music therapy

i've said it before and i'll say it again - music is therapeutic.  music has the power to change your mood, spark your motivation, or trigger a fond memory from your past.

there are days when i can't remember to pick up my child or pay a bill that is due, but darn it, i can remember every single word from a song i haven't heard since 1985 and sing along.  i may even have a story that accompanies the song...as a matter of fact, i drive my sister and kids crazy with my incessant urge to sing the songs we hear in the same ugly monotoned singing voice no matter the genre...it seems i know them all - rock n' roll, alternative, pop, rap, r & b, new, old, everything in between...and i guess a lil' bit of country too!

as a result, my two loves became one & created a love child. a project that involved taking some of my favorite photos and pairing them with some of my favorite song lyrics...wonder if you can guess the song & the artist...enjoy!

peace & bliss,
amy

we are family...

"a family in harmony will prosper in everything" ~ chinese proverb

finally found a time for family pics that worked for my cousin ryan, his lovely wife, carla, and their two nature lovin' cuties!  these are two awesome people who take care of business in the adult world but are also connected and in touch with their inner kiddos - resulting in cool and creative parents.  such a fun shoot...family leaf fight, izzy picking flowers & doing yoga while baby kevin pulled away bark and hunted bugs.  

this family is in harmony with nature and each other 

& i just LOVE them!

peace & bliss, 

amy

"love the skin i'm in"!

 had a blast saturday at bliss studio! we hosted a "love the skin i'm in" picture party with a fun group of sassy sister friends - here are a few pics the ladies allowed me permission to share...

what is the "love the skin i'm in" pic party about you ask?

bliss studio believes all women should feel beautiful in their own skin, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so through the camera lens. Most women have not had the chance to see themselves in this way, but this  empowering experience allows a woman to see a glimpse of how God sees her — magnificent and exceptionally unique – just as she is.  This artwork makes a perfect gift for lovers, but it is also a gift to yourself. Be prepared to feel the power in the collective strength of a group of strong women - no matter what age, size,or life experience. i promise each sister friend will move to some level of liberation in her own way...

Things you will need for a successful party:

v An open heart

v Self Love

v A willingness to be bold, be beautiful, be you!

Tips & Warnings:

v Go overboard with fun and self-love

v If you hear voices in your head that serve to sabotage your right to feel beautiful in your own skin, MUTE them!!

if this sparks your curiosity, contact bliss studio for more information!

peace & bliss,

amy

 

competition??...part 2

you might be a custom photography client if...

• you enjoy taking a more active role in the creation of your families' memories & want truly personalized portrait art
• you seek a photographer who reflects your style
• you are known to budget & allot time for a custom photography session - you save to splurge from time to time to memorialize your children as they are (not posed and primped in the cookie cutter setting)
• you realize you have a choice and value the experience as much as you appreciate the investment of photos you will cherish for years to come

(adapted from marianne drenthe)

i have loved looking at photographs for as long as i can remember.  they have the power to make me laugh, make me cry, reflect where i've been, and put in perspective where i hope to go...disagree if you may, but the family photos of my kiddos are PRICELESS!

mac & jay circa 1998 - white t's & matching plaid boxers - barefoot & tooth hanging by a thread...priceless

clothes go out of style, shoes get old & outgrown, and good food and wine are delicious in the moment...til they're gone.

photographs last forever.
peace & bliss,
amy

 

i need this...

from pinterest

maybe i would get caught up on my to do list and be able to attend to one thing at a time if i had one of these...maybe?

competition??...

so, the other day a dear friend of mine called and said you have some competition...me?? competition...nah? as he went on to explain, he said he was grocery shopping in meijer's and they were trying to get him to come in and take pics for $7.99 - a whole package for $7.99!  then he went on to tell them he wasn't there for pics - he was there to get milk & eggs...and if he wants pics, he's going to bliss studio!!

simply put, they are not my competition.  i "practice" custom photography...what is custom photography? photographer marianne drenthe of marmalade photography writes...

custom photography is about finding someone who will photograph your family, give you devoted 1:1 attention without worry of who is next 'in line' or the feeling of a crowded portrait studio. custom photographers will show you a gallery to highlight 'the good images that meet the photographers' creative sensibilities, often fully edited images, & are known as boutique studios...think lexus vs. hyundai, think nordstrom vs. walmart.'

custom photography is not for everyone - it requires a 'level of commitment, investment in time & money, forethought and planning on the part of the client and requires a larger time commitment for the photographer as well.'

clients who take a more active role in the creation of their families' memories have the desire to have portrait art that is truly personalized.  some even 'budget and allot time for a custom photography session.' the custom photographer takes pride in 'creating high end custom photography sessions' and realizes a great deal of time is involved...the time invested at the session is only a small portion of the time involved in this process.

there are on location, studio, mixed studio/on location, specialty location and destination type photographers. the beauty of custom photography is in the choices and in the luxury of those options. the knowledge that your final images are the result of someone caring about those moments so much that they take extra time ensuring that the artwork you receive is good enough to stand by with their name on it.  that level of quality an commitment is all but lost in the age of "mass produced" & "mass marketed." how great to sit back and allow a photographer to do this highly custom work for images you will most likely cherish for a lifetime? there is no doubt your investment will increase in value and become more priceless as the years pass...

why does custom photography cost more?
the truth of the matter is the answer to this question is multifaceted...a lot has to do with the time, equipment costs, artistic vision and reputation of the photographer not to mention expertise and the usual costs of running a legitimate business.  the cost of time...booking time, pre-session prep time, travel time to session, prep time on location, 90 minutes to two hours photographing clients, travel time from session, uploading time from cards to computer, backing up files time, editing time, prep time for online gallery, ordering time, processing order time, sorting and checking order time, shipping time, and additional phone/email time for ordering, shipment issues, quality issues.

the time spent per client can range from just under 13 hours to 19 hours...this is time dedicated to one session!  when the photographer charges $150-$300 for the photo shoot (aka session fee) you are not just paying for the two hours of session time, you are paying the photographer for 13-19 hours complete time for your session.

in addition, there are costs to maintaining a custom photography business - equipment costs (camera, lenses, digital storage mediums, and computers), lab costs, and the other costs of running a photography business...taxes, studio rent, vehicular costs, costs of advertising/marketing, costs of sample pieces, props...

the photographer who desires to be known as better/best/unparalleled reputation-wise knows that the most important thing they can do for their business is reliability and dependability. this is how reputations get built. good work is often a wonderful side product of building a good reputation.

and so i conclude...i am a custom photographer, love what i do, & take pride in my work.

meijer portrait studio is not my competition.

peace & bliss,
amy

i'm back...again!

so busy...but so blessed!  my website is back up here with a new look that matches the bliss studio logo.  the portfolio has a few pics but will be updated soon - big ups to logoluxe - you are the best!

reblogged from tumblr :)

spent time in the studio tonight getting ready for the shoppes at main and markland holiday walk tomorrow from 5-8pm.  our little block really is quite charming...cakes, design, antiques, massages and more! maybe i'll see you there...
peace & bliss,
amy