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Her name was Mercy. Fitting, because that's precisely what she was to us - a godsend, a blessing.
- Friday, December 11 - 3:00-3:35 in Lake Wales, FL- Friday, December 11 - 3:40-4:15 in Lake Wales, FL- Friday, December 11 - 4:20-4:55 in Lake Wales, FL- Friday, December 11 - 5:00-5:35 in Lake Wales, FL- Saturday, January 16 - 3:00-3:35 in Winter Park, FL - Saturday, January 16 - 3:40-4:15 in Winter Park, FL- Saturday, January 16 - 4:20-4:55 in Winter Park, FL- Saturday, January 16 - 5:00-5:35 in Winter Park, FL- Thursday, January 21 - 4:20-4:55 in Lake Wales, FL- Thursday, January 21 - 5:00-5:35 in Lake Wales, FL- Saturday, January 30 - 3:00-3:35 in Ft. Myers, FL- Saturday, January 30 - 4:20-4:55 in Ft. Myers, FL
When we were introduced to her, she was 7 years old with a shy smile and a sweet spirit. When she expressed her dreams, she was poised and confident - ready to take on the world and any challenges that she faced along the way. She was mature beyond her years - undeserving of the circumstances that surrounded her, but unwilling to allow anything to bring her down. She was a trooper; an eternal optimist.
Mercy lived in the country of Ghana, so we never actually met her face-to-face. But that didn't matter. We knew her. We kept in touch through letters and photos, learning more and more about her, her family, and her life that was taking place in a town thousands of miles away from us.
We were given the opportunity to send a financial donation every month to help support Mercy in the various areas of her life - areas that we often take for granted; health and hygiene, education, nutrition. Our monthly contribution seemed so small when placed on a large scale, but we felt humbled to even be able to be a small part of Mercy's life.
Throughout that experience, I was prepared for the sense of happiness we felt by being able to help someone in need. What I was not prepared for was how much Mercy impacted us. Her letters and her story inspired me. Here was a girl, less than half my age, proving that she knew more about how to handle life and all of it's unexpected twists with much more grace than I did. Here was a girl, who in spite of situations, managed to keep a genuinely positive attitude on a day-to-day basis. Here was a girl, who knew how to truly enjoy being alive. She didn't waste her days with frustration and stress and worry and grief. Instead, she faced each morning with a smile and a hopeful perspective.
This broke me.
Why can't I live this way? Why do I constantly let insignificant irritations and disappointments alter my mood? After being introduced to Mercy, I felt ridiculous. Ridiculous, and transformed.
Giving back to the world around me has always felt necessary, but now it has become crucial; it has become natural. Mercy has made me view life this way; I'm no different than any other person in the world - no more deserving than someone else. I just happen to have been dealt a different hand. And basking in the victory of pocket Queens hardly seems like a fair or satisfying move in the card game of life.
I'm not a saint, and I don't feel like I deserve a gold star for my outlook. I have had and continue to have tons of selfish moments as well as ones that are filled with pessimism and defeat. But I am trying. I see the beauty in generosity, and I want to have a soul that is full of compassion. I want my heart to break for injustice, tragedy, and hardship. And then I want my reaction to be passion - raw, overwhelming passion for helping those in need.
Mother Teresa "got" this idea of compassion in action. And she lived it. She said, "If you want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it."
So here we are - putting oil in our lamp.
Love Through the Lens is a mission to give back. We want to utilize our abilities and our equipment for a purpose far greater than ourselves. This year, we will be supporting Invisible Children - a cause initiated by a group of young people, motivated to make a difference in the war-ridden country of Uganda. Please watch the following video (from Invisible Children's website) to gain a better understanding of this great movement (*depending on your connection speed, you may need to pause the video to give it time to load):
This movement ignites an eagerness in us to take action. Brooke Fraser says it best in the lyrics of her song, "Albertine": "...now that I have seen, I am responsible..." We have a responsibility to support those who cannot support themselves, and to help deliver justice for those who have been treated unjustly.
Here's our plan (in brief):
We want to offer photography sessions for $100 each. The sessions will be 35 minutes long (one to five participants per session). The participants will receive coverage time, a disc with 25 full quality, edited images from their session (with shared copyright privileges) and a free 5x7 print of their choice. The sessions will take place in various locations all over the state of Florida, on 4 different dates in December and January (four 35 minute slots for each date). There will be 16 sessions total. 100% of the money raised through these sessions will go toward the Invisible Children movement.
Here are the dates and whereabouts (*dates that are crossed off have been booked):
- Thursday, January 21 - 3:00-3:35 in Lake Wales, FL
- Thursday, January 21 - 3:40-4:15 in Lake Wales, FL
- Saturday, January 30 - 3:40-4:15 in Ft. Myers, FL
- Saturday, January 30 - 5:00-5:35 in Ft Myers, FL
Here's how you book a session:
E-mail us; in the subject line, type "Love Through the Lens." In your e-mail, please provide the date/time you'd like to book us for, the number of people in your group, and any other questions/thoughts you may have (*sidenote: I will be updating this post often by marking off session slots that have been booked). We will e-mail back with details about specific locations and directions.
If you like the idea of this cause, but you don't need or want new photos, you can still participate! We are offering special gift certificates for this mission (Christmas is right around the corner...;))! Simply e-mail us, and we would be happy to send you the printable certificate that you may fill out for someone that you love. :) (below is a smaller version of what the certificate will look like):
Just want to donate? Click here to be directed to Invisible Children's website.
**UPDATE (on 11/22/09)**
We have received questions about the type of session you can book. The answer is - any! Spotlight, Trash the Dress, Just Because - they are all applicable for this offer.
Also, we have been e-mailed by a couple of photographers asking if they can utilize this idea. Absolutely. We would love for more of our peers to take part in this opportunity, so please e-mail us if you are interested.
Ben and I are thrilled and humbled to be able to utilize our business for such a worthy movement. We hope that you guys are equally excited! Thank you for partnering with us in this action of compassion - we love each and every one of you! :)
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love through the lens.
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77
I really didn't mean to take this long to post this. My bad.
First of all, thanks to all of you who replied with questions and topics (reference: click here if you missed our last post about 'off-the-wall')! You have my brain reeling in a thousand different directions - which is a good thing. :) Some of the questions are pretty challenging, which I think is also a good thing. I guess I couldn't really expect a "what's your favorite color" to pop in there and make things simple for me. :) I'm excited about posting thoughts and answers to the comments you left, and I'm hoping that this will be a cool new addition to the blog that everyone will be able to enjoy.
I think I've decided that I'm going to tackle 1-2 questions per post. Let's be honest - I'm long-winded (the first step is admitting you have a problem...). If I tried to answer more than 2, I'm pretty sure you all would stop reading this blog all together and start a petition to kick me off of the Internet forever.
It seems fair to start with the first person who responded to this post - Ms. Alicia Esque. :) Alicia asked: What type of music or band influences your photography the most?
Since Ben has hoarded been gifted with all of the vocal and instrumental talent in our relationship (though I do possess a special knack for the egg shaker), and we both share a great appreciation for the art of music in general, I decided to loop him into this answer.
Ben's response:
My biggest musical influence probably comes from bands like The Fray and Kings of Leon. Style-wise their music is sort of raw and vulnerable, yet really laid back and honest. The creativity it takes to make a simple melody come to life with straightforward instrumentation is a lot like what we hope to do with our photography. We work with the sincerity and beautiful simplicity that our clients bring to the table, and try to craft images that really connect.
My (less eloquent) response:
Acoustic music is really unpretentious and mellow to me. Matt Wertz, Dave Barnes, Jon McLaughlin, and Josh Kelley are musicians who do acoustic music really well. I think that this genre speaks to our approach to photography - we aren't trying to be showy or over-the-top or high-strung. We try to allow moments to unfold naturally before our cameras, and accentuate those moments with hints of creativity that adds individualization to our style. I appreciate the previously-mentioned musicians' easygoing, refreshing sounds, accompanied by their thoughtful lyrics. I hope this is how we come across in our photography - laid back, inspiring, and thoughtful.
Since I also handle the editing side of our business, I'm going make my answer twofold (plus, again with the long-windedness.). While I'm editing, I am always listening to music. My choices vary, but I like upbeat, impassioned, artistic jams. Anberlin is an all-time favorite, as well as Kings of Leon, and even a little Jay-Z every now and then. :) These musicians are innovative, vivid, and expressive. Their melodies inspire me to edit our images in a way that portrays the same kind of flair.
*Click on any of the links above to check out the musical fabulousness for yourself! :) Great question, Alicia!*
image: our good friend, Aaron, making music. :)
Have questions or topics for us? Comment anywhere on the blog, e-mail us, Facebook us, or send us a Tweet! We look forward to hearing from you! :)
Courtney Flood:
ok, i'll take the bait....what's your favorite color? =)
what is the most unique event you've photographed for?
-Courtney Flood
(11.09.09)
Anessy Caban:
I LOVE this picture Amy! Thanks for sharing! Miss you friend! (He's such a stud! =) )
(11.09.09)
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off-the-wall : edition 1
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76
Even though I have a B.A. in Creative Writing, I still find myself occasionally pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to write in my blog posts.
There are days when I feel inspired; full of words. And then there are days that I walk in circles around my house just to avoid my computer, and the daunting task that awaits. In fact, I would love to post more often, but I simply run out of cool things to talk about (I mean, Putter is cute, but how many photos do you really want to see of him?)
So I had an idea (if Ben had a nickel for every time I started a conversation like this...he would have a LOT of nickels). Why not let you all choose some of our blog topics? Assuming that there are more people reading this thing than my loyal family members (Hi mom!), we'd like to offer the opportunity to ask us anything. The random, the weird, the intense, the ridiculous - any and all off-the-wall questions you've been dying to have us answer (because, of course, you've been chomping at the bit for this monumental possibility...;) ha!)
Though you are welcome to pose topics/questions that are photography-related, we are not limiting this unofficial forum to just that. We are open books. Personal or professional - let your questions and ideas fly! We promise to tell the whole truth, and nothin' but the truth. :)
I'll be doing an "off-the-wall" post once a week (or maybe every other week, depending on the response) after reading your thoughts. I will also include photos, and possibly video for each one to keep things spicy. :)
You can post a comment with your question/idea anywhere you'd like on the blog (I will get it :)), or you can e-mail us, Facebook us, or send us a Tweet. I'll be sure to include little reminders about OTW (yep, abbreviating it already) in our future posts.
We're looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with, and my brain thanks you for the assistance. :)
Alicia Esque:
What type of music or band influences your photography the most?
(11.03.09)
Josh:
Do you advertise in any printed publications or do you rely on web media and social networking? What techniques do you use to edit your photos? Why does Putter have a one-eyed smurf on his head? :)
(11.03.09)
Melissa:
amy-your hair is always awesome!!!! how do you style it? can you give us a step-by-step post? thats pretty random-right? lol
(11.03.09)
Chrisitne:
How do you save all of the pictures you take? Do you have an external hard drive? Discs? Do you save edited AND unedited photos? Do you print them for your personal use or keep them on the computer? I'm DROWNING in photos and because I am so undecided on what to do, they just sit on my external hard drive! And I have thousands of pictures!!!!!
(11.03.09)
Chantel:
If you both were making mix tapes (ok it's almost 2010, so I should say iPod playlists) of your lives, what songs would be on them and why?
(11.04.09)
Leigh:
Who or what inspires you creatively?
(11.04.09)
tina.morrow:
okay - i actually have a photography question... :) sometimes when i look at the photograhs you take, i am amazed at how creative the shot is. i am a focus and shoot kind of person...so i do think it is crazy cool the way some of the clients are posed or the "part" of a photograph you display...did you learn that or is it just innate?
(11.05.09)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
off-the-wall : an introduction
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75
Putter says...
(He also says "I hate my life right now" but I feel like he's being dramatic.)
Brianna Phelan:
Putter is too freaking cute for words! This photo is awesome and p.s. LOVE your flooring.
(11.02.09)
Kristin:
bahahahahhaah Putter! this is cute!
(11.03.09)
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happy halloween!
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74
Before I started writing this post, I made a promise to myself that I would keep it short. After yesterday's post (that read more like a novel), I'm afraid our blog is just going to shut down from my overwhelming long-windedness. Or my keyboard is going to start smoking. Either scenario seems pretty unfortunate.
Callie is my younger sister, and her husband, Adam, is Ben's best friend. We're like Lucy, Ricky, Ethel, and Fred - minus the constant shouting and monochromatic colors. We're like Wilma, Fred, Betty, and Barney - minus Bam-Bam, Pebbles, and Dino. We're like Rachel, Ross, Monica and Chandler - minus the New York apartment and Central Perk. We're best friends. We're family.
Needless to say, we have a ton of fun together. And we make them get in front of our camera - a lot. Callie doesn't complain (what girl doesn't love playing model for the day?!), but Adam has to be coaxed with lofty promises of dinner and new parts for his Jeep (I'm serious).
We recently decided to do some updated photos of the two of them (and their little addition :)). After a few frames (and a few minutes of being obnoxious with Ben), Adam became cooperative for the rest of the session, and we got some great shots. ;)
All joking aside, Callie and Adam are our favorite couple to photograph. Not only because we are comfortable with them (that's obvious) but because they are comfortable with each other. They aren't afraid to be affectionate or goofy - and they are always down for anything we ask them to do (which is usually a lot ;)).
Here's some new photos of our besties, with our little niece. ;)
Meet Bella.
She's super adorable...
...and occasionally a bit of a gremlin.
Their little family.
The image on the right is one of my favorites.
Christmas card potential.
I accused Ben of not contributing during the shoot (I mean, he was throwing rocks with Adam...what was I supposed to think?). He then proceeded to show me this image on his camera. I retracted my accusation.
LOVE these.
Callie - rocking the "serious" look like it's her job.
Another favorite. I love the colors. It kind of reminds me of an American Eagle ad. :)
Cuuuuute. ;)
If you're fabulous and you know it, clap your hands.
Ben's favorite. :)
I'm SO excited about these last two. I've been wanting to play around with different kinds of off-camera lighting for awhile now, so Callie and Adam were awesome enough to accommodate my wishes and let me grab a few shots while they hung out in front of car headlights. :)
My favorite from the day.
We love you guys! :)
(*Side note: I styled Callie's hair for the shoot, and applied her makeup. I'm not offering this information in hopes of getting a gold star ;) - I just wanted to throw it out there for future reference. Since I will be attending Aveda starting in April, I would love to continue to try out my skills in the cosmetology field. Any ladies who would like hair/makeup done for future shoots with us, or photographer's who need help styling models, or anyone who just needs a fresh "look" - please let me know! I'd love to work with you! :))
Tyler Lemmel:
umm... why are you guys so incredibly stinkin' awesome!?
(10.28.09)
Nana:
Love every one of the pictures!! Great work with great subjects!
(10.28.09)
Anonymous:
AMAZING!!!
(10.28.09)
Mike/Dad:
Uh Adam, you need to check your left hand in that last photo
(10.28.09)
Ben and Amy:
haha. Dad, can you really bust on him if they're married? ;)
(10.28.09)
Blair:
I love all of these photos! and w little bells, so cute!
yeah.. dang Adam, watch the hand, it's just a pic man :)
Tammy Sheppard:
Callie & Adam are beautiful and just compliment Ben & Amy's work!! I LOVE to look at these pics! And yes, Dad CAN still say something about Adam's hand! :)
(12.05.09)
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adam, callie & bella : just because
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What an awesome idea Amy Lee and Ben! Love it. :)
(11.19.09)So now it's not only your photography that I find inspirational. I take my proverbial hat off to you both for initiating this project which is sure to be an overwhelming success. I only wish that I was within reaching distance to be part of it... Come over with Shirley and do a wee photo shoot in Cambridge! Yes, you can even bring the dog! :) Brilliant! x
(11.20.09)I am very proud of you both! I wish that my family were going to be around for those dates i would certainly do it! You are AMAZING!
(11.20.09)Way to go Amy & Ben! Wonderful way to use your God given gift as a gift to those in need :) Best of luck on the project I hope EVERY session is booked and more!
(11.20.09)Love your site. Love this idea! I am so glad that your photography business is doing so well and it is so inspiring to see using it for the good of others! Sometime when I'm in FL, I would like to have you do some family pictures for us! You guys keep up the good work! :-)
(11.30.09)