1.31.08 : : My Special Little Guy Turns 2

Little Eli (my first baby client ever) was back in the studio tonight for his two-year session. Little Eli and I go way back and it was SO fun to see him running around and showing off his cute, toothy smile.

He also had a wide range of emotions to bring to the camera this evening which made it a real treat to work with him!

There was Introspective. and Aloof.

The Pouty Model face.Carefree.

Shock and Dismay.

Excited!!
Sassy.
And of course, Thoughtful Cowboy.
I'm sorry about the unfortunate ear little Eli. I was afraid if I stopped to fix your hat you would totally not put it back on. Nice range of emotions though today. You rocked that shoot!

And the Winner is...

Julie & Captain!
I loved the memory of the Pipeworks and how ingenious you were with these toys. Fun and functionality! Send me an email at amy@acarrollphotography.com to claim your certificate.

Truthfully, it was hard to choose a winner and I absolutely loved hearing about all of your favorite toys!

Sandy - I loved your memory of Gloworms! I totally had Gloworms as a kid and my favorite was the butterfly one.

And She-rah! She was fabulous. As was Jem, Rainbow Brite, and Smurfette. Fun memories everyone!

And of course Barbie with her many many shoes will always have a special spot in my heart. That girl truly did know how to live.

1.30.08 : : Reverting Back to My Youth

Even though I really really really want to complain about the snow, again, I'm going to hold back and instead focus on something a bit more heart-warming.

A good friend of mine got me these two ponies as a Chrsitmas gift this year, knowing that I had great love for My Little Ponies as a child. They sit on my desk and bring a smile to my face remembering the many years I spent collecting the colorful toys and playing with them with my friends. I even had a brief stint collecting them again as an adult when Ebay first arrived on the scene.

So today, on this blustery winter day let's turn our focus not on the freezing temperatures but on warm childhood memories. I want to hear what your favorite toy was growing up. It seems that many of you blog commenters have been in hibernation so I'm even giving an incentive for the best comment on this subject. The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Amy Carroll Photography!

Let Them Eat Fabulous Cake!

Barb Hoek, owner of Sweet Cakes Design, is one of my favorite bakers in all of West Michigan. Her wedding cakes are amazing and she uses only freshest and best ingredients. I love the three fillings of goodness that are in each slice! With beautiful cake designs, a creative staff and affordable prices, Sweet Cakes definitely has a lot to offer.

Sweet Cakes designed my wedding cake nearly three years ago when my husband and I got married and I recommend her to all of my brides and grooms to be.

So why am I talking this vendor up so much today? Because the Sweet Cakes website is finally up and running!

http://www.sweetcakesdesignllc.com/

And don't think that you have to be getting married to enjoy the cake goodness. We order all of our anniversary and birthday cakes from Sweet Cakes.

Congratulations Barb and all of the Sweet Cakes staff. Your site is beautiful!

Take the Plunge! A Marathon Trash the Dress Session!

(for easier viewing, click on image to enlarge)

For all of you fabulous brides, brides-to-be, or girls who just want to wear their dress again, make sure to sign up for this promotion. It is sure to be a fabulously fun time!

But who is Mirror Mirror Studio you might ask? It's none other than the fearless photography duo of Jen of JK Photography and myself! Blog coming soon to keep everyone updated on exciting studio announcement and specials. And speaking of cute logos, if you haven't been to the Pearls Events blog lately, hop on over and take advantage of booking the fabulous Aletha for your wedding next summer! I can't say enough about how wonderful and passionate she is about weddings, and I am lucky enough to have quite a few weddings that we will both be working together this year!


Right now she is running a promo to get 10% off of her package prices if you book before Valentine's Day.

1.28.08 : : Sweet

I didn't take this picture today...I actually took it yesterday. Today we refinanced our home and it there was just nothing particularly inspiring or exciting about signing hundreds of documents. So instead, I bring you sweet little Jaida and Brownie, a beautiful collie-mix. And since the above isn't such a fabulous picture of Brownie, here is a better one:

I just can't help myself from taking pictures of cute children and fuzzy dogs.

1.27.08 : : Hair is a Family Affair

Today was a day of hair transformation for my friend Angie's sister and mom. I did an impromptu photo shoot for them after their hair was styled to perfection. What girl doesn't feel their absolute best after having their hair done?

And you can't tell that these two are related at all can you?

I totally I adore Leasa's posh new bob haircut. I also totally cannot pull this look off. I'm stuck in a hair rut!

1.26.08 : : A Cheeseburger in Paradise

Tonight I took a little break from the snow and cold weather and had a cheeseburger in paradise. Or a cheeseburger at a place called Cheeseburger in Paradise in Kalamazoo...not a palm tree-covered island. Sigh.

The decor was islandy and fun and I drank a key lime martini. It was a little slice of tropical heaven.

1.25.08 : : Snow Dog

Whenever Tanner sees me put my boots on, the enivitable excitement at the prospect that he might get to go outside sets in. Looking outside at all of the snow drifts in our yard, I could only imagine that the funness would wear off quickly for my small chihuahua. But, I thought I would let him check it out for himself and grabbed my camera.

He loved it so very much that he even stopped to give a model pose.

1.24.08 : : Say Cheesy!

This is what happens when I have too much time on my hands in the studio.

I had my last Bid for Bachelors and Bachelorettes shoot this evening and basically it's an open time frame when the participants can come in for their headshots. Well, the first hour was going slower than the second and I started to think of things to do while I was waiting. I did some cleaning, changed around my lighting, and then thought perhaps I should test my new lighting set up.

The result is a lot of very dorky pictures of yours truly. I'm definitely happier to be on the other side of the lens!

1.23.08 : : Lil' Blue Eyes

Trevor just turned 1 year old and came into the studio today to show off his bright blue eyes.

Alison + Jordan : : Wedding Preview!

When : : Saturday, January 19, 2008

Where : : Ceremony - Spring Lake Weselyan Church, Reception - Spring Lake Country Club

Highlight of the Day : : It certainly wasn't the weather, but despite the chilly and snowy conditions, guests, family, and friends all enjoyed celebrating with Alison and Jordan on their wedding day. There is something truly beautiful about shooting outdoors with that white dress and black tux against the stark white snow. I truly appreciated their willingness to indulge me in a few outdoor shots!



This moment was so touching...this bridesmaid was so overwhelmed at how lovely Alison looked in her wedding dress that she had a hard time containing the tears.

Congratulations Alison and Jordan! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your day!

1.22.08 : : Brrr.

So today Jen and I headed home from our fun stay at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City. It was cold and snowy. And cold.

This was a little cluster of trees taken from our room this morning. The snow is beautiful but I'm ready for it to take its leave.

1.21.08 : : Two for the Price of Fun

Today Jen and I went out on a grand adventure to the Grand Traverse Resort. Jen had a photo shoot with her clients at the Resort and she asked if I might want to go along with her. A chance to get out of the house for a little mid-winter break and a comped room?! Fabulous!

The above picture is a picture of Jen taking a picture. Us photographer types sure know how to have a good time!

Actually, we had a marvelous time and enjoyed dining at the resort's newest restaurant at the top of tower called Aerie. If you are ever traveling in the area, I cannot recommend it enough. Jen and I were so inspired by the food that we both took pictures of the delicious crab cakes, featured above in Jen's camera's viewfinder. For the actual picture (and some more fun from the day) you can check out her blog.

1.20.08 : : Spring Fever

While at the grocery store this weekend, I happened upon this little miniture Iris potted plant among a selection of springtime flowers. The scent of them stopped me in my tracks and I had to bring one home. Looking outside at the swirling snow and being bundeled up all day watching a marathon session of America's Next Top Model (thank you MTV) has me ready for some warmer temperatures.