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Yours truly is proud to have been invited to come speak at the Co-Op Photography Studio, My Studio, in Omaha a week from today! (That's Monday, Feb. 22nd folks!) I'll be discussing: Design basics Intro to Adobe InDesign Marketing & Social Media (Blogs/Twitter/FB) Wedding Photography – The Big Picture
The cost (which includes lunch! Yum!) is $109.
For info on signing up, contact Tina Gunn or Tanya Siragusa. I hope to see you there!
I love being part of a community that's rich with great people, talent, innovation and ideas! Toolulu's Deb Averett & Christy Nelson recently produced a one-of-a-kind event in downtown Lincoln called "Awesome Camp."
It was a conference of sorts, where everyone was welcome and anyone who wanted to could sign up to present a 20-minute seminar on the topic of their choosing. Topics ranged from kayak water-polo, to wind energy, to book publishing. Very neat!
Yours truly jumped at the chance (are you surprised, really?) and presented "Awesome Photos in 10 Simple Steps" and "Twitter: How Not to Suck at It." Emir got in on the fun as well with a web usability presentation!
The event was generously held at Red 9 (have you eaten there lately? we were treated to salads that were out. of. this. world!) and sponsored by great folks like Screen Ink, A to Z Print, SMC Lincoln, Toolulu, Think-Do-Be-Create, Firespring, Fierce Robot and of course, the fab peeps at Red 9.
Silicon Prairie News was on-hand and recorded this video (they apologize for the sound and video being out of sync... kinda funny!)
Here's a video of the mavens behind the event, Deb Averette & Christy Nelson
See more images and read more about it at Silicon Prairie News and Toolulu.
A girl can dream, right? :) I had the pleasure of being interviewed by none other than Scott Sheppard from WPPI Radio. We discussed my upcoming InDesign master class at this year's WPPI conference. Check it out for yourselves! Hoping to see you in Vegas!
So.... I feel like it's been forEVER since I've updated my blog (okay, 2 weeks can certainly feel like forever!) Where on Earth have I been? Someplace far removed from anything resembling an internet connection? Hardly. Nope. I've been here (and Nashville, at a conference) but mostly... here. What in the world could have me so busy that I haven't had time to blog oodles and oodles? Besides, it's winter. As a wedding photographer, doesn't that mean I'm pretty much on vacation until spring? (yeah right!)
One really cool/challenging/healthy thing I've been up to is...... running. Not in the usual way (which is in circles, all around like crazy trying to get 10 zillion things done), but rather.... in the kind of way that should hopefully prepare me for the Lincoln Marathon (half marathon) this spring. I have never considered myself a runner, so you might be asking yourself why in the world I would start now?
For starters.... It's healthy. And that, in and of itself is really the only reason one needs, no? :) My friend Christina convinced me to sign up for a marathon training class (which is great, considering I had no clue what I was doing when I started!). It's offered by Ann Ringlein from the Lincoln Running Company. If you're a runner... I'm sure you know who she is. The woman is pretty much an icon in this town when it comes to all things running, so I knew I was in good hands.
Marathon training class started on Jan. 7th... and since then, would you believe I've already run 80 miles!? (Not bad for 5 weeks, considering I could hardly make it 2 miles when I first started.) I've also met some really cool people, seen different parts of Lincoln in ways as I've never seen them before, and managed to lose about 10lbs so far! All the running I've done has been outside... even when it was literally only 2 degrees out and snowing with howling winds. When you get home from a run like that.... I have to admit... you feel pretty darn badass (in the very best of ways!).
I've also spent the past several weeks doing the production work on several wedding albums (on their way here as I type!), designing various wedding invitations, strategizing and re-building my senior and kids&families info packets, and creating a few various framed pieces to donate to different local fund-raising events (not to mention meeting with all the newly engaged brides in the midst of planning their weddings and looking for a photographer!).
And teaching. Another couple of classes start next week!
Plus, I'm really excited be working on the development of a really cool product for photographers (so much fun! hopefully coming soon!).
And perhaps even more exciting than that (is that even possible?), I've been preparing for a flurry of fun at the upcoming WPPI conference in Las Vegas. Booking travel, finding the best deal on hotel rooms... and of course, creating and polishing all four of the different speaking engagements/presentations I'll be delivering! Teaching a master class on InDesign, speaking at the AsukaBook booth (not once, but twice!), and wrapping up the entire conference as part of Photographer's Ignite at the closing session. Seriously... I am PUMPED!
In the meantime, I've got my nose to the grind stone.... my eyes focused on my goals.... and my chin a way up high! :)
Yay for 2010!
Wow! Talk about an incredible response! Super special thanks to everyone for volunteering your beautiful smiling faces for my special project. I look forward to a fun night next week!
For everyone else, stay tuned in the next coming month or so for the release of this top secret item. ;) That's all I can tell you for now!
Thanks again!
TOP SECRET:
I'm looking for peeps to appear in some promo shots for something fun I'm developing (top secret!). If you're game (at least 21 years old) and available this coming Tuesday night (Feb. 9th) from 7-9pm, email me (khara {at} kabloomstudios {dot} com) and I'll follow up with more details. (I will make it worth your time, promise!!)
Will be a good time for all!
Yay for the first love shoot (engagement photo session) of 2010! Matt & Stacie came over last week to play outside while I tagged along with my camera (always happy to be the third wheel!). The sun wrapped all three of us with a buttery-tinged yumminess that gives these images a feeling of warmth despite the wintery temperatures (and their lack of snowpants!). I'm glad they looked adorable.... it makes up for my public fashion embarrassment... decked out in snow pants, a goofy hat, and multiple mis-matched coats. Too bad we didn't snag a shot of that! Ha!
I also thought I'd experiment with a new possible blog tag.... thoughts? It's probably not 'regulation' to preview this stuff before it's finished.... but.... at that rate, it might be 2011 before I decide on stuff... (too many possibilities!) and who has time for that? Anyway, I'm all ears if you have an opinion!
I'm so in love with these shots.....
They have shoes that are as cool as they are!
Matt was so great at maintaining eye contact with the camera. Sometimes this proves a challenge for folks.... but Matt was a pro!
Fabulous job you guys. Can't wait to do your wedding photography in May!
This may have been the first time I picked up my camera in 2010... memory fails me (more and more it seems!). Either way.... could these two be any more delicious? Is it just me or does Sarah look like some sort of 1970's goddess? I fantasize about images like this one for myself someday when Emir and I get around to having bambini of our own.... (hint, hint Emir! I hope you're taking notes!)
Big sister Olivia is all kinds of curious and helpful with baby Thomas....
I love this! He just looks so squeaky new and cuddly!
Can't get enough kisses from big sis....
2009 welcomed many new and fabulous wedding clients into the KaBloom Studios family! I am continually reminded of how much I love my clients and consequently, my job. :) I thought it would be fun to re-post some of my favorite wedding images from the past year in one big juicy post (no small feat!). When I originally gathered images for this, I looked at the file count and had pulled 300+ shots. That. Is. Nuts. So.... I whacked the list waaaay down. This is just a small sampling of why I love my clients and my job so darn tootin' much. :) Enjoy! To make it easier to digest, I loosely arranged the images based on different parts of the day. This first group represents the 'portrait hour' I spend with clients making the iconic images that sum up what their day is all about. I hope they make you smile!
2009 brought with it the opportunity to photograph a number of destination weddings including Annette & Brandon's 4th of July celebration in Grenada. Here are some of my faves from their 'Day After' session. The wedding itself can be seen here.
Of course, 'portrait hour' is preceded by 'getting ready.' I *love* to photograph all the pretty details that go into transforming a beautiful woman into a beautiful bride.
Of course, the guys have their own version of 'getting ready.' In this case, it means listening to the ball game on the radio.... :)
Ceremony time! Whether in a church, at a park or on a golf course, ceremonies are fun and challenging to capture.
Jeff earned a shout-out for most creative 'entrance' to a wedding when he arrived to his ceremony on water skis and upon landing ashore, peeled off his 'dry suit' to reveal the tuxedo underneath. Bravo!
I'm often asked, "Do you shoot formal group portraits?" The answer, of course, is "Yes!" In addition to a few traditional formals, I love to capture what I think is even more fun.... group shots that showcase personality and spunk. Here are a few quick examples/faves. :)
Another thing I enjoy capturing at the wedding are detail shots of the rings. The possibilities are endless!
When I'm not chasing the star couple or foraging for interesting ring image concepts, I often turn my camera's attention to grandpas, kids, interesting guests and... the funny moments that are only a click away.
I later found out that the gentleman on the left in the image below passed away not long after the wedding. I'm incredibly honored to have been able to give this image to his family in tribute.
Every time I come home from a wedding, I'm more excited than before... and filled with inspiration from all the genius, creative couples I have the honor of working with. (Poor Emir... I'm constantly suggesting to him that we renew our vows and have a party with all the fab ideas I've collected over the years. Such a good sport he is!) If you're in the market for some wedding reception detail shots (eye candy), here goes!
After months of planning to pull off the whole event, the reception comes and it's time to dance!
Thank you to all of the incredible couples (and their families!) I've had the honor of working with in the past year. You are the reason I do what I do.... Much love and happiness to you all in 2010! :)
Santa must've forgotten to bring me a shiny and spacious craft room this year, so I'm still stuck schlucking all my sewing gear out onto the dining room table if/when I want to get crafty. I had high hopes of whipping up some special goodies for the nephews this year... but then time ran short and... well... it hasn't happened. Yet. (Gina was quick to tell me that the Denominator has enough stuffed animals and toys already, so I guess I'm off the hook with him... which is good b/c what I was planning to make for Dom would've required a miraculous channeling of someone else's sewing skills. I got lucky on that one!). In the meantime, I guess the dedicated sewing room can wait until I can at least remember how to thread the bobbin.... ha! ;)
The days and days of snow we've had hasn't slowed Merki down much. She begs and begs to go out, only to repeatedly act surprised when she sees the snow is in fact, not an illusion. (She is hilarious to watch while she pounces around jumping in and out of snow drifts!)
When she gets back inside, she knows from experience that positioning herself between us and our computers is the best way to ensure constant attention. Here she shows Emir the right button to get the job done....
I love snowed in holidays. :)
Khara Plicanic. Instructor, Photographer, Designer, Advocate. Here you'll find tools, inspiration, and empowerment to help you on your own creative journey.
