Sunday's Get Together

I'm cancelling/rescheduling it. I'm on my way out the door....I'll post again later. There were too many who wanted to be there but can't make it so Im going to choose another time! Contact me if questions :)

kel

Just a splash of summer......

Last year I waited too long to look for summer dresses because, evidently I was way off season...you must look for them in FEBRUARY!!!! While grabbing groceries at Walmart, Marleigh spied bright florals surrounded by ruffles and insisted we "check it out"! I was glad she did....sweet little splashes of summer for $6. We grabbed a handful because that's all she wears in the summer months. Once home, she tore them out of the bags, ripped the tags off and immediately tried each one on. I adore how thrilled she gets about things like this and told her that if she wore her jeans and a long-sleeved shirt under them, she was welcome to parade her new dresses around town as she accompanied me for errands. Here's my girl...following in her sister's footsteps with a style all her own...a summer dress, a denim jacket and a winter cap on a 30-degree day! But look at that happiness...........


You know you've got good friends when their kids are willing to help you out with a project that they have to drop everything to participate in.

I called Stephanie (she used to watch my kids in the summers and they all claim her grilled cheese sandwiches are THE BEST) to see if she would help me "practice" shooting a bride in the middle of the day in the snow! I had this dress (donation) and was just chompin' at the bit to get someone to stand in a snowy field for me! I loved how the trees were still packed with snow from the last storm and I just couldn't wait another day. Steph dropped everything and ran over to assist......she's lovely!!!!! Okay, this princess pose.....is to cover the picnic table behind her...but it works!!!
She totally faked it....you'd never know it was so CHILLY!

How lucky am I to have this beauty to call on????

Enjoy!
~kel~

Revisiting the wedding......

I'm editing some of the wedding photos and hope to put them on my UPDATED website! I added two galleries to the site in hopes of giving potential brides an idea of my style. If you haven't looked at my website lately, go have a look, you might recognize some photos there! Here are a few of my favorites....

He dipped her....perfectly...and only twice (sometimes I worry it will be overdone but not this day!)
Because its winter in Maine, the bride prepared with some boots to tromp through the snow...her entire gown/wrap and puff were matched beautifully with her pink plaid boots!
This was just as we came inside the reception hall and she was removing her outerwear. I loved how the sun played off her silhouette....I took LOTS of these :)
As they walked to the boardwalk, I stepped back (something only a second shooter could do as Deb was just behind them getting ready to take the shots....it was cold and she wanted to be quick) but when I saw this view, I wanted to create a memory for the bride...even though it was cold, her day was gorgeous and sunny!
As she walked away, I snapped this photo.....the flow of the dress and the resting bracelet...simple beauty.

Sorta makes me think second shooting is BETTER than being the first photog on the job. I had an opportunity to step back a bit and take creative shots as Deb worked the crowd! AAAAH...after this year I'll know which role I like best as I already have a few weddings on the books that I'm really looking forward to! I'm also shooting with Deb on a few more....I'll keep ya in the loop!

I have no appointments the next few days so I may resume to nonsense posts! I will always have photos though!

Enjoy!

~kel~

Look a this beauty.....she's got brains and is a dream to work with! Another model shoot - she's trying to raise money for a mission trip to China! I hope these help her get some work!

I'm hoping these look okay ... I'm working with a new monitor and its a real pain trying to figure out the settings on it. Anyone with an eye for this stuff, could you let me know if I'm heavy on any of the primaries in these! Thanks!


I've blocked off a few hours this coming Sunday (starting at noon) for a chat session about photography!! I'd just like to know who's coming to pick my brain! I'm truly hoping I have all the answers! If there is not enough interest, I'll reschedule for another time.

This morning Mainers woke to a beautiful site......another several inches of pristine white snow! The snow was weighing on the branches and bending them over into beautiful, touchable rainbows perfect for hiding under. I ventured out for a few errands and since I'm always thinking of the blog....I dragged my camera along for some shots. Just down the road, I saw the sun trying to come out....she's getting warmer now so I'm sure this white stuff won't last long now.

This last one is blue....I shot it through the windshield to show the drifting snow. The way the blowing snow softens it, I think it looks like a painting.

Enjoy!

~kel~

Livin' with a Diva.....

There are moments in my day when I get this brilliant idea to charge admission for everyone to come and see my life with this little girl. She's got the biggest personality and brings so much joy to our home. Expecting her was a surprise....and finding out about her impending arrival on Christmas morning was most appropriate. A blessing in every way!


She's 3...its a hard age. I don't know who ever decided that twos were terrible....obviously THEY never lived with a three year old before making that statement. Three....a year for pushing boundaries and discovery. Learning you are a person and just like adults, you have opinions and feelings that need to be voiced. Ahh yes, finding that voice!! I would describe my Marleigh as: comical, boisterous, sensitive, emotional, happy, vibrant and a love bug. I think most who know her well would agree. She's not perfect......and to me, that makes her perfectly perfect. I look at her and think how lucky I am to be her mom, that some people think she looks like me and most of all, I love to hear my husband tell me how much she is like me! Really, I'm like that???...like that little Diva that runs around here in her cool Tinkerbell sun glasses sporting a tiny dancer style dress and looking like a million bucks even though she has blueberries smeared across her face and tousled hair that hasn't been combed in a day.


I really believe that the world would be a better place if every home had a Marleigh in it! I want to share her with everyone...but only for a limited time....she's mine....forever....this perfect little person. She comes to me to ask for help as I'm writing this...I'm engrossed in what I am saying so I don't turn to her immediate request for attention...she gently puts her hands on my cheeks and turns my face to hers...nearly nose-to-nose, she requests again "Mom, could you help me, please?" I button her brown sweater, ask if that's okay and she looks up to me and says "Thanks mom, now I'm cozy". SEEEEE what I mean.....she's totally edible!!!

Enjoy!!

~kel~

A little reminder.....

Last night I watched my oldest boy choke on a piece of steak.....my heart is still a bit heavy when I think of how scary it was! We were all enjoying dinner but a strange sound distracted me....I looked at Branden and proceeded to ask him to stop with the rude noise. He looked at me wide eyed with his neck stretched towards me....gasping. He turned slightly and everything that was in his mouth came out....but he continued to choke. My instant reaction was to call to Jean as he was closer to him than I was. Jean didn't hesitate a second, lifted Branden from his chair and proceeded to give him the Heimlich maneuver. Proving to be my hero again and just like in the training video, the steak came out and Branden collapsed in a heap of tears. Jean and I stopped ourselves from asking him why he didn't chew it better (we were nervous and scared)....I went to Branden to comfort him and Jean walked away to compose himself.

Starting the day they are born, choking is one thing every parent worries most about and though we have been through it when they are babies and usually a quick sweep of the mouth is all that's required, this was a whole new level for us. A reminder of how quickly things can change. His siblings watched in horror, and once we knew he was fine, they tried their best to make him laugh by sharing vomiting stories and telling him how big his eyes were bulging. I love them all so much and found myself appreciating the inappropriate chatter at my dinner table as I listened to them try to comfort him in only a way that siblings can. It was a moment in time that brought them closer...a reminder for us all!


Let's talk about happier things.....

I visited the local flower shop - its actually a little fish market that sells flowers for an amazing price...you can get SCADS of flowers to decorate your house with for next to nothing!

I have to photograph the flowers.....I enjoy looking at them so much that I have to keep them forever somehow and today I'm sharing them here! The tulips are beautiful.....and I really did nothing fancy to capture these. Because I waited until the evening, I had to use my accessory flash and shot them right where they stand on my kitchen table. I would have had even more amazing results if I'd done it during the day in the natural light. I love the 3D affect the light had on them!!

I may actually print one or two of these for my bathroom.....

Enjoy!

~kel~

Can you feel the love???

It's school vacation and my schedule is off track! Jean is on vacation with the kids this week too so its wacky here! Makenna just became one with a snow bank out back and her face is swollen and bleeding. We tried to tell her that going face-first while sledding is not a good idea this time of year as the snow is no longer soft and friendly....its icy and evil and....well....she learned the hard way. Poor princess....

Another shoot for my book project. I asked Ken to bring his girls in as they are a big part of my photography history....the littlest one was my first birth/hospital session. They took a leap of faith having me there for her birth and we have been good friends since. The oldest daughter is Marleigh's age and they are so much alike in personality I feel right at home with her! They are such a beautiful family.....I'm so lucky to have met them!!

While we visited, we discussed the fun things the girls are doing now....I shared how chatty Marleigh is and Ken told me how his daughter kisses him so lovingly. After that story, they even had their jackets on and were ready to leave but I made them come back to the set for these....sorry to put your intimate moments out on my blog, Ken, but just look at how this little girl loves her daddy!!!!

No doubt....the teen years will be interesting with these blonde bombshells!!

Enjoy!

~kel~

She told me I'd be hooked.......

My friend Debbie Harmon is a wedding photographer....she told me that after shooting a few, I'd be hooked.....and I think she's right! I always get so nervous going into a day like this but being her second shooter takes some of the pressure off me and I am able to enjoy the day and get some fun shots in. This wedding took place at a small island just off the coast of Portland...sad to say, I've lived here all my life and never taken that ferry ride across the pond to Peaks Island. Its quaint and sweet and the idea of these two getting married there was a perfect match. Its cold...only about 35 degrees yesterday...but you could definately feel the love of these two and the warmth was comforting.

Deb, thanks for having me tag along with you - it was amazing fun and I look forward to more!!

Here are a few......

and....to the brides who have me personally booked for this year....if you read this....I hope you're as excited as I am!!!!

Enjoy!

~kel~

One Word............

SWEETNESS......

Enjoy!

~kel~

Hi!!

I apologize for the delay in this post....I'm still trying to get organized...and feeling doomed at times! It seems just when I get it all together, Marleigh comes along! She's a good kid though and I know I'll miss these messes someday (I think).

My nephew Randy is a basketball player.....his season is coming to an end so my sister asked if I'd take his photos doin' that thing he loves. I'm not a sports photographer so I didn't sway from my portrait passion and just mixed the two together.

I'm off to see if I can get my things sorted, gathered, grouped, filed, imported, exported, saved, stored and looking fairly neat! I'm like the girl in that quickbooks commercial.....bill? what bill? It's already February and I still don't have my ducks in a row as planned so I'm trying to be diligent before the busy season gets here.

Lots of people are taking advantage of my 50% off session fees in February.....I'm so happy to be shooting this time of year! If you'd like to pass it on to someone you know like my pal Janis (thank God for Facebook or we never would have reconnected so nicely!!) did....I'd love to have your friends, family take advantage!! I promise to take good care of them!!

HERE'S SOMETHING FUN: I am going to have a shutterbug chat session at my studio in the coming weeks! I want to invite anyone who wants to talk shop with me...amature, professional or somewhere in between to come!! We'll talk about cameras, photos, subjects, locations, whatever floats your boat!! I hope this to be the first of a series of these types of get-togethers!! I'll require feedback via email or blog comment so I know who and how many want to meet! I'm looking at Sunday, March 1 (between 12:00-3:00). Let me know!

Enjoy!

~kel~

This one's for you Lynne....

Lynne signed her hubby and daughter up for a father/daughter portrait for my book. Thanks so much for sending them in Lynne......I know you've been waiting to see these. These are my choices for the book....

Shannon and Sydney, thank you!!

Enjoy!

~kel~

Big Smiles & Special Rates!

Tami took advantage of my Valentine's special and called for an appointment to update her children's photos....amazing how much they change in a year!

I have decided to offer in-studio session fees at a special rate of $50 throughout the month of February! The first five to book a session will get a free gift from me!! It's a slow month for photography and I really wanna be shooting so if I have to entice more sessions by reducing the session fee.....its soo WORTH IT! I love doing this!!

Had to show off a few cards I whipped up last night......first, we took Cam's photo straight off the school bus.
Then I gave the twins a hollar to see if they wanted to use their photos for cards.....they were all over it! This is what I came up with......I'm a scrapbooker at heart so designing them is great fun for me!

Enjoy!
~kel~

All about Makenna today.....

I have OODLES of photos to share from the weekend but I decided to make today's post about my #1 girl. She was so excited and anxious to get to the studio to bring her Valentine's card to life. She had her own ideas about what she wanted and I tried to remain photographer & card designer only.

When we were done the Valentine's photos...the girls dug out the skirts from my stash at the studio and Kenna asked for MORE!! When you are a momographer, your kids tend to RUN when they see the camera coming out of the bag so I was delighted she was a willing target. I got a few cute ones!

Oh..here's another I liked before she changed....

I love her.

~kel~

What I've been doing.....

I'm off for another appointment...so this post will have to be short and sweet....MOSTLY PHOTOS....no nonsense chatter from me!

This is my girl Heather......this summer she married Jason (my cousin) and I did their wedding photos.....you might remember.....

Are they cute or what??? I'm so lucky, I've been asked to see this one be BORN...with camera in hand I will go to the hospital and hopefully get some shots I can share here! (I don't do the "graphic" photos, just the emotions in the room is what I'm looking to capture!

Isn't she beautiful here........
I'll post more tomorrow!!!!!!

Enjoy!!!!!

~kel~