1.  This is the week that we are in NC for vacation and I have been SO excited to go!  We spent four years in NC while Matt was in medical school and I loved pretty much everything about it except the distance from our families.  But we can’t wait to be there again!  I am sure I will take PLENTY of pictures as there will be four kids for me to shoot as well as my gorgeous awesome pregnant friend 🙂  🙂

2.  I am feeling the itch to do a giveaway soon.  I have an idea of what it will be but need to finalize it!

3.  To make you smile

4.  I am over 500 fans now on Facebook!  I have no idea where they all came from but I am so so thrilled that they are there.  I am pretty humbled by the fact that people even fan me to begin with, much less that over 500 people do!  Now begins the quest for 1000.  I figure hopefully (possibly maybe?) by the end of the year.  I will have to think of something fun to do to celebrate that milestone when it happens.  I haven’t thought of what to do for 500 yet though so that first…

5.  I have had two couples sign up with me for my “love shoots.”  If you are interested I am still looking for one more couple.  I am looking for happy, in love, stylish couples to shoot.  No kids, just you and your hubby, wife, partner etc.  The couples who sign up receive a waived session fee and 50% off of any purchases.  You must be willing to let me use your images on my website and in marketing materials and come dressed to impress (with one or more outfits!)  I have one shoot scheduled on Brown’s campus and another down near Narragansett.  I’d love to do something a little more urban and edgy (when I find that in RI??) for my third couple (or a day trip to Boston!).  If you are interested, contact me at amy@amyrophotography.com!!

6.  Going off of that, I am thinking of adding couples sessions and lifestyle sessions to my offerings.  I am just still working out what I would offer for it!  I already knew I wanted to work more adults into my work because I *so* enjoyed doing the engagement with Kristina and I really believe couples should still do photos of just them even after marriage, kids, etc (says the woman with no photos of just her and her husband!).  But spending three days shooting my cousin’s son really convinced me that I would *love* to do lifestyle sessions for a client.  Not three days because, well, that would be insane and I don’t know any strangers that like me THAT much right off the bat 😉 but a day in the life kind of a thing.  So I am hoping to introduce those sometime in the next month or so!

7.  In family news, my children continue to grow.  It’s getting a little crazy.  Matt and I noticed the other day that Layne’s head is actually above the top of the dining room table.  Not the whole thing but she is definitely taller than the table now.  Someone has to tell her that she is only 15 months and needs to slow down.  Her hair is out of control but someone doesn’t want to get it cut yet (hint: that someone isn’t me 😉 )  And Nolan, well he is just continuously getting bigger and bigger.  He grows when he sleeps I think.  I have also come to realize that he is going to eat me out of house and home down the road!!  Such are boys apparently, though!  One thing has become more and more apparent as well – he loves being a big brother and he absolutely adores Layne.  (Until she breaks something he built with his legos!)  He goes into her room in the morning and we can listen to him reading her a book and singing her songs and hear her beautiful baby giggles.  He runs ahead of us to get her from her nap and constantly plays and has dance parties with her in the living room to “Party in the USA.”  Fun times 🙂  Here are two total snapshots of them in her room from an afternoon nap wake up!  (See what i mean about the hair?!)

8.  I am starting to book sessions into May and June so if you’d like a summer time session, don’t wait too long!

9.  I am considering somewhere in the back of my mind possibly maybe doing a workshop on Photoshop.  Teaching basic editing techniques to people who use Photoshop or Photoshop elements.  Again, this is very tentative and very preliminary stages.  I don’t even know how I would do it but I was asked so I’m thinking about it, I promise!

10.  Sadly, my boys in Orange decided to fall asleep and stop playing lost in the Sweet 16.  I am very very sad about this, especially because I did not get to put Layne in her SU cheerleader outfit that a friend sent me.  BUT they did guarantee the second part of my March Madness special.  Everyone who has a session between now and June 30 will receive 10% off of their total print and product order.  I wish it had been more (trust me, I REALLY do) but 10% it is.  And the session fee for anyone booking by April 5 will only be $100 instead of $200.

That’s it for this week.  Hope you’re all having a great week so far!  Check back tomorrow for some more photos of baby C!

1.  Over 800 votes already in the nursery contest!  WOW.  Only three days into the voting, too.  Voting will continue through Saturday at midnight (11:59 to be specific) so keep those votes coming.  Make sure to tell friends and family, facebook friends, twitter friends, etc.  Everyone only gets one vote so have fun and spread the word!!

2.  The second Get Manual Workshop is this weekend and I am excited!  I had so much fun the first time, now I am only hoping that I can remember everything that I talked about the first time around!

3.  We have taken a big step forward in our house – Nolan has graduated to a big boy bike.  Lightning McQueen all the way, of course.  I can’t believe my boy is getting so big already!  It’s pretty bittersweet…

4.  I have officially planned trips to Pittsburgh and North Carolina this month so if you are interested in photos for either location, contact me.  I have super special (read: well-discounted) travel packages available.  I am also looking at Philadelphia at the end of April and then North Carolina again end of June and possibly Chicago in July!  Woohoo!  I love love love the idea of traveling for sessions.

5.  March Madness is almost upon us!!  That combined with the fact that my team just happens to be Syracuse (yeah for a probable #1 seed!!!!!!) means that I am thinking up a fabulous March Madness of my own for the business.  What it will be I am not quite sure yet but I have a week to figure it out.

6.  I just booked another newborn for April and I am really excited.  I seriously LOVE newborns.  If I could I would specialize in just them but in Rhode Island, well, there just aren’t that many people having babies!

7. If you are thinking about spring / summer sessions remember to book for a month in advance of when you need the pictures to take into account time for editing, proofing, ordering and lab delivery!

That’s it for this week  🙂  I am still recovering from a pretty nasty cold so my brain cannot put together a list ten things long!

1.  There are six days left to enter the nursery contest.  I have gotten several entries over the last few days, so I am getting more excited about it! AND the publisher of the Baby Guide was telling me that they are always looking for nurseries for the magazine so who knows!!

2.  In a fun and different direction for my business, I have been hired as the official photographer of the Zoo’s Education Department!  I’ll be taking pictures of fun things such as their zoomobile, afterschool programs, etc that they can use in their brochures and website.  I am excited!

3.  If you didn’t see it yesterday, I announced the date for a second Get Manual Workshop.  If you missed it first time around, be sure to check out the details.

4.  I have two beautiful flush mount albums in the works for orders for clients, and I am VERY excited!  They are such a gorgeous product…the perfect way to preserve your photographs from our session!

5.  It’s not too early to start thinking about spring and summer photos.  Mother’s Day and Father’s Day will be here before you know it as will Easter.  While things are slow calendar-wise now, they will definitely be picking up so don’t wait to schedule your photos for too long.

6.  One more from my teeny bean yesterday.  Her real sneak peek will be up tomorrow…  I just love this picture – makes me smile 🙂  And for reference, that hat usually is slightly tight on newborns!!

7.  We went to Brooklyn last weekend to visit my sister in her new place.  (She just moved there after years in DC)  And while we were there I got to go to Adorama’s store in Manhattan.  I know this would probably only really appeal to other photographers but it was AMAZING.  It was just huge with photography equipment everywhere you looked.  And while I was there I purchased a new lens for my collection – the Tamron 90mm micro.  This lens allows me to get really close up detail shots – it focuses at less than 11 inches away from the subject and allows me to get things like the eyelash picture I shared in my last sneek peek and shots of newborn baby parts like these.  I LOVE my new lens!!

8.  As a side note to the Brooklyn post, I am looking at a few different travel dates and cities for this coming year.  Some areas up in the air include North Carolina, Arizona and New York City along with the RI beaches, though those aren’t *really* travel sessions for me.  I am also open to suggestions for other cities!!  Especially if Southwest flies there  😉

9.  As of Monday night I am up to 349 fans on Facebook!  That is SO cool.  I didn’t think I’d ever make it to 300!!  Now I want 500 – yes I’m greedy.  😉

10.  The “How to Pick a Good Photographer” post is in its final stages!!  I expect to have it up tomorrow or Thursday of this week.  So be sure to check back!

I am slipping a few announcements in here so read carefully!!

1. First, if you have an awesome nursery and a baby between 5-11 months old, you will WANT to check back tomorrow for an exciting announcement.  Promise!!  And even if you are not in the area, you will still want to check back because you might still be able to play.

2. I finally uploaded my picture of the Bellani display. Ignore the quality – this is an iPhone pic 🙂 I will get back in there with the camera at some point! The prints on the left are 24×36 gallery wrapped canvases with a 15×30 gallery wrapped in between them. Then on the right, the left and right images are 20×30 canvases and the top and bottom images are 24×24. LOVE it!!! Covered window in between the two.

3. I just learned that SuperBowl photographers carry an average of $30,000 of equipment around their necks while shooting the game. I am now drooling with jealousy and want to be a superbowl photographer. Of course I don’t know if they would let me have the cart I would need to carry all of that – that stuff’s heavy!!  I always point out the equipment to Matt when we are watching.  Just what he wants, I am sure, as he is trying to concentrate on what is going on in the game.  😉

4.  On that note, if you watched the Superbowl, how awesome was that game?  Unless of course you were a Colts fan.  This was the first year in MANY that we were not at a Superbowl party or hosting one. It was a nice change though.  I found myself cheering for the Saints because they had never won even though I also liked the Colts.  But THIS moment with Drew Brees made the entire thing worthwhile.  I dare you to watch it and not get a little tear in your eye.  No clue how long this will be on the internet because I am sure CBS will pull it, but it is so adorable.

5.The first Get Manual workshop was this past Saturday and I had a GREAT TIME!!  We had nine participants and while my children screamed played in the basement with Matt, we got a good deal done!  Lots of talking, lots of practicing, pretty perfect!  I have decided that I am going to do another one, I am just settling on a date.  But it will definitely be in March.

6. I am announcing special North Carolina sessions! I will be in state from March 29-April 2 so if you would like some family photos done, contact me for information! Sessions will be available in Winston, Greensboro and the Triangle areas as well as possibly Charlotte.  I have no idea if I will book one, ten or none, so let me know if you’re interested!  As a side note, I am always available for a travel session!  If you don’t live near Providence but would like a session, you can always ask.

7.  Just to prove that Layne DOES cry.  This is what I got after I told her that no, she could not hit the camera.   She has developed quite the little attitude recently, and has decided she does not like to be told NO. About anything.  And why yes, I DO take pictures of my kids melting down and I’m sorry, I just cannot help but laugh at this series!!!!!  I think it’s the bottom left one that really gets me.

8.  Have I mentioned that a Cupcake Shop opened right down the street from me?  Literally, around a corner and down the street.  Every morning on the way to take Nolan to school I drive past the steamed up windows of the shop and imagine the deliciousness that tempts me inside.  We have eaten a few different ones and they are wonderful.  My favorite is the red velvet, Matt loved the Grasshopper.  And as a bonus each cupcake is a little work of art.  No slathered on frosting here – they are perfectly decorated with adorable little designs.  Extra nice for us, she carries both a vegan cupcake AND uses no egg in her chocolate cupcakes.  And to just totally top it all off, she also does cakes.  YUMM-O!!!!!  I *almost* stopped by to get one…you know…for the sake of photos for the blog 😉  But I resisted.  Maybe next week for Valentine’s Day I’ll do a special feature.

9.  Want to ask me a question?  Anything at all?  Well, now you can!  Just click HERE. It’s totally anonymous if you want it to be so ask away, I’d love to answer!  Of course keep it appropriate.  My mother is watching.

10. One more from my last newborn.  I just edited this today and oh my goodness I just want to squish the cheeks!!  Have I mentioned I LOVE newborns???  And I have another one sometime in the next two weeks – a little boy so I get my wish to use my cocoon and hat!!!!

Annnnnd that’s all.  Make sure to check back tomorrow!!