Allison Waken Photography Blog

Have you updated your feeds to the new blog?

2009-07-15T15:17:00.001-07:00

Fun stuff going on at The new blogsite

New website/blog!

2009-07-10T11:41:00.003-07:00

Yay! I have a new website/blog. I completely changed my mind and decided to put them both together. No more website here and a blog there... We are all together now!

I will try and double post (here and there) but if you subscribe, go ahead and change your subscription to this rss feed

So come and visit! It has the same look and feel, but will eventually have the full gallery wohoo! Also, you can email me directly from the site.

Let me know if anything is missing for now.

See you there!

P.s. you can also get there by clicking "website" on the top of this page.

2 new layouts!

2009-07-09T15:06:00.003-07:00

Ok, I'm really getting into this scrapbooking thing! It is the perfect mix of photography and art (not that photography isn't an art) but allows you to further express emotions than the pictures themselves. A lot of times the picture can say 1,000 words, but it's fun to describe how the pictures make ME feel. I also get to do something with my hands besides click the shutter!

Of course, both of these are digital layouts, but I wanted to see how I liked it. I think I really like paper scrapping better, but digital is fun too.

Want a chance to win CS4?

2009-07-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

Head on over to The Creative Mama to find out how, but hurry, it ends tonight!

Scrapbooking! | Latest page layout

2009-07-07T14:00:00.004-07:00

I have a strange obsession with paper. I LOVE paper. I have no idea why, but I love it. I've been scrapbooking since I was around 10? I was always very disappointed in the selection of paper and embellishments though, there just wasn't a great selection. Well, recently when trying to figure out my hobby, or mental release, I decided to check back in to scrapbooking. Holy cow have you ever been to a scrapbook store? Paper galore! There is amazing colors, designs, two sided paper, cut out paper, clear paper, flowers, buttons, cardstock, stamps... and all in amazing designs and patterns. I am in heaven! Scrapbooking doesn't have to be plain, boring, or look like something you whipped up in the third grade.

Every so often (ok, like twice a week) I get a huge creative urge that needs to be released. Unfortunately it is so hot here in the summer so a photo trip doesn't sound as tempting as sitting inside drinking a glass of ice coldNaked Juice. So, I decided to try my hand at scrapbooking again. I made a couple cards and this adorable page.

What do you think?

Remember this little man?

2009-07-06T15:38:00.002-07:00

If you don't, he's the one on my header. His eyes will melt you in a second and he's every bit as sweet as he looks. He's my good friend's little boy and he's my favorite little guy outside of my own (ok one of my favorite, he has a baby brother now so I have to share my love). We spent the evening with them on the 4th of July and twice out of nowhere he says "Allison, (in his own cute little voice of course) you're beautiful". I think he's taking lessons from my (not so) little one.

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-05T22:27:00.003-07:00

I hope you all had an amazing day yesterday celebrating our freedom.

Inexpensive Modern Wall Art | Design

2009-06-30T22:44:00.002-07:00

Even if I'm not working on a project at home, I'm ALWAYS on the lookout for cool and cheap art for my home. I love do it yourself projects especially ones that incorporate photography. If you've never been to 2 peas in a bucket you should definitely check it out! It is an online scrap booking heaven! They have tons of traditional scrapbooking supplies as well as digital. They have a message board, layouts, and tons of ideas. Erica Hernandez is my favorite designer for digital scrapbooking supplies on 2peas. She actually designed my first logo. I was browsing her stuff and found this really cool template for creating a family wall. You are purchasing the digital template and you can create the wall however you want. It is shown here printed on canvas, but she talks about using some different mediums as well.

Click Here To Buy the Template for only $4!!!

It feels so good to get out again

2009-06-27T23:05:00.004-07:00

Even though photographing my own children is so very frustrating. We had a GREAT day today. Rode the light rail to the Science center, got to meet Michaelangelo (the ninja turtle of course) and then went to the movies. I squeezed in a VERY mini shoot trying to get C's 5 year picture. They might not be the "perfect" portraits, but they are perfect to me and I am so glad I finally took the camera even though taking pictures of my own children never happens the same in real life as they do in my head.

Arizona Broadway Theatre

2009-06-25T20:36:00.004-07:00

Yesterday I took the boys to see "Charlotte's Web" a children's production at the Arizona Broadway Theatre. P and I went over the holidays and he really liked it so we thought we'd see how C would do. We all had SUCH a great time. If you live in the Phoenix area you should try to make it out sometime. You sit at tables and they have lunches or snacks available for the kids productions and they do a full dinner for some of the regular productions.

I took my camera intending to take pictures, but it is a copyrighted play and no photography was allowed, so I just snapped a quick one of the awesome "candles" they have sitting on each table. I love the detail of their company initials. These get turned down during the play but glow softly so you can still see your food.

We'll be going next month to see "Selfish Giant".

Root Beer?

2009-06-22T20:33:00.004-07:00

We went to Rawhide for the first time a couple of months ago and the boys had so much fun. They wanted to ride the donkeys over and over.

Beach!

2009-05-27T21:26:00.001-07:00

They love the aquarium

2009-05-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

New gallery site!

2009-05-19T19:51:00.003-07:00

I've been working on a new gallery site to feature some of my work! This will mostly be for commercial/contract work, but definitely a fun site! I love the flash version, it's really fun to navigate through.

I think I may be back!

2009-04-22T09:03:00.001-07:00

but how can you not be with this sweet new subject to photograph? Meet my niece, the sweetest little girl ever!

Sad news

2009-01-13T09:03:00.003-07:00

If you've been to the website recently, you've seen the sad news. I say sad because it's not bad, just sad. :) It was a hard decision for us, but in the end we have to do what is right for our family. I will miss seeing so many little ones grow up, I hope those of you who frequent the blog will continue to stop by. Leave me your blog name if you have one and I'll add you to my google reader!

I plan to start using this blog in February for just fun random photos (like the old photo a day blog) so if you're interested you can keep looking up the blog!

For all of my past customers, even though in your contract it says that I only keep the digital negatives for a year, I've been very lucky that I have been able to keep every single session I've ever done although my external hard drives and back up drives are extremely full and will need to be cleaned out soon. If you want to purchase a cd of all the images from one of our sessions together you can do so until Feb 14th :) The cost is $100 and will include all the high res proofs from your session as well as a signed release form. Email me for info!

I am still working on a reccommendation list for portrait photographers in the area. I will still be working on commercial and contract work if you are interested!

I will miss you all, but truly do hope you'll keep in touch!

Allison

Golfing with Dad

2008-08-26T21:58:00.004-07:00

I am so glad I am making myself take my camera with me more often than not. He was practicing just like Daddy all on his own. I snapped this before he knew I had my camera out.

My new favorite cd

2008-08-24T14:46:00.005-07:00

This is my new favorite cd and not just because of the artwork. ;) Really awesome stuff. I have quite a few favorites on this cd which rarely happens with me and music. Check him out! We had a great time driving all over the island of Kauai with our driver (Jared). We made it through the doors in the last second to get the worlds best Shave Ice thanks to Jared. If it wasn't for him keeping us on schedule we would have missed Jo Jo's Shave Ice. I had to lay in the middle of the street to get some of these shots and it was all so fun and so worth it!

Robert Jon

Water

2008-08-14T22:13:00.002-07:00

Forgot to post this. I was messing around with some macro lens filters the other day.

My little man started school

2008-08-14T20:46:00.001-07:00

Wow this week has been a HUGE adjustment for all of us. The little one is taking it the hardest. I hope by the end of next week we are all in a routine.

Haircut

2008-07-22T18:45:00.003-07:00

He was wanting a haircut (I thought it looked really cute longer) and everyone around him was telling him he needed one so we buzzed it off tonight. He says it feels colder now.

Just havin some fun

2008-07-15T21:03:00.003-07:00

with my Mom's cool mirror. Since there aren't many pictures of me...

The first Waken child

2008-07-10T16:15:00.003-07:00

and the most neglected. Poor baby. We got home at 8pm the night before we had to leave for Kauai and our ac was out! We had planned on a friend coming over and feeding her/playing with her while we were gone but we couldn't leave her home without ac. So we were frantically calling everyone late Sunday night. Luckily my In Laws amazing neighbors very graciously agreed to go to my In Laws house 2x per day every day of our vacation. We can't thank them enough! We had some help from some very generous families from church as well.

Really though, who could say no to this?

Breakfast at the Waken household

2008-07-06T22:36:00.005-07:00

I love their mood in the morning. They are always so happy no matter what (if they wake up themselves) and could care less if you make them a full breakfast or a bowl of cereal one with milk, and one without.

Our 4th

2008-07-05T14:10:00.003-07:00

I hope you all had an amazing Independence Day! We had a very relaxing and fun day with friends and family. We slept in (a rarity in our house) did a little shopping, had a BBQ and swimming at my In Laws, and we sat in the back of the truck with some friends to watch the fireworks. A good All-American day right?!