Who knew this years update would make me so emotional… but it has we are really reaching a breaking point here in the business, we have worked very very hard…. I say we because while this is my business, it would never be possible without the incredible support I have have from those around me over the past three years, and the amazing people who have become a part of my family.  Recently  someone made a comment to me comparing friends and family … and I  had trouble with this remark…”Friends will come and go, but Family is Family”.   Now in sentiment I would normally agree, but you see there are people you are related too who are hardly family, and there are people to which you have no relation at all but are most assuredly a part of your family… and where I am in my life right now I couldn’t possibly be without the latter.  I have been so blessed to have so many wonderful supporters who make it possible for me to keep up with this crazy roller coaster.  Life sure has had a lot of up’s and down’s over the last three years…   But my heart is just overfilled right now, as I get ready to embark on the next part of this journey!

Bare with me kids Mama is tired of feeling like a moo cow and something’s gotta give!
(now aren’t you glad you know all that about my diet ha ha)

does anyone know what these images are?

For those of you who are scratching your heads and wondering what on earth these are, well they are embryo’s used during the IVF or in vitro fertilization.  Why am I  posting pictures of embryo’s…. am I trying to get pregnant?  NO NO NO… lol I keep telling you people while my babies are just darling and the loves of my life I’m so over being pregnant it’s not funny.

So I’m driving home from somewhere the other day and actually had the radio on (this is rare as I usually jam out to my ipod) and I hear a commercial on the radio for a fertility clinic and they are looking for people to donate their eggs… this got me thinking.  I have had a few friends struggle with fertility (some more than others) and there was a time when I was willing to share not only my eggs but my womb with another if need be.. thankfully it wasn’t needed because I am just not the world’s most pleasant pregnant person.  Anyway it was something I really felt compelled to help another with, and so I decided I’m going to try to do just that.   I am lucky enough to have two beautiful children, and as many of you know I have had my tubes tied because I’m that sure I’m done.  I’m not using them anymore why not give someone else the chance to have a baby?  I have no idea if anyone will want my eggs I am 32 already and I’m not getting any younger, but I make pretty cute babies and I’m a pretty smart cookie so maybe just maybe I’ll get the opportunity to help someone else enjoy the rolle rcoaster that is motherhood.  I am applying to two different fertility clinics to see if anyone wants my eggs… wish me luck, if I’m accepted I’ll share the journey.  One of the websites for the clinics I am sending my information off too calls those who donate Dream makers…..I like the idea of that, off I go in the hopes I can help to make another’s dreams of being a parent come true.

Make with the clicker HERE to see her  cheeky slideshow!  (give it a few minutes it’s loading still )

Interested in becoming one of our senior reps – I’m taking on 3 Girls and 3 Boys from each area High School. For more information visit the  Facebook Fan Page and hey while you are there become a fan!

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Signature Amanda here pure FLIRT! =)

COME ON… nice stix Amanda.. I’d like to photoshop my head onto your body dear =)

A little bit of Amanda in my life….. =)

Who’s more fun than AMANDA???? NO ONE!!!

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Over the past couple of weeks I’ve taken some time away from the net… and well quite frankly from work in general(well more than normal ok!)  It’s time for me to slow down a little and find some balance.

I started this business so I could always be home with my kids and over the last two and a half years the business has taken more and more of my time as it has grown far beyond my expectations and possibly even my wildest dreams who ever thought Two and a half years in I’d be working at this full time, running a networking group, photography group, still coordinating and shooting for NILMDTS, teaching photography and business classes and doing the SAHM thing… (wow now that I wrote that all out it’s no wonder I’m totally exhausted 24/7)  I’m also going to try to stay more updated on the blog by taking a new approach to my blogging, and talk more about my personal life….. I know my stalkers are all jumping for joy, and my family just got really nervous.  I’ve long said that it’s not just my prowess behind the little digital magic maker (camera), but the person I am that brings in the clients who are now a part of our “Family”, so why not just bleed a little more of me out into cyber space… right?

Ok so I’ll start by telling you all what’s been the sand in my knickers lately…  It’s been an UHHH MAAAAYYY ZING year…. but also a very trying year here at the old AP… we learned that when you begin to grow you have something other people want, and also that having what people want makes you vulnerable, to all sorts of unpleasantness.  We learned that not everyone who seems like they are your friend really is. ( I know this seems like simple stuff but you see I really do try to see the best in everyone me and my rosy tinted glasses…)  But we also learned that at the core of this business there is love, and family and that it is not the outside world who determines our success, its our inner strength and passion, the foundation upon which I based this business in the first place.  Look I’m gonna be real frank, I’m not EVERYONE’s  favorite person… nor do I have any desire at all to be everyone’s favorite person.  I do not measure my success in the number of people who think I’m totally awesome. (I’m not going to lie it is nice to hear lol)   Nor do I measure myself worth by the number of people who think I’m not (believe it or not I hear plenty of that too).    I am who I am, I’m not perfect, and I have flaws… believe me my husband could make you a list … But it is all of the things that I am, that are what makes me who I am.  There is  a ying for every yang, an opposing side to the coin.

For my 30th birthday I gave myself the gift of freeing myself from the constraints of worrying about what everyone else thinks of me, and it was an incredible liberation.  I’m not even considering going back.  I’m sorry to disappoint any haters and naysayers out there, I’m not going to close my doors or go home and cry because you don’t think I’m Amazing… what’s important is that I do, my friends do and my clients do.  I’m passionate, it makes me a great photographer, and a great friend and a great mother… yes you read right GREAT!!, but it also means that I’m equally passionate when someone hurts me… flip-side to the coin part of the package deal…  Would you really expect it to be any other way, I am afterall human, I’m not a super hero, I’m just another person out here making my way thru life like you.  Aren’t we all really plagued by this same curse?  Don’t our greatest strengths also have another side to them….

Today’s message:  The things you like least about other people are often the flip side to the things you like most about them, and the people who annoy us most in life often do so because they remind us of what we do not like about ourselves. Take this into consideration and try not to judge one another to harshly…. mmm kay?

And as a side note… thank you to all my wonderful friends and supporters and amazing clients whom have become a part of the heart and soul of my business over the last 2.5 years… you rock my world and you remind me regularly that it’s the simple things in life that are worth living for!

You’ll remember Jian and Christine from their totally hott E-Session at Harkness Memorial State Park.

It was one of those kinds of days where we ran from one place to the next trying to dodge an impending storm and stay cool in the incredible heat.. it proved to be a bit of a challenge but this couple was just so much fun and so HOTT all on their own we couldn’t help but to get some really great stuff anyway…

Some of our favorites from the day…

Mad Props to Nicole for this… the brides bedroom wasnt’ exactly roomy =) so it was time to improvise..

Nicole with the hottt shottt… Home Run Girlfriend!

hellooooooo beautiful!

and there was the kiss…….. yeah it was kind of a nice long one

The boys definitely took the prize for the day in all this heat in all their layers they totally rocked it out for me love you boys!!

Did I mention Jian and Chrissy are the bomb….

mmm as a fellow musician I thought it important to rock a few musical details =)

Grant totally rocking out this shot… my favorite of the cake cutting, can we talk about the lighting in this…

Did I ever mention I dance at weddings… what can I say I’m cool like that … Thank you to our lovely DJ that evening for introducing the crowds to the dancing stylings of Aurora Photography.. never had an introduction like that before!! LOL!

I just love the soft warm light in this shot I think it compliments the mood nicely!

it started rain right then… see it on the pavers.. see the steam … (ohh maybe that was from them!)

They kinda brought the awesome…

my favorite I think.. notice the rain coming down on us… in this and the next!

And they sang to each other the last song of the evening… I just love these two!! They are off enjoying their Honeymoon and I hop having the time of their lives!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THEIR SLIDESHOW!

Jian and Chrissy you guys are so awesome can’t wait for our next outing!!

Ok so do you all remember the contest we told you all about back in  late April when we shot Ryan and Kelli to announce it??

Well we finally got together with our first round of winners and the results were fantastic!  Ruth and Tony were married a little more than three years ago now, but being a couple who was young and in love they eloped.  This means that they never got to do this whole dress up in a big white gown and a tux thing before, and well that just needed to be corrected don’t you think?

So A little back story here…  I actually attended school with Ruth and two of her sisters Sheena and Rachel, and in our post graduate years Sheena and I were good friends, I got to know Ruth during this time since she was living across the hall from Sheena with her son Christopher.  Ruth was a single mom at the age of 20 making her way in the world with her little boy by herself, and was always there to lend a helping hand to her sister when needed with care for her two children.  There came a point when Sheena was looking for a roommate to help with the bills, and that is where our friend Tony here enters the picture.  Apparently  after meeting Ruth he went home and told his mother he had met the girl he was going to marry someday… Ruth however thought he was a bit young and was reluctant to date him.  (at the time he was 19 ans she was 23 ohh cradle robber)…

Anyway cut to the sad segway in this story Sheena Ruth’s older sister and my dear friend’s life was cut short unexpectedly by a drunken driver only a year and a half after they first met, and at this time Tony would take no for an answer no longer.  He swept in to help and convinced Ruth that she needed him, and well.. he was right and they moved in together.  Two years passed and these two crazy kids found out they were expecting and where overjoyed at the idea of giving Christoper a sibling… upon finding out the sex of the baby Tony proposed and they were married a mere 6 days later, he told her he didn’t want her to be a single mom for a minute longer. (he is really just so sweet)

According to Ruth her only regret was not having any pictures to share, she had always wanted a wedding dress, and for him to see her as his beautiful bride… Married April 7^th 2006, and blessed with their beautiful daughter Alyssa on on May 24,2006. And only 17 months later Antonio III was born. Finally they were a complete family.

Please enjoy this little trip into their love and it’s apparent they are still very very much in love!

Alexis from Joe’s Salon on Bank Street Rockin the do!

one really cool outdoor chandelier and one really pretty bridal gown =) courresy of our friend Megan at The Wedding Embassy! (also provided our Tux)

One exceptionally beautiful bouquet provided by Whisconier Florist of Brookfield.

Some Hot Poppin Color provided by my girl Pat of  Simple Elegance.

BLING

The crew getting to work using a window =)

These Two are so adoreable they just grinned at eachother and giggled at my wisecracks all night!

The Beautiful Lake Warmaug behind us!

ohhh if you only knew what he was laughing about lol….

who needs cake we got Stew Leonards COOKIES!! thanks Niki! =)

in some random peoples front lawn.. hey it was pretty and I asked =P

The crew getting down to business… funny they are starting to do like me already notice they are all on the ground

Tweaking the light a bit to get what I want Grant steps in to play human light stand…

And Voila!! my vision is realized!

My initial vision for this simple shot… as we played it got more complicated… wait to see what we ended up with for my class post!

kind of a happy accident looking for focus in the dark I was off but I really like the feel of this anyway the flowers are in focus and well I just like it!

The goal =)

C’mon… it’s hot.. you know it!

a variation on a theme =)

REMEMBER IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO ENTER TO BE JULY’S WINNER!! Send your great story on why you deserve to be pampered and dress up pretty for a day to news@aurora-photography.net  make it good only a few days left of July!!

And Stay tuned for more images I took my Digital basics class along with me on this adventure and I can’t wait to show you what we did together!