January 21, 2012: you. me. hot cocoa. and our cameras...

(photo credit: Melody Gillikin Photography)

It's a date!

After receiving several requests, I have decided to host a small gathering of folks to teach the basics of photography and encourage you with some simple ways to improve your family photos.

The class will be held in my home on January 21, 2012 at 1PM. It will last approximately 3 hours and will cover the very, very basics of photography as they best pertain to you in an amateur sense for your personal photos. We will cover other tricks like looking for light, perspective, composition and neat ways to bring out the best in your kiddos.

This class is for those who have a nicer camera, but have no idea how to use it and struggle to capture their kids as they sprint past at lightning speed. In that light, it will be informal, probably pretty darn funny and empower you to control your cameras and capture the memories you want to last for a lifetime.

The class will be $75, which includes a $30 deposit that will be due by January 7, 2012 to secure your spot in the class. The remaining $45 will be due on the day of the class. The class will be capped at 8 people so that it stays nice and small and everyone gets a voice!

You will need to bring your camera, your camera manual and a willing heart. I ask that you bring your camera manuals because what I will be teaching you will be the fundamentals of photography, not how to use YOUR camera, and I'm not a technical pro on the ins and outs of your brand, so you may need to consult your manual for where settings are and how to use them.

You can have any type of camera, as long as it has manual, shutter or aperture priority settings (settings that allow you a certain element of control). This is to help you move beyond shooting in automatic and really learn to be in charge of your images instead of relying on your camera to do all of the heavy lifting.

Email me at blevins.katy@gmail.com for more information and to secure your spot in what will surely be a rockin' day of laughter, learning and fellowship!

I have loved you for a thousand years...

Every now and then you come across two people that are so intricately woven into each other's lives, that you truly understand what God meant when He said He knew you before He formed you and set you apart (Jeremiah 1:5). And you realize, these two were made to love each other, and that fact was known before they were even born.

Nichole and Daniel are that couple. I've only known them for a short while, and they've already made me laugh, made me cry and inspired me to new levels of creativity and passion for what I do. In a few words, I love them. And I love the way they love each other.



Here is one of the first emails I got from Nichole (and when I realized I was going to adore her...aaaannnndddd that we might be long lost twins).
"If you notice, most of the pictures we love are not necessarily the photos of us smiling for the camera. We want the photos to capture the various emotions behind our relationship. To me the photos show many emotions, such as comfort, trust, support, care, love, passion, loyalty, ambition, strength, excitement, playfulness. We started this journey 7 years ago, so part of what defines Daniel and I's relationship is the growth, emotions and experiences we have shared. We started as two very different people, but we have grown to be a family. We want to capture a variety of the emotions that have got us to where we are, and get us where we are going."

I mean, seriously, their relationship rocks my world. The depth of their history, the many facets of their chemistry, and breadth of their love for each other are rooted to their cores, their very inner beings. They remind me of a strong oak tree, with deep roots, that has been there a thousand years and will be there for a thousand more.



And as if it couldn't get any better, here is what Daniel has to say about his bride-to-be.

"Nichole is a very driven woman, and when she decides she is going to do something she does it. She pushes me to be better and go after my goals in life. I love her support and the encouragement that she provides. We definitely balance each other very well. I get her to be more out going, while she keeps me from getting out of hand…I help her to live on the fly, while she keeps me focused and driven…I help her to relax and live in the moment, while she keeps me planned and organized...(just to name a few). She is by far my best friend and the love of my life. I cannot imagine my life without her, and I know there is no hurdle life will throw at us that we cannot overcome. I cannot wait until our big day where we will become one and start a new chapter in both our lives where we will grow each day in respect and love."

::swoon::



I could go on forever about how much I enjoy these two, and how overwhelmed I am to be sharing in this most treasured time in their lives. But I'll stop now, and leave you with a song, written by David Hodges & Christina Perri, that reminds me of them.

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you
For a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I love you for a thousand more

You are a VERY. IMPORTANT. PERSON.

First...a mea culpa. I am a bit behind on client blogging. I admit it, I blog when the mood strikes me. And it doesn't always strike in a timely manner. But I have long since learned that letting ideas percolate pays off. So, the blogs will come when they are ready. And they aren't...not just yet.

Now, the good stuff. A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

Ready? Here it is...

YOU.

ARE A VERY. IMPORTANT. PERSON.

TO ME!

As if you didn't know...

After much thought, research, and frankly, some technological pushiness by our friends at Apple, I am putting some changes into play that will make your 2012 sessions, in a word, AMAZING.

I am happy to share a new program with you that will be the foundation of our relationship together as client, photographer, friend, and will even more importantly, be the foundation of your relationship with your photos, your memories, and all those who enjoy them along with you.

Beginning in 2012, I will be sharing all edited images via PASS galleries. This new program will allow you, with a simple download of a program or app, to access your edited files instantly, from your home computer, iPads and iPhones at any time for up to a year! You will be able to download high resolution images, share to Facebook, and pull up your memories in an instant wherever you may be!

With this new technology that brings your images to your fingertips, gone will be the long wait for DVD mailings, the stress of lost files, the battle of competing computer operating systems and the bulky chain tying you to a computer with a disk drive if you want to share your memories with friends and family. With each session or event, you will now receive a PASS gallery with your edited images, with YOU listed as a VIP with access to download high resolution files for immediate personal use.

The decision to do away with DVDs was not an easy one. Many people have learned to expect that as the best and only way to receive their files, and the idea of moving away from a tangible item marking the completion of an order may be hard to comprehend for some. But as experience has taught me, the DVDs tend to be the most cumbersome part of our time together. The frustration that is often felt by a client with a different operating system, or the fear that swallows you whole when you lose your DVD, or even worse, scratch or break it, are frankly, no fun at all. So be gone DVD nightmares! While you will still have the option of burning DVDs from your home computers after downloading your high resolution images, you will not be forced to rely on such a tenuous bitty finite item as your primary source for your memories. Instead, they will be stored securely online for you and only you. Because YOU. ARE. A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON. TO ME.

Want to know more? Watch this nifty video from my friends at PASS sharing exactly how this will work...

http://gallery.passpremier.com/

Get excited! 2012 is all about YOU!

Much love,
Katy

PS. There will be purchase options available to extend your secure online storage beyond a year and limited print rights to all unedited files from your session/event via DVD available for purchase at an additional fee.

PPS. Those clients presently under contract for 2012 will receive PASS galleries in addition to the DVDs they were promised at no additional cost!

Inside and Out

She is humble and feisty. Opinionated and tender. She laughs big and cries hard. She is woman. And she is beautiful, inside and out. And on this day, and forevermore, she was, and is, the most beautiful bride in the whole wide world.

Braden, you touched my heart. You are an absolute joy to know and I was incredibly proud of you on your wedding day. It's a funny thing when a client becomes a friend. You find yourself marveling at the amazing blessing it is to be in the inner circle on the most important day of their life. It's not a job anymore. It's more. So much more. And to see all of your planning, giddy expectations, hopes and dreams come to pass as you walked down the aisle towards your soul mate...it was something to behold.

Thank you for your spirit, whimsy, clarity and endless excitement. You radiate a deep love for life and I envy a woman that knows what she wants and makes it happen with such grace and class. I look forward to watching you and your husband grow in your life together and appreciate the opportunity to capture such a thrilling time for you both.

Congrats and blessings abundant.
Katy

PS. Matt, you're pretty cool too.

Teetering on the edge...

I'm not even sure where to start this post. But all I know is that I need to take a moment to write, because there are big things happening that have my head all wacky and hopeful and scared and prayerful and the list goes on and on.

What in the world am I thinking?! We are trying to sell our house, with hopes of buying something that gives our suddenly gigantic family some room to grow (Not in the more babies way! Let's not start a rumor!) rather than the constant obstacle course we are presently living in.

Am I crazy?! I love our house. It's clean, it's beautiful, it's held many memories and taken great care of us. I will miss it. And how in the world will I pack up stuff and move it to another place with two babies in tow? And how in the world will I keep the house clean while it is shown to prospective buyers?

There's a lot going on. Too much it seems. Part of me wants to just yell "Forget the whole thing!" and run back to bed and pull the covers over my head and enjoy the beautiful, yet cramped, nest we have built for ourselves. And then I look at these little guys...



(photos courtesy of their amazing nanny who sends me phone updates all day long...how awesome is she?!)

...and I think, this is all worth it. They deserve the best. Take a breath. And know that God is in control and this may be one of those times when He is about to do something so big that it blows your mind. So pay attention.

I admit, sometimes I ask myself how God would possibly do something so big for us when He already moved mountains and gave us the miracle of our precious boys. I mean, I am sure there are other people who are due their big somethings, right? Did I already get mine? And then I tell myself, He's God. And remember? He wants you to have the whole sky, not just a piece. And the best part is that He can give everyone their own perfect sky. There is not a finite number of "big somethings" to be handed out.

So breathe. And watch. He is faithful and He knows the desires of your heart.

OK, self-pep talk over.

PS. If you know a family who is looking for a wonderfully special, clean and remodeled home, in a great neighborhood with lots of kids, great schools and overall fantastic-ness, let me know!

Where Am I?

I've done it. I've become the slacker blogger. I've broken the cardinal rule of blogging: always keep blogging. I would be lying if I didn't admit that wasn't the only rule I've broken now that our family has supersized to Mama, Daddy, Big Sis, two wee babes, and two crazy dogs. (And our home and my access to my computer have decreased exponentially to wading through a sea of baby bouncers, swings, car seats and dog hair to traverse a room on the rare occasion when everyone is happy, asleep or otherwise occupied and not begging for my undivided attention.)

So, here's what's up!

I am back to work. And it's marvelous. I love my boys infinitely, but I am just not cut out to stay at home. Yes, juggling three kids, work and life has brought everything to a whole new level of chaos, but in a way, I find it more peaceful, as being at work all day allows me to enjoy the quiet, miss my kiddos, and then head home with a happy heart to huge smiles that make every load of laundry, frantic morning, and dirty diaper more than worthwhile.

I am back behind the camera and lovin' every minute of it. God's timing is so perfect. Right before I got pregnant with the boys, I was teetering on the edge of a complete artistic burnout. I honestly wondered if I would even continue shooting at all in the coming year. Strangely enough, that is precisely what happened, although of course far beyond my original line of thinking. All that time, all of the amazing things that have happened in my life...they have all catapulted me to a higher plane of creativity, and I am just itching to shoot. I have been blessed to welcome two other little babes to this world through my work, have shared in the joy of a new engagement, and now look forward to returning to the wedding arena in just a few weeks to celebrate the love and charisma of an awesome pair as they embark on their lives together.

Other exciting things coming up...I plan to tackle a new group of at-risk kids and look forward to encouraging the opportunity to share their voices through the art of photography. My husband and I are looking at some major changes for our family that have us in prayer and thanksgiving that we can even consider these changes a possibility. And of course, I continue in my quest to figure out how to cook dinner at night. Baby steps.

Stay tuned for sneak peeks of what is sure to be a stunning wedding in just a few short weeks!

The Importance of You

There are quite a few things going on in my life today...my daughter starts 5th grade today (holy cow!), I head back to work after months and months away during a difficult pregnancy and subsequent amazing maternity leave, and my little boys are 10 weeks old and heading to day care in about 45 minutes...needless to say, wowsa! It's a big day.

The importance of you has several meanings for me. One being that as a mother I have come to an understanding that it is vitally important for me to take care of myself, spiritually, physically, mentally, etc. in order to be the best parent that I can be to my children. Going back to work was a no brainer for me for that very reason. I am a good mom when I get to recharge during the day, doing something I love, and then run home to my family that I have missed all day. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as they say.

I also returned to my proper place behind the camera this past weekend to shoot an engagement session for a dear friend who has met her soul mate. The importance of you plays a vital role in photography, especially when it comes to portrait work. So many people get incredibly nervous (myself included) when stepping in front of the camera, and believe me, it shows! One of my greatest challenges as a photographer is softening the deer in the headlights look that often accompanies the first few minutes of a shoot.

Angela and Josh get the importance of you. They were so creative and really thought about who they are as a couple and what would share that with their friends and family as they announce such a happy step forward in their lives together. They aren't afraid to laugh, play and were such a blast to shoot. They came prepared with ideas and weren't afraid to try stuff on the spot. They also took time to go outside of the traditional portraits, or even the non-traditional portraits, to just play together. This is absolutely key to a successful shoot and frankly, it shows in the final product.

Anyone on the planet can see from these photos that these two love each other and enjoy every minute they spend together. There is nothing better as a photographer than getting to capture you being you. Congratulations Angela and Josh! I can't wait to share in your special day and am honored to be considered your friend and your photographer.