Avery James Photography

Avery James Photography

Sunday, January 16, 2011

I Heart Faces - Photography Challenge - Winter Wonderland

This week's challenge at I Heart Faces is "Winter Wonderland"....considering I live in Southern California where it's been around 80' the last few days....it's safe to say that I don't have a typical winter scene to photograph in.

I did just go to Zion National Park in Utah last weekend though, and there was definitely a snowy, wintery scene there...so I have a few pics to choose from with those pics, but I didn't plan on entering any contests with them, just wanted some memories - so my pics are nothing outstanding....but cute all the same.  I don't have any intentions of winning this round with this pic, but I figured I'd enter and share anyways just for fun!  :) :)

Leave me a link to your blog entry so I can check out your pics too!! :)

 







Friday, January 14, 2011

Picture A Day - January 14, 2010

Yet another picture of my adorable little boy.  It sure is hard sometimes to get him to take a picture for me, but when he does - his smiles just light up my day.  I think this one is going to make it to my living room wall. :) :)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Letter Art by Avery James Photography

"JOSIAH"


Looking for that perfect gift for someone?  I don't know about you, but I absolutely LOVE personalized items.  I'm a sucker for anything that you stick my kid's name on...you'll always find me browsing those little souvenir racks for the name mugs, keychains, ornaments, necklaces, etc.  Both of my kids have less common names (Avery and Caydan), and Caydan's especially is spelled uniquely so even if I find the name, it's not spelled like his.


Well this item is perfect, because I can make it say whatever you want it to! :)

Think baby shower gifts, bridal shower gifts, anniversary gifts, birthday gifts, and don't forget to get one for yourself too!  Get your last name for your family room, get your kid's names for their bedrooms, you can even get one for your pet! 


"CAMERON"


How much does this all cost you say?  Only $30.00 (plus $5.00 shipping cost) :)

Each photo is printed on e-surface paper with a lustre coating.

Up to 5 letters will be printed on a 5x15 sheet
6-9 letters will be printed on a 5x30 sheet

Price includes the print only, extra charges apply if you would like it mounted on a matboard or foam, please email me for prices.  You can purchase a frame on your own, or I can have it mounted and/or framed and sent to you ready to hang if you prefer.  Prices start around $30.00 for 5x15 sizes and $70.00 for 5x30 sizes in addition to the print (you can find frames on your own for less though, I suggest searching online for prices).

If you'd like to order your own personalized letter art, email me at:

crystal@averyjamesphotography.com

Just let me know what you want it to say.  I can have the print ready to order within a day if I have all the letters.  Express shipping is available if needed for an additional cost.

"DYLAN"

Monday, January 10, 2011

Bucket List - Traveling

Do you have a bucket list?  Did you see the movie The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman?  If not, you should check it out because I think it's important for everyone to have some form of a bucket list....whether it just be a goal inside your head, a list of ideas and dreams written in your journal, or a well thought out, realistic, set of 'wants' in yours life.

For those who don't know what a bucket list is, it's basically a list of things you want to do before you die.  Sky diving, asking someone on a date, visiting Disneyworld, sailing around the world, or even something as simple as trying a strange food.  Then the intent is to make every effort to check off all of the things on your list sometime in your lifetime.

A few years back, I actually made a bucket list as I was on a flight...it was a perfect moment for me to do it since I'm terrified of flying,  and focusing on all the things I wanted to do with my life was helpful in keeping my mind off of the possibility of death arriving on the airplane (yes, I'm seriously terrified...not just a little).  I'm not really sure whatever happened with that list, but I'm sure it's in my house somewhere....not helpful though since I don't remember what was on it, so eventually I'll have to make another one.

BUT - I did decide to do a short version of my bucket list here....one thing that I would love to do before I die is to visit every U.S. state there is at least once.  Ideally I'd like to stay in each of them and explore the state and all it has to offer, but for now I'm counting ones that I've just driven through as well, but I'm going to note the difference.

I'll come back to this post and update it as I visit more states, and I'll link back to it in the future as well. :) 

Below is my list - I'd love to see you all post your own bucket list, or portion of one....link it back here if you do so I can check it out!!!  :)

Crystal's Traveling Bucket List
GOAL: Visit every U.S. State at least once
PROGRESS: States visited are outlined below

1. California (obviously, cause I live here)
2. Nevada (a second home to me practically)
3. Pennsylvania (went to college here)
4. Arizona
5. Florida (aiming to go again this November!)
6. New York
7. Massachusetts
8. Colorado
9. Utah (my most recent visit just this past weekend)

The rest of these were more of a drive-thru on the way to my destination, although I did stay overnight and explore a bit in a few of these states
10. West Virginia
11. Virginia
12. North Carolina
13. South Carolina (stayed and explored a bit)
14. Georgia
15. Ohio
16. Indiana (explored a bit)
17. llinois
18. Missouri
19. Oklahoma (explored a bit)
20. Texas (stayed overnight and explored a bit)
21. New Mexico
22. Maine (did a photoshoot here and explored a bit)
23. New Hampshire (just a quick drive through)

So it looks like I'm just about halfway through the states...not bad for being 29.5 yrs old (I turn 30 in June!).  I'd like to expand on my quick trip locations though and actually do a little more exploring in those states.  My next road trip though is likely going to be driving up the West Coast from California, and I think going up to Seattle and then back down.  Really looking forward to that one!!  :) :)

And just so I can leave this post with a picture - I took this photo yesterday at the Zion National Park in Utah - I hiked up this trail with my son and his father - a little scary cause it was really icy and slippery, but there were railings on the scariest parts...and I never would have taken my son anywhere that I wasn't confident about the safety of it or my ability to get him through it safely, although it was rated "Moderate" on the trail scale.  My son is fairly well behaved though and isn't the type to run off or anything like that...his hand was firmly attached to mine the entire hike. :)

I'll have to post more about this glorious hike though in another dedicated post, cause it was AMAZING.  Below is the view we received once we reached the top! :)

I Heart Faces - Photography Challenge - Smile

I'd really love to try and enter the I Heart Faces photo contests more often...perhaps this year I will. :) :)

So you may remember my last (and only entry so far) to I Heart Faces, it was their Silhouette challenge that I entered here.  And then you may remember my recent post when I found out that my photo was one of the 8 favorites (posted here), which resulted in my getting that nifty button you may have seen on my sidebar. :) :)

Well this week's contest's theme is "Smile"...and immediately this picture of my cousin's baby (that makes him my second cousin once removed or something crazy sounding like that, right??) came to mind....I took this about a month ago and he was about 3 months old then....isn't he just absolutely ADORABLE???  This picture definitely makes me smile at his huge smile, therefore I'm entering it in this week's contest. :)

Wish me luck! :) :)







Friday, January 7, 2011

Late night post - Picture a Day - flowers at the Huntington

I've been posting lots of pics on my Facebook page (so if you're not a fan already, you should be because I post there way more than anywhere else!), and as I'd like this new year to result in lots more blog posts for me, I'm posting this one here at 10:56pm PST...so I'm getting it in before the day's end :)....even though I know I won't post the rest of the weekend.....I'm going to St. George, Utah tomorrow morning.....it'll be my first time setting foot in the state of Utah. :) :)

Well this pic below was one I took on an excursion to the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, CA with my bestie, Jen from Haute Whimsy, and my son.  Lots of fun things to look at there, we didn't even get to see everything!!  We'll definitely be taking a return trip there in the future. :) :)


Have a great weekend everyone!!

Liz and Family

I photographed this adorable family towards the end of the summer...you may recognize their silhouette picture as I've posted it a couple of times on this blog.  Now you can see the rest of their photos as well. :)

They were such an easy-going and relaxed family, I just love working with people who are so go-with-the-flow....they put a lot of trust in the photographer and the final pictures end up looking so much more natural because they're not so worried about everything being perfect.  It's a lot of fun for me to do these types of shoots. :) :)

On top of it all, these two brothers were simply ADORABLE...very good kids and full of energy and smiles.  Love them. :) :)

Enjoy the pics!