new loves

my polaroid and my smith-corona corsair deluxe.

aimee + brian = true love

About midsummer, Aimee emailed me into photographing her and Brian's wedding.

I wasn't so sure.

After the big day, I couldn't be more thankful she did. Everything and everyone there was so beautiful, it would have been impossible for me to not do a good job. Here are a few of my favorite things about the day.

01) Aimee's sense of style. Aimee is an interior designer and she's got this whole super chic "sings like an angel" from the 1940's with my musician husband fabulously in love and so not stressed out about this wedding kind of thing going. So basically a photographer's dream.

02) The glow. This wedding happened on a gorgeous day in mid October in Richmond, VA when it was about 72 degrees out and the sun made everything glow, including every one's skin. Also a photographer's dream.

03) The flowers. Aimee, her mom Joann, her sister Alison, and her Aunt Nancy labored over gossamer hand crafted flowers for the ceremony. They were everywhere, and they were the perfect unique addition to her wedding.

Thank you Aimee + Brian. You guys are awesome.

See the rest of the images here.

my grandfather's argus

I was never lucky enough to meet my dad's dad, Gene Hasson, but somehow I did get lucky enough to receive his legacy - the argus.

My grandad (or "Pup" as we lovingly call him) was a photographer in his own right, and I know that the reason I started shooting was because I wanted just to feel like I was connected to him. I wondered if perhaps his love for capturing light might have gotten passed on to me, just like the shape of his nose did.

My dad tells me how he remembers learning to shoot on this camera, and the way its ripened leather case felt in his hands. When he talks about it, I can see the love and respect for the medium that his dad instilled in him, and I understand why it's so important that I do what I do.

Did someone in your life help cultivate a love for something specific in you? I'd love to hear about it.

notes from a sleepy saturday

image: sampson and ethel's quilt. a triptych. september 2008.

The only thing that separates me from the animals is a lot of words, so when I’m not talking much, the gap closes really quick. - Gap by Brian Andreas

Happy about:

tennis lessons

a new lens

my dad cutting mayonaisse from his diet

erin's job prospect

my "birds and nests" rubber stamps

the socks i'm finally making progress on

http://vi.sualize.us/ a new visual bookmarking haven for inspiration in the form of images.

this charming new blog i found today

and this lovely post that you should see.

a happy monday evening to you all. :)

late summer laundry

image: folded. september 2008.

This morning as I was stumbling out of of my still-a-little-bit-asleep stupor, I felt the newness of the cold black and white tile on the bottoms of my feet as I walked into the morning lit kitchen, and I became aware once again, how happy I am to be embarking on a new autumn in this old house in Virginia. Thank God.

a special swap

image: orange heels in the window, taken august 2008.

When we were in college, I somehow got lucky enough to convince Shelby she should trade me these heels for a plastic tote bag. How did that happen? I'm not really sure.

I don't wear them that much, but I'm still totally in love with them and their little bows. I wonder if they are terribly out of style by now? I could be blinded by my love for them.

Sweetest wedding programs EVER via Brooklyn Bride. Check them out. You have to click on the image to really see them. They are the first image.

Also Dear Shelby,

01. I love you.

02. You need to start a blog because everyone will want to read it.

03. We can trade back if you really want to (please don't make me).

Love,

Allie

Why are polaroids so perfect?

image: purple weed at the campground. troutdale, va. taken may 2008.

image: peony bud with little lady. on the markham farm in bedford, va. taken may 2008.

I love love love the polaroid images that I see floating around the blogosphere/flickrland. I haven't been brave enough to spend the money to buy my own instant image creator, especially since they are putting a stop to polaroid film manufacturing and people are hoarding it more and more by the second. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to afford the polaroid hobby in about 5 minutes. I did, however, find this polaroid generator that takes my photos and makes them a little more polaroidific.

image: fiddler's convention, 2008. galax, virginia.

You have to click on this image to really get a feel for it. Blogger doesn't display panoramics as awesomely as I would like.

image taken by jessica woods and edited by allie hasson. grayson county state park, cabin creek. fiddler's convention, august 2008.

and an interesting article on olympic bodies from the new york times.

celebratory eggs

image: "celebratory eggs" taken may 2008.

sidewalk lemonade stands

image: new vintage version of greta with my kayak. edited july 2008.

An article about kids selling lemonade on the streets. Some of them spell "lemonade" wrong on their signs to increase business! (i would have fallen for that)

image from inside the museum for a public service announcement. taken july 2008

iced coffee a la new york times.

we've been struggling to find the perfect glass in the perfect atmosphere. hasn't happened yet. perhaps it might happen at home. this looks super easy and probably would make the kitchen smell realllly good.

hope to post photos de paradise (oak island) soon.

have an excellent monday!

poppyseeds!

daddy
Originally uploaded by Allie Hasson

our dad
a loose explanation.

a night owl
makes grilled cheeses in the microwave
masterful at fixing all things
patient (unless he's teaching me to drive a stick)
a best friend
l.l. bean shirts with patches on the elbows
worn out mocassins
expert storyteller
folk singer
dog lover
enthusiastic
athlete
jokester
opens car doors for us
works out on the stair stepper
tells us look both ways (three times)
taught us how to catch lightning bugs
still pays to get our oil changed
showed me the difference in poplar and maple
hates stickiness
loves kids and babies
talk radio
his police scanner
cuts some rug!
really loves our mom
yard sales
hates breaking his routine
digital watches
fishing
teaching
leaves his coffee spoon on the edge of the sink
photographs on the wall
jimi hendrix
amateur radio
mischief with john john
trucks
cracked pepper
V8
wrangler jeans
the hunting channel
pepper spray and stun guns
mexican dip
an eternal optimist
hamburgers with "special sauce"
emails me every day
meatloaf
"anything goes at the beach"

we love you so much! happy fathers day, popsi!

2 days until the beach. i cannot wait to see you all.

inspiration central @ martawrites.blogspot.com

image: lindsay with bubbles, early summer 2008

eight days until we leave for the beach.
i read a story today about a tiny piglet who was afraid of mud. so it's owners gave it some tiny wellingtons to make it easier.

tomorrow i'll be on my way back to altavista with sampson by my side for father's day.

sorry nothing else to interesting is happening at the moment. but i wanted to touch base here. hopefully i'll have more photos from this weekend.

greta von schnouza

greta's first summer, may 2008.

"The elegance is something that must be whispered, not shouted." - Unknown

Things I'm thinking about right now:

Tag line community contest for the museum.
What I'm going to wear at the beach.
If I should buy a new computer.
A conceptual ad campaign for the museum.
Iced Mochas.
Painting the kitchen blue.
Father's Day gifts.
How Ben loves to sit down in the yard.
Tree seats.

What are you thinking about?

i love you, june.

Baby Lily at 9 weeks.  

Ethan's 9th birthday, at Aunt Janine's yellow house in Bedford.  18 days until Oak Island.  

Good things about today:

I finally got my laptop to work again.

I thought about my talk with Mammie last night a lot. 

I ate chocolate chips waffles for breakfast.

I didn't work out.

I found my turqouise ring. 

I talked to Erin about how she needs to move here.

Greta is so cute.

I found this sweet photographic show and now I need to go to dc to see it.

I love my house. 

as promised

I had written that I would post a photograph of Betty, so here you are! Lindsay's uncle rescued her from a violent situation, so she was a little skiddish around the wild and crazy Sampson + Greta, but once she found that they were nice, she had the best time with them. I loved seeing them together.

I'll also post a few other shots from the weekend. It's so beautiful there.

last year at the beach

I'm so pumped that I was ahead of the game on this one. New York Times says "Swim Suits Offer More Coverage" and vintage suits are back! This mine from last year (when Sampson was just a babe). You can sort of tell it's old school style. Right? I love it.

a mondayish tuesday

this is simple, and i love it.
http://underneathmytree.blogspot.com/

this weekend was multi-faceted and amazing. we tried out the new kayaks for the first time on the river, and i want to go back now.
this tuesday feels like a monday, and i'm so thankful it's not.
only a few short weeks until BEACH 5. we are printing in the darkroom tomorrow night, and i'm so excited to get back in there. i want to start shooting holga next. i want to bring them to you!
will post shots from this weekend later. i also met a new dog this weekend. her name was betty and she had very pretty blue eyes. you'll see her soon.

xo.

sam and i

sam and i
Originally uploaded by alliehasson

This is one of the first photos I've taken in the new house. I love it so far. We are starting to paint this weekend and I know that will only make me love it even more.

lately i've been inspired to make some changes in my life as we enter this new and refreshing season. here's my list so far.

i'll take more walks early in the morning

i'll write more

i'll stretch more

i'll waste less of everything

i'll be more in tune with my surroundings

i will love more.

it's going to be so great. :)

also, you have GOT to check this out if you're a dog lover. http://www.fetchingtags.net/

above image taken at mammie's house, march 2008.

Salem Avenue

Salem Avenue
Originally uploaded by alliehasson

This photo was taken as I was walking across the pedestrian bridge in downtown Roanoke. I was working on the TravelHost story and this was something I shot for myself along the way. The clouds were amazing yesterday. Basically everything about yesterday was amazing. It is the beginning of spring and I also got to eat my first breakfast outside on the porch of our new house. Amazing in sharp contrast to the day before when Greta ingested rat poison. She's better now, thank goodness.

moving!

Yesterday we moved.

And I cannot wait to show you the new house and it's process of becoming ours once I get a new computer!!!

Until then, I'll show you what's going on at work. We've recently opened O. Winston Link's darkroom, and it is so interesting. If you are anywhere near Roanoke and have an interest in photography, you must stop in to see it. I'll post my photo of it here.

I'm also doing an article for TravelHost magazine (photos + story) so I have a photo of the museum that I just took an hour or so ago that I'll post as well.

I've been totally slack about posting, and I felt bad about it, but then I remembered I do this for fun. Not because it's my job. So, I bet I'll be posting more because now I'm remembering how fun it is.

at the Center

When I first moved to Roanoke, I worked at a nonprofit community center that supports an afterschool program for underprivledged kids in the city as well as emergency services for working families that need help. This month they are one of CITY magazine's nonprofit spotlights, and I'm really thankful to have been able to shoot the pictures for the article.

these are some of the girls that were in my group when i worked here. they are so fun. they were also so excited about being "models" which made it even better. i hope they choose this shot for the article.

cya CITY

today is my very last Wednesday with CITY magazine. and although I will be a little sad to leave, I'm happy to be doing it on good terms (which seems to be rare around here). I haven't told snap! yet, but I was offered the marketing coordinator job at the O. Winston Link (historical photography) Museum here in town, and I'm not sure I could have been more excited. I start Monday, so wish me luck!

I received my copy of Photographer's Market '08 and if you are anywhere close to where I am, just starting out in the photography business, you need to buy it. it was something aroun $15 on amazon and it will be a valuable reference for sure. it makes the business end a lot more understandable and not so intimidating. which is nice.

also found google reader today, if you haven't seen that yet, check it out. it will help you keep up with all the different places you want to keep up with on the web. which is also nice.

I'm shooting this afternoon for a fundraiser in the area benefiting underpriveldged kids in SE Roanoke, so hopefully I'll have something for you to see. But for now, here's something for you to read.

"There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don't expect you to save the world, I do think it's not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call a friend, engage those among you who are visionary, and remove those who offer you depression, despair, and disrespect." -Nikki Giovanni

she loves giving kisses.

she loves giving kisses.
Originally uploaded by alliehasson

and greta should be on here too because i love this photo of her. today i ordered the "war of art" to help me win my inner creatives battles..

we'll see. i'm hopeful. and fighting resistance always.

you would love him.

you would love him.
Originally uploaded by alliehasson

one of my favorites of sampson taken so far. this day it snowed 6 inches, which is a lot for the roanoke valley of virginia, so i was thrilled. thrilled enough to take the day of from work at CITY magazine. thrilling!

i'm going to try to be a better flickr'r frm now on because i love it, and i want to do more things that i love more often.
so stay tuned.

Keeping Your Word

"Everything in life is a battlefield. Fight with anger and you are the problem. Fight with joy and you are the solution." --Santana (I think)
I was reading today about relationships and keeping your word. It was talking about how important it is in relationships in life to follow through with what you say because everytime you don't, you chip away at the foundation of what you share with that other person. It also struck a chord with me because it talked about the importance of being able to count on people and that's true. If you can't count on the people that you love then what do you really have?

introducing Ben

for christmas i struggled endlessly over whether to get my mom a dog or not. "it's such a huge commitment," i thought. and "are you sure?" i heard from people i had talked to about it. i was met with more doubtful reactions than i would like to think about now. i definitely was not sure, and doubtful myself, but something just told me to check the times once more before erin and i ventured out on a last minute shopping trip on the 22nd.

and i'm so glad i did. because that fateful ad led me to our beautiful sweet ben. both my parents are thrilled and i am so happy to be able to have been a part of bringing him into their life. i received an email from my mom today that erased any doubt i ever may have had. she wrote, 'you changed my life, thank you". i almost cried. i'm so thankful for the christmas we had together, i can't remember one that i enjoyed more (and i have had some good ones).

so here is one of ben's first photographs. i think he'll become pretty used to being a model because i'm starting him out so young. best.