Life Lately...

Hey dudes.
It's been a while huh? Like a month. Whoops. I'm sorry, I got a little busy, but in positive ways, except for that whole school thing. I'm pretty convinced that I won't be sad in December when I graduate. I'm ready to make stuff happen. And get paid money.
I've also been very busy thinking about photography. I realize that's a very vague statement, but I seriously can go on the internet or sit in a coffee shop (holding a book so I don't look lonely), brainstorming for hours for conceptual shoots I want to do. Last semester I bought a friggin cute notebook for myself and dubbed it "Amy's Epic Idea Book". Within the past 2 months, I have written down details or sketched out around 40 or 50 completely different shots that I am dying to do. But I should probably do something about that. My drawings aren't that impressive so I'm really wanting to bring a few to life in the next few weeks. I've gotten some extra equipment with my summer moola including my new favorite toy, a wireless camera remote. Now all I need are a few trips to a thrift store, and more importantly, models. I don't like being a model, hence me being behind a camera, but I have no money to hire anyone! So, if anyone reading this has any desire to be a model please feel free to message me on facebook, comment here, or email me at amyellisphoto@gmail.com. Some concepts I'm planning on doing soon are pretty particular about what the models look like, but I would be eternally grateful to whoever is willing to step in front of the camera, especially for weird stuff. I'm an art kid, after all. It may or may not be the sexiest  photo of you. Unless you define sexy as epic. I'm pretty sure I can make you look awesome. Maybe I'll get you something cool from Value Village?
So here has been my life lately in pictures. I played with my wireless remote, captured some musical moments in Davidson, took photos at my previous workplace; Gilcrest Natural Farm (you should look for them at the Charlotte and Davidson Farmers' Markets, and get their seriously delicious hotdogs), was visited by my nephews (who are dogs fyi), and finally, I had a cupcake at some point with my best friend. It was delicious, and definitely picture worthy.
Reading back, this post it totally scattered with 5 thoughts going on at once and I apologize. This is why I'm a photographer and not a writer.

Good Morning!

I picked out and finished my self portrait from vacation! I've been staring at it for way too long, so I'm a little tired of it, but still pretty happy with the shot and editing. Hope ya like!

I'm feeling a little rough this morning, probably because I've been going full speed all week, so I am actually writing this from my bed. So in reality, my self portrait of this morning kinda looks like this:

I think I'm going to spend the morning relaxing and staying in bed. Of course I need music for that, so I'm going to share a dear playlist of mine that I use for when I want to do absolutely nothing, which everyone needs to partake in daily. I'm apparently too tech challenged to embed it on my blog, but here is my playlist, hope it helps you relax to:

http://grooveshark.com/playlist/For+Laying+In+Bed/75906891

 So I just got back from an amazing week in a Tennessee cabin for a family reunion. No cell reception, no internet, and unfortunately, not the best coffee. But it was lovely, with tons of family and porches to rock and gossip on. Plus my cabin had a porch swing. Who doesn't love a porch swing? All this solitude and nature inspired me to take my camera out and get creative. I had two main ideas for self portraits, and here are some of the out-takes from one of them. Wednesday my best friend in the whole wide world came up, who happens to be a photographer. She's moving to New York in just a little over a month, and she's going to be famous in fashion photography. For real. Anyways, she was awesome enough to take the photos since I would be wet and cold the whole time. Here she is!

Here is me seriously reconsidering the whole submerging my butt in freezing cold water thing.

Yeah, it was really cold.

Holler back?

Here was one of my top 5, but didn't make the cut.

Me and some of the family had dinner on Watauga Lake. This was our view on the porch. Totally going camping there. Oh hey, and my grandpa helped build it!

This is my grandmother's humming bird feeder. The last day we were visiting she put 2 quarts out in a 24 hour period. These guys are nuts, but so beautiful.

Annnd here are a few randoms because I'm tired and don't really feel like writing much.

I also came across either a really big fox or a coyote on one of my morning trail walks, but we ended up scaring the crap out of each other so I couldn't get a good look, or a nice picture :\ Perhaps next year. I'm very sad I'm not drinking hot tea on a mountain porch right now, or catching up with great family I never see, but I have the pleasure of being surrounded by two dogs I missed very much. If only I could take them back there with me. 

Not sure when I'll be done editing one of the portraits, but when it happens I'll  put it up!

My weekend through other people's iPhone photos because I'm lame and don't have one.

I had an awesome weekend. Because I spent it with my two best friends. Doing nothing. Except drinking wine, watching movies, laying around, and eating yummy things like macaroons and black bean veggie burgers with teeny tiny potatoes. Oh, and I bought a really pretty new dress, which is clearly displayed in the picture of me pushing my lack of boobs together with a duckface. Classy, I know.

All About Pups.

This is a completely random post, but while looking through my Lightroom catalog today I noticed that I have a massive amount of dog pictures. Why? Because I LOVE dogs. I see four  pups on a regular basis, and with a camera by my side I can't resist capturing the cuteness. Can you? Anyways, here's a crap ton of photos of puppies I'm WAY too obsessed with:

Here are a few of my own pup that passed away in May at 17 years old. I just came across these as I was writing this, so I have to share them! Here she is about 5 or 6 years ago:

And here she is last year, cuddled up in my bed. Such a sweet girl, I miss her like crazy.