Snow Day! | Michigan Child Photographer | Lansing Child Photographer

I have never really been much for snow. But something has struck me this year. I just fell in LOVE with the snow that we were covered in on the other day. The night before it kept coming and coming with no end in sight and i just knew that school would be canceled the next day. Even though they had not called it off yet we called our own snow day! There was no way i was going to be heading out in that mess NO WAY. The little ones woke me up the next day so excited. I threw on my boots and ran out the door. I am sure my neighbors thought i was looking pretty good in my plaid pajama pants and my plaid boots of which did not match my pajama pants HAHAHA. But was it gorgeous.

We had so much fun being home all day. We built Mr. Frosty and made some cookies. While the kids napped i made some bread. Which in the end turned out to not be very good :(. I am no baker. But i am learning. The kids gobbled up the cookies (and so did the husband). I ended the day in silence and some hot tea. AND some flames shooting from the microwave. Dear Santa, I need a tea pot. Our whole town looked like a winter wonderland. BUT many were without power and there were lots of trees down. Including one blocking our road. It was much safer to stay inside snuggled up.  Below you can see our day. I tried to document as much of it as possible. It was my first snow day home with the kids since Jeremiah started Kindergarten and i was feeling all weepy. Happy Winter to all!

The creation, growth and understanding of an Artist | Michigan Photographer

I started my photographic journey because i just loved the way taking photos made me feel. The feeling you get when you get that breath taking shot is something unknown to many people. I know that feeling. I love that feeling. And for lack of a better analogy i will say its like a drug for me. I am constantly seeking out that feeling and the high i get from it. I love when i see something in my head and can produce it to a hard copy image. I feel i am first a dreamer artist and second a photographer.

 My journey has taken many twists and turns. I have learned SO many aspects of life as a photographer. Some were very unknown in the beginning. Like how attached you get to your clients, or exactly how much actual work goes in to a single 8x10 photo.

I have shed so many tears, spent hours frustrated and days elated over a single image. I have shared in such precious moments of other human lives and danced and cried with them in many ways. I cannot truly translate to words the photographer i want to be. I feel like i am getting there. There is always something to learn and things that can be tweaked.

 I have made some big changes in my business this year and it is not going unnoticed by my clients. For one the big thing being prices. I was feeling so sheepish and shy about announcing my new pricing. Not because i was procrastinating but because i was a little scared of people sounding off about it. I didn't want to "Upset" anyone. I have spent the last two years tiptoeing around making my business what i want it to be. Why?  To appease others and to not lose clients.

 I have been doing some real soul searching lately. Some business soul and personal soul.

I spend hours on end editing photos or planning sessions. I spend days returning emails and answering questions, researching new techniques for improving my photos, marketing, blogging and many other business related tasks. These are all "Work".  All these tasks take me away from the ones i love. And i like you need to be making sure i am getting paid for the hours i work.

I always hope that when my clients receive their products that they know in their heart, that their investment was totally worth it. That is the whole goal. I don't want to give you photos that you plan to change in 3 months. I am not walmart's portrait studio. I don't just want to be there to capture what your child looks like at age 3. I want you to be able to see their 3 year old soul, the love in their face, the silly and the curiosity of a child's mind. I want you to invest in a true piece of art not just a picture. I strive to produce images that can absolutely melt you. Even if you look at them 10 years from now.

I have spent quite a while improving my craft. I have invested countless hours and dollars. Not because i just want to be a photographer and make money, but because i want to melt hearts, create art and be able to do it without being hindered by a 9-5 job.  

"I do not want to be hired for my prices, i want to be hired because you love my work and absolutely have to have it"

The birth of a child,  a newborn session, a wedding and so many other special moments will never be able to be recreated. You get one chance, one shot to capture those moments. There is no redo.

 I find myself heart broken for people when i see someone skimp on their childs first photos because they wanted to save $50+ or they let a family member with a point and shoot do their wedding photos to save money in the budget. No one will remember that you had chair coverings at your wedding or that it was at the most expensive place in the state. The only memories of that day that will last 100 years from now,  are the ones the images captured.

Nobody, not even you, will remember exactly what your child looked like at 5 days old. But the beautiful images on canvas that hang in his room, will forever tell you of his chubby face and whispy little hairs on the top of his head. Only those images will show the fine little hairs on his shoulder and his pouty pink lips pursed just so.

These are YOUR moments. These images are all you get for those moments, for the rest of your life. Like any other long term investment there is a price. But there is one thing that is different from other large investments. The love you will feel for these images will not fade with the style. The style fades with the newest washer and dryer, or the fanciest pair of shoes, or the sportiest car. The same love for a photo is always there. Even a hundred years from now. It may not even be you loving the photo. A hundred years from now it may be your great great grandchild loving the photo.

And that is what i strive for. I want people to love my work the way i do. Not love my price more than the work. I want people to say "Amanda Marie Photography does the BEST work" not "She has the cheapest prices in town". I was cheaper than Sears. That, is a problem. Sears says sit here and smile just so. Anyone can do that. Like i have said before it takes a true artist to capture your soul. I truly feel i am a true artist. And i hope you feel the same. I understand if i lose clients over pricing. It saddens me but i understand.

Here is a wonderfully written article about custom photography. I urge you to check it out. This article really gives great insight into the world of pricing for custom photographers.

I am so thankful for the clients who have stayed and supported me as i have grown into the photographer i am and am still becoming. I am so thankful for the past clients who gave me a chance to practice on their families. Without them i would have never been able to learn my craft.

Journeys are Hard

With the winter coming i think i am feeling the affects of winter depression. It happens this time of year to me. I start to feel claustrophobic and cold. Two things i sincerely despise. I have the RV itch really bad too. I have put so much energy into trying to figure out how we are going to do this. Its still quite some time away but i am just wishing so hard. I have been visiting some on Craigslist and other places but i feel like i am just torturing myself. On a more positive note i have been doing so well at saving my pennies for this. I just want so bad to be out on the road teaching my children about real things. Having real rich experiences that cost next to nothing. I know the right one will come along at the right time. I just wish the right time was now. I have never been a patient person. I wont pretend that i am.

On another topic we have been doing pretty well at changing out food thinking. I have totally given in and eaten some really nasty stuff. Only to feel guilty and yucky sick moments later. BUT we are learning and getting there.

I feel like i am taking so many new journeys that may be overwhelming me. So i have tried to just focus on a couple of things at a time. Honestly, its not working HAHA. I cannot help it. I long to know new things. I am an over analyzer. I need to learn the begeezus out of everything i learn. And well it works for me.

Its late and i should be sleeping. But all i can do is sit here and think and wish.

I always feel weird taking pictures of myself. But i felt an updated photo was seriously necessary

Learning, Journeys + Rants

Oh life how fast you go!


I have been feeling so overwhelmed these days. I have started so many Journeys at once. I am assuming this is where the problem stems from. Not to mention the fact that i think i took on WAY too much work for my first year. Am i regretting that? Absolutely not!! I am just disappointed with my turn around time. Mostly with Weddings. I have learned so much this year though. I am making big changes for next year.

I am so thankful for the wonderful clients i was so blessed to learn on this year. They have all been so patient and understanding. I guess i miss judged the amount of time that goes into weddings. I have also been learning some ways to streamline my work flow which has helped tremendously.

Work has slowed down with the colder days that have been arriving. I was a little nervous for that to happen in the beginning. But now i am basking in it,  as i am getting caught up on so many edits.

These past couple months have been hard on my body. My body has not liked me. I had some heart issues last month and took a decent fall this month. The heart scared me. Scared me so bad all i wanted to do was hold my children. I was too afraid to do anything else. I drove myself crazy with thoughts of what if... I then ran straight to my insurance agent and did the responsible life insurance thing. It didn't make me feel any better.

As for the leg.  It still hurts, a lot. But its been a blessing. I have tackled so many edits in my comfy chair. It feels good.

The new life Journey we are on will come in many blogs. We are aching for change. Jeremy and i are no straight line thinkers. We have always been different. Even before we met each other. We long to just be ourselves. But we find  that mainstream society is trying to hide us in the cube if its thoughts and ways. We just see life a bit differently. A bit more sacred and on a timer. I don't believe in status quo. I don't believe that "Things" make the person. We are conditioned to believe bigger is better and more means more important. I wont lie i myself have been caught up in those thoughts before. But it always leaves me feeling yucky. Every designer must have bag i purchased, i just felt dirty and fake. The sad thing. Most of THEM were fake. I don't need to make up for a poor childhood with bags and shoes. And by "poor childhood" i am referring to money, not memories. I have great memories but my mother was a single mother for a long time. Therefore that meant we didn't get everything we wanted.

I have found a number of blogs that have been so awesome in helping me head in the direction i want to go. I would love for you to experience them and support them as well. Check them out! Who knows maybe you might find a new way of thinking too. And the list goes like this HappyJanssens, The Organic Sister, and RowdyKittens. There are a few more but my eyes are closing on their own right now. Time to sleep. Thanks for reading my rant.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Love,

Jeremiah

Zombie Ball and the E.R.

Halloween is by far my favorite holiday. I love getting dressed up all crazy.  Our friends started having a Zombie Ball, this year was the second year. The theme this year was "Dead Rockers". Jer and i went as Jim Croce and Wendy O Williams. Below are some images of my pals and their significant others. We go all out! I was getting my groove thang going on the dance floor and well took a fall. My night ended with me in the E.R. Umm totally worth it though. We had a great time. Now i have a bum leg. Waiting to hear from the radiologist on whether there is any kind of fracture or not. 

My schedule is pretty open next week as far as Photo shoots and you know what, i am not sad. I am going to have a week long "Get caught up" editing session. And this bum peg leg is a good excuse to keep me seated. 

 Hope you all have a Fabulous Halloween!

"Hello little visitor"

Say "Hello" to our little visitor. Jeremiah discovered him today as we were walking up the driveway. He was on the large side of the Caterpillar scale. I love to see such curiosity and excitement in the kids faces at these moments. Jeremiah really wanted to touch him. I asked him to "Pleeeeeease be gentle", and he was.

Under Construction

If you have been anywhere near my Blog the last week, then you have seen the changes. There are many more changes to come. I have decided to take this blog in a different direction. I love to write and share my life with everyone. Not just my pictures. I want this to be one place family, friends, Photogs ,and just readers can come to read about what we have been up to and see the images i love to share. 

The Lipsey's are taking some new paths in their life. Big changes! One i can share is our change to our four year old sons diet. Which also affects us. We have decided to take out red dyes from his diet. He has had some wild behavior and we feel it has already made a change. We are changing out diets in other ways too. But slowly. I don't want to send the kids into shock. But we will be cutting out all processed foods and yucky yucky stuff. Slowly but surely.

Jer and i had some good conversation(on date night!) about the RV trip and he is definitely on board. Now to get that RV. Saving starts now. I am so excited, its actually ridiculous how much. I sleep, eat and think RV RV RV. How can we do this. SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE living. I am so ready.

We have a lot to do before we get there. And when i say a lot i mean AAAAAAA LOT! AHH! 

I just know we were meant for this. Now its just letting things fall into place and getting our ducks in a row. So keep checking back to see what we are up to. It is about to get really interesting and highly entertaining i am sure.

Of course i cannot leave you without a picture so here is one of my beautiful child. She turned 12 this summer.

Getting our Minimal on!

They Lipseys are getting swallowed up by things. Ugh! Clutter is everywhere and it is driving me batty. Jer and I both have the tendencies of a Hoarder and it is scary. Today i have decided to update my Blog and write my Column and that is it for digital work. Today is PURGE day!! I am so nervous. I am so excited. I need some more coffee i think.

Jer and i took a weekend sabbatical. No computer, barely used the phone and lots of campfire. It was so amazing. We needed it. Bad. I feel rejuvenated. I think he does too. I am trying to get him ready for Life on the road byt giving it to him in small doses. HAHA. He told me "You are really making me like this camping thing".  I was beaming with joy from that statement.


I feel like there are steps to getting to the day we pull out of here in out rig. The first step is to slowly teach the children (and the husband) that less is more. We do not need 175 dvds. We do not need 12 pairs of shoes and 14 pairs of jeans. We really don't NEED much. Its all about looking at things in a different way. I think this concept will be harder for Sidney (our Oldest) and Jer (the oldest HAHA).

I was reading a Blog last night and it really put things in perspective. Ok well actually there were two blogs the other is here. They both really explain the Less is More idea. We are all just trained to thing we need more and more and more. We need the best and the most. But we lose sight of the most important. Do i want my kids to look back and say "WOW mom and dad were so cool they bought us everything we ever wanted" UMMM NO! I want them to look back and say "Wow mom and dad taught us so much" Or look back and just remember special times and cool experiences. Not remember things. I want them to remember moments. So small steps start today with big purging!

Happy Monday to you!!!

I don't have an iPhone so this is my version of like Hipstamatic

Our Minimal Campsite. That is it. Where did we sleep? In the Van of course. Nomads we are.

Balance and Swings

Business this summer has really been very steady. I have a hard time taking time for myself and sometimes i am even guilty of not taking time for family. I have had to learn to walk away from the computer sometimes. I have had to learn to really manage my time better. I still can do better but i am feeling like i have spent more time with my family lately. I quit scheduling myself so much and tried to space sessions a little more. There are lots of exciting and new changes coming in the next few weeks. i cannot wait to announce all the new stuff. My dad asks me "Why reinvent the wheel"? And he is so right. Sometimes i try so hard to march to my own beat that i march right off the path i am trying to take.

With saying NO to over working myself i have found some great moments i would have missed. Here is a time out i am so SO happy i decided to take. Just a couple swings and a couple kids to some. To me this is my heart and soul.

Although taking these moments put me a little behind on work. I know it has been the right thing to do. I will catch up on the behind items by staying up a little later and being creative with time. I cannot get these years back. It is so important that i ind a balance between life and work. I am still working so hard to find it. I have faith that it will all work itself out.

Hope you had a wonderful meaningful weekend.
A~

Beauty and Dirt

Thats my Girl! Wearing a white dress sitting on a dirty tire. 


And this is how we started our morning. 
Beauty amongst the ugly. 
Or so some would think. 


I have always hated my back yard and the fact that no grass grows. Not even the grass that they claim can grow on a rock. But this morning in this moment it was perfect. It was a perfect scene for how i was feeling. I am trying to learn to love what i have and not wish for something bigger or better. I am trying to take what i already have and make it into what it CAN be not what it is NOT.


So for this morning i will not ask my yard to grow grass but i will just look at it in a different way. And here in this photo is what i saw in my yard looking at it a different way.


Happy Friday Morning to You!


A~

Just a little like a Gypsy Today

I have always been a Dreamer Gypsy type. I have always dreamt of a road trip across the country. Actually that was the plan when i graduated. My Good friend and i were to take all the money we received for graduation and buy an RV with it. She graduated 8 weeks along and well we decided that giving birth in a campground or on a road somewhere not only sounded terrible but just was not very smart. She married. And i left town in my sunbird. I landed in Atlanta. I loved it and i hated it. I moved to quite a few places there after. I then married. 3 kids i have and 3 she has.


That pull of freedom is still there. Yet it is much different now. I have much more luggage and many more hearts to look out for now.


With the typical day in and day out we lose our freedom thoughts. I am not talking freedom like single. I am talking freedom like not being a slave to the necessities and trials of life. The laundry, bills and responsibilities that pile up.


I have been on a search for a long time for freedoms. Whether saving time on things i dislike so i have more time for things i enjoy, Like playing with my kids. I don't want to be a slave to the technology as much anymore either. Facebook lost its glow to me a long time ago. But since a big chunk of my lively hood comes from social networks and technology i have to hold onto some of it. I am just learning to do it my own way. Make my own hours. Things like that.


I recently was introduced to a blog about a family who is RV-ing around the country right now. It brought back that 18 year old girl who wanted to see things. But now she is 26 and has children and a husband she wants to see these things with. So Jer and i talked. And i think i have him convinced to do this. When i was 18 had imagined that my face would be wide eyed pulling up to things like the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. Now i hope to photograph their wide eyed faces. I had daydreamed of my extended family members running out of their houses to greet me as i pulled in. Now i get to introduce them to my beautiful family they have only known in pictures. And i hope they would feed me HAHA and they will. Thats how my family is.


So My mommy/wife journey is one part, As is my Photographer journey and now i am looking forward to an actual journey that includes real movement not the metaphorical type. I post this now to hold me accountable...Why? Because this is one thing i REALLY want out of life. And now i plan to make this happen. Starting with all the research. Where, When, How much and just other things like what to do with our stuff especially this house.


So thats what i am Daydreaming about today. I hung all my laundry on the line today....It made me feel just a little like a gypsy and quenched a small bit of my urge.

Climbing that Mountain!

Through Tears, Frustrations and Sweat a Creative Soul is Born...




When I started shooting a couple years ago, i had no idea where it would lead. I felt that tug at my heart strings. I felt the want of a fabulous image. But i just couldn't produce what i felt i my heart. Patience is something i have always lacked. I lack this in every single aspect of my life. I am not afraid to admit it. I mean, admitting you have a problem is the first step right?


I remember days of frustration. Frustration over lighting, sharpness, color management, depth of field and well you name it. There were many sleepless nights and tears shed. I just wanted to be "There" You know to that point where it was second nature and you no longer thought about F-stops or Shutter speeds or shadows or anything like that?


I am now realizing you cannot just "Be There".  You get there by experiencing all of those frustrations and tears. I am still not "There" but i do feel a little more confident in my endeavor.


I am so thankful for all the people over the years who have allowed me to practice on them. Some even let me practice on them and still paid me. I went from being a Full time Mom and a part time Waitress and Photographer to a Full time Mom-Blog-Ographer. And you know what?  I love it. There are still some serious kinks to work out but the ball is rolling at a constant speed.


I want to thank all of my constant supporters for their time and comments. This past couple weeks have been full of such wonderful heartfelt comments and compliments from so many people. It really helps a girl put the world into perspective. I feel so fortunate to be able to do what i have always wanted to do and meet such fabulous people. I get to share in so many intimate and important moments in peoples lives. And in return i give them that very same moment in a form for which they can hold onto it forever.
This is an important role i take very seriously. I tie a string from my heart to each clients. Whether i shoot them once or 10 times. I will always have a special connection with them that i hold dear.


I am just so looking forward to what fun creative things that god and the world will throw my way in the future.

 Jeremiah says just jump...Even if you are scared...Just jump...You just might land on your feet...And he did.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!!!

Good Morning!!!!!

Good Morning!!! 

Love, Adeline

Permission to laugh and an award won.

I have been so slow on the Blogging lately. I have been so crazy busy lately. Amanda Marie is really taking off lately so i have been trying to keep my nose to the grind. Lots of new products and some new changes coming. Time to really step away from the kind of student, kind of hobbyist into The For Real Photographer spot. I am scared.

So Amanda Marie won an award and i wanted to share it with you. Click here and check out page 9. A small town award won but a big time smile on my face.

I am just so thankful for all my great clients who voted for me.

Life seems to have taken a hold of me lately and i am go go go. Its a double edge sword for me. I need to stay busy to sustain a house and life for my family, yet i am gone and working a lot. This is why you will be seeing lots of changes being made. All for the better of my clients and my family. I will post all the fun new things soon.

With all of us being so busy...I think we forget to laugh. We forget to hug and say i love you. We forget to say thank you and show appreciation. I hope the photo below can help you laugh. It cracked me up. I give you permission to laugh. Just because.

I Love Dirt!

We had a great friend of ours and her three sons over to play last week. They really reminded us of what kids are. They are little explorers. They are dirty. They are silly. And they could wear themselves out any day, any time with a good amount of dirt and mud. I am so thankful for these images. So glad i was able to realize to get the camera. I love everyday situations. I love the beauty of everyday situations. I am an everyday person and we are an everyday family.

A little Dirt don't hurt

My baby Girl Likes dirt too!

The dirty Knees

Such Curiosity!

Very Stand By Me Ish

May we all get some time to play in the dirt now and then!

Transformer Tea Party

Adeline received a birthday gift today...It is a very adorable and animated Tea Set. I love it. I LOVE anything girly. I have been surrounded by Cars the Movie and Spongebob for far too long. After baby sister was in bed, Jeremiah had his turn. He and his Tranformers enjoyed some YUMMO tea and crumpets. We shared some fun chatter and some pretend nibblets of cake. I love this boy.

May they always stay this young and have such an imagination. I wish.