The Most Precious Gift For Mother’s Day

The saddest moment of my job is when a bride or groom doesn't have a parent present on their wedding day due to death or strained relations.  It reminds me, we have one shot at this:

*Disclaimer: I know not everyone geographically can master this gift and I know family dynamics are not the same as my own so therefore, my blog is merely my thoughts for those that can.

They call me mom :)

Time. It’s such a simple word and it’s so so precious.

I write this as an adult who is mother and a daughter and there are millions of us out there balancing this crazy life.  How do you find the perfect gift? I don't know, every mom is different but there is one thing I feel most of them cherish. Time.

GIVE HER TIME:

My own children are growing at lightning speed. Our obligations to schedules and middle school and friends and sports has grown by leaps and bounds. I laugh that I thought having toddlers was busy!  So time has become a precious commodity. I hope and pray my boys will also find time for me when they are grown.  I know there will come a day they will be away, they will have families and obligations and I will miss them dearly. I'll forever just want time with them. For those of us that can ( as adult children) spending time with your parents is a gift that only you can give.  It’s also a 

gift you can give your children.  

BUSY

We are all so busy.  Busy eliminates time.  It’s been a big focus of mine this year with a business that has grown up and two kids doing the same, it’s been a learning experience to manage that time.  BUSY many times is a choice.    We can all take a small look at our lives and find a few things to let go of to make TIME more tangible.

INVITE: If you are an adult child, invite moms to be around, sometimes they just want to feel included in your busy life.  The intolerance of our older generation does make me sad.  I watch spouses struggle with their in-laws and children despise their parents and I am sad for them.  However, if it’s possible, invite your parents into your life and into the lives of your children if you have them. 

My bro with my mom and myself!

MOTHER’S DAY 

So Sunday will come and go and yes it’s one day.  One day to celebrate mom in whatever you way choose to celebrate.  If you can’t be there physically, I hope you make every effort to find time in the near future. Ask anyone who doesn’t have a mom to celebrate this year - how far would they drive or what would they pay to spend Mother’s Day together?  

As a mom, I love the cute gifts and hand made cards, but I LOVE knowing that Sunday I have my two little men with me. I will relish them and I’m sure at some point they will admit they love me too ;)

Drive. Call. Write. FaceTime. But give mom some time, it’s priceless. It can’t be bought, but it can be given.

Where Have You Seen us? { A Wedding And Senior Portrait Photographer Goes Public}

We (Shelly and I ) submitted several pieces of work this year. Let it be said again:  I work with some truly amazing people! I simply have the opportunity to put these stories into images.   This year, we went public or the public went with us.

www.amberjphoto.com

RUSTIC CHIC GOES PUBLIC WITH AMBER J PHOTOGRAPHY

In January we were featured on Rustic Wedding Chic.  Lisa and Jason’s wedding at Maple Shade Farm in Delhi was give the nod by one of my favorite wedding blogs of all time and I literally jumped when I saw the acceptance note. 

KNOTSVILLA GIVES US THE NOD

In March of this year Knotsvilla Wedding Blog published our Winter Wonderland Wedding at Mallozzi’s in Schenectady.  Nicole and Glen’s wedding was a fine display of the beauty winter can bring for a wedding.  We were once again thrilled as Knotsvilla is clearly one of the best blogs out there!

www.amberjphoto.com

www.amberjseniors.com

On the senior side of things, one our photos of Kiera was published in Senior Study Hall magazine and were are waiting right now to hear back from another publication (TBA!)

Instasenior on Instagram featured a session from Molly’s senior portrait session with us and we hope to just keep rolling with this!

It's only April and we have SO SO much coming our way this year that I really just look at this year and think, wow! God has truly opened doors and closed some others.

AMAZING.

For wedding information please visit: amberjphoto.com

For Senior Portrait Information please visit: www.amberjseniors.com

PS: we have installed a wonderful program for teens: www.epicteenimages.com.   If you have a young teen, capture them now before they aren't so young anymore :)

SOS: My Wedding Photographer Has Never Shot At My Venue Before!!

There are approximate 1.5 million wedding venues in upstate NY, ok just kidding there are not that many, however there are a plethora of venues and chances are, any one photographer has not shot at all of them.

I have been asked a number of times “have you shot there before?”

It’s a good question and I understand why it’s asked, but it’s not the right question.  It would take me approximately 25 years with a wedding every weekend in a different place to shoot at every venue.  This is not a scientific approximation and no actual math was done here, but you get my drift. Just because your photographer has not actually shot at your venue of choice does not mean you should dismiss them!

 Barns are some of the darkest venues around...but we specialize in just that!

ANSWER YOUR OWN QUESTION

*Look through your photographer of choice’s blogs and galleries and see what they capture and how they do inside with their reception shots.  

*Request a full gallery from your photographer so you can see a sample from beginning to end.  MOST reception halls have a terrible light source, if they can shoot in a dark reception hall in Albany, NY they can shoot in a dark hall in the Hudson Valley.

*A PROFESSIONAL photographer should have no problem knowing how to work a dimly lit room whether it be a venue they have worked 100 times or never before.

I’M NERVOUS YOU HAVEN’T WORKED MY VENUE

*Ask your photographer to walk through the venue with you and discuss prime ideas for wedding photos.

*Find out if you can do your engagement session in the same place and you can get a feel for how your photographer will handle the venue and it’s enmities

*Personally, if I have not shot in a venue I will ask for a walk through well before the wedding so I have an idea of what will look great and what will not. 

A NEW VENUE CAN BE BETTER

I have found a new venue can stimulate a photographer's creative senses. When I find a new place to shoot I am excited about the opportunity to shoot something different. 

SO WHAT DO YOU ASK?

If your photographer has not shot in your venue before, it’s not time to panic. 

Ask to see work produced in dimly lit areas (if you aren’t satisfied with what the website showcases).

Ask if they would walk through with you.

Ask what their experience is and how they handle a dark reception hall or barn. 

Be up front if you are only going to have a candle light vigil at your reception at 9pm and work together on how to produce quality images. 

YOUR VENUE IS NOTHING NEW

That is not to sound mean or demeaning.  Your venue was chosen for what you loved about it, but for a photographer your venue is all about shadows and lights and textures and “where do we go if it rains”. 

A professional reads all that in mere minutes of seeing a location, so unless your spidey senses tell you otherwise.  We crazy photographers got this whether it’s a venue that is new or old, you just go on and get married :)

PS: We may not fear dark shadows, but we may fear water fountains - seriously...

More Than Photography:

Dear anyone who looks at this blog, 
I want to tell you so many things, but that will all come in time.  Please help me spread the word about the beautiful organization and this wonderful family.
Doesn't she look great in purple???
For more highlights please visit the high school senior division of our work: www.amberjseniors.com  We provide a direct link to donate as well.  Go. Visit. Be Blessed.
Love,
Amber

I'm No Doctor, But Here's a Way To Help Your Heart

BEING HEART HEALTHY:

I am not doctor, but I can tell you the healthiest hearts I know are the ones that freely give of themselves.   The Miracle Fashion Show gives us this chance.  Yes, it’s fun, fashion, music and a night to show off 14 beautiful ladies, but it’s also an opportunity to share about this beautiful gem in our backyard called The Capital RegionMiracle League.

COME:

Amber J Photography will welcome you Friday night on March 13, the doors to Sixty State Place (60 State Street Albany) will open at 6:15p.m.  Guests will be allowed to tour the building and meet with several vendors that have given of their time and selves to support us.

YOU WILL WANT TO MEET HIM:

AT 7pm we will welcome John Robinson.  I don’t want to give too much away, but he’s pretty awesome and I suggest you see why.

THEY WON’T WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS (they will win hearts):

However, for every person that walks through the door we asking for a $5 donation. Read on to see why...

As coach as a former player it’s easy to understand how beautiful of an instrument playing sports was in my life.  I know that a true athlete lives for the competitive sonnet composed inside each game.  Some of our local athletes will not play for our local high schools or make headlines in a local paper.  They will not earn college scholarships and you may never herald them for their athletic achievements, but they are here and they love sports.

GIVE:

Give because you can.  Attend because you can.  Share the information because you can.  We all can give a little more.

 Some of us can then return to our regularly scheduled lives after March 13, but hopefully with a heart that knows that on that night you DID something or maybe, just maybe we capture your hearts for forever.  We hope we made you smile :)

THANK YOU!

Our Models : Abby(Bethlehem), Shaylyn (Spa Catholic), Samantha (Middleburgh), Megan (Middleburgh), Effia (Charlottle Valley), Sydney (Cobleskill), Brianna (Middleburgh) Allie (Cobleskill), Chloe (Cobleskill), Emma (Amsterdam), Emily (Cobleskill), Kayla (Cobleskill), Brooke (Dover) and Olivia (Bethlehem), Nathan (Cobleskill) have invested a few night in the past couple of weeks getting ready to put on a show that you will LOVE! These models have all signed under Amber J Photography as models for Amber J Seniors or Epic Teen Images.

The Bethlehem Boys Swim team has donated their time to escort these amazing girls.

Saratoga Sound DJ will be your host for the evening and has generously donated their time as well to make this happen.

Our make up Artist include Jessica, Glory, Bailee and Alexis all of whom are beautiful women and give our girls extra attention and love throughout our work together.

And most generously: Sixty State Place and all of their amazing personnel.

What I Learned from Texas de Brazil : Exceed Expectations

Have you been yet? It's a new(ish) restaurant located in Albany and let's just say it's a carnivore's dream.

I can never fully shut off my brain. The business person in me was eager to eat there because I had heard about it, it was something different and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

They. Did. Not. Disappoint. 

So here's what I did expect:
I knew by the price of the dinner, I expected the food should (better be!) good. I hoped the atmosphere would mirror it's cost and give me something I wasn't going to get at Burger King.

There is always a time and place for a whopper on the run (sorry fitness friends!), but I wanted something way better than a drive through burger!

It was clean, professional and there was little confusion about the menu.  I don't place a high value in steak (I'm a pasta girl), but THIS was good stuff.  Shall we talk about the endless boat of mashed potatoes?

The tipping point of awesome was the wait staff.  The waitress didn't seem bored with her job though I am positive she has rehearsed her menu and introduction dozens of times already.  She as upbeat and happy and actually looked to enjoy what she did.  Everyone that approached our table addressed us with manners, clarity and REALLY GOOD FOOD!

Our waters were never empty and by the end of the meal a manager came over to make sure there were no complaints and that his wait staff was solid.

Done.  Worth the price. Worth the time. Worth the recommendation.

All that to say, I could have gotten steak or chicken from anywhere but the excellence in service AND taste AND atmosphere was more than I expected.

I aim to do that. I WANT to do that.  When brides or seniors come to me for their photography needs I want them to feel how I felt sitting at that table.  I want YOU to feel like you are my only client, my only table that night.  I want full on service that makes you realize you are special and that it matters to me that your experience is beyond anything you can get anywhere else.  I know you expect the photography to be good, it BETTER be good.  But I want everything about what we do to exceed your expectations.
So, here's to never letting your water glass be empty and perfectly grilled steak every time you order.

Stay tuned as we introduce our theme for this coming year!

Pinterest Vs. The Wedding Photographer {A battle or a partnership?}

Oh the woes when an excited bride produces 50 million images of all the things she would like to see come out of her wedding day photography.  We (photographers) sit there watching an ecstatic reaction and gleeful smiles as every swipe left produces a perfectly captured and insanely beautiful wedding image from Pinterest.

We smile.
Our insides tie up a little.
We breathe.

We sit there toying with talking about reality and worrying about destroying such high hopes!

I have met several photographers who despise and are even insulted when Pinterest ideas are put on the table.  Don't be mad,  but a realistic approach to your wedding day photography will produce a happier you when you get your images back.

DON'T Be HATIN'
I don't hate Pinterest.  I find it's partnership interesting to say the least. This is where it's helpful.
1. Clear ideas of what YOU, the bride finds appealing
2. Colors you seem to gravitate to
3. Emotions You find endearing
4. Moments that  YOU find important
5. Your sense of humor
6. Your detail savvy
7. Other interests you may have (horses, wine, jobs, travel)

Education is MY responsibility.

We all laugh at the blog of Pinterest fails right? Check one out here and enjoy :FAIL

A LITTLE EDUCATION:

1. I'll explain what goes into setting up your favorite shot (A little education can go a long way!)  Sometimes the time commitment can be unrealistic for the pace of your wedding day.
2. Choose your absolute top 5
3. Now choose your top 2
4. Understand, your photographer will do all they can to capture every special moment.  Giving them too much direction may actually derail how talented they really are and produce a lesser quality of awesome.


INSPIRE:
As a couple you are unique and THAT is most important.  Use Pinterest for inspiration, not as a weapon fighting reality.   Your professional photographer will probably do you better than Pinterest :)