{ kassia reedy photography... the blog }

New Blog!

2011-10-11T11:53:00.002-04:00

A little late... but better late than never!

We've moved! Please re-direct your web browser to the following link to keep up with the latest and greatest from Kassia Reedy Photography.

www.kassiareedyphotography.com/blog

See you there!

~ K

Watch Out For Holes! Suffolk Family Photographer

2011-05-31T22:14:00.002-04:00

The last time I photographed this family was back when their little guy was brand new. I drove out to their house, and on the way, drove by this gorgeous tree farm! I thought to myself, "...wouldn't that be a fun place to do a photoshoot...."

So when they called to do a family shoot, I suggested the tree farm!

Stroke of genius. Clearly.

And then the holes...

When Melissa called to get the permission from the owners of the tree farm, he said, "Just watch out for the holes..."

Talk about a hazard for a shoot with an exuberant toddler who just wanted to ruuuuun!

But we managed to avoid chaos and injury and really had an amazing time early this Saturday morning.

Thank-you Collins family for being so amazing. The images are gorgeous and I appreciate your humor and laid-back attitudes!

Until next time,

~ K

Meg & Kyle ... Take III

2011-05-17T23:58:00.003-04:00

I talk to myself.

Sometimes it's motivational, sometimes I'm berating myself, sometimes I'm having an in-depth debate... sometimes I just have the irrational need to say whatever outloud.

Over the last few nights as I've edited these images... it's been things like, "They are SO photogenic..." or "...I want her skin..." or "... blue eyes rule..." Minor statements of disbelief at how preposterously gorgeous this couple is.

Plus, they are friends...

And this is my 3rd time shooting them (well, HER)... If you're curious, check them out here and here.

It was a lot of fun! Not only did we traipse around the grounds of the gorgeous Williamsburg Inn, we spent some time with a budding photographer who is just learning the ins and outs.

Until next time,
K

I love the beach. The 'H' Family... Hampton, VA Family Photography

2011-05-01T23:10:00.004-04:00

When this family's van pulled up, out popped the most gorgeous blond-haired little girl. She was holding a big picture of Strawberry Shortcake, which she held out to me with two adorable little arms, "I colored this picture for you."

** melt **

An absolutely perfect sign that this was going to be a great shoot.

A huge thank-you to my friend and assistant, Whitney, for helping out today!!

Thank-you 'H' fam, for being such a relaxed and fun family! I hope this holds you over for a while, the rest should be up for you soon!!

Until next time,
~ K

Spring Session Updates

2011-04-07T20:57:00.003-04:00

Dear Spring... a little consistency please... You pop your head in for a day or two and then take off again. I miss you and would like you to hang out for a while before your cousin, Summer, takes over and makes my life a fog of humidity and oppressive heat... mmmkay thanksbye...

** Spring Photo Shoot Update **

MINI-Sessions
- I have 1-2 sessions left (have booked 4 and am only taking a few more)
- Email me ASAP if you're interested in taking one of these quicky shoots
- Best for previous clientele, high school seniors or couples
- $195 - 5 digital images (this is a BIG deal folks, the digital images alone have a retail value of $500)
- 20 minute quick session - 2 locations to choose from
- Saturday, May 21st or Sunday, May 22nd ONLY

STANDARD Sessions
- 1-2 left ... I've already booked two and will not be taking more than a few more
- these sessions are perfect for NEW clients
- location of your choice
- weekend date of your choice: April, May, or June
- 1 1/2 - 2 hour session
- $165 session fee
- all prints & products ordered a la carte

Need a little spring love?

Until next time,

~ K

Ready...Set...Ju-Ju-Bees?

2011-04-05T21:57:00.002-04:00

I simply cannot be around a group of super anxious, uber competitive little elementary age boys and NOT mess around. We have a race and it's, "Ready, Set... GARGLE!" As some erupt in giggles and eyerolls and others race off like it's the Olympics, I can't help but laugh.

It's Spring Break. My son wanted a sleepover. I hemmed and hawed and dawdled and finally ~~banged my head on a wall~~ agreed. To my surprise, we actually had a really good time... we decorated frisbees, had a little treasure hunt, made our own pizzas and watched a movie! It was great and everything a sleepover should be. **hint: for a successful sleepover, have mucho activities planned!!**

The next morning after a yummy breakfast of pancakes, we went outside to work off some energy. I... OF COURSE...made them all stop the chaos and pose for a picture. My instructions... "Okay. When I say jump, I want everyone to jump up at the same time! Be crazy! Throw your hands in the air and get your legs up... But everyone together!" It took maybe 5 times :) But we got a good one (possibly *ahem* with the help of a fantastic tool known as PHOTOSHOP)...

So here we go:

Ready... set...!!!

JU-JU-BEES!!!!

This is what it's about. These boys may not be friends in 20 years when Trey gets married, but he can look back at these pictures and see that he had fun... and that he was a little boy... and played... and played...

Until next time,
~ K

Catching Up & Messing Around...

2011-03-26T23:52:00.003-04:00

It's been ages... so I thought I'd post a few pics on the blog. Mainly my family... but with a bit of a different twist than my normal editing style... just for fun.

(above) November -- After being stuck in the house for a few days with sick little Noah, we took a cautious car trip out and about so he could get out of the house and see something besides the TV and the couch. The leaves were changing and the weather was fresh and beautiful so we drove the Colonial Parkway from Yorktown to Williamsburg. Just 'cause.

December -- our annual trip up the road to spend time with DJ's extended family during the holiday season. Noah loves playing with everyone... a house full of boys and he's in absolute, pure, heaven. I love the look on his face here...

January -- we took a day-trip to DC when my dad was in town to see the sights. Noah loved running around, and the boys especially loved the Washington Monument.

February -- Noah's bday was gorgeous -- the most perfect spring weather ever. We grabbed a bunch of fun stuff (bikes, scooters, skateboards) and went out to the beach. Trey got this skateboard from Santa and is still working on mastering it... I love that he falls, brushes himself off, announces that he's okay, and keeps getting back on that skateboard.

**NOTE: all the textures I used in the editing of these images are from the amazing Patti Brown. Her Kaleidoscope - a collection of color and light textures and overlays are gorgeous and SO. MUCH. FUN to play with. **

I hope you are having a fantastic weekend.

More soon.

Until next time,

~ K

Spring Sessions 2011...

2011-03-15T22:03:00.002-04:00

* tap * tap * "Is this thing on?"

I feel like that person walking out onto the stage for the first time after a long absence... the lights are a bit blinding, there's a hushed murmur as everyone keeps on with their conversations, lives have moved on... I give a meek wave and hope everyone remembers me...

It's been ages.

I know this.

And I've missed you.

I took a nice long break. I hugged my kids, I spent time with my family and I worked at my 9-5... Now, as our life gets ready to take another turn, I'm back here ready to have one last round of fun.

As with most military families, our presence in one place is often fleeting... we don't have specifics yet, but know that we will probably be moving on before the year is out.

However, before things get too chaotic, I would like to spend some time doing what I love the most... photographing your families. See the information below for all the details of the upcoming spring/summer sessions.

I can't wait to hear from you!

More for this side soon... !

Until next time,
~ K

My VERY first clients...

2010-11-29T22:00:00.002-05:00

Back when we lived in Japan and I didn't even OWN a DSLR camera, I met another budding photographer at work. We went out on a "photo safari" and I brought along my little fuji point-and-shoot... I had no idea what I was doing but liked the idea of creating something with a combination of what I saw through the "lens" and what I could accomplish in post-processing (which at that time was Corel's Paint Shop Pro).

Another of our friends at work, who was pregnant with her first child, asked if we would take some pictures for her... I had NO idea what I was doing... was probably shooting on Auto and was absolutely using a cheap-cheap lens.

I think this is how most of us start... shooting portraits for our friends, practicing, practicing, practicing.... practicing posing and settings and post-processing and interacting with children and couples and making small-talk... it all takes a lot of practice. And, at least where I'm concerned, all of those families who allowed me to practice my trade mean so much to me.

So this family... my very very first photo shoot ever... mean so much. And on top of being my guinea pigs, they are good friends.

So. All that blah-blah aside :) Here are the pics...

Thank-you guys for being amazing!

Until next time,
K

* Love *

2010-11-02T00:57:00.001-04:00

Hope you're having a wonderful day :)

Things That Make Me Nervous...

2010-10-30T21:43:00.003-04:00

* Public speaking
* Large crowds
* Walking into a party all by myself
* Cooking for company
* Watching my daredevil boys doing things that are potentially dangerous...

oh wait...

* and photographing other photographers

Inevitably I work myself up into a ball of nerves, but there's something about getting out there, putting the camera up to your face that kind of ... makes it all go away... settings, posing, interacting with little ones all takes precedence and before you know it, you've been out there for 40 minutes and have a CF card full of gorgeous shots. (I really do wish that I could claim that it's 100% me as the photographer...but this family is gorgeous!)

Just a few from Patti's session...

For you photographers out there, Patti is also the owner/creator of Kaleidoscope - A Collection of Color & Light. She's been featured a few times on the MCP Actions blog... most recently here. You should give these a try, they are A LOT of fun!

Until next time,
K

Mini-Session Sneak Peek... Another New Family! Yorktown Family Photography

2010-10-24T22:39:00.002-04:00

When I met this family on Saturday I almost squealed with delight (Really. I do that now and then...usually over shoes or camera gear, but... well...you know). One, they are drop-dead gorgeous, a photographer's dream and.... Two, their little boys are absolutely edible and cute and that baby... oh!... I just want to chomp on his cheeks... nom nom nom.

So we talked for a bit, we played for a while and we took some amazing photographs!

It was so great to meet you guys! I can't wait to show you the rest!!

Until next time,
~ K

Mini-Session Sneak Peek... Yorktown Family Photography

2010-10-24T21:03:00.002-04:00

I love when I get to spend time with families that are both clients and friends. The last time I photographed this family, sweet baby Timothy was still in his mom's belly. And, to date, this is probably one of my favorite maternity sessions of all time, see HERE to check them out!

What a beautiful family!

Thank-you for being so wonderful!

Until next time,
~K

Life at the Speed of Light...

2010-10-20T22:02:00.003-04:00

Have you ever had one of those moments...

You look at a calendar, perhaps offhandedly, and then you realize that... ohmigod... it's October? October?! Really? Wasn't it just July?

Life in this house is non-stop. Just ask our friends who are patient and kind and keep loving us even though we are rarely available for dinner or get-togethers or phone calls... And our family who hear from us in disjointed phone calls in between bath time, story time and bed time... and who are patient and watch the kids grow via facebook...

But even though we are almost constantly tired, we are happy. And we wouldn't have it any other way.

So for this reason (and so many others), I'll be taking a much needed break this holiday season.

See these faces here:

I'm going to spend the holidays reading to them, cuddling on the couch watching 'Home Alone' and 'Elf'...

I'm going to go to bed before midnight...

I'm going to watch this little boy make more of these crazy faces...

And I'm going to try and live life as wide open as he does...

So ... I will be happily re-charged for Spring bookings early next year (watch out for spring mini-session announcements shortly after the holidays)!

Oh and no worries... I'll keep posting to the blog throughout the season!

Until next time,
~K

A Mini-Session Sneak Peek! Hampton Roads Family Photography

2010-10-16T23:07:00.003-04:00

EVERY single image I've previewed from this quick session this evening is gorgeous! I'm not sure that this family can take a bad picture...

Thank-you 'P' family! It was wonderful meeting you!

If you're interested in booking a mini-session for your family, I have only a few slots left! $195... 20-30 minutes, 2 images on CD, 2 5x7 mounted prints! Let me know if you're interested: www.kassiareedyphotography.com (reach me through the contacts section!). After the beginning of November I won't be taking bookings until the new year!

Until next time,
K

A Family of Five ... Yorktown Family Photography

2010-09-20T20:41:00.004-04:00

I. LOVE. THIS. FAMILY.

This is the second time I've had the pleasure of photographing them and ... they did not disappoint! I spent much of the time running after various kiddos and the other time laughing and giggling (okay, maybe not giggling... I'm really not much of a giggler, more like a snorter/belly laugh/outloud guffaw-type)...because they are so much fun!

These three little ones are some of the most adorable, intriguing and whip-smart kids I've ever met. The twins are just 2 days younger than my little guy, so I know that they are always on the move.

ALWAYS.

Their parents are gorgeous and patient and have a very calm way with their kids. I love it. It just makes you want to be around them!

So here you go guys... thanks for spending a great sunday morning with me!!

Until next time,

~ K

A Windy Beach Session... Hampton Family Photography

2010-09-19T15:50:00.003-04:00

There are many reasons I just love this family and it's not that I've known them for years... I met them for the first time the morning of the shoot...

First, they agreed to meet bright and early at 715! Am I one of those crazy, freakishly cheerful morning people? No. Absolutely not. But there is nothing in the world like morning light and it's so nice to be able to shoot a family on the beach in this gorgeous light...

Second, Peter is from MN... which immediately makes him cool.

Third, they've lived in coastal SC... I've lived in coastal SC!

And then to top it all off they were wonderful and brave and adventurous and had a great easy sense of humor! Even when Peter was attacked by a crazy rogue thorny vine (or... maybe he just... you know... backed into it... but it was crazy!) & we had to battle those little sticker-prickly things that affix themselves to EVERYthing...they had a great attitude.

Take care guys and I'll have your gallery up soon :)

Until next time,
K

Lisa, Dev & Kaela-Waela... Charleston Friends, Round 4 - Done!

2010-09-10T22:51:00.002-04:00

And the last of the four families at the beach this year.... Lis I know you've been waiting for this...

I've known these two for a long time and we have a nice long history together. I absolutely love this little girl, but even more, I love watching two of my best friends grow into amazing parents. :)

Miss you guys!

Until next time,
~K

Sarah, Ave & Michael.... Charleston Friends, Round 3... Vacation Photography Hampton Roads

2010-09-09T22:41:00.002-04:00

Going through all of these pictures is really making me miss you guys!!

Sarah found out she was pregnant with Avery just a few weeks after we moved to Japan in 2004. I hadn't met her until last year. It was a distinct pleasure, because just like her momma, this little girl radiates personality :) Hope you enjoy this little sneak peek, hopefully I'll have these pics done soon!

K

Jay, Bria, Christian, & Bella... Charleston Friends, Round 2...Vacation Photography Hampton Roads

2010-09-08T22:27:00.002-04:00

I really do have the most beautiful friends. Truly.

I find it so amazing... to see the children of my friends grow up. I could hardly believe it when she told me she was pregnant... and I remember holding little christian in my arms, thinking, "wow..." Time flies.

Your family is beautiful Bri. And these pics don't even scratch the surface :) More for you in a bit :)

Until next time,

~ K

Brandi, Gilli & Landry ... Charleston Friends, Round 1... Beach Photography

2010-09-05T22:34:00.003-04:00

Sorry this took so long Bran, here's a quick preview of some of your photos! They are so beautiful :)

If I had to describe Brandi in a word: BRAVE.

Wanna know why?

I'll tell you... She took her two kids, her oldest daugther's best friend, AND my two kids in to town BY HERSELF and walked around to see all the beach shops.

Willingly. Like... with a smile on her face...

(And surprise #2 was that my kids actually went WITH her WILLINGLY... without screaming or crying or any major dramatic gestures...)

DID YOU HEAR ME PEOPLE? That's FIVE kids! FIVE. onetwothreefourfive. Ohmigod.

And she came back and was still smiling :)

This is why I love her. Brave.

And she loves kids. And is a fantastic and amazing mother.

I am proud to be your friend ... and love being able to watch your kiddos grow with you every year (you can click here to see her blog entry from last year).

Love ya B. ** I'll send you the CD when I'm all done! **

Until next time,

~ K

Watching Them Grow... Hampton Family Photographer

2010-08-28T23:06:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite things about portrait photography is being able to watch kiddos grow. I had a session tonight with a family that I just love! We were commenting about how they've grown so much in the matter of a few months. Just last fall they looked like this:

Tonight, when I met with them for a special mini-session... here's what they've grown into:

and then the entire family of course...

It was great seeing you guys again! I hope ice-cream was awesome...!

~ K

Vacation..!

2010-08-22T23:10:00.004-04:00

As many of you know my family and I took our annual beach trip last month. The week-long trip on one of Charleston's outlying beaches was refreshing and exhausting all at the same time. We got home on Sunday afternoon and I was back at work at 0730 Monday morning...and we haven't really stopped since.

But I really want to share a few pics here with you... like last year, I spent a little time taking family photos for each of my friends. :) So great how we change and how the kiddos grow... I hope this becomes an annual tradition.

So, those posts are to come...

For now, know that I haven't forgotten and as soon as I work through these recent shoots (and a few upcoming ones), we'll have intermittent posts about my friends.

Until then, this will have to do.

Soon...

~ K

A Garden Party... Yorktown Engagement Photography

2010-08-18T22:22:00.003-04:00

At one point last night, while I was shooting this event, I remember thinking, "When I grow up... I want to have a garden just like this..."

With twinkle lights in the bushes, cold drinks on the porch, and jazz playing in the background it made for a beautiful party.

All of this to celebrate the engagement of Steven and Robin who will be married this fall in southern california.

I'm glad I was able to spend these few hours with you...

This might have been after the whale joke... or before? Either way, the whale joke is now engrained in my memory... hahaha!

Until next time,

~ K

Precious Cam ... Suffolk Newborn Photography

2010-08-15T21:28:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of meeting an adorable little man today... only 8 days old, Cam and I hung out for the better part of the morning. At first he wanted nothing to do with sleep and just looked around, checking out my gear, my sister (who graciously assisted me today), but most of all his mommy.

Towards the end though... he finally gave into the pressure (maybe it was the space heater, or the sound machine... or the multiple feedings?) and snoozed for us a bit.

Here you go mom and dad! We had a great time I can't wait to show you the rest!!

Cam has an older brother... who loves playing with his toy trains and legos and loooves peanut butter!

Until next time,

~ K

Elegant & Sexy... Hampton Boudoir photography

2010-08-07T22:05:00.003-04:00

I don't want to kill this awesome image with words.

Take a look...

"Men look AT themselves in mirrors. Women look FOR themselves." ~Elissa Melamed

You don't need a reason at all to book a boudoir session.

Do it because you want to.

Do it because you're beautiful.

Do it for fun!

Until next time,

~ K

An Evening Maternity Session... Portsmouth Maternity Photography

2010-07-22T23:39:00.002-04:00

This gorgeous young lady got in touch with me a few weeks ago asking for some maternity shots... she's an aspiring photographer down in the Elizabeth City area!

We met in downtown Portsmouth and walked around and chatted and had a great time! Granted, it was HOT and HUMID... and I was sweating like stuck pig... but it was fun nonetheless!

So here you go girl, you look GORGEOUS and I can't wait for you to see the rest!

Until next time,

~ K

The Beautiful Light... Carrolton Family Photographer Hampton Roads

2010-07-18T23:02:00.003-04:00

I love what I do. Somehow, every family I shoot is just absolutely gorgeous. Maybe I'm biased, but really...

Take this family for example... Mom told me these are their first family photos in over four years! They drove up to the shoot in a very cool Jeep, hopped out of the car and I thought to myself, "Wow!! They look great! This is going to be awesome..." And it certainly was.

Thank-you so much for choosing me to photograph your beautiful family!

Here you go...!

We started the shoot off at just the right time I think... it was still pretty warm, but the sun was getting low in the sky... the good light was in the making... :)

Is this little one not breath-taking?!

And this little man... I don't think they can get more handsome. A little reluctant at first, he warmed up after we had a nice sand throwing contest :)

...and there it is folks... my favorite kind of light... warm and inviting... and these two little kids laughing in the sand... that's what makes what I do worth it every time! I adore this image.

One of mom and dad. Now we can see where those kids get their beauty! A gorgeous couple.

I have so many more great shots! I can't wait for you to see them!

Until next time,
~ K

Morning in the Park...Hampton Family Portrait Photographer

2010-07-18T15:06:00.004-04:00

The session this morning was for a special family...

Their kiddos are friends with my kiddos...

This mama and I have the same taste in lotsa good stuff... like threading studios for our eyebrows...clothes... shoes... the important stuff!

Their second son is almost... as crazy as my second son...

... and their boys are full of life ... just like mine!

I had a great time playing in the park with you guys this morning! Our family truly appreciates EVERYTHING that you have done for us. Here's a heartfelt thank-you!

Enjoy!

More to come!

It's CONTEST Time!!!

2010-07-16T23:24:00.002-04:00

Just as I promised... !! A contest for a FREE session! Here we go... the details are below!

FIRST... what you'll win!

* a full 90 minute session at a location of your choice within the Hampton Roads Area
* 5 Images on CD
* 15 Loose Prints size 8x10 or smaller
* (1) 11x14 Canvas or Custom Framed Print

Retail value well over $750! ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!

SO.. here's what you have to do:

1) Submit a creative family photo!
* Photos must be non-professional and taken by you within the last few months.
* Use your imagination, we LOVE creativity!
* We have no pre-set definition of family... so if it's you and your dog, you and your spouse, you and your 2 kids, etc... it's ok!

2) In your email, describe what you love most about your family.... in 5 Words :)

GUIDELINES & INFO:

* If you're not already a Friend of the Kassia Reedy Photography facebook page, you'll need to hop on over and friend us ... check that out here
* Entries will be accepted between Wednesday, July 14th and Thursday, July 22nd (entries will not be accepted after 11:59pm EST).
* All entries must be submitted via email to kassia@kassiareedyphotography.com
* All entries will be judged by a group of my very best friends during our annual beach trip. All of the judges are non-local residents who have no ties or affiliations in the Hampton Roads area.
* Winner will be announced during the beach week (sometime between July 26-July 30)

REDEMPTION OF PRIZE:

* Winning family must be in the Hampton Roads commuting area
* Winning session must be redeemed prior to October 15, 2010.
* Winning session cannot be redeemed for cash
* Winning session cannot be altered in any way

Good luck! I can't wait to see what you come up with!!

Holiday Mini-Sessions Announced!

2010-07-14T22:44:00.002-04:00

I know it's only July... but I'm already booking sessions into September and I just wanted to be sure we get this information out in time for everyone to make plans.

My schedule will be very condensed this fall... so if you're wanting a session for holiday cards, this is your chance!

As soon as you can, let me know if you're interested in one of these sessions! A $100 deposit is required to hold your requested time, with the balance due the day of the session.

I have to admit... just putting together this holiday themed promotion... got me all excited about the holidays! It's SO my favorite time of year :)

Until next time,
~ K

...coming soon...

2010-07-03T01:04:00.002-04:00

It seems so early...

... but it will be upon us before we know it. Just wanted you guys to start thinking about this... dates and rates will be announced before the month is out...

Until next time,
K

Patience is a virtue... The {B} Family | Newport News Family Photography

2010-06-27T22:00:00.003-04:00

This photo shoot has been planned for a very long time. I am so glad we were able to shoot Raquel's entire family this morning. Despite the almost debilitating heat, we persevered for an hour with four adults, a 10 year old and an almost-two-year-old... on the beach in Yorktown.

So Raquel, here's your sneak peek... enjoy! You have an absolutely gorgeous family and it was an honor to photograph your family today.

{LOVE} this picture! This is Raquel and her sister who was down visiting for a short time.

And you all know how much I love daddy/kiddo pictures. This is a fave for sure...

Lady, I have so many more to show you... I can't wait for you to see!! Have a fantastic week... until next time,

~ K

More Summer...

2010-06-24T00:08:00.003-04:00

The heat is oppressive.

The humidity is stifling.

A/C is about all I can handle during a summer like this...

Except...

Except if I'm at the beach.

On Father's Day (a late tribute coming soon...) we spent the entire day at the beach. Aside from the fact that it was really a small-scale (okay, who are we kidding, a LARGE-SCALE) logistical operation getting us there, we had a great and relaxing day.

And this next picture cracks me up...

We drove up to the outlets in Williamsburg last weekend. On our way up there, I looked back and this is what I saw... Trey was faking, ducking out of the pic, but the other two... PASSED OUT!

Hahahahaahaha.

Until next time,

~ K

Signs of Summer..

2010-06-08T23:18:00.003-04:00

Beach... humidity... sounds of kids playing outside... lemonade... fireworks...flip-flops...the smell of coconut... sunscreen...

Sprinklers...beach chairs...popsicles...baseball games...mojitos...tank-tops...

Jimmy Buffet...beach umbrellas...soft serve ice cream... the smell of fresh cut grass...sand in between my toes...

I hope your summer season is starting off right.

Until next time,

~ K

Summer Special!

2010-06-01T19:32:00.005-04:00

I'm offering a fantastic summer special for all of you who've been waiting to get your family portraits done!

Like I mentioned on my facebook page, if you've been thinking of getting in touch with me for portraits, please take advantage of this limited time/limited slot special!

I will only be taking a few sessions this fall, primarily mini-sessions for holiday cards... so if you're interested in a full session... with those beautiful un-posed pictures that truly document the personality of all of your loved ones... now is the time!

Please check out our FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE for the specific dates and times available!

Get in touch with me ASAP and let's get started! :)

Until next time,

~ K

Coming Soon...

2010-05-29T14:54:00.001-04:00

Click HERE to be taken to our Facebook Page! Click 'Like' and keep an eye out for the announcement this weekend!

From Denver...

2010-05-26T18:56:00.003-04:00

... without pictures...

I made the command decision NOT to bring my camera with me on this trip and... I totally regret it! Downtown Denver was great :)

So as not to leave you with nothing...

The boys I miss with all my heart...

More stuff soon... !

~ K

There is beauty...

2010-05-21T22:06:00.004-04:00

This morning, Nicholas passed away... Peacefully in his mother's arms.

When I found out, I read his caring bridge entry over and over again, tears in my eyes, my heart going out to his mother...the one who gave him life and who was there when he moved on. Then I spent a few minutes looking through their family photos from last year... and I started smiling. I remembered how he was shy at first and a little hesitant to have his picture taken... how he warmed up quickly as we started running up and down the beach... how he and his brother wrestled on the sand... how they got so much joy out of discovering a long piece of drift wood that they turned into a flagpole and then a wagon... how he cracked up his entire family doing his version of 'the robot'...and how he spent the last little bit of light in the afternoon climbing on the rocks.

It was a good afternoon. An afternoon to remember...

You can see my original entry about this amazing family here.

Until next time,

~ K

A Great Day...

2010-05-08T22:26:00.003-04:00

It's like mother's day started a day early :)

It started with the boys letting me sleep in late. Until 9:00! STOP. THE. PRESS. I know you moms out there know that 9:00 is akin to noon back in my college days. It was heaven. I am hardly ever in bed later than 7:30...

Then Trey's baseball game.

I love watching him play...

After the game I ran over to a client's house to give her a photography lesson. It went great! The one-on-one really worked well...! And, while I was there, I was able to take a picture of her display of pictures :) I originally shot her family in January of 2009...

She ordered this frame display from The Red Envelope. Have you ever shopped this site? It's AMAZING! It's a great place to shop for the person who has everything... Anyway, click HERE to check out the frame set. :) I might have to get a few for myself!!

Do you see the pic of that sweet cute little guy...? He's not so little anymore! While we were working on our camera settings outside, I snapped this picture. He's so big!!!

Tracy it was really good seeing you again and chatting...

The evening brought a quick dinner out, where I suffered from the allergy-attacks of allergy attacks... red itchy eyes, complete and total nasal congestion, miserableness all around... blah. Stupid pollen.

So after a quick stop at Rite Aid for some eye drops (which only sorta helped)... we made our way to downtown Hampton for the Saturday Summer Street Fest. The boys played and we got to listen to some fun music!

One of the vendors was giving out free roses for mother's day :) Noah confiscated mine...

And Trey found the bubble-maker table... !

And the band!

The boys wouldn't dance... but we've now made it a requirement for next Saturday... we will not go to the festival unless they promise to dance. Trey swears up and down, left and right that there's no way he's dancing in front of all those people. Noah says, "Otay." As we were leaving, Noah started crying, "I want to go back to da pahrteee! Go back to da parteee!"

Oh boy.

Until next time,

~ K

The Latest....

2010-05-04T22:49:00.002-04:00

Just a couple from an afternoon playing outside in the yard.

Hope you're having a good week!

Until next time,

~ K

May Special!

2010-05-03T23:06:00.002-04:00

I love offering specials! I'm a sale shopper and coupon clipper myself, so I certainly have an appreciation for a good sale :)

If you haven't seen it already, I posted my latest special on my FACEBOOK page! Head on over there to check it out (click on HERE to be automatically directed).

And because we can't post without a picture...

This is one of those welcome-to-my-world pictures... See that look? I get that a lot. Crumbs and all. Especially when I break out the camera. I think.... yes... I think I'm in for it with this one. These second kids...

But hurry and check out the special! If you're interested, email me ASAP!!

Until next time,

~K

American Red Cross, Hampton Roads Chapter ... Dress Down Under Event

2010-04-25T00:07:00.006-04:00

Sometimes the best things are the things you don't plan for.

I am, most of the time, a very planful person. Any type of event, get-together, party, vacation, work schedule, appointment... you name it... I like it planned in advance. Mention spontaneity when it comes to my SCHEDULE and I'll probably start twitching.

So the other day I got a phone call from another local photographer. She'd had a death in the family and wasn't going to be able to shoot a local charitable organization's event. She gave me the basic details... good good, taking notes, mmhumm... then... she says, "It's Friday night." I looked at my watch. My calendar. The date on my computer. My cell phone. All said Wednesday.

* Panic! * If I were a cartoon character, flashing red lights would be coming out of my eyes and steam would probably have started spewing out of my ears... some robotic voice would be repeating, "Unplanned event! ERROR! Unplanned event! ERROR!" A whole sans-serif computer-generated list of reasons why NOT to do the event would come "printing" out of my mouth... and I'd fall into a bunch of metallic pieces.

I'm that pathetic.

But then reality kicked in. The passion for photographing anything and everything (okay. almost anything and everything) kicked in... and I was intrigued. I had a nice chat with my colleague, Erin, and the excitement in her voice got me going. We decided to tackle it together.

****

It was definitely an experience for me! It was physically challenging ... and I have a new-found respect for event photographers. Whew.

But it was a lot of fun! This particular night, the Hampton Roads chapter of the American Red Cross was holding their Dress Down Under event...

Here's a few sneak peeks:

One of their many amazing volunteers... this volunteer was actually working the beer stand. Oh man. That was one popular lady :)

Their silent auction was a big success! I can't wait to see how much they raised! This was the basket I wanted to bid on... mmmm... hello!

All of the food was donated by Outback Steak House. Amazing organization and amazing staff... and super amazing food (even though I didn't eat any b/c I was too busy admiring it and taking pictures of it... mistake. Note to self: next time, EAT. FREE. FOOD. Kthanksbye).

All in all, though my body hurts and I'm tired beyond measure, it was a really good time!

Until next time,
~K

Meg... Hampton, VA Bridal Photography

2010-04-18T23:01:00.007-04:00

I've photographed Meg before.... And I'm always constantly amazed at how gorgeous and photogenic this young lady is!

No more words... just pics :)

Breath taking. Truly.

** EDITED TO ADD: A few have asked about this particular location. It's the gorgeous Williamsburg Inn right in the heart of the historic district. It is beyond beautiful... and even during the short amount of time I was there with Meg and her mom, the staff were friendly, accommodating, and went out of their way to help! **

Until next time,
~ K

Take Two | Hampton, VA Family Photographer

2010-04-12T20:56:00.003-04:00

Our first take was right before Christmas on the beach... and it was so cold! And so windy! The kiddos were chilly and just about 5 minutes in, we decided to hold off until the weather warmed up.

...and then one of the coldest & snowiest winters in VA set in...

...and then there was more snow....

...and more cold...

...and more snow...

But then recently, the sun came out, the breeze was warm, and it was time! I saw Courtney outside of our kids' school and she looked at me... and I looked at her... and we both just KNEW.

Okay-just-kidding-not-really... she posted on my facebook page, "Hey there... the weather is getting to be perfect for photo takin' time!"

She and her hubby picked the perfect place and off we went.

What I love about this family... is that they kind-of remind me of my own family! Their children are roughly the same age as mine... In fact, this sweet girl 'E' is in my son's kindergarten class!

And this little guy, 'H', is pure energy. As soon as mom put him down when they got out of the car it was like, "zhhoooom!!" and he was off and running! He is absolutely beautiful and I love him even more because I was able to get my weekly cardio in while shooting him!

We had a great time together! I loved watching them interact ... and the whole family really is just absolutely beautiful.

And then, of course, we have to get mom & dad together ... by themselves!

And then this is my favorite so far. Love family shots.

Until next time,
~ K

Spring 2010 Promotion! | Hampton, VA Photographer

2010-03-30T21:18:00.005-04:00

Do you see this?

The weather is going to be gorgeous! Now is the time! Let's get out there and take the family photos that you've been putting off for years now!

Here's the special I'm offering to the first three customers to get in touch with me!

Part 1: Take $15 off my normal session fee (brings it down from $165 to $150)
Part 2: I'll give you a FREE high-resolution image on CD with every $250 you spend! One image on CD is actually like two images because you'll receive the color AND black & white version of your image. This is a $215 value at the very least!
Part 3: Take 15% off your total order!

(** all prices are before VA Sales tax of 5%**)

Yup! Unlimited savings for you this spring!

It's time for you to take down the portraits of your family from 5 years ago, place them in a scrapbook, and update your walls with beautiful portraiture that shows the real personalities of you and your family!

To make things as easy as possible, I've included a Pay Now button in this post :) Click here and pay your $150 deposit to secure your slot!

And because... well you know the drill...

This is my oldest. I love that kid with all my heart and soul...

Have a great week! I can't wait to meet you!

Until next time,
~K

Spring! | Hampton Roads Photographer

2010-03-29T22:13:00.003-04:00

It's officially spring and the weather is getting warmer by the minute. It's been a long and cold winter .... lets get outside and have some fun in the beautiful spring weather!

I'll be posting a spring special tomorrow night so check back!

There will be limited slots for this special, so be ready to jump with your session deposit... April is booking up fast :)

And because we can't post without a picuture... here's one of Noah this past weekend :)

Have a good Monday night. See you tomorrow!

~ K

Proud.

2010-03-23T22:39:00.005-04:00

My boys made me proud this weekend.

DJ and Trey ran in Shamrock Marathon events. DJ ran the 1/2 Marathon and Trey ran in the Operation Smile Final Mile. It was amazing and they both made me so proud.

See here...

Waiting before the race. Nervous. Anxious.

But so happy. And excited! He kept saying, "Ooo! I'm kinda nervous!"

...walking towards the start line...

Crossing the finish line! I was that mom that about started crying. Yes. That was me. And I annoyed myself...

He was so proud!

** DAY TWO **

Trey, all geared up for cheering on his dad!

DJ and his dad crossing the finish line!

Trey loves his daddy...

All the Reedy boys with their medals.

And, last but not least... the Pinkerton Detectives... I mean...Pappy and Trey. We ate at The Baker's Crust twice this weekend and BOTH times it was absolutely outstanding! If you're in the VA Beach area ... it's in the Hilltop Shopping Center on Laskin Road and it's delicious! Go. Go now.

And if you're wondering if Noah was around... why yes... yes he was...

On the first day he was rubber-necking looking at all the motorcycles that were driving by....

... and on the second day...well... he wasn't so happy with me after I outfitted him for a morning of cheering...

:)

Until next time,

~ K

Beautiful. | Hampton Roads Landscape Photography

2010-03-13T22:48:00.002-05:00

Right as the rain started this afternoon... we saw this outside.

I love where we live.

Hope you're having a good weekend.

Until next time,

~ K

Expecting | Hampton Maternity Photography

2010-03-09T21:56:00.003-05:00

There's nothing more fun than talking to a soon-to-be first time mom. They are glowing, beautiful, and are ready to enter a whole new world. It's amazing... and I love it!

Meet Sarah. She's young and excited and about to be the mom to a little boy!

We had a great time together. Many thanks to Anne whose studio we were able to use. And wow. Wow! I am now in love with studio lighting... how dramatic. Oh. Love it.

This is my favorite. Hands down.

And then, of course, we stepped outside for some natural light shots.

So. I do love that studio lighting. But. *OH* nothing can replace my natural light. I love you natural light...

I hope you're having a good week!

Until next time,

~ K

Hector... Micayla | Yorktown Portrait Photography

2010-02-27T22:27:00.004-05:00

I had so much fun this morning, out in historic Yorktown, hanging out with these two troopers. We arrived at our location around 8:30 this morning and the sun was shining, there was a slight breeze, and we couldn't have been happier. But as the time passed and we moved from location to location, the chill set in... the breeze turned into an all out howling wind... and the cold... oh man the cold... I could barely feel my fingers by the end of our session.

But looking at the images on my computer tonight, you could never tell... these two were absolute troopers. Both are naturally photogenic and seemed so at ease in front of the camera straight-away.

We had a fantastic time!

And a huge thank-you to Erin for coming out and playing too. Photography is such a joy for me... and when I get to shoot with other photographers who share my absolute passion for portraiture and people, it makes it just that much better. Thanks girl, I had a blast :)

Okay. Enough rambling... here are a few.

I had a VERY hard time narrowing down the pics...

Moms... keep an eye on my Facebook page, I'll post more there in the days to come!

Hector. An athletic teen who is a phenomenal baseball player.

Micayla. Another athletic teen who is a phenomenal field hockey player!

Oh wait... and she's gorgeous!

Oh wait... and HE's gorgeous!

And, Erin, hard at work!

We really did have a fantastic time... and I could have kept them out there ALL day. They were that cooperative and beautiful and fun!

Thanks to all who drove, watched kids, and helped all around.

Until next time,

~ K

Three Things...

2010-02-23T22:46:00.004-05:00

**Thing #1**

I absolutely love when customers send me photos of how they've displayed their images. Check THIS one out!

Wow. Just gorgeous! If you have a picture of your display, send them to me!! I'd love to show them off :)

The next two are pics from our walk over at the Mariner's Museum Park. It was a pretty day and the boys needed to run and cavort and be boys!

**Thing #2**

**Thing #3**

Until next time,

~ K

Happy Valentine's Day! (a little late...)

2010-02-15T23:16:00.003-05:00

I hope your V-Day was relaxing and warm and filled with the people you love...

Mine certainly was!

Here's my gifts from my boys... flowers and a pedi and massage. I can't WAIT!!!!

And, for fun this year, we made special cards for Trey to give out to his class...

But my favorite part of valentine's day this year... was nothing different than any other day... I loved watching my boys play...

Noah sees this picture and says, "Trey... loove..." He loves it when his brother gives him love :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Until next time,

~ K

Unbelievable...

2010-02-12T22:11:00.003-05:00

I made an investment last week... an investment in my business...

I bought a new camera! I've been using the same camera since 2005. It was, and still is, a workhorse. I learned everything I know about photography on that beginner's camera and it served me well. But after five years, it was time to upgrade... I eeked every ounce of ISO, shutter speed... you name it out of that thing...

And now, now I've got an amazing piece of photographic machinery. It's an amazing camera.

Here are a few samples for you.

This was shot at ISO 6400. Did you hear me?! 6400!!!

And this is pretty much SOOC except for re-sizing and a little web sharpening.

The rest of these were shot at ISO 2500 with my 85 1.8.

This is Trey showing us his AMAZING report card! It's full of S's and O's (Satisfactory and Outstanding). We are so proud of him!

We went out to eat and then got the boys some ice cream... Noah was covered in ice cream by the time we made it home, so he was required to finish in the kitchen... :)

I am in heaven playing with this thing... and I can't wait to get YOU in front of my new camera.

Until next time,

~ K

Snow | Hampton Roads Children's Photographer

2010-02-03T23:12:00.003-05:00

The snow fell just after midnight Saturday morning and covered the ground with a beautiful layer of fluffy whiteness. The boys, who had been hearing about possible snowfall all week, were thrilled when they woke up to a winter wonderland. We tried heading out Saturday afternoon to play, but the wind was blowing and the gentle snowfall had turned into sleet which was pelting us in the face... it was painful. We lasted about five minutes and then everyone quickly made their way back inside.

But Sunday rolled around and it was perfect. Sunny. Still cold, but certainly bearable.

DJ and Noah facing off...

Trey enjoying the snow :)

A solitary moment...

This picture reminds me of my childhood. I grew up in Minnesota where snow was just a part of life all through the winter. Our parents bundled us up and sent us packing to play outside as long as it wasn't 20 below.

The pink cheeks, the wet face (remnants of a snowball fight or falling face first into a big drift of snow...), a runny snotty nose, and a smile. This is youth up north in the winter... I love that Trey was able to experience a little of that...even if it was only for a short period of time.

Noah and DJ

The family.

Until next time,

~ K

Family...4 months later | Yorktown Family Photography

2010-01-30T14:18:00.004-05:00

I promised these guys I wouldn't blog about this shoot until after Christmas... :) Well, it's after Christmas!

Back in September my friend Whitney contacted me and set up this shoot as surprise for her mom. Her brother and his daughter were going to be in town briefly and she wanted to get some pictures of the whole family. It was going to be her Christmas gift :)

Now that Mom has seen her gifts and has her pics hanging in her home, I felt like it was finally safe to blog a few of my favorites from this September shoot.

The weather was just starting to get chilly... and as I sit here looking out my window at several inches of snow... I'm smiling because I know that, soon enough, it's going to be beautiful picture-taking-weather again :)

Here we go.

Meet Mabel...

This little one is so full of spirit, she's just a joy to work with. Naturally photogenic and very much comfortable in front of the camera, we had a great time together!

And this is Mabel and her Daddy... you guys know how much I love Daddy/Kid pictures... this is another of my favorites. I think it's the color...

No! No wait... No this is my favorite.

And here's the whole crew.

And Whitney and Mabel... together... love this one too...

But this, I think, was my favorite from the session. I should say it's my emotional favorite...for sure it's not technically perfect and the baby's not looking at the camera (he was seriously sick of me by that point), but it speaks to me. I think maybe... because when my kids grow up... I'd love to have a shot like this... all of them with their kids and spouses... all together... happy and successful. Content.

Merry Christmas Whitney's mom! You've done a great job with your two kiddos...they are beautiful and gracious and great parents themselves :)

Until next time,

~ K

Cassidy | Hampton Baby Photography

2010-01-23T14:37:00.007-05:00

This morning I had the pleasure of playing with gorgeous little Cassidy. At three months old she's not the curly, sleepy newborn that I'm used to working with, but... I think ... I have to say... I might like this age a little better!!

She was alert... she smiled... she played.... ** Sigh ** It was wonderful! Coming from a mom of two boys, working with this little girl was just heaven.

Doesn't she have the most beautiful blue eyes?!

She did a little sleeping for us...

...but more time awake and smiling and gurgling and talking...!

Thanks mom for coming over to play!!

Until next time,

~ K

GIVE.

2010-01-18T22:30:00.007-05:00

(picture courtesy of Time Magazine... www.time.com)

A few facts:

* Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere...

* BEFORE the earthquake six days ago, over half of Haiti's inhabitants DID NOT have access to clean water. Imagine now...

* People are fighting and children are being trampled, over access to food...

* Buildings were still crumbling five hours after the initial quake...

Haiti's Earthquake Destruction: TIME Exclusive Photographs

Whatever motivates you.. if it's the facts... or the images... it doesn't matter.

Just give.

A few dollars. A few hundred dollars. A few thousand dollars.

Just give.

The American Red Cross
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
International Thirst Relief
Medical Teams International
UNICEF

Until next time,

~ K

Models Needed!

2010-01-09T21:52:00.003-05:00

This time... I'm on the lookout for some great GUYS. That's right. GUYS.

:)

I need a few teenage guys! I'm looking for teens between the age of 17-18 who are smart, funny, cute, easy-going, FUN and photogenic! In return for your time commitment I'll give you the photo shoot for free along with a few images on CD!

Remember... guys.

Do you know someone who has a son? Or does your son have a group of friends? I'd love to shoot a group of guys... Weelll, I wonder if that will show up on some FBI hotlist... let's try that again... I'd love to photograph a group of guys!

So please. Email me: kassia@kassiareedyphotography.com

Hurry!

Thanks,

~ K

Noah's Hair... round II...

2010-01-07T20:43:00.001-05:00

So. If you've been following this blog for a while... (see this post) or if you're my friend on FB, you may have heard tell of this...

...the fact that my husband thinks he's a barber... when he's SO not...

Many of you have been asking for pictures. Here you go:

I know, I know... you'll say, "It doesn't look baaaddd!! He's cuuutte!!"

Yes. Yes, I know this. (If you could see me now, I'm pouting. Like a 2nd grader. I'm pouting). But his hair was so toddler and so fantastic and it just fit his little personality and spirit... and now it's gone. It's gone.

It's no big deal to men... to dads. But this is my baby. My last baby. That was his baby hair... and I loved it.

So.

I'll survive. It's just hair...

But still...

My Personal Favorites of 2009

2009-12-31T14:17:00.006-05:00

My 15 favorites of the year.

Posted in no particular order :)

I love all of these images for a variety of reasons... the colors and/or light...the expressions...the interaction between the family members... the humor... the attitude...

So here we go.

1. Stephanie & Ricky

2. Meg & Kyle

3. Kaleb

4. Tracy, Reid, Connor, and Jeremy

5. Ashley & Andrew

6. Baby Jackson and Daddy

7. Garret and Mabel

8. Madeleine

9. Adam, Beth & Patrick

10. Tom & Emma

11. Christian

12. Whitney & John

13. Brianna & Rhett

14. Jeremy & Annie

15. Nick & Sean

I hope you enjoyed them as much as I do !

Until next time,

~ K

One of the reasons...

2009-12-28T22:24:00.004-05:00

for the frenzy of the season..

and the stress...

and the chaos...

This made it all worth it.

Happy Holidays to you all and I hope that yours was as meaningful and wonderful as mine :)

I'll be posting some of my favorites of the year later this year! Stay tuned!

Until next time,

~ K

The Almost Photo Shoot! | Hampton Family Photography

2009-12-21T14:02:00.006-05:00

We thought... the 3rd time's the charm...

Due to the glorious weather here in Hampton lately, we've had to reschedule this shoot twice. Yesterday, after the winter storm passed, it was gorgeous out! Hooray! To the beach we go...

... but oh man... was it C-O-L-D. The wind whipping off the water... C-O-L-D...!

And little 'H' wasn't feeling so well, so we ended up calling it a day after a few minutes and will get back together soon...

BUT.

But it doesn't take long to get a few beautiful shots. Here's a little something to tide you over, Courtney, until we get together again!

This family is absolutely beautiful...

I'll see you guys again soon! And hopefully little 'H' will be having a better day :)

Until next time,

~ K

P.S. Okay, Okay. I know I didn't post a 'My Family Friday'.... I'll make up for it soon!

My Family Friday... | Characters

2009-12-11T12:25:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite things about photography is getting to know the people that are in front of my lens. Sometimes after a session is booked clients and I will continue to have email dialogues and I'll get a feel for them that way... sometimes clients send me the links to their personal blogs (which I LOVE.. LOVE... everyone should have a blog!) and I get a feel for them that way... but most often, while we're shooting, we're talking... we're getting to know each other. And then I'm able to capture the personality of the family members. It is what makes custom photography so special. So worth it!

Here's just a taste of the personalities in my life...

Enjoy your weekend!

Until next time,

~ K

My Family Friday... | Dear Noah...

2009-12-03T23:03:00.002-05:00

... please stop growing, you are looking far too much like a big-boy and I do not approve, nor have I given permission...

'k, thanks.

Love you,
~ mom

Perfect | Yorktown Family Photographer

2009-11-29T22:34:00.003-05:00

This family, hands down, wins for the best dressed kiddos. It was perfect and colorful and warm and just everything that I could have asked for!

Meet the 'P' family: These four are beautiful, cultured, down-to-earth, and an absolute joy to spend 90 minutes with on a brisk Sunday morning. They are (relatively) recently transplanted here from Korea (and before that they lived in Italy, where their oldest was born). We have a shared understanding of what it means to live in Asia and a similar affinity for funny asian signs (maybe someday I'll dig some of my pictures out and post a few... always good for a chuckle or two).

By far my favorite part of this session was watching this family interact. They were just so real... and warm... and absolutely hysterical.

Here we go:

First meet Emma. The oldest. The rockstar. The natural. The most beautiful platinum blonde little darling I have ever met...

Mom kept talking about how gorgeous she looks in bold colors. SO right mom.

Next, meet Mia. The baby. The cuddler. The romper. The sweetheart.

...and Emma and Mia together... This is a strong candidate for one of my favorite shots of the year...

I know I keep saying this, but I just loved how they played together!

... and finally... a family shot. Beautiful.

I had such a good time with you! I can't wait to show you all these pictures!

Until next time,

~ K

My Family Friday...

2009-11-27T16:39:00.004-05:00

** Quick BIZ UPDATE : I'm now booked for the 2009 year. I will only be taking bookings for the 2010 year! **

Happy Black Friday! For those of you that are big shoppers, I'm sure this was a busy day for you. However, a big shopper, I am not. The crowds stress me out... and all the madness makes me want to sit down someplace quiet and rock back and forth.

So. I am here.

I wanted to share a few pics of my Thanksgiving Day with you.

My husband's family is all boy. Four brothers...Three of which had 2 sons each... and now we have 2 boys... A family get together at Great Nanny's (my husband's grandmother) is a total hoot. Toys galore (of the kid and big-kid variety) for everyone to play with... it's great.

Our littlest one wasn't feeling so well and was therefore a total pain in the rear-end... but after a nice dose of Motrin he felt much better... and allowed a few people to hold him... for a millisecond.

So Happy Thanksgiving Day to you all. I hope you all had a day as good as mine!

Until next time,

~ K

Thankful.

2009-11-25T20:46:00.003-05:00

It's a little early, but we'll be driving to spend the day with family tomorrow and I wanted to be sure to get this in.

I have SO much to be thankful for.

* My beautiful boys... who can always make me smile and are truly the light of my life...
* My husband who is so supportive and puts up with my madness...
* My sister who is more amazing than she'll ever know...
* My parents for teaching me...
* My friends for just BEING with me & understanding me & laughing with me...
* My in-laws who raised the cutest little boy into a wonderful man...
* The military for providing a roof over our heads and putting food on our table, exposing us to new places every few years, and for providing us with friends, quite literally, all over the world (8 countries at last count I think...).
* My camera. Aside from my family, it's my life.
* and... my clients... who trust me to capture their family memories. My clients over the past year have been gracious, patient, honest, caring, and open as I've worked so hard to build this business. I am SO thankful for ALL of you.

This is everything that is autumn and thanksgiving to me. The smell of autumn... leaves burning in the distance, that moist almost musky smell of wet leaves against the cool air in the morning.... I miss fall up north. But I'm happy to be where we are now.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

Until next time,

~ K

Photographers Need Family Photos too... | Hampton Family Photography

2009-11-22T12:29:00.003-05:00

We are always behind the camera... taking pics of our own kids & other people's kids... but rarely do WE ever get in FRONT of the camera.

Sometimes we might try to hand off the camera to our significant other... and then talk them through the proper settings... and then look at the picture... and * oh gee, imagine that * it's blurry and, gah, there's only half my face in the frame!

Yes... I mean... Nooo honey, I am not talking about you... { smile }

So when Anne contacted me to do a family photo swap... I jumped at the chance.

Plus, though it's a bit nerve wracking photographing another photographer, it's nice having someone else knowing which way to turn and where to find the good light :)

Here you go Anne!

I kept getting them to yell, "Daddy's got stinky feet!!" Over and over and over again... as I perfected the shot. "Mommy's got stinky feet!" "Daddy's got stinky feet!" "YOU have stinky feet!" Hahaha.

And then...

...yeah... and then they go sick of me... {sigh}. Not to self: do NOT wear out the 'stinky feet' ploy...

I really wanted to get some good shots of Anne with the kids... that's what we don't always get... Well, without a whole lot of trouble anyway (self-timers, remote triggers, lots of running back & forth...)

Anne, your children are so sweet and very photogenic!!

But... I think this image is my favorite...

Until next time,

~ K

My Family Friday...

2009-11-20T12:04:00.002-05:00

I celebrated my birthday two days ago... it was a great day!

But one of the best things I have EVER received came a few days before my birthday... it was this picture that Trey drew at school. Things he's thankful for...

I typed in what everything is... do you see that last thing... do you see it?! "My mama..."

That's all I needed.

Until next time,

~ K

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2009-11-16T12:22:00.003-05:00

I really can't believe it's already holiday season.

The music. The colors. The commercials. The food. The food....

It's madness really.

And I LOVE it!

So to kick things off, I'll be participating in a Ladies Night Out shopping event this Thursday at the McDonald Garden Center here in Hampton!

Come on out and knock-out some of that holiday shopping early :)

I'll be donating 50% off a sitting fee for one of their raffles...! This your chance :)

And... I might have a few other goodies out there too... hmmm... dunno. We'll see :)

See you there!

Until next time,

~ K

Keeping it simple...

2009-11-14T15:29:00.004-05:00

I love that statement.

So little in life is truly simple... or at least it seems that way, as we tend to make things much more complicated than need be.

Okay. So maybe that's just me. But I'm really good at. Like... I've perfected the art of over-complicating things.

And so, as self-inflicted therapy, I've started simplifying.

I'm starting with my business.

The other day I was looking through my website... like I do every so often to make sure everything's loading properly and what-not... and I looked through my pricing...

&*$@#! ??

Confusing! I created it. And I was overwhelmed. (* cough * are we surprised? No.)

So I've re-vamped. Simplified. Clarified.

One creative fee. (ETA: Okay. So two creative fees. One for most sessions, one for newborns...)

A la carte prints & products.

Five collections to choose from (collections are a variety of prints and products offered together at a discounted price).

The end.

Ahhh. That feels so much better.

Check out my website for more specifics.
(All clients currently booked your prices have not changed. The new pricing is for clients booking from this day forward).

And because we can't post without a picture... and simplicity is the word of the day...

This is, very simply, everything that is beautiful about my son. His face. His spirit. His curiosity.

"Look mom! Look at this one! It's red! It's beautiful!"

Until next time,

~ K

My Family Friday...

2009-11-13T21:17:00.003-05:00

Okay. I have to be honest. With this crazy weather and Trey being out of school for the past two days, our life has kind-of been turned upside down. I normally have this posted by mid-day, but... well... it's still Friday, right?

The week started out so beautifully...

On this particular day, the water on the harbor was absolutely pristine. It was like the sky and the water melded together into one at the horizon.

By Wednesday, the sky was steel grey and the rain was coming down in cold drops...sideways...

And by Thursday, it was full on Nor'Easter with winds gusting to almost 60 mph, tons of rain, and ridiculous tidal flooding...

We certainly didn't bear the brunt of it here, but the base had some serious flooding and the southside was hit really hard. School was cancelled... so the boys and I hunkered down to a few days of lounging in our PJ's and a Harry Potter movie marathon. DJ had to go into work both days, so it was just the three of us.

Hello cabin fever.

We read books... or, in this case, magazines (Noah is flipping through my Professional Photographer Mag)...

...and we hung out by the window and watched the waves beat against the shore...

I got my share of sun by editing through some images from earlier in the week.

The other day at the park, the boys ran around and Trey was showing Noah some ninja moves. But, you know..., before ninja moves, you have to start with a little bow. Namaste.

I love it.

I hope everyone has survived the storm...

Until next time,

~ K

'H' Family | Yorktown Family Photographer

2009-11-09T10:46:00.003-05:00

Kendre first got in touch with me before they moved to VA to inquire about a session... and, though we had to wait several months for this to come to fruition, it was well worth the wait.

We walked around the park, chatted a bit (found out we'd both been stationed on Okinawa at roughly the same time), wiped baby snot, got drooled on (okay, well, maybe that was just dad... ), sang songs, threw some leaves, and watched little 'B' walk around like a pro...

It was a gorgeous day, the leaves are crisp and colorful, and ... well... it was just perfection.

Here's the family.

This is some prime genetics at work. Look at this GORGEOUS family! I feel like I say this all the time, but all of my families are so beautiful!

Little 'B' is about to turn one! And, as a matter of fact, her birthday is the same as mine! Oh... this makes me love her all the more...

I love the light and the colors here. Kendre, you did a superb job of picking out colors and outfits!

Mom... and 'B'...

And, you guys know how I just love pictures of Dads and their kids... This might be one of my favorites to date...

Real. Beautiful. Lovely. I don't think I could ask for much more...

If you guys are loving the colors as much as I do, consider signing up for my newly re-opened Quickie shoots for this weekend... see here.

I had a great time meeting you!

Until next time,

~ K

Strength and Beauty... | Hampton Family Photography

2009-11-08T20:00:00.005-05:00

Let me introduce you to a family that I've only known for a very short time, who I've had very little contact with, but who have made a very big impact on my life.

I've known the 'F' family since last year when Trey started his pre-K program. Their son, Sean, was in his class and they became fast friends. Trey would come home with little pictures that Sean had cut out, colored, and gifted him with... he would talk about his friend Sean all the time... "Hey Mom! Did you know...Sean did this... and then that... and then this... and then that...." Every so often, in the afternoons, as I would stand in the little hallway outside of Trey's classroom, waiting for them to finish singing, "It was a good day..." Sean's dad would be there waiting too, with Sean's older brother, Nick. Nick would smile at Noah who, at the time, was barely walking and would giggle at him or, more often than not, make some kind of odd-Noah-grunt... and Nick would say, "He's cute!" and smile.

But mainly, that was the extent of the contact I had with the 'F' family. Courteous... a mutual respect for the cuteness of our kids. But each of us with busy lives...

Then as the year came to a close and we were giving out invitations to Trey's 1/2 Birthday Party, we noticed Sean was gone from school early. Trey, with all that kid-honesty I love so much, said, "Sean said his brother is sick. So they have to go on vacation early. He said he has headaches..."

The summer progressed ... and then Trey was invited to a birthday party... and Sean was there! DJ talked to his mom for a bit and, at my insisting, obtained her email address so I could forward on a picture I had taken of the boys at school that spring.

DJ spoke with Christina for a while... and, as it turns out, Nick was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, DIPG or Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Their "early vacation" was a trip to St. Jude's in Memphis for rigorous treatment.

This one hit really close to home. I was... kind-of... fraught with uncertainty about what to do ... I knew I wanted to DO something... to SAY just the perfect thing... to REACH OUT to them. But I was so unsure of how to go about doing that without sounding cliche or fake... in the end, I just sent an email saying I wanted to offer them some portraits...

Christina was gracious and wonderful and open and has been ever since. I've read their Caring Bridge journal which she so willingly shared with me, I cried and laughed, and... more than anything... I've been amazed at the strength of their family through this.

It's only been a few months and their spirit is amazing. Nick was diagnosed on May 30th of this year... and is doing SO well. At their last visit to St. Jude's, the doctor's said there was a significant reduction in the size of the tumor.... There is hope.

So here they are. A beautiful family... a strong family... and a family, who despite it all, is just as real and wonderful as can be.

Meet Nick...

And Sean...

Now go hug your kids. And smile.

Until next time,

~ K

My Family Friday...

2009-11-06T10:56:00.004-05:00

We should probably start off with some introductions...

Meet my eldest, Trey...

Trey is pretty much your stereotypical first child... competitive, yet thoughtful, a perfectionist, kinda high-strung. He is a happy boy and a sweet boy with a good, good heart... However, he has a propensity for whining that makes me go a little batty. Here he is, happily showing me his moves (I think he was singing... "Dontcha wish ya girlfriend was hot like me..."). I made him stop throwing the ball outside to take a few pictures. He rolled his eyes, moved into the good light (he's a photog's kid) and started dancing and singing like a madman... for five seconds... then said, "I'm Done." And picked up the ball again. It can't be easy growing up with a photographer as a parent.

And the baby, Noah...

Noah is the antithesis of Trey. He is impulsive, loud, and a raging dare-devil. His favorite phrase is, "ME DO!" As in, me-do everything... I don't need your stinkin' help walking down this huge flight of very steep stairs... "ME DO!" He is the reason years have been shaved off my life... For instance, this morning... I ran upstairs to get Trey's socks and by the time I came back down, Noah had put his little red plastic chair ON the couch and was sitting on it. {!!!} Heart attack!

Hope you guys have a fantastic weekend planned! The weather here in Eastern VA is supposed to be gorgeous! I've got several two shoots coming up and a even a little something for my own family :) So sneak peeks coming soon !

Until next time,

~ K

The Stars Aligned... | Hampton Family Photography

2009-11-04T22:14:00.004-05:00

I don't think I can count on one hand how many times this family and I had to reschedule our shoot. Weather, weather, weather, sick kid, weather, weather... So finally... this week the weather channel's website professed a whole week of sunny days. She and I called each other and vowed to get this shoot in.

We talked on the phone yesterday afternoon, made a last-minute reschedule for this afternoon... and then joked about some crazy freak-snowstorm coming to VA... hahahaha... so totally not funny. I did a little secret good-weather dance last night... Yes, really. I'm that sick of rescheduling shoots...

Anyway, enough babble from the camera lady...

First, meet 'A'...

'A' and I had met once previously... and he was an absolute ball of energy. Tonight, however, he was much more reserved and into mommy and daddy. Might have had something to do with the weird lady with the big-black-box in front of her face making silly faces and funny noises. I would have been hesitant of me too at that age...

It took a few minutes, but he eventually warmed up to me... However, I certainly can't take all the credit. Mom and Dad did a great job of talking and playing too! That's the key! Play!

I really love this shot. It may very well be my favorite thus far. It's that thing we mommy's have...that absolute NEED to nuzzle our children and take in their scent and just be near them. I love it. The grain. The expression. Love love love.

Here's mommy (Beth) and 'A'... See there, he's picking flowers for her. Boys rule.

...and Daddy (Patrick) and 'A'... I love this one too.

...and the whole family... and can I just say... doesn't dad look like Anthony Edwards?! Whoa... it's really striking in this image... :) Cool!

Beth, it worked out! The stars aligned and, though the guy on the golf-cart was kicking us out of the park as the light fell.... and we had to shoot around moms with strollers, joggers, and a gaggle of tween-age kids... it was a fantastic afternoon!

Thanks guys for so much patience and for being so great. More in your gallery soon!

Until next time,
~ K

Holiday Quickie Slots... a few more!

2009-11-01T11:14:00.005-05:00

I'm opening up a few more slots for a Holiday Quickie Shoot!

DATE: Sunday, November 15th
LOCATION: Sandy Bottom Nature Park (the leaves are sure to be gorgeous!)
TIME SLOTS: 7:30am, 8:00am, 8:30am, 9:00am
DETAILS: $195 - includes the shoot, private gallery, a set of custom holiday cards, and an 8x10!

Email me ASAP (kassia@kassiareedyphotography.com) if you're interested!

And... because... it's no fun to post without a picture...

That's my brood... Harry Potter... and his broom, the Nimbus 2000. :)

My Family Friday...

2009-10-30T12:13:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-28T12:36:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-25T22:18:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-24T22:18:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-21T22:16:00.004-04:00

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

2009-10-12T12:42:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-10T23:04:00.005-04:00

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

2009-10-03T21:18:00.004-04:00

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

How Are You Reading Your Blogs?

2009-09-28T23:56:00.002-04:00

I follow LOTS of blogs... other photographers, a few tech blogs, some mommy-blogs, pop-culture blogs... I will NOT admit to how many because it's just downright embarrassing.

But let me tell you... if I didn't use an aggregator it would take HOURS HOURS HOURS out of my day to look through all the sites I frequent.

What's an aggregator you ask?

In simple, non-techy, terms... it 's a one-stop place that collects all the recent posts from all the blogs you specify... and shows 'em to ya.

I'm personally a big fan of 'Google Reader' for two reasons:

1) I have multiple Gmail accounts so it's just easy and right there

and

2) This do-hickey...

If you're using Google Reader...on the top right section of your screen (next to your email address) click 'Settings', then click 'Goodies'...

Drag the 'Next' tab into your bookmarks toolbar...

and...

Whenever you click it, it automatically takes you through each blog you've subscribed to!

Brilliant!

Until next time,

~ K

Models Needed

2009-09-27T22:37:00.003-04:00

If you're in the local area (Hampton, VA) and are willing to be my guinea pig for a few hours on Sunday, October 25th in the late afternoon... I'd love to have you!

I need a female (age doesn't really matter) and a girl about 10 or so... mother/daughter combination would be even better!

Time includes hair, make-up and a quick shoot in Yorktown... all total, you're probably looking at 2-3 hours. For your time (and guinea-pig status) I'll give you a few of my favorite images on a CD.

If you're interested, please email me: kassia@kassiareedyphotography.com and send a recent pic!

Thanks!!

Cheryl & Cody | Newport News Portrait Photographer

2009-09-22T10:27:00.002-04:00

Cheryl contacted me to take a few head shots for a re-brand she's working on... she's a hard-working, successful mortgage broker... but I'm not going to post any of those pics :) I want the launch of her new branding to be the first time anyone sees those images of her...

BUT...

I did grab this shot of Cheryl and her sweet dog, Cody.

As I was leaving, I leaned down to give him some love...and he kissed me... once on each cheek! Awwww. He's cute AND a European at heart. *Love* that.

Until next time,

~ K

The View

2009-09-17T23:54:00.003-04:00

If it's a beautiful sunny day, there's almost always a group of white sailboats out on the harbor. This day, though, they were joined by a few colorful boats...

The pictures never do it justice.

You can't hear the wind blowing...

... or the waves hitting the shore...

I love where I live.

In more business related news... September has purposefully been a slow month. I'm taking a bit of a break. Maybe the calm before the storm?

October is shaping up to be VERY busy. Almost all my Saturdays are already booked up...and Sundays are on their way to filling up as well.

Please, if you were interested in booking a session (and using those great Holiday Specials), please don't hesitate any longer... send me an email so I can get you in before they expire mid-November!

I have a fun family shoot scheduled for this weekend... so beautiful families coming soon!

Until next time,

~ K

T-Minus 3 Days...

2009-09-05T21:09:00.003-04:00

...until my first baby goes off to Kindergarten...

He is so excited. I am so excited. I am nervous beyond comprehension...but would never let him know that....and if you asked me why I'm nervous I probably wouldn't be able to verbalize it..."Uhm. Uh. Kindergarten...bluh...blabber...scared...excited...big kids...big school...lunchrooms...blahdity...blah...bullys...ugh..." Make sense? Yeah, not to me either.

But in the end I know he'll do great. He's a fantastic kid. Truly.

So, to get ready for his big first day of school, we went to get his hair cut. :) I think it looks perfect.

*sigh*

I'm not ready for him to grow up.

Until next time,

~ K

The Noah... in his natural state

2009-09-03T01:06:00.002-04:00

Why is it that crying toddlers are so dern cute?

Well, to look at. To hear... not-so-much...

Here is Noah in time-out.

He is none-too-happy. But dern cute!

Hope you all are having a good week... a long weekend coming up!

Until next time,
~K

Sleeping Boys & Holiday Session Update!

2009-08-31T22:06:00.003-04:00

Just a quick share.

This past weekend we took the kids down to the VA Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, then walked around the Seawall Art Show in Old Towne Portsmouth. The sports place... eh... not really my cup of tea, but I loved the art show. Mixed media artists, sculptures, a lot of photographers... it was great.

And it wore the boys out.

Can you tell?

Also, I've updated the Holiday Session post with dates, times and locations! I am absolutely dying to see my beautiful holiday cards with your beautiful portraits showcased! Hurry, book now!

If you're on facebook... you can find the details on my facebook page! All events will be listed on the left side of the page :)

Until next time,

~ K

Yorktown Riverwalk

2009-08-29T20:44:00.004-04:00

Earlier this summer, the family and I ventured down to Yorktown's Riverwalk to have some Ben & Jerry's and walk along the beach... it is a beautiful area and I can't wait to go back! I want to go on the weekends when they have their Farmer's Market...

This was taken right before dusk...

Hope all is well!

Until next time,

~ K

Flowers are Pretty...

2009-08-20T22:38:00.003-04:00

Here are a few from a trip to the zoo back in SC...

Until next time,

~ K

For Lisa... Your Sneak Peek | Hampton Roads Family Photography

2009-08-19T16:18:00.003-04:00

Whew. Lisa, I owe you an apology... I meant to have this up a few days ago, but sick kiddos and sick (and very pathetic) husband = no time to do anything but bleach, clean, and bleach and clean... heavenly.

So here we go...

This is Lisa.

So much history I don't know where to begin. I started writing a 'how we met and how it all began post' but it was sooo long. Delete-delete-delete. And then I sat here staring at the screen... with the cursor blinking at me as if to say 'hurry it up woman. think of something already. she's, like, your best friend. come on now. get writin'...'

Evil cursors.

So. Lisa and I have been friends since the summer after our sophomore year when I lived in the apartment next to hers. I was pathetic, under-age, and poor that summer... I had no car so was walking a little over a mile to and from work everyday. In the Charleston heat. And she still talked to me. I asked her to drive me to the mall one day because I needed to buy some shoes to go with a dress I was going to wear to a wedding... and bought the single ugliest pair of blue pumps known to man. They were cheap (and hey it was 1997 ok?). And she still talked to me. A bunch of us would all pile into a few cars on the weekends and drive to the beach to bake... afterwards I'd change into this ugly mid-calf length jersey dress that was really comfortable. And did I mention how ugly it was? Right. And she still talked to me.

AND THEN. After graduation, when we were all waiting tables and I was conned...I mean... convinced to make the move to fine-dining, I (well with the help of her then boyfriend, now husband, Devon) dragged her into the madness with me. And she still talked to me. We would PRACTICE at home. Devon... Lisa, I am outing us here. We PRACTICED our service at home. I think there's pictures somewhere to prove this totally mortifying event.

Anyway, I'll stop there. Suffice it say, Lisa's been an amazing friend. She and I have the same sense of humor... she is the laid-back to my neurotic, and we are both nothing if not a little bitter and sarcastic. :)

I love you girl. You too Big D... no one else can call me Chun-chu-leen and sing Happy Birthday on the answering machine like you... :)

Here you go guys...

Until next time,

~ K

For Bria... Your Sneak Peek | Hampton Roads Family Photography

2009-08-16T23:34:00.003-04:00

My freshman year dorms were set-up like suites. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms... everyone sharing one common area. Doesn't sounds so bad, right? Well, they must have been short on space that year because they packed us in there like sardines. There were 8 of us.

EIGHT.

EIGHT GIRLS.

One phone line.

No call waiting. Ugh...

Like I said, it was ages ago. The dark ages.

All that madness aside, let me introduce Bria. She was one of those eight girls. Bria is about 5-foot nothin'... and when I first met her she wore gypsy skirts, listened to Widespread Panic, Phish, the Greatful Dead... and had hair down to her ass. When I think of Bria I think of going dancing every weekend at 'the farm', working at the upscale men's clothier (we both worked there, but at different times), her infectious laugh, and her ability to convince me to do just about anything (she has this way of appealing to my logical side...i can't explain it). Bria ended up leaving our school after her freshman year to finish up her bachelor's back home, but we've kept in touch ever since...

Here you go girl. Your children are drop-dead gorgeous...

Bria's son is roughly the same age as Trey and has the same penchant for super-hero costumes. They hit it off immediately and ran around the beach house as Power Rangers, Batman, and Bumblebee (from transformers, not A bumblebee, that would have been weird)...

Perfection.

One more. Hopefully up tomorrow night :)

Until next time,

~ K

For Jamie... Your Sneak Peek | Hampton Family Photography

2009-08-15T20:34:00.004-04:00

Now up... Jamie. Or as we like to call him, Bazz.

Bazz was in the same company with my hubby at the Citadel, forever-and-a-day ago. I'm racking my brain here to remember the first time we met and I can't remember if he was among the group of guys who used to hang out at mine and Sarah's apartment our Junior year... or if it was that summer that we officially first met Bazz...

In any case, Jamie has been a great friend... when we bought our first house he bought and helped DJ install our privacy fence.... and even when we were in Japan, we would get regular phone calls from him. He is an amazing cook, a very bad dancer, a newly minted Wii addict, a very bad influence on small children (especially in the use of proper language department), and an all around fantastic source of entertainment. If you ever meet our Bazz, please ask him to do his Borat impression. You. Will. NOT. BE. Sorry. Especially after two bottles of wine... that helps too. :)

So... as not to prolong this any further... because I can hear Jamie yelling at me, "WTH, skip over all this mushy-girly-froo-froo sh** and just show me the damn pictures peanut!"

Here ya go...

Love you Bazz.

Until next time,

~ K

For Sarah... Your Sneak Peek | Hampton Roads Family Photography

2009-08-14T14:20:00.003-04:00

Sarah and I have been friends since the first day of my freshman year in college. About 300 years ago. Okay. I'm not that old. But sometimes it feels like we've been friends forever.

Sarah had met another of our roommates, Bria (who you'll meet later), at freshman orientation earlier in the summer... and on the first day she walked around our entire dorm looking for Bria's name on the door. I was so nervous that day not knowing anyone... and Sarah just walked right in, plopped down on our couch and started chatting with me kind-of like we'd been friends for years.

We've been friends ever since... she and I roomed together in the dorms our sophomore year when everyone else got apartments... we lived together our Junior Year in an apartment 15 minutes from campus. I don't know a person who can make me laugh so hard or who can do a better impression of a schizonphrenic in the college cafeteria... :)

Right after we moved to Okinawa 5 years ago, Sarah found out she was pregnant... until our beach week, I had never met her sweet little girl. She is so sweet Sarah and so funny... :)

Here are a few of your pics:

Love you girl.

Until next time,

~ K

Holiday Card Preview

2009-08-13T10:15:00.004-04:00

Just a few samples of this year's holiday cards. There are MANY more :) All styles this year are simple and elegant and will showcase your family portraits.

Your cards will come fully designed, ready-to-go with a set of white envelopes. When you place your order you'll be able to choose from several paper styles. These are absolutely gorgeous and will WOW all your friends and family.

Until next time,

~ K