alison portis photography

Kristen and Amos are Engaged!

2012-01-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

While home in Texas for Christmas, Stoney and I had the pleasure of taking engagement photos for his cousin (and mine too!) Kristen, and her fiance, Amos. They are a beautiful couple and we love them both so much!
We snuck away from Leonard Christmas festivities to get some rockin' shots. It was a beautiful day! The light was perfect, Buda's Ruby Ranch landscape was gorgeous, and our models were total pros! Congratulations Kristen and Amos! We can't wait for the big day!!

Colorado Sunset

2012-01-20T08:01:00.000-08:00

I took this photo on a drive from Colorado Springs to Pagosa Springs this past summer. It was a remarkable sight. We now have a large canvas print of a similar photo from that sunset above the headboard of our bed. It was Stoney's 30th birthday day present.

Spring Break

2011-04-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

Last month, Stoney's sister PJ, her husband Matt, and their three adorables, Trinity, Micah, and Emory, came up to Colorado Springs for a Spring Break visit. They drove the entire way, from south/central Texas to Colorado Springs, in one straight trip. Stoney and I don't even do that and we just have a dog!

We loved having them up here and wished they could have stayed longer. We tried to pack as much into their time here as we could. We were able to get some great family pictures at Garden of the Gods, went to the zoo, ate a lot, went to the Broadmoor brunch with PJ (and definitely ate too much), played in the park with the girls...

Here are some photos of their special session at Garden of the Gods, and some shots of our time at the zoo.

Such cuties!

The bears put on a fantastic show for us. We probably spent nearly and hour watching them.

I don't know this dude, but I appreciate him letting me photograph him and Mr. Bear.

I am very thankful for the barrier between us and them. ...look at those claws!

Thanks Matt, PJ, and The Adorables. We are so happy you came to see us.
Love you lots.

Our house smells like Easter!

2011-02-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

I love Spring. And with Spring, comes Easter. I also love Easter.

I decided to pick up some paperwhite bulbs from Summerland Gardens here in Colorado Springs about three weeks ago. It's a great gardening shop where you can find everything from plants, to jewelry, to paperwhite bulbs...the owner even keeps a rotating art gallery upstairs.

It is super easy to grow these bulbs. All you need is a pretty container, some rocks, and water. They will start growing in under a week, and flowering within two weeks. It kinda reminds me of an ant farm...but not...

The smell of paperwhites is a quintessential Easter fragrance, and it makes me very happy.

A Perfect Day

2011-02-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

About a year ago today, I was in the LA airport on my way back to Texas. The Super Bowl game was on every television, there was a sense of excitement in the terminal, and all I could do was try my hardest not to cry. Thirteen hours prior, Stoney and I had said goodbye in New Zealand where we met for his R&R from Afghanistan. Knowing we still had another half of the deployment was terrifying.

Today was the Super Bowl and it was a great day. Not because of the game, but rather because I got to spend the whole day with Stoney. I am thankful.

We decided to go for a drive into the mountains (Daisy went too). Our drive took us out of the Springs on highway 24, into Woodland Park, and then up to 11-Mile Canyon. We took another day trip to 11-Mile this summer when we went fly fishing. It was beautiful. I'm really going to miss CO when we move this summer. After our drive, we headed back to Woodland Park for lunch at Fiesta Mexicana, and it was really good. After that we stopped at Donut Hill just down the road for some dessert. If you live in or around Colorado Springs, you've gotta try this place. And finally, we watched the game...we mostly watched the commercials, but we were so excited when our team (as of the morning of the Super Bowl...yes, we are fairweather fans) won!

Fun...

2011-01-21T07:49:00.000-08:00

Just going through our New Zealand photos.
Here I am...flying in NZ.

Girls Weekend - South Carolina Style!

2011-01-13T13:13:00.000-08:00

Stoney and I got married in July 2006, and soon after, I found myself in a whole new world. This new world was located in Killeen, Texas. I was suddenly an Army wife, was working on starting up my photography business, didn't know many others in the area, and my husband would be deploying in 4 months to Iraq. Insert Kate, Kerri, Karissa, and Meredith. I thank God for these girls. They too are/were Army wives and were also at Fort Hood. We all immediately became great friends. I always knew that each of these girls was just a short drive or phone call away. We all helped each other through that (extremely long) deployment.

In 2008, we all started to go in different directions across the US. Each of us currently lives in a different state, but since we've been apart, we have made it a point to stay in touch. We have also made it a priority to get together once a year. So far, we've made this happen for the past three years. In 2008, we met in Nashville, TN... 2009 - Houston, TX (specifically the Woodlands), ... 2010 - Columbia/Charleston, SC. I am so thankful that we've been able to continue this tradition. This year it's going to get tricky; one of our five will be in Alaska, and there's a chance another will be in Europe! My fingers are still crossed.

Just last week, our southern friend from South Carolina with the sweetest accent ever, had her first baby! We are all thrilled for her. Here's a photo of Meredith a couple months before she had Michael Mae.

Jumping shots are ALWAYS a good time!

Love to all of you.

Chris and Maria

2010-12-07T20:47:00.000-08:00

These guys are great. We love them a lot. :)
Here are their photos from a while back. We did the first part of their session at Red Rocks Open Space in Colorado Springs, and then we downtown for the remainder.

Thanks Cordova's.

Amy and Matt

2010-12-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

For the next couple of weeks I'll be doing some catching up on my blog. I've had many great sessions in the last couple of months, and I need to share them with all of you!

Here are some pretty ones from Amy, Matt, and Eros' session at Garden of the Gods. Eros is their dog who speaks, or rather, understands only German commands...smart dog. :) Amy and Matt are both from CO and have been sweethearts since high school. I love it! Thanks Amy and Matt for a great session!

Tracy and John...The Wedding

2010-11-17T22:04:00.000-08:00

These two are a hoot, and it's totally obvious that they are completely in love.
Their wedding and reception was in Denver at the University Club - "one of the few remaining historic buildings in downtown Denver." Everything was perfect. The entire night was filled with friends, family, LOTS of laughs, and (most importantly) love!

Some highlights of the night: Tracy's bro sang and played the guitar for their first dance. He sang Jack Johnson's Better Together. We took the formals at the state capitol. And, Tracy did a great rendition of Sexual Healing near the end of the night (and it was seriously, really good).

Fall - Estes Park, CO

2010-10-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago, Stoney and I took a weekend trip to Estes Park. The weather was a little cold and drippy, but we still had a wonderful getaway. We stayed at two great places, had some time to relax, saw the elk bugling in town, went to Rocky Mountain National Park, and saw more great Fall colors. The elk were awesome to see, but at the same time, it made me a little sad to see them having to deal with all of us onlookers. You could tell they were a little annoyed/confused.

Here are some photos from the weekend.

...humerous.

Handsome.

This one reminds me of New Zealand (but not quite as perfect....I'm just saying).

The Calway Family

2010-10-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

I really, really like the Calway family. We did their session at Red Rocks; they chose this site because they are both very active and use this open space regularly. Chris frequents Red Rocks on his mountain bike, and Kelly runs in the area. Running is actually her job in the Army (she's part of the World Class Athlete Program)....how cool is that? Their little girl, Hazel is awesome! She's the perfect combination of sweet, mannerly, tough, outgoing, tomboy-ish (I think I just made up that description), and little girl-ish. She is wonderful.

Thanks Calway Family!

The Shin's Fedding Photos

2010-10-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Nope, that's not a typo.
Fedding: the combination of the words fake and wedding, which refers to post-wedding, wedding photos. [This term is a Krista Shin original.]

Krista and Henry are such a fun couple; not to mention, they are super cute. Krista, you were a beautiful bride!
It was a perfect day for a fedding session at Garden of the Gods, and my new favorite, beautifully tagged-up portrait session location. We had a great time with these two!

Thanks Henry and Krista!

Fall

2010-10-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this time of year! This past weekend, Stoney and I took a wonderful drive up to Buena Vista and then on to Aspen to see the gorgeous aspen tree's leaves changing colors. They were breathtaking... My dad always told me that my great-grandfather, Jack, would call the aspen trees quakies because of the sound they made when the wind would blow. I love that sound.

Here's another great post about Fall.

Baby Joshua

2010-09-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

This past May I took photos of the cutest little boy, Justin for his 2nd birthday. You can see his photos here. As of about three weeks ago, cute Justin now has a very sweet little brother, Joshua.

Excited

2010-09-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

I'm really pumped about this session! Check back soon for the entire post.

Keri and Shawn...The Wedding

2010-09-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

These two are genuinely sweet people, and their happiness is contageous. They got married on a beautiful, blue sky, Texas day in Round Rock at the Texas Baptist Children's Home Chapel. The reception followed at Bella Notte on Main. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Keri, Shawn, and their families.

Sic 'em Bears!

The Peak

2010-08-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

If you live in Colorado Springs, it might be a sin to not hike Pikes Peak.

There are 88 fourteeners in the United States, and of those, 53 are in Colorado. 1 down, 52 more to go. :) We had wanted to climb the Peak for a while now, and yesterday was the day.

Stoney, Daisy and I started around 5:30am. We were able to watch the sun come up around mile 3; it was a gorgeous sunrise! The hike up the mountain is just over 13 miles; one of the longest of the 14ers hikes. Can you believe that just last weekend during the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon (A half-marathon up Pikes Peak and a marathon up and then down the Peak), the top finisher at this year's marathon (remember, that is up and down Pikes Peak) recorded a time of 3:51:34?! I really can't comprehend that. However, if we didn't have Daisy with us (we had to stop often to give her water), I'm almost certain that we would have made it up and down in under 4 hours. ;)

Our original plan was actually to go up and down the Peak. On the way up we happened to run into two of Stoney's friends who were also hiking up. Fortunately for us (and our aching calves), one of the guy’s girlfriends was picking them up at the top, and they offered us a ride....SCORE!

We had a great hike. The scenery was breathtaking, the company was wonderful, our time together was priceless, and the special doughnut and hot chocolate at the top was an added bonus. [The doughnuts at the top are made with a special high-altitude recipe that works heavenly at 14,110 ft...yum!]

After our hike, we had a great lunch at Front Range BBQ with Aaron, Brian, and Melissa (our fellow hikers and ride-givers). Since Daisy went twice the distance we went, she slept the rest of the day. She really did a great job. The altitude didn't seem to bother her, and we do think she probably went a few miles further than us because of her exploring off leash and greeting other hikers.

We're all looking forward to our next 14er!

A few miles in.

A glimpse of Pikes Peak...far, far away.

A few photos from the trail.

Here, we are almost above the timber line.

Hooray!!!

The temperature at the top was probably in the 40's. The temperature when we got back to Colorado Springs...upper 80s.

Have a great week!
~Ali

Our Back Yard

2010-08-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

This actually popped up in our front yard. What a pretty surprise.

I'm kind of crazy about basil.

Texas aloe.

Our back yard visitor.

Teresa and Thad...The Wedding

2010-08-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

Teresa and Thad are fun...period. This was a beautiful wedding at Fountain Vally School just south of Colorado Springs in Fountain. The facility's grounds were gorgeous. The day ended up being a little rainy, but no one let the rain/drizzle spoil their fun. And let me tell you...everyone had a really good time!

Teresa and Thad...Engagements

2010-08-11T06:54:00.000-07:00

These two are wonderful... Stay tuned for photos from their beautiful Colorado wedding.

This Little Piggy...

2010-08-09T19:39:00.000-07:00

...found a new family.

I was talking to my mom this afternoon and she told me about this little guy. Apparently, he has adopted the Koehler family herd of cattle. They think something happened to his mom, and he, in turn, was adopted.

This Little Piggy got me to thinking..I am so thankful for family and friends that are excepting and loving of me for who I am. I'm not saying I'm a pig, but you know...

This one is my favorite. How cute is he?!

Thanks for the pictures, Mom.
I miss home.

Lost Heros Art Quilt

2010-08-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

This past May, I was asked to photograph the Lost Heroes Art Quilt reception at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Julie Feingold is the artist. Please check out the Quilt's website here.
Mrs. Feingold's idea to memorialize our lost heroes in a quilt is just beautiful. It is, most definitely, a work of art.

The artist, Julie Feingold, signing a book for the mom of one of the soldiers memorialized in the quilt.

Four Air Force Academy students who attended the reception.

I hope that generations upon generations will be able to look back upon this quilt and remember.

Tracy and John....Engagements

2010-08-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

First of all, I appologize to all of my avid blog readers. I appologize for not keeping my goal of a weeks worth of daily blogs. I failed this weekend, but otherwise, I had a great weekend! So, here we go...the start of a few blogs to make up for this weekend's lack of blogging.

Meet Tracy and John. They are a couple from Denver, CO and will be getting married in Denver this coming October. These two were a blast to hang out with. Tracy's laugh is totally contageous, and I'm looking forward to October. We did the shoot in downtown Denver.

In Memory

2010-08-06T21:13:00.000-07:00

Memorial Ceremony - 06 Aug 2010
Remembering our fallen...
Thankful for all those who serve...

Adorable

2010-08-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

Here is Justin. I think he's one of the best little kids I've ever photographed. I ran with his mom in my running group, so I was thrilled when she called me for his two year old pictures. Thanks, Kathy! Justin is one of the cutest, happiest little boys I've ever met.

Finally...

2010-08-04T08:35:00.001-07:00

...a new blog post!

So, I've been absent for a while...but with good reason. I have a ton of catching up to do, so here is my first post of catching up. Stay tuned. No promises, but my plan is to do one blog each day for the next ~~month~~ week (I should start with an attainable goal).

Many of you have seen these photos from Facebook, but for everyone else that hasn't, below are photos from one of the happiest days of my life! I am SO thankful to have my husband home. I still have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming. This deployment was tough. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. The support has been amazing.

Please continue to keep those soldiers who are currently deployed in your prayers. If you don't know a soldier currently deployed, there are some fabulous websites that can help you with that. A big one is AnySoldier.com. They will match you with a deployed service member, give you ideas of what to send, tell you how to send your package, and where to send it. Even the simplest of items are greatly appreciated. Stoney has shared many stories of these boxes he and his soldier's received; little things that we often take for granted will make these soldiers week.

Waiting...trying to stay [somewhat] calm.

Here they finally come.

I could hardly contain myself as they walked in.

THERE HE IS!!!

Ready to run!

Complete again.

Stoney's sister, PJ, and cousin, Luke, came in for the ceremony. I'm so glad they were able to come to this joyous event.

My girls...I don't know what I would have done without them.

Beautiful photo.

WELCOME HOME, STONEY!!! I LOVE YOU!

A big thanks to Andrea Wags and Mary Beth for taking pictures for us. We will always treasure these photos.

Seniors 2010 - Jordan

2010-04-27T18:02:00.000-07:00

So, I was just reminiscing about my senior year in HS. Class of '01! I don't think I could have ever imagined then, where I would be now. So many things have changed, so much has happened, and I have learned so much. I am so thankful for all of my experiences...they have shaped me into who I am today.

My one piece of advice to all of you seniors (not that you asked, but...) is to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST, be thankful for the all of your experiences and opportunities, and don't worry about what others think. (I guess that was three pieces of advice...)

Congratulations Jordan!

Steiner Family

2010-04-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had a session with Corey and Lena. They are a fabulous couple who are also in 3-61 CAV.
We had a wonderfully warm March day in Garden of the Gods for their photo session...dogs included!

Thanks Steiner friends! I LOVE your photos!
Enjoy.

How cute are they?! And check out that blue sky....

I LOVE these B&Ws!

Lena and Corey's two kids, Sandie and Roxy.

The Hunton Family - Garden of the Gods

2010-03-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Garden of the Gods is my new favorite place to take family portraits. I had a great time with Mary, Trent and their precious baby Caroline a couple weeks ago at the Garden. I love when families are so happy and they just interact without cue; it makes for the best, most natural portraits ever! It also didn't hurt that we had a perfect blue sky, sunny Colorado afternoon.

Thanks Hunton's for a great session.

-Ali

Bonnie the Golden

2010-03-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

Soooo, as I said a few posts ago, I'm adding a little something to my portfolio. Colorado Springs is one of the most pet friendly cities in the United States. I LOVE that. Everywhere you go here, you see people walking their dogs, hiking with their dogs, taking their dogs to the dog park, and even taking their precious pups to dinner with them! Everyone loves their dog, and who wouldn't want some amazing photographs of them?!

This is Bonnie. When I did this session, it was just Bonnie, me, and the camera. She was a little camera shy, but she forgot about it as soon as I started throwing her tennis ball. She is such a sweet girl.

Waguespack Fam

2010-03-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

About a week and a half ago I did a photo session for the Waguespack family. The blond girl in the photos, Andrea, just happens to be a great friend of mine. Her husband, Darick, was home for R&R and thus, they had A LOT of family in town. :) They decided to take advantage of the opportunity and do a portrait session. This group was so much fun...for real! I think they had me laughing the whole time!

I did the session at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. It was a beautiful day, a great family, and wonderful weather.

Thanks Wags,
-Ali

James Lee: A Photographer in Afghanistan

2010-03-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

Just yesterday Stoney sent me a link for the blog of a photographer, James Lee, who is currently photographing from the Kunar province in Afghanistan. This is the first time I've heard of him, but his work is fantastic. The combination of his photojournalistic talent and his insightful written explanations/background of the photos give you a real glimpse into the actual Afghanistan. I believe that the general U.S. population only knows as much as they see on the nightly news. When in fact, there is so much more depth to the story.

Do you really know what our soldiers are doing over there?
Do you understand the turmoil and suffering innocent Afghan's have been through?
Do you realize how many heros are fighting for you?
Do you see that in the midst of war, our brave soldiers are working to help rebuild the country?

These are all questions I'm asking myself as well.

Please just remember that there is always more to the story. We get so caught up in our own little bubbles that we forget there are real people over there. Afghan families, American families, Canadian families, Latvian families, even families all the way from New Zealand, and everywhere in between - we are all in this story. There are so many that have lost their loved ones. I don't understand this, but I believe that our soldiers are there for good reason. Our soldiers are amazing, brave, strong, courageous, chivalrous, tough, loving, and devoted. They are hard workers, proud American's, and loving husbands, wives, dads, moms, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters.

You may not believe in this war, but believe in those fighting for us.

Please pray for our soldiers. Pray for all those fighting for our country. Pray for the innocent who are caught up in this war.

If you are interested in learning more about the area, this is a great book:

Much love.
-Ali

Tonni Maralena - headshots

2010-03-01T15:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of a beautiful and talented person who I feel so blessed to also call my friend. Tonni is a "West Texas-born designer responsible for Tonni Maralena silver belts." She has recently taken these belts to Market in Dallas and I'm so excited that her "wearable art" is now out there for everyone to see! These belts are gorgeous! To take a look at her products you can check her out at www.TonniMaralena.com, and you can also become a fan of Tonni Maralena on Facebook.

How cute is she?!

This is Tonni's logo. Awesome!

Miss you Tonni. Hope to see you soon, and keep up the fantastic work!

[Is Winter Over Yet?] Photo Session Special

2010-02-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

Well, boys and girls....it seems like winter is dragging on forever. I have talked to so many people lately who are just in desperate need of some warm sunshine. Well, I can't change the weather, but I can brighten your day by offering a really sunny, spectacular, summer (but in winter) special. I'm going to call it my [Is Winter Over Yet?] Photo Session Special!

If you book a photo session with me in the month of March, you will pay only $100 for your session with an additional $50 print credit! That's a 20% off my normal session fee, plus $50 worth of prints from your session.

These sessions can be used for brides, couples, kids, new babies, dogs, or all of the above. :) If you never have before, please check out my website so you can see my style: www.alisonportisphotography.com. I'm ready to brave these snowy days (or not so snowy...either way) and get out to take some fun photos.

If you're interested, please leave me a message on my blog, website, or e-mail directly at ali.portis@gmail.com.

I hope to hear from you!
-Ali

Mollie the Mountain Dog

2010-02-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

A while back I took pictures of Mollie the Bernese Mountain dog. She's the daughter of a couple here in Colorado Springs who just adore her. She's such a sweet girl...and very photogenic I might add.

I think, at this time, she was being told to sit by one of her parents, and being offered a piece of cheese by the other. Ohhh, so confused...

I love photographing dogs. In fact, I will have a new section on my website soon just for the pups. Did you know that Colorado Springs is ranked in the top 10 most dog friendly cities? They're right up there with Austin, TX and New York, NY. And here's a couple other sites listing CS, CO in the top 10: Forbes and Life

Much love, and stay warm out there!

February: back in CO

2010-02-20T16:36:00.000-08:00

After a long, fabulous time away from Colorado Springs, I am back in town. It's good to be back, and being back means it's that much closer to the time that Stoney comes home. I can't wait for both of us to be here, together!

On Valentine's Day I arrived back in Colorado Springs with my wonderful mom who made the drive from Texas with me. It was nice to spend Valentine's day with Mom and a great friend of mine, Andrea. Mom was able to hang around for about a day before flying back home.

Then, on Tuesday, my sister-in-law arrived for a visit with my three (ADORABLE!) nieces. She was here for the week, and we had a wonderful time playing in CS. I'm so happy they came to see me, Colorado, and the snow! Here are a few photos from the week. You can see more on PJ's blog. We had so much fun sledding down my driveway, going to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, exploring Garden of the Gods, watching the Olympics (and a really old version of Cinderella), eating ice cream at my favorite ice cream shop in town (Josh and John's), and lots of playing. Here are a few snap shots for you.

I'm so glad you guys came, PJ, and I hope you all had a great time. I loved it!

This is Trinity hold up a really big rock at Garden of the Gods.

This is Micah pretending to be a mountain climber (I think there were some aspects of Micah's dinosaur in this pose as well).

Emory and Micah at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

It's been snowing here, of and on, for the last couple of days. There has also been some freezing rain...does anyone know why the ice forms this way? The tree does not have thorns normally. I'm sure I learned why this happens [way back when], but I don't remember.

Much love, and stay warm!

Refreshing...

2010-02-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

Refreshing. That one word sums up our New Zealand holiday. Stoney and I had such a wonderful time together, and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect R&R. Anywhere else we go now, we will always compare to our time in NZ. The country is clean, the landscape is only something you see in movies...or your dreams, the people kind, and the food is amazing. Here are a few of my personal favorite photos.

Now, Stoney and I are back to reality and we are praying for the next few months to go by quickly.
I'm sure there will be even more New Zealand photos to come. I hope everyone is having a good start to their week.

Much love!

A wee post on our Kiwi Holiday...Part 2

2010-02-05T01:32:00.000-08:00

Since our last update we've driven down the west coast of the south island, relaxed in Wanaka, enjoyed an overnight cruise on a sailboat in Milford Sound of the Fiordland National Park, and had some fun in Queenstown. We're savoring every second we have together and wanted to share a few more of our memories with you...

Love,
Ali and Stoney

A wee post on our Kiwi Holiday...

2010-02-01T13:19:00.000-08:00

We are having a blast in New Zealand and wanted to share a few of the memories with you; there are still many more days to come of our Kiwi Holiday.

...Cathedral Cove in Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula of the north island

...wine tasting in Marlborough, south island

...stopped for a stretch along the Canterbury Plains and this was the scenery

...ice-climbing in the Franz-Josef Glacier of the Southern Alps

...the sunset along the Okarita Lagoon Beach on the west coast

Brainwash!!!

2010-01-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

First of all, sorry I've been absent from the blog for so long. Please don't stop checking in for updates! ;)

So, I'm officially famous... I'm on Lauren Clark's blog! On my way home to Texas for Christmas, I drove through Lubbock for my Brainwash session that I won at the Love Affair Photography workshop I went to this past July in Atlanta. Not only is Lauren a fabulous photographer, but a great person as well. We hung out all day and talked about photography things...it was wonderful. You can check out her website here, and the direct link to her blog post about my Brainwash Session here.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and Happy 2010!

The Stickley's

2009-11-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

I met Christy Stickley at the Love Affair Photography Workshop I attended in Atlanta at the end of July. She and her adorable family are from the Denver area. Christy is an awesome photographer, a great wife to her hubby, and most importantly, a fantastic mother to four kiddos. You might be saying..."but wait Ali, there are only three kids in the pictures below..." She actually had her fourth this last week!

Congratulations Stickley Family, and welcome baby Colleen!

Corrie is Married!

2009-10-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went to Texas for my best friend's wedding. There are actually four of us that are best friends, and have been since kindergarden (or before) (check out this post). Corrie asked all of us to be bridesmaids along with Corrie's sister, Cathie and James' sister, Katie. This was the cutest little back yard wedding you've ever seen.
You can see James and Corrie's engagement photos here.
Everything came together perfectly for their big day - the weather was perfect, the ceremony was beautiful, the house and yard looked great, the food and drinks were wonderful, and the dancing kept us warm when the sun went down. :) Corrie is a beautiful person, inside and out, but I have NEVER seen her look so beautiful as she did this past Saturday. She was glowing all night long. I am so thankful that Corrie and James found each other. They are perfect together. I wish them years, and years of happiness.

The wedding photography was done by the very talented girls of Anne Marie Photography. They were our wedding photographers nearly three and a half years ago now. How time flies...
If you are ever in need of some great photos in the south-central Texas area (or wherever...they travel), Kellie and Traci of Anne Marie Photography are your gals.

Corrie and James, I am so happy for you guys. Congratulations. I can't wait to see you both when you get back from the 'moon.

I took Corrie's bridals on a beautiful day in September in Colorado Springs (thanks Libby for assisting). Here are some of my personal favorites.

October

2009-10-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

So, since my last post, a lot has happened....Please pray for our soldiers and for the eight families of those who gave their lives.

Last week I was in DC for an AUSA (Association of the United States Army) Conference. A group of FRG (family readiness group) leaders from Fort Carson went to learn about new programs for our families and to share how our families are being supported or how they can be supported.

The most memorable part of our trip was the tour of Walter Reed. The soldiers we visited were just kids. They fought for you and I. Please remember all of our Soldiers daily in your prayers. They are out there defending our country for us. We can never thank them enough.

Our days were jam-packed with various meetings and sessions, but we usually had a little down time in the evenings. One evening we decided to see the sites of DC. I love this city.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STONEY!

2009-09-29T21:53:00.001-07:00

I love you and I miss you so much. I wish you a very happy birthday.
Love, love, love,
Ali

A Wonderful Weekend

2009-09-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my three best friends (since kindergarden!) came into Colorado Springs for the weekend. This was our annual get together that I talked about in the post below. After a couple flight delays, I picked Amy and Annie up from the Denver Airport and we met Corrie in downtown Denver at Osteria Marco. I highly recommend this restaurant, by the way.

We had such a great time this weekend catching up, eating great food, shopping....

On friday afternoon we got dressed up (Annie was our stylist), did our hair (thank you Amy) and makeup (Annie rocked out our makeup too), and then went to downtown Colorado Springs for a photo shoot. I got some great shots of my bff's and they got some of me too....yay! We ended our weekend with a delicious meal of bruschetta with heirloom tomatoes, roasted veggies from the farmers market, and mushroom lasagna . For desert we had peanut butter chocolate chip cookies with ice cream. While everything was in the oven, the girls were dying my hair. Yup...they decided I needed to go a little darker. I have gotten my hair dyed before, but it was IN A SALON! I was pretty nervous, but it went OK except for the part where Amy almost broke my neck rinsing my hair out. (All of the photos of me below are pre-darker hair...I'll have to get a post-darker hair photo up soon.)

I love these girls so much. Words can't describe how much it means to me to have such wonderful girlfriends; knowing that we will always there for each other...it's priceless.

Fall!

2009-09-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

So the last couple of days here in the Springs has been very Fall-like. I LOVE it! I love when you can feel the seasons changing. There's a different feel in the air, different smells, different sounds, and if you look closely, you can see those few leaves starting to change colors.

I love fall.
I love when I get to start wearing my fuzzy moccasin slippers again.
I love that feeling when you first get into your bed at night and the sheets are cold.
I love getting to wear cozy sweatshirts.
I love going to the farmers market on saturdays and seeing all the fall squash.
I love when Starbucks begins selling their Pumpkin Spice Lattes.
I love knowing that the holidays are right around the corner (and therefore, so is Stoney's R&R!).
I love seeing all the mums for sale at the store.
I love that fall brings back so many great memories.

I miss Kentucky and our time there. Stoney and I had a fantastic Fall in Kentucky...
going to Octoberfest in Louisville,
picking out a pumpkin at Hueber Farms,
walks in Otter Creek Park,
handing out candy at Fort Knox on Halloween,
Thanksgiving with our great friends the Dolan's and the Whitten's...

I will always cherish our memories there.

Last Fall I also took a trip to DC to be with my girls. Annie, Corrie, Amy and I have been best friends since kindergarden (or before). We all know each other better than we might know ourselves. So, since we have all gone our separate ways since college, we have made a silent agreement to get together every year...no matter what. Last year we met in DC where Annie was at the time. This year, we're meeting here in Colorado Springs this coming weekend! I'm really looking forward to a great time.

These are a few photos from last years trip to DC, and our outing to my favorite farmers market - Eastern Market. I LOVE that place! If you've never been there...GO! There's always so much going on; so many great local artists, farmers, and other vendors to see. And, if your ever do go, you must check out Bread and Chocolate. It's a restaurant on the corner by Eastern Market. How could a restaurant with my two favorite items in the name not be amazing?!

And one more.... Stoney and I at Octoberfest drinking Pumpkin Ale. Yum!

HAPPY FALL!

another arrangement: an edible one

2009-08-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

Look what showed up at my door today. I've never gotten anything for Edible Arrangements.
My husband is the best.
So far, I've had one chocolate covered strawberry and it was SO yummy.

I love you, Stoney. Thank you.

The Fam in Colorado Springs

2009-08-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

So a couple weeks ago now, my mom and dad came into town for about a week. They drove up from Texas with a couple stops along the way (Marfa, Tx and Santa Fe). They stayed at our house in the Springs for a night and then I went with them to Estes Park for a mini-getaway. It was great. I hadn't been to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park since I was little; I didn't really remember it at all. Then, there was my dad who remembered the exact spot where we listened to a park ranger talk about something or another probably over 20 years ago. He has a memory like a hawk...or is it an elephant...? ;)
When we got back to Colorado Springs, we met up with my grandparents who had just arrived to town. They drove all the way from Texas as well. I had a great time showing them around our new town. My grandparents stayed at Cheyenne Mountain Resort . If you are ever traveling to this area, I highly recommend this place. It is reasonably priced, and gorgeous. The lobby is a true work of great architecture. I had breakfast and dinner at the resort with my parents, grandparents, and my friend Kelly several times. It was fan-tastic! I can not explain how amazing the buffet and omelet bar was (especially after a long saturday run).
Thank you Mom, Dad, Gigi, and Pawpaw for coming to see me. I had a wonderful time and I hope you all did as well.
Love you!

Air Force Academy Chapel

We did a little photo session at Garden of the Gods. I don't think Gigi and Pawpaw were very excited about it, but they were great sports. Thank you.

This is classic Pawpaw.

My mom and dad. Aren't they cute?!

I just liked these pictures...Mom and I took a hike in the Park and came across a tree that had fallen over; these are photos of it's roots.

SENIORS 2010

2009-08-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

So the 2010 school year is here!

This past week I photographed two awesome seniors who are part of my senior rep program. These two stunning seniors will be helping me spread the word about my senior sessions. I am still looking for two additional seniors that would like to participate - you will get a free mini session now, and full portrait session later in the year. In return, I will give you senior rep cards with your photo and my info to pass out to all of your friends. There are some other awesome perks (other than the TWO FREE SESSIONS!), so contact me for more information.

Tony - Tony is a senior at Pine Creek High School this year. He's super athletic and really outgoing. He's involved in nearly every sport but especially loves rock climbing, hiking, and biking. We had a great mini session at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs where Tony has climbed before. This kid was willing to do whatever; he even came up with some of his own awesome poses. His dad, Bob, and sister Sarah, were also a huge help and made him laugh and smile even more than he already was. They also told me about a chicken costume he likes to wear while doing jazzercise (whaaaat?). I'm pretty sure that somehow was related to his job. Tony, I think in your next session we'll have to include that, hah!

Jordan - Jordan is a Senior at Doherty High School. She is such a sweet girl...and did I mention gorgeous! I love that blonde hair of hers. She's a cross country and track runner who has been on the Varsity team all four years of high school! Jordan and her mom, Gaye recently won the State Games of America 5K in their age division. Way to go ladies! Jordan is also a member of the National Honors Society and participates in Young Life. Jordan, I hope your first day of practice went well, and good luck with cross country this season. I'm really looking forward to your full session this spring.

Wild West Relay

2009-08-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

This past Friday and Saturday I participated in the Wild West Relay - a relay race from Fort Collins, CO to Steamboat Springs, CO. It is a 200 mile run that takes most just over 24 hours. Our team consisted of 12 people and each person ran about three legs. What was our team name you ask...Team TRASH: Them Rockies Ain't So Huge. Great name, huh? My bff, Annie talked me into joining the team way back in the fall when Stoney and I were still at Fort Knox, KY, and I'm so glad she did. Everyone on our team was so much fun; everyone really seemed to enjoy everyone else's company. We had some fantastic runners on our team.

This run was a great experience and I'm so glad I was a part of Team TRASH. Thanks fellow TRASHers.
Here are a handful of "snap shots" from the weekend.

Team TRASH at the starting line Friday morning.

Streching it out

Perfect weather for a run.

Handing it off to Jeff

Just a fun shot of Annie, Brenda, and a new friend we made...we were definitely the most friendly team there. If they had an award for the nicest team, we would have won it. And just look at that sky - gorgeous!

Annie B. and me.

There was plenty of time between runs for photo opps...unless you wanted to sleep. Who needs sleep? (ummmm, me)

This was the end to my final leg into Steamboat. The night leg was my favorite, but this one was pretty great. I knew the end was near.

Our trip back to Fort Collins after the run

A stop for lunch along the way back. We decided to toast our Rocky Mountain Oysters...hah. If you don't know what those are, I'll let you google it. Notice the guys faces in the following photos.

I didn't mention before that our team ended up getting 7th in our division out of about 40 teams, and overall, we got 39th out of about 150 teams. Our final time was 28:55:34 and our overall pace was 8:56. We were all pretty excited about the results.

The race was great, my team was great, and the scenery was great. I couldn't have asked for a better first relay race experience!

AMAZING workshop

2009-08-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

I got back home this past friday from an amazing workshop. I feel a little silly saying it was life-changing...BUT IT WAS! The workshop is called Love Affair. Four amazing women photographers put it on (see my post below). They are all incredible photographers, but more than that, they are incredible women. There were about 60 other ladies who attended the workshop and each of them were so talented. Sometimes when you get a big group of women together, things get a little competitive, maybe even kind of caddy; not with this group.

The workshop was based in the awesome W Hotel Midtown, Atlanta. It was oh-so sheek. As soon as we got to our rooms, there were welcome bags and fresh flowers waiting for us. There were so many little details that made our stay so special. Each day we had classes, learned SO much, watched the photographers shoot, learned SOO much more, did some of our own shooting with models, ate way too much great food, and then learned even more. I left the workshop with my brain packed so full of great information, I couldn't wait to come home and get started on all my new ideas.

Here are some of my images from this past week.
Thanks to our beautiful model.

The W Hotel Midtown.

The finale night par-taaay. They had an event coordinator that did a beautiful job.

The headpieces were made and provided by Joanne Miranda Designs.

I'm loving the off camera lighting!

The biggest thank you ever goes to my sweet, sweet husband, Stoney. THANK YOU STONE!

Love Affair, here I come!

2009-07-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm headed to the Love Affair Workshop tomorrow morning and I'm super excited (and anxious)! When I get back I will, for sure, be posting lots of pictures from the week. I am SO pumped about this workshop! Lauren Clark, Kelly Moore Clark, Millie Holloman, and Davina Fear are the four fabulous photographers that are putting on this workshop. I have been following these ladies photography for a looong time, and I feel so fortunate and blessed to be attending. Thank you Stoney for a fabulous birthday, anniversary, Christmas (and all other holidays) present. Everyone in Colorado Springs, start booking your sessions - I'm going to have a bundle of new tricks up my sleeve and ready to put to use asap!

This one is for Stoney. I took some pictures of Daisy last week to send Stoney. She's a pretty photogenic dog (if I do say so myself). ;)

The Bacon Bros

2009-07-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

So, about three weeks ago now, I went with my friend Kelly to the first EVER concert on top of Pikes Peak! There was a hike up the Peak (which we found out about too late) raising money for the Love Hope Strength Foundation (LHS). Check it out; they are a "music-centric cancer charity dedicated to providing support for cancer centers..." Kevin Bacon and his brother actually did this hike with the group and then perfomed. There was a crowd for the concert, but not a huge one. I was able to be in the front, probably 5 feet (max) away from the Bros. I had never heard The Bacon Brothers' music, but it was pretty good. In fact, I was impressed and (I admit) a little star-struck. You can check their music here. Here are some photos from the event.

Kelly and me

The view from the top

That isn't smoke at the bottom of this picture - that's a cloud. The top of Pikes Peak is elevation ~14,110; in the clouds and above the timber line.

This is a group called Drums for Cures INC. They also raise money for cancer research. They were SO great as well...just loving life and playing their drums.

This kid looks like he's having a blast...hah!

Kevin Bacon...

And here are the Bros

Precious Julianne

2009-06-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure today of doing a newborn session of baby Julianne. She is just about a week old and is the sweetest little angel. She didn't want to cooperate initially, but then after she had a full tummy, everything was OK. It seems that's how it usually works with me as well. :) As you will notice below, the colander was my prop-o-choice today.
I had such a great time this morning with Julianne, her big bro Michael, and her momma Ashley. Thank you Ashley for letting me photograph your baby girl.

Enjoy and have a great weekend.

I don't think Michael was supposed to be in this photo, but it turned out perfect. He loves his new baby sister SO much. In fact, he said that she is his favorite little baby sister (and his only by the way).

Corrie and James are engaged!

2009-06-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of taking my best friend's engagement photos about a month (or so) ago now. Their wedding in October will be photographed by two amazing photographers, Kellie and Traci from Anne Marie Photography. Check out their work here. Kellie and Traci did our wedding just about three years ago now, and they have been mentors and fabulous friends to me ever since.
Corrie and I have been friends since kindergarden and I now feel like I have known her fiance, James since kindergarden as well. Stoney and I LOVE hanging out with these two kids...they're just our (laid-back) style. We are so, SO excited that they will also be moving to Colorado soon. We took their photos in Austin at several locations. You can't ever go wrong with photos in A-town. Leo and Hitch also joined Corrie and James for some pics. Leo is Corrie's sweet (except to Stoney:) Basset Hound, and Hitch is their new pup who is a Blue Lacy. Blue Lacys were declared the state dog of Texas in 2005...how cool is that?! Here are some of my favorites from the session.
Corrie and James...we love you guys so much! Congratulations and can't wait until October!

Gorgeous...

...featuring Leo and Hitch!

This one is very much a "Corrie" picture. And James, nice rolled up pants. :)

Pikes Peak

2009-06-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks have been FULL of changes for Stoney and me, lots of time with each other and family, and a couple surprises thrown in there too. We moved into our wonderful house on May 20th. Moving, or rather, unpacking is never a barrel of monkeys, but we finally got it done (for the most part). The day after the movers delivered our things, Stoney found out that he was being moved to a different Battalion. A shock to us both, but what was even more of a shock was them telling Stoney that he would be leaving in a week and a half rather than in a couple of months. When you have your mind set on one time frame and it's changed, your whole world is turned upside down for a bit. My intelligent cousin put it to me like that while explaining the similarities between their situation and ours. Matt and Lacy weren't expecting their perfect, beautiful baby boy Braden to come a couple months early, but he did, and he is doing wonderfully! Those couple of months in two very different situations really made a difference in their own right. I trust that the Lord knows what he is doing in every situation. Thank you for your insight, Matt.

So, after we found out about this new change, we hustled to get our house in order. Additionally, we wanted our house looking good because my dad, my cousin Weston, and Stoney's dad would be coming up for a couple of days. We had a great time showing everyone around. It was nice to get out of the house and enjoy this beautiful area. We shopped in Manitou Springs, went to the top of Pikes Peak, and ate WAY too much. We were also so fortunate to be able to go to the Air Force Academy for Cameron Koehler's Commissioning Ceremony. Stoney was honored to be the officer who commissioned Cameron. It was lovely.

The last couple of weeks have been a WHIRLWIND!

This past Wednesday Stoney left for Afghanistan. It was (of course) so hard for us both to say goodbye, but we know that the sooner he leaves, the sooner he gets back. Everyone has been SO supportive to Stoney and me. Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated. Please continue to pray for Stoney's safety as well as the safety of all of our service men and women. I will be sending out an e-mail update every couple of weeks to keep everyone informed on what Stoney is up to.
I love you, Stone.

Here are some of my favorite shots from our time with the dads.

My sweet little family.

My dad and me.

I think I'm going to get this one printed on canvas for above our fireplace.

This one of Stoney is my favorite. I took it as the top of Pikes Peak...well, almost the top. We drove all the way to 12,500ft and the remaining road to the very top was still iced over. When we started our drive at 6,000ft the temperature was about 70 degrees. At 12,500ft it had dropped to 31 degrees and there were snow flurries! This past week it snowed three feet on top of the mountain.

Stoney and his dad, Kip.

Manitou Springs, CO

It's a very whimsical little town....I love it.

Cameron's Commissioning Ceremony.

Memorial Day

2009-05-24T17:10:00.000-07:00

To all of you who serve, have served, or plan to serve, thank you. This Memorial Day is very important to me as Stoney and I prepare for his deployment to Afghanistan in the coming days. Please pray for us, Stoney's safety, and the safety of all of those who are fighting for us and our country.

Also, our good friend James O'Brien posted a blog about Memorial Day and talked a little bit about Stoney and me. Please check out James' blog: http://www.spiritualhorseman.com/2009/05/truth/. He has a true gift when it comes to words and identifying those small details that highlight the greatness of our Lord. Additionally, it seems that Tonni has an equally passionate gift for sharing the Truth. Her blog is located at http://real-life-with-multiple-sclerosis.blogspot.com/. James and Tonni remind Stoney and me of St. Francis of Assisi when he said, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” These are two special people that don't have to say a thing and you know they are living out God's gospel. Thank you James and Tonni.

Thank you Stoney for everything you do. I love you.

Under the weather

2009-05-15T12:38:00.001-07:00

So, most of this week I've spent in bed sleeping. I never imagined I could sleep so much and eat so little. On Monday morning we decided to go to an urgent care facility because not only was my stomach doing flips, but I also was running a temp. I absolutely hate being sick! The doctor there was great. He hooked me up with a shot for nausea (a shot that hurt more than any shot I've ever gotten) that, I think, at first caused more nausea than I had to start with, as well as an antibiotic. He said he wasn't sure if it was a viral or bacterial problem so he treated me as well as he could for both. My appetite is (somewhat) back...but I still feel week from those few days I spent in bed with a fever. Yuck...I'm just ready to have my own kitchen to cook in so I know where the food is coming from and how it's cooked.
On the bright side, the bed here at the La Quinta is SO comfortable.
AND,
We signed on a house! Yay! I will post some pics soon. It's in a great Colorado Springs neighborhood and our back yard backs up right into Bear Creek Park. We are very excited and anxious to move in...the movers will be delivering our household goods on wednesday. Stoney and I are so thankful that everything has fallen into place as it has. What a blessing.

To Texas and Beyond...

2009-05-10T21:31:00.000-07:00

So we have finally made it to our new home in Colorado. Well, almost.
We have made it to Colorado Springs, but our current "home" is at the La Quinta Inn. We have spent the past few days getting a feel for the area, seeing different neighborhoods, and looking for houses. We have seen a ton, liked a few, and really liked a couple. We will be looking more tomorrow and will hopefully have found a house and signed a contract by the middle of the week. We're ready to have a home again, but I'm not complaining. It's great having a nice place to stay (Daisy included) with fresh, clean towels when we need them AND a continental breakfast. So far we LOVE Colorado and we are very excited to be here. Stoney and I feel like we're still on vacation. It is just so beautiful... I'm really looking forward to re-establishing Alison Portis Photography here ASAP. There are tons of great photo locations! My mind is filling up with some exciting new ideas!

Here are some pictures of our trip to Texas and some while at home. I have SO many posts to catch up on, so stay tuned!

These pics...Daisy sleeping in the car, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, Stoney and I in Boody (hah!...we thought it was funny), and my great friends Kate, Karissa, and (the cutest of all of us) Caitlyn.

We stopped at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and it just so happened to be the anniversary of the bombings. I have always wanted to see the Survivor Tree...The memorial was breathtaking and the tree was more beautiful than I could have imagined.

These are our nieces, Emory, Trinity, and Micah. I'm pretty sure we've got the cutest nieces in the world...if only I had a picture of Selah, the montage would be complete.

What's going on...

2009-04-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

So, this week Stoney graduated from the Captain's Career Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky. CONGRATULATIONS BABE!!!
I would have a picture of graduation to post, BUT...I forgot my camera. My friend Amanda took quite a few pictures, so I'll try to get some from her to post in the near future.
We are beginning to wrap everything up here and are preparing for our move to Colorado Springs. Next week begins our "re-organization week." It's a pretty big deal. Most of you who know both Stoney and I, know that we aren't always the most organized people. Well, that's all changing! We have already started planning like crazy both in our personal life and with Alison Portis Photography. I am excited about what this move will mean to my business. The opportunities are endless! I've been brainstorming and have come up with some exciting new ideas...I'll keep you posted.

I have also had some nice down time this past week, SO, I have been channeling my inner William Wegman. Here are a couple fun pictures of Daisy. I'm not going to say who dressed her up, but it wasn't me. And, last time I checked, Daisy didn't have opposable thumbs. ;)

Alison Portis Photography featured on Collages.net!!!

2009-03-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to brag a little...This week my work is being featured on Collages.net Website of the Week! http://www.collages.net/site/Community/WebsiteoftheWeek/tabid/69/Default.aspx
Just a couple posts down I mentioned that this would be coming up. I am very excited that the great people at Collages enjoyed my work so much that they are featuring it!

In a few weeks we will be moving from Fort Knox, KY. We have loved living here (even if it was only for seven months); it has been a great break. I am however very excited to re-establish my business in our soon-to-be new home of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Being able to have more than seven months to set up my business will be very nice. We will be moving in mid April and from here we will be going up to Illinois for Casey and Rebakah's wedding (they are the couple who's session Collages.net featured), and then down to Texas to visit with friends and family for a couple of weeks. After that, we're headed up to Colorado Springs, CO to find a house and unpack (one of my least favorite things to do). Stoney and I love the mountains, Colorado, and being outside. We are so excited about this move!

I hope all of you get a chance to check out the link above.
Have a happy Monday!

The Lake

2009-03-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago Stoney, Daisy and I went to the lake for a date (and to scout out some new places for a couples photo session I did yesterday). We always love going to the lake here at Fort Knox. I guess not many people know about it because we rarely see anyone. It's always nice to go out there and just get away from it all. Here are a few quick shots of Daisy and Stoney. Daisy loves to play with her bird retrieving dummy.
I will be posting the session I did yesterday at the lake very soon.

Rebekah and Casey

2009-02-25T17:53:00.000-08:00

Several weekends ago I took our dear friends Casey and Rebekah's engagement photos. They are getting married mid-April in Indiana. I did this session in a great new location we recently found on base here at Fort Knox, KY. It turns out that the weather here is very similar to Texas weather in that it's always going from one extreme to another. The day we did the session the weather was gorgeous; however, just a week before there was a terrible ice storm (see pictures below). The day was perfect, my couple was perfect, and I think the photos turned out pretty great too!

Oh, and by the way, Collages.net will be featuring my photos of Casey and Rebekah's engagement session on the week of March 30th as their portrait site of the week! I'm super excited and I will be sure to post a link when it's up!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T19:18:00.000-08:00

So, I truly believe that Valentine's Day is a conspiracy; a way for the restaurant and retail world to make money. However, I really like it. It's always fun to put on your fancy clothes (and by "fancy" I mean not jeans and a t-shirt :) and go out for a nice meal with your sweetheart. This evening Stoney and I went to a great restaurant in Louisville called L and N Wine Bar and Bistro. It had a great French Bistro atmosphere and we had an amazing four course meal paired with a great bottle of wine.

We have recently discovered a whole new side to Louisville...the local side. Since we are here for only another month or two before we move to Fort Carson, Colorado, we are trying to go to as many "unique to Louisville" places as possible. Last weekend we went out with some friends, Amanda and Joe, and Karissa and John to another "unique to Louisville" restaurant called Mojito Tapas. It was fabulous! AND, Karissa just happened to go into labor the next day and baby Caitlin was born the following day! Was it the tapas? We will never know!

I hope that all of you go explore and support your local restaurants, businesses, and neighborhoods. I believe that every city/suburb/podunk town has it's special places...you just have to open your eyes.

If you are from the Louisville area or plan to visit, check out this website. It has a great list of Louisville local restaurants.

Happy day!

Karissa's countdown

2009-02-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

Here are just a couple pics I took a while back of my good friend Karissa. Her due date is today; however, baby Caitlin isn't here yet! Karissa is always beautiful and her baby bump makes her especially radiant. Stay tuned...maybe I'll be able to post some baby pictures of Caitlin soon. :)

and the answer is...

2009-02-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

The snow and ice are melting now, but we hear that there's another storm coming in tonight. It shouldn't be bad though; just a dusting.
The tracks that I asked about below are squirrel tracks. Hah...you all were way off. It was a hard one though, I'll give you that. Thank you all for participating...I guess no one is getting a really big hug from me. :)

More cold weather

2009-01-30T09:33:00.000-08:00

Here are more photos of our winter weather. We lost power on wednesday and it (thankfully) came back on, on thursday afternoon. I have now realized how much we take electricity for granted. Wednesday morning we woke up to a very cold house; our thermostat only goes down to 50 degrees and I'm sure we were well under that. There are so many people that not only do not have power (since tuesday) but also don't have water. Despite the disaster this ice/snow storm is causing for so many, the landscape here is unbelievably gorgeous. My photos don't come close to doing it justice.

This is the thick layer of ice that is covering everything.

All the trees are so weighted down with ice that they are bowing downward. So many of the trees can't hold the weight of the ice and just snap.

Can you see the two deer? Pretty good camo.

Kinda funny....

Trinity, this one's for you. His name is Snowball...later, Daisy ate him (see pictures below). I've never experienced frostbite, but I'm pretty sure Stoney and I had the beginning stages after making Snowball.

If anyone can guess what kind of track this is, I will give you...a big hug the next time I see you. Leave your guesses in the comments section below.

Brrrrr...We're not in Texas anymore!

2009-01-27T12:49:00.000-08:00

Last night around midnight it started sleeting. The sleet turned to rain and the rain turned to layers, and layers, and layers of ice on the ground. Following the rain was some snow and then some rain again. All the schools are closed and they say it's going to be worse tomorrow. Our poor dog has no idea what's going on. Earlier she really had to go outside (for the restroom ;) and she slipped and slid around trying to figure out what to do...hah. All of you who are also experiencing this weather, be safe and stay warm.

Handsome headshots

2008-12-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

So, a couple weeks ago I had a headshot session with Ben Hayes. He's a student at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He was so easy to work with and as you can see from the pictures, the camera likes him too. He is an actor and writer (Ben, correct me if I'm missing anything else). Remember his name because I'm pretty positive that he's going to be famous someday. Thanks Ben!

Headshots for Rebekah

2008-11-13T20:22:00.000-08:00

So recently (being a month or so ago) I took some headshots for my friend Rebekah Ankrom. She's an opera singer. Yup, I said it...she sings opera. How cool is that?!? These are some of my favorites. More headshots to come.

Last weekend...

2008-10-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

So last weekend Stoney, Daisy (our dog), and I went camping and kayaking in Mammoth Cave National Park. This park is beautiful and yet another perk to living where we do in Kentucky (the park less than an hour away from Fort Knox). The leaves were just starting to change colors and the weather was perfect. We bought a tent, and air mattress (yeah, we were really roughing it), plenty of marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, hot chocolate, and a bottle of wine of course. Unfortunately we forgot batteries for the air mattress pump and Stoney decided to blow the whole thing up by himself...hah!

This weekend we are headed to Texas where we will photographing the Colvin-Younts wedding. They are both so much fun and we're really looking forward to both the wedding and seeing some family and friends while we're there. Pictures to come...

Nate and Kerri

2008-09-24T12:49:00.001-07:00

So, way back when...in July...I took these photos of Nate and Kerri. Nate went to West Point with Stoney and he and Kerri lived in Killeen while we were there and now, they live at Fort Knox with us. Well, not really "with us," but we're both here at Knox. They are some of our greatest friends! Here are some of my favorites from our mini-session.

We've moved!

2008-08-10T14:32:00.001-07:00

So, as of yesterday evening Stoney and I no longer live in Killeen, TX. Everything has been packed, moved, and the house is empty and clean (as I could get it). I cannot explain the relief we are both feeling right now. For the next three days or so we will be at my parents in Seguin followed by a trip to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone, WY until the 23rd of August. We are looking forward to some great hikes, a couple kayaking trips, and lots of wildlife photos! Since I was a little girl, we've been taking this trip to the Rockies. I haven't been in (at least) three years and we're all really looking forward to it. I'm sure I will have lots to show and tell upon return.

Soon after we return from Wyoming, Stoney and I will be off to our new home in Kentucky. We are really looking forward to a change in scenery and are excited to be going to Fort Knox. ....cooler weather, SEASONS, more time together...
I will have to "re-establish" Alison Portis Photography in KY, but I am looking forward to the new start. I'll keep everyone posted. I have never been very good at blogging regularly, but as we leave the area and so many of our friends and family, I see (even more clearly) the importance of keeping my blog up-to-date...and not only up-to-date with my current photography, but also current with our new adventures. Stay tuned!

This is our old house. We are still working on selling it, but are praying for a buyer and taking a huge leap of faith. Stoney and I were talking this past week about how we both just feel a sense of peace about it all. It has been a great home and we are thankful for our time in this house (our first home together), our time in Killeen, Fort Hood, and in 1-7 CAV, and all the wonderful friends we have made along the way.

Here are some photos from our last trip to Wyoming.

Mammoth Hot Springs. Look at those colors...

Courtney's Maternity (a different Courtney from the previous post:)

2008-07-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

My great sister-in-law purchased a gift certificate for her friend Courtney a few months ago. (gift certificates do make great shower presents). Stoney and I got to visit with Courtney over July 4th weekend and we set up the pictures for the next week. Nicholas (Courtney's husband) and their sweet pup joined in on some of the photo action too. Baby Eisley should be coming soon ...in fact, she may already be here!

This first one is my favorite...I think. There are several that I really like.

...a little different, but I love the simplicity of Courtney's silhouetted baby bump.

Thanks PJ for getting the gift certificate for Courtney. Courtney and Nick, I wish you all the best...hope to meet Eisley soon!

Courtney's Bridals

2008-07-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

So, this session one might call a trash the dress session (and that's what we intended it to be), but only if you consider trashing your dress is walking through a beautiful creek with crystal clear water. Hah! If you don't know what a Trash the Dress Session is, here is a great example.
Courtney and I had a blast at this "trash the dress session." We ended up getting some great bridal shots and had some fun taking pictures in the water too. I love this location! What a great find; if only I would have discovered it two years ago (since we're leaving in less than a month for Fort Knox, Kentucky). Since I found it I've done nearly all of my sessions at this gorgeous location.

Starting off slow with the toes in the water. Baby steps.

So here we go...I was pretty nervous about her dress getting wet.

The water really was crystal clear and I'm a huge dork.

These shoes were her "something blue" at the wedding.

Thanks Courtney, for entertaining my ideas. I had a great time and I'm sure the family watching by the creek loved the show too.

Catching up...Isn't she adorable?!

2008-07-07T12:05:00.001-07:00

This is Yumi...short for Maiyumi. I know her mom through the networking group I was in - CTNG (Central Texas Networking Group). I did a session for her back in the fall and will be doing another session for her whole family later this month...Katie's husband just got back from Iraq!

Yumi is such a sweet and well behaved little girl and she's so much fun to photograph. Seriously, look at that precious face. :)

We took these pictures at Central Texas College just across from Fort Hood. The always keep the campus looking so well manicured.

I love this rock wall...and again, isn't she SOOO cute!?!
Thanks Katie...I look forward to the family picture. Hope you're having a great vacation.

Chelsea's senior portrait session

2008-05-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

Chelsea was such a pleasure to work with. We did this session way back in April, and I'm just now getting it up...yeah, I know, I've been a slacker. Anyway, we shot theses photos in downtown Salado. If you've never been to Salado, you need to check it out.

Courtney's Bridals

2008-03-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

I shot Courtney's bridal session in Gruene about a month or so ago...Courtney is very much the "outdoors-woman" so Gruene was a perfect setting for her pictures. We had such a fun time!

Yup...she danced on the bar!

This is my FAV! She reminds me of a ballerina...Love it.

Stoney is HOME!

2008-01-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

YAY! He's home....
Stoney got home around 10AM on Saturday the 19th of January from being gone a total of ~15 months in Iraq. I saw him last for two (very short) weeks in May 2007. I cannot tell you how excited I was in this picture below. I was so anxious, nervous, excited, and everything in between that I could hardly stand it. I've never felt so much at once. And the welcome home ceremony...oh my...extremely emotional for me! I had some really great friends of ours take pictures and a video. I'm so thankful for them doing this for us. If it wasn't for Joe and his video zooming skills, I don't think I would have found my husband in the sea of uniformed soldiers. Thanks Joe!

So anyway...here's how that morning played out.

This is Joe and Robyn Mroszczyk...my videographer and photographer! They also helped calm me down a bit ;)

This is Karissa Dolan my other photographer. Her husband, John, came in a couple days before Stoney and I took pictures for them.

Soooooo happy!!!

So the street is blocked off, the buses are announced, and they come around the corner...

...all the soldiers get off the buses, but they are behind the buses so no one can see them yet. Then the buses (in the picture above) pull away and the soldiers march onto the field (below).

So this is when I start freaking out because I can't find Stoney...but then Joe saves the day!

Then the General says a little something...(he seriously says just a little, otherwise he might have some really unhappy, impatient family members)...and then he releases the soldiers AND the families.

YAY!!!

I cannot tell you how thankful I am for having my husband back home. I thank God for bringing him back home safely from his tour in Iraq. It was a really, really long 15 months. I know that we have both grown so much through this time away from each other. Having been married for only four months before the deployment it's like we're newly weds again (or still...I'm not sure).

After my foot surgery, prepping for Stoney's return home, and now just being able to enjoy him being home, I haven't scheduled much in the way of photo sessions. We've been having a great time catching up on lost time away from each other. We are visiting family this weekend and will be going to Paris and Rome in February! There are so many great things going on right now! I will keep everyone updated.

Keep checking http://www.alisonportisphotography.com/ because I have a new website that will be launching by the end of the week! Yay!

Paul and Julia

2008-01-03T08:44:00.000-08:00

I met this couple at a Chamber event. We were FINALLY able to schedule a session right before Christmas and had a great time. I had, had surgery not long before on my foot, so I was a little slow getting around. Julia and Paul were very patient with me. Thanks guys! I really enjoy getting to know the people I work with and these two are no exception.

I L-O-V-E this graffiti

Can you believe this blue sky! It was a perfect day.

I love this shot of Julia; she is stunning.

Amy, Lance, Luke and Emma

2007-12-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

These two cute kids are my cousins! How cute are they?!? Amy and Lance came down from Houston to visit before Thanksgiving. We took these pictures on a really dreary, nasty day...but we still had a great time and at least it wasn't raining. These of Luke playing in the leaves are my faves.

So this is a pot that my mom got from Mexico. The kids were pretending that they were sprouting flowers and they got such a kick out of it.

SENIORS!!!

2007-11-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

All you seniors (in high school that is), you are nearly half-way through your final year in high school! It may seem a little early to be thinking about senior pictures....but it isn't! I'm looking for senior representative from all Killeen ISD high schools, Copperas Cove, Belton, and Temple high schools.

Here's the deal...
1) You will have a mini-portrait session with me. I will choose one image to use for my senior portrait advertising, and you will get a professionally printed 5x7 of that image.

2) I will make up a postcard for advertising with each representatives picture on it. My representatives will then go out and give these postcards to other seniors at their school who are seriously interested in booking a session with Alison Portis Photography.

3) WHAT YOU GET...If you are able to get 5 seniors to book with me, you will get a free portrait session (different from the mini-session), and a proof book of all your images.
At both the mini and regular session we will take the photos at a location of our choosing. I am open to any of your ideas. These are YOUR senior portraits and I want them to represent YOU!

REMEMBER: I will only have ONE representative from each high school; so, if you're interested contact me ASAP!

I'm SO excited about senior portraits for the year and I need YOUR help!

Jaime and Jeremy

2007-09-21T19:21:00.001-07:00

These photos are loooong over due for posting. This wedding was in July at the 7-F Ranch just outside of College Station. I actually looked into having my wedding there. I love this place! I went to high school with Jaime and it was so nice to be able to photograph her wedding. Best of luck Jaime and Jeremy.

The Baker Family

2007-08-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

These two boys were adorable! I had the oppertunity to go back to their house last week and get some more shots...I may get them up by the end of the week. ;)
Thanks Baker's!

Portis Family dos

2007-08-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

Bub, Tiff and Selah...Bubba and Tiffany are my sister and brother-in-law. And Selah...she just happens to be one of the three cutest little girls ever! The other two of the cutest girls are my other nieces, Trinity and Micah. ;) Love you guys.

Tim and Paula

2007-07-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

Awww...so cute. Tim and Paula are some great friends of my husband and mine. Tim is very tall. We took these pictures while Tim was home for R&R from Iraq. Thanks Tim and Paula...you guys are awesome!

new friends!!!

2007-07-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

So here are some B-E-A-utiful new photography friends! Check out their websites:

http://www.roxyandkai.com/

http://www.jnicholsphoto.com/

http://www.amydeyoung.com/

http://www.annemariephotography.com/

http://www.stacycross.com/

courtneyspraguephotography.blogspot.com

Jen and Sam

2007-07-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

These two are beautiful together. We found some wonderful spots in downtown Belton and had a ball. Neither of them are from Texas...but I'm pretty sure both think Texas is the greatest place EVER...so we HAD to get some shots by this awesome Texas flag painting. ;)

Thanks for a good (very hot & sweaty) time.

sundquist kids

2007-07-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

These kids are the CUTEST! Ester, the little girl, loves the camera. We shot these pictures at a great little park in Harker Heights, and the kids had a great time on the playground.

not so good at blogging...

2007-07-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

So, I'm starting...right now...
I'm going to try to stay on top of this blog...and my website. Stay tuned for some new and exciting things to be posted.

Karissa and John

2007-04-24T11:11:00.002-07:00

Karissa and John wanted some pictures taken before John returned to Iraq from his R&R.
You can tell just by the way the look at each other how in love they are...
Thanks John and Karissa for your service to our country.

The boys

2007-04-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, Jess, recently asked me to photography her two boys. I also did her maternity pictures. Ethan (who is over one month old now) and Elliot (his big brother) are both so photogenic. The second picture is a great illustration of Elliot's feelings toward his new baby brother.
In the last couple of months there have been all sorts of new babies! It's so much fun to work with all the little ones, get my baby fix with all the "ewws" and "ahhs," and then be able to go on about my business. I love babies...were just not quite ready for our own. I really appreciate everyone who trusts me to capture their little one's special moments.

senior portrait

2007-03-19T09:36:00.001-07:00

I had such a great time working with Jessica for her senior portraits...she is stunning! We shot at several locations on the Texas State campus in San Marcos.

miss daisy mayflower...the cutest thing ever!

2007-03-01T19:48:00.000-08:00

the begining

2007-03-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

This is my BLOG. Yea!...it's for real....Alison Portis Photography. My website is coming soon and should be just wonderful.