Out with the old, in with the new!

There are many changes that are about to be happening to Amore Vita Photography.. for now I am switching my blog! This new site is going to be my blog and my website all in one! So from now on please visit http://amorevitaphotos.com for all the latest blog posts!

See ya lata, blogger! :)

I just wanna be a big girl!!

Here's a little personal blog post for you guys today! I really just need to vent a bit, haha.

Many of you know that I'm a server. Let me just say that I am SO OVER IT! Don't get me wrong, I love meeting new people everyday and talking to my guests about random things, but really.. serving people all day, everyday is getting really old. I want more than anything to just be a photographer full time. To be completely honest, as much as I want to leave my serving job, I'm scared. I think it might just be time to take that leap of faith and do it. I mean the worst thing that could happen is I would have to go back and take a second job, right? If anyone reading this has any words of wisdom or advice please share with me! =) I would be beyond grateful. Thanks for listening to my little vent sesh.

And cause we know that every post is a little bit better with a picture, here's one from a rehersal dinner that just makes me giggle ;)

I love my family

So Hugo and I just got home from our 12 hour drive back from New York. Most people know that I'm from Long Island and moved to North Carolina when I was 16. Let me tell you, moving when you're 16, about to be a junior in high school, leaving the best friends in the world and a new boyfriend... was the WORST thing that could have possibly happened to me. I was certain my partents were out to ruin my life. Of course I was sad about leaving my family, but at 16 I wasn't really thinking about that as much as I should. 

Now, almost 5 years later.. I realize that my parents weren't really out to ruin my life, but they were actually making my life a heck of a lot better for me and my sisters. I wish I could go back in time to all the visits I made to New York within the first 3 years I was gone, and instead of spending every waking moment with my old boyfriend, I would just chill with my Nonna and watch the game show network.. (Seriously, coolest Grandma ever!)

Hugo and I have been saving our change in a jar in his apartment since we started dating, a year and a half ago. We decided we were going to use that money for gas to visit my family. He has met everyone else in my family except, for the CRAZY Italians. I knew he would have to meet them to get to know me completely. So we made the trip, and I'm so glad that we did. I got to see almost everyone in the short two days that we were there. Even though my family is loud, crazy, and dramatic I wouldn't trade them for anything. Hugo loved them and they loved him back, which just made me love him more =) Now that I can only visit about once a year and I want to spend as much time as humanly possible with my grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. And, of course I loved seeing my friends, too! 

Although I didn't take enough pictures as I should have.. I got a few with the trusty iPhone :)

My Nonno... he is seriously a HAM!

My Beautiful Nonna!

 And Hugo snapped a picture of me and my baby cousin, Sarah. It's so fun to watch her grow up.. especially when I only get to see her around every 6 months. She changes so much every time! She had me laughing to the point of tears when we were playing tea party. Funny little girl! I'm pretty sure she gets it from me ;)

p.s- LuLu, I think you are the last one the needs to meet Hugo to make it complete! Aka, get your butt to North Carolina!! :) I love you!

My baby sister is a superstar :)

Last night I went and watched my sister Taylor at her elementary school talent show. She is totally going to be on American Idol in about 6 years and I'm so excited to cheer her on every step of the way. Watch this video and tell me shes not the cutest thing you've ever seen!! :) Please excuse my parents at the end of this video... please. haha

Welcome to the family, Bailey!

Let's just start out by saying how amazing my friends are. We are always there for eachother, no matter the situation. Through the boys that make us cry, the jokes that only we would understand, and anything else that dares to stand in our way. We tend to refer to eachother as family because well, thats what we have become. I love you, Auriel, Liz, Laura, and Leslie!! (aka.. JAELL) :)




Okay now to the real post... Auriel has a new man in her life and we really felt it was necessary to make it blog official. This is the friendliest, most lovable guy you will ever meet! His name is Bailey and although he has only been with the family for about hmm... 48 hours, we all love him to pieces!! Welcome to the family Bailsss!







How freakin' cute :)




Bailey is a 4 year old Shiba Inu, and seriously the CUTEST pup I have ever seen! :)



Side note: I found out real fast that pups are not the easiest subject to shoot.. but I still love ya, Bailey!

A little late, but better than never =)

Okay these are all the way from Thanksgiving!! eek... I know, I know! Well for thanksgiving my boyfriend and I visited his family in Illinios. They lived an hour away from Chicago and I was SUPER excited to see eveything. I've basically lived in a bubble my whole life and had never been off the east coast prior to this trip. I've only actually 'stayed' in 4 states. Well here are some pictures of Chicago, the family and of course the pup! :)


This is ye-yo.. most loveable puppy ever!



Christopher!! What a cutieee <3



Hendrix :)



Chris and Tio Hugo



More ye-yoooo



Hugo's niece, Mona...






A building across from the Skydeck:






whaaat? who put spicy red sauce on their apples?! Hugo's family... haha



Me and my love<3

Finally!

So, I've never taken a photography class before I got into my second year at UNC Charlotte. When I was starting my sophomore year I was an education major but I was taking Photo Media 1 because I wanted to minor in art. By the end of the semester I completely fell in love with photography and changed it to my major immediately. I started as pre-art and my portfolio just got accepted into the art program. Photography was always a hobby of mine growing up but I never thought I could actually make a career out of it. I decided to give it a shot because I would rather spend my life doing something I love rather than struggling and doing something I despise. Here is some of my work from my Photo Media 1 class: