Welcome to my blog

Hi and Welcome!

When I first began this journey as a professional photographer, little did I know that it would quickly transform my life. What started out as trying to learn how to take better photos of my own fast-moving kids turned into a never-ending quest {read: obsession} to capturing "the" moment. It's that instant in time you never want to forget and you wish to relive over and over again...your newborn's tiny fingers and toes, his half-crooked smile, her misssing two-front teeth, your children's innocence, their laughter & silliness, the deep, abiding love you have for your family and those special relationships that bind you. It's your moment, the moment that defines you. I look forward to the privilege of sharing these moments of the heart with you and yours.

This blog was created to serve as a resource for my clients to get the latest scoop, view previews of their most recent sessions ("sneak peeks"), discover new tips to taking your own photos or neat finds I may come across, and to help provide me with your feedback. (Your comments are always most certainly welcome!) My desire for you in writing this is that you may discover a small slice of "sunshine" to brighten your day or find a helpful tip or two along the way. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my most incredible husband (he is truly THE BEST!) for his amazing encouragement and support, without which, I would not be able to do what I so love to do. Thanks also to you, my friends and family, I am excited to share in the journey ahead.

Just one for now…

July 2, 2009 – 6:06 pm

Lucky.  Do you ever stop and think sometimes how lucky you are to be in that moment?  I will say that is how I feel about 99% of the time when I’m behind the camera…lucky to have witnessed it and even luckier to have captured it.  I ran across this quote from Jasmine Star (a.k.a. rockstar wedding photographer, captivating writer, my hero) in a recent interview, “Inspiration is everywhere and I believe it’s my job to create a quilt of what I see, I touch, and I feel for which to drape my clients.  A patchwork, if you will, of my mind’s eye to document their love for eternity.” 

I think this image says it all…

There were so sooo many from this session that I loved.  As a matter of fact, I’m having a hard time choosing which ones to edit, I can’t decide!  I swear this lovely woman gives pregnancy a good name!  I wish I looked this good when I was expecting…her beautiful pregnancy glow is obvious and her happiness is contagious.  I promise to post some more soon, my workflow is moving much slower in these summer months. 

H - I cannot wait to meet your lil guy next month!

By admin | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 comments         Add a Comment
  1. Tami   -  

    This is a great pic Karen! I can’t wait to see more. H is absolutely glowing!

  2. Vanessa   -  

    So Beautiful!

The Gift

June 19, 2009 – 12:54 am

Those who know me may know that I am always searching high and low for the perfect gift to give.  It brings me joy to give a gift from the heart.  The look of happiness it brings to their face is priceless and makes it all the worthwhile.  For those that know me really well, know that I have the HARDEST time accepting gifts.  I don’t know why, I just do.  It is much easier for me to be on the gift-giving side than the gift-receiving side.

HOWEVER, the one gift I always look forward to getting every year is family portraits.  After all the countless hours I’ve spent behind my computer, I’m embarrassed to admit how few images I have of my own children (well, since I’ve become a prof photographer, at least!).  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve captured many, many moments of them on my camera (and stored them all away on my computer), but very few get touched after I download them and even fewer get printed. (Shame on me!)  So my one indulgence (that my dh allows me…) is a family portrait (where I actually get to be in the picture!)

I’m totally blessed beyond belief (and rotten spoiled) to have such phenomenal photographer friends.  They give new meaning to the definition of portrait photography.  And when the portraits they are taking are of my family, it brings it to an entirely different level for me.  I first met Kim at a photography workshop over a year ago.  What touched me most about her was her generous nature, huge heart for people and passion for photography, and her incredible talent.  So when I knew we were taking a road trip to visit family in LA, I had to jump on that opportunity and call to beg for book a session for my family…

 

Those last two images….I can’t stop staring at them!  Think I’ll have to get some 30×40 canvases of those made!   Kim - I love you, gal!  Thanks for making me the happiest mom EVER!  :)  Between you and Matt, I’m going to have to fill every piece of wall space I have in my home!!!

 

By karen | Posted in Family, Personal, Uncategorized | 3 comments         Add a Comment
  1. Matt Nicolosi   -  

    Simply beautiful images of a beautiful family. Karen, I love your kids; and you guys look amazing. Kim, you out-photog’d me. These are fantastic images… as usual.

  2. Erin Carlyle   -  

    These are stunning! You have a beautiful family and Kim did an amazing job (no big surprise) in these images. I loved seeing them on her blog as well!!!!! I’m would agree with you on those 30×40’s…they are a MUST!

  3. Sara   -  

    Pretty good post. I just found your blog and wanted to say
    that I have really liked reading your blog posts. Any way
    I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

True Beauty…

June 12, 2009 – 6:02 pm

I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer this past year at my son’s school during his class field trips and events.  It was so much fun to get to know E’s fellow classmates throughout the year and I soon found myself falling in love with their charming personalities, big smiles and unending sense of wonder.  They were each so unique and delightful to spend time with.  I am honored that my son was a part of such an incredible class.

You can imagine my excitement when the mom of one of E’s classmates called to schedule a session.  Her daughter and my son seemed to gravitate toward one another in school and it’s easy to see why.  When I first opened these images on my computer, I was speechless.  The beauty of this lil girl and her older brother was breathtaking.  As I edited each image one after the other, I would find myself mesmerized by their captivating eyes and sweet, sweet smiles.  Not to mention both children were such angels and so loving towards one another that my heart would just melt…

I can hardly wait for our family session this fall…it’s obvious where these two get their gorgeous looks from!

 

I’m just about caught up on sessions and working to get your orders out to you as soon as I can…been enjoying a bit of summertime with the kids!  Thanks for your understanding!  :)

 

By karen | Posted in Children, Uncategorized | 1 comments         Add a Comment
  1. Matt Nicolosi   -  

    Great images, Karen. The first one is killer!

What a dream….

May 19, 2009 – 12:10 pm

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed these sessions with this family.  Though I had just met them, I felt as if I had known them for a while since we shared so many mutual friends.  Working with Baby S was a dream come true.  She was such an angel for us - she let me put her in all sorts of places & positions (with no clothes on, I might add!) and she hardly made a sound, much less cry!  I must’ve told mom and dad many times over how lucky they were to have such a good baby…I’m sure dad’s gonna have his hands full soon enough, especially if she looks like her beautiful mamma!

For those still waiting on your sneak peeks, I apologize for the wait and hope to get them out soon!  My son was sick with fever for a week and it threw me a bit off schedule in addition to our end-of-school-year activities!

Also, I have decided to take a break this summer so I won’t be taking any appointments through August.  This will be my first scheduled break in the two years since I’ve started this photography adventure…it will give me a chance to refresh and get things in order (like updating my website and my new client site!).

R&B - I hope to have your sneak peeks up this weekened…thank you for your kind patience!

By karen | Posted in Family, Newborn | 8 comments         Add a Comment
  1. Melissa   -  

    these look wonderful!!! love the itty bitty baby!!!

  2. Sharon   -  

    Beautiful!!!

  3. gina   -  

    now that is a beautiful family!

  4. Yvonne Cano   -  

    Your photography is beautiful - I am one of the proud grandparents that can’t get enough of seeing Sadie:)

  5. Mary Salazar   -  

    She’s beautiful, I work with the proud grandma in El Paso. You now have your little angel. God Bless all three of you :):)

  6. Carol T.   -  

    Beautiful family! Photos are very touching and heart-warming; talented and creative photography! Hope we get to see more.

  7. Tyler   -  

    Nice work Karen. T. C. and C., loving that little girl! We need to come see her!

  8. Tony Cano   -  

    You capture the true fabulous good looks of my daughter Celani and her handsome husband Tom, my beloved “just the son-in-law I always dreamed of for Celani” son. Sadie, Sadie, Sadie… my God do I love her so. I am at a loss of words. May God help and guide me to be a great grandfather. As for your photography, I don’t think that I could show you a thing or two… you are a master, destined to become even better. You are an artist, a sculptor, a Michael Angelo with a camers, not a photographer. Thanks for working with my kids, Tom and Celani and Sadie Marcotte. I would be honored to meed you someday. Tony Cano