A walk in Gowanus with Amber.

A Brooklyn photo shoot with Amber Marlow Photography.

I didn’t know Amber until I showed up on her doorstep three years ago to crash on her air mattress in Brooklyn for a few nights. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and I was moving in again (this time upgraded to a pull out couch).

In the three years in between, I’ve read every last word of her blog. Seriously, it’s one of very few blogs I read cover to cover. She’s always up to something interesting. Her photography is amazing. And she’s incredibly honest, even when it’s something difficult to write about.

And I like that about her blog. And about her.

When she offered up her pull-out sofa for four nights while I was visiting New York, I happily accepted. Not only because oh-my-god New York is expensive (the hostel I was staying at was $70 a night. $70. For a dorm bed.) but because I got to spend time hanging out with her: picnicking with pizza at a bar, making s’mores in her backyard, trying ice cream and tacos and all the deliciousness of Park Slope. (OK, I guess we just ATE EVERYTHING!)

On my last day we walked around Gowonas and did a little photo shoot. I’m pretty sure the only times I’ve ever had professional photos taken of me were picture day in grade school and weddings. So when she suggested it I pretty much jumped for joy.

And they turned out pretty damn good.

So much so that I decided I had to spend my entire weekend in Arequipa, Peru, sitting at a computer re-designing my website around them. (Check out my new homepage! I’ll wait. It’s pretty isn’t it? Well, if you’re not looking at it on a mobile device it is…)

Of course, if you’re going to take my photo we will inevitably end up with a few like these…

Because, hair. Lots of hair.

But sometimes I can be pretty. Sometimes.

Or at least a pretty goofball.

Amber blogs at The Amber Show and if you like my blog you’ll probably like hers.

She is also a professional photographer at Amber Marlow Photography. If you’re in New York or going to New York you should totally hire her. Or elsewhere, have her come to you. I personally plan to hire her to shoot my renegade elopement in Central Park. I just need the man. (Seriously boys, scroll up and see how pretty I am! And I frolic on demand!)

(She told me not to shill for her business, but suck it.)

Oh, and here’s the one photo she let me take of her. 😉