Capturing your memories for lifetimes.

El Dorado Dry Lake Bed Styled Shoot // WPPI 2017 // k.H.a. Lifestyle Photography // Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

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WPPI‘s annual conference is (like many) in Las Vegas each year, and is one of the biggest of the industry.

This year, I flew down with Capri, the amazing photographer and creative behind Capri Aristry Photography, and we dove in head first.

Although the conference started on Monday, we got in on Saturday afternoon, because, well, Vegas.

Capri’s brother in law picked us and our outrageous amount of luggage up at McCarran, we hit up Whole Foods and the liquor store for room snacks and cocktails, dumped our stuff in our room at the MGM and off we went.

The next day, after getting breakfast at the Wynn’s buffet, we headed out to the dry lake bed of El Dorado.

Capri set up a loosely styled shoot out for anyone who was in town and wanted to get together to shoot before the crazy of the conference started, talking her brother in law and his wife (and her friends) into modeling for us, during the Super Bowl, no less.

For those of y’all not in the photography world, a shoot out is where a bunch of photographers all photograph the same models. It’s a fun atmosphere, you can bounce ideas off of industry colleagues, network, and above all, get to get creative.

Ophelia, Capri’s sister in law, talked a few of her friends into coming out as well, and tapped on some of her connections for florals.

Enter Mylo.

I got to ride out to El Droado with Mylo and lemme tell ya, this woman is AMAZING.

She’s a killer florist, wonderful woman, and all around kicks ass. If you’re in Vegas and need florals, you HAVE to get in touch with her. She owns Mylofleur Floral Designs, and everything she does is gorgeous. (she also plays piano for Cirque du Soleil.)

One of Mylo’s friends is a fashion designer, and she had the foresight to bring a couple of the Herbio Brown couture gowns with her.

The light in the desert is unlike anything else. I can’t wait to get back and get my camera out again.

I most definitely cannot wait to get Mylo in front of my camera again either.

To my fellow photographers, (and, anyone else who may be heading to Vegas) I’d definitely suggest making a trip next year to the WPPI conference. The photography industry is always changing, it was nice to learn new things and connect with amazing photographers. The site Vegas.com has awesome hotel and flight package deals if your heading that way for any other conferences that might be happening this year. 

 

Jeff + Kim // Surprise Engagement // k.H.a. lifestyle photography // Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

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Jeff reached out to me early this year to orchestrate the perfect proposal for his now bride-to-be. I was so incredibly honored to be the one to plan and to capture the memory for them.

 

 

As the day arrived, the Ohio weather completely cooperated (like for REAL cooperated. It was 65*. In the middle of February. In Ohio) and my team and I descended on Creekside, and we got to work.

 

All of the details were seen to, from the candles to the flowers, to champagne, to the music, to the cheesecake. We were ready.

As they came around the curve, Christina Perri’s song a Thousand Years piped out and all the details clicked.

Jeff & Kims Surprise Proposal. #khalifestylephotography #columbusohio Share on X

These two are so much fun, and have been an absolute joy to work with.

My First Photography Contest // k.H.a. lifestyle photography // Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

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So, yesterday, I did a thing.

I’ve focused now for the past year hardcore on my business, my skills, my knowledge, and my networking.

I moved my business (and the rest of our lives) across the country to a city that I’d spent a grand total of 10 days in. Maybe. And those days were not in the city, but rather in my sister in laws house, playing card games, eating pizza, and enjoying family.

Scary stuff. There have been lots of tears, a fair amount of fights at home (because moving across the country away from everything you know is HARD. And stressful.) but oh man has all of that been worth it.

For the first time ever, I entered my work into a contest.

No big deal right? Only it’s a HUGE deal.

The Shoot and Share contest (click HERE to read more about it) is a contest in which photographers can enter 50 pieces of their work, for free (read:: no entry fees), and all entries are judged by other photographers. Crowdsourcing, so to speak.

Names are not tied to the photos, and all images entered are shown the same amount of times.

Again, no big right?

WRONG.

I have never entered my work into a contest. Anywhere. I struggle to post my work in the forums that I am a part of, and yet. I did this thing.

And not only did I do this thing, but I also did it big. I maxed out my entries, at 50.

Voting starts soon, and I cannot wait to see what the other amazing images that have been thrown into the pool as well.

Congrats! You’re Engaged!!! … Now What? | k.H.a. lifestyle photography | Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

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One of my goals & plans in the new year is to be more consistent with blogging, and to add more depth to those blog posts.

Another is to collaborate more with other small business owners and creatives both in Columbus and in the cities that I’ll be traveling to and in.

To that end, I’ll be teaming up to share and trade blog posts with vendors I love, other photographers that I have crazy respect for, and to bring you a deeper look into the world behind the camera.

Once, a lifetime ago, I sold diamonds for a living, and while January to March is considered a photographers slow season, it is definitely not slow in the diamond world.

The end of November through Valentines is engagement season, which in turn means that there is a whole wave of engaged couples who start the planning process, which can be completely overwhelming. Where do you start? And that is after you’ve shared the happy news, and people flood you with recommendations for vendors to use, people to call, and the friend of your aunts coworkers sister who takes pictures in her spare time.

Not to mention budget. And what vendors do you consider, versus those that you decided were worth cutting out to save money.

Don’t get me wrong with any of this, there are not any right or wrong answers, as each wedding and each wedding day are completely unique.  What works for one couple may not work at all for another, so this, like all advice, is to be taken with a grain of salt.

Alex, the owner and planner at One Weddings  which offers a variety planning packages, is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known. She wrote the following blog post, about what to expect one you’re engaged.

If you haven’t thought about hiring a wedding planner, or a day of coordinator, you ABSOLUTELY should.

Yay! You’re Engaged, Now What?

Congratulations on your engagement! Whether the proposal was a total surprise to you or something you and your fiancé had talked about, getting engaged is so exciting! When you’re ready to start thinking about your wedding, all of the options can be a little intimidating. Between choosing the Bridal Party, finalizing the guest list, setting a budget, finding a venue and all of your vendors, and trying to enjoy this fun season of life, wedding planning can be stressful! It’s hard to know where to begin the planning process – after all, most Brides have never planned a wedding before! If you are recently engaged or have been putting wedding planning off because you just don’t know where to start, this post is for you!

The first few things to consider are a budget, a date, a guest list, and your Bridal Party. The average cost of a Columbus, Ohio wedding is anywhere in the range of $20,000-$35,000. Does that mean you have to spend that much? Of course not! But, it does help you understand prices as you begin researching a venue and vendors. If your budget is under (even way under) the average, that’s ok. There are plenty of ways to save money on your wedding – including, keeping your guest list small, having your wedding at the house or property of a family member or friend, having your wedding on a Friday or Sunday, becoming a Do-It-Yourself Bride, and much more. In fact, I wrote a post on tips to save money on your wedding, which you can read here.

Another surprising way to save money on you wedding is by hiring a Wedding Planner! While you may think a Planner is not in your budget, Wedding Planners come with a huge list of resources and a network of professionals they trust and like to work with. I tell each of my Brides that I truly hope to save them what they spent on me! Having worked in the industry for some time and having planned many local weddings, I (and most Planners) know the market well and know which vendors are in budget. While you could research vendors yourself, some vendors that fit in your budget aren’t easy to find. Budget or low-cost vendors typically aren’t paying for advertising, so you won’t find them by googling ‘Columbus Wedding Photographer’, or searching on popular wedding sites like, The Knot. Aside from the monetary savings of working with a Planner, the stress taken off of you is invaluable. Whether you want to be involved in every aspect of wedding planning, having a Wedding Planner on your side makes every decision so much easier. Whatever you’re wondering during the process, from ‘What’s the average cost for a DJ’ to ‘Am I suppose to buy the Bridesmaid dresses’ to ‘What questions should I ask my Photographer’ – a Wedding Planner is only a call, text, or email away to answer your questions and ease your concerns.

If you’re in the process of researching wedding vendors (or, when you are), read this post on things to consider when selecting vendors.

After your budget is determined, choose a date (or approximate date). It’s best to have about a year to plan your wedding, but that isn’t always an option. Know that if you have less than a year to plan your wedding, you will need to begin the planning process as soon as possible, and many venues and vendors may be booked. As much as possible, keep your date flexible until you’ve secured a venue. While a date may be meaningful to you, if all venues are booked, it just isn’t an option. It’s best to have a “ball park” date, like a season you’d prefer, and then go from there as you research. You should start by booking a venue, as they typically book faster than vendors, and they are one thing that you absolutely have to have. When you reach out to a venue, give them some dates that are options for you and ask them for availability and pricing. Remember, a Friday or Sunday (or even an afternoon) wedding typically saves you a couple thousand dollars, if budget is a concern.

Next to determine are a guest list and a Bridal Party. With each, it can be hard to choose who to invite and who to leave out. Your guest list should be determined first by your budget – remember that a great way to keep costs low is by having a small guest list. If you have a large family or friend group to celebrate with, it is always an option to have a potluck engagement party or celebration before or after the actual wedding. There are plenty of charts and lists on the internet that can guide you on narrowing down a guest list and a Bridal Party, but it all comes down to who will make your day more enjoyable and who means the most to you and your fiancé. Maybe you decide not to invite anyone you both don’t know, or anyone you haven’t spent time with in the last year. While in a perfect world, it might be nice to have everyone you’ve interacted with since childhood, it usually isn’t possible or practical for your wedding. After all, your wedding is about you two and the love you share, not who is there to witness it.

Choosing the Bridal Party works the same way – who will make your engagement and wedding more enjoyable, and who means so much to you that you can’t imagine standing at the altar without them? If you want the same number of Bridesmaids and Groomsmen, sit down with your fiance and discuss who you both have in mind. If he has 4 in mind and you have 6, you might want to meet in the middle at 5 each, or reconsider some of your choices.

While this is a lot to take in, I hope it has given you some perspective on where to begin the planning process. Your wedding day is one of the best days of your life – it should be everything you envisioned and dreamed of!

If you are in the Columbus area and considering working with a Planner or Day-Of Coordinator, I am more than happy to meet you for coffee and chat about your options. Happy Planning!

 

You can view the original post here.

A New Year, So Many New Adventures | k.H.a lifestyle photography | Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

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There have been so many crazy, wonderful, amazing things happening in our world right now.

I’ve taken a little bit of time away from blogging, but I’M BACK.

We were in Portland over the holidays, which was AMAZING, but super busy at the same time. Got back to Columbus and have hit the ground running, and haven’t stopped since.

Stay tuned for fantastic updates, new styled shoots, new offerings, and a whole lot of fun.

 

Why Photographers “Cost So Much” | Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

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It has been an interesting few months, with lots of conversations happening between myself, and potential wedding clients. 

One thing that I see with increasing frequency is couples looking to spend $200 – $500 for 12 hours of coverage for their day. Let that sink in for a while… $200-$500 for TWELVE HOURS of coverage. 

I’m absolutely NOT recommending that a couple spend more than they can comfortably afford on their photographer

For every hour that I shoot, there are an additional six hours of work that goes in AFTER the wedding. Not to mention the time that goes in researching, planning, meeting with the couples prior to the big day.  

As photographers, we don’t simply show up with a fancy camera, snap some shots, and then waltz away with a huge check. They’re using the above example, a 12-hour wedding ends up being at a minimum, 72 hours of work. That’s $6.94 an hour. Certainly not minimum wage, and definitely not a livable wage.  

Please don’t get me wrong here, I’m absolutely NOT recommending that a couple spend more than they can comfortably afford on their photographer. Never that.   

After the big day is over, after the flowers have died, because they will, and after the cake is gone, the photos are what’s left, what is tangible, and what will be looked at long after, what will be passed down to children, and grandchildren.  

N. Nicely Photography says is best, and you can find the original post here.

Holiday Hoopla | k.H.a. Lifestyle Photography | Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

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A couple of weeks ago, through the Columbus chapter of The Rising Tide Society, I was presented with the opportunity to spend a day volunteering at Legacy Candle Co.. For me, the gal who ALWAYS has candles burning, it was pretty much one of the coolest opportunities I’ve been presented with.

I had so much fun, that I’ve kept going back, and plan on doing so until they toss me out. If you like candles, (and even if you don’t) you need to check them out. Amber, their founder has an amazing energy and light about her, and she is doing amazing things.  And the candles… best smells ever.

That first day there, I met Brandy, who is one of the leaders of the Columbus Chapter of Out of Darkness.

Both Out of Darkness and Legacy Candle Co. are non profits who’s focus is getting women and children out of sex trafficking, which is a MUCH bigger problem than most realize.  I’m partnering with Out of Darkness, for their Holiday Hoopla this year, what’s that you ask?

outofdarknessinvitesweb-6

 

Out of Darkness is hosting the Holiday Hoopla, on Saturday December 10th, from 11am-2pm, at the Westerville Nazarene Church, where for $5 per child, there will be cookies to decorate, ornaments to be made, goodies to be picked up fro office or teacher gifts, and most importantly, the opportunity to have photos taken with Santa.

I’ve heard rumors that Elsa may be there as well.

Bring your littles out for an  afternoon of fun, help this amazing cause raise money, and just stop by and say hi, after all, who doesn’t like Christmas cookies?

 

 

Weekend In Review | k.H.a. Lifestyle Photography | Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

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So this year, Thanksgiving looked a bit different than it has in the past.

Rather than spending the holiday at the Oregon Coast with my family, we stuck around Ohio, spending Thanksgiving itself at the home of our friend Vanessa and Bryan, with their families, and then the weekend with Jeff’s family in Mercer County, where I volunteered to cook for everyone. (Our immediate family on the Heitkamp side numbers at just over 30.)  It was a blast.

Both Eddie & Otis (our chihuahua’s) spent the weekend with us getting snuggled all over, sneaking bites of turkey, and enjoying the chaos that comes with 15 small children running around and playing. Thursday night, when it came time to leave Vanessa & Bryan’s, Eddie staged a protest, running into their bed room, rather than agreeing that we should go home.

I didn’t spend as much time behind my camera as I would have perhaps liked, but the time spent with family & friends in the kitchen(s), playing games, and watching football, was so perfect, and so needed.

Happy belated Thanksgiving, from our family to yours.