Gavin 9 months

Katherine & James have been clients, well since they got married. Now they're more like friends. It's been fun to watch their family grow! Gavin is already 9 months and is truly a beautiful little boy. Isn't he just a cutie?!

Madeline | 2 weeks new

Miss Madeline Lucille (Maddie Lu or my favorite, LuLu) was just two weeks when we shot these....
so MUCH expression for so young!





and super alert!
very sweet...

She was being a sucker and wouldn't go to sleep for us. Her mom called me from the parking lot, she conked out as soon as they hit the elevator!

grams

So today, while I was going around hanging my signs for our yard sale tomorrow, I saw a lady across the street walking with a cane, she looked pretty old. I felt it in my heart (more than once within a minute or so) that I should ask her if she'd like a ride. I've really been practicing going for my instincts this past year, so I rolled down my window and asked if she'd like a ride. It didn't matter where she needed to go, after all, I was simply hanging up yard sale signs for Saturday, and she was quite old walking in the heat, I didn't have anything until my shoot at 4pm.

She hesitated and said she felt odd taking a ride from me, but I insisted (after all, my instinct told me so!) I took her about 4 blocks to the print shop, which made photo copies. She told me she is 96 (holy crap, I hope I can walk when I'm that age, much less be alive!) and she got out of the hospital 5 days ago!!! I thought to myself, "what in the good Lord's name are you doing walking to get a photo copy?! " I was relieved to have taken heed to my instinct. She has one family member in the area, her son, he is in the most northern part of Alaska at the moment (for 3 months) she shared with me, working on a project.

I guess I am sharing this with my blog readers to encourage you to be open to your instinct, you never know where it will take you. I was rockin' out to my favorite 80's music tonight, listening to "man in the mirror" (yes, Michael Jackson) and this story came to mind.

Really when all is said and done, my yard sale means squat in eternity!!! but the ride for this lady and what I might be able to share with her, if she has no belief, might make THE difference of ETERNITY for her!!! That is certainly worth my time, not to mention more valuable than my yard sale.

I don't know what her beliefs are, but most likely, she's closer to meeting the big "G" than I am, so I might as well take a chance and help her out while she's here, who knows, maybe she's here on earth until she hears what WILL make an eternity's differenced for her! And if not, I'd certainly hope someone helps my 93 year old Grams if they see her walking down the street (which I hope she is not!).

Blessings and have a super weekend ~ don't forget to be inspired by those instincts!
xo
allyson


Above is a shot of our Grandma Meigle, such an amazing woman in Christ ... (not to mention, she's gotten me out of two speeding tickets!!! ~ she must have SOME connections =)

Danielle + Bryan | Margarita

If you know me at all, you know Dan and I spend time at the lake nearly every Sunday after weddings. Well, I've been admiring the light out at our favorite lake for several weeks now
....and I had the perfect candidates who gave me carte blanche on location, so here we are.

Bryan + Danielle are getting married in September, they have been in love for 7 years! High School sweethearts ... like we couldn't tell from the photos. Gesh, it's about time!!! (like I can talk - my story is exactly the same) Can't wait for their wedding, especially since Bryan and I convinced Danielle, she MUST go for a boat ride in the pond in front of which they are getting married....can't wait!

Misty | senior moments

Misty is graduating from Cal Poly's business college, soon! Isn't she pretty?! Congratulations Misty...we know you will do well where your path may lead!

Graham + Julie, SLO town USA

Graham and Julie are my first ever "my space" couple! I don't know a whole lot about my space, other than it seems like another place to suck me into the computer vortex of entries and reading, so I've neglected to start one, even though I know I should.

I joked with them that Graham was "wife shopping" because ever since they met, he doesn't use my space anymore!! Haha.... We had a great time shooting engagement photos around downtown, they are native San Luis Obipsoians (new word!) and are getting married in June at the Dallidet Adobe - super stoked for me - I love that place! Congratulations Julie & Graham!

Mom + Me Collection

I'm pleased to announce my first ever studio spotlight. For April only, I'm offering a Mom & Me collection special. See the details below........
Part of the reason I wanted to open a studio was to have the opportunity to shoot more of what I love, kids & babies are a large part of that, so as a celebration of your relationship with those kiddos, I'm offering this! I hope to be able to offer this type of session once a year. The final product will make for a great gift for dad's, grandparents & other family members. Book your session today, there is limited availability!
~allyson

Baby Natalie. 2 months

Baby Natalie is just 2 months old. She's very sweet and happy as you can see!

Ellen + Lou | Chapel Hill

Ellen & Lou, had a especially special wedding, super intimate, a ceremony rich with symbolism & tradition and simply their kids as guests, it all topped off to perfection! They got married up at Chapel Hill in Shandon, one of my favorite places in this world.....it's just special up there.
They had weather blessed from above and deserve a life together just the same!

Congratulations Ellen & Lou!
Allyson

Nancy & Chris, Cayucos

It's the time of year we start cranking out engagement portraits. Nancy and Chris were a joy to get to know as we shot these beautiful photos....

Happy Easter

"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Some days when I'm in a particularly good mood in the mornings - which is extremely RARE! - I sing this song to Dan to get up. Most days he's up way before me showering me with so much happiness and new made up songs (sometime rap songs) I could throw up! Yet somehow, the pillow I put over my head eases my urge to go anywhere far from the down-filled goodness I sleep on, so I deal with it until I am again whisked away into the sleeping beauty bliss I SO enjoy!

It always seems like God makes Easter and Christmas especially glorious days. I can't think of the last time we had a cloudy or rainy Easter or Christmas. This year was no different. After our adventure in Napa we headed to Dan's family in Rescue, CA for a little relaxing time. We enjoyed our nieces, Lily & Ella and their pretty little dresses, fancy shoes and let's not forget the challenging easter egg hunt the hippity-hop bunny left to be discovered.

How we go from celebrating Christ's resurrection to bunnies and colored eggs is beyond me, but Lily is four, and like all my four-year-old Sunday school kids, she knows what's it's all about - Jesus! (that is there answer for all the questions I might ask on any occasion)

Here are some Easter egg hunt photos and our annual family portrait, complete with the dogs and jeep!


Isn't Lily (4) adorable and incredibly photogenic!
Ella (2) and her grocery basket full of good things from the big bunny...

Maddy....
The whole damn fam....
Little Greg, Big Greg (dad) & Danny
PS I've been having some blogging troubles, but think it's now resolved, I have so much to share, but it's time to go home to make desert for the dinner we're going to in Cambria, so check back tomorrow (wednesday) and they'll be more!