To Love Or Not To Love: This Has Nothing To Do With Photography

Valentine's Day invokes all sorts of reactions. The epic eye roll at the mushy sentiments being said between people, the bragging rights on gifts, the realization that you really don't like all those sorted chocolates, but don't want to admit it.  It also infuses sweet presents, poetry, cute messages and the sudden keen awareness that you want to love someone or that we are in love with love itself.

That sense of belonging is a powerful one.  To love or be loved,  to belong or not to belong.  I have a love/hate relationship with V-day, always have, but that is another blog post.  I think our need to belong to someone sometimes overpowers what love actually is, but irregardless love can take on many shapes and forms.  Whether you searching for love, finding love, letting go of love, the experience of it is what keeps us moving, admit it or not.

This week a student-athlete near us committed suicide.  A 17 year-old, handsome young man that was popular, talented, and ready to graduate in the spring.  No one seems to see any reasons this precious child felt the need to end his life last week.  He was loved, he was cherished, but why? 
I don't have the answer, but somewhere in this undulating life he felt he didn't belong here, he didn't feel loved.  I don't understand, but I do know this, it's our obligation to love.  To muster within us the will to love someone, to let someone belong to you, to reach out and find out who is right in front of you or travel the world and find love. Don't give up on it.

Today, if you are breathing in God's good air, feel loved. You belong.  A heavenly father looks down on us and just wants us to look back up at Him and allow love.  

Hug a child and feel loved
kiss a grandparent and unveil love
text a friend and < 3 some love
wink at a stranger and flirt love
whisper I love you and validate love
 write love and show the world
sing and give love harmony
say yes and give love a chance
walk away and give new love opportunity
love as you know it, not as our world defines it
Get down on your knees and simply accept love.

oh - and get a the red velvet latte - and TASTE love ;)

my grandma and grandpa on their wedding day. love :)

Looking for Rustic or Chic Barn Venues in Upstate NY?

So, I guess I can admit this. I LOVE weddings in rustic places featuring old farmhouses and barns. Perhaps it's because I grew up surrounded by these places when they were alive and fervent with a farmers way of life. 

Personally: Barn weddings have a certain entity to them that I have fallen for in a number of ways as a photographer or as a guest for that matter.  I did not grow up on a farm, but I spent a great deal of time on them as a child and a teenager. The nostalgia of the old farmhouses and the grandeur of the barns is something I have always been attracted to. It's somewhat sad to see some of those vivacious farms now quiet, but exciting to see them spring to life with a new purpose....weddings!

Professionally: There are a number of  Upstate NY rustic barn venues and I am on a mission to find some of the best.  These venues are in high demand by many brides and oh the possibilities with some of these beautiful places! You can be as rustic or as chic as you would like.  All that with a little bit of historic substance.

The Inn at West Settlement In Roxbury

Chic, vintage and all together lovely outdoor/rustic wedding

If you see or know of a venue I should feature, please message me ... especially if you have a contact name.
amberjphoto@gmail.com. 

Upstate NY Photographer: Review and Tears

I hope this doesn't seem self serving, but a bride wrote a review to me over the weekend and it brought me to tears reading it.  It has assured me, that just perhaps, this beautiful road I am traveling is where I belong.

Brides, let me tell you what it is like to work with Amber. Once you contact her and discuss dates and availability, you get this adorable and professional packet in the mail. This has your contract, a check list of shots that you want at your wedding, and other information that you will find helpful. She makes everything simple. Aside from being genuinely nice and bubbly, she is also so experienced that her process is seamless. At some point, you will have a conversation with her. (Mine took place a couple of weeks before the wedding, so you can imagine that I was a bit stressed about things.) Amber is so relaxed and knowledgeable. She has great ideas about how to use your venue, how to capture the essence of your wedding and makes sure to get an idea of her client's personalities so that she can reflect that in the photos. On the actual wedding day, Amber shows up, plays along with all of the bridal party as they get ready, takes photos, and just blends right into the whole process. You will likely feel as I did, like I had another friend along for the celebration! A few weeks after the wedding, you will get another gorgeous package with your photos and some extra little surprises. I can highly recommend working with Amber. Not only will you love your photos, but you will LOVE her energy, enthusiasm and expertise. I can't say enough about how great it was to work with her!

Upstate New York Photographer: October Baby and Kid President

Inspiration Friday (but posted on Saturday).  

I am sure most people have seen this video by now. But it's so adorable and so filled with truth that I had to re post here. Watch and smile!!

There are so many aspects of life that make it beautiful and I love digging through reality and finding the dreams that so many of us have.  If something or someone has inspired you, please email me! We can share some smiles. amberjphoto@gmail.com

In addition to the video: I watched the movie October Baby this week and fell in love with the sound track.  A faith based movie with some beautiful music.
One of my favorites:  Mandi Mapes, Enjoy! and BE INSPIRED!!!!

Upstate NY Photographer -Bridal Fitness

So, here it goes. You have your wedding date and you have your eye on the dress or perhaps you already have the dress! However, you have made it a goal to lose a little weight or tone up a bit before the big day approaches.  That is a very common goal for most brides (ahem and photographers). 

Personal: On the personal side of this ( I am a girl after all), I understand the desire to look your best on your wedding day.  Being fit is something I strive for on a daily basis and I will let you in on a little secret..weight can be a struggle for me. I purposefully adhere to workouts and everyone who knows me knows I can pound nachos! (Like a boss, I might add). I encourage you to be fit, not only for your wedding, but for life.

 Please remember, you were proposed to because you are loved  and because someone is IN love with you, not because of what size you are or how toned your arms look.  Strive to be healthier because it's good for you and not for anything more.  You are already beautiful and you are getting MARRIED!!!!

Professionally: I found this article if you are interested in a more in depth look to staying on track toward your fitness goals.
http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/bride/ask-bridal-fitness-coach-how-do-i-stay-motivated

He already loves you :)

Point of inspiration:

Upstate NY Photographer: Inspiration Friday

It's always amazing and exciting to me to find something inspiring.  We are often surrounded by heartache and hurt and sometimes we just need a little positive reminder to make us smile...or at least half smile.
I am surrounded and integrated by artistic, creative and passionate people. I want to tap into that more to produce work that mirrors those very attributes.  I am thankful I have an open portal to that world of creativity, though sometimes I wish my logical side and right brain would kick in a little more.  (Andrew is working on long division in school... need I say more?)

However, I also love the idea of inspiring and encouraging others.  So, I thought every Friday I will try and post something that I found inspiring, creatively electric or just perhaps unique.  If you see anything out there yourself...feel free to share with me and we can blog it! (It doesn't have to be related to photography).

Inspiration point of the week... I had someone ( I won't mention who because I don't want to embarrass) say this: "remember...you would always tell me a good story....So, I thank you, one, for teaching me to love to listen to stories, two, for having a great pen  in writing...." -

Childhood memory? Yes. I might have had grand ideas of writing America's next best novel in which The Notebook would dull in comparison. (hey, let a girl dream).

If you haven't seen this: I suggest you take a few minutes...watch...cry..be inspired....and then get on with your Friday already :)

Upstate NY Photographer: NY Rustic Barn Venues

The Inn at West Settlement In Roxbury

I found a gem in the world of blogging!  I came across the HVgreen blog after photographing in some amazing local venues catering to our vintage and rustic weddings.  I might swoon a little with a bride and all her pretty girls in front of a barn or in the rolling fields of upstate NY.

As I was checking out venues to recommend to brides I hit on HVgreen and her post regarding NY state barn weddings!  Please check out her post here or in the previous links and if you know of any more venues that feature these beautiful and historic structures let us know.

So, go treat yourself.

Thanks Liz for sharing your findings. Awesome.