Daniel: 1 Year

There should be warnings for cuteness like this! Daniel recently turned one, and not only is he super-adorable, but he is also really happy and squealy and giggly!

I used to work with Daniel's mom, Tasheka, until she and Ambrose got married and moved away, but they just moved back to SC with little Daniel. It was great to spend a beautiful fall afternoon with them at Furman.

I looooooove these sweet Daddy/Son moments...











Ambrose and Tasheka...



I love the progression of Daniel's expressions in this series...



High five! How precious is the comparison between Daniel's little hands to Daddy's big ones??

"Patty-cake" always put a smile on Daniel's face during our session, especially the "roll 'em up, roll 'em up" part that he's doing here!

Tasheka, it was great to see you again and to meet your family! Welcome back to SC!

*To view the complete set of proofs from this session, CLICK HERE. The password is Tasheka's maiden name. If you want to save your shopping cart, please log in when requested. Thanks!*

Catching Up--Sneak Peek!

I'm behind on laundry, behind on cleaning my house, behind on blogging, and behind on editing. Ack! Do you see a trend?? I had 3 amazing sessions recently with 3 awesome families--perfect weather, gorgeous fall colors, and lots of good energy from the kids and parents. What more could you ask for? (Except maybe to be caught up on the edits, hehe.) Here's a sneak peek from each family to get ya started...

Thanks families for hanging in there--the rest are coming!!

Here's to You...

*Note: I don't usually "journal" on the blog, but I do hope you'll take the time to read this post...*

I love music--all kinds. And yes, that includes country. Even the bubble-gum kind that inspires my dad to rant about how "that's not REAL country; Hank Williams Sr., now that's country!"

Rascal Flatts have a fun little song about all of the reasons why they hit the road and go on stage night after night--the kids who pile too many people into their car just to get to the show, the cute girls hoping to catch a glimpse of somebody famous in the back parking lot, the moms and dads who leave their babies at home and dance up a storm in the aisles. The chorus says "You're the heart and the soul and the reason we do what we do; here's to you!" 

The reasons why I do what I do with photography are many: inspiring others to look at the world in a new way, creating art from everyday experiences, preserving too-fast moments, documenting life and love, and capturing personal history. As in the Rascal Flatts song, though, it isn't so much about the art or the final product as it is about the individuals, the lives, the stories captured in those prints.  I do not take it lightly when you trust me with your wedding, your newborn baby, your family moments. I get to know you and your story, I plan, I prepare, I pray--both for my abilities and for you. I do this so YOU have your life documented, so you can relax and enjoy your wedding day, so you can always remember that new-baby smell, the giggles of your toddler, the transformation of your child into an adult, and the love that you share with your family and friends.

In the past week, two of my newlywed couples have just lost a loved one--in one case, the groom's father, in the other case, the bride's father. Both have shared how they displayed photos from their weddings at the memorial service, and both have shared how much these images mean to them and their families during this time. 

I have a hard time expressing how humbling this is to me:  not only was I allowed to play a part in the story of their love, but I also am playing a part in the story of their loss, and ultimately in their healing. It is truly an honor. 

YOU are the reasons I do what I do.

Here's to you.

iRock...well I'm gonna

Lots of things are going on with Amy Clifton Photography, so read on to find out lots of changes. :-)

For starters, I've got a new toy...the 24" iMac. Woohoo! It is possible that I may be in love..how can I resist its humongo screen, not to mention that it's so shiny and just plain yummy.





I've been working off of an ancient PC with a 15" screen, so this is quite the upgrade! iLove it!

Also, I'm completely restructuring my pricing and packages, and I hope to have that in place by the end of the year. The new plans will offer lots of options for my clients, especially in terms of albums and canvases. Shoot me an email if you are interested in booking a session now and locking in the current prices! acclifton@aol.com

Probably the most exciting news is that I've begun working with the fabulous team at Peculiar Productions, who are kicking out branding, logos, websites, marketing, you-name-it for me. Hopefully by the end of the year, ACP will have a whole new look. I canNOT wait!!

One of my first conversations with Tim from Peculiar Productions went something like this:

ME: "You're gonna make me a rockstar!"

TIM: "You already ARE a rockstar. We're just going to put you on the right stage."

Sah-weet.

Stay tuned!

Little Miss Ella Jane

Just 13 days after Ella Jane's Birthday, I visited with her, Robyn, and Burton for Ella Jane's newborn portraits. She is such a sweet baby, and she has the cutest spikey hair. (Of course I'm not biased, considering Ella Jane's mommy is one of my closest friends...)



Ella Jane has quite the collection of hairbows! Good thing she's got the 'do to pull them off.







Consider yourself warned: extreme pouty-face ahead.





A Clemson Tiger-in-Training, with Burton's class ring.



And of course the little feeties with the wedding rings. (Happy 1st Anniversary, Robyn and Burton! 11/3/07)



It's Ella Jane's world now!

Robyn would say, "nude-y booty."

As Ella Jane's birth announcements say, "All of God's grace in one sweet little face."

Robyn, Burton, and Ella Jane--I love you guys! Thank you for always trusting your most precious moments to me and my camera, and thanks for being a crazy-good PR team for me. ;-)

PROOFS: To view Ella Jane's proofs, click here. (The password is Robyn's maiden name.) Please log in when prompted if you want to save your shopping cart. Thanks!

Gavin and Gabe: leave your own trail...

Things you need on a rainy day:

Giant furry dinosaur? Check.
Puzzle? Check.
Funny faces? Check.
New baby brother? Check.

Gavin, 3 1/2, is super-smart, really cute, and a very cool little dude. (He's a Jack Johnson fan!) Gabe, 3 weeks, is an adorable little chunk of sweetness.



The sweet Big Brother...





Uh-oh, here it comes!





While mom Lindsay was taking care of Gabe, I got some fun pictures of Gavin!



Love his tongue out...it helps the concentration, you know!



The many faces of Gavin...



OK, content again!



Chunky feet! :-)



I love this sweet picture of Mommy and Gabe...



Gabe's middle name is McNair, named after his dad's childhood friend McNair Bostick. From everything I 've heard and read, McNair was an amazing man who loved life, loved his family, and loved the world around him. He was killed in a tragic bicycle accident in 2006 at the age of 34.

May Gabe and Gavin carry on McNair's legacy: "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail" --Ralph Waldo Emerson


(Thanks to the family for sharing this awesome photo of McNair at Mt. Fiji.)


Note: To view Gavin and Gabe's online proofs, please CLICK HERE. The password is the family's last name. *If you want to save your shopping cart for later, be sure to enter your email address when prompted!*

David and Maria--Worth the Wait!

My sweet clients Leith and Bryant couldn't wait to start a family when they got married several years ago. They both have a zillion nieces and nephews, and they were ready to add to the crew! As we all know, however, our time isn't always God's time. After quite a few tears, many prayers, but never giving up hope, God brought Leith and Bryant to Guatemala this summer, where they met their precious babies David and Maria. David is SO snuggly and out-going, wide-eyed and curious. Maria is a Mama's Girl, with adorable dimples and the most squish-able cheeks ever. No doubt, these babies were worth the wait!




Hello cuteness!











Miss Maria...





Giggle-time with Mommy...






Leith, happy to have her hands full!



The sweet family...I keep saying that, but these really are the sweetest people! I've loved getting to know them over the years....engagement, bridal, wedding, extended family pics...and now the baby pics!



Checking out the "bow-wow" in the yard...






Squishy face on the glass as I was leaving...



Maria's blankie says it all.



I think they already have...

**EDIT--
To view the complete set of proofs from this session, please CLICK HERE. The password is the family's last name.