Howdy folks!
I've finally got my 600 blog posts imported to my new blog. Update your bookmarks and blog readers, and meet me over at www.kabloomstudios.com/blog!
Bonus: Making comments is now MUCH easier. So come on over and drop me a line! :)
Tara loves this photo from her shoot with Chris. She asked me to incorporate it into their 'Save the Date' announcements.... and here is the result. I think I'm in love! :)
I love it when brides ask me to design their wedding invitations! It means I get to combine their photos with my training in print design, and the result.... fab invites with gorgeous pics. :)
Having a professional background in both photography AND design allows me to offer additional professional services to my clients!
Here's what I recently put together for Nicole and Jonathan. She requested something striking in black and white, and wanted the tall, narrow photo of the two of them featured on one side.
This is the reply card
The reverse side of the reply card
The Shoot Shack was on fire last night! Emir was on-hand to rock out some photo fun with the whole crew. What a great bunch of peeps! (Scroll down to see their wedding post!)
Is it just me, or are these two red-heads drop dead gorgeous?
The ushers and best man. What a bunch! (Steve... seriously, you could go pro!)
This is Clayton and his girlfriend Katie. They were kind enough to let Emir and I crash their table at dinner. Katie played soccer with my sister when they were kids, and recognized me because she thought I look like my sis! Isn't that amazing?
You two make a beautiful couple, and your family and friends are nothing short of fabulous.Thanks for letting us be part of your love story!
Heidi is the incredible harpist I had the pleasure of meeting last August at Katie & Nathan's wedding. I was thrilled when she asked me to be part of her and Jan Michael's big day!
When I meet with clients, I'm always excited to hear their engagement story. Everyone has a story. Even if the groom proposes in the bathroom while the bride is brushing her teeth.... it's the beginning of a new family-to-be, and it's a beautiful thing!
Jan & Heidi's story is something from a movie (literally, it's all caught on tape!). Jan proposed to Heidi while she was falling from 10,000 feet. She was sky diving, and he was on the ground with an enormous sign he had made that said, "Heidi, Marry Me!"
Their wedding day was perfection. Here are some of my fave moments!
On top of everything else, Jan and Heidi are amazing dancers! Their first dance was a tango, and they totally nailed it! (Emir and I did a choreographed dance at our wedding too.... dance lessons are a great way to spend quality time together during the mania of planning that takes place before a wedding.)
Garter toss, mid-air!
What a treat to be part of your day... thanks for including us in your celebration! Best wishes for a happy forever, and a fab time in Mexico!
Look at this new little cutie! I stopped by last week to document Piper's young existence. What a doll!
Look at that little face!
So much hair!
Oop!
Welcome Miss Piper-- We're glad you're here! :)
Sue, one of my FABULOUS clients, dropped off this lil' batch of deliciousness this morning. Home made almond toffee! How can you top that?!
If you appreciate home made yumminess, or know someone who does (Valentine's Day is just around the corner!) give her a call: 450-1493. (Especially yummy with coffee!)
I can't believe it's already here.... but then again, I've been compiling a waiting list since last summer! If you're part of the graduating class of 2010, I've got a freshly re-designed info pack waiting for you! Give me a shout out and I'll send it your way asap! :)
With a very full wedding calendar, I'm only able to accommodate a very limited number of 2010 seniors this summer.... so don't wait, my calendar fills up FAST!
Turner came back for his 2nd shoot at my studio and was such a good sport! Great to see you guys again. :)
I like to read... a LOT.
Often, when I read in bed, I wrestle a quite a bit with the book. Low and behold... while blog surfing, I discovered these lil' wonders! Who invents this stuff? And more importantly, why didn't I think of that??? :)
If you like it as much as I do, click the photo to go to the site.... Happy Reading!
Just a shout out to the blog-o-sphere that May 9, 2009 is now open on my wedding calendar. Interested? Shoot me an email.
The ever brilliant Jackie shines again! She started a new blog, definitely worth checking out! (The latest post features yours truly, how slick is THAT?)
Jackie is filled with inspiration, creative genius, and packs a writing punch that will knock your socks off. Check out this glimpse into her world....
My work is joyous for SO many reasons. I get to work with great people and be part of their fascinating lives, the projects that I am blessed to be part of keep me wildly entertained and always on my toes, and... I just plain love it!
This shoot was for an upcoming project (yet to be revealed!) that Jenn and crew were kind enough to lend me part of their Saturday morning for.
Here, Jenn, Piper & Kira (did I spell that right Jenn?) cook us up some d-lish morning cupcakes.
Hmmmm? What else do we need?
Time to stir it up!
While the cupcakes were baking, Piper was happy to show me her doll house (which, amazingly enough, is the same one I remember from my childhood growing up down the street from Jenn and her two sisters... we had so much fun!).
This doll house is true, homemade vintage fantastic-ness.
Are those pig-tails to die for, or what?
Baby sis is such a happy camper-- look at that grin!
Day dreaming out the window....
Cleaning the window... (Piper, wanna come over to my house? I have tons of windows to keep you entertained for hours! Ha!)
Let's frost the cupcakes!
Can't forget sprinkles!
I snagged these next 2 pics of Piper in November at my brother's wedding. The colors are so scrumptious, I couldn't resist posting these!
Jenn.... I enjoyed spending Saturday morning with you guys! Thanks for being YOU!
How cute is THIS? Jenny and her siblings hooked their dad up with a private photo lesson with yours truly for his Christmas gift. We had such a blast talking about all things photo!
This was the incredible giftcard she made for him. I love it!
I recently had the pleasure of whipping up these gems for a few of my 2009 seniors. These are hard-bound 8x8 books custom made for each client. In a nutshell.... they ROCK! If you're interested in having one designed for you, let me know!
This is what my desk looked like before Christmas and the LPS yearbook deadline. These wallet orders reached to the moon and back! Each box was individually packed, labeled, and addressed... followed up with a phone call/email to let the recipient know it was ready. Phew!
Just a regular day's worth of mail..... yeow-sa!
Scene: New Year's Eve, roughly 7pm at the Historic Grand Manse. More specifically, upstairs in the old court room (jury box still in tact!).
Details: Family and friends gathered to celebrate. Candles lit at the altar. Jazz band hypnotically seducing guests with sweet sounds. Glasses of champagne waiting on cue.
It was something out of a fairy tale, perhaps a movie. Greg & Kelly's celebration was all their own, and it was perfection. Here are some of my favorite moments.
Is it just me or does this look like Hollywood meets The Godfather? :)
I LOVE this photo. It captures all the grand splendor of the scene/moment.
You can see the old jury box on the left. The wood work is richly delicious!
Emir scores another gem! I love the doors from the hallway into the courtroom. He snagged this shot through the window.
The pastor had the most fascinating mustache. Only to be outdone by the incredible service he officiated. Well done!
The architecture in the space is simply amazing (plus, I developed a mild obsession with this clock.....)
Immediately following the ceremony, champagne was ushered in for all guests and the benediction was bestowed. (Another Emir treasure!)
This is Kelly's grandfather. I loved shooting him!
Off to the reception! This was a huge martini glass filled with personalized M&M's.
The cake was A-mazing! (I split a piece with Emir.... trimming down for a new year!)
First dance joy....
The midnight kiss!
I'm honored to have had the opportunity to be part of your lovestory for a night. And what a special one at that! Wishing you a lifetime of love, joy and happiness. :)
Combine the Shoot Shack™ with a wedding AND a New Year's celebration and what do you get? AWESOMENESS.
Yours truly, sporting some festive attire....
Not as bad as it looks! This brave soul lost his finger in a snowblowing mishap. I love the sense of humor he has about it. Plus, he's adorable! :)
This young chap's lovely wife is pregnant. Here, he poses sympathetically. :)
This is the über fab Jackie (of Nelnet and Emmy & Ivy legend) with her partner in crime, Monte.
I had the honor of seeing tons-o-great folks at Kelly & Greg's wedding. Including, Kris & Melissa! I photographed their wedding in the fall of 2006 (before I started my blog, can you believe it?), and later, their bundle of joy.... lil' Caden. Great to see you guys again!
The Shoot Shack™ got some schmancy new signage yesterday courtesy of Tom Meyers. Tom, you're a rock star!
I have a confession. Me, paper, scissors and glue have never been friends. We just don't mix well. It's pretty much been a conflict that has plagued me since my pre-school days (my projects tend to look the same now as they did then!).
I'm not sure what made me think that this would turn out any differently.... but.... I had high hopes. My sister's baby shower was yesterday, and having just wrapped up a shoot with her, I ditched my previous idea for a gift, and raced ahead with this one.
I was going for the 'home-made' look, and I think I pretty much nailed it. In fact, I think I over-achieved. Note to self: Next time, axe the modge podge on the top, and maybe go with rubber cement instead. :)
It seems like everyone around me is sporting baby bellies lately. My sister Gina is among them! While visiting from Oregon for Christmas, we took advantage of open studio time to document her growing abdomen. :) (Nick and Jamie are expecting too.... but I'm saving their pics until we can get Nick in on the action. Laura and Adis are also on deck!)
I *love* these lines!
I think this is my favorite shot. I know, I know... you can't see the baby belly in this one... but I love the colors and I think she just looks gorgeous!
Great shape!
There's daddy!
So fun! :)
Was it because my cousins were in the show? Maybe because of the intoxicating beauty of Omaha's Orpheum Theater. Perhaps it had something to do with managing my schedule better so I had time to enjoy the show this year. I'm still not sure, but for some reason, I enjoyed 'The Imperial Nutcracker' more than any other ballet I've ever seen.
My cousin Evan (of Alphabet Book fame) as a 'Party Boy.'
Big sis Ellie (also appearing in the famed Alphabet Book) also was a 'Party Girl.'
Gorgeous details of the theater...
Overall, the show gave me the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from enjoying the fruits of human-kind's artful endeavors and constructive brilliance. It was obvious that those responsible for this production had poured their hearts into it (the costumes were astonishing!). And with all that is going on in the world right now, it was a welcomed reminder of the beauty that is possible in all of us.
If you're a cat person, (and maybe even if you're not!) you will enjoy this Canadian cartoon classic. Warning: The song is totally catchy!
Tonight, while Emir and I were getting ready to head out to Red 9 to hear my sister-in-law's uncle's band (wrap your mind around THAT!), he stole a few moments alone with his guitar.
I love to watch him play guitar (yes, I said 'watch,' not 'listen'). It's not that I don't like to listen.... it's just that I really like to watch. I like to watch his face. I like the way the light from our lamps wraps around him and the way his hair tries to fall in his face.
This time, while I was mentally recording the moment and how adorable he looked, I decided to reach for my camera and capture it properly. :)
His 'music room' doubles as my meeting space. His guitars look right at home next to canvas gallery wall wraps. :)
I love you my Sweet Thing! :) You're the cutest thing EVER!
I think Gina set a record amount for the number of photo shoots in one year.... THREE. We did one for Gina, her husband and the two kids. Then the crew with her side of the family, then again with his side of the family.
Here are some of my faves from our most recent installment. :) Great to see you all.... again!
Gina's parents. Aren't they adorable? I saw them again recently at Heidi & JJ's wedding in West Point. So fun!
Siblings & spouses....
More cute kiddos....
I LOVE Jamiee + Drew's love shoot pics. Check out the urban funkiness!
(RED!!!)
(More RED!!!)
Can't wait for your big day in June!
The name "Shoot Shack" has been federally trademarked with yours truly as the owner! That means the name is mine, and only KaBloom Studios clients get the 'Shoot Shack.' Lucky you! :)
Intellectual property law is such a fascinating field. One that is often times easily overlooked and misunderstood. According to Wikkipedia, "Intellectual property (IP) is a legal field that refers to creations of the mind such as musical, literary, and artistic works; inventions; and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, and related rights. Under intellectual property law, the holder of one of these abstract properties has certain exclusive rights to the creative work, commercial symbol, or invention by which it is covered."
So... basically, when someone produces a creative work, whether they shot a photo, wrote a song, or named a rockin' photo booth.... they own the rights to that property (even if it is not officially registered). Registering it documents it and provides legal grounds for claim of ownership.
Wikkipedia adds, "The owner of a registered trademark may commence legal proceedings for trademark infringement to prevent unauthorized use of that trademark."
Kinda exciting stuff, if you can stomach the legal fees involved. :)
The Shoot Shack was in full swing. Here, Kyle & Courtney highlight their wedding date... Lucky December 13th. And it shows! The weather was UNBELIEVABLE for Nebraska in the middle of December! Roll on you two!
Courtney's sisters thought she needed a Cinderella photo moment to honor the style of her shoes. I couldn't agree more!
These two characters are actually my uncle Tom and his wife Patti. Aren't they a hoot? (Great to see you guys! We love you so much!!!!)
I *begged* this woman to let me photograph her. I was enamored with her spunky hair all night.... thanks for coming over to play with us! :)
The cake tonight was from Donna the Lincoln Cake Lady. All I can say is.... D-LISH!
Ya'll were on FIRE tonight! Sorry I couldn't post them all.... there are SOOO many rockin' shots. I'm sure Kyle & Courtney will let you know when the rest are posted in their gallery. Stay tuned!
Maybe it's because she's from my old neighborhood.
Maybe it's because she reminds me so much of my dear friend Tamara.
Maybe it's because her parents and their friends, are the parents of the kids I grew up with.
Whatever it is.... it just felt right. Being part of Courtney & Kyle's families for a day was pure delight. We had a BLAST, scored some InSaNeLy awesome images and helped capture memories to last a lifetime! Here are some of my faves...
Bridesmaid broaches. GLAM-or-OUS!
Heirloom family jewelry.
Puh-lezzzz.... we cannot forget the shoes!
Yep. I pretty much love this image.
This one too!
Mac is Courtney's dad. What a guy! Here he is soaking in the moment watching Courtney and her sister. (I *love* shots like this!)
Enter: Kyle
He and I had some photo moments before the girls arrived in their (surprise!) limo.
Cue the bride!
I was almost embarassed of the silliness I was exuding during the portrait session with Kyle & Courtney. I mean, I was over the top ridiculous. But.... my antics worked! Look at the two of them!
OMG! Another fave. :)
My rule for shooting train tracks is.... DifFeReNt is good!
Yep folks.... this GORGEOUS shot was captured by my husband/apprentice extraordinaire.... (drum roll please)... Emir! He is ROCKIN' his gear in the best of ways. I'm so excited about his enthusiasm. This looks like a still frame from a classic romance movie... doesn't it?
After we wrapped up all the required formals, etc... we had a few minutes left over... so I suggested a few more ideas. I was beside myself with the outcome. These two were SO trusting and patient and willing to do anything! That, my friends, is the secret to amazing photos. Seriously.
Reowwwwwwww!
Capturing your day was pure joy you two! Thank you SO much for the opportunity to work with you and be part of your families and in the celebration. May the adventure ahead be filled with love, joy, and happiness!
Since Courtney & Kyle's ceremony and reception was in the same location, I thought it might be fun to set up a camera to record a time lapse video of the whole day (letting the camera run until it ran out of juice).
Here's the result!
As all cat lovers know.... the feline is an independent creature (like mother, like daughter... right?)
Merki was basking in the window sun the other day when I entered our dining room. She took one look at me and knew I was headed over to pet her (How dare I!).
So, she instantly jumped down and sought shelter under the dining room table. Here, she's giving me her "You can't get me!" look. :) What a stinker. Lucky for her, she's so darn cute!
