take aim photography

Happy Valentine’s Day!

amy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:27:30 +0000

I love fun ideas. I love being inspired. I am constantly in awe of the world around me. I see new ideas in everything. The talk of the town these days is the new website, Pinterest. It’s absolutely fab! It’s all these great ideas displayed one one giant virtual pin board. Brilliant if you ask me! I saw this valentine card idea there and just had to try it. I love when people are willing to share their ideas. I’m truly grateful for this. My life has changed dramatically because of kind people willing to share. Whether it’s sharing tips on motherhood or cool tips on photography, I am better because of others. This is the essence of Pinterest to me. We are better together than we are alone period! I hear the founder of Pinterest is one great guy and I bet he formed the whole company based on this? One little idea can spark many. I say share, share, share! I think too often in our society people are afraid to share their ideas for fear of being copied. Nobody can be anybody else, this I know for sure. So although I understand this mentality, I think it’s incorrect. We need to follow more of the dogma that smart people like Albert Einstein have been talking about for years, “The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” Heck even the bible tells us, “give and it will be given unto you.” ”Ideas multiply when you share them” says renowned Irish author, George Bernard Shaw. I love this philosophy and believe it’s one of the great truths of the world! May today be the day we remember to give more than we get.

Holly Browning

amy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:44:42 +0000

Boy do I love this family! Holly (the pretty one in the middle!) is not only a great friend, but a constant source of inspiration in my life. We both started our businesses at around the same time: I, with a camera strapped around my neck, and she with a tool belt around her waist. We’d talk about our dreams and egg each other on like good girlfriends do. I never doubted she’d soar, and I have a feeling she never doubted that for me, either. But we do doubt that for ourselves, don’t we? That’s why friends like Holly are priceless. Thanks for helping me believe in myself, Holly! I’m so excited for your success and can’t wait to see what your future holds. As computer savvy as I am, I’m still not sure how to link sites. So do me a favor and check out Holly’s success at www.downtoearthstyle.blogspot.com. She’s doing what she was born to do. Way to go, Holly! By the way, we shot this picture in the fall, when her parents were visiting from Utah. She misses them a lot so it was a joy to be able to capture a piece of them here for her. It’s no wonder where Holly gets her good looks! That’s her cute husband Mark in the picture, too, a total gem. He’s the type of guy you die to bring home to your mother. He’s seriously that great! It’s his birthday today…so a big shout out to him. Thanks for your friendship! And last but not least, her twins, Ben and Luke. Two of my son Owen’s very best friends. They’ve been growing up together, you can’t get anymore special than that. Ben and Owen share a love for everything boy: rough-housing, guns, swords and the great outdoors (poison ivy included!) are probably at the top of their list. Luke has more of a calming effect on Owen; he’s the type of friend you can sit and relax with. Who doesn’t love a friend like that? Building legos and sitting inside with an art project are probably at the top of their list. Both boys provide Owen with the perfect balance. Thanks, Ben and Luke, for your gift of friendship to Owen. He thinks you’re both very cool!

The Sullo Family

amy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:49:39 +0000

This family makes me happy. They brighten the world with whom they are. Natalie (the mom) is probably one of the best moms I’ve ever seen. She loves her kids deeply and is 100% present in their presence. A huge feat in our busy world. Anthony (the dad) is one-of-a-kind! He’s perhaps one of the nicest guys I know. His whole self beams with warmth. What a pleasure to know them both. Their kids are amazing. I’ve been lucky enough to see them grow. Gabe is smart, super nice to his sisters, has a sweet calm demeanor, he loves his stuffed animal, Charlie, and has one of the best smiles I’ve ever seen. Brooke is a love; she was definitely born with a heart of gold. And Rachel, their baby, is silly, fun and I’m sure one day will be a world explorer. Much love to the Sullo family. Thank you for allowing me to continue to capture your family year after year. This particular shoot ended on one of the sweetest notes ever with Brooke proclaiming, “I Love You, Amy.” Can my job get any better? May you keep your heart of gold forever, Brooke!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SIS!

amy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:29:47 +0000

This is me and my older sister, Tina. It’s one of the few pictures of us this small. In fact, as I look at it now, its the only one of me this small I’ve ever seen. I yell at my parents all the time for not taking enough pictures. I treasure this picture. It’s a window into my life 42 years ago. A curtain unveiled. A peek into yesterday. What besides photography can do this? Our minds can to a degree, but memories get muffled, photographs don’t. Yes, they may look muffled, but of course, that’s just the wear on the paper, much like the wear of our bodies to our souls, the real thing is intact. For this is the power of photography. I’m so happy this picture survived. It’s a true snapshot into the relationship I had with my sister. She took care of me. She’s a teacher by trade and I was her start. She taught me everything I needed to know. Of course she didn’t know this at the time and perhaps still doesn’t realize it. I am, because she was. The power every human being has on another is profound. I just read an article about the biggest threat to teens these days is not drugs or alcohol, but instead, the absence of positive role models. This surprised me only because I think we tend to forget how powerful each of us is. My sister was a phenomenal role model. Her creativity inspired me, her generosity showed me the way, her smarts made me believe maybe I was smart too, her kindness taught me to be kind, her humor put thousands of smiles on my face, her good character made me make good choices and so on and so forth. I can literally go on and on. My favorite movie of all time is, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I tear up every time when George realizes the effect his life has had on others. Tina has had a huge affect on my life. I hope you are all as lucky to have someone so special. Happy Birthday, Sis!

Happy New Year – Show The Love

amy — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:18:56 +0000

I kicked off 2011 with a new tag line, Show The Love. It still remains a strong conviction of mine as 2012 begins. The time is now to show the world how you love. Who knows what tomorrow may bring. Over the last few weeks, out of the corner of my eye, I saw several reminders. A heartfelt goodbye from an older man to his beloved dog. I was at a regular vet visit with my dog when he entered with his. He was holding his dog in his arms, over his shoulder like you would your newborn baby. I might not have noticed if it wasn’t for my son Owen asking, “Mommy, is that dog blind?” I looked over, and said “maybe,” but didn’t think much of it until later when I saw the man alone. I watched him desperately try and hold back his tears. Then I watched him walk to his car and privately sob. He had just lost his best friend, for sure. Who knows how many years they had been companions? I also drove by a graveyard recently and, literally out of the corner of my eye, saw a man on his knees probably visiting his wife. We then got a call from my mother-in-law letting us know that one of their good friends, Jim Fitzgerald, died at the young age of 67. I still can’t get his smile out of my head, and my heart goes out to his dear wife Janet. They were best friends for more than 40 years. I can’t even begin to imagine how you say goodbye in that situation. Really the only control we have is in the present moment. Life is fragile, and these few reminders I have been given lately are happening all the time. The time is now to Show The Love. Don’t wait! This is a picture of my good friend, Angela, and her family. She just had her second baby girl and are beginning a new chapter in their life. I love the big family hug in this picture. May it be a reminder always of the love you share.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

amy — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 06:00:09 +0000

I just wanted to take a moment here on Christmas day to say THANK YOU! This has been one fabulous year. It started off with a bang when I got the privilege of shooting Alicia & Enzo’s January 15th wedding. From there, it was Paris…OMG!…and it just kept going and going and going. Thank you to everybody who made this year so super cool. I have so many great friends, amazing clients, and the best family ever. You all know who you are. From the way bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year and Happy, Happy Everything. Love, Amy (btw…our fabulous family photo was taken by the uber-talented, Melissa Vandermause, of Galleria Vivid Photography. Thanks, Missy!)

The Hutchison Family

amy — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:08:35 +0000

Another amazzzzzzing family! Seriously, Stephanie (the mom), inspires me to be sweeter. She’s a doll. Her husband, Rob, is awesome, and Hailey and Calder, well as you can see, are darling. Even their dog, Avery, who never misses a shoot, is a sweetheart. I just love this family! They are always up for whatever I suggest and couldn’t be nicer. Steph loved a picture I shot of my boys with candles a few years back, and she asked if I could try it with her kids. This is what we got. I love it!! Hailey and Calder, you ROCKED out your candles. Way to go!

The Moore Family

amy — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:03:00 +0000

Absolutely one of the sweetest families around. Sometimes I don’t know how I got so lucky to meet so many great families. They come out, year after year, and allow me to do what I love to do. The Moore Family is one of my very favs. Look at the expression on Brenna and Dillon’s face!! This, is what makes photography so special. Being able to freeze these precious smiles to keep forever is remarkable to me. What an invention the camera truly was…it’s been around for a while now so I think we sometimes take its power for granted. Pictures like these remind me not to. Thanks, Moore Family, for being great models and reminding me of the power of my camera!

The Weekes Family

amy — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:06:43 +0000

I love this picture. To me it represents everything “take aim photography” is about. I love the colors, I love the expressions, it’s candid, and to me, it totally embodies the way life should be everyday…super fun, playful and happy. These are the “Weekes” kids and they are every bit as adorable as they look. I’ve had the pleasure of shooting these guys for a few years now, and each time, I’m always taken by how full of life they are. The whole family is. In fact, I just got word they are hosting a dance party on New Year’s Eve! Now that’s totally cool, and totally them. I’m thrilled they allow me to document their lives once a year. What a pleasure! Thanks, Weekes Family.

My Girl…

amy — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:56:56 +0000

I always thought I’d have a daughter. It never even occurred to me that I might not — at least, that was up until I delivered each one of my kids, and they all turned out to be boys! It wasn’t hard to accept that reality at all, which kind of surprised me, because each pregnancy, I hate to admit it, I dreamed that at least one of them would be “my girl”. This was totally not the case, but I love how life works in mysterious ways and that although I may not have been destined to have a human girl daughter, God gave me a girl dog!!! She’s the perfect girl I have to say, and the best part — she can’t speak!! Heck she barely even barks. All she does is follow me around and look at me like I’m the best of the best. Who could ask for a better daughter than that!