Caption It! Contest

Introducing a new card for Amy's collection....

Suggest a caption to accompanying this whimsical image of a chipmunk eating an orange, sliced in half and win a box of assorted notecards!


All you have to do is leave your suggestions (as many as you like!) in the comment box along with your contact info.  If your caption is chosen as the favorite, it will be added to this notecard and you'll receive a box of 12 assorted notecards, including this one!  Have fun : ' )


Check out all of the cards in the "Gifts" gallery at Natural Elements Photography.

Urban Session

With many of my facebook friends recounting their blessings through this month of Thanksgiving, this seems a perfect opportunity to publicly thank all my wonderful clients!!  I truly feel that I serve some of the best people around and I am very thankful for it.  I can now add Kortni to that list of blessings, as I had a very fun afternoon shooting her Urban Session in areas around Charleston, WV.

A Riverside High School senior, Kortni had the idea of using Capitol Street for part of her session;  I love the colors and settings this area provides.  I think Kortni enjoyed the best of both worlds since we also traveled to forested areas to capture some of the remaining foliage and natural landscapes.

You are a beautiful young lady, Kortni;  it was a pleasure meeting you & your family.   I wish you all the best in your senior year!

Best Wishes, Kayla!

This gorgeous senior at Scott High School enjoyed her photo session in areas around Glen Ferris and the New River Valley this summer.  What a treat to spend a few hours with her, learning her fashion style and interests.  I wasn’t that surprised to hear she’s interested in studying nutrition in college, since she eats smart and stays fit with regular exercise.  

Kayla had a knack for choosing just the right colors and clothes to complement her eyes and skin tone.  It was a pleasure to spend time with you, Kayla.  I hope you have a fabulous senior year!

Congratulations to Kristen!

This Riverside High Senior was a joy to spend time with this summer and I look forward to her fall session coming up very soon!    Kristen is a beauty, just like her mom, and what’s more, she’s just as beautiful on the inside.  An active and fit young lady, Kristen seemed to enjoy trekking around the upper Kanawha Valley with me for her senior session.  

These are the areas I photograph most often; I never tire of the spectacular settings and light they provide.  Best wishes to you, Kristen, on a great year!

Give Encouragement...

A new boxed set of encouraging cards to share with you!

This one is personal as the designs were inspired by family. Izzy, my 4 year old niece battles rhabdomyosarcoma and yet, she continually has a smile or giggle to share with those she meets. She inspires many by her faith and resilience. In an effort to continue that good energy, I wanted to create a little something to touch the life of someone else, while also giving back to Izzy.

When you purchase this set, a portion of the proceeds go directly to Izzy's immediate family to help with the costs of her treatment in Morgantown, WV. Thank you for taking a look!

~ Amy L. Thornton

View and purchase here.

Free Shipping in October!

View and purchase gift items here.

2012 Inspirational Calendars!

8.5 x 11" / 12 month calendar

The new 2012 Inspirational Calendars are on the way and I believe it’s my best design yet! Better because I’ve incorporated background colors and textures to complement each season and make the text easy to read.

This calendar provides uplifting quotes from inspirational souls such as John Muir, William Shakespeare, and Ralph Waldo Emerson together with Christian saints and Holy Scripture to share a thoughtful saying each month.

Start your Christmas shopping early! And... if you are one of the first 5 people to order, you’ll receive a complimentary notecard to accompany your calendar.

View and purchase here.

A Word About Photographing Children

The recent controversy over Vogue magazine publishing questionable photographs of 10 year old, Thylane Blondeau, has brought my long-held views about innocence and beauty to the forefront, prompting correspondence with my professional organization, Professional Photographers of America (PPA).

Knowing that our trade looks toward the fashion industry as a trend-setter, the possibility of seeing children photographed in a sensual and adult way is of great concern to me. As a member of PPA, I adhere to the PPA Code of Ethics, and believe it unethical to photograph children in a sexually suggestive manner. I have asked PPA to make a public statement denouncing such images.

As for my business, Natural Elements Photography, I wish to extend my personal views on photographing children, as you may contemplate hiring my services:

I photograph to highlight the joy and innocence of children, to capture the essence of their laughter and interaction with family. I believe there is a ray of heaven in their eyes as they discover something of the natural world, such as a flower, an insect or even a mud puddle! I photograph children in traditional types of modest clothing, usually solid colors, so that the focus is on their eyes and expressions. When I am not making candid images of children playing outdoors, I incorporate modest poses to simulate a natural occurrence, such as sitting or leaning on a fallen log, reading a book by a tree trunk or sitting on a quilt at an outdoor tea party.

If this is what you are looking for with images of your children, then I may be just what you are looking for. If you are searching for images of your children in adult attire or otherwise adorned to replicate a mature model or dancer, I am not the photographer for you.

Amy L. Thornton

Sending a Little Love Your Way...

Newly designed cards and assorted sets have been added to our ever expanding line of custom notecards!

This beautiful rose, from an image Amy made in 2006, receives so many compliments every time a card is sent to clients and friends. Some are uplifted from sad occasions and others are reminded of favorite flowers from their own gardens ... and still others remember the innocence of a first love at the sight of a pink rose! And so, this little beauty deserves a place in Natural Elements Photography's gift gallery.

This is the first card to include a message inside. It simply reads:

"Just thought I'd send a little love your way..."

By far the most sought-after cards in our gallery are the ones highlighting the beauty of West Virginia. Folks may leave West Virginia, but a love for home remains.

This new assorted set showcasing state features, such as West Virginia's state flower, bird and animal, are a great way to share what you love about the Mountain State.

Visit our Card Gallery and do a little early Christmas shopping!

Prayer Books are Here!

My Little Prayer Book has arrived and they look beautiful!

Read more about it...

View a sample page and place order here.

Wonderful West Virginia Magazine

Check out the September issue of

Wonderful West Virginia,

our state's iconic

magazine showcasing the beauty and history of WV...

enjoy every ad-free page of gorgeous photos and engaging articles

and then notice the lovely lady waiting at the end...

She is a yellow garden spider, aka, "the writing spider"

photographed by Amy L. Thornton in the breathtaking

Highlands of West Virginia in Pocohontas County.

And then, when you fall in love with the inspiring and educational magazine,

order a subscription so you can enjoy it every month!

And don't forget to grab a box of Amy's custom notecards,

featuring the same image, with a bonus on the back:

a story of the Legend of Elspeth.

Never heard the story?

If you love history, and especially the medieval events of the British Isles and

Robert the Bruce, you'll love it.

Promise.

~ Family Session Special ~

Contact Natural Elements Photography for available dates:

info@amysphotography.net

Beau!

Wow, Beau is really going places, let me tell you. This is the little spitfire Springer Spaniel that I enjoyed photographing in 2007. He’s full of energy, full of smiles and aims to please. Beau and his owner work with the non-profit organization, Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue (MAESSR), which operates to save stray or abandoned purebred English Springer Spaniels.

The primary goals of MAESSR are to protect this breed, promote spay/neuter programs and educate the public about the joys in sharing your life with a Springer Spaniel. Beau serves as a valuable liaison in the life of a rescued dog, helping in the foster home environment to socialize new dogs and acclimate his guests to the wide array of sounds and obstacles in a new home.

It didn’t really surprise me too much to learn that MAESSR had selected Beau to be a representative of sorts for a new marketing avenue as their organization expands. It was his image from our session they chose to grace the side of their new trailer, which will help the fundraising efforts at major English Springer Spaniel events around the nation. Congratulations, Beau!

And best wishes to you, MAESSR, on your continued growth, which allows you to rescue many, many more deserving dogs.

Good boy, Beau, good boy.

Prayer Book

For over a year now, I’ve been working on a project close to heart, an illustrated prayer book. Natural Elements Photography is founded upon scenic images of West Virginia and beyond and it seemed only natural to accompany the grace of prayer with the loveliness of creation.

I am delighted to tell you the book is nearly here! Because I'll only be ordering these in limited quantities, I’ll be taking pre-orders through the end of August.

The book has 26 pages, sized at 8x6” for an easy travel companion, soft-cover with a full page photo to accompany each prayer. The spiral binding is intentional, as I wanted to have a book that would lay open easily on a desk-top or prayer corner. The last page contains brief notes about a selection of the prayer authors. The photos include some of the most popular from my Images of WV Collection and several new photos made in the mountains of North Carolina.

Some prayers and meditations are probably very familiar, such as the Lord’s Prayer, Psalm 23 and the Beatitudes while others may be less recognized, such as the prayers of the saints from the ancient church of the 3rd and 4th century. There are morning prayers, prayers for traveling, prayers for children & forgiveness and prayers before going to sleep.

Since I’ve been a guest speaker to a variety of groups about prayer and find it an essential part of spiritual health, I wanted to create a way to enrich and encourage the daily prayer life of others and possibly introduce some to the thought-provoking and powerful prayers of ancient Christian saints.

View of back cover

small text reads, "A book of devotion with prayers form the ancient faith.

Glory to God for all things! †

God has blessed my life & business and it has been a joy to put together images of His creation with prayers from the ancient faith.

The book will retail @ $22; wholesale pricing is available upon request. If you would like to pre-order, please send an email to naturalelementsphotography@yahoo.com

50th Year Reunion

Congratulations to the Gauley Bridge High School Class of ’61! They recently celebrated their 50th year reunion at the Glen Ferris Inn with plenty of smiles and good cheer as they reminisced together. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this group for several years now at various gatherings; it’s an honor to celebrate with such lovely people. Wishing you all many more joyful years!

See more images from the reunion here.

More for the Commercial Client

Allow Natural Elements Photography to help with not only your commercial needs for smart images of your enterprise, but custom business cards and mailing labels too! This service was born out of necessity in a sense, as Amy has been creating her own logo and cards since the inception of Natural Elements Photography in 2003. After a few clients inquired if she could provide contact cards for their businesses, Amy set her creative vision along a new avenue. These clients have been pleased; may their businesses continue to prosper!

Premium card stock with a smooth glossy feel

Back of card allows for detailed information

Created logo for in-house printing

*Images for creating business cards must be made by Natural Elements Photography.