It's been awhile...- Amy Perl Oakland Photographer

It has been since October...since I've written or posted anything in my blog. Wow. That's a testament to how super busy I've been. I had to let my blog posting drop in order to get all my work done, and there was a lot of it this holiday season! It's been great, thank you so much to all my clients to welcomed me into their families again this year. It's really an honor.

As much as I truly love my work, I also benefit hugely from taking a step back and paying attention to why I was drawn to photography in the first place...It's time to plan a couple road trips, photo trips, maybe even a workshop or two. I love taking photos of people, but I love also to challenge my thoughts, my ego, my fears, by getting out into the unknown and creating stories of how I feel and what I see.

I am really looking forward to what 2011 brings for me and my photography. The road has taken many bends for me in the 23 years I have been photographing (since I was 14, freshman in high school!) and I am excited to see where the next turn takes me.

For now, here are a few cute shots of my kids in the snow, on our way out the door for their first full day of (white out condition) ski lessons.

Happy Holidays!!

My girl lost her first tooth!!

My daughter Avi lost her first tooth on Tuesday. So cute. We were out getting shoes for her brother (he's 9.5 and tears through shoes at a record pace), and right there in the middle of the store, I yanked out that little teeny tiny tooth of hers. These are the photos I took as soon as we got home.

Some are tooth shots, some are just photos I like.

Lots of fun with the girls...- Amy Perl Bay Area Photographer

This is the second year (third portrait session) I have been invited to photograph these three wonderful girls. The first time I photographed them was last summer, and I came away with some of my all time favorite pictures. Then the next session I did, again, I came away with new all time favorite pictures....and now this time, again, I love these photos. The girls are amazing, they are calm, fun, comfortable, and their RAD parents let them be themselves for the photos. This is so so important. If we try to MAKE kids do what WE want or what WE expect, it's much trickier than really letting them be themselves. I just end up playing with them, I just happen to have a camera.
Thank you for making my job so fun.

Newest Portraits - Amy Perl Bay Area Photographer

After a nice long summer, I've been diving back into full time work with some wonderful families that I've been invited to photograph. It's always such an honor to get the phone call, or the email from a complete stranger who wants ME to photograph their babies/their kids/them. It's such a cool thing, definitely an ego boost. ;) Each time, I'm reminded why I do what I do. I mean, I get to make fun photos for a family to keep forever of the most important thing in the world. PLUS, I get to play with little ones and hold teeny babies...I love it.

Here's some shots from this past week

Sweet Maggie (this is our third...or fourth? time together!) -








Big brother, and his brand new little sister, just hanging out, talking about trains and drinking milk-



















Super fun studio session....I mean, she was full of personality, how could I not love my job?