Karen Kirkland Photography

Sneak Peek: ???

2011-09-28T00:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a bit of what I'm working on....

Jessica's Yoga Session

Kennedy's Summer

Sneak Peek: Sage

2011-07-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

Shooting so much - I can't post fast enough... Here's a sneak peek of Sage - more to come soon!

Sneak Peek: Twins!

2011-07-18T01:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a little sneak peek of what I'm working on...

Blimps Need Hangars?

2011-03-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

So on the way down to SD I had to take a potty-break (TMI?)   I headed off the freeway onto a road that sounded like it would have tons of 'potty-break' places...

Jamboree Road.

I know - right?!   Sounds like a hapnin' exit!   Nothing - for miles!   But then...these big ol', massive structures seemed to appear out of thin air...

Potty-break was put on hold.

This thing was massive!   It was almost a little scary - and I like that...   Makes me feel like I'm on some sort of adventure!

From this angle you can only see one - but there are actually two of them.

There's a very, very, very tall (ok - I'm very, very, very short)...

...but there is a tall chain-linked fence surrounding it - covered in a green tarp (you can see a little of the tarp on the bottom of the photo), sooooo - I had to stand on the roof of the car to get my shot!

Here's the thing - I didn't know blimps needed hangars...   Never even thought about it really.   Learn something new everyday!

The base was closed in 1999, and the hangars were to be redeveloped at some point with the second one being turned into a sports and entertainment complex.   Not sure where we are with that plan...

Find out more here.

The Linkery & Other Splendors...

2011-03-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Yes - I went to SD to attend the San Diego Latino Film Festival, but I can't even think about the SDLFF without thinking about Hash House a Go Go and The Linkery!

I absolutely love photographing the food at Hash House...almost more than I love eating it. I mean seriously - each dish is a pure work of art! Unfortunately it was way too dark inside the restaurant to get any decent shots... I'm so tempted to call the owner to ask if I can just come in one day and photograph the food. Next time I find myself with nothing to do - that's what I'm doing...

My other favorite restaurant in San Diego? The Linkery! Oooohhh...can you say Lardo Ice Cream Sandwich? That's right...you heard me - an ice cream sandwich made with dry cured backfat! Read more about it below.

But first...sittin' by the pool chillin' - with a good book and some hummus!

These chips are making me feel all Christmasy and stuff...

Luckily for me - we'd turned the clocks forward the night before, so even though it was dinner time, it was still light enough outside to get some good shots inside...

The Linkery makes the best Sangria!

...and the best baked goat cheese with roasted garlic and crostini...

Let's not forget about the bacon wrapped octopus... I feel like such a foodie! Oh yeah - here's the Lardo Ice Cream Sandwich (yes that's a piece of cured bacon on top):

Hand made ice cream flavored with house cured lardo (dry cured backfat) from pastured Berkshire pork
Chocolate chip cookie made with stone-milled Taza organic Oaxacan-style chocolate
Bits of candied house cured bacon from pastured Berkshire pork
Caramel sauce

On The Road Again...

2011-03-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have a question that has absolutely nothing to do with this post... Here goes: Why is it so necessary to drive with a dog sitting in your lap??? Huh? Seriously - why? Don't we have enough to worry about with the people putting on makeup while driving or those who are just so important that they absolutely must text while driving? I'm just saying...

Ok - I'm done now!

Headed to San Diego this weekend to attend the San Diego Latinio Film Festival (SDLFF). The Festival is great...but what I'm really looking forward to is Hash House a go go, The Linkery and Pigment. Patric and Ethan...love you guys and the fest - but a girl's gotta' keep her priorities straight! Shopping & food...

Have a great weekend!

Book Review: Let The Great World Spin

2011-03-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

All I can say is...this book is AMAZING!   Ok - maybe that's not all I can say...   Here's the other thing - I need to vow (right now) to never use the word "amazing" again...it's way overused.

One of my goals this year is to read more (for pleasure.)   So even though I'm only two books in - that's probably more than I can say for this time last year.  The thing is, I really, really enjoy reading...I was just not making the time to read.   That's all a'changing now...

My last book review was here - "Model Home" - check it out (the review and the book)...my Mom is reading it now (and liking it, so far).

To think how we are all interconnected...    "Let The Great World Spin" shines a very bright (and uplifting) spotlight on how we all play a part in each other's lives.   And how most of the time we are completely unaware of that fact.   The characters are extremely profound and complex, but in a relatable way.   I think the author does a great job of conveying an really complex, interwoven story - an orchestra of sorts.   It's astounding how he continually introduces new characters linking each one to the next.   Frankly I don't know how he kept it all straight, but I'm glad he did - because it makes for a really great read.   You'll definitely find yourself routing for each and every character...

Thanks Tamara for another great recommendation!

On to "The Dud Avocado"...

Blast From the Past Wednesday: The Sablok Family

2011-03-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love meeting new clients for the first time! It's always such a joy getting to interact with them and discover the love they have for one another. It's especially exciting when there's a little, little one involved...everything and everyone just seems to come alive! The smiles are bigger and joy just exudes from every pore...

It was a beautiful Sunday in September and we headed out to Holmby Park in LA...

Sumeir was just happy to crawl around the park, and I was just as happy to load up my camera and chase after him...!

Or chew on things - either way...I'm good! I love the shot on the left...that look of "what?...don't you chew on your toys???"

Picture time with Mommy...

...then with Daddy!

I love, love, love this shot of Sumeir! I know it's not the typical "cutesy" pic of a infant...but his face has such expression - so much personality... We sat him in a sandbox and come to find out this was his first time in sand... What a look!

Aaaahhhh, first time touchng sand! I was happy to be there to capture the moment. He actually did NOT try putting it in his mouth...smart kid!

He quickly warmed up to the idea and before you knew it - out came the sand toys and we were having loads of fun!

In the shot on the left - Sumeir totally has that look of "come on Daddy - make me laugh again"!

Thanks for such a fun day!!!

Life On Saturn...

2011-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

When the time comes and I move to Saturn - these are the only two things I'm taking with me...

Kika's Treats & Sushi... (and a chef - to make the sushi), (and some fish - unless of course Saturn already has fish...)

...and my camera...

...and some books...

...and my DVD collection of action movies...

...and my iPad...

...that's it! I think...

What two things can't you live without?

Happy Birthday, Kennedy

2011-03-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

Sherri and Kennedy are both February Birthday Girls...   Sherri, having adopted my 'celebrate your birthday for a month' mentality, did just that!   She wanted to spend the last few (peaceful) days of her birthday in Puerto Rico, so she asked me to Kennedy/House/Q (dog) sit.   So into Jersey I trekked...   Ok - I flew...but between my luggage, all of my camera gear and a sprained ankle...it felt more like a trek!

After seeing Sherri off to the airport, Kennedy and I settled into our routine...   Laughing, playing computer chess, reading, walking to the bus stop, walking Q, walking home from the bus stop, running errands, but most importantly, planning (and shopping) for her big Birthday Bash!   She was about to celebrate her last single digit birthday and it was indeed going to be BIG!

On Friday night it would be just the immediate family...   Which meant..the grandparents (both sets), aunts (me and my sista's Denise & Tiffany), uncles (Louis all the way from London & Uncle Arty) and cousins (Ethan) of course...   Turned out Tiffany was still away at school...   Ethan's school dance was scheduled for that night, so that meant we'd have to have another party on Sunday to make sure we got party time in with everyone!

Saturday night was reserved for a sleepover with her closest 6 friends...   Hmmm...six 9-year olds for a little over 15 hours!   Sherri - you agreed to this?!

Well...it happened and I survived - barely...

Kennedy decided that she wanted to have a "bake-off" as part of her Birthday celebration. This meant everyone (attending the Friday & Sunday portions of the celebration) had to bake something to bring to the party. She (of course) would taste each of the baked items and determine the 'winner'.

If there were a prize for 'Best Presentation', it would definitely have gone to Grandma Boscia!

'Just Dance 2' for the Wii was the big hit of the night! I think in this shot they were dancing to "When I Grow Up" by Pussycat Dolls

What is going on here!? This party is for the 9-year olds... Kennedy's Mom (my sis) on the left and my cousin (2nd) Kendra on the right... They were jammin' harder than the kids!

If you want to quickly tire out a group of kids (and adults)... "Just Dance 2' is the answer!

I think this one was Ke$ha's "Tik Tok"...

These girls know how to party!

Mom is all up in the mix! Sherri and Kennedy having the same look on their faces is hysterical...

Turns out Kayla was the 'Just Dance 2' Grand Champion!

Awwwhhh...an all time favorite... 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey'! We were going to play 'Pin the Nose on the Clown' - but I quickly learned that Kennedy isn't a fan of clowns... Who knew?!

Time to open presents!!!!!!!!!

Best present of all (from Mom...) A Mongoose dirt bike! That's what I'm talkin' bout!

Get it girls... Strike a pose...(he he)

Spa time...

...and relaxation (for us) time. Cucumbers to soothe the eyes...and cold cream??? They were totally and completely into it. This only just the beginning - trust me girls... On the living room floor today, Burke Williams tomorrow!

The next morning... Barbie's looking like she's been out all night! LOL..

While Sherri took breakfast orders... I cooked and the girls played - with dolls and Barbie's castle! Are you kidding me!

Grace had forgotten Kennedy's card, so the next morning, she ran home to get it.... Grace made this card by hand...it's 3D!

Time to say goodbye... All parties must come to an end - even the good ones!

Ooops! Not done just yet. Remember Ethan couldn't make the "Family" celebration on Friday because of his school dance, so once he found out the coast was clear (read: all the girls went home), he decided to drop by to spend the rest of Sunday with the Birthday Girl... Ethan's card was handmade too - how adorable!

Kennedy is exhausted! You can see it in her eyes... They still went to the park and played until the street lights came on...

M&M's and Presidents' Day

2011-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Had 'catch-up' sushi with Itai the other day and he surprised me with a box of M&M's... But not just any M&M's... This box of M&M's came straight off of Air Force One... Complete with the Presidential seal of Barack Obama! Rest assured I won't be eating them... Well - I mean...unless it's a chocolate emergency. Just joking - I'm not going to eat them! Thanks Itai! Ok - so I've said your name twice now...was I not supposed to???

So, I'm not really into Presidents' Day and all...but thought this post was fitting... Happy Presidents' Day!

Oh yeah...it snowed here (in Jersey) today (or sometime during the middle of the night). I woke up to this...

I'm Published...!

2011-02-17T04:00:00.000-08:00

The ad campaign I shot for Solixir, featuring the ever-fabulous Jill Miller of Yoga Tune Up®, is in the March issue of Yoga Journal - exciting!

It's Solixir's first national ad campaign (and mine!)...

Here's the cover (just in case you plan on picking up a copy - Mom)... My ad (above) is somewhere around page 23 (I really wasn't paying attention)... Ok - yes I was...it's on page 23!

Blast From the Past Wednesday: The Narayan Family

2011-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

That was Riya then...

This is Riya now!

One of the main reasons I love photographing kids is that I get to watch them grow into "people"... It's absolutely amazing!

I'm always excited when the Narayan Family calls for a shoot... Smrithi and Sanjeev are amazing individuals, Rock Stars together and the picture perfect family!

Riya's has such wonderfully expressive eyes!

Stocking up on kisses from Mom...!

Mama pushing Riya on the swings...

Hug from Daddy before going down the slide...

Riya is just such a little lady... She is so rockin' those pigtails - I'm loving every minute of it!

This is how I got the first shot (with Riya in the tree)...with a little help from Dad...

She had to scope it out first... Check out her body language in the shot on the right and the look on Dad's face (clearly - whatever she said just melted his heart)...

Riya did a little gardening in her backyard before we headed to the park!

I love everything about her...

Blast From the Past Wednesday: Frazia & Greg - Engaged!

2011-02-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

He got down on one knee and she walked away by accident...!

They originally met in 2003...in a bar. R-Bar New York to be exact - you remember...back when boys & girls still met in bars.   As far as he was concerned she had a smile that could light up an entire room.

Time passed and as fate would have it, they didn't see each other again until a year and a half later...   Cut to: The NY Sports Club.   He was lifting weights, she was on the treadmill and in between reps all he could think about is "who is that hot girl checking me out..."

They dated for 6 months and she broke it off!   They were apart for 5 weeks, that is until they ran into each other again and all those feelings came rushing back!

He wanted to marry her - even if that meant tying a string around her finger!   Off to Portugal they went...   As far as she was concerned it was a vacation back to her parents hometown.   As far as he was concerned it was the perfect opportunity.

After dinner they decided to walk over to the church where her parents were married...   He got down on one knee and she (thinking he had bent down to pick something up) walked away...

Neither remembers much after that...something about "taking the journey of life together..."   Something about walking along Lover's Lane and remembering the night sky was really clear - perfect in fact!

It was the perfect July afternoon, and we seemingly explored every nook and cranny of Central Park.   As the sun set, we took our "worked up appetite" and headed back into Jersey to Iberia - the best Portuguese food this side of...well - Portugal!

The best thing about shooting in Central Park - is everywhere you turn - there's the City skyline! Frazia removing just a bit of cotton candy from Greg's face...

Ahhhh...that moment right before the kiss - such anticipation...

Greg is absolutely up to no good - check out that look on his face... Sure enough seconds later he gives chase... I love it!

These last two photos are so symbolic for me. If you fall, I will catch you! Frazia looks so safe in Greg's arms - just the way it should be... Love the sun flares!

My Sister - Tiffany

2011-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

When I realized my sister was graduating from High School - I knew we had to do a photo shoot... A "Senior" session as they're called...capturing that very special time in a graduating senior's life... Man, oh, man-ochevitz (yes, I'm that corny), I sure wish "senior sessions" were popular when I was graduating... All I've got to show for 18 is a really bad yearbook photo... What the heck was happening with my hair? my make-up? a head that was way too big for my body...oh the horror!

This post is actually long overdue... April of 2009 to be exact. Which means Tif was just about to graduate and head off to college that Fall...so she musta' been only 17 at the time!

She's now 19, attends William Paterson University and majors in communications with a focus on public relations...

I want her to look back on these photos when she's 60 and say to her grandchildren - "...that was me the year I graduated from high school..." Wait...her grandchildren will be my grand-neices/nephews...is that how that works??? Or will they be my great-neices/nephews... To be such a smart girl, I'm clearly confused...

It was a gorgeous Spring day...the sun peeked out from behind the huge cumulus clouds every now and again... Sun or no sun...we had loads of fun!

Thanks for such a great photo shoot Tif... I'm super excited about every little moment that will be your life. You better make the most of it, cause...when you're 60, I'll be 86 freakin' years old (I hope)! How's that for perspective?!

Further proof that I'm as funny as I think I am...

The Salt Lick

2011-02-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

Me want some Salt Lick...yum!   On my last trip to Austin, TX we took the hour-long cab ride from the City out into the countryside (to Driftwood) to get some BBQ...but not just any bar-b-que...   The Salt Lick!   They don't take reservations, they only take cash and it's B.Y.O.B.   When we got there the wait was 1-1/2 hours long...   I didn't care - "we're here now and I'm gettin' me some bar-b-que!"   The only question lingering in the back of my mind - "would the cabbie actually come back to pick us up..."

Here's the story of how The Salt Lick came into existence:

In the 60's Thurman Roberts spent way too much time away from his family traveling across Texas working for a bridge construction company.   In an effort to spend less time away from home, he and his wife Hisako took out a yellow legal pad and wrote down 54 things the family could do to say in Driftwood.   The idea for The Salt Lick was 14th on the list.   So in 1967, Thurman, known for his delicious bar-b-que at family reunions, decided he would cook meat for paying customers... (I know - doesn't really sound all that glamorous..."cook meat for paying customers")

Thurman and his son Scott (he now owns The Salt Lick), built a huge bar-b-que pit.   Thurman would go to the pit on Thursday night and start cooking. He stayed for the weekend, sleeping on a cot, until all the meat sold.   As time passed, he would come home earlier and earlier because the meat was selling out quickly.   After a few months, Thurman and Scott built a little screen porch around the pit.   The Salt Lick has grown from there!

I can't verify that the pit is still there, but the food was great!  Check it out...

Everything is served family style - so you just might as well order...well - EVERYTHING!

The restaurant is huge, but it was still packed! In the background (the yellowish area) is the indoor/screened-in seating area (which is where the pit is - supposedly). In the foreground is all the outdoor seating (which is where we sat). Behind me, across the parking lot is another dining hall...

I had never been so happy to feel a bench vibrate!

Before and After... There were other plates - but I waited for our server to clear most of the table before taking the picture. This way we wouldn't seem so greedy!

I really like hot sauce! I really don't like cobbler (luckily for me because I was stuffed)!

After dinner we snuck off to a private area...

It's so private...they don't allow children...

It's really cute back here... Unfortunately we were too late and all the wine had already been packed up... The servers were cleaning off the tables and stacked all the cowboy boot "centerpieces" on one table - how cute is that?

Blast From the Past Wednesday: Jenn & Sverre - Engaged

2011-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

They met at her cousin's wedding in June 2007... They spent July "getting to know each other"... By August they were dating long distance and 8 months later he moved to NY to be closer to the love of his life!

We spent the day roaming the streets of Manhattan, laughing, talking and, oh yeah - looking for just the perfect "whatever"... Then we headed over to Hoboken and The City skyline made the perfect backdrop to a perfect day.

It was a bit breezy that day and in a blink of an eye Jenn became Marilyn Monroe... Sverre decided to take a peak for himself...

Gettin' some (reenactment) first date action... We have no idea who lives here!

Flirting was a big part of the day and I loved how Jenn and Sverre interacted with one another!

I am blinded by that ring!

Sneak Peek: Grace

2011-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

I spent 6-1/2 hours with this little one yesterday... By the end of it all she was so ready for me to leave and I really couldn't blame her!

I'm working on editing all of her photos - but just had to share this one!

It's my first 'newborn' session - what do you think...?

Model Home

2011-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

So I just finished this book - Model Home.   And I gotta' say that this photo sorta' represents exactly how I felt about the book.   Kinda' dark and moody with a glimmer of light, a glimmer of hope - every now and then.   Moments of extreme clarity and other moments when you just can't see or understand why this is all happening.

I can't remember the last time I had such a strong reaction to a book - I mean the kind of reaction where I'm yelling at the characters in the book to..."just snap out of it already...", but yet at the same time I kept turning the pages - wanting to read more...   I'm sure that had something to do with my pre-disposition to the "happy ending" - to make sure it's all going to be ok.

On some level it's a comedy of errors...   Any minute someone's going to say - just kidding - that didn't really happen.   On some other level it's a nod to the human spirit - our ability to survive even under the worst of circumstances...

Seriously - if you think you've got problems - read this book! If you do read it - I'd be interested in hearing your reaction.

Blast From the Past Wednesday: Caryn & Bill - I Do!

2011-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

I think it was the end of October 2009 when I got the phone call.   I'd just landed in Atlanta, rented a car and began my 3-hour road trip into Savannah...

At that point Bill and Caryn had been engaged for a few months and the last thing I expected was to be asked to shoot their wedding...   I don't think Bill had gotten the question out (fully) before I said "yes!"

I mean, come on...being invited to Palm Springs to shoot a wedding is never a bad thing.   Unless of course it's in the middle of the summer and 120 degrees...   Luckily for me the wedding was in May - when Palm Springs is at its most glorious!

I love them together - kind, gentle, stolen glances, finishing one another's sentences, how they look to one another for support and each in turns gives it.

Thanks Caryn & Bill for allowing me to capture such precious memories... xoxo

The best man giving a little advice??? I think this alcove is really interesting - the stripes, the mirrors, the reflection of the wallpaper in the mirrors, the reflections of the groom and best man in the mirror... This shot was taken by my second shooter - Matthew.

Everybody got a good laugh when the best man acted as if he'd forgotten the rings...

Caryn's ring went on without incident... But when the time came for her to put on Bill's ring...

...she had a little trouble. Why? Because if you look closely at the shot above, right finger, but on the wrong hand!

10th Street Preschool Silent Auction

2011-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I received an email from my good friend Smrithi asking if I would be interested in donating a photo-shoot package to families with kids. Her daughter Riya (here) just started attending preschool last November and of course Smrithi is already sitting on the school's fundraising committee. Smrithi gets more done in a day than I can only dream about...

Every year, the school has a big party for the parents of the students - where they raise money for the school's scholarship drive (which allows kids whose parents cannot afford preschool to attend 10th Street) - how wonderful is that!

I'd never been asked to do something like this before and I was more than honored to donate my services to the silent auction!

My brand packaging finally arrived (see below), so I wrapped up one of my gift certificates in the chocolate box, tied a ribbon around it and attempted to make a flower out of the bow (re: bow - it's the thought that counts - right?)

Smrithi - I hope the auction is a huge success... Thanks for thinking of me!

Napa & Castello di Amorosa

2011-01-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

So my Napa trip was good.   Actually, I can't believe I'm posting so soon after my trip - usually I'm weeks behind!

The first couple of shots were taken on the 6-1/2 drive up the 5 fwy.   There were so many photo ops and of course I was more than a little annoyed that I couldn't stop traffic on the freeway to shoot!   I did pull over a couple of times though...

Thanks to Cathy Buck (Cameo Cinema) and Rodney Vance, I was lucky enough to get a private tour of Castello di Amorosa - a 13th century, 107 room, Tuscan style Castle and Winery (owned by Dario Sattui who also owns V. Sattui Winery).   The castle is beautiful - check it out here.

The walking tour is followed by a tasting of their handcrafted Italian style wines.   Here are a few of my favorites...

Red: Sangiovese
Reserve: La Castellana (Super Tuscan Blend) ***and by far my favorite!
Sweet: Il Raggio Del Sole (Muscat Canelli)

Got any favorites you would recommend?

This sheep (an ewe maybe???) is cracking me up! They were all just walking along when this one decided to stop and stare. Probably waiting to see if I was going to get hit by the 18-wheelers that were whizzing by...

This "caution" sign was sitting just outside this orchard... Which of course in my mind means go right in :-)

No grapes on the vines quite yet... But plenty of mustard flowers! The shot on the left was taken from inside the castle. I was up in one of those tower thingys (like Rapunzel)!

The sky was amazing that day - just the perfect shade of blue. The stone work on the castle is extraordinary!

Our tour guide gave us so many interesting tid-bits about the interior details of the castle - none of which I can remember :-(

From barrel to bottle... We're actually pretty far underground in these shots. I think she said there were over 4000 barrels of wine down there...

Blast From The Past Wednesday: LA Zoo

2011-01-19T06:00:00.001-08:00

I have a question. Why are the animals always inside "feeding" or "sleeping" whenever I go to the zoo? Seriously - I don't understand it... Or here's one - "they're on loan to another zoo". I've been to at least 5 zoos in different parts of the Country (is Country supposed to be capitalized) and it's always the same thing...

So after living in LA for almost 20 years I decided it was time to check out the LA Zoo... Last April (yes...April 2010 - it's 'Blast From The Past Wednesday' remember), some friends and I headed over to see what we weren't going to see.

On this trip, I only had my 100mm 2.8L lens so I couldn't get as close as I wanted to. Next time it might be interesting to bring a longer lens and shoot abstracts of their different body parts. Hmmm...

Got any recommendations for a really good zoo?

I just think Giraffes are such interesting creators! Nothing really seems to fit together - the long, knobby legs, the kinda' too short for the rest of the body tail, the bulging eyes, the long tongue, those crazy wacky ears...the two horn looking things on the top of the head... what is happening!

I love this shot because it seems like they're having a secret conversation...talking trash about the other zoo animals...

On The Road Again...

2011-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'll be on the road again tomorrow morning...   I absolutely love road trips - always have!   When I was a kid, my parents would pack up the car and we'd head south!   We'd stop off in Clinton, NC to visit my Aunt & Uncle - they had this huge house that sat on what seemed like a dude ranch (and a really big, scary dog - maybe two).   There was absolutely NOTHING for miles and miles...   Seemed like we would stay there for 60 gabillion years (in reality it was only a week - if that...), but I knew where we were headed next and I wanted to get the show on the road - Disney World baby!

Those were the days...starring out the window, letting my imagination run wild with possibility!   Playing "punch buggy" with my sisters, trying to keep my Backgammon chips from moving all over the place (I'm such a nerd)...

This time I'm headed north - to Napa.   So I'm packing up the car (minus Backgammon), rolling down the windows (it was 88 degrees yesterday), pumpin' up the jams (that's hysterical) and letting my imagination run wild!   I may even play "punch buggy"...

What are your fondest road trip memories?

It's a Small World - Ethan

2011-01-17T06:00:00.001-08:00

My nephew is the cutest kid I know! Those long curly eyelashes, his dimples and that little mole by his lip... Let's not forget his super duper Michael Jackson dance moves... Watch out girls...today he's 7, but one day he'll be 17 and breaking hearts!

On a recent trip to Jersey I took him shopping for clothes (I loved it - he hated it). I picked out a bunch of stuff and sent him into the dressing room. A while later, he pulls back the curtain to reveal himself in the cutest pair of jeans...a little baggy, dark, a little tattered, funky... He stands in front of the mirror, with what I could swear was a gansta' lean...hands in his pockets...

Me: What do you think? You like 'em...?

Ethan: Yeah. I like them Auntie. I need to look good for my girlfriends at school.

Me: Huh?! You have a girlfriend?

Ethan: No. I have girlfriendssssssssss (as he turns to go back into the dressing room)

What is happening! And why is it all happening so fast....!

(If I can pry him from my sister's arms), he'll be leaving his girlfriendssssss behind and coming out to LA to spend the summer with me - can't wait! Love you Eaty Eat!

Blast From the Past Wednesdays...

2011-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

I'm really trying to be a better blogger...   Short-term goal (which could turn into a long-time accomplishment) - blog at least twice a week!

Because I've been a naughty blogger, there are a bunch of sessions that I've yet to blog about. Sooooo...I decided to turn Wednesdays into Blast From the Past Wednesdays.   At least until I'm caught up (then I'll think of something else).

Today however is just a sneak peek of each of the sessions I'm currently working on.   A full blog post about each starts next Wednesday...

Without further adieu (no more rambling from me), I bring you Blast From the Past Wednesdays!

This first shot is from Caryn & Bill's Wedding...

This shot is from the Narayan Family session - My first session with Riya was when she was only a year old (here)...

This shot is from Frazia & Greg's Wedding...

This shot is from Jenn & Sverre's Engagement...

This shot is from the Larsen Family session - I first shot them when the little one was really a little, little one (here)...

This shot is from the Olazabal Family session. Can you remember the last time you loved something this much!

Inspiration Has Arrived!

2011-01-11T06:00:00.001-08:00

For me books are a great source of inspiration. I could spend hours upon hours in the bookstore... Feels like there's so much knowledge to suck up!

With everything else that's been going on - I haven't been able to get to the bookstore lately so I decided to take the road most easily traveled...and I ordered my next batch of inspiration online.

But then, because I'm Facebook illiterate, I actually ended up going to the bookstore this past weekend anyway - yes...to get "Facebook for Dummies" (sad face...)

Me being a dummie aside - I'm looking forward to some interesting reads. Thanks Lor Lor and Tamara for the recommendations!

BTW - if you just so happen to be reading or have already read any of these books - whadya' think?

Happy New Year (One Week Later...)

2011-01-08T19:16:00.000-08:00

Someone recently told me that if you're not challenged in life - you need to rethink your goals.   Hmmm...

On New Year's day I looked back over my goals for the past year - they were simple, rather easily achievable goals.   Nothing really all that challenging. Hmmm...

What's the most challenging (and at the same time - best) thing I could do for myself...

It took a few days to figure it out (a week exactly) - but I've got it.   I'm excited!   I'm nervous.  I was a little - no scratch that...I was a lot uncertain as to whether or not it was achievable.   But then I remembered...

My thoughts are based on my beliefs...   My actions are fueled by my thoughts...   My results are in direct correlation to my actions...   My beliefs are reinforced by my results...

My goal this year?   Well I only have one and I'm playing this one close to the vest. Believe me - it will be challenging!

Stay focused.

How do you overcome challenges?

Photography Gift Certificates Now Available!

2011-01-06T23:23:00.000-08:00

So excited! I feel so "official"... My gift certificates arrived from the printer today and I really, really like 'em. Now I'm just waiting for the beautiful chocolate-brown box (with my logo engraved) and the stunning teal & chocolate striped ribbon to arrive (any day now)...

If you'd like to give the gift of a photography session to your BFF and her family - now you can! Send me an email and I'll fill you in on the details.

Color

2010-12-31T21:30:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of macro photography, shallow depth of field and isolated focus. My 100mm 2.8L IS USM gives me just the right mix of all three.

Spent a good portion of the day at the LA Arboretum hanging out in the tropical greenhouse. I challenged myself to capture the plant life in ways we aren't used to seeing it - so I opted for low and/or high vantage points, taking into consideration (and trying to make good use of) the negative space. Paying close attention to lines and texture... The scrim over the greenhouse acted as a great diffuser and evenly bathed the flowers in beautiful sunlight.

Color inspires me to create!

Karen Kirkland Photography on Facebook

2010-12-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

On Jan 1st of this year I blogged about my goals for 2010. There were only 9 (not 10). I purposely didn't make mention of goal #10 because I was reluctant to commit to it. Didn't I already have enough to do - multiple email addresses to check, blogs to post, a website to update, random tweets to impose on others, an etsy storefront that remained bare, a linkedin account that I never even finished a profile for - was I really going to add one more form of social networking to my already full plate...

So goal #10 remained only known to me, and despite my many objections and with only 3 days left in the year...

#10 - Create a Facebook page for Karen Kirkland Photography- check!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T08:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year! Yes...even better than my Birthday Month... The winter-like weather, the music, the lights, decorating the tree (my tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving and stays up well into January). I once kept my Christmas tree up for a year and a half. No - not because I'm lazy - but because one year I realized I was an adult and I could do whatever I wanted to do...

The holiday spirit, people seem nicer, a time of giving. And although I tend not to get wrapped up in the commercialism that can at times overshadow the holidays - I can appreciate the spirit of it all - just the same.

For me, this time of the year also brings with it lots of time for reflection. On one hand it's hard to fathom where the time is going. Am I accomplishing anything? Am I making a difference? Yet on the other hand I feel as if there was plenty of time and I could have done more. I did accomplish a lot this year though - I'm exhausted and looking forward to two weeks of pure relaxation and indulgence.

The simple things I want to do, the simple things I like to do. That are purely just for me. Shoot whatever I want. Read. Spend lots of "laughing" time with family and friends. Sit and stare into space - thinking (something I'm very good at). Sleeping-in (how yummy). Taking road trips. Updating my blog - finally! Adding new stuff to my website. Creating photographic art pieces for my Etsy storefront. Oh! Let's not forget sippin' on some hot coco!

I'm a hopeless romantic, an eternal optimist and I like to dream big! On most days, I carry with me the belief that anything is possible...

What do you still believe in?

It's A Small World - Kennedy

2010-10-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

"I'm pumpin' up the richness Auntie" - as Kennedy so often proclaims during our eternity-long bouts in "The Game of Life". After many a pay day and twenty Life Tiles later, she retires to Millionaire Estates. She wins every time...

She's smart. She's inquisitive, insightful, thoughtful and funny. She's a super talented song-writer and I'm convinced she'll be directing movies one day!

She's honest (as most kids are - until society dictates otherwise):
Me: "Do you miss me?"
Her: "Not really Auntie - I just saw you"

I respect that about her.

She's been in front of my camera since the moment she was born and I can't get enough. Love you Kiddo!

Tickled Pink!

2010-09-26T22:29:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love it when you finally get something that you've wanted for a really long time?

I was so nervous - I think... Just couldn't figure out why. Maybe it wasn't nerves... I mean, I'd bought camera gear before - but this was different.

I'm not the type to buy new gear just because... But when I get to the point where I feel like I'm about to throw a lens across the room because it's too slow, or creatively it isn't capable of doing what I need it to do - then I know I've outgrown that piece of equipment and it's time to upgrade.

My 40D had been treating me well, but when I woke on Friday morning, I just knew that was going to be the day! The day I would embrace my inner full-frame, 21.1 megapixels and HD 1080p video.

I've wanted this camera for a really long time and I'm tickled pink that it's finally mine!

Welcome home EOS 5D Mark II... Mama loves you!!!

It's A Small World - Nora

2010-09-13T23:45:00.001-07:00

I look at these photos of Nora and it brings back memories of my own childhood. Frankly - the last shot brings back memories of just this morning... But that's another story.

When I was a kid we lived in this really scary house, across the street from a cemetery... Obviously now as an adult - I'd call it a house full of wonderful character & charm. And as it turns out - the cemetery is actually quite beautiful (rolling hills and all). But back then (as a kid) I was certain it was a house filled with vampires in the basement, goblins behind every closet door, footsteps in the attic...and weird shadows in the garage (that looked like bats). My sisters and I were convinced the entire house was haunted! To make matters worse - our next door neighbor was this old, old, old, old, old man that only came out into daylight once a month. His house was blood red and completely covered in vines and trees. Of course I considered myself a spy (I still am - by the way) and I used to sneak onto his property to try and see what he was doing over there (eating little children for dinner perhaps...?)

I'm sure if I were to go back there today I'd have a completely different vision of that house - but back then my imagination would take me on tours of discovery beyond my wildest dreams!

Our backyard led into the woods - no fence, just woods! Today I could think of 64 million reasons not to go into the deep, dark forest alone, but back then - nothing was going to stop me! My childhood friend Amy and I would spend hours in those woods... Running around, playing hide-n-seek, pretending we were lost and had to survive on nothing but onion grass. Those were the days...

As I watched Nora (in her pink princess dress) scour her backyard looking for the perfect ingredients to make her soup - flower petals, water, dirt, leaves and grass... I remembered how wonderful it is to be a kid. That special blend of innocence and sincerity that often accompanies playtime. Freedom! Free from pretense, free from conceit, free to be whoever you so desire to be. Imagination at its best...!

I'm curious - where has your imagination taken you lately?

This is me every time I put on lip gloss!

Caliente Gallery

2010-06-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

I am surrounded by such incredibly talented individuals...

Charlie is a magnificent artist and I've been lucky enough to photograph some of his work. Both the originals and the prints are currently on display in the Nickelodeon Gallery and they're selling like hotcakes!

What strikes me most about Charlie's work is his use of color, texture and mixed media. To see more of his work - check out his website at www.calientegallery.com.

Here's just a small sample of the sheer genius that is Charlie (as shot by me)!

Nora - Sneak Peek!

2010-06-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

I'd been waiting a long time to shoot Nora so I was super excited when the day finally arrived. I mean come on...her cuteness factor is just waaaaayyyy off the charts. Still editing all of her photos - but came across these two and just had to share!

More to come...

Birthday Month - Day 27 (London - Day 1)

2010-05-27T15:42:00.000-07:00

Spent the morning chatting with the tutors at the Screen Academy... Hopped on a train and spent the next two hours traveling countryside from Cardiff to Paddington Station.

By the time I arrived in London it was already late in the day. Just enough time to swing by Louis' flat, drop my things and head out to see the sites.

I'm in London!!! Yay!!!

I know - I know... Italian tonight, fish and chips tomorrow...

I'm not a beer drinker - but here's what I know so far - they are serious about their beer in the UK...

Birthday Month - Day 26 (Wales - Day 4)

2010-05-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Taking the 2-hour train ride to London tomorrow... Going to miss Cardiff - but sooooo looking forward to seeing London!

Birthday Month - Day 25 (Wales - Day 3)

2010-05-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

The architecture in Cardiff is beautiful! I'm awed by the juxtaposition of the old and the new...

Birthday Month - Day 24 (Wales - Day 2: Part One)

2010-05-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

I decided to start day two off with a site-seeing tour... You know the kind...(the cheesy kind)...the big double decker bus - the one with the open-air top. It's such a great way to see the City...any city. I was definitely set on seeing a castle while in Wales. So when the opportunity came about to jump off and explore Castell Caerdydd - I took it...

I walked up each and every one one of those stairs...

Birthday Month - Day 24 (Wales - Day 2: Part Two)

2010-05-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

After an exhausting day of site-seeing - it's always nice to get a home cooked meal... I loved sitting in Hannah's and Roland's backyard chatting about our day, enjoying their garden, the rolling country side, a beautiful sunset...sipping on Prosecco (brought back memories of being in Venice sipping Bellini's). Roland is an excellent cook and he treated us to his freshly baked bread - sprinkled with all sorts of fresh (delicious) herbs from their garden.

Dinner was absolutely delicious! A whole fish stuffed with lemon & fresh herbs, potatoes and asparagus. Followed by a wonderful dessert of fruit & cheese...yum!

Thanks Hannah and Roland for your warm and generous hospitality.

These next three shots were taken indoors with my 50mm 1.4 - there wasn't much light so they're super grainy - but you can still get a sense of what I'm talking about...you can even see the steam coming off the potatoes.

Birthday Month - Day 23 (Wales - Day 1)

2010-05-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

My Birthday Month is turning out to be quite spectacular! I left LAX on Saturday, May 22nd at 7:50pm and arrived in Wales on Sunday at 2:15pm (local time).

I must say - it sincerely did not feel like a 10-1/2 hour flight...I guess flying over night helped. But it does feel a bit weird having missed out on most of Sunday. Landed in Heathrow and took the 2 hour drive to Cardiff. Checked-in to the amazing (five star) St. David's Hotel & Spa. Loving it here in Cardiff...stays light out until well after 9:30pm.

My room overlooks Cardiff Bay...have a look:

The interior of the hotel is just as beautiful...take a look at the lobby...

Alright - enough of that...let's get out and have a look around...

Ooooohhh...let's start with a drink!

Birthday Month - Day 6 (Photography Exhibit)

2010-05-06T22:08:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm... Not sure how I ended up with florals. I'm telling you - I had some serious plans of driving out into the dessert, finding some forgotten town and documenting something monumental and "deep".

Well needless to say that didn't happen and frankly I don't know what I was thinking! I've been on the move since January 4th - nonstop - so any thoughts I might have had to photographically express the ruins of a town long forgotten - well... It'll have to wait until November - when I actually get a break.

I must say though - six days into the Birthday Month and things are progressing quite nicely (monumental documentation or not.) So I bring you florals. My second photographic exhibit at the Nickelodeon Animation Studio Gallery.

The exhibit will be up for two months - swing by to check it out!

Birthday Month - Day 1

2010-05-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

Spent the first day of my Birthday Month in Puerto Rico. Took a private tour of the Bacardi factory... Learned some really interesting stuff... Made dinner at my friend's house - Rafy and Zoilo...ate until we were stuffed. They have the absolute best apartment...absolutely freakin' gorgeous..! Guess I'm moving...???

Dylan's 1st Birthday!

2010-04-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Spend 5 minutes with me and you'll find out how much I love Birthdays! Yes - especially my own... So when Megan asked me to capture Dylan's 1st - I couldn't have been more thrilled!

I mean this kid knows how to party...balloons, party hats, friends, presents, multi-colored parachutes, a blue Mustang, cake - oh...and let's not forget the bubbles! That's what I'm talking 'bout.

I remember when I turned 1... Ok - maybe I don't...but I can remember enjoying a good party. Here's to you Dylan - thanks for sharing your special day with me!

This is how Dylan rolls... In a Mustang...

That's Max...Dylan's brother... And apparently a "ladies man"...

Dylan's friends came out to help him celebrate the big day!

Did someone say "cake is served"...???

Of course watching a 1-year old eat cake is the hightlight of every party...

In the beginning Dylan was very serious about eating his cake...

And before you knew it...the sugar high kicked in and he was all giggles...

Big brother Max to the rescue...!

That cake didn't stand a chance...

I love photographing kids walking away... Something so nostalgic about it. Happy Birthday Dylan!

The Road Less Traveled

2010-03-26T22:57:00.000-07:00

Today I asked my niece Kennedy if she would rather be the same as each of her friends or different than each of her friends... "Different Auntie, different!" Thank Goodness...(I thought)

I mean - that's not to say her friends aren't great kids...I'm sure they are... But she knew exactly what I meant - there's no need to follow in other's footsteps when you can create perfectly wonderful imprints of your own.

Today - dare to be different!

Earnedandnevergiven!

2010-03-22T23:16:00.000-07:00

I've never been to the race track! At least not that I can remember... Sooooo...in a year of "let's do things we've never done before"...I headed to the race track with Matt and Ani.

Hung out for what seemed like all day at Santa Anita Park. Believe me when I say I had no interest in "betting"...seriously - my main objective was to check out the horses, see how close I could get to the track without actually getting trampled, and get some good shots.

Then Ani decides she wants to place a bet... Come on guys - we're here to take pictures - right? WRONG! "...Ok, ok...but this is my one and only bet... - Race 4, $5 bucks, Horse #6, To Win..." What? I don't know - but sounds good... Whatever...

So back outside we go cause we've only got 2 minutes before the race starts and I want to get a good spot so I can shoot (photograph - LOL) the horses coming round the turn... So we get set-up, cameras ready, our 70 - 200mm racked out, the bell rings, the gates open, we're waiting, waiting, waiting (for the horses to come around) - then Matt says..."hey, your horse is in second place..." "What?!" Next thing you know I'm jumping up and down screaming for Horse #6...you can do it, you can do it - go, go, go! Yay!!!! We won..we won!

Turns out Horse #6 has a name - Earnedandnevergiven... (yes - without spaces)... I happily trotted up to the cashier to collect my $26.50! It was a good day - I left the race track unscathed, and $21.50 richer (you gotta' subtract my initial $5 bet)...

Oh - and I snagged some pics too - check 'em out!

Dylan Turns 1 (sneak peek)!

2010-03-20T22:19:00.000-07:00

Today I had the honor of capturing Dylan's 1st Birthday! This is just a sneak peek - he's so adorable, I couldn't wait! More to come...

I'm in Love!

2010-02-15T11:09:00.000-08:00

....with my new toy... The 100mm 2.8L macro IS USM lens!

Took my new found Love on a date for Valentine's Day to the LA Arboretum. Been living in Cali for 19 years and I've never been to the arboretum - crazy! A few of my photog friends bought their dates (their cameras & toys) along and we made a day of it. It was almost 80 degrees, the sun was shining (or beating down on us - depending on how you look at it) the birds were singing (literally) - and we had a ball.

What have I learned from this relationship so far - that I'm not very good at editing myself... Yes - it would seem as if I've posted every shot from yesterday (even though I didn't)! I have a feeling the two of us are going to make beautiful "music" together...

This post is dedicated to my Mom - who absolutely loves flowers!

Love?

2010-02-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day...got me thinking about "Love" and I decided to do a little digging...

Webster's definition of Love: 1. intense affection 2. a feeling of attraction resulting from sexual desire 3. Enthusiasm or fondness...

The Bible's definition of Love: 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things...

My definition of Love: Time spent...laughing, rejoicing, hugging, sharing, caring, listening, fixing, dreaming, creating, dancing, talking, (and yes - sometimes crying)...

What's your definition of Love?

Inspiration...

2010-02-03T13:34:00.000-08:00

I find inspiration (to create) in many different people, places & things... Other photographers that I think are amazing, a box of crayons, the multi-colored push pins on my tack board, listening to creative visionaries speak, watching, listening to and interacting with my niece and nephew, staring out the window from my seat at 33,000 feet and of course from movies.

On occasion I'll watch a film (or better yet a movie) from a purely entertainment perspective, but more often I find myself watching films (the same movie) from a creative perspective. Yes...for me - entertainment = "movie", creative = "film". What I'm watching doesn't change - just my perspective.

I love collecting DVDs of some of my favorites and currently have about 200...not bad... (I know someone with well over 400 DVDs). So whenever I can, I'll pull out a stack of DVDs from my "library" to be entertained, inspired - or if I'm feeling wild & crazy...a little of both - entertained and inspired! Here's what I've been watching (re-watching) lately...

Where do you find inspiration?

Miramar Park

2010-01-18T19:28:00.000-08:00

My incredibly supportive friend Smrithi has a friend Neera, who has a cousin Sheila... I know - sounds like some sort of gossip line...it's not - I promise...

Sheila & her husband Luv recently welcomed the most adorable baby boy into their family and wanted to capture this very special time on film (ok - on a CF card, but you get what I'm trying to say). LOL. Neera remembered loving the photos I took of Smrithi and her family (click here to see) and recommended me to Sheila.

I got an email from Sheila explaining that Luv (what a great name) would only be in LA for a short period of time between Christmas and the New Year, before returning to India. That would also be the time her brother, his wife, their two boys (in from San Fran) and her parents would all be together under one roof - sounds like the perfect ingredients for a fabulous shoot...

Thank you Smrithi, thank you Neera, and thank you, thank you Sheila, Luv, Ilan, Sujata, Nikhil, Rohan, Karan, Prabha & Govind... We may have had little sun - but we had loads of fun!

These last two shots were taken during the first 10 minutes of the shoot - when we actually had a little sun... As you can see here and in all the above photos, without direct sunlight, I had to move away from my traditional blown-out rim light on the subjects hair... Thoughts?

Margot & The Red Sweater

2010-01-11T22:57:00.000-08:00

I just love the many faces of Margot! She came to this shoot ready for business... She had tons of wardrobe to choose from - which I thought was great.

There's the pink shirt - which you've seen a little of already... There's the pink, purple & brown striped sweater (that's the next Margot post) and of course the red sweater... So here's the many faces of Margot in her Red Sweater!

Margot - Chapter 2yrs Old

2010-01-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

Ok - so I finally got through all of Margot's proofs and I've decided on which I'd like to blog - only now there are so many I think I'll have to break the photos up into several posts... So since it's already 12:18am and I'm exhaustd...let's start with this one...

Margot is just pure cuteness... More to come...

Sofie & Fam!

2010-01-02T21:33:00.000-08:00

When Sher contacted me to take photos of the new addition to the family - I was thrilled! It was late November - just after Thanksgiving and we got lucky with a warm, gorgeous California day.

We actually shot at two different locations (hence the transition from lots of color to the more "cool-toned" photos on the bottom) and I gotta' say - Sofie was such a trooper...she hung in there the entire two hours. It's clear by the smiles on Mom's & Dad's face that Sofie is surrounded by lots and lots of LOVE!

I'm looking forward to seeing this little one grow over the years... Congrats Shahrzad and Sunny - ya' done good!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

Thus today (Jan 1) I begin the journey of accomplishing the things listed on my Goals List for 2010! If you've known me long enough - you know I make lists all the time (I love crossing things off a "to do" list). So I don't really know what makes today any different than the beginning of yesterday or the day before, but somehow I guess we're all contented to feel we woke up today to a clean slate... With that said - here's a sneak peek of what I'll be up to this year...

#1 - Read more (not necessarily in this order):

What is the What - Dave Eggers
Fortunate Son - Walter Mosley
A Million Little Pieces - James Frey
A Bound Man - Shelby Steele
The Sunflower - Richard Paul Evans
The One Year Bible - ESV
Becoming a Prayer Warrior - Elizabeth Alves
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Sons and Other Flammable Objects - Porochista Khakpour
Zag - Marty Neumeier
Love is the Killer App - Tim Sanders
Never Eat Alone - Keith Ferrazzi
Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity - Hugh MacLeod
A Million Times in a Thousand Years - Donald Miller
Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
Purple Cow - Seth Codin
Start With Why - Simon Sinek

#2 - Blog More - Wait! What? I only have 52 posts for the year!? What's that now...??? There's 365 days in a year! Shoot - I've got some work to do...

#3 - Shoot more - I've got my 40D, I've got my eye on the 5D Mark II, I've got my film camera and I just bought the Fuji Instax 210 - that's right a Polaroid - bring it!

#4 - Travel more - Hmmmm...this one is always tough because I'm always so busy... So looks like I'll have to be busy shooting outside of LA... New Zealand comes to mind, Ireland comes to mind... Shooting weddings in Vermont, New Jersey and Palm Springs this year - does that count? Of course it does!

#5 - Create more balance in my life! - EGADS...this is a BIG one for me. More balance in my business, my lifestyle and my personal life... Does that mean I can't stay up til 3:30am anymore obssesing over my website???

#6 - Enter more of my work into contests - there are plenty out there. I read about them all the time - I just never stop to take the time to do anything about it. That changes TODAY!

#7 - Get published baby! That's right - you heard me... Ok - maybe you didn't hear me... But you will!

#8 - Attract more clients - #9 on my list should help with this one...

#9 - LAUNCH MY WEBSITE! - My website will be launched in 3 days - so I can cross this one off my list already! Ok - I kinda' cheated... I've been working non-stop on my website for the past two weeks - so I kinda' started this one in 2009 - but that's ok because it's today that counts...and today I'm only 3 days away from crossing this off my "to do" list.

I'm noticing that the word "more" shows up a lot on my goals list...and I'm ok with that. Not in any egotistical way - in a good way. More of a positive esteem way...I'm ok with wanting more... It's also ok if I don't get "more" all the time - but I'm certainly not going to ask for less of the things I love.

Here's to MORE years of happiness, health, joy, love, laughter, peace, balance, perseverance, innocence, patience, good-will, commitment, tolerance, forgiveness, hope and imagination!

Love,
Karen

Radio Flyer!

2009-12-20T22:12:00.000-08:00

Ok - see what I'm saying?! That's how you live life.... You go Margot!

I just can't get enough of her... I'm really trying to get through all of her proofs, but I keep coming across just pure cuteness!

Do yourself a favor today - just stop...look up to the sky and let the sun beat down on your face and the wind blow through your hair. More to come...

Oh Christmas Tree!

2009-12-19T13:46:00.001-08:00

Aahhhh.... It's a beautiful Saturday morning...the sun is shining, "Jingle Bells" is literally blaring throughout the house and I'm loving every minute of it... So much so that on occasion I'll break out into several funky dance moves (think Elaine on Seinfeld)... Yep - crazy!

Decided to stop dancing for a few minutes to snap a couple of shots of my Christmas Tree (which has been up since Thanksgiving day 2008!). Yes - that's right...since 2008... It was an experiment - what would it be like to have the Christmas tree up for an entire year...? Frankly - it was great! Loved being able to curl up on the couch with a glass of wine in the middle of March with the Christmas tree providing such great ambient light. Oh well - experiment over - the tree will have to come down after this holiday season is over... But not until mid January - right Santa?! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!

Shot(s) of the Day!

2009-11-29T17:16:00.001-08:00

Why I love being a Photographer - reason #2096...Margot! She's not even two years old yet and she's peeling her own oranges! More to come...

Cali in November

2009-11-28T22:13:00.001-08:00

Just another gorgeous November day in Cali! Had a great photo shoot today with the Warkentin Family...editing now - posting soon...

Weekends...

2009-11-15T12:15:00.001-08:00

There are so many things I enjoy about the weekend - grilling my favorite veggies is right up there among the top 10!

Custom 'Holiday Greeting' Cards

2009-11-07T22:29:00.001-08:00

Our custom cards are now available in sizes 4x5.5 and 5x7!

Choose from 5 paper cover stocks - standard, art (watercolor, linen, recycled) or pearl.

Popular custom announcements include baby announcements, high school senior graduation announcements, wedding invitations, thank you cards, stationery and of course holiday greeting cards.

If you've recently had a photo session with me and you'd like to order your custom 'Holiday Greeting' cards - they can be found under the "products" link on your proofing site.

In the meantime, click on the link below to check out our slideshow:

Custom 'Holiday Announcement' Cards

BTW - the names on all the cards have been changed to protect the innocent...

Savannah

2009-11-05T16:58:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite things to do...? Getting lost in a foreign land... Well - it was foreign to me... I came across some interesting sites as I roamed the back streets of Savannah equipped with curiosity and my 70-200mm:

Custom 'Baby Announcement' Cards

2009-11-01T01:14:00.000-07:00

Our custom cards are now available in sizes 5x7 and 4x5.5!

Choose from 5 paper cover stocks - standard, art (watercolor, linen, recycled) or pearl.

Popular custom announcements include baby announcements, high school senior graduation announcements, wedding invitations, thank you cards, stationery andof course holiday greeting cards.

If you've recently done a newborn photo session with me and you'd like to announce your new bundle of joy - click on the link below to check out our slideshow:

Custom 'Baby Announcement' Cards

BTW - the names on all the cards have been changed to protect the innocent...

Custom 'Holiday Greeting" cards - coming soon!

BELLA

2009-10-25T22:04:00.001-07:00

Bella is 7 months pregnant and absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

I was thrilled when she asked me to take photos of her during such a special time in her life. I was even more thrilled when she decided she wanted to get a bit more creative with the photos...

Soooo...although I can't show you lots of photos from the session (read: nudes), I can show you these four. I'll have to save the others for my website...

Congratulations Bella & Jamie - I'm so looking forward to the arrival of the little one!

Katie & Duran Married!

2009-10-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't remember Katie and Duran, I photographed their engagement session earlier in the year.

I'm working on some other shots from this wedding and I'll post soon!

Fun, Fun & More Fun!

2009-08-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

What an incredibly fun photo shoot! I had such a great time hanging out with Yvette, Carl, Camille & Carina - they were so much fun to work with...

I received an email back in April from Yvette...letting me know that she and her family would be in from Hong Kong in July and would I be interested in shooting them? She had seen the photos from Dimples, Dimples & More Dimples... and she just loved them (thanks Diana). It was both an honor and a pleasure to be able to capture the wonderfully playful dynamic of this family. Both Camille and Carina kept me laughing the entire time...

What I loved most is that the entire family warmed up to the camera (and to me) rather quickly... Thanks for all the laughs and your willingness to just have some good ol' fashioned fun...

I love this photo because Carina is in her own little world!

Puffs of Air

2009-06-20T21:45:00.001-07:00

Birthday Month - Day 31

2009-05-31T23:13:00.002-07:00

I have literally dragged myself from the couch and up the stairs to write this post...

This cocktail flu (as Christine calls it) is kicking my butt! This is the best I can do under the circumstances... Let's just say this photo says it all (courtesy of Jeana). Should have more photos later on the week.

Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who came out to help me celebrate my birthday...it's been a rockin' 31 days!

Birthday Month - Day 30

2009-05-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Wholly cow! Ok - I'm basically throwing this photo up as place holder (it's 12:49am on Friday night/Saturday morning). Officially Day 30 (Happy Birthday to me)! I'm thinking ahead and if I celebrated my birthday right...it means I'm not really in any shape to post right now... And it also means someone else (namely Emi) took all the photos last night and she'll have to share them with me so I can post 'em!

Jeez...all that sounds like it's straight from John Conner meets Momento. Talking about the future during the present and using photographs as place holders...hmmm... I feel another fine art project coming on.

These are my birthday balloons from Amber, Ivory, Jenny and Bobby...

Good times...

Birthday Month - Day 29

2009-05-29T21:35:00.001-07:00

What an absolutely HYSTERICAL day! Seriously... A one-eyed, overweight pirate, in a really tight trench coat sang "Isn't She Lovely" and "Happy Birthday" to me... I know it sounds crazy - but I guess you just had to be there... We recorded it (I think)...or at least someone did...I'll have to share it with you when I get a copy. Thank you Amber, Ivory, Jenny and Bobby for such a great Birthday surprise... Chocolate cupcakes, amazon.com, balloons and an autographed copy of Jen's book all = big smile on my face. The month-long birthday clues were well worth the wait!

Jessica - the Snookies cookies are gone! Yep...you heard me...the entire pound of them!!! You're the best - thank you for thinking of me from thousands of miles away.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!! That's right - my Mom's birthday is the day before mine...and certainly without her birthday - there wouldn't be my birthday! Mom - here's wishing you the best of everything life has to offer...you're beautiful, smart, talented and super clever. I love you!

Birthday Month - Day 28

2009-05-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

So I'm rockin' the bangs and racing to the finish line with only two shots (of my final project) remaining... Will I make it?

During the last 28 days it's been really hard sometimes to actually stay committed to posting daily. Even when I've had things to say and I just didn't feel like saying them... But it was all about the commitment. Staying committed to my words and my promises...my words in an email and my promises to myself.

My Birthday Month has truly been fun and exciting - only three more days left - who knows what lies just around the corner???

Thanks Debby Deb for the burger, fries and yummy conversation...

I'm in love with my 50mm 1.4 and these fries had a mind of their own...but not for long!

Birthday Month - Day 27

2009-05-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

I'm telling you right now - I had every intention of shooting the "Loss of Family" scene and coming right home to edit... But then...well - Christine wanted to go and get a drink to celebrate my Birthday Month and what sensible birthday girl turns down an offer to get a drink when the drink is within walking distance...not me! I'm sooooo extremely happy with the shots I got tonight for my final project... Thanks Christine, Richard and Brock for all of your support and cooperation - I think the series is turning out to be quite powerful!

OH! Got my hair cut today - let's just say the front is much, much shorter than it used to be - 8 inches shorter to be exact! I'VE GOT BANGS!!!

Birthday Month - Day 26

2009-05-26T23:23:00.001-07:00

Didn't go out tonight... Nicole wasn't feeling well so we decided to reschedule. No worries - left plenty of time for me to continue working on my final project (which is proving to be more difficult than I ever imagined...)

In the meantime...here's a little something I'm working on. I hope to put up the entire post before the weekend.

She's such a rock star! And I'm not just saying that because she's my sister...

Birthday Month - Day 25

2009-05-25T23:27:00.000-07:00

EGADS! Boy am I tired...there's only 6 days left...will I make it? Can I make it?!

On another note - at the beginning of this year I vowed to enter more photo contests. Well - I've entered two so far... One of them I didn't win... But! Instaproofs put out a call for images from any one of its' clients that wanted to be considered for a spot on their redesigned corporate website... I sent in five images and two were chosen!

This one... You may remember this little cutie from my No Fear post back in December of 2008:

...and these two handsome dudes from my Happiness = The Larsen Family post:

8 more contests to go...can't stop now - I'm on a roll...

Birthday Month - Day 24

2009-05-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

Let me see if I can briefly recap today...

Today was the day we (me, Mary and Helen) were headed to see the Avedon collection in Riverside... But then Helen realized it was Memorial Day weekend, so we rescheduled... No worries because Lora decided we should go bowling at Lucky Strike! But then by Thursday, she too realized it was Memorial Day weekend, so - we rescheduled... See where I'm going with this? So I resigned myself to actually staying home today and working on my website... But...

Last Thursday evening (15 mins after Lora rescheduled) Robert called and wanted to know if I was avail on Sunday to shoot Jill during one of her Yoga Tune Up teacher trainings... "I sure am" (I said) - book 'em Dano... I'm always down for shooting Jill - she can do amazing things with her body. And she can teach others to do amazing things with their bodies...

Here's the thing - I'm also in the process of conceiving and shooting my final project for school (more on the concept later) - there is one scene in particular I needed to shoot - so why not shoot it today (or tonight)! So began the process of calling the models to check their avail, finding a raunchy, seedy motel and packing up the car...

The bottom pic is an outtake from tonight's shoot. Ignore Alexa's (fake) wrist corsage (and the bedspread) for now - it will all make sense later on...

Ok - maybe not such a brief recap!

Birthday Month - Day 23

2009-05-23T23:48:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh...Memorial Day Weekend and the home stretch for my Birthday Month! I'm thinking I may need a vacation after this month is over (hmmmm...)

We had our first photographer's forum today... Very exciting! One thing's for sure...we really need to come up with some cute little, fancy name for it (other than "forum")...any ideas?

We hung out, shared experiences and exchanged ideas & tips on and about photography. Ended up watching the Zack Arias OneLight Workshop dvd...good stuff! Hopefully we'll all be able to get together once a month - I love talking shop with my photog friends!

Birthday Month - Day 22

2009-05-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

I'm surrounded by such beautiful, smart and capable women... It blows me away...

Michelle treated me to a lovely evening of miniature golf at Sherman Oaks Castle Park and dinner at Marmalade Cafe. Don't ask about our golf scores...luckily we weren't keeping score (read: I didn't do too well). But boy did we have some laughs. We both had a few "almost in the lake" strokes...but have no fear - by the time we left - we were all dry!

I'm told some pretty big deals are made on the golf course - the biggest discussion we had was about where to eat dinner! I always enjoy talking shop and life with Michelle - she has such great insights.

Michelle - thanks for a great golf game, thanks for dinner and for all the laughs and craziness over the years...

This first photo cracks me up! That's my new motto - "Please do not take golf balls home"...

Michelle had the seared ahi tuna on a bed of mixed greens with lots of vegetables...

Ok - spinach, portabello mushrooms, red onions, roasted red peppers and a ball of crispy goat cheese... That's right - you heard me...

I will always pull the "Birthday card" in order to get chocolate cake...

Birthday Month - Day 21

2009-05-21T23:45:00.000-07:00

Smrithi, Cobras & Matadors and Malbec = one Dick Clark Rockin' Eve... How much tapas can two girls eat??? Who knows!

Smrithi it was great catching up... Just seems like there's so much to say and so little time to say it all. You are brilliant and such a rock star.

Thanks for hangin' during my Birthday Month and thank you sooooo much for the present you brought back from India... It's beautiful!!!

Ok - as promised...here's a photo of the brittle bowl (2nd photo below). My shindig with Sarah was last night (on Day 20) but the brittle bowl needed to be photographed in natural light... And you can see why! I needed to be able to expose every bit of that chocolate-y goodness. I took the brittle bowl photo this morning and the photo of the wine bottle tonight while at dinner with Smrithi...you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'...?

Red wine and chocolate = yum!

Birthday Month - Day 20

2009-05-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

And the beat rolls on...

Sarah took me to Maru Sushi tonight - it was unbelievably good! What's even more unbelievable is that Maru is located in Valencia... Say whaaaaat? Who knew?!

I had sushi (what a surprise), but Sarah had the Filet Mignon (pictured below) over a bed of garlic, mashed potatoes - yum! This is the type of restaurant that you have to visit over and over again just to try everything - I'll be back Maru!

The best part of tonight's story is that Sarah is recently engaged, so we got to gab it up about the proposal, the wedding plans (in Maui), the dress...Oh My!...the dress - the dress is gorgeous! I feel an engagement photo session coming on...

Sarah - thank you so much for such a fun night. I would have included a photo of the brittle bowl - but I felt it needed to be photographed in better lighting...so tommorrow morning in natural light...I'll try not to eat it before then...

Birthday Month - Day 19

2009-05-19T23:40:00.000-07:00

Amber needed to pick her car up today from the mechanic and I thought it best I go with her to break the news to Ali in person. Luckily...Olive Auto Center is right across the street from the Studio...so we walked (yes Jessica...we walked)!

Ali is the best and most fair-minded mechanic I've ever come across. And although I was happy knowing I would no longer need to drop my car off every month (for something or other), I was also sad...

So Ali - here's a big shout out to you and to Olive Auto Center! Thanks for only changing my brakes when I needed new brakes; thanks for being honest and telling me that I did NOT need new shocks; and thanks for replacing the bulb in my back left turn signal - for free... You're the best!

Oh - BTW...I'll still need an oil change every now and then... You can't get rid of me that easily!

Birthday Month - Day 18

2009-05-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

Mets blow it; Dodgers win in 11th!

Yay... I guess...I don't really know - I'm not necessarily a baseball fan - but I gotta' say when Vicki suggested we spend the 18th day of my Birthday Month at a Dodger game - I jumped at the chance...what fun!

We ate Dodger dogs, sang "Take Me Out To the Ballgame", did the "wave" and of course cheered for the wrong team (by mistake)... Oh - let's not forget a foul ball came our way (two rows behind us) - we were terrified - LOL.

Vicki I had such a great time - we should do that more often!

Oh - I bought a new car today... It was hard to say goodbye to the Explorer - she served me well over the years (11 to be exact) - but it had to be done...

I promise to reduce my carbon footprint elsewhere in my life...

Birthday Month - Day 17

2009-05-17T23:25:00.000-07:00

Yoga Tune Up is a head-to-toe health and fitness system combining Yoga, Calisthenics and Body Therapy. It was created by internationally renowned health and fitness instructor Jill Miller.

Jill and Robert (her husband) have turned Yoga Tune Up into a huge business. Robert founded the Los Angeles Film Festival and turns everything he touches into gold! Jill is amazingly gifted and such a great business woman...

Why am I talking about this on the 17th day of my Birthday Month??? Because Robert & Jill recently completed the company website and packaging of their Yoga Tune Up Therapy Balls... The good news??? My photo of Jill (holding the YTU Therapy Balls) made the cover of the packaging!!!

Find out more about Yoga Tune Up here.

Congratulations again Robert & Jill and thanks for including me during such an exciting time!

Birthday Month - Day 16

2009-05-16T23:32:00.001-07:00

Ahhhhh... Great, great day! Rich and Hiroko treated me to a day at the Getty Villa and then of course off to Dukes in Malibu for dinner and drinks!

One thing's for sure - when you're with Rich and Hiroko there's never a dull moment... Between the "wine leaves" (read as grape vines), the "shark" (read as dolphin) and giving folks a "dirty eye" (read as a dirty look) - there were plenty of laughs to go around.

Chocolate Fudge, Macadamia Nuts, Vanilla Ice Cream & Oreo Crust = Hula Pie & One Big Sugar Rush!!!

Thanks for a splendid day...

These are two displays in particular that caught my eye...

Birthday Month - Day 15

2009-05-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

So the Birthday-Month marches on strong!

Robert and I went for dinner and then off to a screening of State of Play at Paramount. The second shot is somewhat abstract (of the inside of the theatre). I just really liked it and wanted to include it.

The first shot was taken at the end of the movie as the credits rolled. I initally liked the photograph because the white words on screen are actually being refracted and reflected back upside down (green writing bottom left). I also like the people's heads sticking up from the seats. Then I got the image home and started looking at it more closely - I read the names of the crew - the set dressers more specifically and realized that Dean Lakoff was on this list...

I just think that's hysterical considering Dean is my friend Ilka's brother-n-law... I didn't know Dean worked on the movie, so how random is it that I just happened to take this shot as his name scrolled by...??? It's going to be even more hysterical if Ilka reads this post and informs me that Dean didn't work on State of Play...

BTW - thanks Rob for all the fun today at Outwater Productions...had a blast on the shoot!

Birthday Month - Day 14

2009-05-14T23:54:00.001-07:00

So I think the question has become... How much sushi can one birthday girl eat in one month? Ok seriously...somebody stop me!!! Ok - no...don't... I'm good.

Imagine my disappointment when I went to the gallery opening today only to find out it's been moved to next Thursday! Ugh... Hello?

No worries - got over it rather quickly when I met up with Lora for a much needed gab session...loved it!

Ok - off to bed. Gotta' get up early. Big day tomorrow over at Outwater Productions (more on that later).

No - don't ask me about my website... I'm working on it. LOL

Birthday Month - Day 13

2009-05-13T22:57:00.001-07:00

It's only 10:59pm and I'm literally sitting here yawning... How could this be??? Could I be sooooo pooped-out only 1/2 way through my Birthday Month??? No - say it isn't so... Damn it Jim...I'm a doctor not a mechanic... Ok - so clearly I'm tired...

Jessica! Danielle! I laughed soooo much tonight... Thank you for such a special time and I'm seriously looking forward to the profile station on May 30th...it could totally be life-changing. Jessica - you could take all the credit! LOL

Birthday Month - Day 12

2009-05-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited!

On the 14th day of my Birthday Month (this coming Thursday) my work will be displayed in the Annual Student Show at Glendale College.

The pieces are chosen by the faculty and the gallery showcases the artwork of advanced students from the school's art departments...

Here are the details:

The Annual Student Show
May 14 - June 6, 2009
Reception - May 14th, 2009 from 12-1pm

Here are the photos...

Birthday Month - Day 11

2009-05-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

How absolutely cool is our President... I was watching his speech during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner (the dinner was on Saturday - but I just got around to watching it today)... Have you seen it? It's hysterical. The humor is smart (of course) and well delivered (without the help of a teleprompter). Check it out here.

During his speech he talked about/joked about his accomplishments over the last 100 days. He then went on to talk about what he hopes to accomplish in the next 100 days - which includes...strongly considering to lose his "cool"... You gotta' watch it for yourself...it's funny!

Oh - what did I do today? Well - besides freakin' out that my website won't be ready in time for my Birthday - I cut the grass!

Birthday Month - Day 10

2009-05-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

I couldn't get enough of this family (hence the 11 photos in one post)...

And - I tried not to post every single image as black & white - but I almost couldn't help myself - there's something so nostalgic about these moments they just seem to lend themselves to b&w...

I've spent the entire weekend devoted to editing this photo shoot (with the exception of the much needed three hours I spent visiting Deb). It may not sound like a great way to spend two days out of my Birthday Month (working)...but I think it was well worth it... I had a smile on my face the entire time!

Who can resist those eyes...

What a great big brother!

How precious is that!

Birthday Month - Day 9

2009-05-09T23:59:00.000-07:00

Actually spent a glorious day editing a shoot I had a couple of weeks ago... Can't show it to you yet though...it should be ready to go up tomorrow... Then I still have two more shoots to post after that...EGADS!

I shot this little stone house while in Napa... It sits on one of the vineyards.

Birthday Month - Day 8

2009-05-08T23:06:00.000-07:00

My friend Tracey works at ESPN and she invited me down for a birthday tour of the (relatively) new facility that sits within the LA Live Plaza. So today I packed up my bags (joking) and headed downtown. Ha! "downtown" - reminds me of that Seinfeld episode when George has to figure out why his boss wants him to go downtown to complete an assignment...

Even though I know absolutely nothing about sports I still thought it was cool to sit at the anchor desk on the SportsCenter set...

Tracey - thanks for a great day and the huge bag of swag!

Birthday Month - Day 7

2009-05-07T22:46:00.001-07:00

Ahhhhhhh.....AHHHHHHH.... "Damn it Jim"... "Beam me up Scotti"... Classic I tell you... Classic! It was AWESOME!!! I didn't want it to end. Excellent cast....

Thank you Bad Robot (JJ Abrams) for bringing me back into time at warp speed...

Thank you Ilka for a wonderful Day 7 of my Birthday Month - I had a fantastic time... I always love catching up with you. Hey - I think we're three for three now... Vince I tried calling you back...

Birthday Month - Day 6

2009-05-06T22:08:00.001-07:00

Today = Get the mop that's sitting on top of my head under control... Nobody does that better than Penny at Paul Donnell's...

Today = Prep photographs that will be in student show at GCC... Oh - I forgot to mention that several of my photographs were chosen to be part of the student exhibit at GCC. I'm very excited. The installation is tomorrow - so more to come on that!

Birthday Month - Day 5

2009-05-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Kennedy & Ethan,

I can't wait to see what the Universe has lined up for me out there... While there are many things to learn from this life - this may be the biggest...

The great moments of your life won't necessarily be the things you do...they'll also be the things that happen to you.

Now I'm not saying you can't take action to affect the outcome of your life - you have to take action - and you will - but never forget that on any day you can step out the front door and your whole life can change forever. You see - the Universe has a plan kids...and that plan is always in motion. A butterfly flaps its' wings and it starts to rain. It's a scary thought - but it's also kind of wonderful! All these little parts of the machine - constantly working...making sure that you end up exactly where you're supposed to be - exactly when you're supposed to be there. The right place at the right time.

So...there you have it kids... There's a lot of little reasons why the big things in our lives happen. If I had known then where all those little things were leading me and how grateful I'd be to get there - well...I probably would have done something like this... Somehow I ended up at the right place at the right time and as a result my life has never been the same.

Love Always,
Auntie

P.S. - I didn't craft these words...Stephen Lloyd did on an episode of How I Met Your Mother...

...but I sure felt them...and I was compelled to share them with you...

Katie & Duran Engaged!

2009-05-05T00:58:00.001-07:00

I had been chatting with Katie (about her upcoming nuptials) since February and I finally got a chance to meet both Katie and Duran for the first time a couple of weeks ago while back in Jersey. I immediately took a liking to them because they are so incredibly laid back and carefree...

The first shot totally does it for me... Duran looks completely content and immersed in LOVE and Katie's eyes say it all...she's a happy gal...

I'm so looking forward to shooting their wedding in October!

Birthday Month - Day 4

2009-05-04T23:13:00.001-07:00

Since the middle of last week I've been on this huge purging kick... I mean more than usual. Can't seem to get enough of it. Cleaning out my office, the garage, even my fridge! Anyone who knows me knows that I love throwing things out/giving things away. I'm not a fan of clutter... I'm a sincere believer in getting rid of the old so that something new can find its way in.

So today - more recycling of old papers and disposing of hazardous wastes. My shed was full of old paint cans... So I loaded them up in my car and headed off to the S.A.F.E. Collection Center...

Birthday Month - Day 3

2009-05-03T21:52:00.000-07:00

I had soooooo much to do today...and none of it was very Birthday-like...but I had to do it... Cut the grass (yes...I cut my own grass), clean the house, wash clothes, grocery shopping, edit photos...and just when I couldn't take being a grown-up any longer...

Matt & Jeana came by to help me celebrate...first we took some photos (I took photos of them taking photos) then they took me to Kabuki for my favorite...SUSHI!!!

I love talking "shop" with my photog friends...

Thanks for dinner guys...!

Jena made this great combination of soy sauce, edamame, ginger and wasabi...

Oh yeah...I guess I left out the part where we (I) had an apple martini...yum!

Birthday Month - Day 2

2009-05-02T22:12:00.001-07:00

I haven't shot film in so long it's unreal. As part of my birthday month I'm committed to shooting film...so I did something wacky and crazy today...that's right - I pulled out my 35mm film camera and actually loaded it with color neg! Somebody stop me!!!

Seriously...I'm really excited to get out there and see if I've still got it...hopefully it's just like riding a bike (or something like that)...