Amelia Strauss Photography Blog » Amelia Strauss >> Southern California Editorial Photographer / Destination Wedding Photographer

Okay kids - here is my complete list of 101 things I want to do in the next 1001 days! I will be referring back to this list as I work on checking things off. DISCLAIMER: These items are listed in no particular order!

Start Date: January 30, 2009
End Date: October 29, 2011

1. Update and fully customize my blog.
2. Visit my friend Hadden and her husband in NYC.
3. Update my website.
4. Finish the studio renovation.
5. Take Gracie to enroll in and complete an obedience class.
6. Make dinner for my husband every night for an entire week.
7. Read three books to benefit my business.
8. Run a half-marathon.
9. Learn to brew my own beer alongside the Back-Door Brewery.
10. Be a guest at a wedding.
11. Buy a house in Charleston, SC.
12. Complete and execute the Alpha Kappa Camera plans.
13. Plant flowers in my flowers boxes and keep them alive for an entire season.
14. Attend ‘The Image is Found’ workshop with my friend Cristi.
15. Fulfill all of my commitments to my volunteer charity organizations.
16. Start sending out anniversary cards to past clients.
17. Blog every day for an entire month.
18. Second-shoot for fun with three local photographers.
19. Shoot a wedding on another continent.
20. Get my friend Ben to compose a song for my website.
21. Learn how to change a flat tire.
22. Surprise my husband with a crazy fun adventure trip.
23. Take a dance class.
24. Do some first-year sessions for Miller Fields.
25. Learn to play poker.
26. Go to Symphony In The Park.
27. See Criss Angel live.
28. Take a vacation with my friend Lucy and our mothers.
29. Do a crazy high-fashion vintage shoot with some of my friends.
30. Attend a OneLight Workshop.
31. Go white water rafting.
32. Come up with a killer playlist for client meetings.
33. Photograph Gracie and all the puppies!
34. Get to know my neighbors better.
35. Learn to whistle.
36. Explore the nooks and crannies of Central Alabama on scout days.
37. Take a fun trip with my mom to make up for Memphis.
38. Network with other photographers by linking Facebook and Twitter to my blog.
39. Join Twitter.
40. Shoot a Bridal Couture Trash The Dress session in a body of water.
41. Take a defensive driving class…for fun.
42. Document the locations of my personal history.
43. Master my own texture technique.
44. Do a “Top Five” blog post.
45. Read the entire Bible in a year.
46. Do a portrait session with our friends, The Giffens.
47. Make a floral arrangement by myself.
48. Beat my husband at an Xbox game.
49. Go to Lebowski Fest.
50. Get a cake from Duff at Ace of Cakes.
51. Learn to cut grass.
52. Purchase an Abe Morrell print.
53. Go to San Diego.
54. Win a WPJA award.
55. Create a studio manual.
56. Go to Sips-N-Strokes.
57. Hit up another Panic Show.
58. Host a “Lost” Party at my house.
59. Take pictures of my friend Jasika Nicole.
60. Go to Dubrovnik on my 5 year anniversary.
61. Start sending out business holiday cards.
62. Go back to New Orleans…
63. Take one of Ruthie’s workout classes.
64. Undertake a video project to market the studio.
65. See The Boston Pops.
66. Go on a missions trip through my church.
67. Get a new laptop.
68. Complete the Man Cave.
69. Cut down my own Christmas Tree at a Christmas Tree Farm.
70. Coin my own term and patent it…for fun.
71. Take a pottery class.
72. Have my brother-in-law design a house for us.
73. Find and buy the bow earrings that I have been looking for for three years.
74. Take my sister-in-law on a fun trip, just the two of us.
75. Visit my brother in Marion.
76. Host a dinner party for my bible study.
77. Shoot a wedding for free - which would be chosen through a selection process.
78. Organize the office production area and client files.
79. Have a professional portrait session of me and my husband in Fenway Park.
80. Sell “Changing Shoes” to the Citadel bookstore.
81. Convince Anna Maner to hang out with me for an entire weekend.
82. Second-shoot for my childhood friend Kerie Cleveland.
83. Meet Bill Simmons of ESPN.
84. Paint my living room and back bedroom.
85. Go to a ‘Journey’ concert with Lucy.
86. Donate photographic services to Lifeline Childrens’ Services.
87. Donate photographic services to Big Oak Ranch.
88. Finish my Father’s Christmas present from two years ago.
89. Take formal portraits of my Grandmother Josie.
90. Do a portrait of Lucy for her facebook profile picture.
91. Have my quiet time every single day for six weeks.
92. Design new client packets.
93. Have a lighting workshop with my photographer friends in town.
94. Have an open house party for the studio.
95. Watch the Alabama Crimson Tide win the National Championship.
96. Take shots of my Father’s and his friends’ planes…to feed the aviation addictions.
97. Hire an intern.
98. Order all new sample albums.
99. Get Heidi to answer the phone when I call her…just once!
100. Get new headshots of myself for my website and blog.
101. Learn to grill.

Meet Baby Miller! This little guy belongs to my good friends Mary Beth and Matt, and it was such an honor for me to do a newborn shoot of their first child. Miller is a wonderful addition to this awesome family!

I loved spending the afternoon with them and look forward to great times together in the future. Here are a few of my favorite shots…

I love the intimacy of this image…

LOVE this one…inspired by an image by the awesome Jessica Claire…

 
The emotion here makes me happy :)

And a behind-the-scenes shot! Kelly Merrill second-shot this session with me - super cool girl and new photographer in Birmingham. She just moved to town three weeks ago! Here is Kelly at work…

• Go to Symphony In The Park.

• See Criss Angel live.

• Take a vacation with my friend Lucy and our mothers.

• Do a crazy high-fashion vintage shoot with some of my friends.

• Attend a OneLight Workshop.

• Go white water rafting.

• Come up with a killer playlist for client meetings.

• Photograph Gracie and all the puppies!

• Get to know my neighbors better.

• Learn to whistle.

• Explore the nooks and crannies of Central Alabama on scout days.

• Take a fun trip with my mom to make up for Memphis.

• Network with other photographers by linking Facebook and Twitter to my blog.

• Join Twitter.

• Shoot a Bridal Couture Trash The Dress session in a body of water.

• Take a defensive driving class…for fun.

• Document the locations of my personal history.

• Master my own texture technique.

• Do a “Top Five” blog post.

• Read the entire Bible in a year.

• Do a portrait session with our friends, The Giffens.

• Make a floral arrangement by myself.

• Beat my husband at an Xbox game.

• Go to Lebowski Fest.

• Get a cake from Duff at Ace of Cakes.

• Learn to cut grass.

As promised, more gorgeous gowns at the fabulous Ivory & White! Here are a few more favorites…

“Gail” by Junko Yoshioka.

“The Lighthouse” by Lela Rose - I adore this!

I just love the detail on this gown!

The train on this gown is to die for! “Danielle” by Junko Yoshioka.

Again with an awesome train…”Michelle” by Junko Yoshioka.

This is such a sweet accessory…

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, seeing these gowns and accessories for yourself is worth more than I could ever say! Tell Brooke and Lauren that I said hello :)

• Purchase an Abe Morrell print.

• Go to San Diego.

• Win a WPJA award.

• Create a studio manual.

• Go to Sips-N-Strokes.

• Rock out another Panic Show.

• Host a “Lost” Party at my house.

• Take pictures of my friend Jasika Nicole.

• Go to Dubrovnik on my 5 year anniversary.

• Start sending out business holiday cards.

• Go back to New Orleans…

• Take one of Ruthie’s workout classes.

• Undertake a video project to market the studio.

• See The Boston Pops.

• Go on a missions trip through my church.

• Get a new laptop.

• Complete the Man Cave.

• Cut down my own Christmas Tree at a Christmas Tree Farm.

• Coin my own term and patent it…for fun.

• Take a pottery class.

• Have my brother-in-law design a house for us.

• Find and buy the bow earrings that I have been looking for for three years.

• Take my sister-in-law on a fun trip, just the two of us.

• Visit my brother in Marion.

• Host a dinner party for my bible study.

Introducing Ivory & White! This couture bridal boutique opened this past fall in Crestline Village in Mountain Brook, Alabama. Owner Brooke Mason has truly outdone herself, bringing in some of the most sought after lines in the market. Ladies, these gowns are unbelievable! Even if you’re not engaged or making a debut, the dresses in Ivory & White are worth a trip to the boutique. I literally wanted to try on every single gown in the showroom. Brooke and Lauren work with each client individually, and their personal touches are simply fabulous. I definitely plan to post some more gown shots next week, but for now, here are a few of my faves…

“Gail” by Junko Yoshioka

“Celia” by Elizabeth Fillmore - I LOVE this!

“Eden” by Elizabeth Fillmore

The Showroom is great, so open and fresh…

I love the clean lines and light of this gown display!

The gorgeous accessories are on display with the couture fashion shows of the store’s lines…

And how great are the dressing rooms? Very important when looking for that perfect fit :)

I’m so excited that Birmingham has such a great new boutique! Ivory & White is a beautiful shop with beautiful gowns…and you have to go check it out!

• Shoot a wedding for free - which would be chosen through a selection process.

• Organize the office production area and client files.

• Have a professional portrait session of me and my husband in Fenway Park.

• Sell “Changing Shoes” to the Citadel bookstore.

• Convince Anna Maner to hang out with me for an entire weekend.

• Second-shoot for my childhood friend Kerie Cleveland.

• Meet Bill Simmons of ESPN.

• Paint my living room and back bedroom.

• Go to a ‘Journey’ concert with Lucy.

• Donate photographic services to Lifeline Childrens’ Services.

• Donate photographic services to Big Oak Ranch.

• Finish my Father’s Christmas present from two years ago.

• Take formal portraits of my Grandmother Josie.

• Do a portrait of Lucy for her facebook profile picture.

• Have my quiet time every single day for six weeks.

• Design new client packets.

• Have a lighting workshop with my photographer friends in town.

• Have an open house party for the studio.

• Watch the Alabama Crimson Tide win the National Championship.

• Take shots of my Father’s and his friends’ planes…to feed the aviation addictions.

• Hire an intern.

• Order all new sample albums.

• Get Heidi to answer the phone when I call her…just once!

• Get new headshots of myself for my website and blog.

• Learn to grill.

Okay, I know, how boring is a photography blog without pictures? I apologize for the lack of fun blogging lately. On the upside, I have so many backlogged sessions and weddings stored up to post, that there will be an onslaught of images to view very soon. As soon as I make it back into the studio I’ll start posting! I can’t wait to share everything I’ve been shooting with y’all :)

• Finish the studio renovation.

• Update my website.

• Update and fully customize my blog.

• Take Gracie to enroll in and complete an obedience class.

• Make dinner for my husband every night for an entire week.

• Read three books to benefit my business.

• Visit my friend Hadden and her husband in NYC.

• Run a half-marathon.

• Learn to brew my own beer alongside the Back-Door Brewery.

• Be a guest at a wedding.

• Buy a house in Charleston, SC.

• Complete and execute the AKC plans.

• Plant flowers in my flowers boxes and keep them alive for an entire season.

• Attend ‘The Image is Found’ workshop with my friend Cristi.

• Fulfill all of my commitments to my volunteer charity organizations.

• Start sending out anniversary cards to past clients.

• Blog every day for an entire month.

• Second-shoot for fun with three local photographers.

• Shoot a wedding on another continent.

• Get my friend Ben to compose a song for my website.

• Learn how to change a flat tire.

• Surprise my husband with a crazy fun adventure trip.

• Take a dance class.

• Rock out some awesome first-year sessions for Miller Fields.

• Learn to play poker.

My 101 in 1001 is swiftly coming soon! This will be a list of 101 things that I’m planning to do in the next 1001 days. I’m going to be releasing the list in a four part series, and then summarizing it all at the end. I’ll check off and blog each accomplished goal as it comes to pass. WAY better than a new year resolution, right?