Heather Kitchen Images

New Blog!

2010-07-21T20:37:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody!

Woo hoo! I feel sooooooooo much better having my website back. And to make it even better, I got a new blog too! Cool! All the posts on this blog are on the new blog, but I'll be updating the new blog with my latest blog postings, so update your bookmarks!

Check it out here!

HK

The Website is Back!!

2010-07-20T13:44:00.000-05:00

Well, I am sitting here so relieved and feeling rather proud of myself. I finally got my domain transferred to my new hosting company & it took minimal effort to get the website back up & running!

This includes all the slideshows, so if you've been looking for a particular slideshow, you should be able to view it now.

HK

The Cunninghams

2010-07-17T12:36:00.001-05:00

Meet the Cunninghams . . .

Last Sunday I had the privilege of photographing a wonderful family here in Kalamazoo. When I arrived, the kids were watching "The Whiz"! How awesome is that? (Oh, yeah I'm a total musical movies nut!) They were all so full of energy and so much fun to be with that the time flew by & I was very pleased with what I took back with me, not only the images, but also the wonderful feeling that I had made some new friends.

I asked Kamesha (Mrs. Cunningham) to give me a brief background on their family:

"Hello My name is Kamesha Cunningham I am 27 years old. I just moved to Kalamazoo one year ago. I came here in search of a new life.

I had been battling addiction all through my life as a teenager I slowed down on using when I became pregnant with my daughter the oldest one you see in the pictures. I cleaned up my act graduated high school and began to work as a teacher's assistant.

Couple years later I was knee deep in the party scene. I met a handsome thug who is now my husband. When we met we were not what you call a match made in Heaven, we were headed in the other direction.

Well long story short, God had a calling on our lives to be together and raise our children together. Today we have been married for 5 years and we just renewed our vows on Feb. 15 2010, that's 5 years to the date of chaotic love now brought to a place of rest, peace and loving friendship. Now the only ones causing chaos in our household are the little rascals you see in the pictures.

All things are possible to those who have faith in the Almighty God!"

The Cunninghams recently completed the rehabilitation program at The Gospel Mission here in Kalamazoo. It's hard to sum up what The Gospel Mission does in a few short words because they do so much. According to their website, they serve " . . .homeless and abused men, women, and children. . . . and provide for their basic needs as well as their deeper emotional and spiritual needs." The Mission has a mens shelter, a women's shelter, and a family residential center. They're mostly funded through private donations and they run a thrift store.

I was contacted by The Mission's secretary to maybe come take pictures at the Cunningham's vow renewal, but unfortunately I couldn't make it. I was thrilled to be able to do a family session with them instead!

I have a new nickname that the Cunningham children gave me after I left - "The Picture Lady". WHAT AN HONOR! Guys, thank you so much for allowing me spend some time with you . . . I had a great time! ~ HK

It's All About Trust

2010-07-12T18:55:00.000-05:00

I've had many people ask me how I get the images I get. How do I get children to pose like that? How do I capture personalities? How long does it take?

The key word is "trust".

Not what you were thinking? Me neither at first. I had to think about it and ask myself how am I able to bring out the best in people? Then I realized what it was - they trust me. They trust me to take fun & flattering pictures of them. They trust me to not be too demanding or unreasonable in my requests of them. They trust me (especially in a wedding) to be easy-going. And because they trust me, they'll do a lot of things for me and the camera that they might not otherwise do.

For example, I managed to get Bri to take a dip in a shallow pond full of small fish & underwater weeds & mud. How? She liked sitting in muck while fish swam around her? Uhm, no. She trusted that the pictures were going to be fabulous & that I wouldn't make her stay in the water any longer than she was willing to. Sure enough . . . so the time I asked her to walk barefoot onto a log over a lake, she didn't hesitate.

Trust.

My kids trust me. Photographically speaking they trust me tremendously. They don't care if the pictures are fabulous (good for me - I use them as my photographic guinea pigs all the time!), but they do care that when they're tired of having the lens in their faces, I stop. I'm respectful of their tolerance. So how am I being rewarded for this respect? With trust. Trust enough to do a 10 minute, spur-of-the-moment photo shoot with Patrick while I was making dinner. The light was right and he wanted to pose. BAM! 33 images, edited down to 24 keepers.

BTW, here are the images of Bri in the muck.

And here is my favorite from the log.

The Insanity Continues

2010-07-10T14:21:00.000-05:00

Well, I've gotten all the technical details taken care of, but the website is still down. I'm told that it could take 7-10 days. 7 - 10 days!!!! Hopefully, it won't take that long, but I'm not holding my breath.

Happy Weekend everybody!

HK

Pardon Our Mess

2010-07-09T12:59:00.001-05:00

Well, for the first time in 3 years, my website is down while I switch to a different web hosting company.

Thankfully, my blog isn't with the same hosting service!

I'm hoping to have the website back up by the end of the day.

Wednesday's With Marissa

2010-07-07T20:49:00.001-05:00

Today's "Wednesday's With Marissa". She's growing up fast! She can now sort of scoot - Shawn calls it the "scoot with a gimp leg". She kinda drags herself across the floor alternating one half of her body. And she has a thing for paper, so in between shooting her, playing with her, lovin' on her, we had to play keep-away-from-Shawn's-motorcycle-magazines. Good times!

Kristel & Kevin

2010-07-07T14:28:00.002-05:00

First, there was the heat & the humidity. Then, there was the construction right outside the church. However, the day was perfect . . .

How about these for decorations? AWESOME!

And of course, I'm a sucker for pretty flowers . . . what girl isn't?

Kristel is so beautiful & she just radiated throughout the entire day!

This was such a temendously powerful moment for Kristel & again for Kevin . . . the pastor who presided over the ceremony took the time to have prayer with each of them before the ceremony. I don't think I've ever taken pictures during a prayer . . . I warned everyone that they were going to hear a lot of clicking. Nobody seemed to mind . . .

Okay, I laughed out loud at this . . . then took another one with all smiles . . .

Kristel's Dad found himself gazing at Kristel before he walked her down the aisle. . .

We spent a little time at Warner Vineyard in Paw Paw before heading to the reception.

The first dance was emotional . . .

However, the father-daughter dance . . . well, there were tears in many eyes.

Kristel & Kevin, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your wedding day. We were truly honored! ~ HK

For Kristel & Kevin's slideshow, please click here.

Casondra & Erik - Gull Lake Country Club

2010-07-01T14:16:00.002-05:00

OMGosh! We had so much fun with Casondra & Erik at the Gull Lake Country Club! The staff there is so friendly & helpful - they even printed out instructions on how to fold a pocket handkerchief! The weather was beautiful - warm, a few clouds, blue skies, slight breeze - AWESOME! I've never had chicken marsala before & it was soooooo good - I'm going to have to find a recipe & make it myself! Everyone who attended this beautiful wedding was so much fun to be around & so friendly . . . we felt like we were amongst friends!

And as if it couldn't get more fun, there was a PHOTO BOOTH! It was our first time with a photo booth & we had a blast! Check out Bri & me!

Erik . . .Casondra . . . we were so honored to be a part of your wedding day. We hope you enjoy the images as much as we enjoyed capturing them for you! All our best!

For more of Casondra & Erik's images, please check out the slideshow!

HK

One of My New Favorites

2010-06-30T17:41:00.000-05:00

More to come . . .

Training Wheels

2010-06-19T14:47:00.001-05:00

It's something of a right-of-passage . . . new training wheels. The mark of being a big boy. I'll admit that Shawn & I have been a little behind with this one. While other kids in the neighborhood started riding at ages 3 or 4, our boys just got bikes & training wheels this past week. Patrick earned his first.

First, he simply had to take a spin, albeit, a .5 mph spin around the driveway & pose . . . .then it was time to wash it.

Then Shawn finished up the washing while the boys had a little fun with the hose.

Then it was time for some more riding . . .

And finally, some "posing", as he calls it. He's full of ideas when it comes to photography & the type of images he wants me to make of him. These were his idea . . . messy hair and all!

Followed by some bird watching . . .

And finally, one of my favorite images. Looks like he could grace the cover of GQ . . .

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

2010-06-17T13:14:00.003-05:00

This is the time of year when I'm so busy between family & the business, that I often find that some things help & some things hurt as I go through each crazy day . . .

So, here we go with the first edition of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly".

The Good . . . I have a few good things to report. First, I had to go to the Secretary of State's office to get my driver's license renewed. No, my birthday isn't coming up in fact it's already way past. I had the boys with me & was anticipating a long, tedious nightmare just to get through it. Not to mention, I was wondering if I'd have to pay a hefty fine for trying to renew an expired license. As it turns out, not only were we only there for maybe 20 minutes from start to finish, but it only cost me $25, AND the wonderful government employee (I really mean that this time) who assisted us, gave the boys & me a FABULOUS compliment, "Your boys are about the most well behaved children I've ever seen come in here!" WOW! I won't go on my soapbox about the behavior of other children & how my boys must shine in comparison, but I will say that it does a mother's heart good to know that she must be on the right track in training her children to behave properly, for a complete stranger to compliment their behavior.

Second good . . .The manager of the McDonalds on Stadium Drive near Drake. The boys wanted to use some more of their gift cards to get a Happy Meal Lunch. Wouldn't you know, right when they went to pay for their meals, the debit card machine broke & it wouldn't go through! It wouldn't accept any cards from that point on & I didn't have any cash on me. SO, the manager said they could have their lunch for FREE! That's right, for today at least there such a thing as a free lunch!

Now for the bad . . . Allergies. I love my mother, but I don't love the inherited nasal allergies. I'm allergic to grass pollen, tree pollen, dust, mold, cat dander, dog dander, etc, etc, etc. . . I've tried a variety of prescription & OTC allergy meds, but to no avail. I still have a chronic stuffy nose and chronic headaches. I use my neti pot religiously & Breathe Right Strips every night so I can have some comfort, and I'm currently taking the OTC version of Claritin just for the heck of it. Thanks Mom!

And the ugly . . .The boys are earning their training wheels and learning how to ride bicycles for the first time. Stay tuned, this could get ugly!

And because I eat, sleep, & breathe photography, here are some pics to hold you until next time . . .

Oh, by the way, Marissa was not feeling very well last night, so she didn't make it over for a visit. "Wednesdays With Marissa" will have to wait until next week.

Have a great Thursday everyone! ~HK

Wednesdays With Marissa

2010-06-10T19:16:00.001-05:00

Well, we gave up on studying the Bible last night. We were more in a snacky-play-with-the-baby mood, so Sam & Shawn went and got snacky stuff and we hung out, took pics and well, snacked.

Not sure why I went with black and white for these. Black and white images tend to bring out the emotion of a portrait. Marissa has a very expressive face. It just seemed to fit.

Austin begged all evening to "hold the baby". He finally got his wish!

This one just said "color" to me.

Wednesdays With Marissa

2010-06-03T09:07:00.001-05:00

This must be what it's like to be a grandparent. The child comes over fresh from a nap and smiles . . . .laughs . . . and when she gets cranky and smelly, you send her home.

She spent the evening charming Shawn.

They taught each other how to stick their tongues out while the rest of us were having Bible study.

Then she caught sight of Austin . . .

. . . spent some time with Grandma . . . .

. . .and made some funny faces.

Shawn wanted this image to be the "Official Birthday Image" (yesterday was his birthday).

But I thought this one was perfect!

Matt & Allison Engagement

2010-06-01T15:15:00.001-05:00

One of their favorite places to visit is South Haven . . . mine too. As we strolled through the unusually deserted streets, I listened to all the unique aspects of their life together that makes them who they are as a couple.

They're just so cute together, aren't they?

And then without realizing it, I got a steamy moment . . . Matt, the look on your face ranks right up there with Richard Gere as Lancelot in "First Knight" when he's about to kiss Guinevere . . . takes my breath away! Woa!

What did I tell ya?

Allison, you nailed the parakeet kiss! AWESOME!

And we ended the evening with a "cheesy smile"!

Matt . . . Allison . . . It was so much fun hanging out with you in South Haven! I can't wait to spend your wedding day with you!! HK

To see more of Matt & Allison's engagement session, click here for a slideshow!

Matt & Allison Sneak Peak

2010-05-27T18:50:00.000-05:00

Had a fabulous time in South Haven with Allison and Matt! More to follow . . .

Let's Play Ketchup

2010-05-26T09:09:00.001-05:00

I've been so busy shooting, that I haven't had the time to blog like I wanted, so this post is going to be "ketchup" (so named because as a kid, that's what I would say).

First, Wednesday nights with Marissa . . .She's in that stage of life where she smiles easily, babbles constantly, and has definite preferences on who she will allow to hold her & play with her. I'm one of the lucky ones who almost always gets a smile when she sees me. I just love being one of her favorites!! And I'm lucky the camera hasn't scared her!

Next on the list, I was asked to cover a golf benefit by KMC at the Heritage Glen Golf Course in Paw Paw. I got to be chauffered around by Becky and Bri while I shot team pics and a few others as I went. We got lost 4 times and almost drove straight into a sand trap with a 4-foot drop! It was quite a ride. Had a great time . . .

Then I managed to get to South Haven for a short time one evening with Becky & the boys. . . .will be going there tonight to shoot an engagement session & I am all set!

So, yes, I'm in the busiest time of my year, but I'm loving every minute of it! Still storm chasing if storms ever materialize . . . I sooooo want a great lightning shot this year. We'll see . . . .

Prom

2010-05-22T14:17:00.002-05:00

I promised her I would be there. This would be her first and only prom. Her date was traveling from the Detroit area just to take her. "So this is what it feels like to be one of your brides, even though I'm not getting married," she joked. It started to thunder as we chatted about her hair and makeup. Craig was going to be late. He had gotten caught in traffic, but he was on his way. Every time a car passed the house, she glanced out the window to see if it was him. I had never seen her so excited.

The original plan was to go some place awesome . . . and outdoors. For several days, it was only a 20% chance of some light scattered showers. As I loaded up the truck, I saw the dark clouds building, and sure enough right when we were ready to go it started. It was like someone uncorked the sky & blew on it at the same time. I shoved my camera under my shirt and made a mad dash for the truck. I was drenched, but the camera was bone dry! As we drove across town it became obvious, we were going indoors.

Don't fight circumstances, use them.

Brianna . . . Craig . . . I hope you had an awesome time at your prom! I sure had fun shooting you!

Click here for the video. Enjoy!

The Perfect Portrait Part 2

2010-05-20T14:13:00.001-05:00

The more I think about it, the more I realize that I am drawn to unconventional portraits. Don't get me wrong - pictures of people perfectly dressed, perfectly posed, & perfectly smiling have their place, and I'm not against them. The images that continually end up in my favorites folder are ones like these:

When I look at these images, they look like the real person. I'm not concerned that he was holding a popsicle or making a goofy face. This is who he is. The next time you have portraits taken, consider allowing yourself to come through. The images you get will be the ones you'll want to keep . . .

The Perfect Portrait

2010-05-18T14:29:00.001-05:00

I have never subscribed to the idea that a good portrait has to be of a person sitting perfectly, smiling perfectly, looking perfectly . . . .Therefore, some of my personal favorites are just like this one:

And now the back story: Patrick wasn't happy with me at all. I wasn't doing something he wanted, so to make it known to me that he wasn't pleased, he stuck his tongue out at me. Of course, he knew that wouldn't make me very happy (well, as far as he knew), so he closed his eyes figuring that if he couldn't see my upset . . .

Always An Adventure

2010-05-11T13:38:00.004-05:00

Okay, so, Becky and I decided we would storm chase this year. We both just adore severe weather photography and it's no fun storm chasing alone, so we agreed we would go together. Last Friday, things were looking good for some excellent storm images. We loaded up the boys & some baklava, got a full tank of gas & took off. We drove through Amish country in northern Indiana, but ended up at a lake in Southern Michigan. Then, the storm fizzled out. It literally died altogether. It was just dull and cloudy and quiet. We goofed off for a while . . .

I played with my $5 remote shutter release that had FINALLY come in from Hong Kong. The boys threw rocks in the lake and scared the fish away. I think I finally out-did Becky in the nutty department.

Then, all of a sudden, the wind picked up. It was strong and it was spooky. We decided it was time to go and headed out. We passed a few farms and some large fields, then we saw a sliver of pink in the sky and stopped. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, we were rewarded with these:

Not the storm images we were expecting, but still gorgeous to view. We left with a feeling of satisfaction and 2 exhausted boys.

Hot Chocolate and a Fish Hatchery

2010-05-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

Brianna's prom is coming up, so we wrapped up her Senior Photo Session with some images of her in her prom dress. We started the day at The Coffee Bar . . .

Then we went to the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery . . . not an expected place for images of a beautiful girl in a formal gown. Oh yeah, and there was a school there when we arrived. I kept hearing little boys saying, "Dude, look at that girl in the pretty dress!" :) It was funny!!

Patrick came along on for this photo session. Set him up with hot chocolate and a muffin & he made faces while Bri & I worked. . . .

And of course, he got an honorary image with Bri. . . .

Bri thought this was cute . . . She has a thing for "Twilight" or something . . . .

And I managed to get a couple more shots of Patrick before the day was over. Notice Austin in the background? He asked if he could take pictures w/ my cell phone. Later that day, I kept getting text messages from all kinds of people asking what the picture I had sent them was supposed to be . . . . turns out Austin had sent a picture to everyone in my address book whose name he recognized. He even sent one to the church office . . . .So if you got a funky pic from me on Tuesday, IT WASN'T ME!!

Many thanks to The Coffee Bar for being so wonderful about letting us shoot there! Your hot chocolate is AWESOME!!

My Hubby Is The Best!

2010-05-06T19:50:00.000-05:00

Okay, so today was a bad day for email. My email client crashed. I fixed it. It crashed again, and so on . . . I posted the following on Facebook:

Heather Kitchen Images Yep, nothin' like having your email client crash & spending all morning restoring it by importing each folder one by one to make you feel alive!

A little while ago, I saw this response:

Shawn Kitchen: Yeah, but here's the thing. My wife... my bride... has become skilled enough in Linux that she can (a) figure out what the problem is, (b) figure out a course of action to fix it, (c) implement the changes, (d) not lose any of her information, (e) find a program that she may like even better, and (f) not need one second of intervention from me

My wife is a good cook, she's great with bookkeeping, she's a great photographer, she likes riding motorcycles, and she's a Linux geek. That's way flippin' cool if you ask me.

Now, how flippin' awesome is my hubby? Come on, you can say it - HE'S THE BEST!

Lady Miss Bri

2010-05-01T14:11:00.000-05:00

Brianna and I have a unique relationship. From the beginning, she knew how to pose & I knew how to shoot her. I rarely have to completely explain what I'm looking for in an image - she just knows. Often, she will look in a certain way & I tell her to freeze, and there it is . . . . forever captured.

Bri's Trash-The-Dress Sneak Peek

2010-04-30T20:28:00.000-05:00

Okay, first of all, someone HAS GOT to come up with another name besides trash-the-dress.

Now, here's my favorite from the day! More to come!!

Embrace The Drama

2010-04-27T14:01:00.001-05:00

I love drama! I'm drawn to dramatic music, dramatic movies, dramatic landscapes (explains my love of storm photography & sunsets, huh?), dramatic music . . .well, you get the point.

So, where do you find the drama? Start with light. If light is dramatic, the image will be dramatic. Bold colors and deep contrast. Why is an image of a thunderstorm at sunset dramatic? The colors of the sunset and the impending storm seem to clash against each other and produce apprehension in the viewer. The storm threatens to overcome the sunset. And yet, the sunset is pushing out all it's glorious light & vibrancy in an attempt to keep the storm at bay. Dark clouds contrast the bright sky. Dramatic!

Where else is drama? In a wedding, drama is all over the place all day long! When the bride is walking down the aisle, it is one of the most dramatic moments of the day! Watch the bride's emotions - is she beaming from ear to ear? Is she crying with happiness? Is she clinging to her father? What is the groom's expression? Is he nervous? Confident? The bride's father . . . the moment he's dreaded ever since he found out that his wife was expecting a little girl! The bride's mother . . . she knows this is it!

Do you see tears? Fears? Capture it . . . embrace the drama.

PS - I just realized that I rambled on & on about wedding day drama & this image has nothing to do with a wedding! It was the image that got me thinking about drama in the first place. Call it my inspiration, if you will. Yes, even being pissed at the sun shining in your eyes is dramatic! -- HK

Quick Tip: Bounce Your flash

2010-04-26T15:01:00.000-05:00

I've been using a manual flash for several years now & I've gotten used to it, but TTL flash does make life a bit easier, especially when shooting a wedding! Let's face it, the day moves really fast & having a little extra help doesn't hurt anyone, right?

If you're new to flash photography, the #1 piece of advice I can give you is LEARN TO BOUNCE YOUR ON-CAMERA FLASH. If you're looking to buy a flash, try to get one that bounces AND swivels so you can bounce your flash in any direction you choose. The idea is to get directional light to "model" your subjects and give them depth & dimension. It isn't hard, but it does take practice.

Entire books have been written and entire websites are devoted to the subject of flash photography. Here is a quick way to improve you photos without diving in too deeply

Bounce it. Turn the head of your flash so that it's aiming at something else. It will reflect off that surface & back onto your subject. The light will be softer and way more flattering.

Be careful of the color of the new surface - whatever color it is, that's the color of the light that will be bounced back. Try to find a white surface, or light colored (if you can adjust your white balance later to compensate).

If possible, avoid bouncing off the ceiling. Yes, the light will be softer, but it will also nicely illuminate the top of your subject's head and leave beautiful shadows under their eyebrows, noise, chin, etc. Most portraits are best when the subject doesn't look like a raccoon.

Don't get stuck only bouncing in one direction all the time. Swivel your flash head in all different directions & see the difference in the direction of the light as it falls on your subject.

Try it out & see for yourself!

I thought a cute pic of Austin & Mason would be a nice way to start the week. Have a great one!!

Pretty Flowers

2010-04-24T15:05:00.000-05:00

I haven't been to Asylum Lake in Kalamazoo in a while, so Mason & I took a walk today before it started raining. Found a fabulous place to trash-the-dress if anyone's interested . . .

Poor Boo Boo!

2010-04-22T15:53:00.000-05:00

This was the moment when I knew something wasn't right. I walked past him & thought, "What a cute pic!" I went & got my camera, snapped . . . and stopped. He's just not acting like himself, I thought. Why? He doesn't want breakfast. Why? Then he turned & looked at me and I saw them. A bunch of red bumps covering his face. Further inspection revealed they were all over his little body!

As I bundled him up to go to the hospital, he stopped & said, "Mommy! What a nice sunrise!" So I took these for him.

Found out he's allergic to penicillin. *Sigh*

Mandy

2010-04-13T17:59:00.002-05:00

Mandy's been really sick the last few weeks, which is a real bummer because Shawn & I love having her over & she's one of the boys' favorite people as well, but between her illness & ours it's been a real challenge to spend time with her. So, she called this afternoon & invited us out for hot chocolate at The Coffee Bar. We ended up in a smaller room just off the "bar" where the boys could sit at a table and I could shoot some pics of Mandy on the big leather couch. We had some wonderful conversation (she's used to my talking through the camera), and made plans for a "real shoot" at The Coffee Bar with Bri soon. Plus, we have a trip down-the-town (as Patrick puts it) set for tomorrow.

What A Difference A Day Makes!

2010-04-11T18:19:00.000-05:00

Just 30 hours ago, Austin was in the emergency room with this horrible looking rash all over his body. A throat swab and some orange popsicles later, the diagnosis was strep throat, mononucleosis, & scarlet fever. My pastor remarked that he didn't know a kid could be that sick. We got some antibiotics & were told not to let him around anyone for at least 48 hours. All day, he's been perky. His appetite is definitely back and it's been a challenge getting him to be still & take it easy! Reminds me of a song . . .

Sunsets

2010-04-11T10:05:00.004-05:00

With a sick child at home (scarlet fever, strep throat, & mono - no kidding . . . ), I'm photographing sunsets from my driveway for the next few days. Okay then!

This is an HDR image using Photomatix Pro 3.2. An actual HDR image would be created using images with different exposures, however, this particular version of Photomatix will create a feaux HDR image out of a single RAW file. Cool!

And here is the original (no HDR).

Rana

2010-04-09T20:24:00.004-05:00

Yesterday morning I opened up Facebook and I had a message from Mandy's sister Rana (short for Lorana) wanting to know if I'd take some pictures for her. "Sure!" I said. Then, she told me why. Rana is working on raising support to go on a missions trip to Romania. It's a long story, but the summary is this. God has truly blessed her with a heart for missions, the necessary major dental work, and now He wants her to raise support. She needed a great picture to put in each of her support letters. I got a ton for her to choose from! Here are some of my favorites. . . .Oh, yeah, & Mandy came too . . .

I Entered A Contest

2010-04-05T18:51:00.004-05:00

I entered a contest. Professional Photographer Magazine is having a "cover shot contest". This is the image, I entered: If you click here you can vote for it & hopefully I'll win!! I'm not nearly as interested in winning the Canon Powershot as I am interested in being on the cover of this prestigious magazine!

South Haven

2010-04-03T08:30:00.004-05:00

Quite literally, every chance I get I go to South Haven. The combination of Lake Michigan, a lighthouse & pier, and all facing west for the sunset is just too much of a lure and keeps me driving the 45 minutes to get there over and over, and over again. The boys play in the sand & surf and I take picture after picture as the sun sets over the horizon.

Of course, it never fails that I take 50+ images of the same sunset & only keep 3-5 of them.

Last night, my friend Becky went with us and she & Patrick made wishes & threw pennies into the lake. What a large wishing well!

A Warm Evening

2010-04-01T19:54:00.007-05:00

It's been a quiet evening here in Kalamazoo. It got up to almost 80 today & as the sun went down, the temps hovered in the upper 70's with a nice breeze. Not too cool, not warm, just right. The sun was muted by some clouds so it wasn't too bright, but it wasn't too cloudy either.

Today was Austin's first day of Spring Break. It was also April Fool's Day. I only had one attempted joke played on me (and a bunch of other people who still believe it's real). Harmless prank. The truth will come out eventually & a bunch of people will be disappointed. One day it will be real . . .

My neighbors aren't surprised to see me out with my camera any more. Any time of the day or night, they see me & wave. Sometimes they pose. They don't find it odd to see me sitting, and sometimes laying, in the middle of our street with the boys & the dog running circles around me. They know what I do (it's printed on the tailgate of my Blazer too).

After countless races and a few rounds of hide-and-seek, we called it a night. Two exhausted youngsters fell into bed. And I took a look at what I had captured. *Sigh* This is happiness. . . .

The Coffee Table Sampler Is Here!

2010-03-31T13:51:00.004-05:00

IT'S HERE! I've been designing a sampler coffee table book and it finally arrived! Oh, I am sooooo incredibly happy with it too. The quality is exactly what I had hoped for! The paper is heavy & does not show fingerprints. . . . the colors are rich . . .the print is clear & sharp! I can't wait to show all of you in person!

Your name & wedding date will appear on the cover (for weddings). For seniors, your name & graduation date will appear. For families, couples & children, you can choose.

This was such an important feature for me. The book lays flat so panoramic images can be viewed with no seam!

Stitch binding! No glue! Awesome!!

2010-03-30T09:56:00.004-05:00

I really hope you're not getting tired of seeing Miss Marissa! I just love her adorable face & the recent images I got for her are perfect for working on new layouts for prints & albums. I'm adding to my collection of designs at a staggering pace so that all of you can take advantage of them ASAP!

Sugar & Spice

2010-03-29T20:47:00.003-05:00

I've been working on templates & layouts for prints & albums, and using my favorite cutie as the sample!

Brianna Slideshow

2010-03-23T13:44:00.001-05:00

Click Here

Brianna

2010-03-22T13:39:00.007-05:00

I promised we'd go to Chicago. For the two weeks leading up to it, the weather was perfect, then the night before we got the weather report: cold, snowy, windy. We went anyway & the challenge became finding places to shoot indoors.

She's one of the most beautiful people I know, both inside and out. And if I'm photographing your wedding, you'll get to meet her!

Brianna Sneak Peak

2010-03-21T15:55:00.007-05:00

Working on the others right now . . . stay tuned!

Marissa!

2010-03-18T08:47:00.005-05:00

Before Marissa was even born, her future was uncertain. On the day of her birth, though, she went to live with her grandparents, and recently their adoption of her became permanent. We had the joy of having her join our Bible study yesterday evening, and she even contributed a few "amens!" of her own!

Beach Weddings

2010-03-17T09:07:00.005-05:00

I've been reviewing images from last year to put into my "Best of 2009" album and I came across one of my favorite weddings. It took place in St. Joseph, Michigan on a beautiful summer day . . . lots of sun, a slight breeze, perfect temperatures . . . well, you get the idea. I've been asked by several people how I got the images to turn out so well, so I thought I'd share.

First pick a time of day that is best for lighting. This happened to be late afternoon in the summer time, so approximately 3 hours before sunset. The sun was getting low in the sky which added enough shadow to create some dimension and give a slightly warm glow.

Some would say never shoot into the sun, but actually if you know how to use your flash, you could shoot into the sun and use your flash for fill. Another option is to either face your subject(s) into the sun or at an angle to the sun. The choice is based on how you want to light your subject and how you want the shadows to appear on their face.

This is actually a very simple thing to do & works for all types of outdoor photography. Put a polarizing filter on your lens. I use a circular polarizing filter so I can adjust the amount of polarizing. This filter is responsible for the brilliant blue skies. The more polarized, the richer & deeper the blue will be.

Don't forget to take some images, then check your histogram for blown out highlights, especially with a wedding dress. It's so easy to overexpose and lose some of the detail so all you see is a mass of bright. Plus, overexposed skies just look . . . well, freaky. Try to underexpose slightly & make up the difference with fill flash. Like what you see? Great! If not, adjust and try again.

Practice makes perfect!

Super Call!

2010-03-16T08:34:00.004-05:00

Sorry the pic is a bit pixelated . . . it's a little old . . .

Ok, so last night we're all sitting around the dining room table enjoying a brownie dessert and my cell phone rang. Normally, I turn it off at dinner time, but the caller i.d. said that it was the school, so I picked it up. The voice on the other end of the line identified himself as the principal of my son's school, which sent a small shudder through my spine. What had my son done? Why am I getting a call from THE PRINCIPAL? How much trouble can a kindergartener get into?

My fears quickly subsided, however, when Mr. Wheaton explained that he was making a SUPER CALL!! Austin, it would seem, had been doing an exceptionally good job at school, working hard in his academics and being an all-around good student, and his teacher had recommended he be given a super call to show her appreciation for his efforts!

HOORAY!! I am so relieved that my first call from the principal was a good one!

2010-03-15T10:27:00.006-05:00

I am so excited! This Saturday is the Chicago trip. Living only two hours away from Chicago, you'd think that I would go there on a regular basis, but in the 8 years of living in Kalamazoo, I haven't been to Chicago once. In fact, when traveling I usually avoid it like the plague (rumors of Chicago traffic is enough to give me nightmares).

I've got everything in order & I know what time, how much and where to go. The boys & Shawn are going too & it's going to be a BLAST! Of course, it's supposed to be cold & rainy, so it's time to get the creative juices flowing and really test my skills shooting indoors & in low light conditions. Plus, I'm going to test out the batteries in the new camera to see how far they'll really go.

The boys, especially Patrick, are excited about getting to ride on the train! I've never been on a train & I'm not really sure what to expect, but it's going to be great!

On a completely different note, I've ramped up my fitness goals again. Pray for me. . . .I don't like to exercise. At all. I don't find it fun, but more like a chore. Something I have to do because it's good for me, but that I get no pleasure out of whatsoever. I get more pleasure editing 3,000 photos than I do in 30 minutes of exercise. Seriously! It simply doesn't feed my need for instant gratification. I don't see results immediately & it's incredibly discouraging.

Hey, now that the weather is getting warmer, we're planning some more "trash the dress" sessions. My friend Marjorie donated several gorgeous gowns & Bri has been trying them on & altering them to her size. The question is always where to go?

Before I forget, I'm planning a late summer/early autumn workshop. This one is going to be more targeted to learning how to shoot models. I will need someone to model & a bunch of photographers to enjoy the day with me. If you're interested, give me a holler. I haven't set the date yet & I'm interested in knowing what kinds of things everyone wants to learn . . . .lighting, posing, marketing . . .all of the above?

I've been reviewing images from this past year, so for your viewing pleasure . . .

What Happened?

2010-03-12T13:05:00.002-05:00

I got up this morning & thought, "Cool! Two quiet days in a row. . . I might actually get some things done." The next thing I knew I had a to-do list a mile long, phone calls, emails, I haven't even thought about the laundry yet - What happened?

Mind you, I'm not complaining. I LOVE it when the business gets busier & busier. It's a sign of a healthily growing company & I'm ABSOLUTELY THRILLED! Though, sometimes I'll admit I get scared. I start asking myself questions like "Why is this happening?" "What caused this?" "Is this just a fluke?" Then Shawn will remind me to stop looking the gift horse in the mouth & I realize that it doesn't matter why - just be thankful!

Part of my busy-ness today is that I had a spark of marketing creativity. Stuff that some would probably say, "Duh, Heather, you just now thought of that?", was suddenly at the front of my mind. And ways of accomplishing new strategies suddenly became crystal clear. Well, naturally I wanted to start in on it all right away . . .

One thing I realized is that while I have some neat ideas, I don't always know the best ways to implement them. Knowing what to do & how to do it are two completely different things! I am the research queen! So, guess what I'll be doing for most of the afternoon?

Want a hint for what might be coming down the pike? Here you go: Anybody out there a videographer with some pointers on promotional videos? :)

Change Is In The Air

2010-03-12T10:00:00.003-05:00

Changes are coming. I'm working on a new pricing structure that will allow me to offer more options for everyone. As always, current prices and offerings are in effect until the new structure is up & running. I will let you know what date the new stuff will go into effect, so all new clients can take advantage of current pricing before that. If you are planning a wedding, contact me now even if your wedding is next year to lock in your rate. New products can be added on later if you like.

Hmm . . . .what pic for today?

Too Funny!

2010-03-10T09:42:00.001-05:00

OH MY GOSH THIS MADE ME LAUGH!

Getting To Know You

2010-03-10T08:52:00.002-05:00

I can't say that I just LOVE these kinds of questionnaires, but depending on who sends them, I usually send them back with honest answers. It's a great way to learn little things about people that I didn't already know.

Happy Wednesday everybody!

2010 GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Welcome to the 2010 edition of getting to know your friends. Change all the answers so they apply to you, and then send this to your friends including the person who sent it to you. The idea is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known! Just press the "forward' button then you can erase my answers and add yours.

1. High heels or boots? Between the two, boots.

2. What time did you get up this morning? 6:45

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? District 9, but not all the way through - it made me motion sick

4. What is your maiden name? Jolley

5. What is your favorite TV show? Don't have one

6. What do you usually have for breakfast? cereal

7. What is your middle name? Elaine

8. What food do you dislike? lima beans

9. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Don't have one

10. What characteristic do you dispise? narcissism

11. Favorite Clothing? blue jeans

12. Anywhere in the world on vacation? Charleston, SC

13. Are you an organized person? No

14. Where would you retire to? Asheville, NC

15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Haven't had a memorable one in a while

16. What are you going to do when you finish this? Clean the kitchen.

17. Furthest place you are sending this? Fountain Inn, SC

18. Person you expect to send it back first? Don't know

19. When is your birthday? April 6 - 35 years old!!

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Neither

21. What is your shoe size? 7-1/2W

22. Do you own any animals? dog

23. Any news you'd like to share? The snow is finally melting

24. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? A tornado chaser.

25. What is your favorite flower? red rose

26. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? March 20 - trip to Chicago

28. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? brick red

29. How is the weather right now? Dark cloudy, cool, rainy

30. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Shawn. Just informed me that they're going to start demolishing the I94 bridge over Westnedge in April. Let the games begin!

31. Favorite drink? chocolate milk

32. Favorite restaurant? Red Lobster

33 Hair color? Brown

34. What was your favorite toy as a child? Crayola Art Caddy

35. Spring Summer, Fall or Winter. Fall

36. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate

37. Coffee or tea? Between the two, coffee.

38. Wish you were still young? No

39. Do you want your friends to email you back? Silly question

40. When was the last time you cried? Too long ago to remember

41. What is under your bed? Winter sweaters

42. What did you do last night? Crocheted & watched TV

43. What are you afraid of? Having all my photographic equipment fail at a wedding.

44. Salty or sweet? Sweet

45. Best quality you have? Forgiving

46. How many years at your current job? Weird, I don't look at being a photographer as a job - too much fun!

47. Favorite day of the week? Friday

48. How many people will you send this to? Haven't decided yet.

49. How many will respond? Don't know

50. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? Sometimes

The End of Illness

2010-03-08T19:12:00.001-05:00

Well, look who's feeling better!

Hair Cut

2010-03-05T16:50:00.009-05:00

The boys haven't been in to see Ms. Jenny for a haircut in a while. In the summer, I buzz them myself & through the winter, I manage to trim them up so that they're not completely unruly. However, Patrick got to go to a consultation with me & insisted he get a haircut for the occasion & Austin couldn't let the opportunity for a haircut of his own pass him by. Besides, I got to test out the digital noise from using 12,800 ISO. Not bad!

Brianna's Senior Pics - Chicago Excursion

2010-03-02T14:43:00.001-05:00

Anyone who is interested in spending a day in Chicago with us, please follow the link & RSVP!

Click Here.

Kingdom Kids

2010-03-02T11:12:00.007-05:00

I've been asked to work on a photographic project for the Kingdom Kids ministries at Kalamazoo Missionary Church. The idea is to get images of the kids that can be framed & hung all over the Kingdom Kids Room.

I've also been asked to be the a/v person for Vacation Bible School this year. I've started putting together video promos and & stuff. Should be a lot of fun!

A Lot To Be Thankful For!

2010-02-25T15:24:00.005-05:00

Ok, I know that around 90,000 miles things start to break on vehicles, so when the truck started making weird noises & riding rough, I didn't totally freak out. We just got our taxes back, so time to take it in.

We just bought new tires for it last year & suddenly the front tires were wearing out the tread right down to the steel on the inside. So, I took it in to have the front end aligned. They found that the ball joint & something with the axle (I am NOT a mechanic) needed replacing. Then it needed new tires to replace the worn ones.

~ $800 later, back on the road.

I am truly grateful for tax refunds!

Now, I've got to figure out how to use these pantry staples to make some dinner. What to have?

Working With Kids

2010-02-24T15:10:00.005-05:00

I've heard too many people say, "It's just too hard to get good pictures of kids." Well, I admit it's challenging & presents a unique opportunity to stretch yourself and push you abilities, it's not as hard as you might think.

1. Keep the camera up to your eye & constantly click the shutter. Focus, compose, shoot, focus, compose shoot.

2. Talk to them the entire time. Tell them what you're doing & how cute or silly they look. Show them some of the images as you go - this will keep them enthusiastic.

3. Allow them to make the goofy faces & they'll give you the nice smiles, especially when they're proud of the goofy face they just made.

4. Let them come up with they're own ideas for posing and composition. You'll be amazed at what they'll come up with & you might even learn something new to try.

5. Have fun. If you have fun, they'll have fun. The best facial expressions are the natural ones.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2010-02-22T09:23:00.006-05:00

Teamwork & Cooperation

Becky

Patrick's funny faces.

Pierogies

Snowman On The Beach

2010-02-21T20:27:00.008-05:00

I spent the last part of Saturday in South Haven with the boys and my good friend Becky. While I'm not much of a snow person, Becky was very enthusiastic about building a snowman on the beach (note the lighthouse in the background). Hopefully, Frosty will last a while!

Here I Go Again

2010-02-21T17:21:00.003-05:00

Why can't I leave my blog alone? I keep changing the layout, the feel, the color, . . . about every 3-4 months. So, don't be surprised if you see my blog change several times in the next 48 hours. I just can't stop myself!

Puppy Love

2010-02-20T11:41:00.008-05:00

I'm not a huge fan of pet photography - it's just not my thing. However, I do have an adorable golden retriever named Mason & well, he just begged to have some images made!

Slideshow

2010-02-16T13:16:00.001-05:00

For Tanner & Tim's slideshow, please click here.

Tanner & Tim - Engaged

2010-02-15T13:15:00.005-05:00

Bounce It!

2010-02-03T09:42:00.010-05:00

The reality of my world is that in order to shoot a full day's wedding, I have to use artificial light in some form. I'm a huge fan of the on-camera flash for a few reasons. 1. Portability 2. Less set-up & tear-down 3. Less likely for someone to knock it over or trip over it.

I've heard of people using their hand in a pinch, so okay, I tried it. Not bad! (Pay no attention to the messy house).

Image 1: Direct flash . . . bad, bad, bad . . .

Image 2: No flash (same settings for all)

Image 3: Flash bounced off ceiling

Image 4: Flash bounced off my hand

Back To My Roots

2010-01-30T14:43:00.003-05:00

What originally got me fascinated with photography was when I started paying attention to how light illuminated every day objects. A cup and a plate can fascinate me for hours when I have my camera . . .

2010-01-29T15:50:00.004-05:00

I did something I'm usually not a fan of - I pointed my camera directly at the sun & took a few shots. I decided to ditch manual mode and go for aperture priority mode & just see what the camera would decide. f4.5, 1/900, 80 ISO,

Family Fun!

2010-01-28T10:02:00.003-05:00

I spent some time right here in Kalamazoo this past Saturday with Amy & her family. I was having such a good time that I didn't realize that an hour-and-a-half had gone by! Thanks for a fabulous time!

An Interview With Me

2010-01-08T15:47:00.005-05:00

A little bit about yourself?

I'm married & I have 2 sons and a dog. I don't have any issues with telling people my age & shoe size. 34 & 7-1/2. I was born in Indiana, but I'm a southerner at heart.

Where is home?

Kalamazoo, Michigan. Yes, there really is a Kalamazoo. We've got t-shirts too!

If you could live anywhere on this awesome planet where would you build your dream home?

Somewhere near Highlands, North Carolina. I LOVE the smoky mountains! My husband & I took our honeymoon on our motorcycle through that area & I didn't want to leave. Neither did he. Hmm . . . retirement?

Did you go to school to study photography?

Nope! I am proudly self-taught. I study the work of others & I frequent quite a few informative websites on photographic techniques. I'm constantly learning something related to photography. Mostly, I shoot & shoot & shoot. On-the-job training, if you will.

What or who got you started in wedding photography?

My friend Wayne takes the credit, but actually it was my husband Shawn. I asked him for a camera so I could take pictures of the boys as babies. He got me a a little point-and-shoot, then when he saw my interest in photography he gave me his nicer Fuji!

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband Shawn. He's just awesome!

Where you’ll find me on a Friday night at 9 p.m.?

This is so lame, but seriously I'm in my favorite chair in my living room watching a movie with Shawn and knitting or crocheting something.

Your favorite film (movie) of all time?

“The Empire Strikes Back” When I was a kid I pretended to be Princess Leia. She is FABULOUS! She's feminine, beautiful, smart, and can shoot a gun!! My kinda girl!

Who would play you in a film (movie) of your life?

Sandra Bullock. I think her real life personality is closest to mine.

First thing you would do if you won the lottery?

Call Shawn & and tell him to quit his job.

Which five words would your friends use to describe you?

Fun, goofy, sweet, loyal, and sometimes a bit melodramatic. Oh yeah, and I'm The Catalyst! Sorry, inside joke.

What is your personal style?

I don't know that it has a name. If I could get away with it, I'd wear blue jeans & t-shirts EVERYWHERE! I usually wear a pantsuit when I “work”. I really don't like dresses or skirts & heels slow me down. I've been told I'm not a soccer mom. I drive a Chevy Blazer instead of a minivan. I'm definitely not a girl girl . . .I'm more a tomboy, but not in the sense that I climb trees & fish.

Was there a defining moment when you knew that it was time to take pictures professionally or was it a gradual transition?

There was a point in time when I realized it was time to actually do it for a living, but I didn't just dive in head first. so for the most part it's been a gradual transition.

If not a photographer, what would you have been?

When I was in high school I wanted to be a symphony conductor, but realistically I think I'd want to be a stage show producer.

What profession would you not like to do?

Telemarketer. Been there. Done that. NEVER AGAIN!

Did your early photographic goals include earning a living from photography, or did it start as a way to express yourself creatively?

I didn't have any early photographic goals except to become a better photographer. In fact, that's my lifelong goal. I can't see myself thinking, “This is it. I can't improve any more.”

What do you like most about being a photographer?

All of it. I like seeing cool pictures, and especially knowing I took them! I love meeting new people & hearing their ideas. I just love it all.

What do you dislike about being a photographer?

Hearing criticism from others on images of mine that I love. It's all a matter of opinion – don't rain on my parade!

What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photographing weddings?

Anticipating a special moment. Some are obvious . . . the first kiss, the first look . . . but it's the spontaneous ones that make it challenging.

One way you market Heather Kitchen Images?

Facebook.

If you could be invisible for one day with your camera…

I'd much rather be able to fly like Neo in “The Matrix”. Cool!

Something that is overrated?

The national news.

Tell me about a unique, funny, or interesting experience you have had while photographing a wedding.

I was taking images of the groom & groomsmen getting ready, and one of the groomsmen asked me if I could see his underwear under his pants (they were cream colored pants). It didn't even phase me. I took a look & told him no, but what color were they? Instead of telling me, he dropped his drawers and showed me his navy blue boxers! I warn potential assistants that you never know what you'll see . . .

2010-01-08T14:19:00.002-05:00

The other day I asked Patrick if he liked the pictures I take. I got a thumbs up!!

New For 2010

2010-01-06T09:38:00.007-05:00

Now that I've gotten all my end-of-the year bookkeeping finished, I'm looking at 2010 and making a few changes. Nothing earth shattering, I promise.

First, the obvious change - my blog. For once, I didn't go crazy & completely overhaul my blog; I just tweaked it a little.

Some of you have already noticed that I've switched to coffee table books. The cost of producing a traditional album just keeps rising & rising, but I don't want to raise my prices. I finally found a company that gives me what I want! Hooray!

I'm going to have someone taking more pictures of me this year. Don't be surprised if at your wedding, someone is following me around.

Have a great day everyone!

My Favorites of 2009

2009-12-31T11:09:00.005-05:00

Hi everyone! I put this together to review some of my favorite images of 2009. Hope everyone has a safe & happy New Year!

Geez, Mom, you're at it again??

2009-12-30T13:39:00.002-05:00

My kids are going to have so many photos of them by the time they graduate from high school!

2009-12-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

A Visit To Santa

2009-12-21T09:38:00.003-05:00

I always get a kick out of taking the boys to see Santa. First, they really get into it, but also because when it comes to photos . . . well, let's just say the boys are pros! Before Santa's "helper" could say, "Please only take 3, we have to keep the line moving," I got 6! These were the keepers.

Always & Forever

2009-12-15T14:53:00.005-05:00

Tuesday, my family lost a dear member and this weekend I made a quick trip to South Carolina to say goodbye. Everyone remembers a lost loved one in their own way. My sister chose to honor her husband's memory by getting a tattoo. So, immediately following the funeral, my brother & I took her to a tattoo parlor. Each pf my siblings has at least one tattoo, but this was my first trip to a tattoo parlor. Naturally, I took the camera.

2009-12-10T08:19:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm leaving tomorrow for a quick trip to South Carolina to see my family, but this will not be a happy trip. My youngest sister lost her husband yesterday morning quite unexpectedly and I'm going to be with her. I will be returning calls & email when I get back late Monday night.

Having Fun With Photos

2009-12-08T10:24:00.002-05:00

'Tis the season to have a little fun. I saw this on a friend's Facebook page and just thought it was hilarious, so I plugged my family's photos in & made one for us. Click Here.

2009-11-28T20:52:00.004-05:00

I spent the day with my boys and some of my favorite young people in South Haven. While I took a lot of snapshots & goofed around, I did get a few more professional ones. Brianna is one of my favorite subjects.

A Chocolate Face

2009-11-28T10:56:00.004-05:00

The best way to shoot kids . . . .give them some chocolate, put them in front of a northern facing window, and shoot, shoot shoot.

Just For Fun . . .

2009-11-25T13:02:00.007-05:00

Pre-Thanksgiving Hello

2009-11-25T09:35:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! I'm going to be doing a lot of cooking today & tomorrow, but rest assured I'll have some pictures of the festivities! Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T11:26:00.001-05:00

Well, now that I'm more familiar with it, it doesn't seem to take as long to produce a slideshow. Here's another one. Click here.

New Feature!

2009-11-22T15:45:00.002-05:00

Hi everybody! Well, I've spent most of this weekend figuring a few things out & I've gotten the first slideshow completed. I've still got to work out some kinks, but this will give you an idea of where I'm going. Click Here!

Coming Soon . . .

2009-11-12T09:22:00.002-05:00

Good morning everyone! One thing I've learned about my stuff is that I just can't leave my website alone. Every time a new feature is introduced, I start tinkering with implementing it to the website. I just found out that I can add a photo gallery instead of just a viewer, so give me a few days . . . I got a question the other day about reserving wedding dates. The question was, "Can I make a Paypal payment for my deposit?" The answer is yes. Check with me first to make sure the date isn't already taken, but Paypal is one of the quickest ways to get money to me & remember the first bride to put a deposit on a date gets the date. Don't forget, I still need the paperwork & you can email it to me. Have a great day!

Discounted Dates

2009-11-11T11:01:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! The following dates will be discounted 30% for weddings: February 13, 2010 April 3, 2010 November 26, 2010 And no dates will be contracted for December 25, 2010 or January 1, 2011.

Trying Out New Actions

2009-11-07T08:45:00.003-05:00

Meaghan & Bob

2009-10-25T19:15:00.013-05:00

Bri caught this one of Bob as Meaghan walked down the aisle.

Homecoming Parade

2009-09-25T20:16:00.007-05:00

Grand Rapids

2009-09-18T20:01:00.002-05:00

Oh, Mandy

2009-09-18T19:58:00.002-05:00

Kings Mill Park

2009-09-18T19:56:00.001-05:00

Seth and Alleia

2009-09-05T07:43:00.004-05:00

Kristen & Johnny

2009-08-24T13:15:00.012-05:00

Washed Ashore

2009-08-24T13:12:00.002-05:00

Autumn & Greg

2009-08-18T14:30:00.013-05:00

2 Boys, A Couch, and a Large Window

2009-08-12T07:17:00.008-05:00

Profile In B&W

2009-08-11T18:12:00.001-05:00

Parchment High School Prom 2009

2009-07-18T12:42:00.002-05:00

Trash The Dress

2009-07-13T08:49:00.008-05:00

Holsinger - Rogers Wedding

2009-07-04T12:49:00.017-05:00

Sarles - Bush Wedding

2009-06-04T07:51:00.002-05:00