Anwen Elizabeth Photography

Wendy Norman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:47:27 +0000

As you probably already know, Lifestill Photography is a thing of the past, and now my business is called Anwen Elizabeth Photography.

From now on, you can go straight to www.anwenelizabethphotography.com to see my blog posts. As of today, the site is undergoing some construction, but within the next couple of days it will be up and running and good as new!

I’ve moved…sort of…

Wendy Norman — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:16:34 +0000

I’m still new to this whole web site thing, so I just realized some of you may not be seeing my new posts! Up until now, you could go to www.lifestillphotography.wordpress.com, or www.lifestillphotography.com, and you would get to this site. Now, I am hosting through GoDaddy directly, so you MUST go to www.lifestillphotography.com to see my new posts. Everything will look the same, and old posts are still on there, but you can no longer go through the wordpress.com link to get to my site.

Confusing? Yeah, a little. But totally worth it, because now I’ve got customization options galore!

The Whens, Wheres, Whys, and Hows

Wendy Norman — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:00:47 +0000

I’ve always been a curious person. I was probably that two year old who discovered the word “why” and proceeded to drive my mother crazy with it. Now I have a lot more curious words I use…when, where, how…you name it, I’ve probably got a question that starts with it. Questions that I want answered, that I need answered, that have been rolling around in my head for awhile.

I feel like this week will be a turning point for me. I’ve got a couple of meals planned this week that I’m so excited about. I’m going to get to sit down and pick the brains of two people who are already where I want to be someday…they have answers to some of my questions, and they’ve overcome challenges I’m constantly coming up against. I’m so grateful that these people have taken the time to talk to me. I admire both of these women for what they have accomplished, and I get to ask them some of my whens, wheres, hows and whys. Um…YAY! That’s what I have to say about that.

Also, I have some pretty exciting stuff coming up this weekend, that I will share with you as soon as I can. Until then, I’ll just leave you wondering…just know that this week is gonna be gooood.

And with that, I will leave you with a photo I snapped while in the field with Tina and the girls this past weekend. I guess they are just weeds, but I love them! I call them “those wheaty things.” I love those wheaty things!

I Love Game

Wendy Norman — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:00:11 +0000

It’s Tuesday. What’s special about a Tuesday? Not much, if you think about it. It’s one step above a Monday, but it’s still not quite the middle of the week. You still have way too many days left until the weekend. Tuesdays used to mean LOST, but I missed the first couple of episodes this season and haven’t caught up since! Yes, I know, this is terrible. It’s the final season, and I’m really worried someone is going to blow it for me when they finally explain everything. Without LOST, Tuesdays are once again somewhat mundane.

So, listen up now everyone…

First, please DO NOT tell me about what’s happening on LOST, or I will go into the future, watch your favorite show, and then come back to the present and tell you how it ends. Yes, I’m so sweet, aren’t I? Don’t mess with me and my LOST! I’ll catch up on it eventually.

Second, DO play this fun little game I have for you today! Before I started doing photo shoots with people, I took a lot of photos that tended to be more abstract. I once attempted to take a photo every day for a year (didn’t last more than a few months and it was sporadic at best), but it did force me to look at the world a little differently, find a new take on something I pass every day. So, rules for the game: Name what the object is in each photo I took below. Some are probably pretty easy, but I think a couple are kind of hard! Leave your answers in the comment section, and on Thursday, I’ll announce who guessed the most right. The winner gets…well, alot of love from me and the knowledge that you are just that good.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Tina, Alaina, and Aubrie

Wendy Norman — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:11:59 +0000

Tina is one of my co-workers, and she is fabulous–for many reasons! First of all, she loves her little girls so much. I only met them today, and I could tell immediately how much they adore their momma, and how much she adores them in return. There were smiles all around, even when we were getting stuck by prickly weeds and almost blown away on a gusty day. Second, this lady loves photography too! I’ve seen some of her own shoots with her girls, and she definitely has an eye for a good photo. And third, she is gosh darn creative! She knew what location she wanted, and she brought that gorgeous antique chair, and she picked out those outfits. (She even bought those awesome yellow shoes just for this shoot!) Um…I loved it all! It’s so much fun when a client has a vision for their shoot, because then we get some creative collaboration going and I get even more excited.

All in all, this was a really fun shoot, not only because I had a sweet, beautiful family to work with, but also because the shoot was a new challenge for me. I usually pick a location that has a lot of different spots to bounce between. This time, I shot only in this small little clearing in the field (the spot with the least prickles!), which forced me to think outside the box. It was actually really fun being outside of my comfort zone. Nate and Jacyln of the The Image is Found once challenged themselves during an engagement shoot to stay with 50 yards of where they started throughout the whole shoot. I am so impressed with the amazing images they created in such a small area (their images always knock my socks off), and it was exciting to give it whirl myself! I felt much more focused on the interaction between Tina and the girls, rather than worrying about where to shoot next. It was actually somewhat freeing!

So, with no further ado, here are some lovely ladies!

Once the little girls had had too much of the prickles and chilly wind, I spent some time focusing on Tina. She smiled effortlessly, looked stunning, and even braved some really intense prickles just to get in position for this first shot, which ended up being one of my favorites from the day.

Kyler and Jordyn

Wendy Norman — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:15:52 +0000

Clinging to his mother’s jeans, he tentatively peaked around her leg. His baby sister looked on as her grandma fixed her hair, wide-eyed and intrigued, but quiet. My questions weren’t working…he didn’t want to answer, and his face just buried deeper into the fabric the more I talked to him.

If I’ve learned anything from all the shoots I’ve done with kids, it’s that every single one of them has a completely unique personality. Some of them jump right in front of the camera, giving their fiercest pose before the camera is even on. Others are a little more tentative of the scary stranger with the huge camera in their face. But that’s what’s fun about kid shoots…you get to figure out what makes them laugh, what gets them excited. You get to be a kid again for a little while.

Kyler liked my camera. We were fast friends the second his little finger made the shutter click. I quickly learned that his favorite animal is a blue dinosaur, which we looked for all over Morningside Nature Center. (Sadly, we found none.) We crept up on a cow and raced each other to a tree. (He beat me. That kid is quick!) We played, laughed, and ran. When he reached down to hug his sister, my heart melted.

She was into it from the beginning. I never heard her make a peep, but she was listening. Point to a spot for her to stand and she poses like a pro. Tell her big brother to do something, and she was two steps behind. She obviously adores him. Curious about everything, she peeked through the fence at a cow, delight on her small face. And no sitting in a chair for this girl! No sirree…she decided chairs were made for carrying behind her back as she toddled along.

These two are precious, and I loved every minute of our farm photo adventure. Thank you for letting me be a kid with you guys today.

Aren’t little baby booties just the cutest thing ever??

I can’t decide which running photo I like better, so you get both.

On the Verge of Hhhughblehhhh

Wendy Norman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:09:28 +0000

Hhhughblehhhh…

That’s the sound of my brain being overloaded with too many thoughts at once. No, but really…I actually make that noise when I reach that moment of too many thoughts converging all at once. I think I freaked Todd out the first time it happened. We were in the car on the way home from work, and as I was trying to explain to him what I was thinking about, it just came out as hhhughblehhhh. Now, since it has sadly happened more than once, he likes to tease me about my brain making audible noises when I’m overhwelmed by too many thoughts. It’s sad really. But that’s me. Always more thoughts in my head than I can handle at once.

That’s probably why I’ve always kept a journal, or for the last few years, some form of blog. I have too many thoughts in my head, so I have to get them down on paper or the computer screen for them to even begin to make sense. Writing helps me organize my thoughts and keeps the hhhughblehhhh moments from happening too often.

So today, since I’m feeling on the verge of hhhughblehhhh, I’m going to write down some of the many thoughts colliding in my head.

1. I need to find a way to infuse more travel into my life. I’ve got the bug.

2. What is my style, what inspires me, what motivates me to create beautiful photos?

3. What am I going to eat for lunch? I’m not even hungry yet, but food is pretty much always on my mind. Sad, I know.

4. What’s the next piece of equipment I should buy? That flash I’ve been eyeing or the lens I think would change the way I shoot? When do I stop debating and just throw down some cash? How much research is too much? Or, how little is too little?

5. Why didn’t I go to WPPI (a photo conference in Vegas) last week? Was I too scared, or was it really because of the money? I’ve been using money as an excuse, but I have a sneaking suspicion that’s not the real reason.

6. I’m really enjoying the playlist my college friend Sarah sent me. She always picks out the best songs.

7. Sushi and Alice in Wonderland tonight with Todd. I wish every night could be date night.

8. I really need to finish up editing my last few photo shoots. Actually, I really just need a better workflow. Maybe I would have learned about that at WPPI…

9. I need to schedule a haircut…for me, and for Lexie. Oh, and a dentist appointment. And probably other appointments I haven’t even thought about yet.

10. I want to exercise more (This thought is in my head probably 17 out of 24 hours a day. The other 7 hours I’m asleep). A doctor once told me that half an hour of exercise a day has the same effect as taking anti-depressants. And yet, I still have a very hard time getting motivated to exercise.

11. On that note…Why did I eat hot wings, sweet potato fries, a taco, and have beer last night? Seriously, was I begging my body to hate me this morning?

Ok, only 11 thoughts for now. There are more in my head, trust me, but 11 seems sufficient. Wouldn’t want this blog to make your mind go hhhughblehhhh too.

This isn’t one of my photos, but it just made me smile so I thought I’d share. The dress and those shoes are too cute…and her foot tat is making me want one again…ok, so make that 12 thoughts for today.

Photo by Jasmine Star

WOW. That’s fab.

Wendy Norman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:44:10 +0000

I’m a blogstalker. It’s true. I like reading about other people’s lives, seeing other people’s photography, and finding out what inspires other people. Reading blogs gives me a fresh perspective on life, art, and just being. I have a number of favorites I follow daily, and there is always something that makes me go, WOW. That’s fab.

There is too much greatness out there for me to be the only one enjoying it all, so today I will share some lovely, fun, inspiring things with you…Enjoy!

The Shadow Project, by Color Me Katie, just makes me smile every time I see it. SO creative, and such a happy way to make art. Check out her whole blog, it’s such a spirit-lifter.

Decorated Bookcases, from A Cup of Joe, are what I will have in my house someday. I’ve always said I want floor-to-ceiling bookcases, and I love the idea of decorating them with more than just books. I pretty much love everything I find on that site.

Jessica Claire’s wedding, everything about it! Those details…wow. Jessica is one of my favorite photographers and I follow her blog daily. I guess after shooting so many weddings, you really know how to plan one! Oh and check out her wedding invitations…to die for!

Illustrated Missed Connections, by Sophie Blackall, are fascinating. Obviously I have a soft spot for the Craigslist Missed Connections.

Underwater Engagement Photos, taken by Steep Street, found on Green Wedding Shoes. Does it get more creative than that?? So cool!

This hair piece, and really everything made by Twigs and Honey. Someday I will buy something made by Myra. Each piece is just exquisite.

This wedding video, by Shade Tree Films. I literally teared up over this couple who I’ve never even met. I’m eagerly waiting for the Packet of Awesomeness in the mail too…sounds exciting to me!

Jasmine Star’s photography blog. Because she’s amazing, and her story inspires me. And her photography is just FAB.

One of my new fascinations is the craft blog, A Little Gray. The craftmaker/blogger is Jessica Rider, a girl I went to high school with, back when she was Jessica McTaggert and her boyfriend was Nick Rider. I remember having Government class with them when I was a freshman and they were seniors, and I was completely intimidated by their coolness (they were actually SUPER nice to me despite my lowly freshman status). Apparently the coolness lasted well after high school, because now they are married, have an adorable baby, and Jessica is crafty like nobody’s business!

The yellow shows this bride wore are divine. Courtney Fries is one of the first photographers I started following online, and I fell head over heels in love with her photography, and her writing.

The Blog is Found. Uh.Maze.Ing. I want to know this family. I love their eye for architecture in their photos, and their composition is just so gosh darn creative. Someday I want to attend one of their Shootshops…putting that on the to-do list right now in fact…

The intro to Jesh De Rox’s portfolio site gives me the chills. The first time I was a Stargazing Ladybug, and that just touched something inside me, tickled my insides and made me smile. I got Todd to do it too, and now we make up names for each other depending on our moods. Today he called me his Dreaming Caterpillar, and he was my Dancing Seahorse.

Ok, that’s enough for today. I could go on forever, so maybe this will become a regular post I do–sharing the things that make me smile each week. In fact, Cup of Jo posts links on her blog every Friday so that people have things to look at over the weekend. I may not do this every week, but I like the concept of sharing inspiration and smiles.

Let me know if you find anything inspiration on the web too! I’d love to see what makes you go WOW. That’s fab.

P.S. Hammocks are ALWAYS fab.

Rub a dub dub…

Wendy Norman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:52 +0000

Lexie was in the tub!

Distant Dreamer

Wendy Norman — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:05:50 +0000

If I didn’t think I would bore you, I would probably post song lyrics every day on my blog. There is usually some song, some lyric, some tune that really captures my current mood. I promise I won’t make you read song lyrics every day, but just humor me today.

To preface…My best friend Jess and I have always referred to ourselves as dreamers. It makes sense to us, and defines us in a way that few people understand.

Today I am a dreamer. I feel landlocked, I feel like I can taste things that are hopefully in the not-so-distant future, but I can’t quite grasp them. They aren’t tangible yet, just teasing my heart.

I also knew that putting one toe on foreign soil would starting the rippling in my mind again…the bubble thoughts that drift through my mind with shimmering visions of far away lands, that burst in a shower of mist when I realize how truly far away they remain. I ache for places that aren’t here.

“Distant Dreamer” by Duffy

Although you think I cope,
my head is filled with hope…
of some place other than here.

Although you think I smile,
inside all the while…
I’m wondering about my destiny.

I’m thinking about,
all the things,
I’d like to do in my life.

I’m a dreamer,
a distant dreamer,
dreaming for hope, from today.

Even when you see me frown,
my heart won’t let me down,
because I know there’s better things to come.

And when life gets tough,
I feel I’ve had enough,
I hold on to a distant star,

I’m thinking about,
all the things,
I’d like to do in my life…

I’m a dreamer,
A distant dreamer,
dreaming for hope from today.

Yeah, I’m a dreamer.

Dreaming in Venice…

Photo by Jesslinn