Amelia M. | Portraits | Ames Portrait Photographer

fall days call quietly
in windblown whispers
to come and play
before snow covers her paths
in a heavy blanket of white.

let's enjoy fall....together!

fall is here.

somehow, she snuck in through the open window while summer danced out the door on a warm breeze. and autumn is already seizing her opportunities to decorate the browning, crunchy grass with even crunchier leaves and the skies with silhouettes of birds flying southward each evening.

autumn is full of both sugar and spice, exemplified in every pumpkin spice latte bought while wearing your warmest cardigan. she brings hours of family fun and bonding—regardless if you spend it raking leaves, picking apples for homemade cider, or cheering on your latest rookie football star on friday nights.

this beautiful season manifests herself in every nook & cranny of your life, but she doesn't stay for near as long as you think she will. 

that's why I'm helping you enjoy the gorgeous fall weather, your family & your favorite sweater with fall family mini-sessions! they're the perfect way to spend some time together and get a head start on a family photo for that christmas card. (you know they always sneak up on you!) 

details are below—please shoot me an email or a phone call if you are interested in grabbing a spot! let's take some time, spending it outside in the glorious beauty of fall, with the ones you love the most, while this season lasts:)

First Friday Favorites | October

October kinda snuck up on me (and I almsot forgot to do this post, thanks to it starting on a Monday!) buut I didn't. Whew! ;) So glad I didn't, because it's one of my very favorite months (lots of dear people's birthdays...hi mom!) and full of some of my favorite activities: high school homecoming, trips to the pumpkin patch, and friends coming back home on fall break! But enough chatter, here are 5 of my favorite October things!

1. Bonfires! We have the perfect backyard for throwing fall parties, and it's definitely a highlight of my fall to set up, make up some hot cider, and invite a crowd of friends over for a cool marshmallow roasting under the autumnal country stars. 2. Changing leaves. Who doesn't love that, though? :) 3. Candy Corn! I hear a lot of people don't like one of my favorite fall candies. Doesn't bother me, though—that way there is more for me! 4. Sweaters..in particular, this J.Crew one. Especially when there is a good fall sale going...I'm helpless, what can I say? 5. MAIN EVENT! By far my favorite activity this month has to offer! Only two weeks, and I'll be squealing and hugging people like a crazed One Direction fan. Times a million. (That's for you, Jess! ;)

That's it for today! If you have a minute, why not comment below & tell me what you're looking forward to this month? I'd love to get to know my readers better! :)

Love Always,

Amelia Renee:)

Clarissa & Sara | best friends session

clarissa and sara are practically twins. seriously! they were born one day apart from each other, both have blonde hair, and share a love of books, music, and star wars. ;) they've been best friends since they were little bitty things...and so we decided it was time to get some fun photos of the two of them before iowa decides to grace us with a cold blanket of snow!










they bought some fun bling and had to show it off!






love always,
amelia renee:)

adyson | 5 months

this post is long, long overdue! if you can't tell by the lovely yellow & green tones from the below photos, they were taken quite a while ago. ;)
miss adyson's mama wanted to get some photos taken of her before she got too much older, so we went out early on a saturday and had some fun watching the early morning sun come up and playing in the grass. by the end of our session, however, little miss had decided she didn't want any more photos...and would look away from me, no matter how we positioned her & her mom! she's a smart little girl for sure! (and a cutie! no doubt about that one.) :)







love always,
amelia renee:)

do you like pie? | personal

I'm sitting at my desk, sipping on hot tea while my ears are serenaded by the Michael Buble Pandora station, and I'm smelling pumpkin. Which happens to be my favorite pie, come holiday season!

What I haven't mentioned to many people is that I am planning on going to Haiti with my church in February. They sent a team last February, and since that (& seeing photos from 2 other young photographers who have gone to Haiti in the past year), I've been praying for the opportunity to go! I'm trusting that God will provide financially for me to be able to go & serve the Haitian people. There will be 3 teams, and I'm not sure what one I'll be put on (or what I'll be doing.) What I do know is that I'll be the team "journalist"--taking lots of photos and writing down lots of stories.

The other day, the idea came to me that...I can make pies! And people like pies, especially during the holidays! So, if you're interested in supporting my trip to Haiti & live in the Cedar Valley, I'd LOVE to bake you a pie or two! The three types I'll be preparing are apple, cherry, and of course pumpkin!:)

Other ways to support me, if you don't live here locally or don't like pie, would of course be just plain financial support, booking a family session before Christmas (more on that soon!), and prayer. Prayer support is huge, both prior & during my trip. I'd be humbled & blessed if you'd remember me and the rest of our team in your prayers.

thank you all so much!

love always,

amelia renee:)

post-october thoughts | personal

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it?

-Anne Shirley

I meant to write and blog this post a while ago. While it was actually still October, for one thing. But, for whatever reason, this October flew by! I really don't know what happened to it! It has been one of the craziest, busiest months of my life--seriously. It's almost surreal to look back in my planner for last month and see everything I've done! I feel so wonderfully accomplished, I must say. :)

I absolutely adore fall (somewhat like Miss Shirley;)! And so far this fall has not disappointed! It's been wonderfully warm here, which has been perfect for lots of photo sessions, learning how to shoot film for school, a field trip to Omaha, a spontaneous shopping trip, complete with Chick-fil-a!, a few bonfires, and just enjoying the lovely colors on the trees, pumpkins on doorsteps, hot apple cider, & pumpkin candles!

October is one of my most favorite months, hands down. (I probably say that about every month. Welllll, not quite. But I absolutely love October though December. Probably my favorite time of the year! Although as I've grown older, I'm growing more partial to summer...probably because it doesn't involve driving in the snow...hah!)

so, here are some photos of a few memories I want to remember from this October! :)

What is your favorite memory of this past month?

field trip to Omaha & changing leaves.

3 of my Nav girlfriends got baptized!


visited the World's Largest Frying Pan!

bonfire with old friends. :)



and of course, Main Event! (more on that another time.)Happy first day of November!
love always,amelia renee:)

Hannah | Senior Portraits | Cedar Falls, IA Senior Portrait Photographer

I'm running out of time.This weekend is the conference for midwest Navigator students--held down in Kansas City. 1000+ college students, learning about & praising Jesus...allll weekend! It's my kind of good time. ;) THis is my first year going. It used to be hosted here in Cedar Falls, and my family would host students for dinner on Saturday night, & I couldn't wait to be one of those students! Well, last year it didn't work for me to go, & I was bummed. BUT THIS YEAR IS NOT LAST YEAR! So, I'm getting on a bus at 1:30 & heading out of town by 2! Oh, and did I mention that I still have to pack? That's where the "running out of time" comes into this story.So.Here is my Hannah (& the horse she rides! and Rosie the dog!). Hannah is wonderful. And tall. And smile-y! And an absolute blast. She's like a younger--can't say little!--sister to me, and we spent an entire afternoon taking photos. Be sure to check out that Iowa fall. Mmmmmmm it's good stuff.













Hannah-we did get that serious one! YES! :)




I reeeeeally love that one above:)






love always,amelia renee:)