I went apple picking on Saturday for the first time.  I’d never been and Rob was out of town, so I piled in the car with four friends and went to Outhouse Orchards.

This is Josh, originally from Michigan who now lives in Thailand.  He posed with some fall things, because he is awesome.

“It’s decorative gourd season, motherfuckers!“

We capped off our day with apple cider donuts.  (These are the orange corduroy pants.  They are perfect for apple picking and being seen from space.)

Oh hel-lo!

Back at BlogHer, Laura Boyd did a few photoshoots with some bloggers, including Yvonne from Joy Unexpected. They left me inspired to create some of my own.

I Iove women. You know those girls in college that always said, “I’m one of the dudes.” or “I get along better with guys than girls.”? I’m not them. I like girl power, gal pals, ladies lunch and all of the divine secrets of the traveling vagina monologues. So when I saw Yvonne’s photos, traditionally for a man’s taste but so “girl pretty”, I was excited by how empowering they were, and how empowered she said they made her feel. I wanted to create that, too, and I want this to be part of my business.

Apparently it’s not an especially tapped market, and many of the photographers that offer this have a more – ahem – “unwholesome aesthetic” or don’t have women with actual curves in their portfolios. Thus, anyone who doesn’t have an in-your-face kinky streak or has an extra pound or two is intimidated. You know, most of us.

Then I realized, of course, that I’d need a model to get me started on this, my first of hopefully many boudoir shots.

Thankfully, my friend Nicole is shameless and gorgeous.

So ladies, who’s next?

His name is Zachary, and he was at the corner of Union and Smith in Brooklyn, dancing and singing to himself in the rain.  Rob and I had to buy a lemonade from him.  He was just too cute.  (It was lost on neither of us that we sort of look alike.)

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

These photos are totally unedited. I shot them through my hair in my backyard in the setting sun. My curls make a good filter.

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.

I have some awesome photos up on my photo blog of Oliver, who belongs to Erica from Fucked in Park Slope.

Check ‘em!

The thought of having another blog makes my everything hurt. I suck at branching out and branding and all that stuff, but I thought it was important to have a separate space for photography-related posts. I dunno.

What I do know is that I’m really excited about the pics!

In my Grandma’s kitchen.  I thought the lighting was so pretty, even though “Bowl of Fruit” has to be the most over-done, cliché, boring photography subject ever.  Gram fussed that the banana wasn’t pretty enough, but I think the bruises add character.  I’m spilling secrets here: that pear in the back is fake.  It’s so the bowl is never actually empty.

Cinnamon tea, honey, and girl talk while babies snooze nearby is the perfect winter afternoon.

Pastel cookies for Lydia’s half birthday party.  I bit into one and was *wham-o*ed with memories of being in grade school – I’ve been searching for this recipe for ages since tasting it two decades ago.  FINALLY.  Jen had it, and she passed it on.  I am ecstatic.

Sarah from Rescue Chocolate came through the Hey Brooklyn studio and brought this “Pick Me! Pepper” chocolate bar made with salt and spice.  It made me deeply happy.  I would have never selected this myself so I’m glad she selected it for me.  Thanks, Sarah!

Rob strikes a pose in the elevator of the studio.