aliWphotography

Things are up and running on my new website!!! Check it out here!! I am having SO much fun and am learning a lot about the ins and outs of running a website - something that is completely new to me. Domain names, hosting companies, professional blogs - the learning curve has been sharp.

I'm starting to get busy with shoots this spring. The weather has been absolutely fantastic and people are ready to get outside. I am having so much fun with this and can't wait to see where it goes from here. If you know anyone interested or in need of some photos, let me me!

I really enjoy working with couples and families to capture their personalities. Some of my other favorite shoots are special events and moments - delivery day/meeting the little one for the first time, special parties, and other milestone occasions. *I am especially looking for an elderly couple interested in having some new photos taken as a couple so if you know anyone interested, willing, and outgoing, please pass them along! (It's completely free and I am pretty flexible about location).

Thanks for all the support. I am having a blast and am eager to see where I can take this! :)

www.aliwphotography.com

email: ali@aliwphotography.com

One Lucky Girl

I am SO incredibly blessed to have such amazing friends and family. It was a very special birthday yesterday - starting off with our 13.1 mile run, brunch with my lovely and eclectic group of family and friends at Good Day Cafe, a birthday Caribou trip, a quick nap, dinner at home and Johnny Holm band at Toby Keith's Bar. Uffda. I was awake from 20 hours of St. Patty's Day and it was exhaustingly fantastic!

Gettin' ready to 'get lucky'!

Pre-race instagram tweet!

Oh so excited! I love St. Patty's Day!

Sea of green 

Mile 5

Mile 6 (still happy)

Best birthday surprise ever...my co-worker friend Ross and his family at mile 12 with the most ridiculously awesome signs! Thanks you guys - that was the best. 

Almost there!

DONE! 2:31:48 - an AWESOME time for Mikey's first time running more than 6 miles. He was such a champion. What a great birthday present, thanks darlin!

The greatest thing about March...all the madness!

My cutest little friend Ally. I love this girl to pieces. Brunch at Good Day Cafe. 

Birthday treat with green whip cream! 

Ty's St. Patty's Day drink at Toby Keith's! Woohoo!

Johnny Holm - what a guy! He was a lot of fun. And it was a Gustavus reunion at Toby Keith's, holy moly!!

Thank you all for a wonderful birthday. I am one lucky girl. Hope you all had a great St. Patty's Day :)

St. Patrick

I think St. Patrick is trying to tell me something. I see the combination of 317 all the time. I'm not kidding. It's allll. The. Time. It has gotten so ridiculous that I've started taking pictures of all the times I notice it. It's unpredictable. It happens when we are just sitting around and Mike says, what time is it and it just happens to be 3:17pm OR we are waiting at a red light forever and the license plate in front of us just happens to be 317 something. It's just unreal. And I've been thinking a lot about it, especially recently and it got me thinking about who this St. Patrick figure really is and what is he possibly trying to say to me!!!!

As I'm sure you know, March 17th is dedicated to Saint Patrick. He is from Ireland and is one of the world's most popular saints. March 17th honors him every year because that is the day he died in 461. Apparently, he was a humble, pious and gentle man whose love and total devotion to and trust in God can serve as a shining example to all of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God. And my favorite thing I learned is that legend tells us he used to teach people about the Holy Trinity, using a shamrock to demonstrate the three parts - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, which is why the shamrock has become the symbol of St. Patrick's Day. Cool!!!

We are told that Saint Patrick grew very close to God during his six years in slavery. Once he escaped, he made it his mission to help others get close to God by teaching them by word and example. He loved even his enemies, wanting them to know God as he did. In the process, he converted many. His attitude of love, forgiveness, service, and leadership is something we can all try to emulate in some way. I have a new appreciation for this Irish holiday that also happens to be the day I entered this world. My hope in life is that I can be an example of Christ through my actions but I have not found a very comfortable way of spreading his love through words. And even though 317 is a funny coincidence, I think it can serve as a constant reminder to mirror Saint Patrick's effort to spread His good news in action and word.

Here are some of the times I captured this ridiculous coincidence...

Let these and all the times I will see 317 going forward to serve as a reminder of how lucky we are in life and the importance of spreading the good news. Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

CARLA & PEDRO

What a sweet couple.  Carla and I have been friends since our Tommie days. We met on the very first night of class and laughed (and studied) our way through grad school together. She is a wonderful woman and she has found a perfect partner in crime. Pedro is one of the sweetest, gentlest people I've met and I am SO honored to celebrate this special time in their life.

Congratulations you two. Thanks for a lovely shoot. You are so easy to photograph. :)

Vintage...

Formal...

Woodsy...

Contemporary casual...