In late January, we traveled to San Antonio to the Digital Wedding Forum Convention.  Known as “Wedding and Portrait Photography’s Home on the Web”,  this international convention hosted some fabulous speakers including  Dina Douglass, Jerry Ghionis,  Julia Woods, John Michael Cooper,  and Tammy Warnock.  Another tradition of the convention are the annual mentor sessions, a charitable endeavor that this year raised money for Doctors Without Borders. For the past 5 years we’ve been invited to participate as mentors; this year, Amy took the reigns and orchestrated the sessions for the convention.   No small task, but very satisfying when we were able to donate over $2000 to Doctors Without Borders.

February and March saw a flurry of activity at The Wedding Lounge.  If you haven’t visited the Wedding Lounge,  take a look at our Facebook Page (and Like us!)  It’s a true honor to be associated with many of Portland’s most experienced and successful wedding professionals -  all under one roof!   We met SO MANY  fabulous brides when we hosted seminars are table design, signature cocktails, and choosing the correct champagne.  We also launched our first annual “Pretty in Pink” project to benefit Making Memories  &  Brides Against Breast Cancer. AJ Lane,  Katherine Sealy, and Jennifer Rand Walker generously donated their time and talent for mini make up trials and consultations in exchange for a donation to Making Memories.   We’re looking forward to this becoming an annual event for the Wedding Lounge and hoping it expand to include more of Portland’s exceptional Make Up and Hair Design Professionals.

As the professional side of our life continued full force, our family life was busy as well.  Hunter is very active in the theater department at the Vancouver School of  Arts and Academics and after countless late rehearsals and and dinners for the troupe, we enjoyed both his Children’s Theater Company production as well as a night class showcases.  Wyatt has been busy with martial arts and is now proudly wears his Orange Belt.

Babies!  I have I mentioned babies?   (Not ours, LOL!) We’ve had more calls than ever for our Baby Joy packages, and will be sharing some joyful maternity and sweet little newborn sessions in the coming weeks.

With Spring coming,  we finally made it outside to photograph some families at our beloved Vancouver landmark, Esther Short Park, and we’re super excited about getting out this summer when we announce our fun new Gem Sessions!

We have some wonderful weddings on the books for 2011 and will start up our season on April 10th at the Hotel DeLuxe. A few of the other venues on the schedule for 2011 are Bridal Veil Lakes, Gorge Crest Winery, The Shakespeare Garden at The Portland Rose Garden, The World Trade Center, and Skyline Farms . Our email box is including more and more 2012 inquiries, but if you or someone you know is still planning a wedding in 2011, feel free to give us a call or shoot us an email.  If we’re booked, we were direct you to some our uber-talented colleagues at My Portland Photographer. Whether it’s Art of Joy or one of the other 20 on the MPP blog, you will never regret choosing an experienced, professional photographer!

Finally, thank you for your continued support and return business.  We’ve had such a wonderful time catching up with our couples who return to us for family portraits and getting to know some fabulous new client friends!   You’re the reason we love what we do!

Amy & JP

We’ll be running a Limited Edition Tutu-Licious special through the month of August! Watch the Shutter Monkey, email or call for details!
amy@ajsstudio.com
(360) 694-6684

The DWF convention in Tampa, Florida was the setting for Shovel’s next appearance. And, it seemed only fitting that it’s portrait session included the founders of the Traveling Shovel project, Joel and Rita Weibner and John and Dalisa Cooper.

I hear rumor that Shovel has made it’s way to South Dakota, but I guess we’ll all have to wait and see!

We’re going to have some fun with these two! I can’t wait!

And of course, everyone needs a good drool break during a photo session!

This was a fun, fun session. Their mom is a lucky woman to have three great boys!

Congrats Andrew and Stephanie!

It seemed only fitting that John Michael Cooper, who introduced us to the shovel at a shoot out with David Beckstead in Las Vegas last spring, initiate the second generation.