Love Shoot: Christine + Ben | Omaha Wedding Photographer

It started in the most unlikely (but classicly proven!) of places..... a bar. He liked the odds, she liked the atmosphere. They both liked each other. :) What started in a neighborhood bar, is preparing to take this lovely duo to a new city--yet to be determined as hopeful job assignments hang in the balance of what is yet to come. What an exciting (but understandably nerveracking) place to be!

I don't know if I can reveal Ben's career aspirations (confidentiality?) but they are exciting to say the least. These two will be hanging on for quite the ride! Luckily, I caught up with them in Omaha for their engagement session on what was a cold, hazy day. They were great sports and happily put up with frozen fingers and cold toes! Thanks guys!

I think this is just plain adorable. Look at how Ben looks at her! Ca-yute!

In front of the bar that started it all... The Green Onion. I {heart} the coy look on Christine's face here!

Great job you two! I'm looking forward to photographing your wedding next fall... it will be here before we know it!

Openin' Up in the Big O!

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!

Lincoln's Own Brand of Awesome Sauce

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.

Hello!? Anybody Home?

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!

Secret Special Project: Volunteer Models Needed!

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!

Love Shoot: Matt & Stacie | Lincoln, Nebraska Wedding Photographer

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!

Baby Thomas

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....