Here's how!  Go to Target (or Target.com) and look for cute (affordable) outfits to coordinate for your gang! I've even done all the work for you- here's a handy guide to get you going!

At the end of June I became an aunt all over again when my amazing brother and his wonderful wife adopted two of the cutest little girls ever.  Don't believe me that they are crazy cute?  Well, the proof is in the pudding- or the pictures, as the case may be...

When I became a photographer (almost 10 years ago, now) I am pretty sure I forgot how to be domestic- especially cooking and gardening.

So, you can imagine my excitement and horror when I found out my new home has cherry trees.  YAY!  I have cherry trees- ack, they will need to be cared for!  YAY!  I can cook with fresh cherries! Ack!  I'm gonna have to figure out how to cook all these d@mn cherries!  It was quite the internal dialogue.  (Gentle reader, you would have laughed.)

Well, much to my delight, fresh tart cherries don't need much love or tending.at.all.  Whew.  This spring I marveled and their pretty delicate white blossoms.  By the beginning of July you can imagine my surprise at the fact that I actually had fruit growing on my trees- and it was awful pretty, too!  You could have knocked me over with a feather when I was able to harvest 20lbs of cherries and not even hardly make a dent in my bounty!

So, off to Bed, Bath & Beyond I went looking for a cherry pitter.  Found one the pits four at once- but even at that, it takes a long time to prepare that many cherries for freezing. a. long. time. (Side note: Titanic 2 is an awful movie on Netflix, however, it's OK background noise if you are pitting eleventy-billion cherries.)

Off to Google I went for a tart cherry pie recipe. This is what I came up with:
Food Network Tart Cherry Pie
Only difference: I used vanilla instead of almond- cuz I had that and not any almond
OH! AND I baked it on the BBQ so I wouldn't heat up the house.

Super easy and super yummy.

So, after all that stress about my new fruit trees, all worked out well!  It really did turn out so yummy, AND it's pretty, too!

AND, because I can't get enough of cherries, I will subject you to more cherry pictures.  (The old fruit label looking picture of my daughter, Laurel, is from a few years ago, but it seemed to fit kinda nice- so, there ya go.)

So, here's the situation: this girl thinks she owns this dog.  I gotta tell you, I am pretty much convinced it's the other way around.  I would like to introduce you to Maverick & his human.  This little dog is a bit cautious, he also happens to be beautifully trained.  His momma wanted to celebrate her relationship with her special fella for her birthday.  These two are so super cool- just take a look!

Hello friends!  I am here today to offer you a GREAT way to stand out from the crowd when it comes to your portrait in the yearbook!  Here in Great Falls, the two 'big' schools (CMR & GFHS) have really specific guidelines for having your portrait in the yearbook.  Now, generally speaking, I am not much of a rule-follower, that's just me- however, this is one of those times following the rules is really important!  If ya don't follow the rules, then there's a chance you won't be in the yearbook for your final year of High School. That.would.suck.  C'mon, you have worked really hard to get here- all those years of trying not to go comatose in math and suffering through Shakespeare, you outta be able to celebrate this time with your portrait in the yearbook!

So, here's the deal: I realize that not everyone wants the big fancy get-up when it comes to senior portraits (boys, I am looking at you.)  Also, I understand that sometimes your Uncle Bob has a nice camera and can make most of your fun/editorial portraits.  Where does that leave you when it comes to making sure your portrait will look JUST right and will stand out from the crowd in the yearbook?  If you aren't careful, you could be left out in the cold- or worse, you could be stuck with a snap from Life Touch (EEK!)  To help you out, I have made a special portrait package just for graduating seniors who want to make sure they have the perfect image for the yearbook!

Our {In} a Flash Senior Session is just that- a fast session to get you the best portrait for your yearbook headshot!  For a mere $149 and 17 minutes of your time you will get a fully retouched headshot, (4) 5x7's (1) 8x10 & (8) Wallets- AND we will even turn it in to the yearbook in plenty of time for the deadline!

During your session, you can bring two shirts (I'll even give you some quick pointers on what to bring when you book your session!)- we'll photograph you in each shirt, then immediately view the images directly after the photography part has happened!  You will pick it and in 2 weeks you can pick up your prints!  Your image will be fully retouched before printing and going to the yearbook- so that means your zits will be zapped and you will look like the perfect person we all know you are!

Call {In}spire Portrait RIGHT AWAY cuz spaces are filling up FAST and this deal only lasts until September 15, 2012!

Yep. It can be expensive to have a professional portrait made.  I will admit it- this is an investment. However, you don't have to spend a fortune on new outfits for your session- sure, that can be part of the fun of having portraits made, but let's face it, sometimes it's better to save that extra money for your amazing new wall portrait!

When it comes to outfits for your family portraits, I am happy to come to your home and help you 'shop your closet.'  Yep, that's a service I can offer you as my client- and it won't cost you a single penny!  I will not only come to your home to help you pick great outfits for your portraits, but I will even measure your walls to help you create beautiful room groupings specific to your space!

With all that said, here is a quick clothing guide I made for you all with Walmart clothing.  I have to admit, when I set out to make this clothing guide, I thought "Walmart, this outta be a challenge..."  Well, it wasn't that bad after all!  As you will see, I was able to make a ton of great looking clothing groupings. 

Call me today so we can get started on your personalized consultation and the best portraits of your life!
Amy
{In}spire Portrait
(406) 868-1663

Did you know that you can have as many of your images from your session that you would like?  You can keep a copy of the best-of-the-best to keep forever and always in your very own album.  Albums start at only $600 for a custom designed book.  Let's face it, you will love so many of your portraits from your session- but you may not always have the space to display them all.  Every image will be lovingly retouched and grouped together to create a keepsake to last for generations.

Call me today to schedule your session so we can make you some memories to last a lifetime!

I love family portraits.  There. I said it.  I love making them, I love viewing them, I just love family portraits.  This family is, like, model cute.  They are all some of the most beautiful people I have photographed in a long time! Their little guy was up for anything, too.  I'm a lucky lucky photographer!

What the heck am I going to wear?  That's the age old question!  Every day I wander into my closet, scratch my head, throw a dart and hope for the best.  Of course, my day-to-day life doesn't require me to look portrait ready all the time- but it sure gets me thinking about what I would wear if I were going to have portraits made.

If you are taking the time to have an heirloom portrait made, wouldn't it make sense to find something that you love, that is flattering and (above all) timeless?  Sure, you can consider your favorite schlumpy jeans and comfy sweater- but will these items really be the best for your portrait session? 

In any image, it's important that the group looks unified without being too matchy-matchy- figuring out how to put it all together can be a little intimidating sometimes!

Never fear, {In}spire Portrait is here to help you figure out a GREAT look for your upcoming portraits!  I have designed guides to help you come up with a look that makes you feel great while coordinating with the space you plan on displaying your portraits!

Just a few quick pointers before I release the first clothing guide:
-Anyone in the portrait over the age of 18 should have long or 3/4 length sleeves.  You can roll 'em up or push 'em up, that's fine with me- just put on a longer sleeved shirt and you are off!

-In an image, our eye will be drawn to the area with the most contrast.  For that reason, keep all of your clothing selections in the same color family- no matter how cute your white capri's are with your favorite black T-shirt, this is not the time to break that outfit out!  When the audience views your beautiful image, the first thing they will notice is your glaring white pants! 

-Logo, No-no!  I understand you love your Aber-Holl graphic 'T'- it's really cute (who doesn't love moose n eagles- or whatever critter) No matter how classy your graphic t looks today, it will 'date' your image- just ask your parents about how much they love their feathered bangs and hipster-before-they-were-hipster gigantic glasses.  Let's make an image you will be proud to display for a long long time!

-Please keep loud prints/plaids etc. to a minimum.  Go ahead, let Dad wear a subtle plaid shirt, then let's keep everyone else in a more plain style.  Your three-year-old will look so darling in her Hannah Andersson patterned tights- but don't go crazy getting a polka-dot dress for you and a big striped shirt for daddy.  One (maybe two if they are both pretty little) crazy outfit per clan, please, haha!

OK, I've blathered on for long enough- I probably lost most of you way back in the second paragraph.  Without further ado, I present to you the first clothing guide from Inspire Portrait.
best to you all,
amy

PS, It doesn't seem like it at the moment, but summer is slipping away from us FAST!  Call to schedule your late summer and early fall portraits today- before the snow flies again!

Do you ever feel as though the universe is conspiring against you? At this moment I am blaming my dependence on internet technology and the development of the toaster. I am very big on instant gratification, so is it really so much to ask when I click the button on my computer that it will magically transport me to said page? Or when I pull the lever on the toaster that it  browns my son's waffle to golden perfection? But no, my computer has to really think about it, its taunting me and asking me if I am really sure about what I am about to do. I wish I could communicate with it, "Oh, thanks for asking, I guess your right I probably don't need that fancy fifty dollar thingamagig! I really appreciate you looking out for me" Then  it responds, "I am sorry for delay, glad I could help you think about it, but I have become unresponsive, do you wish to kill me?" Alright, alright, it really only asks if I want to kill the page but at this point it might as well ask for death.

 Then there is the toaster...I thought we had worked out all the kinks on this thing. It was invented in 1919 along with short wave radios and arch welders, don't see me complaining about those! But going on strike when my son is hungry and before I've had my first cup of coffee is unacceptable. Patience is a virtue, but not my virtue. Why isn't speed and agility or multitasking virtuous? Perfection and invention are not synonymous.

I suppose it has all worked out for the best, Trent got to eat mom's from scratch waffles with peanut butter and bananas and all of you got a new blog!  So provided my computer doesn't crash here are some cuties of perfection straight from the McAmy, and remember to check out the Facebook page fo r  lots of exciting stuff! http://www.facebook.com/inspire.montana