It’s official!! after much sweat, tears, and a few helpless phone calls the new ETERNAL GRACE BLOG has been launched. I am still working through a few more little bugs but couldn’t wait any longer to share with everyone.

I am excited to make myself more accessible to my clients so look for both the blog and the website to become more personal in the coming months.  Please please leave a comment or two and let me know what you think!

Don’t forget to bookmark and visit often!

New Blog: http://www.eternalgracephotography.com/blog

*Sniff* Why does he have to grow up so fast?

Spokane Baby Photography/ Spokane Baby Portrait taken on location in Spokane, WA

Aleisha just arrived home from a year in Uganda where she was a science teacher at a small village high school. She says the experience was absolutely “life changing” and she cannot wait to go back. In the meantime, Aleisha is preparing to begin her graduate work in Texas this fall.  She will be studying some of the worlds most dangerous infectious diseases alongside some of the best in her field. With a gentle and sincere heart to help and love those around her I am sure we will be seeing and hearing more about Aleisha in the coming years.

Taking these photos to celebrate this season in your life was a pleasure beautiful girl! I am so excited to witness the great impact you will have on our world.

These photos shot with Canon 5D Mark II

Back lighting coming from the sun with gold bounce reflector to fill in shadows, add some warmth, and bring a little sparkle to those pretty eyes

ISO 100/ 70mm/ F 4.0/ 1-640 sec

ISO 100/ 200mm/ F 6.0/ 1-500 sec

ISO 100/ 175mm/ F 6.0/ 1-500 sec

Spokane Portrait Photography/ Spokane Portraits taken on location in Mt Vernon, WA.

Model: Breanne Davies

Thank you to the amazing design, style, makeup and hair teams that spent hours “painting the fence” (so to speak). Thank you Dori at Redken for sending these and Lucian for taking such neat pictures!

It is Eternal Grace’s birthday today and I woke up realizing something simple–something to me profound. Initially my dream for this business was born out of humility. The name Eternal Grace was supposed to remind me of how fleeting this life is; how steadfastly I must keep my eyes on Christ and His calling in my life.  I was so beyond grateful that the Lord had given me a passion and talent that I could bless others with while having the flexibility to be the kind of wife and mommy I wanted to be. Proverbs 31 super-woman! Then life happened. Eternal Grace grew beyond my wildest imagination. And fast. In the last few summers I’ve covered more events than I could possibly count. My ego was being fed and I wanted to do more. To be better. To be the best. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, but I find myself in a broken place realizing my priorities have been out of sync. Somewhere in the middle of wanting to love people the train ran off track and Eternal Grace simply became my business. More often than not I’ve found myself existing, exhausted….burdened by all that I can and should be yet unable to find my way to that place.

Peace and joy were things I left on the doorstep when I decided Eternal Grace was about the bottom line and not about touching the heart.

I can see that my skills as a photographer are developing and growing; the pictures I take are better today than a year ago. But at what cost? There was a time when I prayed before every shoot. “Please Lord take my hand and shine your glory through me. Help me to be a light to these people…help me to love them as you love them.” When did I stop praying? In the past year I’ve found myself jealous of photographers who work with their spouses or have successful joint ventures with friends. I’ve spend many days feeling sorry for myself lost in the self pity of my loneliness, never satisfied with what I have…ever longing for more. It seems so simple–no wonder I have been unable to sincerely love those around me. I simply have nothing left to give. My spirit and emotions are tapped and dry. How can I fill the cup of those around me if I don’t first fill my own? The truth, I see now, is that I left my partner and my inspiration behind.

Really I have never been alone.

Wedding season is quickly approaching and my heart is so full that I can barely stand it. There was a time when I loved my Heavenly Father and my family more than anything on this earth, and now I see so clearly that bit-by-bit, day-by-day I’ve allowed Eternal Grace to become the all in my life. That ought not to be. Please pray for me as I find myself in this difficult place of growth as a person. My sincerest hope is that this summer would be a time of joy as I work to reprioritize the things that matter and allow the magic that began Eternal Grace to take over once again.

To all my fans who have loved, prayed for, and encouraged me since the beginning I love you.

~Amber Halpin

Born March 26th, 2010

8 lbs 15oz/ 21″ long

This beautiful little bug belongs to my dear friends Brad & Kami. They have been through an amazing journey in the last ten years and it is nothing short of magical to see their arms and hearts so full of joy. Welcome new baby Kellyn!! We love you and are so glad you are finally here : )

50mm / ISO 400 / F 2.5 /1-160 sec (natural light from direct window)

This picture is just awesome. New baby in Daddy’s arms screaming, The ”seriously?!” look on Daddy’s face, toddler Talene signing “Milk” to Mommy and Mommy so exhausted in the moment all she can do is laugh. Yahoo for family picture ops.

50mm / ISO 400 / F 2.2 /1-125 sec (bounced flash off ceiling-natural light window left)

Kellyn has these beautiful, long elegant fingers and toes.

50mm / ISO 300 / F 1.8 /1-200 sec (natural light window direct)

Nothing like a cute diaper bum

50mm / ISO 400 / F 1.6 /1-250 sec (natural light window right)

Look at those chunky munky cheeks!

50mm / ISO 400 / F 2.2 /1-125 sec (natural light window behind/left-bounced flash off ceiling)

Spokane Baby Photography/ Spokane Baby Portraits taken on location in Spokane, WA.

From Left: Cameron Glass, Nikki Belyea, Alissa Floyd, Kenny & I, Brady Campbell, and Nick

My sweety and I on the “red” carpet

Did you miss Pt. 1? Click Here Pt. 2? Click Here

Ta-da! And the new logo will be earth tone! As much as I love purple (let’s face it–it’s the bestest color ever) Joliphoto was right about the color. Thanks to everyone who sent me quick emails/comments with their ideas and “loves” for this logo design. It is simple, clean, and chic. I like that. =)

This is the final part of the Valley of Fire Series. As you can see, though all the photos were taken in the same location we got some incredibly varied photographs. This credit, in part, must be given to the amazing Heather Washburn who was our makeup/hair artist as well as my fashion and design assistant. I must admit, when our original plan for this shoot wasn’t happening as I had hoped Heather, Angelique, and Natalie rose to the occassion and were an immense help to me. Thank you girls so much!

So without further ado, let me introduce you to model Angelique Henderson of Portland, Oregon. This beauty is the full package: smart, pretty, kind, and ambitious. My husband Kenny and I enjoyed watching her and her husband Cale (sorry guys) run off to South America for almost a year–just for fun. Then, when they came home Angelique was blessed to get an incredible job with Nike. Yes, the real Nike Campus in Beaverton Oregon! Even though Eternal Grace is only about to celebrate it’s second birthday in April you might say that Angelique and Cale were where it all started. They were my very first wedding…ever. I can’t believe how much I’ve grown as an artist and photographer in just a few years. I still feel like I am dreaming at times and can’t wait to see where Eternal Grace is a few more years from now. : )

Yes, that is the real sun! I can’t even believe it came out for us on this stormy day. Awesome!

ISO 100/ 30mm/ F16/ 1-125 (shot on tripod)

ISO 100/ 53mm/ F11/ 1-300 (shot on tripod)

ISO 100/ 28mm/ F16/ 1-200

Basic lighting setup: Studio strobe adjusted straight on from left (main light) with fill light 1.5 stops lower at a slightly above model angle from right. The light on the right helped to fill in some of those shadows you see on the right side of the model (model’s left).  

ISO 100/ 28mm/ F16/ 1-125

In my opinion this is the strongest shot from the entire set.

ISO 100/ 28mm/ F14/ 1-200

Just having fun!

ISO 100/ 28mm/ F16/ 1-125 (shot on tripod)

Angelique our touch up girl! 

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Spokane Modeling Photography/ Spokane Modeling Portaits taken on location in the Valley of Fire State Park outside of Las Vegas, NV.

Model: Angelique Henderson

Makeup & Hair: Heather’s Hair Design (the amazing Heather Washburn)