My Grandfather's gift to me

My Grandfather left us few physical reminders of his life here.

We recently received his history as written by himself, cut short by his death.

He drove a jeep in the war, amongst other things.
(That is a story for a whole other post)

It's from this side of the family I got the trigger happy shutter finger.
My Father and his Father were photographers.

After he passed my grandmother gave me a box of his cameras.

It was years ago, and I wasn't quite sure what to do with them.

One of them had been dropped in the ocean
(for non-cameras people...that is a slow and painful death for a camera)
that was kept as parts for it's replacement.
Luckily for me I had it...the "replacement" had a specially made eye piece so he wouldn't have to wear glasses and I had a few rolls of blurry pictures before figuring out it wasn't my focus, but replacing a tiny piece of glass that made everything right as rain.

There was this very cool looking medium format camera.
The one that has the accordian hood.
My Dad and I spent a week trying to close the dang thing once we opened it.

There was a roll of film in it that had long since gone bad.

So I got a roll, loaded it and took a few pictures LAST FALL and it has since sat on my fireplace biding it's time.

You see, I wasn't really sure anything would come of it.

This last week we got everything developed and they turned out!
It's a miracle.
In my head I was ready to be dissapointed,
but these are horribly beautiful.

Grainy,
underdeveloped,
scratched,
light leaks galore,
blurry.

And I love every one of them.

I've got another roll of film and I'm pretty sure it won't take half of the year to get it developed.

Gems

Look at this little gem I found today while browsing through things.

Spring is just around the corner...

To all my favorite people in Kansas City,

We would like to head out to Kansas City the third week of April. I hear it's beautiful that time of year.

I'm sending e-mails, but if I happened to have missed you, drop me a line so we can meet up. There is some good deals this time around, mostly because I want new places to shoot.

There are some amazing places in your beautiful town. I can't wait to get my camera on them.

See you soon,
Kris

The not-vintage

Vintage has become trendy these days.
Not that I myself don't appreciate my great grandmothers apron I could sell for a fortune on Etsy..
But sometimes you want to celebrate the right now.

As it is.

Perhaps it too shall look vintage in years from now.

Don't misunderstand me, I'm a trendy photographer. After all, I am influenced by the latest and greatest.

But I like to think there's that bit of me and my client in there that's timeless and beautiful. After all, that's what makes those old vintage things so great.

My sister, the assister....
Yes, I just said that.

You may recognize this spot in San Diego...the inspirational and gorgeous Balboa park. It's like Disneyland for a photo shoot (because the real Disneyland isn't nearly as great as you would think for such things)

I even got a ride...because it's a long way walking around that place.

Imagine if you could get one of these at the real Disneyland.

...and with that, we're done.

In the Name of Love

I know I'm going to get along well with clients when this is their favorite image.

I am beyond excited to shoot Ronnie and Justin this coming spring.
We had a fantastic engagement shoot. And as always had a hard time narrowing them down.

My fav.



Happy Valentines All.

MIA

I've dropped off the face of the planet on my photo blogging.

It's the nature of things when you are the sole proprietor of your business along with the full time Mother of three.

AND

you were pregnant for 11 weeks.

Then,

you suddenly weren't pregnant as of Chrismas Eve.

So I've managed to pull myself back together enough to start managing more than the basics. If you want to see that I an in fact alive, you can check back on my family blog by clicking our photo on the right.

We are preparing for our first six year old birthday party.

We (meaning my daughter) just lost a first tooth.

My little one's got their first Star Wars shirts and refuse to take them off.

Today was a good day with double digit temperatures, still no snow, but I suppose we'll get some shortly.

All in all, we have had a great year and so much to be thankful for. I am especially thankful here for my clients and friends that make so much possible. To give me the opportunities I've had.

And for the beautiful photographs....Oh, the beautiful photographs.

I was archiving and looking through the beautiful sessions. I know I've fallen short on my promise to get the last of last year blogged, but I hope you'll forgive me and we will move forward together.

This year is going to be a good one...

Mercy me...

I've let my blog go.

My apologies.

It is with good cause.
*really good!*

It's been Christmas cards and books galore around here. In my particular brand of business (a sole proprietorship, in a part time capacity) one woman just can't do it all. So the blog got cut for a couple of weeks.

Tons of projects just finished. I'll share with you when I can.

I hope the season is bringing you lots of beautiful Christmas Cards and time spent with loved ones.

Our Thanksgiving included 30 in our home for dinner (this isn't the entire family, a few couldn't make it)...

You'd think by now I would know how to look good in a picture.

I got a bug in my rug and finished this beautiful little dandy just in time for Christmas.
It's been three years.
My son was not nearly excited as I was the morning I finished it. Perhaps I'll get some better portraits later.

And lastly...everyone needs a nap.

Including me.