My Month "Off" is up...- Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

So I kind of took the month of January off, although that never really happens does it? I mean, taking a month off...when you have two kids (sick a lot of the time too), a house (with painting and other fix it projects), a home office and a studio, a goal of trying to turn vegan....well, at least we got the living room painted! I wish I was more productive, I had such big plans. Well, I did run around Lake Merritt three times! I have a goal of running a 1/2 marathon in the next couple (few?) months. Never done it, and I've always wanted to. This girl isn't getting any younger, so may as well take the bull by the horns and go for it. Hopefully my geriatric knees can handle it.

I did manage to squeeze out a few photos this month, mostly of my kids, but also of one of my favorite families. They had baby number three and I was lucky enough to get the call to come and photograph them again. I've posted photos of these guys on my website (www.amyperl.com) and on my blog over the years, I just love them.

So, upon the strong request of my cousin, here are some new photos!


Field trip to Chinatown with buddies Zeke,Ruby and Rachel (not pictured):

















This is in Grace Cathedral.


handsome.




Avi home sick.







and introducing, Corky, our pet Crayfish.


My friend Ashley is taking some photography classes, and her assignment was to take photos of the sky at dusk. I tagged along.










Here are some photos from the newborn session I got to do. Cutie. Here is a quick snapshot of a morning in the life of a newborn and her siblings and mom.

New Year, new fun iPhone App!

Check out this cool iPhone app effect...just like the Holga cameras. Love it.

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2009.....Amy Perl Photography

I can hardly believe that the end of the year is just around the corner. It's feels like it's been a whirlwind...I started the year off on trip to Mexico in January (tagged along with my husband, he had to work)....and then it all feels like kind of a blur! I met so many wonderful new people this year with my portrait work, photographed a handful of super cool/chill weddings (right up my alley!), and was able to go on a handful of mini trips. I realize that this entire year, I've mostly been posting photos of my clients, and a few of my kids, so I decided I was going to post a handful of just my faves from my life. Some are travel, some are family...but it's just a handful.

I am tying up loose ends to get ready for our annual holiday trip to visit my family in southern California, have to pack, set up a little display in my studio window, pack me and the kids, clean up and organize the house.... :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thank you (to my clients) for a wonderful year, and I truly feel so lucky to be able to work with you, experience all the different families, and jobs that I did this year.

Here are some shots from Austin, Mexico, Oakland, Clearlake, Costanoa...








This is me taken by my friend Bonnie Berry..

A handful of new shots....- Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

I have been having such a great time this season photographing new (to me) families, as well as families I have known for years....I've just done a quick selection of a few of my faves, I just realized I have not posted anything in a couple of weeks. Yikes. A testament to a busy season. :) I'm nearing my holiday ordering deadline, so soon I will be able to share more of my favorites.

Lot's of new photos! - Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

Well, it's been a busy portrait season, and I'm having a blast! Meeting new families, seeing some "old" ones....I am in the middle of much editing, so I don't have much to say..but I wanted to share some of my recent work. This is just a sampling of what I have been doing as of late.

The holidays are gearing up, so don't forget to order your portraits if you hope to give them as gifts. :)

In Berkeley...


























In San Francisco...















In my studio on Piedmont Ave, Oakland...









Meet Napoleon...




and in SF the day after Halloween...

So comfortable... - Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

As I do every year with this gang, I always feel right at home. I don't like to name names on my blog, so I won't but I just love 'em. So easy to photograph, so easy to hang with, the kids laugh at my weird noises...it just works. I think we determined this is the 4th year I've photographed these guys, and in January I get to again, with the new baby on the way!

I've been pretty busy this fall season, it's been a lot of fun. I wish I had more time to dedicate to posting on this blog, I'm so happy with the work lately, but it's tough to get it all done, so late at night. As I sit here typing I have a handful of family sessions I need to edit! I'm on it though! :)

Star Wars Halloween

This year, we went with the Star Wars theme. We didn't know that Yoda is actually a girl, but it turns out it is so. I took this quickly in those frenzied moments just before we let them out to go trick-or-treating. Is there ANY few minutes in a child's life that is more exciting/crazed/jazzed/spazzie than those few minutes before we let them loose to gather buckets full of candy?

Avi=Yoda, Isaac=random Star Wars/Clone Wars fighter guy....

The Beach Girls...at home this time...- Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

I posted photos of these sisters on the beach a little bit ago. This time I was at their house with their stuff...not a shy bone in anyone's body. Ahhh...

Cool Collages - A Client's Cool Work!

I've got a client who does these really cute, customized unique FRAME-ABLE collage pieces. They are so sweet. I was photographing her (adorable) baby boy a few months back and while at her house I noticed the cool pieces she had made in her house. We started talking and it turns out she's super duper talented, and does a lot of scrapbooking....well that lead into a conversation of how that talent could translate to showcase the photos we had done, or how to offer different things to my clients, on what to do with their photos....anyway, here are a few samples she made for me to post.
One (the orange-y one) is a shot of my kids that I love. We were at the top of the Oakland hills on Skyline and the sun was going down...I love how she pulled the colors out of the shot to make kind of a 70's-surfer look. Love it. And the other one, is a client...cute little Jacob, and his newborn shots.

Her name is Gretchen, her email is gdevinsky@gmail.com and she would love to work with you if you've got some photos you'd like to make a unique piece with!!

GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT. :)

Surprise! A Gift. - Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

It was such a treat for me to photograph these kids in their space, doing their things...I've photographed for their mom for her business, Tinymcsmall.com, a great online retailer that is on hiatus right now....so this was really fun. She hired me to do a secret shoot of her and the kids for her husband's birthday, and then surprised him with a book from the session. I got a call from him last night thanking me...so nice. I try not to name names on my blog, so Mom-of-these-kids...thank you for having me, and thank you for appreciating me and my work. Your creativity and ideas are superb..and I hope to keep photographing for you! ;)

Fun, Silly Sisters...and very cool parents too - Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

I had such a blast photographing these guys. It was not the first time I had met the girls, I also photographed them at their preschools! So they knew me...but they are also not shy at all. And their mom and dad, well, they made the session so relaxed. No 'rules' and pretty much everything was cool to them. Love it. Oh, and great house too. :)

Love these guys - Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

Could this family be any nicer? I don't think so. Too bad they live all the way over in San Francisco, and we're over here in the Oakland sticks. So far away.....

Fall Photos - Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

Things have been very busy, so I have not had time to post as much as I'd like to. I have met so many great families recently, at their homes as well as in my studio and at my Portrait Day at Crackerjacks in Oakland. The home sessions I have been doing lately have left me very inspired....I'm so happy that I get to photograph the way that I do (as a job) and that the families I have been meeting really have been allowing me to go with the flow.....It definitely allows me to be creative with the photos as well as have fun with the kiddos, so they are not intimidated by the camera.

The photos I am posting are from my weekend last weekend. I went out to Chicago and stayed with friend in Winnetka. So green, so lush. I photographed a couple of other families while there as well, but I just picked a bunch from my friends' family as I followed their kids around the house all weekend. Thank you guys, for opening your home and your heart to me. xoxo

Crackerjacks Store Portraits - THIS SUNDAY!

HOLIDAY PHOTOS HOLIDAY PHOTOS HOLIDAY PHOTOS!!

Well, I've been a busy lady and because of that I forgot to send the smoke signals out that I am having a Portrait Special day this Sunday at Crackerjacks clothing store, off Piedmont Ave. I have been photographing in the window there for over 5 years now...Elizabeth (the owner there) is wonderful and has been so welcoming to me over the years! If you have not been to her store, you need to come. It's a beautiful baby/kids store, new and resale clothing as well as a very generous selection of eco-friendly products! Toys and otherwise....and a GREAT selection of Halloween costumes.

So, this Sunday, I will be doing portraits there, you must sign up for a time slot. If you are interested, and only if you will for sure be able to come, call the store at 510-654-8844 to sign up! The fee is $75.

Here are a few snaps from my last day there.

Great to use as holiday gifts, or for your holiday card.