Call Me Kate

New Blog.

2012-01-05T10:01:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends!

You can visit my new blog home By clicking HERE

http://www.katiemiscellany.blogspot.com

Not Goodbye, Just See You Later.

2011-12-30T01:00:00.001-05:00

**Update, You can visit my new blog home By clicking HERE***

After much soul searching I've decided to close down Call Me Kate permanently.

Recently I've found it difficult to decide on content and overall purpose for my blog and I feel that is an indication that it's time for a change. While I'm saying goodbye to my home here, I look forward to creating a new blog home somewhere else in the very near future.

I've enjoyed interacting with you and hope to connect with you again soon!

If you'd like to stay in touch you can find me on twitter HERE.

Thanks for your support and I will hopefully, see you later!

Katie

Why I say "Happy Holidays"...

2011-12-23T14:21:00.008-05:00

I am a Christian. I celebrate Christmas.
Sometimes I say "Happy Holidays" and sometimes I say "Merry Christmas".
I honestly don't see anything wrong with saying "Happy Holidays" and I'm in no
way offended when someone says it to me. In fact, I enjoy having a stranger bid me
a happy holiday greeting, because the rest of the year I'm used to a large percentage
of the public flipping me off and acting in a generally disgruntled manner.

Why I'm cool with "Happy Holidays"? Easy... because I consider Christmas a holiday,
therefore making the term "Happy Holidays" inclusive of Christmas, along with New Years
and every other holiday my neighbors may be inclined to celebrate.
Whatever that holidays is, I hope it's a happy one for YOU!
So "Happy Holidays" = Lots of birds, one stone.

Your holiday is what you make of it.
Fellow Christians, the true essence of Christmas comes from what's in your heart
and not the terminology on your neighbors greeting card.
I tend to think that honoring Christ through actions is more important
than splitting semantic hairs. Just my thoughts, but so far it's working for me!

So with that I say, I hope you have the most wonderful of holidays.
All my love, Friends!

-Katie

Faces of Claire.

2011-12-16T23:10:00.002-05:00

The faces of my daughter via Macbook Pro Photobooth.

Happy Friday!

A Very Bloggy Christmas!

2011-12-13T10:43:00.005-05:00

This year I participated in a Very Bloggy Christmas Exchange! Laura from Between The Lines Blog set it all up and paired all the blogger participants with another blogger to exchange Christmas gifts with! Today's the big reveal day where we're posting what we got!

I'm so happy I was paired with Nicole from "From Our Place to Yours!" I really enjoyed getting to know her through her blog and reading all about her life and her adorable daughter! Nicole sent me a really thoughtful package with a nice handwritten letter! She sent me nail polish (totally nailed the color, thanks Nicole!), a cute blue scarf because she gathered from my blog that I love accessories (spot on!), some yummy tastefully simple tea (already used it!) and the book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" (which she said this blog post inspired her to get me!)

I love everything, Nicole! Thank you so very much! I'm wearing the scarf today.. just can't decide which way to wear it, in my hair or around my neck!? :D

Merry Christmas to Nicole, Laura, everyone who participated in the exchange and all my other blogger friends!

Printable // Holiday Gift Tags

2011-12-11T18:24:00.005-05:00

I've seen so many of our friendly neighborhood bloggers posting cute little freebies for their readers lately that I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon as well!

With Christmas (and other winter holidays!) right around the corner I thought I'd help you all out by creating a printable page of gift-tags! I designed these little gift tags using a fun vintage Christmas color palette!

When I was little I dreamed about becoming a professional gift-wrapper when I grew up. I imagined owning a humble little shop on main street where happy holiday shoppers could stop in with big bags full of oddly shaped gifts and I would come to their rescue, meticulously wrapping all their heart-felt presents! Well, as fate would have it, that dream didn't come true, so I put all my gift-wrapping love into wrapping the presents I buy for my own friends and family.

Here are some fun ways I utilized these vintagey gift tags (all of these gifts are wrapped using construction paper or a brown grocery bag as paper and yarn for embelishment):

Click the image below to download a pdf version of the printable gift-tag sheet! You can print them on white card stock and use tape to adhere them to you gifts, use a hole punch and ribbon/yarn to attach them or print them on self-adhering paper! Once you've printed them just cut them out and go to town!

Blog Meme.

2011-12-09T19:40:00.006-05:00

Hey! Haven't done a blog meme in a while so here's one I took from Caitlin over at To Make Love Stay! It's a fun one!

So here goes!

1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?
My Dad calls me "Glomer".. from the cartoon version of Punky Brewster. If you're under 30 or over 35 you probably missed that little gem of a show.

2. What's a weird habit of yours?
I count things and hate it when something ends on an odd number (vacuum strokes, steps to the door, etc). I always set the volume on the t.v. to an even number.

3. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you're alone?
Disney songs. When no one's around I really make them my own.

4. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
When I'm waiting in line at a store and the person in front of me over dramatizes how long the wait has been. I especially dislike when they glance back at me and roll their eyes or sigh loudly in an attempt to engage me in their pouting. I don't enjoy that. I'm sure waiting a few extra moments won't kill you and I won't pout along with you. Yeah!

5. What's one of your nervous habits?
I often find it hard to speak clearly and I'm pretty sure that's because I'm nervous all the time around other people. I tend to start and stop talking and make no sense at all. I also look at the ground when I'm uncomfortable. I'm really quite awkward. My husband can't take me anywhere.

6. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The right side.

7. What was your first stuffed animal & it's name?
This brings back bad memories. I had a stuffed monkey that I didn't go anywhere without and it was left at our hotel in Florida when we visited Disney World. The fact that I lost my security toy totally overshadowed any joy that came from being at the Happiest Place on Earth. Terrible, I know.

8. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at Starbucks?
I've been to Starbucks a total of 4 times in my whole life. I like my little mom and pop coffee shops better... creaky floors, live music and local art on the walls year round. Low Fat Vanilla Latte.

9. What's the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice?
I don't think I preach any beauty rules, I'm beauty challenged. I slop on lots of eyeliner and chapstick and I'm good to go.

10. Which way do you face in the shower?
I honestly have no idea! Isn't that odd? I'll check tomorrow.

11. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?
Super flexible knees and a double jointed big toe. Now you know! :D

12. What's your favorite 'comfort food'/food thats 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways?
Pasta with white sauces.

13. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?
"What the hell" both as a question and/or a statement.

14. Time to sleep - what are you wearing?
Sweat pants and a t-shirt

If you happen to do this meme, post a link in my comments so I can read what you answered!

Blog Freebie.

2011-12-09T09:49:00.005-05:00

Jess at IROCKSOWHAT.COM created some fun/funky polaroid frames and is offering them up on her blog,.. for free :D
They're really fun! Here's what I did with them this morning (I'm going to add it to my About Me Page!):

Click HERE to download these adorable polaroid frames! Thanks Jess!

Follow IROCKSOWHAT on TWITTER to find out about her freebies!

P.S. I'm on TWITTER too :D

Kenzie's Portraits.

2011-12-09T07:30:00.003-05:00

Here are a few more senior portraits of Kenzie.
We did them all indoors with a backdrop, really simple and subtle.
Kenzie is Tyler and Claire's favorite babysitter and it just so happens that I used to babysit Kenzie... when she was Claire's age! Oh how time flies......

Time is flying never to return. -Virgil

True isn't it? Although I've noticed that once in a while time flies back around and
makes an appearance to remind you how long it's been away.
Sometimes it comes around in the form of a little girl you once knew, only now she's all grown up and beautiful as can be:

I can't wait to see what the future holds for you, Kenz!

Lunch in a booth.

2011-12-08T12:46:00.003-05:00

I love kids. I was a kid myself, once.
-Tom Cruise

Tyler, you've reminded what it is to be a kid.
To be silly.
To laugh.
To be free of preconceptions and unnecessary expectations.

When I think about it, I've yet to face a circumstance on which a child's outlook wasn't the preferable one.

Thanks for helping me stay in touch with the kid I once was... and am now learning to become once again.

I love you. - Mom

Weekend of Baking.

2011-12-05T10:26:00.001-05:00

Wow. I pretty much spent the whole weekend in the kitchen baking. I love to bake but I'm a little baked-out at the moment!

By 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning I had truffles rolled and ready to be dipped, peanut butter fudge cooled and ready to but cut, and peanut brittle finished and ready to be packaged up:

Later on Saturday and Sunday I made sugar cookies & decorated them, peanut butter blossoms, dipped the truffles and decorated them and made Christmas Wreath Treats with Tyler and Claire!

The Christmas Wreath Treats are pictured above (on the left) and are really a fun recipe to make with kids!

Here's the recipe in case you're interested!

Melt 30 Large Marshmallows + 1 stick of butter over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and add 1/4 tsp vanilla and 2 tsps green food coloring. Stir until food coloring is all mixed in. Remove mixture from heat and add 4.5 Cups of corn flakes.

Using your hands, shape the corn flake mixture into wreath shapes (tip: lightly grease fingers so the mixture doesn't stick to your skin). Decorate the wreaths using red candies =D

The wreaths will set up / harden like rice crispy treats.

On a side note, I've kind of had bloggers-block lately. I've been writing in my journal and taking pictures... but haven't really been inspired to post anything lately. I don't like to blog for the sake of posting something... I really just like to blog from the heart when I feel inspired to. I'm hoping to get back into the mood of it soon!

Week in Cell Phone Pics

2011-11-29T15:52:00.002-05:00

The past couple weeks I've been busy getting ready for the holidays,
I haven't had much time for blogging! I'm hoping to get back into the swing of it soon.

Thanksgiving was great, my older brother and his family were there, and so was my sister and her kids.
(Top Left: Me, Eric and my sisters baby, David. Top Right: My brother, My sister and My sisters oldest, Liam)

We also took the kids to visit Santa last week and decorated the inside and outside of the house for Christmas. We still have some lights to put up on the outside, but it's coming along :D

Oh and I dyed my hair really dark brown. Pretty different from my usual (almost) platinum blond. But it's fun and I like it! (Very bottom picture, Me, Tyler & Claire)

How was your week?

Contest Winner!

2011-11-26T07:57:00.001-05:00

#15

Jenn from Still Cross Photography!

Congrats Jenn!

Email me and I'll put you in touch with IROCKSOWHAT so you can claim your custom blog banner!!

Awesome.

2011-11-21T11:02:00.002-05:00

Hot chocolate is like morning coffee to my kids.
Instead of shots of espresso in their drink, they have some awesome.
My son laughs when I say with a wink,
"One cup of joe and a double shot of awesome comin' right up my good-man."
Then I slide a piping hot cup of hot cocoa across the counter and he laughs some more.
He thinks I'm silly. He's 5 and a half and balancing on the edge of thinking I'm wonderful and thinking I'm weird.
I'm hoping that the thinking I'm wonderful part can last a few more years,
and after that I'd be totally fine with wonderfully-weird.

Giveaway: Custom Design by IROCKSOWHAT

2011-11-17T13:28:00.003-05:00

Jess from IRSW created my blog banner for me and I was so happy with the process and the result that I wanted to give you all the chance to get a new blog (or etsy) banner for yourselves!

Here are some samples of banners Jess has created for clients in the past:

See lots more samples at www.IROCKSOWHAT.com!

I'm really excited about this giveaway!

The Prize = A Custom Banner and Button Design by Jess at IROCKSOWHAT.com!

If you have a blog or etsy store and want a new banner for your page, this giveaway is for you!
Want to enter to win? Here's how:

Required Entry:

Everyone's life rocks in some way. In good times or bad, there are always things to be thankful for!
So leave a comment on this post and fill in the blank:

"Right now my life rocks because ________________________!"

Want to increase your chances of winning?
Here are some optional (additional) entries to choose from:

1) Follow me on TWITTER

2) Like me on FACEBOOK

3) Follow Call Me Kate Blog using Google Friend Connect (link at the right of the page)

4) Follow Call Me Kate Blog using Bloglovin'

5) Tweet about this giveaway including a link to http://www.callmekateblog.com and make sure to mention @_callmekate and @irocksowhat in the tweet

6) Post a link to this giveaway on your facebook profile

7) Blog about this little giveaway including a link back to this post

Post a separate comment for each entry that you complete (ex. "I followed you on Twitter!" or "I tweeted about the giveaway!") as each individual task will serve as a separate contest entry and increase your chances of winning!

Only comments left on this post will count as contest entries.
The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, November 25th!

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

In the meantime get to know Jess:

BLOG | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Good luck!

In My Camera Bag

2011-11-16T11:33:00.010-05:00

Go To Equipment:
Nikon D700
Nikon D300
14-24mm f/2.8G
50mm f/1.4G
70-200mm f/2.8
60mm f/2.8 Macro
SB-900 AF Speedlight Flash
SB-80DX Speedlight Flash (x2)
Pocket Wizards (x2)
Various Strobes & Modifiers

I have other lenses of various brands and focal lengths that are used as back up resources when working photography jobs. However the ones listed above are my general use, go to lenses.

Editing:
Lightroom 3
Photoshop CS5
Mac
Jesh Actions

Bags:
Think Tank Airport Security Bag
Shoot Sac

Q & A

I'm just getting into photography, what camera would be good for a beginner?
Canon or Nikon?

When it comes to Canon or Nikon, you really can't go wrong either way. I shoot Nikon, but feel there are benefits to both brands. When someone asks me what camera they should buy, it's kind of like asking someone "what kind of car should I buy?" There are so many variables and with personal preferences thrown in, buying a camera is really a unique decision every photographer has to make for themselves. The difficult part of that is, you really won't know what you need/want until you have a little experience and knowledge under your belt.

So where do you start? If you're interested in pursuing photography as a serious hobby or possibly a career in the future, I suggest starting off with an entry level dSLR such as a Nikon D5000 or Canon Rebel series. Generally these are not camera bodies that a working professional photographer would use, however they are a great beginner camera that you can learn on without investing an arm and a leg right off the bat. A great lens to start with for either Nikon or Canon would be a 50mm 1.4. It's a great standard, all around lens that will work in many different situations. (One thing to remember is that you can not use Nikon lenses on a Canon body and vice versa. However there are 3rd party brands such as Sigma, that offer budget friendly lenses that are compatible with Nikon and Canon bodies.)

My advice:

* Photography is an expensive hobby and extremely expensive business.
Pace yourself when making purchases and don't bury yourself in debt getting the latest and greatest gadget just because it's available. Take advantage of renting lenses or camera bodies to test them before you commit to purchasing. Once you catch "the bug" for photography, it won't be long before you have a LONG wish list of equipment that you want.
(That said, if you ever shoot a wedding for someone, always, always, always, have back up equipment even if you have to rent or borrow it. The wedding will go on whether your equipment is working or not.)

* Learn your current equipment inside and out and master it, once you've mastered it, if it still doesn't meet your needs, then it's time to upgrade. When you are ready to make investments in equipment, do invest in quality.
Especially lenses. You will benefit more from a quality lens than a high end body.

* Do yourself a major favor: Learn to shoot in manual mode! I can not overstate how much your images and work will benefit from understanding how to create a proper exposure manually. Shooting in manual will bring consistency and creative control to your images.

A wonderful book that I recommend as a place to get started learning to shoot in manual mode and understanding the benefits of different types of lenses:
Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan Peterson

Happy Shooting!

Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-14T18:47:00.001-05:00

.... and the winner of the Candy Cane inspired Hair Bow is.....

Comment #17

Libby from Libby's Life Blog!

Congrats Libby!

Shoot me an e-mail with your mailing address and I'll send your hair bow out asap!

Katie@KatieDeWinter.com

Thanks everyone who entered!

I'll be doing a few more giveaways over the next several weeks until Christmas,

just as a little holiday thank you to those who read along!

A couple giveaways to look for in the near future, a $10 iTunes gift card and a free button & banner design by IROCKSOWHAT.com!

Two Years Ago Today.

2011-11-12T18:48:00.007-05:00

Two years ago today I posted this (You can also view it HERE):

"I will hew great windows for my soul."
- Angela Morgan

It begins when you're a child: The wonder and thrill of living.
With something as simple as the imagination poured into a bath full of water, a child can be entertained for hours.

My fear as a mother is that some day I will see that wonder fade.
I will document and nourish it as long as I am able.

-Katie (11/12/2009)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

I was going through a cross-processing phase, that's why the water looks green.
But the message I wrote is still true today nonetheless. I've always loved this picture of Tyler.
He's my old soul.
11/12/2011

Giveaway! Candy Cane Inspired Bow

2011-11-10T07:00:00.006-05:00

I'm SO excited for Christmas.
I've been busy sewing & knitting presents for friends and family like a mad woman!
The other day I was looking through some old fabric I had in a drawer and I came across this adorable red and white striped print that reminded me of a candy cane. I thought it'd make a super cute hair bow for the holidays!

After I made one for myself I thought I'd make another one to give away on my blog! Just a small way to say "Thank You" for reading along!

It's about 4" wide so it works great for an adult or a child. My daughter wore mine today and decided now it belongs to her :D Guess I'll be making a few more!

If you live in the U.S. or Canada you can enter to win it! Here's how:

Required Entry:

Leave a comment on this post and tell me what your all-time favorite Christmas/Winter Holiday song is!

Optional (Additional) Entries:

1) Follow me on TWITTER
2) Like me on FACEBOOK
3) Follow Call Me Kate Blog using Google Friend Connect (link at the right of the page)
4) Tweet about my giveaway including a link to http://www.callmekateblog.com and make sure to mention @_callmekate
5) Post a link to this giveaway on your facebook profile
6) Blog about this little giveaway including a link back to this post

Post a separate comment for each entry that you complete (ex. "I followed you on Twitter!") as each task will serve as a separate contest entry and increase your chances of winning!

However you are only required to do the first one.
Only comments left on this post will count as contest entries.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!

The contest winner will be announced on Monday, November 14th!

Good luck!

It's Okay.

2011-11-09T19:48:00.004-05:00

Dear Self 11/9/2011,

Good Morning! How are ya? I know, I know.. same old stuff right?

You're feeling slightly neurotic & out of control. You're always in search of that feeling of peace but you can never settle your soul enough to get there.

If I know you, you're agonizing over little things too, like trying to decide if you should delete your blog because you question why you have it.

You're comparing yourself to others and feeling like you don't add up. You feel like you could use some validation from others telling you that you are a great person and then you are immediately annoyed with yourself for needing that validation; because you are a somewhat insecure.

You're wondering where you are in life, if you're on the right track and you're struggling with your faith again; because you are kinda confused.
You hate that you don't have it all figured out. You're really hard on yourself. You feel guilt.
You want to be a better Mom. Wife. Daughter. Sister. Friend.
You never feel... good enough.

Well lady, I've been meaning to tell you some things. Things you should learn to really believe.

It doesn't matter if you are 3, 13, 30 or 103... until the day you die you are still learning, still evolving. No one has it all figured out and guess what, you're not doing all that bad. Relax a little.
You are so incredibly blessed to have some really neat people in your life who love you like crazy and you're even lucky enough to have them TELL you that, quite often too. Don't ever trivialize that by seeking out validation from people who only wish to hurt you.

I know there were times when you didn't, but you do love yourself. Try not to obsess over the truly-unimportant things.

You struggle with your faith & guilt but you know what, I think faith is a process and you'll always be working it, so don't worry so much, learn to trust yourself. Guilt is a pretty heavy burden, let go of it and learn to forgive yourself.

So you are imperfect, you have room for improvement, (lots of room), you're slightly neurotic, somewhat insecure, kinda confused. You might not realize it, but that's all okay. You might be surprised how many people feel just-like-you.

It's okay, really. You're doing just fine.

Love,

Mixed Media Flip Book

2011-11-07T15:58:00.003-05:00

When it comes to gift-giving I'm a firm believer in and practitioner of "It's the thought that counts".
And now that Christmas and other gift-giving holidays are right around the corner,
I thought I'd share a gift I once made for my Mother's 50th birthday (2007).

My Mom (who we call, "Birdie") and my son Tyler have always had a really special bond and I wanted to make something special for her that sort of immortalized not only her bond with Tyler but many of the things she taught me throughout my life. When I made this, Tyler was only 12 months old and I was pregnant for Claire (who ended up being born ON my Mom's 50th birthday!)

I decided to make a mix-media flip-book of sorts, I felt that was a great way to express lots of little messages within one cohesive gift.
I started off by creating tiny mixed-media art pieces on the front side of vintage playing cards. Then after I made as many as I wanted, I punched a hole in the corner of all of them and bound them together using a ring from my husband's tool box.

It's nothing extravagant but it can be a pretty meaningful gift if you incorporate many personal memories or ideas into the designs.

A possible Christmas gift idea for someone you love this year?

Here are some samples of cards I made for my Mom:

Kenzie

2011-11-07T11:00:00.005-05:00

I've known Kenzie since she was a little girl. In fact, I used to babysit Kenzie years ago!
I was so honored and happy to shoot some senior pictures for her. She and her family are very dear to my heart and it has been such a blessing to know them over the last decade.
I'm excited to watch all their continued achievements and success as this family just continues to bloom over time.
It's with much love that I share one of Kenzie's senior pictures. I'll be working on the rest this week!

Hung the moon.

2011-11-03T07:39:00.004-04:00

Claire I had so much fun with you last night.
It was a beautiful November evening, the air was cool but pleasant -- perfect for a walk and bike ride.
You make me laugh. You are so funny, you have the absolute best sense of humor, already at 4 years old.
You are confident and beautiful. I think everything you do is perfection.
I know there is not a thing is this world you won't be able to do if you set your mind to it.

While pedaling your bike down the quiet street you stopped and pointed up at the moon, alone in the sky -- not yet adorned with night stars.
You said, "Look Mom, that's our moon, because we are best friends".
And then I picked you up off your bike and held you while we looked up in the sky together.

I just wanted you to know that I kinda think you hung that moon.

Love, Mom

November Thankfulness

2011-11-02T20:34:00.003-04:00

Dutch Apple Pie and The beginnings of Chicken and Dumplings (Top)

Roasted Rosemary Chicken with Seasoned Vegetables (Bottom)

I truly and sincerely feel deep thankfulness for every thing we have.
It sounds cliche but I truly mean it when I say:

I'm thankful for the food on our table, clean water in our faucets and heat in our home.

What are you thankful for this November (and always)?

Frost & Fog.

2011-10-28T10:41:00.006-04:00

Fall is here.
I love the Earthiness of fall and the frost and the fog and the colors that come with it. I love the resiliency of life and the way life proves its strength as it bears the bitterness of fall. It reminds me of the times in our own lives when we have to face frost and fog. Navigating in discomfort on a path that is unclear.
What a beautiful thing it is, to live in all our own seasons and to revel and thrive in them.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

Subtle Laughter.

2011-10-26T22:56:00.006-04:00

I let Tyler stay up late tonight. He sat next to me on the couch while our dog, Molly, laid her head on his lap. I love how he gently drapes his hand over her head while she sleeps... he quietly strokes her fur without realizing it.
With my arm around the two of them we snuggled on the couch and watched youtube videos of kittens playing. This is one of Tyler's favorite things to do.
And sitting next to him, holding him while his subtle laughter echos against my chest, is one of my favorite things to do.

Intentional.

2011-10-25T15:24:00.005-04:00

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."
- Henry David Thoreau, Where I Lived and What I Lived For

I've been thinking a lot about what I live for. Living is so dear, it should be lived intentionally and on purpose. Much of my life thus far has been lived in the in between. The space between where your soul is asleep and awake. I live in a space of struggle between who I am and who I feel others want me to be.
Although, I'm working on that.

Week in Cell Pics

2011-10-23T15:16:00.005-04:00

For quite a while now I've had a bad habit of not bringing a camera with me... pretty much anywhere other than weddings in which I'm paid to bring a camera with me. When it comes to my personal life and my own family I usually resort to using my cell phone to grab quick pics of moments around our life. I know the color is off, the exposure is bad and most of them are blurry and break virtually every photo-snob rule in the book, but at the end of the day it grabs the moment for me and that's all I care about.

I think for the little every day things it's just great anyway. The handful of pictures I have from my childhood are blurry, orange and grainy, but that doesn't make them any the less meaningful to me.

So for now, here's yet another week in cell phone pics...

Kam & David Wedding Preview

2011-10-23T13:29:00.002-04:00

Personal Letters To My Children

2011-10-22T10:54:00.004-04:00

To Tyler and Claire,

I'm getting ready to shoot my last wedding today.
My heart is filled with joy knowing that our precious Saturday mornings will no longer contain tears of heart-felt goodbye's
as the two of you look up at me and ask "will you be home before we go to bed?"

The passion I once had for my job has been replaced by a deep down desire to have more time with you and your daddy.
I'll never forget the day you asked me why I worked and I responded with a smile, "Well, because we need money for things, right?"
and Tyler, you begged that if you didn't need anything, not even birthday presents, could I not work anymore.
I'll always be amazed by your selflessness. My sweet, amazing children, whom have taught me so much.
Thank you for reminding me of what is so very important to me...time together.

Love, Mom
Personal Letters to My Children
October 22, 2011

What I'm Working On...

2011-10-20T09:58:00.004-04:00

I've got two projects going that I hope to finish today!

I'm working on Tyler's Halloween costume for one (on the left below). He originally wanted to be R2D2 but last week changed his mind to Toothless the Night Fury Dragon from the movie How to Train Your Dragon. I just started the costume last night, today I'll add the eyes, horns, ears, wings and tail. I'm also working on a child's size knitted beanie hat and I'm going to add a cute skull button to it that I fond at Hobby Lobby months ago (on the right below).

Now that I'm no longer booking new photography clients, my work load in that area is really winding down. I'm hoping this will allow me some time to finish a few other projects and start some new ones before Christmas.

I have a long list of project ideas, most of which I can't share because they are gift ideas for some family & friends whom I *think* read my blog :-D But hopefully I can share some other project ideas soon!

Do you sew, knit, crochet, craft!? Have any great projects you're working on!?

Fall Diptych & Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

2011-10-18T09:44:00.002-04:00

It's Fall! That means Halloween, which means pumpkin carving, which means baking pumpkin seeds! I personally don't eat them, but my husband looks forward to me making them every year.

My seeds are all dried out so I'm going to bake them today.. here's the recipe I'm going to use:

2 cups raw pumpkin seeds
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 1/4 teaspoons seasoned salt

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Rinse the pumpkin seeds and pat dry. Place them in a bowl. Add the Worcestershire sauce, melted butter and seasoned salt; stir until evenly coated. Spread out in an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake for about 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until crisp, dry & golden brown.

We're going to carve more pumpkins next week so I'll have more seeds to whip up then. Do you have a pumpkin seed recipe that you swear by? I'd love to give it a try!

DIY: Detroit Tigers Inspired Hair Bow!

2011-10-15T13:24:00.005-04:00

Growing up there was one sport and one sport only that my mom's side of the family cared about:

Baseball.

Specifically, Detroit Tigers Baseball. My family has been die hard fans through the good, bad and the ugly. Through the epic era of the early 80's to the painful stretch from the mid-1990's to the early 2000's. Through it all, we've always stood by our Tigers.

Tonight Detroit plays Texas in game six, and in the spirit of supporting our beloved Tigers I decided to make Claire an MLB inspired hair accessory. I've been wanting to make one of these up-cycled hair bows ever since my friend Jamie made one out of an old shirt and posted it on her Blog. I figured this was the perfect opportunity!

I started off by grabbing an old navy blue t-shirt I had lying in the back of our closet and some orange ribbon left over from another project:

Then I put my twist on the bow by adding the ribbon in between layers:

So easy!

I think I should make one for myself if when the tigers win tonight!

You can see the full tutorial from the original DIY post that Jamie got her instructions from HERE!

Warning: This is a Little Debbie Downer wah wah

2011-10-14T19:06:00.004-04:00

You guys, I don't know what my deal is lately. I really have this love/hate relationship with the internet, specifically social media. It all really enriches my life in many ways, the connections and friendships I've made... there are some that are genuine and I do cherish those. However there's another side to it all. The side that leaves me feeling like it's all for the most part, kind of a waste of time. I often feel like I allow all this social media to rob me of time I should be spending making tangible connections with people, creating things with my hands or enjoying and noticing the little things in life. Is it totally odd that I feel like without an online presence in some capacity I will lose all self-identity? Yes, yes Katie that IS totally odd, actually. Hmph.

Is this all just me being me, being weird and over thinking things? I go through phases like this.. where I just want to delete my facebook and twitter and deactivate my blog and shut off the computer and unplug my life and get back to how things were for me before I jumped into the social media stuff.

Back before I was really, really online I used to create so much with my hands, and read more books, and I made phone calls, and I did all sorts of crap I don't do anymore because it's just easier not to do it. It's easier to just space-out online and waste time and not care.

I guess I'm just rambling. Sorry for that. I just wonder sometimes if anyone else ever feels this way!? I make myself crazy with it all. I realize that lots and lots of people practice moderation and do all the social media stuff and still create/have a life/are happy offline/have an identity/etc too.

I don't know. Like I said, I'm rambling I guess. I'll probably regret posting this in the morning.

I realize my post earlier today talked about my great new schedule that's keeping me sane... and now I post this so it's just all weird. But my new schedule IS totally helping. The problem is... even when I limit my time online, it still kind of brings me down. Doesn't matter if I spend 30 minutes a day or 3 hours a day online... at the end of the day it just leaves me with bad vibes. Oh my gosh. I know what you're thinking, "Geez Katie, Issues much??"

New Routine.. and it's keepin' me sane!

2011-10-14T10:09:00.006-04:00

I've implemented a new morning and night time routine for myself. I've been sticking with it for about 2 weeks and it's really just become normal for me now. (And I love it!)

I've always had a really hard time keeping up on housework. I really need some sort of a routine in order to get everything done in a day that I need to accomplish and to keep the house from becoming a monster I can't control. I hate that my house used to get so messy that I'd freak out if someone was stopping by unexpectedly!

Here's my basic routine:

6:00-7:00a.m. The Kids and I get up during this time. I shower (before I hop in the shower I wipe down the bathroom sink, counter and toilet bowl), dress, do my hair/makeup, make a pot of coffee and consume a minimum of 1 cup.

7:00-8:00a.m. I make all the beds, unload the dishwasher, take laundry out of the dryer and put laundry that's in the washer into the dryer. Get the kids dressed. Consume more coffee as needed.

8:00-9:00a.m. Make breakfast, serve it, eat it with the kids, clean up breakfast mess. Fold laundry from earlier. Figure out what's going to be for dinner and take meat out of the freezer if necessary. Take the kids to school (only on school days).

9:00-Noon On days my kids are in school I run the vacuum, walk the dog, edit pics or fill photo orders, and then run errands or whatever else I feel like doing (computer time, more cleaning, making a crockpot dinner, whatev!) On days my kids aren't in school, during this time we just hang out and do whatever.

Noon-4:00p.m. Pick up kids from school & we eat lunch together then maybe bake something, have art time, play, etc.

4:00-6:30p.m. The only things I really try to make sure I do during this time is get dinner finished up, edit pics for photography clients, and tidy up the house for when Eric gets home from work.. not because he demands it, but because, well, who the hell wants to come home from working all day to a messy house?

6:30-7:00p.m. We eat dinner together

7:00-8:00p.m. Eric gives the kids baths while I clean up after dinner, load the dishwasher, wipe down the kitchen and wash pots and pans by hand. After baths Eric spends some time with the kids and if I'm done in the kitchen I join in too. I also throw in a load of laundry at this time.

8:00-9:00p.m. Both the kids make it to bed and they each have their own time with me when I read to them. Tyler gets to stay up 30 minutes longer than Claire.

9:00-9:15p.m. Throw laundry in the dryer and put in a 2nd load to wash if needed. These loads will be dealt with in the morning.. and nope, wrinkling hasn't been an issue yet :-D

That's about it! I try to be in bed to sleep by 10:30.

This routine has worked really well for me! It feels awesome to get so much done by 9am. I'm to the point now that if I don't, I feel like I've lost so much of the day!

My main objectives are to always go to bed with the sink empty and clean (no dirty dishes) and to never have more than 1 or 2 loads of laundry at a time. At first it was difficult.. I had to force myself to break old habits but now it's just part of life and I'm so happy about it.

Do you have a routine?? Do you wing it every day?? How do routines work for you??

Random Cell Phone Pics

2011-10-14T06:00:00.004-04:00

(Left) Eric // (Right) Eric with our nephew, Liam

(Left) My nephew David // (Right) My kids, Tyler & Claire: I found this pic in my cell, it's from last year.... they've grown so much since then!

(Left) My sis Abbie and Me (She was blessed with the gorgeous smile) // (Right) Portrait a la Spongebob by Claire

We Carved Pumpkins Yesterday!

2011-10-13T11:50:00.003-04:00

Tyler carved his pumpkin all by himself this year. I tried to help him but he wouldn't have it... I forget that he's 5.. and grown up.. and capable of doing lots of things. My bad =D

Molly: Life is Good.

2011-10-12T17:41:00.004-04:00

Seriously... this poor dog. 2 months ago she was stuck in a shelter, homeless, and sleeping on a hard cement floor...

...as you can see, life is still pretty rough for her:

Next week she goes to the groomers for some pampering. Life is Good.

2011-10-10T19:10:00.004-04:00

I've been super busy over the past 10 days or so. I've just been trying to get wedding discs burned and mailed out, orders filled and of course manage my every day life as a mom/wife. I've also been sticking to a really awesome schedule I set for myself which unfortunately hasn't left much time for blogging because I've had a lot of editing to do, which takes up my allotted "computer time".

I'm almost all caught up on work so I'm hoping to get back in the blog routine soon.

Here's a little bit of what I've been working on...

Have a great week!!!

Week in Cell Pics

2011-10-08T19:59:00.004-04:00

You guys it's been a crazy week... kind of a roller coaster kinda week.

Here are some good times / highlights though:

1. The TIGERS been the YANKEES! Hola!

2. Eric left me a little love note the other day.. I love it when he does that!

3. I shot an adorable wedding on Friday and saw tons of people I know at the reception.

4. We went to the corn maze and pumpkin patch today with Eric's parent's and his brother's family.

5. Tyler spent over an hour painting a picture and when he was finished he said it was for me :-D I'm going to frame it this week and hang it in the house.

I'm pretty exhausted at the moment. I have lots of work to do getting wedding photos backed-up/edited/packaged/shipped. I'm going to get to work on all that... I hope you all had an awesome week!

10 Random Things About Me...

2011-10-01T22:01:00.004-04:00

1) I'm a compulsive-obsessive-over thinker.

2) I graduated from a 2-year college this summer. My diploma came in the mail today, yay =D

3) I'm not a morning person, but I really really really want to be one!

4) I almost always wear a shade of black/gray or white shirts. I rarely wear color, and virtually never wear printed tops unless it's a screen printed t-shirt.

5) I LOVE big earrings.

6) I love to wear hats!

7) I hate wearing high heals.

8) I draw faces on peanuts.

9) When I was little I wanted to be a professional gift wrapper or join the peace corps when I grew up.

10) My husband and I got married 8 months after we met and this year we celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary... oh and he's 11 years older than me. It's all so weird. But good =D

My Week in 10 Diptychs...

2011-10-01T17:25:00.005-04:00

... using my cell phone pics.

Dream

2011-09-28T11:05:00.010-04:00

I had a dream last night that my car was sinking into a lake and I couldn't unbuckle my seat belt. The release wasn't working and there was no way for me to free myself. I was trapped.

As water rushed in all around me I suddenly realized I wasn't getting out. I knew right then that my inevitable death was nearly moments away. A million things went through my head as water filled the car. As I sank farther into the deep it became darker and darker until finally no light penetrated the water around me. I held my breath as the last bit of air vanished from the vehicle and I was overcome with the feeling of utter disappointment. I felt no sense of peace. There was no feeling of solace in knowing I would see my family again some day, somehow. There was no bright light and welcoming arms waiting for me to bring me over to the other side. There was only darkness and cold as I thought to myself, "I am not ready. I've wasted so much time". The faces of my husband and children and family ran through my head and in an instant I saw a vision of everything I would do differently if I could.

When the agonizing pain of water filling my lungs was almost too much to bear, my eyes flew open and I sat straight up in my bed, dripping wet and drenched in sweat. As the burning in my chest subsided I caught my breath and realized it was just a dream. Suddenly an old confusing quote came to the forefront of my mind;

"While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die." -Leonardo da Vinci

.. and I understood.

Blind Contour Drawing: Giraffes

2011-09-27T10:14:00.004-04:00

Blind Contour Drawing is a method of drawing, popularized in part by Kimon Nicolaïdes in his book The Natural Way to Draw (1941), which presents itself as an effective training aid or discipline. The student, fixing their eyes on the outline of the model or object, draws the contour very slowly in a steady, continuous line without lifting the pencil or looking at the paper. The student may look at the paper to place an internal feature, but once they begin to draw it, they do not glance down, but follow the same procedure as for the outline.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_contour_drawing

My blind contour giraffes, 9/2011

More art therapy. I am by no means an artist, but I do find enjoyment in doodling around. Blind contour drawing is one of my favorite forms of art therapy as the result doesn't have to be perfect, in fact, it probably won't be. Last night I spent some time with giraffes after the kids went to bed. I thought about how huge the world is and all the unique creatures that inhabit it with us and were here before us. I felt humble to share in existence with them and it helped me with perspective.... perspective that I've lacked lately.

A Bad Bet.

2011-09-26T15:00:00.010-04:00

Yesterday Eric, the kids and I all went out to dinner.

Then we played putt-putt-golf.

After the 2nd hole Eric decides to place a bet. "If I win I get an iPad, if you win you get an iPhone".

I'll take that bet.

By the 10th hole I was down one stroke. No worries though, for I am the come-back kid...

I WON and by 4 strokes even! Booya! I was elated at my victory! FINALLY I would be getting my long awaited iPhone. (I am of course the last person in the blogosphere and twitterverse without a smart phone.) I pictured myself using cool apps and enjoying the luxury of having my online world at my fingertips, and it was good... until my bubble was burst when I discovered that my opponent never intended to really pay-up. What a crock.

So here I am. Still armed with only primeval talk/text options, no data package and a prehistoric cell phone. On the bright side, I've never had a smart phone anyway, so I don't REALLY know what I'm missing... and at the end of the day there are more important things we should be spending our money on for now. *sigh* A girl can dream though, can't she?

Blog Meme!

2011-09-24T23:27:00.010-04:00

The A-Z of Me!

Grabbed this Questionnaire/Meme from Jess over at irocksowhat:

A. Age: 30
B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate: I hate most house chores in general. If I had to pick one it'd be cleaning the reusable straws that come with my kids' sippy cups.
D. Dogs: We recently adopted a dog from the local shelter. We named her Molly. She's half cocker spaniel half doxie. She has total lost dog syndrome and things we are the most awesome people on the planet for adopting her. We freaking adore the heck out of her. She's the perfect dog.
E. Essential start to your day: Coffee and Daily Grace on Youtube. Oh you've never watched Daily Grace's youtube channel? Stop everything and click that link. You can thank me later.
F. Favourite color: YELLOW
G. Gold or Silver: White Gold
H. Height: 5'5"
I. Instruments you play: Trumpet and Violin through gradeschool & high school, does that count?
J. Job title: Still trying to figure that one out...
K. Kids: Tyler (5) & Claire (4)
L. Live: West Michigan
M. Mother's name: Fawn (Awesome! IKR??)
N. Nicknames: Kate, Kater, Katerdid, "K"
O. Overnight hospital stays: When I had my kids
P. Pet peeve: People who complain when the checkout lines are long at the store and then are rude to the cashier as if it's their fault that there aren't enough lanes open. Chill pill people.
Q. Quote from a movie: "I'm in a glass case of emotion!" - Anchorman
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: 2 Brothers, 1 Sister
T. Time you wake up: 6:00 a.m.
U. Underwear: At all times... almost.
V. Vegetable you hate: Brussel Sprouts.. I mean, doesn't everybody?
W. What makes you run late: Just being.
X. X-Rays you've had: Too many to list... no really... I've had that many.
Z. Zoo animal: Elephants, Lions, and Monkeys. I have a love/hate thing with the monkeys though. I always expect them to look up from picking bugs off eachother and start talking to me.. with a British accent. Freaks me out.

On a side note, This morning Claire had to get in on my finger-mustache action from last night.
I swear I washed my hands... it was stubborn ink, really.

Bloglovin'

2011-09-24T16:45:00.005-04:00

Keepin' up with the times, that's me. Okay not really.
I'm always way behind on these things. But..You can now follow my blog with Bloglovin!

Adele.

2011-09-24T13:58:00.012-04:00

I have this vision of my daughter 18 years from now, coming to me crying with a broken heart. We put sweatpants on and lay on my bed eating icecream and I tell her about when I was 22 and my heart was broken.

I put on Adele and promise her, it doesn't seem like it now, but everything will be okay. And I'll look at her, and in my eyes she'll still be that 4 year old little girl with a freckle under her left eye, innocently snuggling in my arms.

Adele.

XO,

I'm out to dinner right now...

2011-09-23T21:46:00.006-04:00

...and it's a very serious dinner meeting, I might add.

Silhouette of My Heart

2011-09-22T16:33:00.006-04:00

Claire, Tyler, Eric.
Summer, 2011

What's wrong with me? LOTS!

2011-09-22T11:35:00.012-04:00

I don't even know where to start. Seriously. You all must think I'm nuts,.. and I don't blame you!

I'm going to start at the beginning. Well, my beginning as a blogaholic at least.

2003 I started my first blog.. it was called "The Yellow Elephant Blog". I'm pretty sure no one read it but me, and maybe my mom. I just wrote about everything and anything remotely creative. I posted drawings I was working on and poems that I wrote.

The Yellow Elephant Blog, 2003

I kept The Yellow Elephant Blog for close to 4 years. Then in 2007 I joined blogger and left Yellow Elephant for a new blog I called, Found Poetry by Katie. I continued to post artsy stuff and focused on my little found poetry creations that I made.

Found Poetry by Katie, 2007

In the middle of 2007 I started blogging photography jobs I was commissioned to do and deleted my previous blogs to start a photography blog.

Katie DeWinter Photography, 2007

2009 I got antsy and had an artistic identity crisis (that would last through to present day).

Kate Lorraine Photography, 2009

Eh, nope. Liked DeWinter better. Changed back.

Katie DeWinter Photography, 2010

Me: "Hey I need a new logo!!!" So, I collaborated with Danni at Ten 4 Design Studio and she came up with this stellar logo for me. I was IN LOVE with it, still am actually! She delivered exactly what I asked for and what I wanted..... at that moment *sigh* but I just couldn't stay committed to a brand for myself for very long. Identity crisis continued...

2010

2011 Back to simple-noncommittal branding...

Fast forward to the past month. I had been throwing around the idea of retiring as a professional photographer and focusing more on my family. Most photographers I know, even part time photogs, will admit that photography on any scale professionally is time consuming. Late nights, weekends, etc. I wanted to get back to the business of my family... so with that in the back of my mind I reached out to Jess of I ROCK SO WHAT and asked her to come up with a blog header for me that would reflect me but also give a more personal vibe to the blog. I told her that I was tossing around the idea of changing my blog title to "Call me Kate" to separate it from my business, but I still wanted it to be somewhat cohesive, using similar typography as before.

She... freaking... nailed it. I about fell out of my chair when I first saw what she had come up with for me. It was so... so... so... ME.

Call Me Kate, September 2011 (If you didn't read my post about hanging my hat as a photog, you can read that HERE)

And here I sit.

Identity crisis lingering still. I jumped the gun.

Honestly bloggerworld. I don't know what the heck I'm doing. I feel a little lost.

After all the neurotic changes, I feel like I've just come full circle. In my head I'm back to The Yellow Elephant Blog. My first blog, before anyone read my blog, before I was married or had kids or posted anything photography related. It's what came from me with no expectations from myself or anyone else. Lately I feel like I'm always trying to make my blog "this" or "that".. I try to hard.

Through the past nearly decade of blogging I've grown as a person and my blog as evolved as a reflection of that. I was 22 when I started my first blog and I'm nearing 31 now. I feel bad that anyone who has followed me for a while has felt my growing pains too. I guess I'm just sorry for the lack of consistency =/

Now that I've made the decision to give up professional photography at this time... I am still a bit lost. Now it's all really hit me, I don't have to try to SELL anything about who I am. I can just.... be.

So bear with me (I've been saying that a lot lately) as I continue on my journey to figure out what the heck I'm doing.

I'll share with you where I'm currently at though...

The other day I was just doodling around and I came up with this guy:

.. and I thought.. yup guy, it's just you and me sittin here... and you're cool to me.

Then I played around a little more and came up with this:

Sometimes I just play around and create headers/logos/branding for myself like the one above... 99% never sees the light of day. But I'm really torn right now in a lot of different directions. You'll see some changes around here.. but not until I know what I want.. really. And then I promise... no more changes for a loooooong time.

Right now I'm just trying to figure out what the heck is wrong with me!? And so far all I can come up with for an answer is,... lots! ;-)

Goodbye!? It Doesn't Have to Be!

2011-09-20T21:03:00.004-04:00

It's with a heavy heart that I write this blog post.

I've had to make a really difficult decision, but as difficult as it was, I do feel like I've made the right one.

I've decided to "retire" (for lack of better term) from professional photography. I will no longer be booking new portrait sessions or weddings.

When I started this business years ago, it really started out as a part time job -- a hobby that turned business overnight and has grown in to a full time 40+ hour a week career. A career that has taken me all over the country for workshops, conventions, and portrait commissions. I'm really proud of the body of work I've created and all the wonderful clients I've had the privilege of working with.

But, now I feel like it's time to refocus my attention back to my children and my family. I want to get back to the business of being a Mom, a job that has suffered some from the intense demand I've faced running a full time business all on my own.

But this doesn't have to be "good-bye!" I will certainly continue to blog and post about all the crazy things going on in my life. I hope you will continue to follow me here! I am considering re-opening my etsy shop too as that was always a source of creative "therapy" for me in a way.

I'm still reworking some things and making adjustments on the blog/facebook/twitter/website as I shift from business to personal mode.

At any rate, please bear with me through these growing pains. I'll talk to you soon!

XOXO,

Tuesday Inspiration // Cozy Cats

2011-09-20T10:48:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I get creative depression. When this happens I start contemplating my worthiness to ever put pen to paper, lift a camera to my eyes, or open a sketch book. It's quite a dramatic scene to bear witness to... just ask my husband. I begin listing my art supplies and equipment on craigslist and etsy and renounce any further association with the arts in any capacity. I'm not worthy! What was I thinking? I suck at this! Yes, yes, all very dramatic with some major "annoying" peppered in.

Last night when I felt myself being sucked into the vortex of artistic-depression I decided to use my logical side and focus on not putting my husband through yet another case of "right-brain-freak-out-meltdown" because frankly, I'm not sure his left brain can take much more of it.

So I tapped into my left-brain-logical-task-orientedness and made a plan. I resolved to take the following steps to defuse my pending personal catastrophe:

Step 1, Freaking RELAX! a second
&
Step 2, Go back to square one

So that's just what I did. I got in my pj's and hopped into bed. I grabbed a sheet of white card stock paper and a fine-tipped pen. I doodled cats. Why cats? Beats me. Simple lines. No expectations.

After creating about 20 different cats I decided I wanted to hang with these guys a bit more:

So we hung out a bit. I got to know them. They have neat personalities too.

This morning I woke up refreshed. Operation "Freaking Relax!" was a success. If you experience or suffer from Creative-Depression, try just chilling out and drawing some weird cats... it'll work wonders.

Monday Photography // Erin & Ryan's Norton Shores Wedding Preview

2011-09-19T10:58:00.003-04:00

Congratulations Erin & Ryan!

.. and a Happy Monday, Friends!

Wednesday Wardrobe.... not sold on it yet.

2011-09-14T21:33:00.004-04:00

Okay Friends, here's the thing. I'm sitting here at the coffee shop, sipping hot black tea and and chipping away at the 4 week old pink nail polish I'm wearing, and thinking it's time to address this new menu bar thing I've got going on at the top of my blog. I'm hoping that having a little more structure to my blogging will help me stay on task better than I have in the past. I'm not sold on the idea of a Wardrobe Wednesday though.... we'll see, that may change. If there's a certain topic you'd rather see in it's place, feel free to make suggestions!

For now, keeping in the theme of fashion, I've decided to post pictures of an accessory I enjoy making and wearing! I used to sell these on Etsy before I closed my shop. They are made from glass and wire. This necklace is one of my favorites to wear. Sorry the last picture is out of focus... the nature of the self timer I suppose!

Have a great week!

Mademoiselle Deer

2011-09-13T00:01:00.005-04:00

You may have noticed some changes around my blog! I'm in the process of changing things up a bit and adding some new features. Once all the links are working and the layout has been tweaked I'll give you a tour!

Until then, here's a little Tuesday morning inspiration.
I absolutely LOVE this Mixed Media artist's Etsy Shop. I can't get enough of these designs and I'm definitely ordering some pieces for my walls.

Mademoiselle Deer

9/11/2001 to 9/12/2011

2011-09-12T16:29:00.005-04:00

I didn't post anything about 9/11 Remembrance yesterday. I wanted to. I thought about it. I started a couple posts but didn't finish them.

Honestly I wasn't sure exactly what to say. When I watch videos, commercials, interviews or footage from 9/11 I still get that tightening feeling in my chest. That lump in my throat.

10 years and 1 day later, and I'm still speechless.

I don't know what to write so I'll let others who are more eloquent speak for me.

I encourage you, if you've never watched the Naudet Brother's documentary on 9/11, to watch it when you have 1 hour and 44 minutes to sit and be captivated.

Originally setting out to create a documentary about a rookie NY firefighter, these film makers ended up creating a documentary about 9/11, as Jules Naudet was routinely filming the firefighters of Ladder 1 when they witnessed the first plane hit the North Tower. Jules stayed by their side as they were the first to report the hit & arrive on scene, and as they set up the command post in the Lobby of Tower 1. They were also filming when firefighters carried out the body of the first official death casualty, Father Mychal. Jules Naudet captured footage of the South Tower collapsing from inside the North Tower lobby.

I warn you that parts of the video are difficult to watch, however the perspective from which you witness the events of 9/11 unfold is truly unique and the documentary honors not only those who risked their lives that day, but also those who gave their lives.

God Bless America.

Monday Photography //Jenny & Brandt's Saugatuck Wedding Preview

2011-09-12T07:58:00.003-04:00

Sarah // Senior Portraits

2011-09-09T19:56:00.003-04:00

Thursday Random // The Art of Not Giving a Sh*t.

2011-09-08T10:28:00.017-04:00

Picture - Mac Photo Booth

Last night I didn't sleep. The above pictures is me, around 1:00a.m. right before reaching the desperate point of literally googling the words, "How to not give a sh*t what people think". The internet, not-surprisingly, offers a vast array of fascinating guidance in this area, although none of it was profoundly pertinent to my specific problem. Why do I care what BLANK says/thinks about me? I googled, clicked, and read blogs on the matter until my body could no longer sit in the crudely padded folding chair I've been using at our computer desk. I went to bed and laid awake for hours with nothing in the silence of our sleeping house to occupy my mind. Alone with my thoughts, BLANK begins to creep to the forefront of my restless psyche. BLANK is someone in my life that for one reason or another seems to derive pleasure from putting me and others down in a negative/non-constructive way. Obsessively, I wonder, "why?" "Why do some people seem to gain so much pleasure from hurting other people? More importantly, how I can stop giving a sh*t about what BLANK says? Wait, maybe I AM as terrible as BLANK says I am!" After hours of chasing my proverbial tail, some-time in pre-dawn I succumb to my body's need for rest and I fall asleep... none the wiser from my habitual dwelling.

Fast forward to this morning. Half awake and exhausted, I walked up the stairs from our laundry room carrying a basket of freshly washed and dried towels. I stopped in mid-step when an overwhelming feeling took me by surprise. Over the aroma of Downy and dryer sheets, I felt the urge to let go of my incessant need to control everything going on around me,... the incessant and unrealistic need to be liked by everyone, all of the time. This relief settled in as I accepted that all I really can control is how I look at life and how I react to it. All I can do is be a "me" that I'm proud of and let the rest run it's course.

This realization allowed for an instant release of anxiety that had been bottling up over ~~days~~ years. A flood of dense, emotional baggage just lifted itself from my shoulders. It really doesn't matter how terrible BLANK says/thinks I am, because I can not control what they say/think and given that BLANK is not a person I'd ever strive to be like or want my children to grow up to be like, I really gain nothing from their approval or disapproval anyway.

The art of not giving a sh*t is not about not caring about people. It really just comes down to perspective and giving context to people and how they act, including ones self. I'm finally understanding that much of how people act and react is not just about who I am, but in large part, who they are as well. So, Why do I care what BLANK says/thinks about me? Well, my young-blonde-floundering-fish-of-a-girl, it's because you think you have some control over it and that it matters... but now we realize you don't, and it doesn't.

As I sat on the couch I began to fold a fluffy white bath towel and nodded to myself, pleased with my accepted conclusion; while a healthy perspective regarding the actual degree of my terribleness is important... I will no longer allow BLANK to be my judge of it.

I'm Back! (sorta)

2011-09-07T11:11:00.004-04:00

My kids and Me... as you can see a long weekend of swimming and frolicking in the great outdoors as left my children a little zombified.

We're back from our last 2011 weekend up north at the lake... away from modern technologies such as internet & reliable cell phone service. While I was away my email inbox filled up and my cell phone inbox reached capacity. I'm tackling that all today, although I'm a little slow going. We're all wiped out from our mini Labor-Day vacation.... but I'm on my 2nd cup of coffee so I'm well on my way to productivity!

I'm thinking ahead to next weeks blog posts. I have a backlog of weddings and sessions to post, but aside from my actual "work" I often struggle with what to post about. I'm curious what you enjoy most? Do you wish I'd just stick with sessions/weddings and leave out all the personal chit-chat? Do you like photography related posts like editing, equipment and shooting tips or techniques? I'd really love some feedback because sometimes I sit with my "New Post" window open for an hour with a blank stare on my face while I contemplate what the heck to blog about.

Thoughts!? Feel free to comment here or on facebook!

Etsy!

2011-09-06T00:02:00.004-04:00

Some Etsy items I'm lovin' this week!

1. Siracusa 18x12 MIXED.MEDIA

2. Super Snuggly Chunky Knit Cowl

3. Rose Pillow Mustard Yellow on Grey 12 X 12

4. Steampunk Art Print Clockwork Kitty Cat

5. 1950's 50's Vintage Party Dress

6. Inspirational Note Card

Monday Photography // Self Portraits; Life is better when it's fun.

2011-09-05T00:01:00.004-04:00

even though I'm always sincere, I'm not always serious.

I'm sure we can all agree that life's better when it's fun, no? TGIF!

It's Getting Better All The Time

2011-09-02T15:57:00.007-04:00

Then (8/30/2003)...............................................Now (2011)

I was never good at letting the guy lead, I suppose it's my independent and somewhat controlling nature... but when we dance, I let Eric lead.

I closed my eyes as he put his hand between my shoulder blades and dipped me back, careful not to let my head hit against the kitchen counter. Subconsciously aware that the refrigerator wasn't too far away, I kicked out one foot in a show of exaggerated jubilation over our fine dancing abilities. Our only music was my singing (slightly reminiscent of a injured animal too) and it was abruptly interrupted by a burst of laughter I could no longer hold back. We looked at each other and laughed at the sheer silliness of dancing romantically in a cramped kitchen with hotdogs heating in the microwave. I looked over my shoulder to see our 5 year old staring blankly at his parents dancing and singing alone in the kitchen. In the same instant our young daughter yelled from the bathroom, "Mom, come wipe me!". My husband leaned over, kissed my cheek and whispered, "Happy Anniversary".

I think that's why our marriage works. We both know when to let the other one lead and we've learned to dance among the craziness. So much has happened in 8 short years. We've had our ups and downs and life has thrown some adversity at us along the way. Rolling with the punches has become our specialty.

We always hang in there and we're doing pretty darn well, I'd say. We're best friends and one thing is for certain, it's getting better all the time.

Happy anniversary to my wonderful husband, Eric, the guy who wouldn't stop asking me out until I finally said, "YES".

Ancient Evenings and Distant Music

2011-09-02T05:59:00.007-04:00

My Nana was a very whimsical person and I was always inspired by all her little sayings and pieces of advice. After she passed I knew that just being in her company was the thing that I would miss the most about her.

Several months after her funeral my mom traveled to Florida to pick up a few things my Grandpa set aside for each of the grandchildren. When my mom returned, she brought back a journal that my Nana had left for me. Inside were pages filled with personal notes to me, words of wisdom, favorite quotes and anecdotes all in her handwriting.

There is nothing more whimsical and inspiring than that which I see within the pages of this journal. It is probably my most treasured possession.

Do you keep a handwritten journal? It's amazing the element that handwriting brings to something... it seems like people just don't hand write anymore. Even birthday wishes tend to come via e-mail or text messages.

I already keep a journal for my kids but I've gotten out of the habit of writing in it lately. I may start using my Nana's journal and begin on the page where she left off.

Monday Photography // Carolyn & Charles's Grand Haven Wedding Preview

2011-08-29T17:01:00.002-04:00

Carolyn and Charles' Grand Haven Wedding!

Monday Photography // Photoshop Recipe & My Crazy Kid

2011-08-27T00:00:00.004-04:00

Developing your own editing style can be an exhausting journey. With the endless supply of Photoshop Actions out there and limitless ways to enhance your images, it can even become a tedious task to simply edit one picture and settle on the right look for it.

Over the years I've come to realize that the editing style that fits me best is simple and understated. Most of my images have pretty subtle editing, mainly color correction, levels adjusted, added contrast and maybe a slight colorshift or texture. But every now and then I like to have a little fun, especially with my own personal pictures.

I took this picture of my son and it was strongly back lit. In order to expose his face correctly I would have sacrificed more detail in the background landscape than I really wanted to because I was not using a flash. I ended up underexposing his face just slightly to preserve what little detail I could in the background. I figured I'd be okay because I shoot in RAW which gives me a little room to play with exposure in post-processing.

When I brought the image into Lightroom2 I thought I'd play around with it. I noticed right away that the colors in it might work well with the LR2 Preset Old Polar.
The recipe I ended up creating for it is below.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!

SOOC = Straight Out Of Camera

Editing Recipe:

1. White Balance and Levels Corrected in Lightroom 2
2. Old Polar (Lightroom 2 Preset)
4. Morning 30%(Jess de Rox Color Shift Actions)
.......Lighten increased to 70%
5. Edge of the Leaf 50% (Jess de Rox Color Shift Actions)

Total editing time = Approx 2 Minutes

Thursday Random // Holly Golightly and Folger's in My Cup

2011-08-25T00:01:00.006-04:00

It's obvious to me now that drinking copious amounts of coffee on a daily basis is vital to my role as a successful human. I'm not sure at what point in my life I began drinking coffee, however I am positive that my first hit of java was taken well before the birth of my first born. My addiction has obviously blurred my memory.

It's been a struggle in the coffee department at our house lately. We've really had a difficult time producing a decent cup of coffee in the last week. The accidental purchase of an insipid can of light roast, coffee pot malfunctions and last cup spills. These type of events send me into an alarm which often escalates into an apocalyptic downward spiral of panic.

Okay it's not THAT bad.. but it is tough. I don't think I have that many vices in life, but coffee certainly is one of them. I love my designer coffees but truly, I'm happy with the 25 cent day old they hawk at the gas station down the road too. Obviously my passion for coffee doesn't come from a refined appreciation for micro milk frothing, bean cultivating & brewing, or the barista trained arts. Either way you stir it, I NEED my cup of coffee.

But alas, the stars have realigned because yesterday my husband ran out at 9pm and bought a new can of French Roast which we promptly opened and brewed up this morning. It was exquisitely delicious and like the Folger's commercial promised, it was my best part of waking up...

.. and in the few precious moments I had before my children emerged from their bedrooms with tousled hair and sleepy eyes, I was Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, sipping coffee and feeling fabulous.

Fix You

2011-08-24T20:53:00.009-04:00

I can't help but think of my kids every time I listen to this song.

It's one of my all time favorite songs by one of my favorite bands.

Tyler asks me nearly every night when I tuck him into bed, "Will you be here when I'm old?"

The only reply that ever feels right is to simply say, ".. as long as you need me, I'll be here".

But in my heart I know it's not true, because we never stop needing our parents.

I pray I don't break that promise for a really long time.

What I'm Working On...

2011-08-24T13:45:00.003-04:00

Sarah's senior pictures!

Fashion-Victim to Fashion-Vixen

2011-08-24T08:18:00.001-04:00

The August 2011 Urban Outfitters Catalog arrived the other day. As I flipped through the pages I anxiously soaked up all the strategically placed pseudo fashion-care-free designs. I always LOVE Urban Outfitters, don't get me wrong, but this particular issue was especially bewitching to me. My intrigue probably enhanced because the latest trend reminds me so much of the mid-1990's when I found myself part of the disenfranchised youth subculture of grunge rock. Admittedly, I am pleased to see the Nirvana/Pearl Jam influence is still (or is once again) somewhat acceptable in the mainstream.

Enter my dilemma. As a 30 year old suburban mom and driven college student, who still at times rocks that 21-year-old carefree mentality, I often struggle with where I fit into the fashion spectrum. I find myself falling back into old fashion faux-pas from my teen years, which for me is counter productive for two reason: 1) My fashion (lack of) sense (back then) was inspired mostly by bitterness from the fact that I was socially awkward and lacked the basic social skills to properly integrate myself into the general population at school, and 2) Isn't it a generally accepted fact of life that when you are in your 30's you no longer dress like your teenage counterparts?

So in conclusion, this is my paradox, how to be fashion-forward when you're in love with fashion-backward trends? I'm seeking out fashion advice or suggestions for stores that offer a balance between being a practical mom but not looking too much like a practical mom. Now that I'm 30 I want more than ever to be true to myself as I evolve as a person both in how I think AND how I look. This, my friends, is requiring a drastic update in wardrobe.

Michelle and David // Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

2011-07-27T00:48:00.007-04:00

"Hey Dave, let's set the beer down real quick for the picture... sorry I'll be quick, I promise! Thanks! hahahah!" - Me

Michelle & David are married! They had a beautiful outdoor wedding at Egypt Valley Country Club in Grand Rapids. I can't rave enough about Egypt Valley and their flawless job as the venue for this wedding. Everything about the day was perfection thanks to a wonderful team of vendors:

Flowers: Shelly's Designs
Ceremony & Reception Venue, Cake & Cater: Egypt Valley Country Club
I could go into rant about how magnificent the food and cake was, but I'll just tell you, the cake tasted as good as it looked!
DJ: Kurt from Host Entertainment
Amazingly wonderful DJ, a pleasure to work with as fellow vendor and an indispensable element to the reception!
Hair and Make-up: Mary & Chris at Design 1 Salon, Plainfield

I first met Michelle and David when we met up for their engagement pictures downtown Grand Rapids last fall (Revisit their e-sessionHERE!) The first time I met them I knew their wedding would be fabulous because they were so relaxed about everything. Immediately I was excited for their big day. It truly lived up to my high expectations.

Congrats Michelle & Dave! You guys were a blast, it truly was my pleasure to work with you and share in your amazing day!

Welcome to the World!

2011-07-14T20:54:00.005-04:00

"You are you! Now isn't that pleasant!?"
- Dr Seuss

Welcome to the world, my newest nephew, David Michael!

Jonathan & Hannah // Jackson Wedding Photographer

2011-07-12T14:54:00.007-04:00

Jonathan and Hannah are married! Enjoy!

Gentry

2011-07-06T08:34:00.007-04:00

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined.”
- Henry David Thoreau

Over the holiday weekend we had a picnic at the park with my husband's brother and his family. I couldn't resist doing a little mini photo shoot of my niece, Gentry, who is entering high school this fall. I'm so excited for her because I know her future is so incredibly bright! She's an amazing girl, beautiful on the inside and out. She's already accomplished so much! I can't wait to see what's to come for her!

She has a really cool youtube channel where she gives all kinds of beauty related tips and advice. She's also having a contest right now so you should check it out!

Click HERE for Gentry's You Tube Channel!

Monday Photography // Amy & Ben's Grand Rapids Wedding Preview

2011-07-04T17:25:00.001-04:00

What I'm working on next week. Amy & Ben's wedding!

Julie and Simon // Saugatuck Wedding Photographer

2011-06-28T23:43:00.005-04:00

Julie & Simon's lovely Saugatuck Wedding at The Belvedere Inn. Enjoy!

Catching Up

2011-06-23T20:11:00.008-04:00

I took Monday, Tuesday and most of Wednesday off from work this week and went up north with my kids to my in-laws cottage. No internet. No cell phone. No email. Just the sound of quiet, rolling, gentle lake waves landing on the beach and my children's laughter echoing in the background. Sometimes I just need a little break like that.

In the meantime my inbox became a little full. I hope to be completely caught up on messages by the end of the weekend. I will be shooting weddings on both Friday and Saturday, so I do apologize for the added delay!

For now, here are two adorable sisters from a shoot this past spring.

Previews // West Michigan Wedding Photographer

2011-06-19T14:50:00.005-04:00

A few previews from recent weddings. Full blog posts coming soon!

Hannah & John, Jackson Michigan

Michelle & Dave, Ada Michigan

Julie & Simon, Saugatuck Michigan

Beach // Personal

2011-05-22T21:37:00.007-04:00

“Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.”
- Michelle Held

We had a wonderful Sunday afternoon at Lake Michigan. Our souls truly thrive at the beach and on the water.

I hope you had a beautiful weekend as well!

-Katie

Diptych // Morning

2011-05-18T10:39:00.006-04:00

A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night,
and in between he does what he wants to do.
Bob Dylan

A diptych inspired by Morning.

Kami and Dave Engaged // Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

2011-04-04T14:18:00.004-04:00

And now here is my secret, a very simple secret;
it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Amy and Ben Engaged // Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

2011-02-20T16:38:00.005-05:00

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this couple!

Earlier this month I met up with Amy & Ben for a down town Grand Rapids engagement session. They are absolutely everything I adore in a couple. They were so much fun and so laid back, I'm really looking forward to their wedding later this year!

5-Part Photography Workshop & Studio Open House

2011-02-16T09:35:00.005-05:00

Attend all 5 classes and get the last class FREE.
You can prepay and reserve your spot in all 5 classes here --> HERE
or pay at the beginning of each class as you go!

**Guests at my Studio Open House on Feb 19 from 1:00-5:00 will receive a FREE PASS to the workshop**
See the Open House Details on facebook here --> HERE

Claire, Out of Focus

2011-02-14T18:41:00.011-05:00

A squinty-eyed 3 year old stumbling out into the living room in pink pajamas at 6.30am.. rubbing her eyes under disheveled hair and yawning as she smiles at me. I wish I could bottle these moments.

My daughter Claire in early morning. Out of focus and backlit by the sunrise.

Enjoy the journey.

-Katie

Engagement Previews // Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

2011-02-06T10:12:00.005-05:00

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! Here's a little preview of sessions to come...

Amy and Ben

Katie and Justin

A Slice of Light

2011-02-06T08:14:00.004-05:00

“Encouragement during a failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success”

A little slice of light encouraged me today.

A little slice of light journeyed half way across the solar system, made it's way through the atmosphere of our world, plunged through the barren-winter-bitten trees of my back yard, ignored the clutter and leftover breakfast debris on my counter and finally met it's destination when it landed on the back of my hand.

My fist clenched hand.

This reactive fist I make when I'm in a daze of worry was just moments away from wiping tears from my face when I noticed the light resting across it. As I stood alone in my kitchen I realized this little slice of light was meant for me. For a moment it distracted me from my worries as I looked down and saw it on my hand. It lit up the little hairs on my arm like silk and I followed the beam of light back across my counter, through the window, past the trees and back into the sun. I squinted at the sun peaking over the horizon and it encouraged me.

Vision & Wonder

2011-02-06T08:12:00.003-05:00

“For I dipped into the future, far as human eye could see,
Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be”
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Win a FREE Children's Portrait Session!

2011-01-18T18:52:00.006-05:00

I'm giving away a FREE Children's Portrait Session!
You can enter to win by going to my facebook fan page!
Check out all the details below!

>>CLICK HERE FOR THE FACEBOOK FAN PAGE<<<

Alli's Senior Pics // Lowell High School Senior Photographer

2010-12-02T17:34:00.008-05:00

I'm so behind on blogging! I have a ton of great senior sessions to get up on the blog. Here's one that I absolutely adored! Alli was so cute and photogenic, and shooting at her Grandparents Lowell Farm was super fun!

I had to grab a few of Alli's pics for display in my new studio too ;-)

December Mini-Portrait Session & A Christmas Preview!

2010-12-01T11:32:00.005-05:00

Hi Friends! I'm currently booked through the end of 2010 with the exception of December 11th.

A little preview from a recent Christmas session at the studio:

Studio Update, Facebook Fan Page & Senior Preview

2010-11-29T14:59:00.013-05:00

My new studio in downtown Wayland is coming along -- in fact I've been shooting there, editing there and working on some fine art and design projects there as well! Having a place to meet with clients, showcase products, create and reflect has been amazing.

The last year or so I've refrained from surfing blogs and websites as means for artistic inspiration. I've gone back to my roots of embracing the inspiration in the tangible world around me and within my life -- and I've loved it. Strolling flea markets, antique stores, and taking in architecture and fabric patterns, has been an incredible source of artistic fuel for me. It's driven me to incorporate two things from my personal life into my business - fine art and design. I'm looking forward to sharing a lot more of my art and design here on the blog.

Something that I have included all around my new studio is texture. Texture is one of my biggest inspirations. I love mixing soft and elegant textures with gritty and grungy textures. Here are a few textures you can find around the studio:

With all the changes going on in my physical studio, I decided to spruce up my presence in facebook a bit as well. I designed a landing page for Katie DeWinter Photography on facebook.

Check it out at: http://www.facebook.com/KatieDeWinterStudio

And, during all this updating, decorating, creating and soul-searching -- of course I've continued to have some fun and fabulous photo shoots!

Here's a preview from Lauren's senior session (full post coming soon)

First Studio Session | Avarie is TWO! // Wayland Children's Photographer

2010-11-18T21:52:00.007-05:00

I'm very excited! Why? In case you haven't heard, I'm opening a studio in downtown Wayland -- at 118 W. Maple to be exact! We (my hard-working dedicated husband and I) have been working our tails off getting the studio fixed up and ready for use! While there are still a few finishing touches that need attention, for the most part we are good to go! We are going to have a fun Open House so that friends, family, and members of the community can come check out the new digs! The Open House will take place after the holidays -- details coming soon! Also, check back for a full blog post (with pictures!) all about the new studio!

For now, I get to share some shots of Avarie from her 2 year pictures! Avarie came down and tested out the studio last week while it was still a bit under construction. Avarie had a great time exploring the place!

While my goal is to remain a mostly on-location photographer, I'm looking forward to offering my clients another location option away from the winter elements if they prefer to stay indoors rather than out in the snow or cold. My boutique style studio will be a great place for small portrait sessions, a place for clients to view product samples and clients meet and greets! The studio is going to be a valuable tool in giving my awesome clients a full experience from the time of booking all the way until the final prints are their hands!

I'm currently booking sessions for the rest of November and December at my current session rates. Look for new pricing to be released in the new year!
And now, Little Miss Avarie!

Michelle & David Are Engaged // West Michigan Portrait Photographer

2010-11-02T21:43:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago I headed downtown Grand Rapids and met up with Michelle and David for their engagement pictures. I've done quite a few sessions downtown Grand Rapids and I've yet to hit the same place for pictures twice. All the times I've been downtown for pics, I've never actually shot at Calder Plaza. I've always wanted to though, so I was excited when Michelle suggested that we meet at the Calder. We started out there and then worked our way around downtown, hitting several hot spots.

Michelle and David are an adorable couple, I really enjoyed hanging around downtown with them and taking advantage of all the unique spots Grand Rapids has to offer!

Just One...

2010-10-25T20:13:00.007-04:00

.. of the cutest families you'll ever see.... =D

Blur.

2010-10-25T12:02:00.014-04:00

This is a long overdue blog post. It’s one I’ve debated writing for a while now. I don’t know why I feel compelled to post it in this moment, but I do feel compelled, so I'm writing it and hoping I’m able to express myself appropriately.

A lot of photographers, including myself, live in this constant and epic battle between the desire to turn a profit to survive and the need to create genuine art. Why do these two things have to be separate from one another? They don’t HAVE to be, but many times they simply are.

I bought my first 35mm film SLR camera before I ever had my first email address. I learned my way around a darkroom before I ever used Photoshop, and yes, I was even able to to find inspiration as a photographer before I ever knew what a blog or Facebook was.

It was easier then to be an artist -- At least for me. Inspiration as a photographer came from a few Ansel Adams posters, Time and Life magazines and National Geographic, but MOST importantly – I drew inspiration from the life going on around me. My inspiration came from BEING IN THE WORLD. And it was good, it was real and raw and it came from within me.

But somewhere down the road my creative process evolved into something less real, something less about being alive and in the world and more about creating a shot that would sell.

I have a deep love and appreciation for the clients I’ve had and the work I have produced because of those clients. Although I feel like I always strive to catch genuine emotion and expressions, I worry that along the journey I have found myself giving them something less than what I truly, deeply want for them.

When I shot in black and white film and before I was ever paid to take a photograph – I saw people and I wanted to give them the shots they didn’t know they wanted. I wanted to give them a vision of what I saw in them, and what I loved about them. I wanted them to love themselves in that vision too.

I still want this.

In the few short years that I have had a blog and the easy access to thousands upon thousands of photographers portfolios online, I have tried to reinvent myself, to SELL myself, so many times that what I see in me is just a blur. In the mirror I see a blur and a shadow of what I’ve known in my heart that I wanted all along.

I won’t reinvent myself again to turn a profit. I would rather strip away the layers of processed muck that have become the blur of a shell I’ve learned to live in as a photographer... a photographer who makes excuses because there are bills to pay.

I don’t want to see myself as blurry any longer, and I don’t want you to see me that way either.

To be continued….

Preview

2010-10-16T19:55:00.004-04:00

A preview from Michelle and Dave's engagement session in downtown Grand Rapids.

Hey Michiganders...

2010-10-16T12:51:00.004-04:00

... if you're from Grand Rapids you'll recognize the location of my e-session this morning =D

Kirsten & Aaron // West Michigan Wedding Photographer

2010-10-15T22:12:00.006-04:00

I adore this couple. As you can see from the photo above, the wedding day wasn't ALL business. I just love a couple who takes themselves lightly -- and I can honestly say it wasn't just Kirsten and Aaron who were an absolute joy to be around, it was their entire wedding party and all of their guests. I'm not sure where to really start with Kirsten and Aaron, so I'll just say this - They are not only kind and sweet, but they are world travelers, open-minded, loving and amazing people. The atmosphere of their reception really reflected that too. I had such a great time shooting this wedding that I didn't want to leave! I can't begin to tell you how amazing their guests were and how at home I felt. At the end of the night it was kind of hard to leave! =D

Thank you Kirsten and Aaron for making me a part of your day, I wish you nothing but years of happiness! Thanks also to my friend and fellow photographer Lana for helping me out at the wedding and running the photobooth! =D

Okay the one on the bottom right -- one of my all time favorite bridal party pics.

Aaron you had me cracking up!!

Katie Who?

2010-10-15T12:22:00.008-04:00

This was my view as I ran out the door behind Claire yesterday. We were on our way to the studio to finish painting the walls. The amazing thing is, I didn't cringe as I leaped over the piles of shoes, backpacks, and clutter. Where a "cringe" once was, a "shrug" stood in it's place.

I don't even recognize myself... and I kind of like it.

Call Me Kate

New Blog.

Not Goodbye, Just See You Later.

Why I say "Happy Holidays"...

Faces of Claire.

A Very Bloggy Christmas!

Printable // Holiday Gift Tags

Blog Meme.

Blog Freebie.

Kenzie's Portraits.

Lunch in a booth.

Weekend of Baking.

Week in Cell Phone Pics

Contest Winner!

Awesome.

Giveaway: Custom Design by IROCKSOWHAT

In My Camera Bag

Giveaway Winner!

Two Years Ago Today.

Giveaway! Candy Cane Inspired Bow

It's Okay.

Mixed Media Flip Book

Kenzie

Hung the moon.

November Thankfulness

Frost & Fog.

Subtle Laughter.

Intentional.

Week in Cell Pics

Kam & David Wedding Preview

Personal Letters To My Children

What I'm Working On...

Fall Diptych & Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

DIY: Detroit Tigers Inspired Hair Bow!

Warning: This is a Little Debbie Downer *wah wah*

New Routine.. and it's keepin' me sane!

Random Cell Phone Pics

We Carved Pumpkins Yesterday!

Molly: Life is Good.

Week in Cell Pics

10 Random Things About Me...

My Week in 10 Diptychs...

Dream

Blind Contour Drawing: Giraffes

A Bad Bet.

Blog Meme!

Bloglovin'

Adele.

I'm out to dinner right now...

Silhouette of My Heart

What's wrong with me? LOTS!

Goodbye!? It Doesn't Have to Be!

Tuesday Inspiration // Cozy Cats

Monday Photography // Erin & Ryan's Norton Shores Wedding Preview

Wednesday Wardrobe.... not sold on it yet.

Mademoiselle Deer

9/11/2001 to 9/12/2011

Monday Photography //Jenny & Brandt's Saugatuck Wedding Preview

Sarah // Senior Portraits

Thursday Random // The Art of Not Giving a Sh*t.

I'm Back! (sorta)

Etsy!

Monday Photography // Self Portraits; Life is better when it's fun.

It's Getting Better All The Time

Ancient Evenings and Distant Music

Monday Photography // Carolyn & Charles's Grand Haven Wedding Preview

Monday Photography // Photoshop Recipe & My Crazy Kid

Thursday Random // Holly Golightly and Folger's in My Cup

Fix You

What I'm Working On...

Fashion-Victim to Fashion-Vixen

Michelle and David // Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

Welcome to the World!

Jonathan & Hannah // Jackson Wedding Photographer

Gentry

Monday Photography // Amy & Ben's Grand Rapids Wedding Preview

Julie and Simon // Saugatuck Wedding Photographer

Catching Up

Previews // West Michigan Wedding Photographer

Beach // Personal

Warning: This is a Little Debbie Downer wah wah