Monthly Archives: January 2010

Jessica & Gabe: Anytime

This past Sunday, Dylan and I had the opportunity to shoot some one year anniversary pictures for the most adorable couple on the planet, Jessica and Gabe Guzman. And what a fabulous day it was!

Jess and Gabe have this sort of explosive “I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it!” kind of way about them. Their excitement just to be in the same room as each other is so thick, you could scoop it like cookie dough ice cream. (Midday craving alert!) Jess and Gabe just fit. Like the gloves I stole from Jess in order to shoot outside in the negative 358 degree weather. But that’s enough metaphors for one blog post. :) To put it plainly, they are just FUN.

But before we get to the real good stuff, I want to give a shout out to Miss Kristen Padula. I’ve been beating myself up since Sunday because I realized I never took a picture of her for the bloggity! But just close your eyes (after you’re done reading)… Now picture a GORGEOUS brown haired, chocolate-eyed beauty with a camera in hand and a learning spirit in heart. Kristen tagged along with us and more or less observed the way we work and interact with clients. I’m so excited to see where her love for photography takes her! :) Thank you so much for spending the day with us, Kristen! We hope you had fun and that none of your fingers or toes had to be amputated from frost bite! ;)

We’ll start the ball rolling with a couple pictures of Simcha, the world’s cutest kitty (second to mine, of course). ;)

Jess and Gabe fed us mango and chicken curry before heading out into the freezing cold. But man, did this meal pack the heat! Absolute yumminess!!

Jess may be a social worker, but she should definitely pick up interior design on the side. Beautiful, right?

Dylan had no idea what a didgeridoo was. Gabe showed him alright. :)

My boy helping me test the light. Not too much light. But one HOT subject.

Okay, okay, okay. I promise I don’t do this at all my shoots. But, I couldn’t resist this rug!!

And neither could they! Transition to shoot starts NOW. :)

Among other things, Gabe is an insanely talented artist! Ginormously gorgeous murals adorn the walls of the Guzman’s modern-chic apartment.

Are they not adorable? Yeah, told you so..

So, it just HAD to be the coldest day of winter in Albany that day. But Jess and Gabe did so well! Jessica = FIERCE.

The eyes! Gahhhh.

Total hams. A couple after my own heart. :)

This is what happens when I say “Look happy! Now scared! Now surprised!” Wow Gabe, that’s your scared face? :)

I don’t think I’ve ever posted so many triptychs at once. But these two were complete naturals at posing. Or should I say, just being candidly awesome! :)

A little Washington Park action.

Oh bokeh, I do love you.

Our many thanks to Jess and Gabe. For being totally awesome, beautiful, fun, and so visibly in love. We love you!!

To see more from Jess and Gabe’s session, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

January 28, 2010 - 1:05 PM

yuriy - it sure looks like these guys had fun :)

January 13, 2010 - 1:12 PM

Alyse - @Meg Parsons, Spring is perfect! We will be in touch! :)

January 13, 2010 - 10:17 AM

Nina - Lovely, just lovely!

January 13, 2010 - 9:23 AM

jessica guzman - awww…Kristen thank you! But truly Alyse! you are amazing!!!! You could make anyone look like a rockstar! WE just LOVE every photo!!!! and Simcha!!! she looks like a model kitty!!! hehe…thank you for your amazing work! The whole world should hire you! seriously! just love you!

January 13, 2010 - 8:48 AM

Kristen Padula =) - Alyse! You are incredibly sweet and I appreciate you. I had so much fun! And as always, these pictures are adorable. I love how you emphasized Jessica’s amazing eyes!

January 13, 2010 - 8:03 AM

Meg Parsons - i can’t say it enough. i LOVE your work! please call me when you’re in town again…the holidays were crazy and i never got a chance to get ahold of you. lets shoot for the spring!? want to?

January 13, 2010 - 7:29 AM

Noël - GREAT PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They look great together!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tidbit Tuesday #9

And today makes number 9! I feel like I’ve been a pretty lame blogger lately, so I’m gonna spice this one up a bit. Here we go ya’ll…(Get ready for the longest Tidbit Tuesday ever..)

I’ve never been one to take compliments well. It still puzzles me when people tell me they enjoy my work. And when Dylan tells me I’m pretty, forget about it. “But I’m really not!” “I have to spend forever on my hair to make it look even halfway decent!” “Seriously? I think I look like a man!” Well. The other day, while Dylan and I were at a couple’s shoot, we both received what I feel is just about the best compliment ever in the whole widest world. The couple simply said, “You two work SO well together!!” In all honesty, I could have died and gone to Heaven. (I know ya’ll are probably like, “Good grief, Alyse. It’s not that great of a compliment! Wouldn’t you rather they said you were the world’s best juggler? Or that you were the only person they know who can ride a unicycle upside down while eating ice cream?”) No. Seriously, I melted inside. For once I let myself soak it all in. It means SO much to me that Dylan and I are a team, and I’m so glad that it’s visible to others! He is the backbone of my business. For lack of a less cliche phrase, he’s believed in my business when just about no one else has. He is always thinking of new ways to grow my business and to grow myself as a photographer. He location scouts without me asking him to. And he’s also a really hott second-shooter. ;) But, my favorite part about our little team, is when he stops me dead in my tracks, looks deep into my worried, stressed out, “I suck!” eyes, and says calmly, “You got this.”

So get this! If you asked me a week ago where we were at with wedding planning, I’d tell you, “Well, we still have to nail down our caterer. We don’t have a guarantee that we’ll have tents for our reception yet! Our wedding photography contract still has to go in the mail. And we haven’t even made our wedding venue official-official yet.” But guess what? We secured our caterer with a down payment on Saturday, as well as our tent guy!! Our photo contract went in the mail today! Our venue has been paid!! And we even got our wedding rings in the other day! SO excited to have our biggest tasks accomplished!! Now it’s onto the fun little stuff. Like washing 200 antique vases. O.M.G. :(

Okay, THIS Saturday, Dylan and I are seeing Avatar in 3D in an IMAX theatre! And I am so flipping excited, I cannot even tell you. Dylan saw it a couple weeks ago and just raved about the animation! And that wasn’t even in 3D! For the last few weeks, I’ve felt like the only girl on the planet to not have experienced the wonder that is Avatar. But no longer! (Wow, do you ever find yourself thinking, “Gosh, that Alyse is a huge dork!” Yeah.. Me too.)

This winter break has been the shortest of my entire lifespan. Only five more days at home. :( It’s kinda terrifying, to be honest. The pressure of my last semester in college seems massive. I need to expand my prayer life immensely this semester, I can feel it now. Care to join?

So the other day my brother Cameron played his first home varsity basketball game in a looong time! Last May he underwent foot surgery to remove an extra bone that was causing him a great deal of pain and frustration on the court and on the field. (He’s totally an alien, right?) This left him on crutches and in a ridiculously classy boot for about three months. We all thought he was in clear, until he realized he was unable to move his foot. There was a large amount of nerve damage that his doctor had never expected. Cam was preparing himself to miss out on his last season of basketball. But after months of intense physical therapy, Cam’s back in the game! When my brother ran out of the locker room at the beginning of his game last Friday.. Let’s just say I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t get all choked up and emotional like the typical girl that I am. :) So proud of my Cam!!

Gotta love when your fiancé buys you 10 pairs of sunglasses for no reason at all. Okay, maybe there is some reason for it… I break every pair I get like it’s my job. Slickdeals.net, thank you. I look forward to breaking all ten. One pair at a time. :)

Wedding shoe update. Got ‘em. Love ‘em. Breaking ‘em in already: Mossimo Valda Ruffle Flats.

And I will leave you with a little teaser for tomorrow’s post! Dylan and I shot this amazingly FUN couple on Sunday!! Get ready for it! :)

Happy Tuesday!!

January 13, 2010 - 12:03 PM

Kate - Oh man good stuff. When i read the first part about being the longest blog ever, i got pretty excited. so you and Dylan are the cutest couple ever, and i’m not ever exaggerating.a-dorable. and i have the same problem with sunglasses. it’s hard enough to find a pair that doesn’t look huge on my face, and once i find a pair that is suitable, i love them for about a week and just like that, they’re broken. and then the search begins again. wow, i definitely just wrote a paragraph about my sunglass-issues. sorry! i do hope you don’t mind my rambling on, i have a bit of an issue with it. I should stop. Oh but i do love your shoes! the color is fantastic and the ruffles are just darling! but okay i’m done now. for real. so nice to see you on Sunday! and sorry again for the lengthy comment =/ love you!

January 12, 2010 - 2:48 PM

Isabel Shepitka - What a great blog with a truly sweet couple..and I loved the pics of the Guzmans! You definately have a special gift. One that I know comes for the maker of all the earth!!! Use it for His glory~~~~~

January 12, 2010 - 1:34 PM

jessica guzman - haha…I just came back again and laughed out loud…really loud…when I looked at Gabe’s faces!!! hehe…and I’m in the middle of my work floor…i know I sounded crazy;) thought i’d add that;)

January 12, 2010 - 1:30 PM

jessica guzman - ummmmm…….yay!!!!!!!!!! and haha…love the pic!!! thank you! thank you! thank you again!!!! you are amazing and the whole world should hire you! I am talking you up to all my co-workers! amazing! and your shoes! love them!! I can totally see them with the dress!!!!! and you and Dylan…well, all hearts should melt when they see you two together! God’s couple perfection manifested;) can’t wait for more;) you’re the best!!!! yay for Tidbit Tuesdays!!!!

February 23, 2010 - 9:43 AM

Tidbit Tuesday #15 | Alyse French Photography - [...] what I think.. Snow is really, really bright. Ergo, I should be able to wear any one of my new 15 pairs of sunglasses Dylan bought me, right? I was wearing them all last week, until I told my mom and she said, [...]

Something Different

In lieu of the typical Tidbit Tuesday, I’m gonna do one of those ultra-lame get-to-know-you surveys. I risk being made fun of, but it’s a risk I’m going to have to take. I’ve removed a ton of really stupid questions, although it may not look like it. ;)

Full name: Alyse René French

Birthplace: Cooperstown, NY

Current Location: Sharon Springs, NY (on break!!)

Hometown: Sharon Springs, NY

Nationality: US citizen?

Eye Color: Blue (ish)

Hair Color: I have no idea.. Light brown? (I was blonde until around age 10.)

Glasses or contacts: Neither, though the day might not be long off.

Piercings or tattoos: Ears. (A tattoo for the wrist is in the near future. It will spell “Hephzibah” in Hebrew, which means, “My delight is in her.” See Isaiah 62:4.)

Single or taken: Absolutely taken :)

Siblings names: Lorae and Cameron

Right handed or Left handed: Righty

Any pets: My sweet Mony-Moy (cat) and my chocolate lab Sarah

Greatest strength: Working hard

Weakness: Ice cream, all the way..

Parents names: André and Diane

Favorite color: Brown

Favorite flower: Peonies

Favorite college basketball team: ‘Cuse, silly!

5 favorite movies and one you wouldn’t want anyone to find out about? Newsies, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Little Mermaid, (500) Days of Summer, Schindler’s List, BOLT!

Favorite holiday: My birthday! It is a holiday!!

Favorite physical feature on yourself: Oh good grief. Umm, I like my teeth!

Your favorite pizza toppings: I’m not too fond of pizza, but pineapple on top can change my mind.

Favorite alcoholic drink of choice: Raspberry Smirnoff

Favorite guilty pleasure: One Tree Hill :)

Favorite lunch meat: Roast beef, hard core fan.

Favorite place to eat a romantic dinner: Any sushi-bar is romantic enough for me!

Favorite season: Spring makes me giddy inside

Favorite cartoon character: Dora Winifred Reed, aka DW :)

Favorite food: Seriously, now? It’s sushi.

Favorite ice cream flavor: Oh man, that is TOUGH. Probably chocolate.

Favorite subject(s) in school: Study hall :)

Favorite candy: Cowtails! Who doesn’t know what I’m talking about?

Favorite breakfast cereal: Special K Fruit and Yogurt gets me out of bed in the morning.

Favorite book of all time: To Kill a Mockingbird

Favorite song: A Million Lights by Tree63

Favorite park: Central :)

Favorite place to be: Wherever Dylan is. Is that too mushy? Sorry..

Favorite sport to watch on TV: Figure skating is a sport, no?

Favorite TV show: Boy Meets World (I have every season on DVD!)

Favorite number: 7

Favorite fast food restaurant: Taco Bell

Favorite Disney princess: Arielle, hands down

Favorite TV station: TLC, come on! I’m a GIRL.

Favorite name for a son: Jameson

Favorite name for a daughter: Diana

Favorite part of your life right now: I’m looking forward to a brand new phase of life!

Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate

Scary movies or comedies: Comedies. Scary movies haunt me for days.

Short or long hair: Long

Croutons or bacon bits: Sheesh, every knows that bacon improves everything!

Beach or lake: Beach

McDonalds or Burger King: Burger King has bigger sandwiches!

Dogs or cats: Probably dogs, but I do love my Mony!

Smoke: Nope

Sing: Constantly :)

Want to get married: YES.

Get along with your parents: Yup!

Go to church: Yes, Light of the World while I’m home, and Missio while at school. Love them both!

Want children: 4 :)

Drink: Milk

Travel by plane: Never in my life. Isn’t that crazy?

Thunderstorms: Yes!

Play an instrument: Guitar and piano and voice. Voice is an instrument!

Ever fired a gun: Yup.

Top fears: Being a horrible cook for my husband :P

What did I want to be when growing up: Singer, zoologist, interior designer, photographer :)

Errand/Chore you despise: Cleaning my dad’s shop

Dinner with a famous dead/alive person: I’ve always had a thing for Jonathan, King David’s best friend.

Most missed memory: My grandfather singing me happy birthday over the phone.

Goal you would like to achieve this year: Become a Mrs!

Who would you like to see right now: Dylan’s pretty okay.

Books you’re reading: Bible, Fast Track Photographer, and I Promise You

Country you’d most like to visit: Israel

Number of pillows you sleep with: Zero. I hate pillows. (That was not sarcasm.)

And Happy Tuesday!! Three shoots are coming up! So stay tuned!!

T w i t t e r
F a c e b o o k
P o r t f o l i o