I loved all of little Emma’s hair…it was perfect for all the bows Kristin had been stock-piling. We decided that yellow was her best color, which automatically means that she’s going to be a gorgeous little girl. Who can pull off yellow??? Only the gorge.

Kristin and Kevin, thanks so much for letting me photograph yet another milestone for you. I look forward to watching Emma grow through my lens for years to come!

I wanted to take the time to address some of the big questions I get about birth photography, both from expectant mothers, and from the (non-expectant) people that I mention birth photography to.

• Why would I want pictures from my child’s birth?

Well, in my mind the real question is why wouldn’t you want pictures of your child’s birth…but I suppose some might need convincing. Childbirth, as anyone who has experienced it knows, such an emotional event, no matter how many times you’ve done it. The idea of carrying a life inside of you for 9 months, nurturing and caring for yourself so that you can in turn nurture and care for this new life, and then meeting that life for the first time is a truly remarkable feat. No matter how much technology and 3D imaging the tech world develops, nothing can compare to meeting and holding your child for the very first time. Seeing their little eyes look up at you, greeting you for the first time is difficult to describe in words. However, the details of those memories can quickly fade after long, sleepless nights, dirty diapers, and growth over the years. What better way to preserve them forever than with professional, documentary style portraits?

• Can’t my husband/partner/sister/friend/mom just take pictures of my baby’s birth?

Sure. But if you’ve invited them to be in the room when your baby comes into the world, chances are they’re a pretty important person in your life. Which means you’d probably like to have them there to support you and love on you during your laboring, instead of making them have the job of having a camera in front of their face. Furthermore, chances are, the person you ask to take those pictures knows you and loves you too, which could inhibit their ability to be discreet. This person may be more likely to stick a camera in your face and say “SMILE” in the middle of a heavy contraction. Ok, maybe not. But you get the idea. A professional is just that…they know how to stay out of the way of the hospital staff and your friends and family members.

• Do you take pictures of the baby actually coming out?

Only if that is something that you want. If you hire me to be your birth photographer, I have a list of questions to ask you to help you decide just how much of the birth you’d like to see in pictures. During our consult, I’ll get an idea of just what you’d like to see in your images. There are many ways to capture the feeling and intensity of the moment without invading your privacy with my camera. However, if during your consult you express a desire to see everything, then everything you shall have. The power is in your hands!

• What do I get when I pay for birth photography, and what’s included in my package?

The price of birth photography includes my time (which varies with every woman, and includes on call time around your due date), and an album of your images. The base album that is included is a storybook album, but you have the option to upgrade. Samples are available at your consultation.

When you contract me to photograph your birth, I am literally on call for a total of 3 weeks surrounding your due date; 2 weeks before, and 1 week after. That means that I’m very careful about what I schedule during those 3 weeks. I don’t do anything that I can’t leave in an instant, and I don’t travel more than 30 minutes outside of the city. Once your labor begins, I’m around for the duration of your labor as well as 2 hours afterwards. I will take breaks, but only when I’m sure that I won’t miss anything. The hours after the birth are devoted to your baby. It usually is enough time to cover the baby getting cleaned up, measured, weighed, eating their first meal, and having their first bath.

Once your images are edited, you’ll have an in-home viewing session. I know what it’s like to have a new baby, and I certainly won’t expect you to be going anywhere. At that time, you’ll be able to pick your images for your album, I’ll create it and order it, and you’ll have it for a lifetime.

• Won’t having one more pair of eyes on me during delivery make me uncomfortable? (Ok, no one has ever asked that, but I know they’re thinking it!)

Maybe at first. But once your labor starts progressing, you won’t even know I’m in the room. I stay as far away as possible, to ensure the safety of you and your baby.  My goal is to take a completely documentary approach to your birth. It’s your show, and I just watch, and capture all the love for you to remember for a lifetime.

If you have any other questions about birth photography that I didn’t cover here, please be sure to leave a comment or message me! I’d be thrilled to  talk with you about your birth, and answer any other questions you may have. I’ll leave you with this sweet shot I got of this brand new girl and her daddy at the hospital the other day.

Amy and I spoke on the phone, and we had decided to do her maternity photos and after Christmas. But we waited about a day too long because Amy starting feeling the beginning of labor, and wasn’t feeling up to the belly pictures. I completely understood, having labored twice myself, and told her and Ken to give me a call when that baby made his appearance. I was thrilled to get the text letting me know that baby Joshua had made his appearance, and shocked and proud that tiny little Amy had brought a 7lb 15oz baby into the world! Atta girl!
Ken texted me and let me know that they wanted pictures to be done as soon as possible. I was thrilled when he said they wanted to do the pictures as soon as they got home from the hospital…as in, they got home around 12:30, and I arrived around 2. I was so excited, because it’s just remarkable how much babies change in their first few days of life. I was soooo excited to meet Joshua, and preserve his sweet newbornness (it’s a technical term) for his parents.

Amy and Ken, congratulations! What a year full of blessings you have had… and I feel blessed and grateful to have been able to capture some of your most cherished moments.

In 2021, when someone asks about my life 10 years ago, I’ll remember.

2011 was the year I traveled to Orange County California for Jessica Claire’s workshop, and was forced to re-evaluate the way I post-processed, posed, and lit my images. I also realized at this time that if I wanted my business to move forward, I needed to have more time to devote to it, which would mean quitting my teaching career.  (January)

Workshop:  Jessica Claire:  http://www.jessicaclaire.net
Models:  Ashley & Jeff Perez:  http://www.ashley-photographer.com/
Dress:  Etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/blueeyebrowneye
Flowers: Jacqueline Ahne: http://www.floraldesignbyjacquelineahne.com
Hair & Makeup:  Nicole Deanne:  http://www.nicoledeanne.com

By the time Amy and Ken’s wedding came around on February 26th, I was officially a full time wedding and portrait photographer, and my own boss. (I’m SO excited that Amy and Ken will be welcoming a new little bundle into their lives, probably today!! Can’t wait to meet that little guy.)

2011 was the year I exceeded my own expectations. I set out to shoot 12 weddings, and was blessed to be entrusted with 15.

2011 was the year my mom (and best friend and biggest fan) beat breast cancer. There’s no way I’d be where I am today without her love and support, and I thank God for the strength and healing he gave her.  (I’m embarrassed that I don’t have a picture of this woman to show you…resolution number 1!)

2011 was the year of AWESOME senior reps and fun families.

2011 was the year that I had the courage to step out of my comfort zone, and dream up a styled shoot with a woman who has become a trusted friend.

I’m always excited for new years and a new start, but 2012, I will warn you…You have big shoes to fill!

Happy New Year to you and yours, and may you have a healthy + prosperous 2012!

In August, I was thrilled to have the pleasure to photograph the wedding of Anna + Tim.

Anna was absolutely gorgeous, and everything went off without a hitch. I was so excited to see them be featured on COUTUREcolorado last week.

Here are a few of my favorites from their wedding, but be sure to head over to the feature to see more of them.

Anna chose a truly stellar lineup of vendors for her big day!

Photography: Amanda Lamb Photography

Planner: Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design

DJ: Celebrity DJ

Cupcakes/Cake: Sweetpea Cake Company

Ceremony: Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Reception: Antler’s Hilton

Hair/Make-up: Magnifica Bella

Flowers: Rhonda Nichols Floral Design

I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season, and that you’re able to spend it with the ones you love!

I’m proud to announce that in the last 2 weeks, I’ve been published, not once, but 3 times.  I wanted to be sure my followers got a chance to see the great features that were put together by these three websites.

DIY Bride (awesome resource for do-it-yourselfers!)

BridesView (think Pinterest, but just for brides!)http://blog.bridesview.com/post/14118640799/amanda-lamb-photography-anna-and-tim

Featured twice on COUTUREcolorado (a lifestyle blog for Colorado residents that has an awesome wedding section). Once for the Mad Men styled shoot, and once for Anna and Tim’s awesome wedding in August.

Christmas is coming, and I’m busy with holiday preparations, and eager for an excuse to celebrate the birth of our Savior and have quality time with my wonderful family.

May your holiday be merry and bright!

Sarah did NOT disappoint me. (I’m not sure it’s possible…the girl is amazing!) I found it particularly impressive that even though she had never seen the show Mad Men, she managed to pull together the details for the shoot PERFECTLY. But, I don’t really have to write about it because I can just show you!

In addition to Sarah, we had many awesome vendors help us put everything together. Of course, I will list them at the bottom.   I also got to work with my favorite videographer again, Kyle Koziol of Kozi Visuals. Be sure to check out his video which will also be posted at the bottom.  

Click on the image below to see a slideshow of the images! There are several, but I hope that any bride getting married next year will find it inspirational!

And the awesome video:

Please visit these amazing vendors who helped us pull it all off!

And a huge thank you goes out to our models, Bryce, Aften, Nev, Kat, Eliza, and Chad!!! 

I get a lot of requests for boudoir portraits around Christmas and Valentine’s day. I also get a LOT of questions about boudoir sessions, so I thought I’d address some of those here…so, without further ado, here we go!

1. What is Boudoir? Literally, the word boudoir is a French word for a woman’s private sitting room or bedroom (thanks, Dictionary.com…I already  knew that but figured I’d check, just to be sure…especially since I took Spanish in High School, not French).  So, in turn, boudoir photography is done of women in such a situation, and is extremely popular among brides-to-be, women whose husbands are overseas, or are about to deploy themselves, and even women looking for an extremely unique, and incredibly special gift for their husbands for Christmas, or Valentine’s Day. Among brides to be, boudoir sessions are a wonderful wedding gift for your betrothed. Boudoir sessions are a great add-on for any wedding package.
2. What do I wear to a boudoir session?  Most women choose to buy a few new pieces of lingerie for their shoot, but it really isn’t necessary to go ALL out on new pieces for your shoot. Many women will find a t-shirt their man loves them in, one of his ties, hats, some jewelry, and pair it with pretty pieces of lingerie they already own. Many women also opt for their wedding day lingerie for their shoot as well. For ladies who get a lot of lingerie at their bachelorette party, boudoir sessions are an awesome way to show off all the fun pieces you receive, and preserve them forever!
3. I’m really self conscious. What if I’m uncomfortable? Well, you probably will be-but only for a second! I promise to make it as fun as possible, and you will feel gorgeous. The poses will feel natural, and I make every effort to put you completely at ease. Some women opt to bring a close friend, to help them put themselves together, select looks, and just make them giggle!  And, with your permission, I’ll bring a bottle of wine, just to calm any last nerves you may have. And of course, if there are any doubts about how much fun you’ll have, I have several references.
4. Will you put pictures of me on the internet? Unlike a typical session, boudoir is obviously much more intimate and private. In the past, I haven’t shown any boudoir images, in the interest of keeping my site “work friendly”. Being a former teacher, I know the importance of having a “clean” website. However, in the future, I may post one or two images of your session, but only with your permission, and of course, only in good taste. If you’re not comfortable, I won’t show it. Period! (The three images you see below are shown with permission from that beautiful lady.)
5. What do I do with my images? You have lots of options when it comes to printing and displaying your images. Some women elect for large displays (gallery wraps or framed prints) to hang in their closets. Other women will create a series of smaller prints, and anonymously send their images to their guys via mail. However, the most popular option by far is to create a small 5×5 or 8×8 storybook album showcasing your images to give to the man in your life. These books are the perfect size to be discreet, and slip into a pocket or a suitcase.
6. Where will we do my session? I almost always recommend your home, if you can pull it off. The reason for this is simple: It’s a place familiar to your loved one. If you aren’t fully pleased with your bedroom, or if you’re afraid your lighting isn’t good, etc., other options can be arranged. Some hotels allow boudoir shots to be done there, and boudoir can also be done in studio. In short, anywhere that gets good natural light, and looks cozy, is a great location for your boudoir session.

If you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, and a really special, unique gift for the special someone in your life, give me a call and set up your boudoir session soon to have your gift ready in time for Christmas. I can’t wait to hear from you!

Well, American Express has become a HUGE sponsor of something called Small Business Saturday, which you can find on facebook here, and read about here. It falls directly between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and is designed to give small businesses a bit of a boost during a busy shopping time of year. I, of course, LOVE this! And, I want to encourage people to take part. SO, because of  Small Business Saturday, I’m doing something pretty cool!!

Here’s the details:

1.  Starting on Small Business Saturday (11/26) and running right through Christmas, you can use the code SBSaturday to get 25% off your entire order. ALL SESSIONS DATING BACK TO JUNE 2010 WILL BE REOPENED FOR ORDERING!!! YAY!

2. BUT, since I’m excited to have you participate in Small Business Saturday, everyone who places an order for $20 or more worth of prints or products (before the discount) on 11/26 will be entered into a drawing for a FREE mini session.  Winners may use this for themselves or give it away to a friend, but you HAVE TO make your purchase on Small Business Saturday in order to be entered into the drawing, and your order has to be placed before midnight, Mountain time.

Simple, right? If you have ANY questions about these rules, be sure to get in touch! And, because every post is better with a picture, here’s a few of my faves from recent sessions!!

Thanks for watching…any that follow will be shorter, but I am so excited to get this published!

]]> http://www.lamb-photo.com/2011/11/colorado-springs-photographer-hiring-a-pro-part-i-why/feed/ 2 http://www.lamb-photo.com/2011/11/colorado-springs-photographer-why-the-change/ http://www.lamb-photo.com/2011/11/colorado-springs-photographer-why-the-change/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:42:10 +0000 Amanda http://www.lamb-photo.com/?p=1612 Things change. People fall in love, families grow as babies are born, and people grow.

I started my humble little business in 2006…although I didn’t realize it. One of my students, Rachael, at the high school where I was teaching casually mentioned the stress involved with finding a senior portrait photographer. I told her that I had always loved photography, that I studied it in high school and in college, and had planned to have it be my major, but the school I had chosen to attend didn’t offer that major.  I did a lot of soul searching, and decided that being a high school social studies teacher would be a wonderful second choice. After telling Rachael this full story, she said she’d be thrilled to let me take her senior pictures. Rachael loved her pictures. She told her friends. I got more requests. I was elated! It became apparent that I COULD have my dream job.

When I had my first child in 2007, I realized that while I still wanted very much to teach, a large part of me hated that I might miss her first tooth, or first steps, or first…anything because someone else was with her during the day. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wouldn’t miss near as much if I were able to work from home.

Through a series of other events, I finally bit the bullet and resigned from my teaching job in February of this year…and that brings me to the title of this post!

In October, I had mentioned to my very smart husband that I thought it might be time to change my website. “Again?” he said. “Yes, I know, we just did this, but I want my website to be more “social media friendly”.” I could tell he was less than excited, because in addition to being my wonderful husband, he had also been my amazing web design guy. Long story short, I decided to do it myself, even though it meant a little more expense. I had this urge to change the look of my site…and once I did, it still didn’t quite seem like what I was hoping for.

I was working on my site one day with my friend Sarah, and was working on my new logo. I wasn’t sure where to start, so I decided to start playing around with the colors I have decided I’d have if I were to be planning a wedding right now (of course to the same, awesome, web design guy), purple, gray and yellow. They’re my favorite. Lamb Photography Company didn’t fit in it. There just wasn’t enough space. So, I took that as the universe telling me that it was time. Time to do something I’d been wanting to do for…years. So, Lamb Photography Company changed into Amanda Lamb Photography!!! YAY!!!! It dawned on me that I had taken a HUGE step this year, but the look and feel of my business hadn’t been able to reflect that change yet. Sure, my work has grown a LOT this year (in my opinion). But, surely you’ll agree there’s more to a business than just it’s product. I desperately wanted my business to accurately reflect me. When I saw Amanda Lamb Photography in my new logo, I knew it was the right thing to do. YAY!  Sarah gave me her approving nod (she was on the phone) and that was that.

Besides, now no one will wonder if I’m a livestock photographer (yes, I’ve been asked…more times than you’d imagine!)…and wedding DJ’s will always get my name right now…since that’s what they always called me anyway. HA! I’m so excited about this change, and I hope you are too! There will be some additional changes, as well. I’ll be offering a newsletter that you can subscribe to , as well as some tips for people looking for photographers…and of course more great photography. Stay tuned…and tell your friends!

Happy Wednesday!

Anyway, nothing like taking what could have been a quiet, relaxing weekend and turning it into…a website redesign. Ha! It was worth it, and I still took the time to get some pictures of my adorable little ones.  We  My husband carved the pumpkins (after I did all the gut scooping for him- he hates that) and Reagan, Breckin and I worked on getting the seeds cleaned and roasted.

They have some pretty awesome costumes… Reagan chose Supergirl (even over all the other princess costumes) and Breckin wouldn’t rest until his “Super Tigger” (not to be outdone by Reagan, I’m sure) was in our cart at the JBF Sale a few weeks back.

They turned out pretty adorable, but I’ll let you see for yourself!

I had so much fun photographing Jordan’s surprise proposal to Rachel that I decided I wanted to do it again…and again and again and again! So, now through Valentine’s day, if you’re a guy looking to propose to the special lady in your life, I’ll be doing FREE proposal sessions! Call me for details, and I’ll even help you hatch a plan. Don’t worry-she won’t suspect a thing!

Bryan and Gina, thanks so much for letting me be part of your special day!

I love Sydnee’s feathers! They’re such a fun pop of color.

Thanks, Sydnee! Enjoy your senior year…it’s a fun one!

Liz and Brian were married in one of the most unusual places I’ve ever even heard about having a wedding. At the top of Colorado Springs’ Pikes Peak! True story: they even broke the record for the number of guests in attendance. The wedding went off without a hitch. We were all a little worried that someone might get altitude sickness, but everyone did great, even their beautiful Rottweiler, Hass.

Liz planned a simple, country themed wedding. Her dress was perfect and came from J.Crew, which was exciting because I didn’t even know that they made wedding gowns.

Liz and her dad (and I) rode to the top of the Peak on the Cog Railway. I was THRILLED for this opportunity. I have lived in or around Colorado Springs my entire life, except for 4 years of college, and had never ridden the railway. Liz was gorgeous, and everyone made quite a fuss about her. Who could blame them??

If you watch Matt Meister regularly, you might recognize this next photo. I sent it to him the day of the wedding so he could see the pretty white clouds up on the summit. He was nice enough to put it on the air!

After the ceremony, we stopped at Crystal Lake for a few portraits. The weather all day, including at the top of the Peak, was gorgeous. Absolutely picture perfect. Period.

Liz and Brian had their reception at Liz’s aunt’s mansion house. Believe me, blogosphere. It. was. beyond. gorgeous.

Liz, Brian, and Hass, thank you so much for letting me be involved in your special day! I loved getting to know you guys, and had so much fun with you! And since Hass was such a courteous back seat mate (he only licked me a few times), I had to include one picture of his handsomeness. He’s…awesome, and I love him. But don’t tell my dog Scout. She’d be horribly jealous.