These photos are of my little nephew who is growing up way too fast!!!  Sometimes kids hit an age where you wish you could freeze them and they would stay that way forever.  I just love to kiss his chubby cheeks.  He said my name for the first time during my last visit and I felt like the coolest person alive.

These photos were taken in the Orlando, Florida area.  I’ll be going back a few times this winter and am available for sessions if you want me to come your way and it’s within a couple hours driving distance.  That being said, I’d really love to travel anywhere warmer over the next few months and do some sessions.  It would be awesome to hit a few cities where I could do 2 to 3 sessions at a time. I have my fingers crossed for anywhere in Florida but am open to other warmer locations as well. If you think you may be interested and would like to discuss, please email me! I’ll be available for travel January through May. Please pass it along! xoxo

Here is a recent shoot that I did just for fun.  I styled the concept around the random vintage dress that I found on ebay.  I became obsessed with the dress the minute I saw it and my brain started problem solving how in the world I could make it work in a photograph.  After a while these photos came into my head.  That’s usually how it works with me…I envision something and then I can’t sleep until I’ve pulled it off.  The style and post processing is a little off the beaten path for me, but it was fun to do something out of the box.  I’m already looking forward to my next creative endeavor!

So when things started heating up around here and they started freaking out about it on the news I wasn’t too worried.  I figured it would be a fun adventure for David and I since we don’t have air conditioning.  If you’re not a sissy, all you really need are a couple of fans and a spray bottle to mist yourself, right?  David suggested the possibility of a window unit AC, but I stubbornly resisted the idea of spending the money on a heinous contraption that would be hanging out my window the next three months.  Besides, the heat wave would probably just pass in 36 hours.  It’s Michigan we’re talking about after all!

Let’s cut to the chase here.  It did not pass in 36 hours.  Every day it got hotter and hotter.  The fans were only circulating the scorching air.  We were sweaty.  Very, very sweaty.  The temperature in our house increased until even our cats were laying on the floor like road kill.  My house is 150 years old, so I tried to be noble and think of my forefathers who survived heat waves wearing corsets and high necked wool dresses with no air conditioning.  Surely I could make it in my shorts and tank top.  It went on for days and days, and our coping ability decreased.  The breaking point came when several times a day I found myself standing in front of the open freezer door seriously calculating that if I took out all of the meat and curled up on my side that I really might be able to fit in there.  No one would ever have to know I laid in my freezer.

That’s when I knew the heat had won, my sanity was cracking and we should go buy a window unit.  What we didn’t know was everywhere in the city had been sold out for weeks.  I called around just to make sure, and every sales clerk acted like I was a deranged person calling Graceland asking if Elvis was there. Oh, those sales clerks made me feel the shame.  Their tone said it all…What planet did I live on?  Didn’t I watch the news?? No window unit for you, lady!! So I gave up my quest and stared into my freezer a little longer wishing I had listened to David before it was too late.

We survived the remaining days by taking ice cold showers and spending time at the lake where the air was cooler down by the water.  One evening we met my family there and played in the sand.  I snapped a couple photos of my niece and nephews.  Soon the temperatures started to drop and the worst was over.

That is the story of how we suffered yet survived the great heat wave of twenty eleven, and someday someone will tell my future generations about the time great grandma Wenzel almost laid down in her freezer with her head on a package of frozen calf liver. (Don’t ask).

I didn’t know I married a mind reader.  I guess our wedding vows needed an addendum along the lines of, “To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, til death do us part, or until I get a lobotomy so my brain waves will not keep you awake at night.” Apparently, all the togetherness can have pros and cons. It means you start finishing one another’s sentences, you begin dressing and looking more alike (we’ve had servers at restaurants tell us we look like brother and sister. Um…thank you?), and apparently you can become so in tune with one another one can get in trouble just for thinking.

Well, lobotomy or not, I love our togetherness.  This past weekend we celebrated our six year wedding anniversary.  We strolled on the beach, ate an extravagant dinner and toasted to our future together.  We talked about the big things in life, and I was reminded of all the little reasons our togetherness makes my life beautiful.

Babe, you make the best cup of morning coffee.  You give the best hugs.  You tell the best jokes.  You ‘get’ me in all my strangeness.  You make me laugh when I’m being too serious.  You smell like home.  I don’t want to face the joys and difficulties with anyone but you.  With all of my heart I KNOW that the best years are still yet to come.  Happy Anniversary. xoxo

As any tragic love story would have it, the poor beach towel didn’t know she was about to be replaced by the 1500 piece deluxe landscape puzzle.  When I brought it home, he was all goodbye beach towel, hello cheesy photo of Scotland countryside! However, this new relationship didn’t have many upsides for me.  Let’s just say it definitely put some cramps in my hobby, if ya know what I’m sayin. Yes, I know what all of you are thinking, jigsaw puzzles are right up there with bingo and shuffleboard, so why don’t I just hike up my pants and soak my dentures in some Fixodent.  But the way I see it is why should the people in the retirement centers have all the fun??  Let the haters hate harder cause I ain’t afraid to break out some inner Grandma from time to time and do me some jigsaw puzzle!

That being said, it is pretty hard to ever work on the puzzle when your fifteen pound cat prostrates himself upon it night and day. (David pointed out that Pegasus is so bulbous he looks like a manatee.  I have to agree). Anyways, Pegasus must have had a falling out with his jigsaw puzzle bride, because the day I proudly put in the finishing piece, he pushed the whole puzzle onto the floor for the sheer enjoyment of watching it fall.

As a photographer, if you are working towards a commercial or editorial look, clothing choice can make or break an image.  Putting in the extra effort to help my clients select wardrobe helps me achieve the “Amy Wenzel” look and keeps me in love with what I do!  For those of you who would like to invest more creative vision into your shoots, I thought I’d share some of my thoughts on how to go about it.  I’ll start by sharing a few favorite images from a shoot that I styled in June.

1. Start with a Vision

If you don’t know where you are going, how will you ever get there?  I approach each shoot with a distinct vision for the look and feel of the photographs.  In custom portrait work, you are not only the photographer but also the creative director, so I like to keep a running list of ideas and ‘dream shoots’ I hope to carry out someday.  When I book a new session, I see if the client is a good fit for any of my current ideas and then I suggest my concept to the parents.  Sometimes clients come with their own great ideas and that works too!   Usually I choose the location first, and then select clothing that will compliment and complete the vision.  The above session took place in the evening at this family’s farm, so I wanted the clothing to be soft and elegant with a touch of ‘country’ to it.

2. Offer to Style the Session

I don’t personally style every single shoot, but I always like to offer assistance with wardrobe to the parents.  My level of involvement is different with each client, but most of the time they take me up on my offer when I explain how strongly styling affects the final outcome of the photographs.  Help your clients become excited about what you are excited about and they will want to come on the creative journey with you.  Be sure to tell them how fashion inspires your work and that you’d like their session to reflect your personal artistic vision.  Remind them that the styling in your portfolio is part of what drew them to your images.

3. Go the Extra Mile

There are many approaches to styling a session.  Possibilities range from consulting with their current wardrobes to shopping with Mom online or in person.  I often send emails with links to clothing that inspires me, and I’ve even shopped for clients at the local children’s boutique and left clothes on hold for them to make selections.  Do whatever works for your business plan, but make your session fee is high enough to compensate for the added time and effort.  Remember that better photographs can also mean higher sales, so I personally believe in going the extra mile to make my photos as awesome as possible!!

4. Compliment Your Subject and Environment

When choosing wardrobe, I look for unique items with a great cut and fit.  I tend to choose fashion forward clothing rather than traditional styles.  I’m not afraid of using patterns and mixing colors, and I usually suggest an entire size down from what the parent typically buys.  This ensures the clothes fit snugly without the “growing room” for which parents usually allow.  I always keep in mind which colors look good for individual skin tones, and I also consider the colors in the setting so that the outfit will stand out against the back drop.  For instance, a green dress in a green field isn’t so compelling.  But a royal blue dress in a yellow field is dynamite!  Remember your complimentary colors (red & green, blue & orange, etc) to know what will look exciting in your composition!

5. Don’t Skimp on the Details

It’s amazing how simply adding a headband can complete the look and take it to the next level.  Never underestimate the power of a hairstyle, a pair of shoes, or a bangle bracelet.  Props should blend seamlessly with the vision and should enhance your image but never distract!  I bring along a couple of small props to each shoot.  I may or may not use them but I like to have options.  The little antique fishing pail featured in this session was a prop I’d been holding onto for awhile just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.  Also remember that it never hurts to take a few risks, so I’m not afraid to suggest a change in hairstyle if I think it will compliment my client’s face structure or add interest to the look.  Great style is from head to toe, so don’t go to all the work to pick out a great look and then just throw on any old pair of shoes.  In this farm session I think her Hunter galoshes make the whole outfit!

6. Inspire Through Your Website

It’s a great rule of thumb not to display photography on your website that isn’t an accurate reflection of the type of work you’d like to do. For instance, if you don’t want to shoot families in matching white shirts, don’t put that type of work on your website.  If you can point your clients toward a dynamic portfolio filled with images in cute clothes, it’s much easier for them to lay hold of your vision and select an appropriate outfit.  If necessary, do a few free shoots for friends where you style the kids yourself to build your portfolio.  It will be well worth the investment even if you have to pay for the clothing yourself!  Your website is your selling tool and should attract the right type of client for you!

I hope these tips are helpful for both parents and photographers as you approach an upcoming session.  Thanks for reading!