goal to get pictures of them with the kids.  I don’t think I have a single photo of them with both of the kids.  And the “baby” turns 16 months old this week.  Eeeek!!  I hope I am not the only photographer who is horrid at photographing their own family…

4.  I recently added a new lens to my arsenal.  The Nikon 35mm f/2.0 lens had been on my list for a while and I got tired of throwing money away renting it so I bought it!  Yay!  It is a sweet piece of glass, nice and quiet, sharp and just gorgeous.  Because my D700 body is so big however, it looks like a littly tiny baby lens on it.    But it’s awesome.  And you will be seeing many pictures with it.

5.  I also added a new camera bag.  I had a Jill E small brown bag which I do love but my lens collection was making it bulge at the seams and I plan on adding more glass soon.  And with it being so pretty, it just wasn’t practical to run around a park or outside.  So I am now the proud owner of a LowePro Slingshot.  Not nearly as pretty.  Not nearly as feminine.  But incredibly comfortable and holds all of my equipment.  I love bags.  Since I don’t spend money on purses it seems I will spend it on camera bags instead.

6.  Have I mentioned that I am photographing Jane Goodall this weekend????  I don’t think I have.  With my work for the zoo, they wanted an additional photographer for her visit to the zoo this coming weekend and they asked if I would be interested.  Of COURSE I am!!!!!  How cool is that?  She will be here this Saturday at the zoo.  She is doing some visits with the regional Roots N Shoots (kids) programs and then giving a talk and then doing a book signing.  If you are in the area and want more information you can click here:  http://rwpzoo.org/calendar/goodall.cfm  I can’t wait!  It will definitely be one of the cooler things I have done to this point in my career.  And if you see someone that looks vaguely like my photo but with glasses, hair possibly up, a white top and pants and a camera stop and say hi!

7.  I am officially traveling to both North Carolina and Philadelphia in June which I am SUPER psyched about.  The North Carolina trip will be either the weekend of the 5-6 or 12-13 and the Philadelphia trip will be the weekend of the 26-27.  I am currently slotted to do newborns on both of those trips (the reason for the trips) but if I make other sessions available I will be sure to let everyone know.  I just have to think long and hard about the amount of energy I will have.  Newborns, while you don’t really DO anything are exhausting sessions.  So perhaps a newborn in the morning then nap and a family session in the afternoon?  Hmmm.  Have to think about it.

8.  If you are a Facebook fan you may have seen that I am currently only accepting sessions through mid July.  The reason for this is that Matt has decided he wants to be a generalist and has left his fellowship.  He is currently looking for a position as an OB-Gyn attending.  As RI is a bit of the small state, the job pickings here are pretty slim.  This means that there is the potential that we will be moving, though we are trying very hard to stay in the state or at least the area so that I can continue to serve the RI market.  It will all depend on where his CV gets shown and where he gets interviews and offers.  Of course I will be sure to let you all know as I know things.  Here is hoping it is a smooth and quick process!

That’s all for this week.  Just a few short of ten.  But I have a good reason, I promise.  It’s Monday night and I am the class volunteer tomorrow at Nolan’s school.  I have a long hour of bagel bird feeder making ahead of me so I need my sleep