This man taught me the important things in life. He taught me about white space and how if its trapped you are going to get a sideways glance and then have to do the spread over. He taught me how to pick fonts that make people go weak in the knees. He taught me about pushing deadlines. He passionately taught me Gandalf's wise ways. And most importantly he taught me that a pinch of wasabi can clear your sinuses for a week.
Mr. Hearne was my yearbook teacher for three years, though the time spent in that particular classroom probably equalled more like five years. His passion for stretching his students, teaching high schoolers english, and seeking perfection in a 246 page student-produced book pushed me to be a better leader, better student, better editor, and better person. I am so thankful for teachers who invested in me. Mr. Hearne was no exception.
Eight years later, I was able to reconnect with my teacher and his family as we met up in downtown Prescott to take his author photo. That's right, author photo! Mr. Hearne, or Kevin Hearne to the publishing world, is having his first three books of The Iron Druid Chronicles published in 2011. The first book is being released April 26th (sooo exciting!). I am so honored that he would drive all the way from Phoenix to have his photo taken by me! Here were his requests of the photo "look interesting but not so weird that I scare the bejesus out of potential readers", I believe we attained that, plus some. He looks pretty rock star author like.
Meet my teacher, your new favorite author, Kevin Hearne.
The photo will eventually be published in black and white so here it is in black and white
Check out his blog at www.kevinhearne.blogspot.com
He took his hand tenderly and a little bit hesitantly placed it on his itty bitty back, his head tilted to carefully inspect his hands, toes, and face, he had tears in his eyes and a smile from ear to ear. In that moment he had changed. We had changed. Everything had changed.
He sat amazed just staring at his boy perfectly in tune to his little baby squeaks and subtle movements. I fell more in love. Seeing my husband as a daddy, watching the way he looked at him, seeing the care he took as he gingerly swaddled him, and the love that just seemed to ooze out of him made me want to kiss both of them. The relationship between Wil and Corbyn is so special and I know for the rest of Corbyn's life every time he says "dada" there will be so much more behind it than just a title.
This is a series of photos I am entering into a "night of art" on October 15th. One of the young adults in our church started Screaming Souls, a non-profit artist cohort to give local artists an opportunity and outlet to share their artwork. If you live near the tri-city area come check it out at Bada Beans downtown off Gurley St. in Prescott and if you want to enter some artwork go to www.screamingsouls.org. Peace, hope, and love.
I admire this girl. I've met her once and I already admire her. She laughs easily, she is comfortable in front of the camera, and she is amazingly courageous as she has just moved to another state not knowing a soul and not having found a place to live, but still putting one foot in front of the other, getting on a plane with a one-way ticket and taking it in stride as an adventure. After hanging out with Amy for a few hours I can guarantee this beginning to a new chapter in her life will be full of blessings.
Good luck Amy and thank you for hanging out with me and allowing me to capture this time in your life!
Meet the beautiful Amy!
She has such a beautiful smile =)
This is her cat, Jag, he stayed still for two seconds, in fear, I believe. One of my favs, though i have quite a few ;) i heart her boots! So pretty This is her"i'm taking on this adventure" pose! Have fun Amy!
I used to go to bed dirty. Like, really, dirty. I would play four or five or six games of softball in Arizona and come home completely soaked in sweat and caked in dirt, take off my uniform, put on my jammies and crawl in bed. Gross, I know. But at the time I couldn’t even make my tired body stand in the shower, I was totally finished for the day. I played hard, I was focused for hours, and was busy moving the whole day. I played infield and pitched so I never got a break, could never even take a breather and I liked it that way.
I went to college and all the infield positions were already taken by upper classmen so if I wanted to play I was to learn to play the outfield. Everything is slower in the outfield. You are not constantly in the action, you are not constantly moving, or thinking where you should be next, it was kinda boring at times. I would even go home from practice sometimes fully clean, what?! I found at practice my mind wasn’t fully engaged so it would wander, always aware what was going on around me (I promise Dave), but I could think about the waves and if it was a good time to go surfing, I watched the gophers heads pop up and down on our field wondering what their little tunnels looked like, I thought what it would be like to be a bird and wondered why all birds wouldn't want to live on the coast. I would also hum, but that’s another story. And sometimes these thoughts would formulate into words and I would say something to my teammates. It’s not good to say these things out of nowhere, I got labeled as weird and random. It hurt my feelings. I didn’t want to be known as the weird and random freshman. However, as time passed and as I became more sure of who I am I decided I am really random! My mind moves at a million miles a minute and sometimes I even forget what I was just thinking because it is so random. So today I am embracing my randomness and am giving you a glimpse into my crazy, random mind.
Some Random things.
*My grooveshark playlist…a sampling…Lifehouse, Lady Antebellum, Miley Cyrus, Passion Pit and Black Eyed Peas
*I only buy Peppermint gum
*I use my day planner religiously at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year. I’m not quite sure what happens between March and October.
*My car I have had in my possession for over four years is still registered under my parents. This only poses a problem in October.
*I bought a dresser off of craigslist that I am probably going to paint yellow. I told Wil just trust me.
*My face is the first thing I wash in the shower cuz God forbid I have to touch my face with wrinkly fingers.
*Things I call Corbyn: Baby, Munchkey, Buddy, Bubba, Bubby, C-Shake, Noodles, Gizmo, Giz, LilMan. He responds to all. But if you ask him his name he answers “Baby”.
*I try to convince myself, all the time, I actually like to run.
*I throw most things away, the one thing I do keep, all cards and notes from my husband to me and from me to my husband.
*I’ve started to think about Corbyn’s 2nd birthday party, which is at the end of January.
*I save my money for nice jeans.
*Really needs to have an at home movie day to see all the movies I’ve wanted to see in 2010 but I’ve missed in the theatres…Eclipse, Inception, When in Rome, Iron Man 2, Toy Story 3, Despicable Me, and The Switch.
*=) and ! in emails make me happy.
*I miss my teammates.
*I would write in all lowercase if it was grammatically correct.
*My going to bed dirty days are over, I now take two showers a day =)
My mom once hired someone to come to our house and spend a warm summer afternoon with us. Their purpose was simple, teach my mom and her two left hands how to french braid my hair. After a few hours of tugging at my head, some barely audible choice words, and a few tears my hair was in one big knot. Not the pretty, perfectly symmetrical braids I had so desperately wanted to match Brittany Smith. My only hope for this hairstyle I wanted to sport was found in my friend April. We went on almost every vacation with their family, so a few times during the weeks we were on vacation, my mom would ask April if she would braid my hair. I was afraid to ask. April was older than me, and oh, so much cooler than me. I looked up to her. And as she braided my hair pulling till my eyes would water (that's what made it look good), I sat thankful that not only she could braid but she would take time out for little Amy.
Years later, (though not with the desire anymore for the perfectly symmetrical double braids), I find myself again thankful for the friend I have in April, and again, admiring her. April is an amazing wedding photographer, (www.aprilsmithphotography.com), and last Saturday I had the privilege of tagging along with her to a beautiful wedding. I watched, I thought, I coveted (her equipment), I learned, I shot a little bit, we chatted, we laughed, we got In 'n' Out. It was a fabulous experience and I am so appreciative that April would still take time out for not so little Amy.
Thank you April! Love you! And since a post is better with a photo. This is actually a photograph of April's parents waiting for the ceremony to start.
Girl travels to England. Girl falls in love with England. Boy falls in love with girl. Girl falls in love with boy. Girl stays in England. Boy and girl get married. And a year later boy and girl have baby M. Family of 3 travels to the states to introduce precious M to girl's family. And I am positive family has fallen in love with little M. They were visiting here in Prescott for a few days and I am so thankful I got to meet this beautiful little girl and capture her innocence, beauty, and little developing personality at 6 weeks. She was on an 8 hour time difference and did absolutely wonderfully as she charmed us with her little smirks, curious blue eyes, and her fascination with her tongue. Jen and Jonathan thank you for introducing me to your little girl, you are fabulous parents that I know will raise a fabulous little girl. Congratulations! Little M is so beautiful! I <3> "Here's my tongue!" I loved all her cute expressions And blue eyes Here is little M (very sleepy at this point) with mom and dad and her great-grandparents. Very special!
It was a shade of pepto bismal pink, creamy white, with lavender details, went five miles an hour, and at the age of six meant a freedom I never had tasted before. Wind blowing through my hair, peddle pushed to the ground, I had arrived, my dream of my very own Barbie Jeep had come true. I was no longer the perennial passenger in my cousins jeep, I had one of my very own. A jeep that had come from the proceeds of lemonade stands, raking leaves, and vigorously searching the couch cushions (i secretly think my dad actually put money there for me to find). My little dream had led to reality. My camera arrived today. A year ago I (stole) my dad's camera and started to see things in a different way. I started to see the beauty of life through a lens, captured at hundreths of a second, creating memories of moments. I liked what I saw. I felt like it sparked something in me and I went into Barbie Jeep mode. This is a beginning to a dream but it feels good that there is a beginning. There are so many steps, who's kidding, giant leaps ahead of me I need to take, and honestly, I'm overwhelmed. But at the same time I know with hard work, sacrifice, and a lot of encouragement being a photographer will become a reality. It will be even bigger than my Barbie Jeep dream. And since I know the road ahead will have a steep learning curves and at times will be discouraging I decided to start with a list of why for myself. Why I want to be a wedding photographer. 1. I love love! 2. I love stories and one of the greatest stories you can tell is two peoples love story 3. I love making people feel beautiful 4. I love raw emotion 5. I love seeing two people vow crazy things and actually mean it 6. I love happiness 7. I love dresses, shoes, jewelry, flowers...basically all things wedding 8. I love performing under pressure 9. I love looking at my own wedding pictures, remembering. 10. I am passionate about it Here is to the road ahead!
Hi there! I'm Amy! I'm a wife, mom of 3 beautiful babes, an entrepreneur, advocate for healthy living and a health strategist/ online fitness coach helping people enjoy healthy, fulfilling lives! I have a true passion for helping women gain confidence and passion, empowering them to be the best version of themselves! You can find me with my family at the beach, at the coffee shop around the corner from my house working, reading a good book under a blanket at home, laughing around a table with friends, or finding ways to love Jesus and his people more!
Check out his blog at www.kevinhearne.blogspot.com
