If you are reading this, please give me a like because I feel like blogging is like talking to myself hoping someone hears me. Hence I dont blog very often but for special occasions, I get inspired. This time I am inspired because its that time of year again where I forced myself to do my taxes and was again amazed at my progress in this self-employment game. Its been 3 years since I left the comfort of my salary. And while I want to quit, I am happy to say I did better than I had guessed. And for all of those that are afraid to take the leap, Im here to tell you the rewards are worth the work! One of the best things about working for myself is being able to open the door for my son when he gets off the bus after school. Flying my daughter to Florida for college, and employing my 1st born to take pictures at her school so that she can afford her new apartment. I feel so blessed! And it does not happen everyday, but 2 weeks in a row is a success for me.

I love photography. So much so that I left a great company to pursue the idea that I could make other people happy and get paid for it on a full-time basis. But what I love more than photography is the opportunity to provide for my children, and to employ them. Its a special kind of feeling. I challenge you to try it sometime. I did it today and I am proud to be able to not only hire my own, but mentor and showcase other young people to provide income for themselves.

Speaking of which, if you see me working with a young person on a job, please treat them like the professional I am teaching them to be. Part of the mission of Abyrdseyephoto Productions is to train young people to work for themselves. To cultivate their talents and enhance their skills they read and attend school for. I believe in our youth, and plan to do whatever I can to instill confidence in them through entrepreneurship.

I feel like I am rambling so I will stop now but I want to end by saying THANK. YOU. Thank you to every person who took a chance on me. Everyone who hired me to capture their memories, hard work, perseverance, determination, and beauty. Without you I would not be in year six still amazed that I can make a living by capturing light, feelings, and movement, with natural hair! Many days I think how much easier it would be to apply for a job, go back to serving students in higher education, utilize these 3 degrees I worked so long for. But every time I imaging leaving this life, I feel sad. Then someone calls out of the blue and offers me a just in time assignment. One that not only pays well, but reminds me that capturing the moment, in a professional and authentic manner for my community is my Joy! And I do not think I can give that up just yet. Even when I do I will continue to teach, employ, and capture. Because God gave me this gift for a purpose. And I plan to thank Him, and you by providing the world with my gift as often as I can.

Thank you. Here’s one of my favorite images from this past summer.

Toledo Botanical Gardens Engagement Portraits

2018 BGSU Graduation Masters Students

OH State Rep Paula Hicks-Hudson

Get access to premium discounts on Senior High School Photography packages if you book your consultation before July 1st! Also check out the blog Toledo, OH Senior Portrait Photography, Class of 2016: Don’t Delay your Senior Memories orSenior Portraits to see some of our senior models and inquire about the specials offer to them!  Then check out http://www.instagram.com/abyrdseyephotoseniors to see some of our senior portraits! Our motto is, #deathtoboringseniorpics and we customize your senior portrait experience to showcasing you! What you want to show, we can make it happen.  Schedule a consult here: Get a Quote/Email Us/Prices

This year I have had the pleasure of working with Fordham Footage several times while covering weddings.Brittany & Justin had the perfect wedding and this video shows me in action (which I love of course) and shows what a typical Abyrdseyephoto wedding flow looks like.   This post is to not only recommend their services for your wedding needs, but also to give you an idea visually how my team sets up your wedding day to capture stunning images and create a memorable experience. We work with the best wedding vendors around.

Abyrdseyephoto weddings are creative, bring out the best in you, and are a fun organized experience.

Take a look!

Brittany & Justin | October 27, 2017 Sneak Peek | filmed by Fordham Footage from Fordham Footage on Vimeo.

Are you getting married next year? I have the perfect end of year sale to help save you a few dollar on your wedding photography. With this link: Wedding Deposit you can check another thing off of your wedding to do list!  All wedding packages with Abyrdseyephoto include the engagement session, a storybook album and prints!  Prices are very reasonable and for $450 down you can retain your date with us!

Please check out our wedding blog for more information, and I would love to set up a time to meet with you to discuss your plans to marry!

Yesterday was a great day for the Recovery is Beautiful Festival at the Market on the Green. I was honored to capture the day for the Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.  Not only did I get to witness several great services offered in Toledo, OH, I also had the privilege of meeting several nice people in recovery.  The most heartwarming story I heard there was of a homeless man that volunteered to help setup for the event.  The coordinator of the event Krystal Barham told me he worked from the time she got there until it was over with enthusiasm and honor.  It made both of us so happy to bring some purpose to this mans Saturday morning.  Here are a few images:

Man modeling Sober Life Shirt at Toledo Recovery is Beautiful Festival

Festival photo of staff working

The facebook page perfectly described the festival, “We have all the usual festival delights of great food, family fun, games, inflatables, music, a theatrical performance from Issue Box Theatre raffles, certified peer supporters, resource fair, toys, a Kids Zone with inflatables, face painting, sparkles the clown, and much more”.  They also had the local radio station 107.3 playing music and offering prizes to people to spin the wheel.  Buckeye Health Plan had a locally operated small business franchise Twine Booth (which totally made me want to buy one for my business) and many youth and community volunteers that served food and gave out information and items to the participants that will be a great help back home, including school supplies, toiletries, and connections to local colleges like Owens Community Colleges TRIO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) program.  I proudly observed several teens from the Youth Opportunities Program where my little sister works handing out watermelon, and hot dogs to the participants.

Overall it was a great event! Even though I was sick I was overjoyed to participate in such a thoughful, resourceful event. As a child of parents in recovery I recognized many agencies that helped my mother throughout the years and also saw many local community employees that gave me advice on becoming a foster parent and how to get more involved in leadership in local business.  I learned a lot! Photography opens up so many opportunities for me to give back, pay it forward, and earn a living doing what I love. Capturing smiling faces in the midst of adversity reminds me that I made it, and with the right help, we all can keep working to overcome whatever this world throws at us, even when mental illness and drugs and alcohol addiction creeps in.  Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed the pictures and the article.

Much Love,

Ambershaun Byrd

The King Wedding was a great joy to experience.  Their artsy couple’s love is spontaneous and inspiring. Everything from the dress to the beautiful backdrop, made by the brides mother was unique, elegant and special. Here are a few favorites from their small, italian-themed wedding (which was perfect since the bride loves wineries). Their nuptials and reception were held at the Reynolds Reception hall, the bride got ready for her big day at the Radisson Hotel UTMC, and the wonderful vendors consisted of

When I started my career in Administration 20 years ago in Toledo, Ohio, many of my coworkers enjoyed making scrapbooks.  Do you remember scrapbooking parties? Well as a single mom, I did not have the funds or the extra time to participate in said parties. However, I did stumble upon digital scrapbooking fairly early in the game, and they quickly became my gift of choice, as I have ALWAYS loved capturing memories, both for my family, friends, and while traveling.

I gave out so many prints and books from Snapfish, MyPublisher, Mixbook, and Shutterfly, I became a pro at it, and people started to expect photo gifts from me for special occasions.  This led me to upgrade my camera at least once a year, sometimes more.  Fast forward to 2012, when my little sister (I am the oldest :)) was a senior in high school.  I wanted to make sure I had great images for her senior year, including at the graduation commencement and at her “coming out” Cotillion ball.

I purchased my first DSLR camera the day of her ball, and that is how my professional photography career started.  Over the years, I have made over 100 of these types of story books. I prefer hard cover books, and 8×11 seems to be my favorite sized book, except for wedding books, I love the 10×10 album.  I have searched high and low for other companies that I can customize as much as Shutterfly, but I have not found one yet!

Having said that, I offer this type of book with almost every photography package.  Photo books help tell the story of the clients life at that time, and the books are fun, easy to transport, and affordable.  Traditional photo albums run hundreds to thousands of dollars more than the books that I offer, without the creativity added to the way the images are placed on a page.  Take a look at my latest senior book of Adrianna that I just ordered:

Click here to view this Abyrdseyephoto photo book larger

By the way, Shutterfly recently featured one of my senior photos on their February blog, take a look!

Hello! This year has been filled with wonder, joy, and unexpected loss. Makes me even more greatful to spend the holiday in Toledo, Ohio with my children. We even got the chance to take holiday portraits at Wildwood Metropark during Christmas season! Taking pictures during a level 3 snow storm was interesting, but they images turned out pretty well.