A message of hope

Just a quick message of hope from the late Bob Marley.

Playing for Change

Art is one of the few universal languages. It can bring us together, make us laugh, make us cry, and sometimes it can change the world. Just as we show the beauty of the world around us through visual art, there is a group trying to bring the world together through music. The project "Playing for Change" brings together artists and performers from around the world on the streets of the cities they are from to record beautiful music. Their founder describes it thus:

"Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world."

Here is the result of their work:

Visit playingforchange.com to find out how you can get involved.

To show our support, anyone who supports Playing for Change by donating or buying PFC merchandise will get a free session at Annette McPherson Photography. Call us to schedule your appointment. Lets change the world, one smile at a time.

Lego the Stress, and Play Well! I want to play too!

Anyone getting busy, Tis the Season, don't let the turkey's make you crazy in all the chaos.  The last thing any of us need right now is more stress.  I was watching TV tonight and was so inspired by something so simple...remember Legos the plastic little bricks that would allow us to create anything we could image.  Those same little pieces that would get scattered on the floor and hurt you back when met on a midnight run to the fridge with the bare foot.  Isn't there a song to go with that dance, "barefootin" the dance starts out   with a choice word, pulling up one foot, jumpin around on the other leg, spinning and swearing cause you now have at least 4 tiny indents that hurt really bad. As a parent I would throw them right in the trash, (ask my kids and I'm not sure they would remember this toy in our home) and year after year I would buy them a new set and put it under the tree.
Legos are an important part of our past and future, how did the Lego shape our world?  Who knows. how many adults are who they became because of the Lego?  It could be millions...did you know that the word Lego means "play well."  I love it and so now I would like to capture the magic.  If you love Legos and have a set or two I want to talk to you, I have an idea, let's talk! 

Trash The Dress! Any Volunteers?

I am all about new ideas and creativity. I think that posing for pictures is great, but why not set up a fun situation and getting pictures of what happens in that situation? The newest trend in Bridal Portraits is now coming over the horizon and I am totally in love with this idea! It is called a Trash the Dress session. Watch this link and tell me what you think! It is a bit from the Today show that highlights the popularity of this new trend!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/33190828#33190828

Also, check out this slide show of images that Today also posted. Note: These are not our images. They are linked from the Today show.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33135926/ns/today-today/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1

So, so do we have any volunteers?

Hello World!

I am Tiffanie, Annette's daughter/partner and the artistic eyes and ears for this business we run. I have always had an affinity for the arts being my mother's daughter, but a few years ago I fell into the Photog crowd and haven't looked back since!

I fell in love with taking pictures when I started working at Sears Portrait studio and FINALLY figured out what I wanted to do when I grow up. What's funny about it is that Annette opened up the studio at about the same time I decided to go the photography route. I started helping her out at the studio and it all came together from there. I got Mike into the act and now we have a family affair! I have always loved taking pictures but until I had been trained and given that eye for framing a picture it never occurred to me that it could be a livelihood. DUH!!! So thats the story of how I got into this biz-ness. I never in all my life thought that I could have a job I would have fun with while working with family! I guess if you can't work with your family then who can you work with? I love the fact we all have Photography in common as a passion. I wouldn't have it any other way. My other passions include, but are not limited to: writing, shopping, reading and scrapbooking. I love my Canon camera! I mainly shoot with my 40D. I am less of a technical person and more of an art geek. Enough about me though, Let's get down to business!

We will be updating this blog at least once a week. I will also try to add a picture every time we blog. The picture I am adding this week is one I shot of a baby for the cover of CC Magazine. The baby was overexposed purposely to allow for the text on the cover. This little guy was so laid back and cool that he ended up asleep during the shoot amid all the hustle and bustle. I was soooo excited to get sleeping baby shots! This one I clicked right before he fell asleep when he just kept staring at me and the camera with those big blue eyes of his. More to come next week.

Welcome to Annette McPherson Photography's Blog

Annette McPherson Photography is launching a new site at annettemcphersonphotography.com along with our foray into the world of blogging, ampstudios.blogspot.com. Here our staff will post photos, news, and other great information. The AMP Crew will cover topics from our recent shoots, tips and tricks, and even the occasional special just for our readers.

I am Mike, resident geek, webmaster, lighting nerd, and of course head Photoshop guru in charge. My posts will most often cover news from the tech side of AMP, tips, and really cool (aka nerdy) stuff. Of course, each of us will also use this site to show you our favorite shots.

Annette and Tiffanie, the artsy mother-daughter duo, will be introducing themselves soon with their own posts here.

By way of introducing my style, I love dramatic lighting and landscape shots. This one I caught on the fly while shooting a family at the beach.


For my fellow settings nerds, I was shooting a Canon 40D with an EF28-135 lens at 28mm, 1/128sec, ISO400, f/9.0. This shot was at sundown on the beach by Holiday Inn Emerald Beach here in Corpus Christi just before a storm rolled in.

This has been your minute with Mike. Come back soon and join in the fun in the comments section. Visit us at http://annettemcphersonphotography.com for more information and to book your appointment.