amyrockwellphotography.com

Superhero Cake Smash ~ First Birthday Photographer

Amy — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:24:58 +0000

Over the last two years, I have had a lot of clients who have become friends, and a lot of friends who have become clients. The Musto family, is the latter. In my previous career I worked with Chris, and we both had weddings and our first children about the same time. When he and his wife Maureen were expecting Baby #2, a boy, I was both envious of their ability to buy blue clothes and excited to take some newborn images of a boy after a pretty long girl streak. Anthony was born perfectly healthy after a complication free labor and delivery, and they took him home to begin life with his big sister Mary Cate.

Then, the unthinkable happened. After Maureen noticed what looked like Anthony having a seizure, they rushed him to Albany Med to find that he had, in fact, had a stroke. The next ten days were spend in the NICU assessing his condition, questioning the future, and trying to determine what, if any, long term affects he would experience. Once he came home, we did finally get to do his newborn session. And even though he was still medicated to control his seizure activity, I could clearly see he was one of the sweetest babies they could have been blessed with, and that he had a bright future with an amazing family regardless of his medical prognosis.

Last week was Anthony’s first birthday. He has met all of his major milestones, and even proven the doctors wrong on a few things. He has appropriately been dubbed a “superhero” by family and friends, as he has shown more strength and determination in one year of life, than some will ever experience. I know that he has inspired me, and hopefully will inspire you too.

I have included some of my favorite images from his newborn session, as well as his First Birthday Cake Smash. For more information on Child Stroke Awareness, please visit http://www.chasa.org/

To Chris and Maureen, THANK YOU for allowing me to document this amazing year in your lives. You are the best parents Anthony could have ever hoped for.

One year later….

While in the NICU, Anthony was given this book by the staff. It’s pretty fitting for what he has been through, and he looks like he will be reading it any day now!

hush…hush…Boudoir ~ Albany Boudoir Photographer

Amy — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 01:53:54 +0000

I don’t usually get to post the beautiful pictures that come out of a Boudoir session, but with this gorgeous girl’s permission, I get to share these with you today. Boudoir sessions make great gifts, for both spouses. Keep it in mind for birthdays and special occasions!

Heading towards a Happy New Year

Amy — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:22:13 +0000

Hi everyone!

It has been a long time since I have been able to put up a blog post, but I wanted to try and give a little update on what has been going on with Amy Rockwell Photography, and where I am heading in 2012.

This past year, has been amazing. I got to work with wonderful brides, grooms, families, babies, and seniors. I went to a really fantastic workshop in Wisconsin that taught me so much for this upcoming Wedding season, as well as new tools to take with me on every day sessions. I left my previous career in July to do this full time, and I couldn’t be happier with that decision. It is more work than I ever could have imagined, but well worth it.

Which brings me to where we are at going into this New Year. Most of you know that my family was included in those affected by the flooding on August 28th from Hurricane Irene. We lived on Bridge St in Schoharie, and 272 out of 290 houses in our town were significantly affected. We had originally decided to not return to our home. The damage was extensive, and the battle with our insurance company seemed endless. However, three months and three days after the flood, we finally received our settlement and my husband and I made the choice to begin rebuilding. We want to go home. We want our girls to grow up in this community. However, in order to accomplish this seemingly impossible task, we will have to do literally all the work ourselves, with help from friends and volunteers. And with my husband spending every waking, non-working moment at the house, I am now in charge of our girls, attempting to finance this undertaking with our limited budget, ordering, picking up and dropping off of building supplies and running the house we are renting as well. This leaves little time for the business. We hope to be in our house by late Spring, barring any major surprises or issues with the construction.

Because of this, I will be taking limited clients (2 or 3 a month) through April 2012, while focusing on my upcoming weddings. With 18 weddings on the calendar for 2012, I want to be able to leave myself as full service as possible for my brides and their engagement sessions and anything they may need. Once we move back to Schoharie (Yay!) I will open up my schedule again for family, newborn, and senior sessions.

This is an incredibly personal and difficult decision for me. Anyone who knows me, knows I need to work like I need to breathe air. But my family is my priority, and these two….are my heart and soul.

One of the other reasons we need to get back home is so we can also start helping our neighbors and friends who are still there, or who are also trying to come home. Seven houses on our street alone have been demolished. Those trying to save what is left need help. And here is also my plea. If you have time, energy, a skill of some sort (plumbing, electric installation, sheet rock, etc) please consider coming to Schoharie County to help. A day, a weekend, any time at all would mean the world to someone like me. We have had amazing volunteers at our house and would be lost without them. But they are needed, and will be needed, for many months to come. There is a central volunteer center on Main Street and all you need to do it show up and sign in, and they will send you somewhere that you can help.

I hope and pray that your 2012 will be an amazing year. With a little more luck, and a lot of hard work, I know that it will be for my family and I. Thank you all for your continued support and love.

Kim and Andrew: Trash The Dress {Jamaica/Albany/Schoharie Wedding Photographer}

Amy — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:57:12 +0000

I am SO excited to not only have time to start blogging again, but to kick things off with my very first Trash the Dress session, which happened last month in Jamaica. Kim and Andrew had an absolutely beautiful wedding, as well as a gorgeous morning after to take some more intimate, sunrise images with a spare dress she carted all the way from New York. They also were very good sports when I mentioned we would need to get up at 5:30am.

Thank you Kim and Andrew for having fun with me, and jumping into that pool with such style.

Kerri and baby: A Schoharie Maternity Session

Amy — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:01:04 +0000

My dear friend is about to become a Mom. Over the course of the last 9 months I have taken many belly shots of her, but none more stunning than her quick Maternity session we fit in a few weeks back. This Wednesday she will go to the hospital and meet her new baby girl. While originally I was supposed to tag along to capture the day, due to a stubborn placenta it will just be Mom and Dad there for her big entrance. But she has already been warned that the chick with the camera, will be waiting shortly thereafter. Congratulations Kerri and Matt, enjoy your new adventure!!

Kelli and Brett: Settles Hill Tree Farm

Amy — Wed, 18 May 2011 03:49:53 +0000

A Colorful Engagement Session: Jess and Mark

Amy — Wed, 04 May 2011 02:05:29 +0000

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of traveling to Pennsylvania to meet up with this insanely fun and in love couple for their engagement session. We had a great day and didn’t let the rain keep us from going outside and getting some shots around town. Thank you for braving the weather Jess and Mark, can’t wait for your Wedding this fall!!

Signs of the season…..

Amy — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 03:22:00 +0000

While the weather may not be reflecting it, it is supposed to be Springtime here in Upstate NY. So while the wind is still vicious and the temperatures are still low, we took advantage of a warmer evening and allowed Kyleigh to spend her “piggy” money on the one thing she has been asking for every day since that $5 bill was placed in her hands. Soft ice cream. Now my husband loves soft ice cream more than anyone I know. So much so that when I was pregnant, he used it as an excuse to stop as much as possible (ahem….like every day). Thanks for the extra pregnancy pounds honey. But he now has a couple of little girls giving him a very good reason to make excuses again. Because these two….seem to love it just as much.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you are enjoying the start to your Spring, whatever the weather!

Grayce is 6 Months Old!

Amy — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 02:32:33 +0000

I have been following this little beauty since before she was born with her Mom’s Maternity session. I cannot believe she is already six months old. And what a wonderful half a year its been!

The Diva’s Second Session

Amy — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 02:17:53 +0000

My first session with Isabella, while beautiful, didn’t give me quite what I was looking for. So, I asked her parents for permission to come back, and I am SO glad I did. Our second session not only gave me some wonderful set poses, but also some truly meaningful candid pictures with her Mommy and Daddy.