joy in bloom...

ever had one of those days that unexpectedly brings you joy?  joy from clarity - clarity from what you see and what you believe...working together to conspire a paradigm shift in your heart and you mind - a paradigm shift that frees you from holding on to expectations that can only lead to disappointment?  

ya, today was one of those days & it was awesome.

peace & bliss, 

amy

cute freakin' kids!

"allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they find?" 

~ samuel johnson

i have had the pleasure of photographing some really cute kids...some brand spankin' new to this world, others a year or two into life.  all of them really freakin' cute.  

even more fun to photograph newborns with the bestie...

we make a good team amy a.k.a. amy lee photography!

enjoy!

peace & bliss, 

amy

sweet baby 

lucky  baby girl...two cool big brothers

mr. personality

brothers for life

wherever you go, there you are...

"wherever you go, there you are...but your luggage is another story."

honestly, none of us enjoy dealing with things that make us feel uncomfortable - seems much easier to avoid or deflect from the real issues so that we don't have to deal with it.  i admit, i have been a superstar "avoider" in my life.  unfortunately, those "things" avoided don't disappear - they just get swept under the rug and eventually that lump grows until i can't ignore or avoid it any longer.  no matter how hard i try, i always trip on that lump!

avoidance is not a positive coping skill for life.  in fact, it is pretty bad. you may think that you are changing circumstances and situations, but it is all just a facade.  unless you commit to facing whatever "lumps" you are avoiding & change yourself, you will inevitably continue to deal with  & trip on the same old stuff.

this is not easy.  typically, we resist what we want and need most - after not having it for so long (or avoiding it for so long), our brain associates that "stuff" with pain.  when it does show up, it may scare you or even piss you off - so you avoid & disassociate. we are drawn to the familiar no matter how desperately we want different...

today is the day to stop trying to avoid your "stuff" - time to spring clean and sweep out that lump under your rug that keeps tripping you up.  unpack that "luggage" - open yourself up to the possibilities because wherever you go, there YOU are!
peace & bliss,
amy

help...

I walked through the wildwood, and what did I see
But a unicorn with his horn stuck in a tree,
Cryin’, “Someone please help me before it‘s too late.”
I hollered, “I’ll free you.” He hollered back, “Wait--
How much will it hurt? How long will it take?
Are you sure that my horn will not scratch, bend, or break?
How hard will you pull? How much must I pay?
Must you do it right now or is Wednesday okay?
Have you done this before? Do you have the right tools?
Have you graduated from horn-savin’ school?
Will I owe you a favor? And what will it be?
Do you promise that you will not damage the tree?
Should I close my eyes? Should I sit down or stand?
Do you have insurance? Have you washed your hands?
And after you free me--tell me what then?
Can you guarantee I won’t get stuck again?
Tell me when. Tell me how.
Tell me why. Tell me where….”

I guess that he’s still sittin’ there.

i'm not sure when i was first introduced to shel silverstein books - i believe it was in elementary school...maybe 3rd grade?  any old way, i fell in love with his original poems, quirky illustrations & his books sit on the shelf in my office to this day.

this poem, "help!" takes on new meaning at this point in my life...both personally and professionally.  sometimes i am the one walking through the woods hollering "i'll help you" - while other times i am the unicorn with his horn stuck in a tree asking "how much will it hurt? how long will it take? are you sure that my horn will not scratch, bend or break?...and after you free me--tell me what then? can you guarantee i won't get stuck again?" 


at one point or another, we all become attached to moments associated with people or experiences that keep us "stuck" in conceptualized constructs - our perception allows us renegotiate what "happiness" means - what "happiness" feels like.  and through this continuous recalibration of what "happiness" is, we create a tolerance for the status quo & stay stuck...
are you a unicorn with his horn stuck in a tree?
if so, it's time to get help...time to be free...

peace & bliss,
amy

freud meets buddha...

"why couldn't buddha vacuum under the couch??

...because he didn't have attachments!"

today i had the pleasure of attending day #1 of the "freud meets buddha" conference...i knew it was going to be a good when i was 15 minutes EARLY (i know that my loved ones are shocked) and live music and comedy kicked off the workshops of the day.

my favorite speaker of the day was therapist & author john lee - he presented with humor and creativity - two elements that are important in my own social work practice.  he quoted freud who once said, "everywhere i go i find a poet has been there before me..." - illustrating the connection between melancholia, depression, despair and the introspective creativity of poetry. he shared both personal and clinical experiences with depression and despair, as well as creative examples.  here is one poem that he shared with us and i want to share with you...

"i am not i"

juan ramon jimenez

i am not i

i am this one

walking beside me whom i do not see,

whom at times i manage to visit, 

and whom other times i forget; 

who remains calm and silent while i talk, 

and forgives gently, when i hate,

who walks where i am not,

who will remain standing when i die.

john encouraged participants to "think outside of the box" - he said poetry is one way into despair and poetry is one way out of despair.  he promoted thinking creatively, borrowing from those you love and admire, but most importantly to be yourself.  

today was a cultivation of loving kindness, humor, and authenticity.  

ready for day #2...

peace & bliss, 

amy

keep your heels, head, and standards high!

"there is not royal flower-strewn path to success. and if there is, i have not found it for if i have accomplished anything in life it is because i have been willing to work hard." ~madame c.j. walker 

are you looking for someone in the real estate profession?  if so, i present to you two hard working professionals who have the knowledge and ability to help you reach real estate success...

angie roe & kristi ball.

these two business women literally stand behind their motto - 

"keep your heels, head, and standards high" 

with several years of experience and successful results.  

creativity + hard work = success

i was especially excited to do this shoot for their promotional shots & feature these two during the month of march to celebrate women's history month...kudos ladies!
women in business rock...
keep up the good work!
peace & bliss,
amy

watch and do your part...

i am both outraged and encouraged.  

i am reminded that 

"a bunch of littles can make a big difference...

as a result, the unseen become visible."

educate yourself & donate here.

peace & bliss, 

amy

celebrating our "she-roes"...

The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.

-- Gloria Steinem

see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil <3 bliss

march is women's history month...

kind of blows my mind that it originates back when Congressed passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized & requested the President to proclaim the week beginning march 7,1982 as women's history week. it wasn't until 1987 after being petitioned by national women's history project that congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 that designated march 1987 as "women's history month."

seems like this should have been something that happened a long time ago - before i existed...not in my lifetime?  but yes, it did happen in my lifetime.

The purpose of women's history is not to idealize women. On the contrary, the stories of women's achievements present a full view of the complexity and contradiction of living a full and purposeful life.

Learning about the extraordinary achievements of women helps diminish the tendency to dismiss and trivialize who women are and what they accomplish. In celebrating women's historic achievements, we present an authentic view of history. The knowledge of women's history provides a more expansive vision of what a woman can do. This perspective can encourage girls and women to think larger and bolder and can give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience.

Thus, women's history becomes a story of inspiration and hope...A story of courage and tenacity…A story of promise, possibility, and purpose.

Women's history is our nation's story. It is the story of how women have changed America and how they will continue to do so.

(from national women's history project)

who is your "she-roe?" it may be your mother, grandmother, aunt, girlfriend, sister, teacher - any women achieving and overcoming obstacles to shine. whoever she may be...tell her!  and tell us...

i will be sharing the "she-roes" in my life throughout this month. 

peace & bliss, 

amy

hope

hope - (noun) a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen

"i'll admit that my garden now grows hope in lavish profusion, leaving little room for anything else.  i suppose it has squeezed out more practical plants like caution and common sense.  still, though, hope does not flourish in every garden, and i feel thankful it has taken root in mine"

~sharon kay penman

how does your garden grow?

peace & bliss,
amy

you think it...he inks it

"tattooing is about personalizing the body, making it a true home and fit temple for the spirit that dwells inside it." ~michelle delio, tattoo: the exotic art of skin decoration

meet infamous jones...an artist devoted to creating unique personalizations to the body.

marlon a.k.a. infamous jones

i could have hung out at body animations tattoo parlor all day, but only had time to meet a couple of the guys & shoot a few pics...

can't wait to visit again soon...

peace & bliss, 

amy

fedoras and family

"sometimes being a big brother is better than being a superhero!"  ~marc brown

oh what fun we had with these family photos!

i love me some creative kids...while i finished getting prepared for their shoot, justice and fain - all fedora'd out - got down on the chalkboard wall.  the end results?  amazing (...and funny)!

this family is ready to welcome baby sister...what a lucky little one to have such charismatic & entertaining big brothers...congrats to you all!
peace & bliss,
amy
p.s. oh yea! check out this totally awesome unsolicited advertising

"i love this studyoe (studio)!!! i love picures (pictures)!!!"...thanks fain - bliss studio loves you too!

the aquarian girl...

been a busy aquarian girl...so busy i needed a little break to recharge.  but i am back and have lots of stuff to share...stay posted!
peace & bliss,
amy

no such thing?

"nothing happens by chance, my friend...no such thing as luck.  a meaning behind every little thing, and such meaning behind this.  part for you, part for me, may not see it all real clear right now, but we will, before long." ~ richard bach

taken last fall at easy acre farm

i believe in luck but i also believe in fate...what about you?

peace & bliss, 

amy 

more "love the skin i'm in"...

"by plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower." ~rabindrath tagore

and yes, that is me in the middle - checking lighting, experimenting with poses...always a good time!

i love, love, love doing "love the skin i'm in" sessions! yes, the lady's photos are beautiful but what is most satisfying is seeing a woman walk with her head high & a lil' more pep in her step after her photo shoot because she has captured all the awesomeness about herself - from her sense of humor or confidence to her bright eyes or jaw dropping curves.  

comfort is overrated.  the more anxious the better...why?  because going out of the norm, out of your "comfort zone" is exciting & once you push through that nervousness or fear, the result is amazing!  i get nervous before each session too...a friend once told me that my anxiety is ok..."good" even because it just means i care about what i am doing and that is so true. i put a lot of thought into each individual and preparation for each session.  hopefully, that "feeling" will spill over to life's other challenges for all of us...just think of all the possibilities.

kudos to all women "lovin' the skin they're in..." 

peace & bliss, 

amy

   

 

help-portrait 2011 at bliss studio-a picture IS worth

for those of you who know me, you know that i am a social worker. this profession is near and dear to my heart - i knew my calling probably before i even started school - elementary school that is! ...i mean i remember empathizing with kermit the frog when he sang "it ain't easy being green." who does that!?  all i know is social work is truly an extension of who i am as a person - i love what i do, but there are times when my heart grows heavy & i wonder if what i do [ because i am only ONE person ] matters.

on 12.10.11 i was reminded...it does matter.

one person here and one person there, etcetera, etcetera...adds up.

the 2011 help-portrait stats were released in january...

• 56 countries
• 67,927 portraits given
• 4,984 photographers
• 8,793 volunteers

as a social worker, i am familiar with several helping organizations who meet needs such as food, clothing, shoes...but help-portrait provides a photo that represents value.  it is more than a keepsake or a representation of a person's likeness - it becomes a receipt of an exchange between individuals & the currency is dignity, courage, love, and hope.  

when people come together to work toward the common good, something magical & tangible is produced.  it may look like a picture, but it's often worth more than a 1,000 words...

artists have created self-portraits since the beginning of time...a self-portrait, in artistic circles, could prove your worth.  the wealthiest members of society have always commissioned portraits of themselves & their family as a way to prove their social setting. 

while the technological development of the camera, film, and then digital brought photography to the masses, professional portraiture still remains a luxury most of the world cannot afford.  

help-portrait is a global event each december when photographers, stylists, and other volunteers team together to GIVE instead of take, photos...

(borrowed & adapted from help-portrait)

surprising to me, two local non-profit organizations turned down this opportunity.  as i result, i extended the invitation to teen parents - "current" teen parents in high school and "former" teen parents who are working, continuing their education, or both.  i too, was a teen parent and thank goodness for our family friend who was a photographer & took pictures of my little ones as they grew. otherwise,  i would not have had the money to spend on professional photos...

it was a pleasure to "pay it forward" - and share this experience with my own kids.  deztanie and her friend did an awesome job helping me set up, organize and keep my "cool." jaylen did an amazing job capturing moments through his lens of choice...the video camera and producing a great video!  i am bummed i cannot get it to upload to here!

overall, the turnout at bliss studio was small in comparison to other help-portrait events, but it was HUGE in terms of joy & positivity - there were so many smiles all around & not just for the camera...

team bliss - missing a volunteer, kaelyn who had to leave before our group pic!

cannot wait to do this again next year!

peace & bliss, 

amy  

exhausting...

umm, yea - what she said...

peace & bliss,
amy

"love the skin i'm in"

"i am so beautiful, sometimes people weep when they see me.  and it has nothing to do with what i look like really, it is just that i gave myself the power to say that i am beautiful, and if i could do that, maybe there is hope for them too.  and the great divide between the beautiful and the ugly will cease to be - because we are all what we choose." ~ margaret cho

love, love, love this photo...

i have said it before...ALL women are beautiful and deserve to see themselves as such.  i have said how i believe the "love the skin i'm in" photo shoot experience empowers women to see that beauty and uniqueness through the camera lens, and as a result FEEL beautiful. 

i could go on & on, but i'd rather share thoughts from lovely ladies who "love the skin they're in..." 

"being a confident woman in my own skin, i have always wanted to do professional vanity shots.  a fan of vintage photos, i chose to use my photo shoot to recreate old hollywood...i felt the vintage style imagery of black and white would be perfect for the glamorous images i wanted to portray.  most importantly, i wanted to celebrate my own physique, as well was express my own personality and imagination.  i can't say enough about amy's professionalism or her quaint, cozy studio.  she and her assistant did an amazing job making me feel completely natural & totally uninhibited.  we experimented with different poses & after each pose she would allow me to look at my art through the lens.  WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! i have always felt a sense of empowerment that comes from being a mom and giving birth to my children.  yet, at the moment i saw my artwork come alive in the lens, i felt a different type of empowerment as a woman.  my poses are sultry, seductive, yet classy & glamorous.  i ENCOURAGE every woman to do this at least one time in their life. amy welcomes your input & allows you to express yourself while still managing to put her professional, artistic talent to work.  ladies, be as sexy as you want.  go nude; wear your lingerie, robe or satin sheet.  whatever you choose, be CONFIDENT in who you are & in your own skin. i truly believe there is nothing more SEXY about a woman & to her partner than CONFIDENCE. LADIES LOVE YOURSELF, YOUR BODY, and what GOD has blessed you with. LOVE yourself first so SOMEONE ELSE CAN. with that said, STEP OUT OF THE BOX my PHENOMENAL WOMEN...BE BOLD! BE BEAUTIFUL!"

"ladies, i hope that you can let amy capture your inner beauty by having a 'love the skin i'm in' photo shoot with her.  i did to celebrate my 49th year - the year i found my inner beauty...i loved all my photos and still when i look at the photos, i can't believe that it's me.  WOW, she found me!  someone found a way to put in a photo the way i felt on the inside.  thanks amy!  you helped me find me." 

"i walked into the photo shoot with every intention of NOT taking photos because i felt my body was not what the world thinks of as sexy...but after so much encouragement on behalf of some of the girls that were at the pic party and the great photographer, i jumped right in and was actually the first lady to go! to my surprise, it was an awesome experience.  i started out nervous, but amy made me feel so comfortable - not only with her, but also with myself! i finally got so relaxed that by the time we finished, i felt like i was a plus size model! i was so pleased with my photo shoot, that i didn't mind amy using any of my photos as encouragement to others who may have felt like i did.  so i say all this to say...no matter the size or shape, I AM BEAUTIFUL inside and out! if you have any doubts, try a 'love the skin i'm in' shoot and i promise you will become a better you.  thank you amy!  you are the greatest!"

every woman i meet and every "love the skin i'm in" shoot really restores my belief that there is a wonderful sisterhood & collective strength that both liberates and unites all women - no matter our size, shape, age, experiences or otherwise...thank you ladies! 

peace & bliss, 

amy

 

 

 

welcome to the world!

i just love a creative momma with a sense of humor!

i had the pleasure of getting to know julian a.k.a juelz, or as i like to call him, "baby j" even before he made his grand entrance during his momma's maternity shoot in december. what a joy to actually meet him in person today! there is something about a sweet newborn baby that renews your sense of hope in this crazy world...i know that there are great things in store for this little guy.  

welcome baby j!

on a personal note, i couldn't help but to be reminded that my baby boys are now 19 & 18 years old!  my how time flies...they grow up so fast so hold that baby tight in your arms while you can! i was also reminded of one of my all time favorite poems for my sons...if.
congratulations kaelyn & julian...he is definitely a keeper!!

if 

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream — and not make dreams your master;

If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings — nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And — which is more — you’ll be a Man, my son!

 ~kipling

tears of a clown...part two

"what soap is for the body, tears are for the soul"

the other day,  a tearful client asked me during a counseling session, "how do you do it?  how do you do this job and NOT cry?"

so i explained that i do cry.  in fact, i cry a lot.  

i just try not to cry when i'm "working" - i respect my clients so much so, i would not want to take away from their experience because i truly believe in the healing properties of their tears.  

furthermore, i am a private "cryer"...always have been.  i like to cry alone - of course there are times when i can't help it & i cry no matter who is around, but i prefer to cry late at night when my kids are sleeping, or alone in my car so i can fully engage the process...full body sobbing & wailing if needed.  

i cry when i'm sad and when others are sad.  i cry when i'm happy and when others are happy.  i cry when i'm frustrated.  i cry when i'm angry or upset.  i cry when i feel resolution.  i cry for people i know and love.  i cry for strangers.  i cry when i hear a song.  i cry when i watch t.v., a movie, or even a good you tube video.  i cry when i read a book.  i cry when i receive a card.  i cry at a kind gesture.  i cry when i laugh.  i cry when my heart breaks and when my heart heals.  i cry when everything is beyond my control. i cry about birth and i cry about death.  

i cry.  i cry a lot.  

i go through phases in which i don't cry as much or as often - however, this week has been a bit overwhelming & the tears have been flowing.  

according to some, i am "twice blessed" - the fact that i can cry easily and naturally means that i am #1 wonderfully human and #2 well connected to my emotions.  

dr. william frey, a biochemist  director of the dry eye and tear research center in minneapolis, minn. believes "one reason people might feel better after crying could be because they are removing, in their tears, chemicals that build up during emotional stress" and his research indicates that "tears...rid the body of various toxins and wastes" - emotional based tears contain high levels of cortisal - the "stress" hormone.  dr. margaret crepeau, ph.d, professor of nursing at marquette university, believes "laughter and tears are two inherently natural medicines.  we can reduce duress, let out negative feelings, and recharge.  they truly are the body's own best resources."

so, why does crying get such a bad rap?  those who cry are sometimes labeled "cry babies," or "weak." there is even more stigma negatively attached if you are of the male gender...and that friends, makes me want to cry.

it is time for a change. 

crying is a gift.  tears are a conduit for healing, a reminder that we are much more alike than we are different, and a means of self expression.  no shame in that at all...so go on and have yourself a "good cry" - you'll feel better.

peace & bliss,

amy

woo hoo...rock n' roll!

so excited...the wedding i photographed last fall has been featured on one of the coolest blogs for unique and creative brides to be rock n roll bride!  this wedding planning site has been described as a "mecca for gorgeous photography and inspiring real weddings." sweet!

i am especially excited for the bride - melissa - all her creativity and hard work validated!  she is incredibly sensible - eco friendly & loving all things vintage - with meticulous attention to detail...evident in each diy project lovingly crafted for the couples' big day.

anyway...go on and check out melissa and robbie's featured wedding here!

some of you may be planning your wedding, while others may be twiddling your thumbs because the wedding is over and you are not quite sure what to do with all the extra time on your hands...maybe you should look into submitting your wedding story?  just sayin'...

either way, you won't be disappointed visiting rock n roll bride - enjoy.

peace & bliss,
amy

hmmm...

reblogged from here

tears of a clown...

"to see what is in front of one's nose is a constant struggle."

~george orwell

agreed.   

"ain't too much much sadder than the tears of a clown when there's no one around..."
~smokey robinson & the miracles

1 photog + 3 seniors + snow = awesomeness

"the future lies before you, like paths of pure white snow.  be careful how you tread it, for every step will show."

what fun we had last saturday doing a winter photo shoot for 2012 bliss graduates!

so much fun...but so, so COLD!  we were amazed at the number of kind people along the way who stopped to make sure that we were ok or to see if we needed help...thank you good samaritans! thinking about doing some more winter photo shoots this weekend...stay tuned!

peace & bliss,
amy

make a mess...

"perfectionism means that you try desperately not to leave so much mess to clean up.  but clutter and mess show us that life is being lived.  clutter is wonderfully fertile ground - you can still discover new treasures under all those piles, clean things up, edit things out, fix things, get a grip...perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend. what people somehow (inadvertently, i'm sure) forgot to mention when we were children was that we need to make messes in order to find out who we are and why we are here..." adapted from bird by bird by anne lamott

live a little...

peace & bliss, 

amy

where are you mister bluebird?

whoa is me...i am sick today. 

however, not feeling well really puts life into perspective for all the days that i feel simply normal.

normal is good - normal is great.  

so, in this meantime, i will visualize & imagine feeling normal again...

"mister bluebird on my shoulder, it's the truth, it's actual, ev'rything is satisfactual...

zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay, wonderful feeling, wonderful day..." ~ ray gilbert, 1945

"...keep moving forward"

as we all enjoy or day off of work or out of school, i am noticing how facebook and social media is inundated with popular quotes and photos from the late & great dr. martin luther king, jr.  i hope everyone - both young and old - appreciates the history and the worth of this monday.

when i was thinking about what to do for the blog today, i remembered a photo i took in downtown indianapolis during and engagement session.  anyone who has ever hung out with me when i have my camera knows that i may stop mid sentence or mid stride to stop and take a picture of something that catches my eye...and this caught my eye - martin luther king, jr.'s portrait framed by the bright blue sky.

"if you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward." ~martin luther king, jr.

ironically, to date there are 730+ cities that have streets named after king.  the irony lies in this metaphor - a street, highway, or byway gifted with his namesake, traveled by so many - some moving forward honoring his legacy...while others remain stuck - even when moving forward at 55mph.

wishing you safe travels...
peace & bliss,
amy

someday...

"someday, somewhere - anywhere, unfailingly, you'll find yourself, and that, and only that, can be the happiest or bitterest hour of your life." ~pablo neruda

i am becoming my own very favorite person & i like it!

how about you?

peace & bliss, 

amy

like the art in this photo?  get your own here!! prints by artist & designer, melissa baswell williams