A whole lota' bidiness.

Whew! Helloooooo  blog friends! 
Boy have I missed y'all! 
You wouldn't believe me if I said this but I'VE BEEN BUSY!


Surprise, right? Psh!


So what have I been doing you ask? 
Simple: p h o t o g r a p h y!


Let me work this into numbers for you:


Each day I receive at least 2 inquires about doing a shoot, a wedding (today it was 3: 2 shoots, 1 wedding)
Each week I edit at least 300 photos (minimum!).
First year of business and I have 6 contracts for weddings this year, 4 pending contracts, and 2 set in stone for next year. 
       Speaking of pending things....need to email those that I'm waiting for response, note to self.
I get 0 days off a week. Yikes. 
And possibly 5 hours of sleep a night.
And I had my 1st turn down on pricing for a wedding yesterday. 


It's a lot of work that I never expected. But I find myself becoming more and more passionate not only about photography but about my business. I guess its because it's my business and nobody can change that or take it away from me. I'm responsible for the turn out of it and the success and failure. And I like that. It's such a intense feeling.


Well anyways, let's take a look into what I've been photographing these days: 

Engagement photos! (Who's wedding I shot tonight as well!)

Graduation photos!

Prom photos

Prom!

SRM Makeup Shoot

Makeup shoot! 

Makeup shoot (which is also now creating a huge following of boudoir photos!)

Makeup shoot!

Does she not look like Miley Cyrus a little?!
Makeup shoot!

Makeup shoot!

Still editing Padgett wedding photos!

Yes, that's a lot of work! But I sure am enjoying it when it's all said and done :) 
Besides, I like to think I have the best clients!




Xoxo, 
Amy

Cinco De Amy :)

translation =

me a very happy girl!

The semester is over! 

And I totally rocked it! 

I haven't been so proud of grades since I've entered college. 

In the time of this semester, I managed to have a life, start my own business, work 2 jobs, be a girlfriend, volunteer to help the firedepartment some, and go to school 18 hours out of the week.

And I did it! I made 2 A's, 4 B's, and 1 C! 

So the C isn't too pretty, but I'm just so happy to surpass a 3.0 and I'm looking at a 3.46! 

I've never been good at school and I didn't expect to do as well as I did. 

So, in honor of the end of the semester and the beginning of a beautiful summer, I had to celebrate! 

Starting with Cinco De Mayo! And then dinner with great friends last night...it was delish. I got so spoiled and went to Dockside (A local delish seafood restaurant!) 

Here are some pics :) 

Yes, we got costumes! 

COP & Romance

Silly boyfriend.

"I lovah da stache!"

Mi amigo.

BEST FRIEND!

I have tons of Amy Daring Photography photos to post very soon! I've been a busy girl! 

Xoxo

Calling all followers!

Friends....

I need YOU!

to vote for my mommy dearest!

Mommy Makeover

I entered this a few weeks ago and they never informed us of her being a finalist! Today, someone called mom saying how nice it was to see her as a candidate and she was like, huh?! 

Please vote, if you can. The more the merrier. I have 140-something followers last time I checked. If I can get all of you to vote once until May 3, then it would be amazing! 

Please friends. She so deserves it! Read the article linked above, then vote here:

I'm pretty sure they put her name last because they saved the best for last! Duhhhh!

VOTE for Cherryl Daring!

Spanks! Y'all rock! 

Xoxo

You knew this was coming!

Lucky for you, I have not yet had the opportunity to watch the Royal Wedding in entirety...(not so lucky for me!)
I know you're all probably sick of it by now...but I like the other girls of Ashley Rhodes Events are wedding snobs! We take pride in calling ourselves that too!
With this weekend being the busiest wedding weekend of the year, I wasn't given much time to watch it with work and my sister's prom taking place. Oh and did I mention finals? Yep, those too!

So the Royal Wedding and I have a date on Tuesday.
Just me and the wedding, all to ourselves ;)

But anyways, the hype has been too much for me and I couldn't resist but to look at some pictures! Here are my favorite!

Program photo....what an incredibly beautiful couple.



My favorite photo so far.





Such beautiful people! Pippa & Kate are both so incredibly gorgeous! And Kate is so classic and just perfect! I can't wait to see the wedding in its entirety and hear the vows and see the kiss! Ahhhh.

Swoon.

At This Time

TODAY WAS MY LAST DAY OF CLASSES FOR THE SEMESTER! (Except I have 2 days of finals. . .) 
But anyways, I'm so excited for the weekend (minus work) that I can hardly stand it! 
My little sis goes to her first prom on Friday. I think I will cry, there for I do. 
I feel like my prom was just yesterday. Yikes.

Prom 2008!

Prom 2009

I just can't believe her turn is here! 
Anyways, I've been given the privilege to chaperone her weekend classmates get together. I don't want to call it a house party, because it's not that at all. There's only a handful of them going to be there. And it's at a beach house. Swoon. Except I'll be working during the day...so no beach for this girl! 
But I do get to take some fabulous photos of her whole limo group! Eek....keep your eyes pealed please! 


So here's this:
Found at Eat. Drink. Be A Tourist.

Current guilty pleasure: The JaneDear Girls. I bought their CD on Friday & I can't stop listening to it! 

Current color: Teal!

Current playlist: Ah...other than the previously stated CD, I'd say my new country music featuring : The Band Perry, Eric Church, Ashton Sheppard, Luke Bryan, and Little Big Town.

Current read: Cosmopolitan.

Current (lifetime...) drink: Diet Coke. 

Current food: BLT's. 

Current favorite show: Anything "Royal Wedding" related.

Current wish list: To finish editing all of these photos!

Current needs: A day in the river.

Current triumphs: FINALS

Current bane of my existence: Photography!

Current celebrity crush: Luke Bryan...drool. 

Current indulgence: Quiet late nights. 

Current blessing: All of these incredible photography jobs I've been given here lately. My business has over-exceeded my expectations. I was reminded today to thank God for my inspiration and the drive to be creative.

Current outfit: "Ladies love country boys" t-shirt & black workout pants that don't get to actually work out, shame...

Current excitement: The semester is coming to an end! Eeek!

Current mood: Drained & tired, but so ready for sunshine filled days and so much great things to come!

Current link: Eat. Drink. Be a tourist.

Where I borrowed this fun little survey from! 

Later loves ;)

Two-fer Day: Friendship

You know like: "two-for-one"?!

Except around here, when we say it, it sounds like "two-fer-one" ;)

In other notes,

I'm trying to get out of my "sad-slump"

so I decided to write after reading something.

Unfortunately, I'm working on this beautiful Easter Sunday and I'm stuck inside listening to birdies chirp and so I've been catching up on my online reading when I should be writing my paper... but I'm halfway done with it so I decided to take a break :)

Anyways, my reading lead me to stumble upon this article|writeup|whatever you want to call it! It reminded me of some friends that I've become very close to here within the past few months and some that have been around for a very long time. Those that I may not have known them for the longest time, I feel as if I do now. They're all incredibly great girls and I know that they're there for me at any time.

I'm so lucky to have them all!

KB

Romance

S

Florida

Car

Aunda

&

Andy

Now, these girls don't really know each other either. My friendships have always been pretty peculiar. I've always had friends in different circles lol. KB & Romance are from Beaufort. KB is my partner in photography crime, Romance is probably one of my fastest acquaintances-turned-besties. S is my personal makeup artist ;) (for those of you reading and don't personally know me, I'm being sarcastic!) But she's got a heart of gold! Florida is my country girl that was born in the wrong state and she's been initiated into the Carolina girl living a few summers back. Unfortunately, she's now in the Navy and being shipped out to Guam here soon. I can't wait for our long late night Skype dates so we can plan her wedding. I love her to pieces and she'll always understand everything I ever say. Car is another one that moved too far away. Granted, it's only Columbia, but 2 hours is 2 hours too far. I'm so ready for the summer so I can go visit her. Aunda is part of the previous trio. She is always up for anything and I know that I can call her up anytime and she's a sure bet for a lunch date.

Oh & Andy, well she's my 4 years younger twin that looks nothing like me. We act totally annoying together, love jamming out to Glee music in the car & she loves it when I drive and don't pay attention! Yikes!

So all of you reading ladies, (and gents?) take a gander at this article. It totally made me realize that my bests are so incredibly valuable to me. I love them all individually.

What I Hold Near and Dear to My Heart….
July 22, 2010
Miss Ella D -via The Island News

Women require more than men- a larger monthly clothing allowance, one last glance in the mirror before going out, every color pair of shoes in her closet, and most importantly, friends. (favorite.line.ever!)
I am not just talking about the people you say ‘hi’ to while walking down Bay Street, but the inner circle…the ones you call for no reason or call because you have news… the ones you want to go shopping or drink coffee with, the ones you who know you (the REAL you), and love you anyway.
I like to refer to it as a sisterhood.  These friendships we hold near and dear to our hearts- they require care and feeding and exercise.  We work at being thoughtful of one another and avoid the demands that strain these bonds.
Some ladies have a small circle of besties while others are large- it matters not the number.
What is important is the mutual like, respect, and thought.  Your friends rescue you- from a lonely Christmas day, a bad date, or from your kids!!  She knows you will do the same for her one day.  And you don’t keep score- it is NEVER tit for tat.  It all evens out in the wash eventually- you see, that is what friends are for.
My inner circle is not so large, and I love it that way.  My oldest friend (she is not old mind you)- I could just eat her up: I love her like a sister.  She has been with me through thick and thin.  She knows me, my family, my past, and what I hope my future to be.  She understands who I am and why, she l listens to me with real empathy, she can laugh with me or at me.  In turn, I chuckle at her jokes, listen to her tell stories about her kids, remember her special days, and hold her secrets and dreams close to my heart.  Our bond is understood and mutual.  It has taken years to develop and nurture our special relationship.
Girlfriends like her and the rest of my inner circle are what I consider to make me the person I am.  It is these intimate connections with fellow women that make my mundane days just more fun!  I honestly don’t know what I would do without my girlfriends to chat with on the phone while I do my ironing or hang out with on those long summer days at the pool.  So, here’s to all the ladies and the bonds of friendships…cheers to the sisterhood!  Now, go give your bestie a call and tell her so!

I encourage you all to reach out a little further to your bests.

Who's by your side, thick through thin?

Oh what a heavy heart...

Last night, right as I was crawling into bed, I got on Facebook to try to tire myself out a little bit.

Unfortunately, it only made matters worse.

All I could see posted over my friends status' was "Rest in Peace, Devin."

It instantly broke my heart.

I wasn't very close with Devin, but I've known him for most of my life.

My mom has worked with his dad ever since my mom worked at SCANA (15+ years).

Devin, my friend Callie, and myself would all play hide-and-seek at their work Christmas parties.

He was always such a nice guy and always spoke to me whenever we were around each other.

One time, I remember driving to class and he called me out of the blue and asked me to lunch.

I even saw him two weeks ago at the wedding where I did the photo booth.

He was so happy and he was having such a great time.

I don't know enough details to explain what happened other than he was killed instanly upon impact and two of the people in the car were in critical condition last time I heard. One was flown out to Savannah. One of the guys that was hurt pretty badly is one of my most favorite people that I graduated with.

Please send your prayers for these guys and their families on this Easter holiday.

Its unfair that someone's life had to be cut so short.

He has the sweetest family and I know that today, I'll be thinking of them all.

My heart is so heavy and I don't want to do anything today at work.

I guess it's true...

Only the good die young.