Amandalynn Jones: Photographer

See You in Dallas!

Amandalynn — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:03 +0000

I Heart Faces is a Photography Website for Women that hosts popular monthly photo challenges inspired by faces. If you’re a blog reader here on my site you’ll have seen several of my entries for challenges over the last several years – the challenges are a lot of fun, and the submissions are always inspirational. I Heart Faces also posts valuable photography tips, tutorials, and giveaways. It has become more than just a website, but a community that many women depend on for friendship, advice and inspiration.

I have had the pleasure of being one of the IHF Forum moderators for the past two years and I am so thrilled to be able to watch so many photographers grow and explore together in a supportive community.

This October, I Heart Faces is hosting a one of a kind conference for women who love photography(sorry guys, this one is just for the ladies!). It will be a day to discuss how we can “Dream Big” by growing both professionally and personally through our creativity and enjoying our photography to it’s fullest.

As one of the Teaching Photographers I will be working with Beginners learning how to use their cameras and take better photos.
Advanced photographers will have their choice of inspiring photography or small business sessions to take their work to the next level.

No matter which track you choose you’ll leave with useful knowledge to apply to your business, learn more about your camera, be moved to tears by inspirational speakers(ahem, Sue Bryce! Kelle Hampton! to name just a few), walk away feeling more confident, meet new contacts and friends. It will be a fun filled day of inspiration, networking and learning.

Not to mention, you’ll get to hang out with me!

Registration opens TODAY and you’ll save $100 if you register before June 1st. Better step on it, I imagine these spots are going to get snapped up quickly!

Lulu | Madison WI Portrait Photographer

Amandalynn — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 05:53:16 +0000

I had a session this week with a lovely model, whom I just love to work with. Not to mention stunning. I could go on and on about how beautiful this gal is, but I’ll let the photos speak for themselves…

Spring Beauties | Madison WI Photographer

Amandalynn — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:07:32 +0000

Madison is having an incredibly early, wonderfully beautiful Spring. In some ways I feel a sense of doom that we’ll end up paying for it later, it’s Wisconsin afterall; sometimes it snows in May. However I’d like to think that this is actually mother nature’s way of making up for the dreary Spring we had last year.

Sunday my friend Althea and I met up at the UW Arboretum and had a little photo party, taking snaps strolling through the Longenecker Garden and enjoying the new blooms that are popping out everywhere. It was a stunning afternoon.

Spring! | Madison WI Childrens Photographer

Amandalynn — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:16:49 +0000

I’m sitting here this March evening with the doors and windows open and fans blowing in a vain attempt to cool off both levels of our home. Temperatures in Madison today were in the 80′s, which is staggeringly high for this time of year. Still, I can’t say that’s a complaint.

Seriously Madisonians, how gorgeous was it out there today?! I was enjoying it so much that I got inspired. D and I hopped in the Subaru after he got home from school and headed out for a mini shoot…

My little guy had his golden birthday last week and turned 7 on me. It’s not that it’s been so fast… or that I can’t believe how quick he’s grown… in many ways it seems like I’ve been his mom for what amounts to my whole life. I’m just so excited to see him growing into his own person. He’s not a baby anymore .

Contemporary Glamour Photography | Madison WI

Amandalynn — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:25:55 +0000

Here are a few more images from my shoot with Christy last week inspired by Sue Bryce, it was a lot of fun and she makes a stunning model don’t you think?

I love these images so much – not only because Christy is gorgeous, and not only because of the beautiful natural light that we utilized in Christy’s fabulous studio, but because they’re real images of a real, beautiful woman. Christy works multiple jobs AND juggles kids and family. Whew! You go woman!

I’m looking to do more of these sessions in the next month and I’m looking for “models”. Real women; those hard working, anything-but-ordinary gals who all ~~need~~ deserve to feel a little bit glamorous every once in a while.

Could you use a little glamour? Know someone who would LOVE this? In the Madison area or willing to travel here? I’m accepting a limited number of sessions, completely complimentary during the month of April, as I develop my signature style in this new portrait category. For more info you can contact me at photos@amandalynnjones.com

Beautiful Black & White | IHF Challenge | Madison WI Photographer

Amandalynn — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:49:27 +0000

Last weekend I sat entranced as I watched Sue Bryce on CreativeLive. Like many others I have been incredibly inspired to revisit the way I shoot portraits, relate to my clients, and how I want to grow as an artist. Tuesday I set up a test shoot with another area photographer and this was the result. I hope this is the first of many of these kinds of shoots.

Want to see more beautiful B&W photos? Check out IHF’s other entries this week!

Kisses! | IHF Challenge

Amandalynn — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:08:11 +0000

Dmitri and my childhood pet, Spirit. Spirit still lives with my parents and we only get to see her 3 or 4 times a year but she and Dmitri have developed a very sweet bond that’s very dear to me.

More sweet hug & kiss photos on:

Snow(less) Days | Madison WI Photographer

Amandalynn — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:41:42 +0000

The weather this winter has been shockingly mild. No real snow to speak of… although we did have some flurries and colder days in January it was quickly diminished by daytime temperatures that have been steadily in the high 30′s and upper 40′s. February in Madison doesn’t feel quite the same when you can still see the grass. Several friends reported seeing robins and cardinals out already, sure signs of spring in Wisconsin have already started showing up when we’ve barely entered what should be the middle of winter

I for one, can’t really complain. The mild weather has allowed me to get in some client shoots outdoors (If you’ve been thinking about doing a session get in touch! It’s seriously wonderful photography weather and besides you could also get a free 11×14 mounted print!) and daily family excursions to enjoy the outdoors. I’m a “sweater weather” kind of person, 40′s & 50′s are my cup of tea. To me this funny weather feels like a continuation of fall, which is one of my favorite seasons.

There is part of me that misses a traditional winter though. Watching snow fall… sledding & skiing… photographing snowscapes… I hope that we get a little bit of the fluffy white stuff yet this season, it would be a shame to have to do without for a whole ‘nother year.

Photos Taken At: University of Wisconsin Arboretum
Canon 5DMkII, Canon 70-200mm f/4L

Rosemary & Garlic Infused Butter

Amandalynn — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:35:31 +0000

I started making my own butter a while ago; I really work hard to buy from local vendors and when I can’t do that I at least try to buy products that were made in state, so the fact that I couldn’t walk into my neighborhood grocery store and buy butter that was actually made in Wisconsin(the Dairy State for crying out loud!) just annoyed me. Rather than running myself ragged between stores on grocery day, I opted to cut out the middle man and do it myself. Turns out, churning your own butter is really not that difficult, and the result is WAY better than anything I’ve even bought in a store.

And then, I was photographing this incredible wedding this past summer that had some wonderful flavored butters and it got my gears spinning. Garlic & Rosemary infused butter started coming out of my kitchen shortly there after and I’m really quite pleased with myself about it, simple though it may be.

Fresh Homemade Butter:
Yield Approx. 1 Cup butter and 1 Cup buttermilk.

1 Pint Heavy Whipping Cream (from a Wisconsin farm!)
Salt, to taste(optional)

Pour the cream into a food processor and turn it on for about 5 minutes. The cream will go through a few different phases, first turning into whipped cream, then becoming curdled looking, and finally the butter solid will completely separate from the liquids. You’re done when a round ball of butter forms in the processor. Usually around 5 minutes. If you want to add salt, I’d do so around the 3 minute mark, otherwise it may not incorporate smoothly once the solids start to form.

Strain the buttermilk off of the butter with a cheesecloth or clean towel, and pat your butter dry (save the buttermilk for pancakes, you won’t be sorry!). Place butter on waxed paper and roll into a neat package for storage.

Rosemary & Garlic Infused Butter:

1 Cup Butter
1 Garlic Clove, minced
2 Springs of Rosemary, loosely chopped
Salt, to taste(optional)

Warm the butter slowly in a saucepan over a low burner and throw in the garlic, rosemary, and salt(since I hadn’t salted my butter when I made it, I put a couple of cranks on my salt grinder at this point, had I started with salted butter I wouldn’t have bothered) . Once the butter is completely melted I turn off the heat and let the ingredients sit together until the butter starts to cool. Pour the butter through a fine strainer to extract the bits of garlic and rosemary, and place in the fridge to chill.

Once the butter returns to it’s solid state you can bring it back up to room temperature again and serve with fresh bread, or wrap in waxed paper for later use.

Alternatively you could skip the cooling stage and used the butter in it’s melted state over garlic bread. Yum!

Jacob | Madison WI Headshot Photographer

Amandalynn — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:00:20 +0000

Last weekend I did a shoot with a young up and coming actor, Jacob. When he first contacted me for headshots we very quickly settled on doing something outside given the unseasonably nice weather. It’s a rare occasion in Wisconsin that you can do an hour shoot outside in February without coats and hats, so I was really excited to shoot jacket-free in the almost “warm” 41 degree weather. Turns out shooting portraits outside in February is a pretty perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Fast forward to yesterday evening and I had a chance to see Jacob (among other talented actors) in the preview performance of “A CENTURY OF PROMISE” in the Mitby Theater at Madison College. For anyone in the Madison area looking for something entertaining to do this weekend(February 10th-12th), it’s a wonderful show with excellent notes of history, humor, and storytelling. Check it out here.

Thank you Jacob for being an excellent subject, break a leg at those auditions!