Allison Marie Photography Blog by Allison Roen, Des Moines area wedding photographer »

I have spent the past week in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment! It has been an enchanting break from the snow, with sunny 60 degree days! Ah, refreshing! I will share more details of the trip once am back at home, but here are a couple sneak peak photos for now! I did two shoots; one was a fun vintage-style shoot with a couple friends and one a bridal shoot at a gorgeous winery. Here are a few of my favorites:

I hit the jackpot today! One thing I love is fresh fruit…especially in the winter. It’s like a little glimmer of summer in the midst of all this snow! This strawberry tasted better than ever; it was a jackpot find!Also, there will be some exciting changes and updates coming soon!! Here is a mini peek of one of the fun projects I’ve been working on. Any guesses?!

I received the sweetest email a couple weeks ago from a close friend who I lived with in college. I love how she described me as having found my “sweet spot.” After all those years of wondering what career would be a good fit for me, I am so grateful to have discovered it! It’s so funny to look back and think that when I was in high school, I thought for sure I was meant to be a high school English teacher…then I thought an art teacher…then a graphic designer…then a counselor…and I ended up with a degree in psychology and now I’m a professional photographer! Funny how life changes like that!

Here’s the email:

It has been a joy to walk with you a bit in your journey to launch your own photography business. It is encouraging and inspiring to see your work and to know that you have found a glimpse of God’s “sweet spot” for you. As I read your update on your new DVD packaging with all the details you’ve considered and the personal note you include, I was once again reminded how right you are for this job and how much the Lord is using you to touch lives. I hope that those of us who are not in that place yet will be diligent enough to find that “sweet spot” that God has created us for and have the courage to jump into the unknown opportunities that that “sweet spot” holds.

Thank you, dear friend, for speaking truth and encouragement into my life! I can’t wait to see what sort of “sweet spot” God has planned for you!!

See more of Allison’s work at www.allison-mariephotography.com |  Friend Allison on Facebook |  Follow Allison on Twitter

of green grass, tank tops, sun dresses, walking barefoot in the grass, sleeping with windows open,  running outside, weddings, outdoor photo shoots, flip flops…SUMMER!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Iowa winters. Yes, I’m one of those crazy ones who actually enjoys snow and chilly weather because with that comes big comfy sweaters, hibernating at coffee shops next to a fireplace, snuggling up in blankets, meaningful conversations, colorful hats, sledding (which I have yet to do this season!), snow shoeing, baking warm cookies…and the list goes on! However, it was been a looonng winter already. It’s been the craziest Iowa winter I’ve experienced, and I find myself dreaming of July! Will this ice and snow ever thaw out?!

I look at these photos of the beautiful Sarah, and I can almost feel the warmth of sunshine from that day! Come, spring, come!

See more of Allison’s work at www.allison-mariephotography.com |  Friend Allison on Facebook |  Follow Allison on Twitter

For those of you who have been anxiously awaiting photos of my paint project…here they are! I’ve been waiting to post these because I’ve been hoping to find a few more things to complete my room: a cool area rug, some fancy patterned curtains to drape off to the side of the door to the deck (I took down the long, panel blinds), and something from Uppercase Living to put above the grouping of white photos. But…it may be a while before the room is “complete”, so here are the photos of my new look! This first one is of course, a before shot of the plainness of tan walls:…and voila! We have color!! I find myself amazed at the power of color. It brings a sense of life and freshness to a room. It inspires creativity & organization.

This will sound super cheesy, but color like this makes me happy! =) It makes me want to just hang out in this room and bask in its goodness. And delight in the fact that we have been created with 5 phenomenal senses to take pleasure in the little things of life!I love how the dark gray makes my black & white photos pop! I found this fun piece for above my sink at Pier One. It has 9 little hooks on it to  hang fun things! I saw this “Vow to be different” in a magazine and was inspired by it: Vow to be different.

Vow to add some splashes of color to life.

Vow to look at whatever situation it is in front of you from a positive angle.

Vow to pursue that dream you’ve been waiting to go after.

Vow to love others deeply.

Vow to not compromise what you stand for in the face of challenges.

Vow to laugh. Everyday.

Vow to be different.

See more of Allison’s work at www.allison-mariephotography.com |  Friend Allison on Facebook |  Follow Allison on Twitter

What an incredible, exciting, challenging, life-changing year! A year of change and of chasing my dreams. I love thinking back to the beginning of 2009, as I had no idea what was in store for me! Here are a few highlights from the year:

1. I finished up my 2nd year of EDGE Corps with the Navigators in Albuquerque. It’s hard to believe I spent a year of my life in New Mexico! To even begin recounting the highlights from this experience is a daunting task, but here are a few:  developing life-long relationships with students at the University of NM & my staff team, seeing students catch the vision of impacting UNM for Jesus,  hosting monthly dinners for 50+ students, leading the worship team, never-ending encounters with cockroaches, countless runs & walks in the mountains, learning how to deeply love people…and SO much more! Here are a few of my favorite photos from Albuquerque:

This was my favorite street, especially at night, as the Sandia Mountain turns pink at sunset! It was breathtaking each time I saw it!

Kim was my teammate who I lived with and worked with…we basically shared every part of life together during EDGE Corps! She is an incredible woman of God, and I pray that God has us living in the same state again someday!

This photo cracks me up each time I see it, so I just have to include it for you! It was taken at one of our Friday Night Bites (monthly dinners).  Talk about random!

2. In January, I decided to begin my very own wedding photography business! During my year on EDGE Corps, I discovered I could not NOT pursue my dream of photography! I second shot for a handful of weddings, and did as much research about weddings and running a photography business as I possibly could! I first chose the name “Allure Photography” for my business (you can even check out the old Allure blog here!), but I didn’t feel like it represented me very well. I wanted to establish my business upon the value of building relationships with my clients so that they don’t merely feel like clients, but rather close friends of mine. Thus, I decided using my name for my business would be a much better representation of my personality!

3. In May, I attended the Melissa Jill 2-day workshop in Phoenix.  I’ve written about this workshop a few times, so if you’d like to read more about it, you can do so  here and here.

4. I shot my first real wedding on May 24th in the Jemez Mountains and the next day, I moved back to Iowa!

5. I spent a month of the summer overseas. I mainly stayed in Amsterdam but also spent a week in Norway and Belgium. An unbelievable trip that has left me with a huge hunger to go overseas again! By far, Norway is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Here are a few of my favorites photos from Norway, and you can click here and here to read more about my experiences in  the Netherlands.

6. I purchased my very own condo. It has been so fun to decorate it and make it feel like home! God brought me the best roommate ever, and we have loved hosting parties here this fall!

7. My dad and I hiked the Grand Canyon…an unbelievable experience!! You can go to my post here to read all about this wild adventure!

8. I developed an even deeper love for my family and friends, as many things that happened in 2009 wouldn’t have been possible without their support and encouragement!

So there you have it, the main highlights of 2009 in a nutshell! I  have spent hours dreaming up possibilities of what may take place in 2010…although I have no idea what may be headed my way! I am not one to set New Year’s Resolutions for myself, but I love dreaming up “impossibles” - lofty goals that I can only dream of achieving!

2010, may you be filled with adventures and laughter, deep friendships and engaging conversations, learning new things and becoming more and more who it is that I have been created to be!

Posted by Allison Marie, Des Moines Iowa wedding and portrait photographer

Hello! I am on the hunt for a good point-and-shoot camera. I hardly take photos at events anymore because it’s silly to whip out an enormous professional camera to a casual event…and for my “little”  point-and-shoot, it’s way too massive to toss in a purse! When I bought it years ago,  it was the top one on the market, and now it’s plain ‘ole big and bulky!

Does anyone have suggestions on a decent quality, compact camera? Add a comment and cast your vote!

And because a post is always better with a photo, here’s one of my faves. I took this at Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado last month:

Posted by Allison Marie, Des Moines Iowa wedding and portrait photographer

I want to shout out a special “Merry Christmas!” to all my wonderful clients from this past year. Thank you so much for allowing me to follow after my passion and do what I love most! It was a great year; you were a blast to work with! I wish you the best in all that this next year has in store for you. Don’t be strangers - I’d love to stay updated on what’s going on in your lives!

Have a very blessed Christmas day! 

Posted by Allison Marie, Des Moines Iowa wedding and portrait photographer

Headbands. I have always loved headbands…when other people wear them, that is. You see, I have this problem. Headbands look ridiculous on me. I remember telling this to my college roommates, and when they didn’t believe me, I put one on for them and what was their reaction? They LAUGHED! Now, I would never consider myself to have large ears, but there’s something about a headband that makes my ears stick out so that I suddenly take on a monkey-like appearance. Either that or the look of a “i-don’t-quite-fit-into-my-own-skin-middle-school-er”!

I was at Jordan Creek Mall today, on the hunt for some unique stocking stuffers. I went into Claire’s, a store I haven’t shopped in since those awkward middle school days…but I thought there could be potential there. I found myself standing in front of a wall of headbands, wishing I could pull one off. I tried one on (no, I’m not one of those who puts things on my head and then puts them back on the shelf! By doing this, I knew I was forced to buy it!) and the strangest thing happened. I liked it! No way! I bought the headband and left the store, feeling like I had just entered a new phase of life. Until I got home. One thing that has always been perplexing to me  is how I could love something in a store, but then have it fit totally differently when I get home. Anyone with me on this one? I put the headband on when I got home and guess what happened? I looked like a monkey. I really think mirrors in a mall have extra-flattering qualities to them or something!

Since I now have my very own a headband, I just might try wearing it out of the house sometime. If you happen to see me on this day, please don’t laugh if you mistake me for a monkey. Just kindly whisper to me that I ought to rethink wearing it in public! =)

Posted by Allison Marie, Des Moines Iowa wedding and portrait photographer

When I was in the Netherlands last summer, I gave myself a fun, challenging assignment: to create the letters of the alphabet, using objects that are not intented to be letters. This was more difficult than I thought! It’s interesting how some letters occur naturally in our world all over the place, and other letters were really challenging to find. I loved doing this because it made me look at the world around me differently: I saw details I wouldn’t otherwise see, I looked up high & down low…so many cool things I would have missed if I hadn’t been on the look-out! I like how this alphabet turned out because I think it depicts the Netherlands really well!

Even better because it’s loaded with memories for me…that’s the best part!

Posted by Allison Marie, Des Moines Iowa wedding and portrait photographer