amee sorensen photography / the blog

WILDER AND LANDRY

2011-08-19T12:44:00.000-06:00

Ok, so these brothers are 2 of the cutest boys. Ever. They came all the way from Alaska to visit their grandma and I'm so happy that I got the chance to meet them and their mom. They were so fun to spend the afternoon with! The oldest was a little shy at first but he warmed up...as you can see. I remember, at one point, when we were all walking thru the park, he walked right up beside me and grabbed my hand. As we walked hand in hand, we talked about school and bugs and such. Ya know?...boy stuff. ;) I love moments like these and it's those moments that I live for and it reminds me of why I absolutely love what I do.

Wilder and Landry with their cousin, Mason! They could all be brothers!...And, little surfer boys! ;)

I absolutely LOVE this photo! And I love these boys' personalities!

Had to get one with their beautiful mom...

Cousin, Mason...

Here's another favorite! I saved this one for last because it pretty much sums up the afternoon. These boys were so active...there was never a dull moment! ;) Loved every minute!

TAMMY + DAVID

2011-07-12T18:01:00.001-06:00

I had the awesome opportunity to photograph Tammy and David while I was in New Orleans for the PartnerCon Conference. These two are simply adorable and it's obvious how much love they have for each other! They are definitely one pretty cool and fun couple! ;)

TYLER

2011-07-06T19:06:00.000-06:00

Tyler happens to be one of my favorite little people!.. He's got the biggest, most beautiful-est blue eyes. Ever. And yes, I just said "beautiful-est"! "Cause it's true! ;) Love him.

FREEDOM

2011-07-06T14:08:00.000-06:00

The 4th of July. Independence Day. What a great holiday! A holiday to celebrate our beautiful country and the freedom that it gives us! Not that we need to have an excuse to BBQ, with family and friends, and watch fireworks, but it certainly makes this holiday perfect in every way. Doesn't it? I hope everybody had a great and safe holiday weekend and I hope that we can all remember how blessed we are to live in such an amazing country and also remember those that serve our country so that we can enjoy the freedom that we have!

I just had to share this photo, because I simply love our flag and what it represents..

ECKLAND FAMILY

2011-06-14T22:26:00.002-06:00

It's blogging time! Yes, I'm playing "catch-up" here on the blog...and even I know that it's about time! So I'm just going to jump right on in here..

I was so lucky to be able to meet and photograph this cute family right before I left Utah to make the move to New Orleans. This family is so amazing and loving. You can sense it in their actions and the way they just simply look at each other. I loved every minute I had with them. And plus, this little guy gives some of the best hi-fives! Really!

BABY NOAH

2011-02-11T23:07:00.000-07:00

I simply love newborns and this session was no exception. Meet baby Noah.. And let me tell you, there is no shortage of love for him. His family is made up of some of the most loving and caring people I know. It was definitely worth the trip to Mississippi to photograph this little cutie pie.

TO THE NEW YEAR!

2011-01-02T20:29:00.000-07:00

With each new year that begins, we all, in our own way, re-evaluate our lives and the goals we have set for ourselves. This is the case for me as well. Lots of goals have been made for 2011 and I, for one, can not wait to see my goals achieved throughout this new year. And yes, I say goals as opposed to resolutions. The dictionary defines a resolution as "finding a solution to a problem" and it defines a goal as "a successful attempt at scoring". Scoring! Yes, as in football or basketball or any sport, for that matter. And if you know me, you know I LOVE sports. I guess growing up with my dad and 4 brothers around me has made me a little competitive and 'goal' oriented. ;) Yep, I don't like to lose. I like to win, or score, if you will. So needless to say, goals, no matter how big or small, seem to have a more positive ring to it for me. So no resolutions for me this year. And what a great time of the year to reflect on the past and prepare for the future. Successfully achieving my small goals in order to reach my HUGE goals bring such a sense of accomplishment and positiveness to the whole process. And I have full intentions of celebrating each small achievement along the way! Whether it be by a hi-five or a Pepsi, it will be a celebration of sorts. ;) And, seriously, no resolution or goal can be too small. If it matters to me and will help me to become a better individual in the process, then it matters.

With that being said, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret: One of my goals this year is to BLOG more! I know that I have neglected the blog, once again, and I'm sorry, once again. But I plan to blog, blog, blog, and then blog some more. As a matter of fact, I have so many things to blog about...yes, I am THAT behind...that I may seem a little scattered in the next few weeks. But I have full intentions of catching up...no matter how long it takes. ;)

And I always say, that a post is better with a photo, so here is one of my favorite images that I have taken this past Christmas season here in New Orleans.

"Christmas on Canal St."

So, here's to the New Year!! May all of you have happiness and success. And enjoy every minute of it!

PINK

2010-10-30T23:10:00.001-06:00

Pink is the color of the month. Pink ribbons everywhere. On clothing. On TV. On facebook. Even NFL players are sporting THE color of the month. It's Breast Cancer Awareness month. (And yes, I realize I am writing this a little late in the month, but better late than never...right?!) It seems as if everybody knows or knows of somebody who has had this cancer and or any other form of cancer for that matter. It affects all of us in one way or another.

About 1 in 8 women in the United States (between 12 and 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.
About 1,970 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2010. Less that 1% of all new breast cancer cases occur in men.
About 39,840 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2010 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1991. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
In 2010, there are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.

These statistics were taken from BreastCancer.org

I am glad that this month is dedicated to reminding all of us the importance of this type of cancer and how much early detection is vital. I love seeing this color everywhere.

I was speaking with my friend Mary from North Carolina this week, and at that time, she was headed to her oncologist for her yearly follow up visit. Mary was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma earlier in her life. If you missed reading about her amazing story, you can read about it on my blog post here. This week, she is celebrating her 9th year of being cancer free. 9 years! And as she was on her way to her doctor, she was expressing to me some of the feelings and thoughts she was having as she approaches this milestone in her life. She was reflecting on her journey...from the very beginning to now. It wasn't always an easy road for her. At times, there were discouragement and sadness, but she stuck to her faith and had a wonderful husband and family to lend her support and she decided to fight this cancer. Head on. She was able to catch it just in time. But as she reflected on her experience, I think she almost can't even believe that she has come this far. I didn't know her during this time of her life, but I do know that she is one strong individual and she has a great spirit and love of life that is just plain contagious. I am happy to know her and her story of living and of life. Whether she believes it or not, I know that she has touched many lives by what she has gone thru and also by how she decided to handle this challenge in her life. It's an inspiring story. A story of fight...A story of survival...From this fast growing cancer inside of her. She had faith in herself as she embraced life.
Thank you Mary, once again, for your story and most importantly, for sharing it with me and for allowing me to share it with others. I admire you for your strength. (And next year, for your 10th anniversary, we're throwing a big ol' party girl!) ;)

In my last post, I shared the story of my recent surgery. And it so happens that the University of Utah also has one, if not THE best, cancer hospitals in the county. Well, their Burn Center sent me a PINK compression sock this month. Yes, pink. I'm not really a 'pink' kinda girl, but I remembered about what pink represents this month and I was happy to have that pink sock. I was gonna wear it with pride in honor of breast cancer awareness. I even thought of marketing this to the NFL, but I think they may wear enough pink already.. ;) So, I'll leave them be.

THE SHORT VERSION... OF THE STORY. AND ITS SIMPLICITY.

2010-10-28T16:37:00.007-06:00

We all have our challenges in life...some big, some small...that we can either learn and grow from, or let them set us back. I have recently experienced one of those challenges. It started with a certain motorcycle ride in Pensacola, Florida back in May. Now, you might not think this is a challenge until I tell you that after the ride, I burned my leg on the exhaust. Sure it hurt, but it wasn't THAT bad. Or so I thought, at the time. Three weeks went by and I was back in Salt Lake City. After those few weeks of pain and sleepless nights, I finally took myself to the emergency room and it was there that they attempted to clean the 'hole' in my leg, as I called it. I was then referred to the University of Utah's Burn Center. One of THE best Burn Centers in the country. I guess you could say I was lucky to live so close to such an outstanding hospital with its amazing nurses, doctors, and surgeons. But, it was there that I learned this burn that I was living with was a 'deep' burn, as every single person I spoke with said so. And that no matter of when I would've gone in, the outcome would've been the same. I needed surgery. A skin graft. When I heard those words for about the 4th or 5th time, it pretty much hit me. Surgery! The burn was so deep that it couldn't heal on its own and the risk of infection was great. The surgeon came in to talk with me about the procedure. She would take the skin from my hip and put it on my leg. There was no getting around it. She comforted me as my eyes started to fill up with tears as the reality of it all was setting in. My surgery was scheduled for a few days later.

The surgery has come and gone now. The staples have been taken out. (Yep, 7 of them! I called my leg "frankenstein leg".) The days of Lortab, ibuprofen, ginger ale, crackers, and crutches are done. The surgery was a success! The graft took 100%, which I have learned, does not happen all the time. I was definitely blessed. But, the week, or 2 weeks, or even 3 weeks after my surgery were the hardest. I had to learn to depend on others. A lot. I am used to being the one that others turn to for help. But, it was my turn. My turn to take this experience and make sense of it all. In other words, this was all backwards for me. It was not easy for me to be laid up in a bed, not being able to do anything for myself. Except to go to the bathroom and I even needed crutches for that. So needless to say, the surgery took a lot out of me. More than what I expected.

And as much as I hate to admit it, it was a depressing and discouraging and emotional time for me. Why, or how, could a split second of my life turn into...well, this. I am still, to this day, in the healing process. Both my leg and my hip, where the donor site is. I now wear a compression sock for the scarring process and will need to wear it for about a year or two. I still 'baby' my graft to make sure I am doing everything I can to continue to heal properly. I have done and am still doing all of what my doctors say that I need to do. But, at times right after my surgery, at the most stressful times, I felt as if I was losing a part of my graft. And I simply had lost hope, still wondering why I needed to go thru this. But it was during these hard moments that I tried to just remember that it's out of my hands. I was doing everything I knew how from what I was told, but I knew that I also needed something else. Faith. Faith that it will all be alright. Many prayers were said. By me and by my friends and family. And I was comforted. I knew that everything would be okay. It may not be easy, but I knew, just knew, that everything would turn out the way that it should. And whatever the outcome, I was going to be alright. And every time I felt discouraged or down, I held on to that faith. And it got me thru. It is still getting me thru. I am very grateful for the prayers and encouragement from family and friends and also the faith that I was able to rely on with my Heavenly Father above, who I know was watching over me and helping me in my time of need. Without them, there is no way that I could've made it....that I would still be making it....thru this experience. I have learned a lot about others and most importantly about myself.

We all have our challenges in life...some big, some small...that we can either learn and grow from, or let them set us back. I am choosing to learn and grow... Not just from this experience, but from my every day to day experiences that may lie in my path.

Life, to me, is simply all about the basics in what we believe. And believing in ourselves. And the simplicity of it all. We can't do everything on our own. And if we remember to have faith in ourselves and in each other, I believe that we will all become a better person and individual. It is up to us. And thru this, we will be able to overcome life's little challenges whether they be big or small.

And as I write and read my own little story here, my eyes just want to fill up with tears again. Like I said, it wasn't an easy time for me and it was definitely an emotional one for me as well. But, most importantly, I know that I have been blessed. Been blessed with a successful surgery and also with an amazing and supportive family and group of friends around me.

Here I am sporting my compression sock. And yes, it's true, some people really think that I am trying to start a new fashion trend. Really. And the funny thing is, I actually think it's working! ;)

I want to thank the University of Utah's Burn Center and all its people there. You are all simply wonderful. You have become a part of my family and your support has helped me greatly. And I also want to thank my family, especially my Mom and Dad, and also my friends. You have no idea how much your love and encouragement have helped me. And is still helping me.

WELL... IT'S ABOUT TIME.

2010-09-30T23:38:00.001-06:00

Yes, It's about time. That I quit putting all my focus on facebook and start blogging again! Blogging was and still is my first love. And it's true, as you all know, that I have neglected it lately. And I'm sorry. But, I am ready to blog once again. And I only ask one little favor... To please be patient, as I do not know where to even begin. I've been so busy lately, so there may be a random post here or there...meaning, I may go out of order a little. So needless to say, I have a lot to catch up on.

With that being said, let me just explain what has been going on as of lately. I made the decision to head South for a while. Yes, back to my roots...New Orleans. Home sweet Nola. One of my most favorite places. Not only because it's my home, where I was born and raised. But also, because it's a place all its own. Literally. From the food, to the people, to the artists, to the music and musicians, to the French Quarter, to the swamps, and to the unique beauty of it all combining together as one to make this one very intriguing city. How could I not love it. I'm excited and ready to, well, be a southerner again! Although, I have always been true to my Southern roots. Promise. Ask anybody. ;)

And since I can't post without a photo or two... Here are a few images from my road trip from Salt Lake City to New Orleans.

Somewhere in Utah.

Rock Candy Mountain, Utah.

Lake Powell, Page, Arizona

'Cadillac Ranch'. Somewhere in Texas.

The state line. ;) Bienvenue!!

IT'S A LITTLE THING CALLED....JEEP!

2010-07-29T22:24:00.005-06:00

You all met Paul in my last post, so I just had to share one of our outings one day down south. I wanted to shoot Paul with his Jeep...and we had, literally, like 15 minutes to shoot. Yeah, we were squeezing this one in, but we made the most of it and I'm pretty pleased with the outcome! These were taken down in Louisiana when I was there a couple months ago. While I was outside of the jeep shooting Paul, he happen to notice a nice 'little' water moccasin right next to us...but no worries, he kept a close eye on him while I kept shooting. Did I mention that Paul was still inside of the jeep this whole time watching the snake?.. My hero! ;) Although, I think Paul thought I was the crazy one for not getting back in the jeep. But I really wanted to keep shooting...after all, I was on a time limit! Well, we made out of there safe and sound and had some cool images from our quick little shoot. So it was worth it!

Meet Paul's baby...

Yeah, he's a Louisiana boy... Gotta love it!

Thank you Paul!

PAUL : ANYTIME

2010-07-23T00:45:00.006-06:00

New Orleans, my home. My home where friends and family are. I know New Orleans has a lot to offer, but Nola wouldn't be same without them. And I absolutely love shooting in this amazing city. So when I was there about a month or so ago, I asked my friend, Paul, if he would like to go shooting with me. He was happy to do so. And we had some fun the process, even in the hot, humid conditions that the South so graciously provides. So a big Thank You goes out to YOU, Paul, for 'sweating' it out with me on our days of shooting.. ;) You truly are the best! And I am one lucky girl to know you and to have you as a friend, as would anybody. And, if it isn't obvious enough...my camera loves you.

If you need more Paul.. His Jeep is coming soon... ;)

JUST SOME WEDDING FUN...

2010-06-30T11:18:00.003-06:00

I love weddings! I love being able to capture THE moment. And every moment in-between, which are usually my favorite moments to capture. The interaction, the randomness, the fun, the love, and the happiness between two people. I've been going thru some of my images from some of my favorite weddings that I have had the opportunity to shoot. And as I look at these, I can remember each day like it was yesterday! And my favorite compliment that has been given to me: "I love your style. I love how fun you are and how easy you make this for everyone. You're patient, relaxed, fun, and easy going.."

I just wanted to share a few of my favorites.

ITS A GOOD "NIGHTMARE"

2010-06-24T22:29:00.003-06:00

A while ago I was asked by Robin Parrish, a successful novelist, if he could use one of my photos for his new upcoming book. I immediately said YES! I think it was one of those instances where no thinking was required to come up with an answer. I was honored that he wanted to use one of my photos for this newly raved novel. I just couldn't wait for his book to come out. It's been months in the waiting! But the waiting is over.. This week I was finally able to check my mail. And there it was. THE book. "Nightmare." And it was marked with a piece of white paper where my photo was. Yep. At Chapter Eight. It was pretty much pure awesomeness to see!

Robin chose one of my images of The Myrtles Plantation. Last year I was able to visit this famous Plantation in St. Francisville, LA. If you'd like, you can check out my blog post about it and see why this southern plantation is.. in.. fact.. 'haunted'... I love visiting this place whenever I get a chance. It's not only haunted, it's absolutely beautiful and very intriguing. Definitely a place worth visiting.

Robin Parrish's new novel...

The Myrtles Plantation. (My image that is used in Robin's book, "Nightmare".)

Thank you Robin for choosing one of my images for your new book! I can't wait to read it! I'm hearing such great things about it!

DICHARRY FAMILY

2010-06-07T23:15:00.008-06:00

I absolutely love the Dicharry family! I'm pretty sure that they are one of my most favorites in New Orleans. You may remember them from a blog post I did last year, which was the first time I met this incredible family. And, there's one more little addition...their adorable baby, Legend. Not only do they have THE cutest kids...Ever. But they happen to be fun, giving, spiritual, and loving. You definitely need to check out Joye's blog, "The Joyeful Journey". It's a must read. I may have mentioned this before, but she is truly an amazing example of living with putting our Heavenly Father first and thinking of Him every day... So if you like to read or just need a spiritual up lift, check out her amazing writing skills and fun spirit. It's worth it.

And when her husband, Joel, is not working, fishing, or playing in a band, he's talking about his amazing wife with pretty much anybody who will listen. (One of these days, I'm gonna shoot him playing in that band and I can't wait!) ;) It's so fun spending time with this family and seriously...their children are simply adorable, each in their own way. I love seeing their different personalities come thru whenever I see them. Love it! And whether I'm helping one of the twins put their shoes on or just listening to their fun stories about life...I simply enjoy every minute. I can't help it. I guess you could say that they are kind of addicting. Really.

A favorite.

I love twins...

I love this! It reminds me of my twin brother... (He had a look like this too.) ;)

This family is so fun, I love it.

Love this one.

This could just be my favorite...

Thank you so much Joye and Joel! I'm so glad we got a chance to get together while I was in Nola. Seriously. I love you all..

PATRICK & TYLER

2010-06-04T01:31:00.007-06:00

Meet Patrick and Tyler. Brothers. Even though one has brown hair and brown eyes and the other blonde hair and blue eyes. They are both equally adorable in their own way. I love these two boys. And not just because they happen to be my nephews but because every time I go back home to New Orleans, Patrick gets excited to see his Aunt Amee. Yep, he makes me feel pretty special every time I see him. Seriously....Who wouldn't love that?! ;)

I had so much fun hanging out with them for a few hours. Patrick pretty much likes to do his own thing and cute little Tyler is just one sweet baby boy. And did I mention how seriously cute they both are?... Love it!

I just love these next 2...

Thanks Jeanette for letting me 'shoot' you cute boys! I loved every minute. ;)

BURTON FAMILY

2010-05-31T23:49:00.004-06:00

I couldn't be more happier for Holly and Adam on their new addition to their family. Cameron is a perfect fit and it's obvious how much love they have for their new son. He is one lucky little boy. ;) I've known Adam and Holly for a little over a year now and I'm so happy that they chose me to document this most amazing part in their life. And I could just hang out with these two all day...ok, all three all day. I think a part of me fell in love with their little boy. He's such a cutie!

Adam is a Purdue fan. So even though he's not really a Saints fan, he's a Drew Brees fan! And I think he was just a tiny little bit happy that my Saints beat his Colts in the Super Bowl this last year. Just a little.. ;)

I love yawn-y babies..

I just had to end with this one...

Thank you Holly and Adam!

THE SWINTECK FAMILY

2010-05-05T23:22:00.004-06:00

I love the Swinteck family! They came to visit all the way from Virginia and I'm so happy they did. I've known Jessica for a while now but haven't seen her in a few years. She's one of my favorite people! She's a friend that I am so lucky to have in my life. And I couldn't be more happy for her and her cute little family. I met her husband, Bryan, for the first time and it was like we have been friends for ever. Yep, he's that cool. They are a perfect couple. And did I mention how adorably cute their little baby, Brynley, is! I love her and I love the fact that she's gonna grow up calling me 'Aunt Amee'. ;) She's so sweet and beautiful. I can't even stand it.

We were short on time but managed to squeeze in a little photo session. I loved getting to know baby Brynley a little better and to be honest, I think she's gonna be missing her Aunt Amee. ;)

Duke! Check out her awesome binky! Her dad is a Duke graduate and little Brynley is representin'! ;)

Love the feeling of this one...

Bryan, Jess, and Brynley! It was awesome seeing you and I miss you already! Love you.

BRETT : SENIOR

2010-04-29T22:41:00.001-06:00

Brett is a Senior this year in high school who's got everything going for him. Not only is he a pitcher on his baseball team, but he's also taking college courses to get ahead. But, when I first met Brett, the first words out of his mouth were, "I don't like my picture taken. I'm not very good at it." Ummmm... Well, I think I proved him wrong. And if any of ya'll know me, I love a good challenge! ;) Once I broke him out of his shell, it was a pretty fun day of shooting.

BABY SYDNEY

2010-04-29T00:22:00.000-06:00

Sydney is such a sweet and beautiful baby. And it helps that she has beautiful parents. Her mom happens to be my niece and I'm lucky that they live pretty close to me. I just wish we could see other more often. But I was happy to be there for Sydney's baby blessing and yes, I had to bring my camera and snap a few shots. It was a fun and perfect day to spend with family and meet Sydney for the first time. I just love her.

Sydney's older brother...

She's looking at her Grandpa here... Love it.

THE MAYES FAMILY

2010-04-25T23:44:00.001-06:00

I love this family. Not only because Tia, I believe, is one of my biggest fans when it comes to photography, but her boys are so full of personality...each with his own distinct personality. They are so fun! And they definitely keep me moving! ;) I love it. And I love the fact the this is my second time being able to 'shoot' them. It's fun to see the boys get older and grow up just a little. And did I mention how handsome they all are. Seriously. Tia, you're one lucky girl.

Here are a few shots from our fun day together...

These next two are just fun...

I just love this one...

Thank you Tia and Russ!

AVRIE

2010-04-05T23:39:00.003-06:00

I love these two! Samantha and her daughter Avrie are just the cutest. This little girl was everywhere! Seriously. And I loved every minute of it. And, as a plus, I got my exercise in for the day...for sure. ;)

STANDING...WITH COURAGE.

2010-03-12T01:09:00.004-07:00

Mary is a southern girl. If you don't believe me, just listen to her North Carolinian accent. She's also a true, reliable, and dependable friend. Oh and a beautiful person. And I'm lucky enough to be able to call her my friend. We met in New Orleans at a photography conference about a year and a half ago and have been friends ever since. We met each other in New Orleans this last November and then she just recently came out to Salt Lake City to visit me. And it was a blast. Whether we were cooking, 'shooting', talking, or editing. It didn't really matter. And I'm so excited for her because she is about to launch her photography website...very soon. Way exciting, because well, she's so very talented and needs to share her talent with all those around her.

And Mary has a story to tell. A story of standing tall. Through pretty much anything that is thrown her way. You see, Mary was diagnosed with cancer (Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) by the age of 27. We started talking one night and she began telling me in detail her experience through this difficult period in her life. From the moment that she was diagnosed with this disease. To radiation to help stop this amazingly fast growing tumor (in her chest), so that it wouldn't stop her ability to simply just breathe. To a bone marrow biopsy. To surgery. Then countless treatments of chemo which resulted in the loss of hair. To checkups, still to the day. And finally beating this thing (going on almost 10 years now). Her story is strong and she freely talks with others about her experience. As she was talking with me, and tears started to build up in both of our eyes, I had to stop her for a moment and ask 'How did you do it? How did you stay so strong?' Her reply was 'I didn't give myself any other option but than to live.' To live. And that is exactly what she is doing. Living. When she was first diagnosed, she turned to her husband and said, the 'other option' is not even an option. Just by that sentence alone, she showed courage, strength, and determination. Now I know that certain cancers are certain cancers. They are all different with each person. And she has had plenty of ups and downs thru this trial in her life, but she chose to look at this straight on and deal with it. When even all of her hair was gone, she bought a wig, but opted not to wear it. Not even once. Instead she embraced her beauty and smiled as kids stared with intrigue. But the one thing she doesn't really see, is how strong she really is. The strength that SHE had to fight for life. Which amazed me. I wanted to record our conversation and play it back for her so that she could hear her own story and know how much of a beautiful person she really is.

Meet Mary...

Mary. Thank you. You're beautiful.

S'MORE. PLEASE.

2010-03-10T01:51:00.002-07:00

Taking a break from the daily busy-ness of our lives is not such a bad idea. Every once in a while. As my friend Mary and I worked on our laptops till the wee hours in the morning one night, we decided to put aside our work and make these delicious treats...yep...s'mores. Right in my living room. And let me tell you, they were yummy. And fun. It was a very much needed break and stress reliever. Taking the time to just relax and roast marshmallows was and is needed. Every once in a while. If you don't believe me, go ahead and try it. You may be surprised. And no, I didn't burn the house down. All is good. ;) Mary was there to help supervise...remember. But I did have to eat her marshmallows that she would 'accidentally' burn or catch on fire. But I didn't mind...really. And after we had our fill of graham cracker, milk chocolaty, smushy mellowy yumminess, we were ready to get back to business. (Ummm...yes, I just made up a few new words for you. You can find them in the new 'Amee Dictionary' coming out soon. Once it gets approved of course.)

MARDI GRAS 2010

2010-03-02T00:33:00.006-07:00

As I mentioned before, Mardi Gras has had one of its biggest seasons with this one of a kind party being kicked off by Lombardi Gras...The Saints Super Bowl Parade taking place exactly one week before Fat Tuesday. But we all didn't mind. This year, Mardi Gras had a whole new meaning to some of the locals in New Orleans (and surrounding areas).

I just wanted to share a few random images from Fat Tuesday and before...

King Drew Brees. (Bacchus Parade)

BABY TYLER

2010-02-26T23:04:00.014-07:00

Meet Tyler. My newest nephew. He has got to be THE cutest little guy. Ever. While I was in Nola, he came to visit me so I just HAD to do a little 'mini' photo session with him. But I don't think he minded. He already loves me and my camera...I can just tell these things. ;) And since it was Mardi Gras season and Lombardi Gras season, he was decked out ready for both. I love it. And I love him.

Thank you Jeanette, Andy, Patrick, and Tyler for coming to visit me. Your family is beautiful. I love all of you. And I miss you already...

LOMBARDI GRAS

2010-02-25T01:15:00.018-07:00

The Saints Super Bowl Parade...a.k.a...Lombardi Gras!

I kept looking for Steven Seagaal, but I never saw him... ;)

(Photo above taken by Paul Solouki.)

(Photo taken by Paul Solouki.)

(Photo above taken by Paul Solouki.)

Many thanks again to Paul Solouki for letting me use his images!

LOMBARDI WHAT?

2010-02-23T04:26:00.007-07:00

I guess you could say that New Orleans has taken in a 'new' Mardi Gras. On Tuesday, February 9, 2010 a new parade took place. As we, 'locals' or Saints fans, like to call Lombardi Gras. Well at least that was the nickname given for the day the Saints Super Bowl Parade took place in the city. And they say some 800,000 to 1,000,000 people were there to help the Saints celebrate their amazing victory in becoming World Champions. And I believe it. The spirit of everyone, young or old, was definitely present. This day was like Fat Tuesday. Except the colors of Purple, Green, and Gold were replaced with Black and Gold. (Which actually...that theme seemed to stick throughout this Mardi Gras season.) People were dressed up in anything Saints... I mean anything. Chants of 'Who Dat' were being shared among the crowd along with singing 'Oh When the Saints...' . The city of New Orleans supports their team like no other and what's amazing about this evident relationship is that the team supports the city of New Orleans. All I can say, is that I'm proud to be a part of the Who Dat Nation!

The following photos were taken right before the Saints Parade or 'Lombardi Gras'!

I wanted to share these, so that maybe those who were not there, could get a glimpse or a feeling of what the city was all about during this time. I hope these images do it justice. Just listen to your favorite Saints song as you look at these snapshots of this historic day... ;)

(Original image above taken by Paul Solouki.)

(Look closely...)

(In case you missed it...)

The next post...the actual parade. So stay tuned... ;)

WE DAT...SUPER BOWL 44

2010-02-22T23:37:00.043-07:00

In case you haven't noticed (and if you haven't, then you're probably the only one), the city of New Orleans has had something else to celebrate lately besides Mardi Gras. A Super Bowl win. For the first time. Yep. Our Boys, the New Orleans Saints, came home from Miami as World Champions. But to be honest, they were already champions in the hearts and minds of the people of New Orleans. So much that their very own parade in their honor was going to happen on that following Tuesday whether they had won or lost. For 43 years, the people of this one of a kind city has supported their beloved team thru the highs and lows...with plenty of lows throughout the years. The fans of this team are very devoted and true. We've waited a long time for this day to come. And I personally think that the timing couldn't have been better. Seriously. February 7th, 2010 will always be remembered and marked in the history books for New Orleans. There's even talk of making a state holiday. The very next day, schools were closed along with most businesses across the state and gulf coast. The connection between this city and their football team is obvious. If you didn't believe before...well, you should now.

As soon as Porter made the interception sealing the win, the city errupted. Hugs were shared by all, and you could hear cheers for miles along with people in their cars honking for what seemed like hours. The city didn't sleep that night. People had never seen The French Quarter THAT packed with so many people. Ever. Cell phones were jammed. We couldn't get a call out or a text out for quite a while. It definitely was a historic night that everyone will remember. Yet, today, we still turn to each other and ask 'Did that really happen?' 'Did we really win the Super Bowl?' or we have to keep reminding each other 'We won the Super Bowl!' 'The Saints are World Champions!' Yep. It's true! So true that the Saints have pretty much become the country's new number one team. Saints' merchandise is flying off the shelves across the country. So much, that they can't even keep it stocked. So... Believe. Dat.

This post is dedicated to the Saints for their Super Bowl win and to their dedicated fans. Congratulations! You deserve it. The City deserves it. The Who Dat Nation deserves it.

Thank You Boys.

The following (original) images were taken by Paul Solouki.

Super Bowl Sunday 2010 in The Quarter.

I love this image...

Thank you Paul for capturing the 'moment' so perfectly the day WE became World Champions! Your photos are simply amazing.

SUNDANCE 2010 & NFC CHAMPS

2010-02-02T12:10:00.012-07:00

The Sundance Film Festival. Was. Amazing.

Park City. Was. Amazing.

The People. Were. Amazing.

And I loved every minute of it. Even though I didn't get to see any movies. I know. The whole point of Sundance. But I did get to meet some pretty cool, amazing, beautiful, and inspiring people. Even though I didn't get to see their movies, I had a chance to photograph some of them in my studio I set up right here on Main St. So needless to say we were pretty busy all day for about 3-4 days straight...between that and all the events we attended every night. So busy that the first time we got a chance to eat was about 8:30pm every night (in-between shooting in the studio and hitting up the next event/party). I even missed some of the first part of the NFC Championship game, which my Saints won!! No worries. I got to finish watching the game in a restaurant on Main and made some new friends... Pretty much when Hartley kicked the winning field goal, I stood up so fast and proceeded to hi-five, I think, the whole restaurant. ;) And later that night I was hearing chants of 'Who Dat' outside on Main St...I had to take a second to remember where I was. So, yes Who Dat Nation, we were representin'. In Park City. Booya!

Well, back to Sundance...

I was working with Synergy Sound and Design and The Alive Expo Green Pavillion during Sundance. My studio was helping taking photos of celebrities who wanted to be a part of Project Green. A book coming out in the next year or two to talk about how certain celebrities are living green, their thoughts on living green, or anything they are doing to promote living green. I am so happy to be a part of this project. I can't wait to share photos of some of the people I was able to meet and talk with. But for now I wanted to share a few images that I captured while walking around freezing the last night we were there. I wanted to be a 'civilian' or a 'tourist' for a few minutes and take some photos of what Sundance looks like in Park City.

Did I mention that it snowed the first two days. Constantly. But it was so beautiful. I felt like I was living in a snow globe. Seriously.

Plenty of people were taking advantage of the slopes and all the snow Park City just received. I had an awesome view from Main St. (in my studio) of the skiers coming down the mountain. I felt like I was in a movie of my own. ;)

Park City's - Main St. - Street Car...

ROB FENN & BEVERLY HILLS

2010-01-19T12:47:00.009-07:00

Rob Fenn was hired by the Beverly Hills Times Magazine last month and asked if I would shoot his profile for the magazine. Uhhhh.... yeah.. of course! He's the Music - Movie - Entertainment Editor. He also just launched his blog titled 'Check My Brain / Blog' to promote the magazine. If you want to know the ins and outs of anything that has to do with entertainment, check it out.

So for the shoot, we were both thinking of kind of a 'run down' look... Ya know. Beverly Hills. Ok. So the opposite. ;) But I was very happy with the outcome of the shoot. And I'll use Rob's words... Thank you for making me look exactly how I wanted. It's like old school meets rock 'n roll. I love it. It's perfect. I'll take that compliment. Anyday. ;)

I usually show my favorite last, but this time I'm showing it first... This one says it all!

I like this angle... It kind of has a 'musician' feel to it..

THE NASHIF FAMILY

2010-01-09T00:03:00.009-07:00

As I mentioned before, this is such a beautiful family and I'm so happy they chose me as their photographer.

I pulled up to the location of our shoot, got out of my car to walk around and take a look, and as I did it started to snow...a kind of a wet snow. Terry and Katie pulled up, and Terry and I both looked at each other with our hands out...like, it's snowing! But we decided to shoot anyway and as we were getting ready, it decided to stop snowing (most of the time). Yay!

Their daughter, Macie, is THE cutest little girl. Ever. But she does have a mom that is absolutely gorgeous. And Terry, you're pretty good-lookin' too. ;) I had so much fun getting to know them and following them around with my camera. I loved every minute of it!

Here are a few more images I was able to capture during our shoot...

I love this one...

And this one...

Another favorite!

Thank you Katie, Terry, and Macie! Between the snow and the little 'break' I had to take in the middle of your session...I had a great time with all of you. ;) Ya'll are absolutely awesome!

NASHIF FAMILY SNEAK PEEK

2010-01-07T00:21:00.010-07:00

I was gonna wait until I finished going thru all the images from my session yesterday morning, but I couldn't...wait...any...longer. I had to show a few. Had to. This little family is just simply beautiful all the way around.

So here's just a quick little peek...

I will post more soon of this fabulous family.

Just look at this little beauty...

I know I said I haven't gone thru all the images yet, but I'm thinking this will be my favorite. I absolutely love it. Thank you Macie.

More to come. I promise. Hope ya'll don't mind. ;)

JUST A LITTLE...EARTHQUAKE

2010-01-05T12:22:00.006-07:00

It was about 1 a.m. and I had just turned in to go to bed. About 5 minutes later my bed started to shake and then I heard all my glasses and things downstairs rattle and shake. It lasted for probably only a matter of seconds. But felt more like a couple of minutes. I had felt a little earthquake once before in California a long time ago and can still remember the feeling. This time it was little stronger. I ain't gonna lie...I was kind of freaked out. My neighbors started waking up and making noises...I just couldn't sleep after that. So I decided to look it up and found the University of Utah's site for tracking earthquakes. (The University of Utah's Seismograph Stations.) And there it was, listed as the most recent earthquake at a magnitude of 2.9 at 1:08 a.m. right here by Lehi. It doesn't get any closer than that. Now I know it was only a 2.9, but after that, I don't ever want to know what a higher magnitude earthquake feels like.

I've decided I'm a hurricane girl and not an earthquake girl.

I took these 'snapshots' off the U of U's site:

That red square right above is 'my' earthquake. Pretty much right where it says, Lehi. (Oh, and those brown lines are not roads, but instead fault lines...the roads are the white lines.)

Here's a closer look...

If anybody likes to 'read' about the details of earthquakes, here ya go...

ALA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM

2010-01-04T23:38:00.008-07:00

I had to opportunity to shoot the ALA High School Varsity Basketball Team a month or so ago. It brought back memories for me of my high school basketball team photos...back in the day. ;) I love having those photos to look back on. To look back on those memories of teammates, friends, and coaches. I loved every minute of it.

I wanted to let the players and parents know that its not to late to order the team and individual shots of their boys. So if you haven't done so, there's still time. Just go to my website or feel free to email me at: ameesorensen@mac.com . My site has the team and individual images from the shoot for you to look at.

I also wanted to thank Chad, the Coach! Good luck this year! I've seen you coach and you do an excellent job with these boys.

LIVE IN THE MOMENT

2010-01-04T02:07:00.007-07:00

The New Year has begun. Resolutions have been started. Goals have been made. A new hope has been given. With each new year that starts, we hope it to be better and greater than the last. Some look at this time of year as a new beginning...a chance to start over. I, for one, would like to look at each day as a new beginning. A new start. A new day to start new goals and work on the ones I already have. I agree, a new year can get our brains thinking of more that we want to accomplish in life, but just think what we can accomplish if we try to improve our lives each and every day...by 'living' in the moment. Making each day count. For each day is a blessing given to us to improve our individual lives and enrich others. To work towards accomplishing our goals we have made for ourselves. Some big, some little, whatever they may be...they are our goals.

Live in the moment.

___________

And since a post is better with a photo, here is one of my beautiful niece, Emeree. Who loves to be called 'cute' or 'pretty girl'. I know this, because when I talk to her and flatter her with those words, her eyes light up as she smiles, all while batting those beautiful eyelashes at me. I love it.

THE FUN OF SLEDDING AND SNOWBOARDING

2009-12-26T21:26:00.049-07:00

My brother, Chris, and I decided to take his kids out sledding and snowboarding the day after Christmas. Well, we wanted to go Christmas day but it was a chilly 18 degrees outside! No way. So we convinced the kids to go 'tomorrow'. So they patiently waited and we decided to go in the morning...and yeah...it was a low 11 degrees. But it was so fun anyway. While Adam was making his jumps on his snowboard, Abby was sledding very cutely down the hill, and Eli was just plain a little dare devil.

Here are a few fun pics from our cold, fun morning...

Adam doin' a little trick...

There was a wipe out...or 2...or 3...

Eli lookin' like a pro!

Eli just had to go down head first...on his back! Crazy boy.

Yes people. I'm making a run at it!

And one more time...

I conquered the 'mountain'!! ;)

Yessss!

'THE' SEASON

2009-12-25T23:24:00.008-07:00

One of my favorite things of this wonderful season is the getting together with family and friends. I love the kindness, the gift giving, the endless amount of food, the fun, the Christmas carols, the Christmas trees, the lights, the wrapping of presents, and yes, waiting the arrival of Santa Claus...and most importantly, remembering that ONE birthday that we are celebrating. After all, it is He, Jesus, that we are remembering this season and I can't help but think of Him and the ultimate Gift that He as given to all of us. Every single one of us. He was born in such a humble manor and yet lived in a way that we all look up to. His example. His example...of teachings, of service, of selflessness, of kindness to all mankind, and most of all, sacrifice. His life was dedicated to others. To all of us. What a blessing and a Gift. The best Gift.

Merry Christmas...

"THE JOYEFUL JOURNEY"

2009-12-16T14:04:00.002-07:00

Remember these cute kids from my last post?!

Well, what I failed to mention was that their amazing mom, Joye, has a blog that is a must read. One of those blogs that you're gonna want to add to your list of daily blogs to read. Yeah. It's that good. Her blog is titled "The Joyeful Journey". You can check it out HERE. She and her family just have a natural, giving spirit about them that is just plain contagious. Her blog is dedicated to her family and to the One above...our Heavenly Father. She also has great ideas for the season (and not for the season). ;) She's very crafty, compassionate, spiritual, and just simply a beautiful person with a beautiful family. If I lived in New Orleans, I think I would be at her house all the time. I'm just sayin'. So Joye, I guess you're lucky I don't live close! But I will be back to visit... ;)

And I just love, love, love this shot of her daughter, Astair. I managed to get this shot of her while she was trying to grab my hand to go on our walk. How cute is that?! So we held hands and walked for a bit. Although, it was a little hard, because all I wanted to do was have my camera in hand and snap away at these beautiful kids, but I so enjoyed this moment. I like making friends on my shoots! ;)

Joye: Thanks again for your great hospitality and your great example on life...

THE DICHARRY FAMILY

2009-12-09T17:38:00.017-07:00

This family is seriously one of the funnest families. Ever. Yes, I said funnest! Because it's true. Mom and Dad...aka...Joye and Joel are absolutely the cutest. When Joel wasn't talking so highly of his wife, it was her turn to turn tell us how much she just loves her husband. They simply adore each other and it's quite obvious. And they so happen to have the cutest kids! Thaddeus is the cute 5 year old and Boston and Astair are the.. oh.. so.. adorable twins. And there's one on the way, who I know will be equally cute and adorable as his siblings.

Twins!! I love it! A few of these pictures kind of remind me of my twin brother and me when we were this age..

Thaddeus is telling me here that You can stop taking pictures of me now.. (He doesn't know me very well...yet.)

Seriously. How cute are they?!!

Thank you Dicharry family! Mary and I had so much fun with ya'll. And thanks for inviting us into your lovely home even though you were probably very tired of us chasing your awesome kids around. ;)

SYDNEY....IN NOLA

2009-12-02T12:13:00.009-07:00

When I was making plans to visit New Orleans with my friend Mary, I called my good friend Michelle to see if she knew anybody who would like to have a photo shoot with us. Well, Michelle delivered. She set us up with two awesome sessions. And Sydney here is one of them. She is the most adorable little girl with lots of spunk.

Isn't she just so cute?!....

Michelle also knew of this very cool abandoned old building (or what's left of an old building) outside the city. So what if we had to somewhat take down the fence that said 'do not enter'... It was worth breaking a little trespassing rule. I thought. This place was awesome with the best lighting. Ever.

When we first got there, Sydney was doing a lot of this...

(She was a little shy...in the beginning.)

But that only lasted a few seconds.. ;)

I saved this one for last...

Thanks Michelle, Lynelle, and Sydney!!

THE TE'O FAMILY

2009-11-29T19:49:00.013-07:00

Meet the Te'o's. This family is so awesome! I don't even know what else to say. They definitely know how to have fun. Well, let's just put it this way... When they weren't laughing at me, they were laughing at each other. The whole time. Some of them flew in from Hawaii for the week and I'm so glad they decided to do a family photo shoot. It was such a pleasure meeting all of you.

And they are definitely a beautiful family at that...

I love mom/grandma! She was smiles the whole time. I know where they all get their 'fun' side from...

Thank you Coach and Nicole and the rest of the family! I really enjoyed every single minute with ya'll. (And thanks for braving the cold for an hour or so..) ;)

THE BORLIK FAMILY

2009-11-24T22:58:00.011-07:00

This family can be summed up in one word: Beautiful! I absolutely love them. I've known Craig and Kacy for about 10 years and they are two of the most strong and amazing people I know. And their boys are soooo very cute and very, very active. I loved every minute of chasing them around. Loved it.

And I couldn't believe it when I actually got them to sit by me for about 45 seconds....straight. ;)

I love the feel of this one...

They have THE best backyard. Ever.

I love this image! ;)

I'm going to end with what could be my most favorite shot from the day!

Kacy and Craig: I really did have a blast with you and your boys! Thank you so much!

ON THE SIDELINE...

2009-11-17T10:20:00.004-07:00

So we all know I love football.

The game itself.

The cheering.

The yelling.

The excitement.

The hi-fives.

And being on the sideline. Especially for this team. I've become quite attached to some of the players. And some of their awesome, devoted moms. I've been a part of this team for 3 years now. And I love it! And I loved it when I got an email from a certain mom on the team sending me this picture. It seems to validate how much I love what I do. Blaze, #27, here just made an amazing catch and ran it in for a touchdown! Afterwards, he came over to me and tipped my hat. I turned around to find it was him, and I couldn't hold my excitement in. I love this kid. (I think I just may adopt him and count him as another nephew. Hope he doesn't mind.) So we shared a hi-five and I definitely praised him on a great play. Well...because, lets face it, it was! And I love that someone captured that moment so perfectly. I love the game. I love being on the sidelines.

(Yep. That's me with the purple LSU hat on backwards..) ;)

Thank you Terra! I absolutely love it!

PATRICK, LEMONS, & FOOTBALL

2009-11-16T13:48:00.010-07:00

Patrick has got to be one of the cutest little boys around! I love him like crazy! Not only because he's my nephew and the fact that he likes to hang out with his Aunt Amee, but he's VERY energetic and has a personality that could just make you want to kiss his cheeks off!

Here are a few fun shots I was able to capture of him while he was running around... Did I mention that he is one very energetic boy! ;) And Dad (Grandpa), don't be upset, we didn't pick all the lemons off your lemon tree! ;)

(I know these are green and look like limes, but after I tried one, and my lips puckered, I knew they were lemons! Trust me.)

And I'm gonna start off with my favorite...

(Just look at those gorgeous brown eyes!)

After the fun lemon picking, we had a wardrobe change! And got in the football mood!

(Grandpa, don't look...)

Love it! He's happy about his Saints being undefeated! Who Dat!

Oh yeah...Patrick says, GEAUX SAINTS!!

PICTURES OF ME...

2009-11-13T12:54:00.020-07:00

I'm back! I know, I've neglected the blog world for a little bit, but I'm back in full swing. I have so much to catch up on... I can't wait to share. Mary and I had so much fun in New Orleans, although I think she's a little upset with me for making her go to Cafe du Monde and Shortstop, for a po'boy, a few times while we were there. But I tried to explain to her that you have to leave your 'diet' at the airport when you come to NOLA! We 'locals' don't even know what that, 'diet', word means. I even taught her how to order her po'boy..."dressed". She's comin' around! ;) Love you Mary! Thanks for meeting me in this awesome city. We had so much fun with our sessions and with our photography conference. One of our sessions included a set of twins...boy / girl twins! And there's a few other cuties that I just love. Can't wait to share! But for now, your gonna have to settle for some photos of me that Mary took in The Quarter. One of our goals while down there, was to 'shoot' each other and it was a blast! Here's some fun shots for you...

(Don't ask me what I'm laughing at here....I think if I told you, Mary might kill me.) ;)

Thanks Mary!

PARTNERCON - NOLA

2009-11-08T20:41:00.003-07:00

Mary, my good friend and fellow photographer, called me one day and asked if I wanted to go to New Orleans to a photography conference with her. Ummm... hello?! Of course! It's all about photography for one, and it's in New Orleans! Bonus! How could I pass that up?! So we started making plans.

We decided to go a few days early and try and get some shooting done. With the help of family and friends, we got lined up with some awesome kids and families. The prior post of Mason was one of those fun shoots and there are lots more to come. I can't wait to share. In a way, I felt like Mary and I were the paparazzi! But we had so much fun shooting and teaching each other some new tricks. We also got to shoot each other...with our cameras....in the French Quarter. I'll post those soon as well. There were some late nights up till 3 a.m. and early 5 a.m. mornings, but all in all, definitely worth it!

Mary is from Raleigh, North Carolina and has one of THE best southern accents. Oh and she's a Pepsi drinker! ;) And believe it or not, I think she can out drink me! Yeah, I know. Impossible you may think. But, it's true. On the first day of conference, we had lunch and we both turned to each other on our way to our next session and said I need a Pepsi! So I went and saved us a seat and Mary went on the hunt. No luck. But Danny, with Pictage, knew what we were in need of. He asked where we were and he then went across the street to go get us Pepsi. How cool is that!? And what's even cooler is that he found us the very next day around the same time and brought us another one!! He made us feel like royalty. Seriously. Thank you Danny!!

Mary = Diet Pepsi

Amee = Pepsi