Being married to an editor

Erik is an editor. He edits words. Everyday. On occasion, he's been known to edit school papers for my siblings. :)

Yet he also chooses photos routinely for the paper. Which one best fits/tells the story or goes with the words? Often when we're watching a movie, I'll comment when there's fantastic light. Erik has started to pick up on it, and has occasionally made comments. It makes my heart swell with pride.

At the same time, Erik is also a 'civilian' so to speak. When I'm editing photos, he's a great person to pull in and say 'which one do you like better' when I simply can't decide.


Here's a great example. Mike and I shot a wedding on Saturday and I have two very similar images. I like them both, but couldn't quite decide. So I pulled Erik in.

Honestly, I was a bit more drawn to the left image. Yet immediately, Erik said "OH NO, the right one is SO much better." He explained how much nicer he thought the bride looked when she was smiling. I tend to like somber images, but Erik is a 'civilian' in the photo world, and it's true, many people like pix of themselves smiley. It's good to have him here to remind me of that. :)

Let this serve as a reminder to me: Smiley photos have their place in the world.

Here's the lesson for you: Not ALL photos have to be smiley. Especially if/when you're dealing w/ kids.

#117 — Have photos published on a wedding inspiration blog

Well, in making some recent post about my bucket list, I realized I have some items I have completed, but didn't realize were on the list. So I'm playing a bit of catchup.

Anyone remember THIS blog post?


Well, it was on my list, so I'm officially crossing it off! :)

#73 — Photograph a family for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

This item was originally on my 101 in 1001 list, but it was transferred to my bucket list. I actually have done several over the last several years, but I heard from one of my clients from this year who was willing to share her family's story.


You may read what mom shared with me HERE.

This session was very special because baby was living at birth, and lived for a short while. The priest came in to baptize, and at the same time gave last rights. As a Catholic, it was a beautiful circle of life for this baby, to be welcomed into God's family, and then into his kingdom.

After each and every single one of these sessions, I cry. Usually on the way home. Sometimes while talking with my mother.

As having kids hasn't been the easiest path for us, it has been easy to think "well, at least you can get pregnant and carry a baby for a significant portion of the pregnancy." --- and this session hit me like a ton of bricks. This is not easier. In some ways, I think it is harder for these families. Each situation is its own cross, with a differing set of pains.

Yes, these sessions are difficult to photograph. They're even more difficult for me to edit later. I don't look forward to it/them. Ever. But I know the immense value this has to the families, and that is worth more than any discomfort I might feel.

Crossover

Well, I was in Wichita last week, shooting an engagement session and have had other sessions hanging around, too.


There's also a senior I photographed a few weeks ago.




Yes, fall is definitely here.

I'm not being neglectful ...

Things are just kinda busy around here. Lots of photographic stuff going on, and then when I'm not up to my ears in photos, I'm trying to spend some time with Erik. So please pardon my sparse posting. OK? :)

From this weekend's wedding:

Crossover — Odds & Ends

Well, it's that time of year again. It starts to get CRAZY around here!

First, let me invite everyone to our Heartland Photography Open House this Sunday in Salina. :)

This is come and go, so if you have small kids who won't want to hang out for more than 20-30 minutes, there are ample other things to do if you come up this way .... you could go to Rolling Hills, go check out Lindsborg, go to the Cozy Inn (but eat OUTSIDE, don't go inside).

Things have been full around here, and we're completely blessed to be booking like crazy for 2012 weddings. I know, next summer feels like eons away, but I'm already putting items on my calendar. And am thankful to be doing so!

As of late, I've been up to:


Alex & Seth's Engagement Session


Molly's Senior Portraits


Cindy & Patrick's Family


Kim & Tim's Engagement

Crossover — Editorial Shoot Published :)

Soooo, this editorial shoot I did mid-summer was recently published on a wedding inspiration blog.


Gosh, I have lots to catch up on ... I've been doing lots of stuff behind the scenes, pulling album photos, proofing albums to couples, toning albums, ordering them. All vital stuff, but not really stuff I'm blogging about much.

We'll see if I can do some pre-blogging and catch up!

Crossover — Almost!

I'm about to bust a gut!!!!


I worked on a styled shoot a little over a month ago, and have been doing some submitting to wedding blogs. I want to hold off showing these on the Heartland Blog, but just must share one or two .... because I'm dying to share!


I don't think I submitted either to the blog, so I don't really feel guilty about sharing these here. :)

Crossover — 2011 Fair King & Queen candidates

If you pay any sort of attention to the Heartland Blog, you'll have noticed a boatload of portraits as of late.

I photographed 14 candidates for the fair king/queen. It was a lot of work, but tons of fun because they had such a variety of ideas/locations.

Here are a few quick faves:

Crossover — Fr. Jeremy's Ordination + 1st Mass

I started posting about a month ago ... with this:


Let me continue a bit more!








How I've been hearing about 'I need to find a chalice' for the last year. :)


HERE is the ordination post on the Heartland Blog. The First Mass post will be up on Monday.

In the meantime, you can CLICK HERE to see my slideshow from the day ... I have to confess, I cried when I saw it in its totality .... so you've been warned.

Crossover — all sorts of busy!

Ummm...it's a little crazy around here. More likely, you can find updates on the Heartland Blog.

As of late:


Serena + Luke post 1 , post 2.


Jillian + Drew post 1 , post 2.


Christina + Nick post 1 (although none of the photos in the preview are mine ... you can see me in the background of one of them!) :)

I still have quite a bit of editing and work to do. I have barely touched Fr. Jeremy's ordination/First Mass photos!!! Not to mention getting approved albums toned/uploaded/ordered. Blessedly busy!

Sounds glamorous, right?

Erik and I were talking last night ... and neither of us can remember the last time we did laundry. As evidenced by my undie drawer, it's about time. Maybe it's been 2.5-3 weeks? No one knows.

Some days I think "being a photographer sounds glamorous and all, but when I can't remember the last time I washed my clothes or went to the grocery store .... well, notsomuch."

I grabbed some milk quickly the other day, but as far as a real trip to the store, nope, can't remember the last time. Not in the last 2 weeks for sure. Crike!

I think everyone feels that way, though, to some degree. "If only I had kids." "If only I didn't work nights." "If only I could stay home with the kids." .... the list is long and I think in short, we all want what we don't have. Or we all think everyone else's life sounds more glamorous than ours.


I'll admit, today it's tough. My 'to do' list for work fills almost an entire page. It doesn't even include washing the guest room sheets for my mom who will be staying with us tomorrow night. Or doing the pile of dishes in the sink. Or going grocery shopping ... heck, even making a grocery list! But it's where I am right now, which is exactly where I'm supposed to be. I know that; I don't wish for anything else.

Sometimes, looking at the couples we photograph helps me; reminds me of life before dishes in the sink. When all you had time for was to obsess about the other. And not think "has it REALLY been 3 weeks since we did laundry?"

Crossover — Fr. Jeremy's Ordination

Ok, so I haven't actually posted anything from this on the Heartland Blog yet, but the time will be coming!

This is from right before Fr. Jeremy was ordained a Priest.

Honestly, I'm having a hard time figuring out how to caption/refer to these photos, because in this photo, he's Deacon Jeremy, not Fr. Jeremy. But NOW he is Fr. Jeremy.

I just love these quiet little moments ... that's what life is made of. And while we often see our priests doing public things: Mass, hosting events, etc., there is SO much more that I'm sure goes on behind the scenes. Prayer being one of the main/major aspects of a priest's life we don't see. Which is why I love that I captured this image so much.

Things are SLAMMIN' around here. So if the blog gets a little neglected, please understand.

Crossover — Baby Henry!

Shout out to my girl, Erin, and her sweet baby boy. You can see the post HERE on the Heartland Blog.

Crossover — Kristi + Cody

No witty words today. Just CLICK HERE to see our wedding from last weekend.

Crossover — Jessica + Ryan

KAREN???? Where have you been????

Well, troopers, it happens to be the beginning of our busy wedding season. So you may or may not see regular posts around here. I will, however, try to share some wedding photos. :)


I really love hanging out w/ the brides before the wedding. Nice, relaxed portrait.


Often, it's difficult to tear a couple away from their wedding reception. The Maid of Honor, however, did and photos at sunset are always stunning!

HERE is the preview post on the Heartland Blog.

On a side note, we just returned from Dodge for Erik's last living grandparent's funeral. To say life is busy right now would be ann understatement of large proportions. I have less than 24 hours at home before turning around for this weekend's wedding on the road. Luckily Erik will be here to keep the animals company. Dog went into spaz out mode after being boarded for 2 days!

Crossover — Emily + Joe

Was in KC over the weekend for some engagement photos. Loving the result! A few previews are HERE. This was in front of an Indian restaurant in Westport. I was ready to abandon the shoot and go eat, but alas, duty called.

Crossover — Serena + Luke

Goodness ... I've spoiled you with posts the last week or so. Here's another from today:


Serena and Luke's Engagement teaser.

I was shooting so quickly that once I was back here editing, I thought ... crike, I should have had him kneel and kiss her hand. How nice would that have been? Sheesh. One of these days I'll think of EVERYTHING while I'm shooting. Until then ....

(I included the above comment for my friends out there who think "Karen is perfect and can do no wrong." ... I'm always trying to come up with something new or think of how I could have made something awesome even better. Guess I will remember next time, eh?).

Things are a bit chaotic around here. I had 2 friends pass away in a 7 day span (both in their 30s .... young, young, young). One funeral down, one to go. Also in a wedding very soon .... so I might or might not have any sort of update over the next week.

Losing my touch? / PHOTO TIP

Hi blog world! I'M ALIVE!!! I promise!

Big baby shower this weekend. Lots of catching up to do here.

I squeezed in a visit to my biz-partenr-in-crime. This is how it went:


Usually Erik has this effect on children, not me. I hope I'm not losing my touch! You can see my appearance on Mike's photo a day project of Nate HERE.

And for those of you who think I might undertake such a project when we have kids, THINK AGAIN!!!! I'm learning from Mike's zeal that it's a lot to bite off and chew.

PHOTO TIP for you mommies out there: notice how Mike took this photo. He's at eye level with his kiddo. With kids, they're lots shorter than we are. Often times in order to get the best photo of them, you gotta get down to their eye level.

An un-bucket list item

I never "formally" added this item to my "bucket list", but it's something I've wanted to do for quite some time. I've wanted to do something for clients for Christmas, but haven't really gotten it together ... until this year!

This year, I went to Crate & Barrel and ordered almost 3 dozen ornaments .... for the clients we photographed this year!


There were A LOT of them!


The allure of the C&B ornaments is that they have the current year on them. So if this was the year you got married or engaged, you'd have an ornament with your photo and the year.


Let's just say I was "THAT PERSON" in line at the post office. The person you didn't want to be behind!!!!! ;)

The response has been sensational! It's upping our customer-service game and letting people know we're thinking of them. It also helps with word-of-mouth advertising/promo, too. :)

Another thing I'd love to do for wedding clients is give them some sort of gift or "thank you" for booking with us ... and it'd be easy to do chocolates or candy or something like that. BUT here's the reason I keep holding off: it seems once girls get a ring, they go in search of the dress, and consequently start obsessing about "fitting into the dress" ... so giving sweets doesn't seem like a good idea. I'm certainly taking suggestions for this one!