Updating the website

I'm sure most of you photographers out there know how expensive, time consuming and difficult it is to create your own website that will stand up to the professionalism expected of us. I am determined to learn how to create a flash site on my own, despite the hurdles I'm just beginning to face in learning the software (and even obtaining a copy). I know, however, that it will save me a fortune in the long run, and also leave me with a more unique (hopefully) site.

In the meantime, I've been tweaking my current website with Adobe ImageReady. I just launched the updated version of the website a few weeks ago to replace the crappy and very dated looking version that I started with.

All of this has lead to me creating a password protected client entrance, which is still in the works. Hopefully, I should have everything completed by the end of my extended weekend.

I've also created a logo for my L.L.C...


Two a's that intertwine and form a 'p' in the upper right hand corner so that the A,A and P in amy aiello photography are represented. Let me know your thoughts or suggestions - I will be the first to admit that I'm the farthest thing from a graphic designer, and I could use the help/suggestions!!

Well... sadly, that's all that I have for now.

Coming Along

Some projects that I've been working on planning are finally starting to take shape! I've been working with a good friend of mine, Christoph Olesch, on several photography projects. Christoph has got to be one of the most talented photographers that I have come to know. I owe him a great deal of gratitude for everything that he has done for me, as he's mentored me over the past several months.

Anyway, Christoph and I will be shooting a portrait session in a few weeks. I've made arrangements with the help of my friend, Scott, to borrow a costume for our model, my grandmother :) Unfortunately, I'm going to have to omit a few of the details from my blog until the project is complete.

We are toying with using this furniture as part of the scenery:


Christoph will also be working with me on another portrait session, only this time, I will be the model. Hmm... Not so sure if I like that idea. I placed myself behind the camera for a pretty good reason ;) Anyway, I was invited to a very high end wedding this fall (my sister in law's brother's wedding), and Christoph will be shooting me wearing the gown that I bought for the event. I still have to do a little bit of altering to the dress, but only to the embellishments, as they are slightly imperfect.

Please forgive the messy background... yay for basements!


For now, that's all I have to share. I promise to be much more timely in updating this thing. Thanks for reading!

Catching up to do

Well, it's been a while, again... The chopper job's been taking up most of my time, though I have had a few photography projects here and there. I suppose the best way to go about sharing some of these photo experiences will be to write a little background on them and
then posting a few pictures... enjoy!

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I went on a mini road trip out to Loredo Taft in Oregon, IL with Liam, my boyfriend, to spend some time taking photos and getting him acquainted with my d200. We ended up having a great time, took a few decent shots, and got a great workout walking up and down crazy flights of stairs and climbing steep hillsides.






A few months ago, my friend Nate played bass for Jim Mullins at the House of Blues in Chicago. Nate asked me to come watch, and also invited me to the after party. It was definitely an experience that I couldn't pass up. I knew it'd be a good time, and that I'd have plenty of future ammunition for teasing since he was given a pair of skin tight black velvet pants for attire.

While I was in the VIP area after the show, I met the sound engineer, James Teitelbaum. He and I talked for quite a while about many things, but especially music and photography. He also told me about a few writing projects that he had been working on. James and I scheduled a photography session a few weeks later, and finally were able to find a time to go through with it this past week since our schedules were so busy.


The session was initially for James' friend's restuarant, the Tiki Terrace, located in Prospect Heights, IL. The owner wanted some pictures of the clothing line, and asked James to be the model. Once we got going in shooting, we tacked on a publicity photo session for James to use on his book tour.

Oh, and by the way, James is going to be launching a book of his called Tiki Road Trip 2.


James became fascinated with Tiki bars around the country, visited a great deal of them, and produced an amazing book describing an element to our culture that so few people are even aware of. I highly recommend that you check it out. Anyway, here are some pictures from the "tiki session." :)

I had a meeting today with my friend, Jason Kaczorowski. We met with a client that he booked a wedding shoot for and asked me to second shoot with him for. She seems like an absolute sweetheart. I've no doubt she'll make a beautiful bride on her big day.

After the meeting, we scoped out the church where the wedding will be held in Lemont, IL. Both of us agreed that we'll get some beautiful shots at this church, both inside and out.