A while ago, my friend Emily asked me to take some photos of her son Jack, to commemorate his turning two. I LOVED doing this shoot, even though, or maybe especially because, it required me to get literally down and dirty; Jack is short, and the playground was all mud and wood chips.

You can see a few more selections on my photography blog, over at AmberMarlow.com/Blog

Alice asked me to do a boudoir shoot with her. At first I was shocked! Scandalized! But it was tasteful. She posted some of her favorites today, and they are pretty cute if I do say so myself! Click the link to read her post and see all of the pics.

Now is as good a time as any, I suppose, to remind you that I am available for hire to take your family photos or portraits, too; you can see my portfolios at AmberMarlow.com

Furry friends are optional, but totally encouraged.

In tiny drips, dribs and draubs, I’ve been getting asked to do photography jobs. People would either see me doing a photoshoot or see my work and say, “Hey, do you have rates?” and at first I was like, “Uh, not really…” but then two seconds later I’d snap to my senses and be all, “Rates! Of course I have rates! What is your project? How can I help you for actual MONEY?”

So. Here is my photography business website, in case you want to hire me. For actual money. Money is good.

AmberMarlow.com

The site is a work in progress and I’m not taking it super seriously because I feel it would be so presumptuous of me. But it’s there, and I’ve gotten jobs, so it seems like a logical thing to do.

What are your thoughts on the site? I feel like it needs more sparkle and pizazz. (You know, all the things I’m known for.)

When Matt Timms was a growing up he used to play a game with his siblings where one would think of five ingredients, and then the others would have to make an imaginary three-course meal using only those five things.

Being that Matt Timms is awesome and this is Brooklyn, he turned that old childhood game into a radio game show and called it The Mind Kitchen. Guests are challenged to come up with an imaginary appetizer, main course and dessert, and one is declared a winner.

I was on episode 3 competing against Keavy from Kumquat Cupcakery (and Hey Brooklyn guest – number 4 if memory serves) and Melissa from Fork This. In addition to some basic pantry items, our ingredients were artichokes, coffee, cow heart, turnips and grapefruit.

Motherfuckin’ cow heart.

Have a listen to see who won!

I’m on The Because Show! I was happy to fill in since all the ladies save Jerilyn were unable to make their recording, and we had a great chat via Skype (I wanted to hop a plane to L.A. and record it live, because OMG how COOL would that be?! but Rob was all, “Mer.  Too expensive.”  Psssh.)

Being interviewed gave me a huge appreciation for my Hey Brooklyn interview subjects; interviewing feels safe and bossy and in control, but being interviewed felt like I reached deep within myself, scooped out a huge chunk of soul and spread it all out on the table for everyone to look at and touch.

Yikes!

It was a wonderful experience, though.

Go have a listen! Also, consider supporting by downloading the show on iTunes.  It’s free, it’s easy, and you can sync it to your iPodular device.  All of us podcasters really appreciate it when you subscribe that way.

Happy weekend!

I wrote a piece on the communal blog 3six5. Check it out!

http://the3six5.posterous.com/march-13-2010-amber-marlow-blatt

Really quick post – I am so excited to announce that today is the first week of me being regularly featured on the Skint each Monday! The Skint is a daily listing of free and cheap things to buy, see, do and eat in New York, and I’m spicing it up with a link to my weekly Hey Brooklyn interviews. Here is the first one!

This connection is excellent for me because they’re a great website – I’ve turned to them often when figuring out weekend plans – and they have a wide readership, so more eyeballs on me! You know I’m such an attention hog.

I’ve started compiling a list of places that I can ask to advertise on Hey Brooklyn.

It’s nerve-wracking to say to someone, “Take me seriously enough to invest your dollars with me.” It should be cake, because my podcast has grown to a point that advertising on it is something that I sincerely believe would be beneficial to a business. The number of listeners and downloads are there. The quality of content is there. The quality of production is *SO* there – Rob is amazing. It’s all there, and now the scary part is saying, “Hey, come advertise on my show. This is what I can do for you.” EEEEk! But I’m doing it, because, you guys?, I am *SO* over not making any money.

[Sidenote: I'm wondering if blogging about this is unprofessional, but the truth is: I'm not cool! I quiver, I get nervous, and I blog about it.

Ehh, I think it's ok. It's honest.]

***

My friend Walt Ribeiro gave a talk once, and someone asked him about reacting to getting rejected. Walt (who is one of those really sincere people brimming with zest and pep) answered in what would become a bit of a catch phrase among our friends: “Ask your face off!” The logic is that if you ask a bunch of people for whatever you need, someone will, eventually, say yes.

I’ve since found this post and video on his website, and felt newly inspired. It’s super-basic stuff that we all know but sometimes forget. (He usually does daily music lessons on YouTube, but on this day he chose to shoot a pep talk instead. I suggest you merely listen to it, not watch; his walking down the street might make you queasy! ).

So here I go: I’m going to ask my face off.

If you want to better hone your “stalking Amber” skills, check out this interview over on Cherry Patter.  I blabbed all my favorite neighborhood spots (and put in a plea for help getting dressed).

Hugs are free, and ads are cheap!  Just $10!

If you would like to advertise on my blog and have your banner seen by hundreds of the most fabulous, discriminating eyeballs on the internet, now is the the time to set it up for July 1st!  See here for more information, and email me (theambershow at gmail dot com) for details.  All sponsors get a write up, too!