Amanda Egan Photography Blog » Fine Art Photography - Cincinnati, Ohio - Louisville, Kentucky

Even though we are almost through January, I thought it would be fun to post a small glimpse into my everyday life.  I don’t carry my professional camera every place I go (even though my dad says I should), so I use my iPhone to record the little things…

January started off pretty normal… lots of quality time together & pretty sunsets.

And then, February came.  I woke up one morning to find that Jarvis (my mini dachshund and baby)  couldn’t walk anymore.  It turned out that he had a herniated disc in his back and had to have emergency surgery to see if he could ever walk again.  It was expensive and heart breaking and painful for him (and us).  It was one of the worst times in my whole life.  I love my pets with all my heart and this was torture…

We kept telling him that chicks dig scars.

Even though we were pretty distraught about Jarivs, life went on.  I ordered some sweet new business cards & made Valentine’s Day brownies!

And took a picture of Fancy – the mean cat…  Are you scared?  You should be.

March came along and Jarvie was still feeling pretty dopey (he was on a pretty sweet cocktail of doggie pain meds) …

But felt well enough to give me a few kisses…

The sun started shining again and Jarvie healed quickly.  Alex and I purchased our first home together and soon after…

Jarvie started walking again!  By mid-March, he could walk (although he looked like he was drunk).  & those chicks really do dig scars. He’s a stud at the dog park.

April brought some exciting things!  Our very own guard gnome, bathroom renovations & I was named the Knot’s Best of Weddings in Photography!  Wooo!

In May, I received some sage advice from a fortune cookie and we made an addition to our little family…

That’s Opie (short for Optimus Prime) on the right.  I found him on the street & he gave me that face. I had to bring him home..  Look how pitiful he is!  We soon realized that wherever he was before us wasn’t a good place. The vet said he was most certainly abused.  He was terrified of everything when we got him home.  Now, he’s spoiled rotten.

In June, Alex & I made our way to Savannah, Georgia for a wedding!  It’s such a beautiful city and I got to go to the beach for the first time in 15 years!

We also saw a dumpster-diving squirrel, found the Bat Cave & met the Biebs at a souvenir shop.

July & August meant that we really needed to get cracking on this wedding we were planning for the end of September.  I was up to my eyeballs in vintage stamps, invitations, programs & lots of other DIY projects I waited way to long to start.  I was sort of busy.. shooting other people’s weddings…

Have I ever mentioned that I love it when you make me a little name card like all of the other guests at your wedding?  It makes me happy.  And feel special!

Alex’s mom came all the way from Colombia in early September to help us get ready for the wedding!  Isn’t she a babe?  Totally.

And, before I knew it, September 30th was here!  Our wedding day!  Here is the fab Nancy from BRIDEface doing my make-up. Ignore my pin curls.

After the wedding, things settled down. October brought lots of weddings and wonderful couples.  Along with some much need time with our babies …

In November, Alex & I left for our much anticipated honeymoon in Venice, Italy!  It really is the most romantic city in the world. (blog post coming soon!)

So, there you are.  A glimpse into our little world.. the good & the bad.  2011 definitely started off rough but each month brought new experiences that made it better than the last.  If the first half of January is any indication of how the rest of the year will be, it’s going to be awesome!  I’m looking forward to so many wonderful weddings, lots of travel & quality time with Alex, our babies, friends & families!

xoxo,

Amanda & Alex (Jarvis, Opie, Biggie Smalls & Fancy)

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Shoot Me! I’m getting Married! |  Like Me? Make it official on Facebook! |  I’d rather Tweet it!

I’m feeling particularly emo at the moment…

A couple of months ago, I read a quote.  It goes something like, ‘Do not compare your successes with those of others. That’s like comparing your behind the scenes to their highlight reel,’  I don’t remember who said it. I just remember seeing it on one of my wise Facebook friends’ status.  It has stuck with me.  See, I’m that person.  I compare my life, my work, my everything to everyone else’s.  There are times when I’m reading a photography blog and I get discontented with my work.  I hear about how so & so was published and I get discontented with my successes.  I forget to stay present in my life and be thankful for everything I have accomplished and everything I love (which is plentiful).  I forget that when I look at Facebook, Twitter, and other blogs, I am seeing only what you want me to see.  Your highlights.

I am tired of only showing you the highlights.  I am a real person. I have struggles. I have self-doubt. I still get nervous before every session. I worry that you won’t like me. I worry that you won’t like your images. I worry that someday soon, this joyride of a wonderful photography career will be over. I worry about reality. I do not have life figured out and I am scared to death.  I am ready to share these things with you – the good & the bad.

I’ll be honest, it’s discouraging to share blog post after blog post and receive no feedback.  (Except the occasional rude comment from ‘anonymous’ telling me how awful I am – yes, it’s happened).  Seeing that I have 519 spam comments and no real ones is frustrating.  And sad.  It makes me not want to post.  It’s one reason why I haven’t been habitual with my blog.  I want to be but -  what’s the point?  It’s sort of like seeing is believing.  Sometimes, it’s hard to believe.

I do know that someone is out there and I thank you for reading this. Thank you to all of you who have ever inquired with me about your event or who have dropped me a line to tell me how much you like my images.  Thank you to those of you who comment on my blog posts and on Facebook. You encourage me to be better.  Thank you for believing in me.  I appreciate you. I appreciate you for making me remember my highlights.

xoxo,

Amanda