My Family Friday...

I'm gonna try. I really am. Every Friday I'm going to try and post a personal pic... a little glimpse into MY life. Why, you ask?

Not real sure.

Probably because my kids are really cute.

At least I think so.

Maybe through this you'll get a glimpse at my motivation, why I love photography and what I do...

(and how insane my life is...)


Today. In honor of Halloween... a few pics from the Pumpkin Patch at Hunt Club Farms.

Hope you all have a SAFE and fun Halloween!

Until next time,

~ K

Okay... just one more.. | Hampton Roads Newborn Photography

The sneak peeks I normally post are usually the VERY first images I edit... after downloading the images, backing them up, and making my first round of edits, I'll pick a quick few to post... and then I dive in for the rest of the editing. Well one or two favorites always surface after I've already posted sneak peeks... here's one I couldn't help but post.

Thresa -- this is for you :)

This is baby Jackson, whose daddy is obviously, a firefighter... the rest of his post is here.



He fell asleep in the helmet. He loved it... all curled up.

Okay... done.

Until next time,

~ K

All Done Up... | Portrait and Model Photography

Several posts ago I mentioned that I was in need of a few models for a little project I was working on... Today, it all came together.

I've been wanting to get together with a make-up artist/stylist to do a shoot that would both showcase her abilities and let me have a little fun with posing and post-processing.

I met Megan via the Peninsula Mommies forum. We met for breakfast one day and, amidst the chaos of chasing our kids around the Chik-fil-a jungle gym, we managed to get the beginnings of this shoot planned out. Several facebook chats and one very successful model call later, today happened. Everything went off without a hitch and the result is stunning.

The ladies and one sweet little girl met up at Megan's Salon, Razzle Dazzle, in Yorktown for some hair and make-up...




This little one was beyond thrilled to have her hair and make-up done... I mean, can you just see the excitement in her expression?! THAT would have been ME at her age... totally.

Once the ladies were done, we made our way out to historic Yorktown for a quick shoot... and it was unbelievable.

All of the beautiful women in this shoot are REAL women, not professional models... most of them have children... and all are absolutely stunning. Megan, you did a fantastic job enhancing these ladies' features and making them look and feel gorgeous.

I'll give you all Megan's contact info in a minute... but take a look at her work first:


'M' here was a natural in front of the camera. She LOVED it!

Megan does Princess Parties for little girl birthdays. Moms & Dads, do you see how happy little 'M' is...!! This could be your little girl :) I love the fact that she had her "make-up done", but looks radiant, cute and still sweet and innocent. None of that overdone make-up on little girls... this is absolutely perfect.

You know... princess parties don't have to be JUST for little girls... I'm going to have a party, invite my friends over and hire Megan to come and do us up... 'Course, then we'd all have to GO somewhere... and DO something... hmm...that probably requires a social life. Eek. Must rethink this...

Next up, Lindsay...


When Megan and I first started talking about this shoot, she said right away, "I have a friend who would be PERFECT!" And right you were... Lindsay, you are absolutely beautiful. I kept drooling over her hair at the salon, "Gosh, I love how you've done her hair!" "You're hair looks so good!" Can you tell I'm growing mine out?! I looove that long hair...

Lindsay is actually engaged... so we brought her fiancee along for the ride :) For the pictures... just the pictures...


They are adorable together...

And... meet Whitney.

Well if you read my blog regularly, you've probably already "met" her. She's been on my blog several times before here and here.


Whitney is probably one of the most photogenic people I've ever met. She looks so sophisticated here... very Anne Taylor!

And last, but certainly not least... Alina... You may recognize her too.


We are channeling some classic 1940's actresses here... Megan went a little more extreme with her make-up... a little more "runway" she called it.

I. ABOUT. DIED.

The color, the lashes, the drama... I knew she'd photograph well because she's also naturally photogenic. But the dramatic make-up kicked it up a notch and was a dream to shoot!

So. If you're booking a session with me and want someone to take care of your hair and make-up so you don't have to, please feel free to call on Megan and see if she can work you in... And she does it all... hair, make-up, manis and pedis. Seriously, she's amazing. AND, she's a busy girl. So get in touch with her soon!

Here's the salon number: (757) 898-6374. She does special event make-up too (weddings, etc) and will travel to you... and those princess parties!

Thanks Megan for lending us your talent! I'll have the pictures to you shortly!! :)

Until next time,
~ K

6 Days... | Hampton Roads Newborn Photography

Introducing baby Jackson...

I met this little guy this morning for the first time... and at just 6 days old he was very much a trooper.


I cuddled him, smelled his new-baby smell, had him naked for almost 2 hours, wrapped him in things, stuffed him IN things... and he never cried.


I am in love. :)

We had a great time playing... and we even managed to get a shot of the whole family!


Thank-you 'B' family for sharing your sweet little newborn with me.

Until next time,

~ K

Megan & Kyle | Hampton Roads Couples Photography

If you live here in southeast Virginia, you know that the weather has been totally unpredictable lately. Scary and cold, yes. But predictable, not-so-much. And for a natural-light photographer who LOVES location shoots... this is a thorn in my side, to say the least.

However, there are days like today when it all just comes together... the weather, the light... everything tonight was just perfect.

Meet Megan & Kyle.

Kyle is a firefighter on Langley. Megan is working on her master's in education. Kyle just got back from a six-month tour in Afghanistan...and we are so glad he and the rest of the team are back safe and sound. These two will be married in May of next year and are one amazing couple. Totally fierce. Totally.

Our shoot started at the station...


I had these grand plans of using a few of the guys in the shot... but no-such-luck... just as we'd rounded up enough guys... alarm activation! Sirens... trucks out... they were gone.

*STOMPS FEET* This is life with a firefighter. Welcome to my world folks.

And I was so excited too. Kyle, when you go back on the floor... seriously... call me... we'll stage it again.


Anyway, small photographer-tantrum aside, we got some fantastic shots of these two! I dunno, might have something to do with the fact that they're gorgeous!! Just maybe...


Ooo. A little leg. Some bunkers. Sexy. Hotness. I. LOVE. THIS. SHOT. Would it be weird if I had it up in my house?! Yes? Yes. Okay. Darnit.

So after the station, we drove out to Phoebus to catch some more late afternoon/early evening light...


* sigh * I love graffiti.

We didn't spend tons of time out there, just walked around the block a bit, but were able to find some of the most awesome little places!! Like this...


and this...


...the light... oh the light...

And then as we were walking we passed the cutest little Irish Pub. It was a hole-in-the-wall place... and as soon as we saw it, we all stopped and, almost at the same time we all said, "Ooo a little Irish Pub!" Well, of course we went in. The regulars were in there and happily allowed us to snap a few pictures... and requested we bring one by so they could put it on their wall! Will do :)


Then, off to the beach to wrap up the shoot.


It was a whirlwind shoot ... filled with some pleasant small-talk, a few clothing changes, me practically falling out of Kyle's ENORMOUS truck (megan, more power to ya girl... that truck is a beast), and lots of fun! Thanks guys. I couldn't take a bad photo of you two. I can't wait for you to see all of them!

Until next time,

~ K

'A' | Hampon, VA Realtor Headshots

Meet my neighbor, friend, and all-around fantastic person, 'A'. After hemming and hawing for ages she finally gave into the pressure and consented to some headshots :) Yay for peer pressure! Alexsandra works as a real-estate agent, but is truly a jack-of-all-trades... she's tri-lingual (or quadrilingual...I can never remember if she can speak 3 or 4 languages) ...she's probably one of the best landscapers I've ever met (she has a green thumb, knows EVERYTHING about plants and lawns)...is working on her master's degree...and...oh wait... she's gorgeous! Some people have all the luck, right? If she can sing then I give up... I'm just gonna have to move :)

Not really. I love my house.

'A' wanted some non-traditional, easy-going, lifestyle-type headshots for her business and I was happy to oblige! I dragged her out of bed shortly after sunrise this morning and we played around out in her yard.







Despite what I KNOW you're going to say 'A', these turned out beautifully because you take great pictures! No arguing!

Until next time,
~ K

The Beautiful Family, Take III... | Hampton Beach Photography

Just a few months after I arrived in VA... I nervously clicked the 'Go Live' button on my new fancy website... and sat there and bit my nails to nubs and almost cried. It's such a labor of love working on a website and kicking off a photography business where you know NO ONE and can barely get from your house to the store without getting turned around... But I did it, ever so nervously.

After following the recommendation of our property manager, I joined a local parenting forum, Peninsula Mommies, and quietly mentioned that I was doing some portfolio building. Erin responded at once and said she was interested! We got together and I had a great time romping around her backyard with the kids and the dog. Today's shoot makes the third time I've photographed her family.

Erin, you and your family hold a special place in this photographer's heart, you were one of the first that trusted me to document the interaction between your family members. For this I am eternally grateful.

And can I just say... I was SO lucky to find them. She and her family are so laid back and wonderful.

But ... I'll shutup now... no one wants to hear me wax poetic about these guys...bring on the sneak peek, right?! Right.

First up, a family shot. I have to be honest, this one is both beautiful and hilarious to me. Everyone is on a forward path... walking towards me... like photography-lady instructed... except Keira. Nope, she was ready to jump in and swim to Norfolk.


Keira says to me, "Oh, what...you don't think I can swim to Norfolk? Look at how cute I am. I can doooo anything... " And, well, she's probably right. And if she were my little girl, I'd LET her do anything. Do you see those eyes? Who could resist? I asked her if she'd like to come and live with me... and she scoffed. *Sigh*



This next one is especially for you Erin :) LOOK FIN IS SMILING! Finley is the serious one of the bunch. She's watching... calculating...most likely trying to figure out how much energy she'd have to exert in order to tackle the crazy photographer-lady sticking the camera in her face... Oh but when she smiles. It's just the best and sweetest thing.


And here's big brother Owen, who is often called 'O'. Owen, ahem, got a little talking to while sitting on a log attempting to get a family shot... because he got all excited and threw sand in the air...and it got all over mommy. Erin was so calm and rational with him. SUCH a good mom :) So we pacified him by allowing him to throw as much sand as he wanted to ... but WAY OVER HERE... with JUST me :) And I love how these turned out! Favorites, for sure.


And a shot of mom and dad. What you can't see... just outside the frame there are three children pining for and wildly racing towards their parents. Well, as wildly racing as 18 month olds can... we purposely moved a bit away from the group to catch a few shots of mom and dad alone... good thing I snap fast :)


I think this might be favorite so far. There's not much more that I love...than a dad with his kids. Not much more to say than that...



As always guys, it was a pleasure. I had a good time out there on that beach! And I'm glad we finished when we did... because in Hampton... about 30 minutes later... it POURED!!

Your gallery will be up in the next few days!

Until next time,
~ K

Luke, Anna & Michael...at the beach | Hampton Roads Family Photography

There's something about the beach that just radiates everything that has to do with childhood... sand, toys, laughter, fun, splashing... being real. I know that when I close my eyes I can remember when we would go to the beach when I was young (which was actually a LAKE beach because I grew up in MN...), but there was SUCH excitement! The smell of the water and the lure of the huge open area and ohmigod-I-can-run-free-I-can-run-AND-SPLASH-all-at-the-same-time!

This is the epitome of childhood.

I think that's why beach sessions are so much fun for me. Kids LOVE the beach...

We got a good feel for that this morning at the amazing session I had with this gorgeous family. First let me introduce the kids:

This is Luke... Luke was very sweet and we had a nice conversation about his toy trucks. The excavator was one of his favorites... he was the sweetest thing, at one point, laying down on the sand quietly playing with his trucks while the cacophonous photo shoot went on around him.



Then we have Anna... who is sure to be a heartbreaker. She is absolutely gorgeous ~ thank goodness she has two brothers. Anna loves shoes. A lot. She wore mine around for a while...



And Michael...Phelps...ok not really. But he was most certainly ... the swimmer. Well, at least he thought he was. In fact, he was the first one to almost completely submerge himself in the water. He had a blast out there on the beach, darting in and out of the waves and giving his mom much anxiety... not to worry though... we have some beautiful shots of this adventurous little one...



And this family was lucky enough to have with them a set of grandparents who came down from Maine to spend some time with the family! And then they agreed to play with us out on the beach :) I just love watching grandparents interact with their grandkids...



...and...eventually... the babies lost their pants... so we hung out in cute sweaters and diapers. The weather was pretty much perfect today, despite forecasters calling for rain, so their outfits were quite fitting actually :)



And last, but not least.

Alina & Frank, this is for you guys. A little serenity in what I know is a frenzied (but wonderful) life. :) You two are drop-dead gorgeous and I loved meeting you! Thank-you for letting me share a piece of your day :)



Until next time,
~ K