Columbus SOUP | Photographing the Green Spoon Army

August 13, 2018 By // by kate

The first SOUP event that I photographed was last fall, the end of October to be exact. That Sunday, and that SOUP, wrapped up a weekend of photography that included Highball Halloween (shout out to Shiree, and all her badassery), Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for the ACS, a wedding (in Cincinnati), and doing the food for another photographer’s photo shoot.

It was driving home from doing the food that Liz and I connected via phone, both of us juggling about four more balls in the air than we should have, and somewhere in there, above and beyond our crazy juggling acts, we clicked.

I photographed my first SOUP that night, and a new collaboration was born.

#khalifestylephotography #kathrynheitkamp #columbusohio #greenspoonarmy #asseenincolumbus

Columbus SOUP | Photographing the Green Spoon Army

So, those balancing and juggling acts that I mentioned, clearly I need to pull a couple of those bad boys back in, as it’s now August and I’m (finally) getting to blogging the SOUP events that I’ve since photographed.

#adultingSpring

Getting Sloshed for SOUP

Aside from each seasonal SOUP, this year, for Liz’s birthday, everyone headed to Landgrant Brewing to get sloshed for SOUP.

Yup. You read that right.

Sloshed for SOUP. The community came together to hang out, have fantastic OH! Burgers, drink really good beer and do a small part to raise the level of the SOUP grant.

Changing How Columbus Thinks About Philanthropy

We live in a city that embraces good ideas, and Columbus SOUP provides a platform to share those ideas at the ground level and make connections that matter. Through quarterly community events, local organizations gain needed funding by presenting their ideas for creating positive change in our city. Attendees at our events pay a $7 minimum donation for dinner and a vote. Cash donations are combined to create a micro-grant, and everyone at the event votes for which of the projects wins the grant.
Call it a kickstarter, call it crowdfunding, call it a giving circle—we call it Columbus SOUP.
Columbussoup.org

Five Tips for Teaching Your Kid Photography

August 8, 2018 By // by kate

Written & photographed by Dan Barr.

In our hectic day to day schedule, we often don’t get to spend quality time with our children. Spending time with your child over a creative activity is a fantastic way to bond with them. Photography is one such activity that you and your child will enjoy.

Five tips for teaching your kid photography

Learning photography will improve your child’s focus and concentration. It increases their creativity as well. It allows them to express the way they see the world. Also, your child will learn to be more physically active.

Here are a few tips to help make the experience of learning and teaching photography a joyful one for your child and for you.

Choosing the Camera
Teach the Functions
Get a Grip
Point and Shoot
Edit
Share

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” — Aaron Siskind

I: Choosing the Camera

The choice of camera will largely depend on your child’s age. If your child is small, it would make sense to purchase a kid’s camera. Kid’s cameras are lightweight. Children tend to drop things often. Keeping this in mind, the kid’s cameras are built sturdy to withstand accidental drops. The buttons on the camera are small and the settings are very simple. If your child a little older, you might want to consider buying them a Polaroid camera. The camera produces a hard copy of the captured shot instantly. Seeing immediate results will make your child more interested to learn photography. If your child is 10 – 12 years or older, you can consider purchasing a digital camera for them. Alternatively, you can give them your old camera if you have one. These days, even getting your kids a drone is in vogue.

II: Teaching the Camera Functions

If you have a purchased a new camera, it would be a great idea to quickly browse through the user manual. You can then explain to your child, the function of each button on the camera. Teach them to use the camera with a strap at all times, so that they can prevent the camera from falling. If the camera has a separate lens cover, teach them to put it back on at the end of every photo session. This will teach your child to be more careful with the camera.

III: Get a Grip

If the camera is large for your child’s hand, they may not find it easy to get a firm grip on it. Explain to your child, the correct technique of holding the camera. You can teach your child to use the timer setting on the camera. This will help them hold the camera steady as the shot is being captured and not put pressure on the shutter release button. If you feel your child still isn’t able to get a steady grip on the camera, you can purchase a tripod for them. This will help your child focus on clicking the photograph rather than spending in trying to adjust their grip.

IV: Point and Shoot

If your child is very young, you may not be able to teach them as many photography skills. You can, however, help them get familiar with a camera and help them build an interest in photography. If your child is older, and use a camera with slightly complex functions, you can begin with teaching them to click pictures of the same object with a different setting on the mode dial. This will help them understand the difference of which setting needs to be used in different situations. Teach your child the importance of light in photography. Explain the difference between different types of light. For example – indoor and outdoor light, direct and indirect light etc. Teach them the usage of Camera Flash. Ask them to use the Camera Flash when the ambient light is low. And they must not use the Camera flash when taking pictures of reflective surfaces such as mirror, glass or metallic surface, as this will leave the end result with a bright white spot in the picture. If you have pets at home, you must ask your child to refrain from using Camera Flash when clicking photographs of the pet as this bright light pointed towards them may cause them to feel nervous or get scared.

V: Edit

As a beginner, your child may click a lot of photographs that are otherwise fantastic barring a few distractions in the background. Or may need some corrections. It would be an excellent idea to teach them how to edit the photographs. There are many free editing software tools and mobile apps available, to correct the image or enhance it. They can be used to adjust the brightness and or the contrast of the image, or make a photograph into black and white and make only one color pop out. Learning how to edit photographs will further heighten your child’s creativity.

VI: Share

Validation and appreciation from you will work as a positive reinforcement for your child. You can upload the photographs captured by your child on your social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. and share them with your family and friends. When your child will get words of appreciation from people they look up to, it will encourage them to further pursue photography with more zest.

Teaching photography to your child will help them create memories for a lifetime. When your child is older they will have wonderful memories documented in the form of photographs.

#khalifestylephotography #danbarr #kidscameraguide — Must be quite the lens!

Photography is a wonderful skill that will bring your child close to nature. It makes them more physically active. It increases their confidence, creativity and positively impacts their overall development.

You can ask your child to incorporate photography with a lot of activities they normally do. For example, if your child is playing in the backyard, you can ask them to click photographs of the trees around them or if they have finished working on a school project, they can click photographs of the project etc. This will instill a sense of accomplishment in them.

Children always have a fresh perspective on how they look at the world. Seeing the world through their innocent eyes can also help us look at things differently.

About the Author:
Dan Barr is a photographer, a parent to two girls, and the founder of KidsCameraGuide.com, a blog which is all about teaching photography to kids and kids’ cameras. You can visit Dan at his website www.kidscameraguide.com.

FIVE-TIPS-FOR-TEACHING-YOUR-KID-PHOTOGRAPHY

Photographing Natterdoodle’s Intro to Hand Lettering

August 7, 2018 By // by kate

I’ve been fascinated by hand lettering for quite a while (let’s be real, most of the nation is right now, and I am A-Ok with being a part of that crowd). When the opportunity arose to photograph Natterdoodle’s Intro to Hand Lettering at The Joseph, I was all in. (BTW, the next opportunity to attend that Pen Party is August 22nd, 2018)

#khalifestylephotography #kathrynheitkamp #asseenincolumbus #handlettering #naterdoodle #thejoseph

Photographing Natterdoodle’s Intro to Hand Lettering

I got to the Joseph with enough time ahead of the Pen Party’s start time to watch (and capture) Natalie as she prepped for the arrival of that nights attendees.

Watching her brain work as she put together the big flip boards for the evening, it was so freakin’ cool. I got to watch her creative process in action.

My favorite part of the evening, however, was listening to the lesson as Natalie worked her way through it. This chick not only knows her stuff, she’s got phenomenal delivery. (Plus, the light in The Joseph, ammmmmmazing)

Throughout, no one’s attention wavered or wandered. Y’all aren’t here to hear me rave about Natalie, the phenom behind Naterdoodle, you’re here for the photos, so without further ado, scroll down and check ’em out!

#khalifestylephotography #cookeatexplore #theladyh

Want to work with me?

Email Me.

Arthritis Foundation | 2018 Cruise-In & Auto Show

August 3, 2018 By // by kate

I met Liz Martin last fall, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, as we both were mastering the art of #adulting. At the time, I had no idea how much a chance phone call would change the direction of my life, and I am SO hugely grateful to the universe for crossing our paths.

The evening that followed that first phone conversation was the Fall SOUP event and the first time that Liz and I met in person. It was one of those, “oh hey, there you are” kinda moments that simply clicked.

Arthritis Foundation | 2018 Cruise-In & Auto Show

Since that fateful fall Sunday afternoon, I’ve photographed a handful of events in collaboration with Liz and by extension, the Arthritis Foundation. Each event is more kick-ass than the last, and the AF Auto Show and Cruise-In was no exception.

I have an intern this summer, Colby, who was with me at the Auto Show, and without him, I would not have been able to capture the event in the same way. Not even a little bit.

That first morning we got to check in, picked up our badges and the key to our golf cart (HELL YES golf cart!) and got to work. Hang on a sec, and lemme back up to earlier that morning. Colby got to the house, together we loaded up the cooler with bottles of water, Gatorade, and energy drinks, (props to the wedding and event photographer day of drinks of choice), made sure that all of our gear was packed and ready to go, stopped at Starbucks for a hit of that liquid gold, and off we went.

We figured out real early that first day that the k.H.a cooler, while heavy with drinks and ice, was not heavy enough to stay in the cart when we went around corners. (That tidbit of knowledge only took twice to sink in) Which meant that Colby was tasked with driving, while I rode shotgun, using my legs to keep the cooler where it was supposed to be.

The next two days were spent zipping around the show field, capturing alllllll the things. This show was the first ever auto show for both Colby and myself, which meant that we were both essentially little kids in a candy store, for the first time ever. Experiencing it, and soaking it all in, cameras in hand, eff-ing fantastic.

Arthritis Foundation Auto Show Food Court

Plus, Y’all, the food carts at the Auto Show? Ballin’. We dug into funnel cake, because if duh. If you’re able to be at a festival that has a booth selling funnel cakes, and you’re able to avoid it entirely, you’re a better person than we are. We inhaled that thing. Then lemonade. Then burritos. Something along the lines of keeping our energy levels up and whatnot.

Rockin’ out with Snidely Whiplash

Saturday, the second day of the Auto Show, Snidely Whiplash performed, and lemme tell ya, these guys have real big energy and are real fun to watch.

The show was wrapping up, I was done shooting, so I kicked my feet up on the dash of my golf cart, popped a top, and enjoyed the show. There could not have been a better way to end the weekend.

Want to work with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Want to learn more about the health benefits of incorporating turmeric into your daily life? Read more HERE.

#khalifestylephotography #arthritisfoundationautoshow #arthritisfoundation #asseenincolumbus #dublinohio #cookeatexplore

#khalifestylephotography #arthritisfoundationautoshow #arthritisfoundation #asseenincolumbus #dublinohio #cookeatexplore #snidelywhiplash

ARTHRITIS-FOUNDATION-AUTO-SHOW-2018-1-26

#khalifestylephotography #arthritisfoundationautoshow #arthritisfoundation #asseenincolumbus #dublinohio #cookeatexplore#khalifestylephotography #arthritisfoundationautoshow #arthritisfoundation #asseenincolumbus #dublinohio #cookeatexplore

Second Shooting | Jorgensen Farms

July 20, 2018 By // by kate

A photographer friend of mine, Jason, who owns and runs Jason Joseph Photography, called and asked if I wanted to second shoot a wedding with him, and my answer was a pretty immediate, duh. As our conversation progressed and we chatted through the details, I found out that the venue for the day was to be Jorgensen Farms. Hell yes. Jorgensen Farms has been on my photography bucket list for a while, and I was stoked.

Second Shooting | Jorgensen Farms

Second shooting weddings has fast become one of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon (or day, depending on the wedding, and the photographer that is the primary) I get to show up, capture the day, hand over the files as outlined in the contract that k.H.a. has with the primary studio, and head home to flip through the files that I captured, edit those that I have a big draw towards, and then switch back over to working on the other projects I have on my desk.

Jorgensen Farms as a Wedding Venue

The calm, peaceful, WONDERFUL energy that the owners have cultivated hits you as soon as you set foot out of the car in the gravel parking area. You can feel the love and care and attention to detail that has gone into cultivating the Historic Barn (and property as a whole) into a venue and event space. It’s fantastic. The light out there, phenomenal.

The wedding that Jason and I photographed together took place in the back fields, the reception in the Historic Barn. The bride and bridesmaids got ready and dressed in the yellow house, to the right of the Arena, the fellas in the grey house (Jason covered those details, while I spend time with the ladies)

The Historic Barn venue is divided into four unique areas: The Potting Shed and Patio welcomes guests onto a cozy brick patio made from reclaimed materials; The Arena provides rustic charm for your wedding or event; the versatile Main Barn post and beam structure offers a unique area for appetizers, indoor dancing, seating and more; and the Flower Field stretches across half an acre with expansive flower beds that bloom throughout the seasons, and holds space for maximum seating. – Jorgensen-Farms.com/events

Ya’ll. This place seriously rocks, and made photographing the day a dream.

Want to work with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com

#khalifestylephotography #kathrynheitkamp #jorgensenfarms #ohioweddings #jasonjosephphotography #weddingday #portraits

Introducing Colby, like the cheese, Caldwell.

July 1, 2018 By // by kate

Introducing Colby

I met Thom Stevenson last summer through Cancer Support Community of Central Ohio, and it was this instant click of oh, there you are. Our friendship has blossomed since then, to the point that when one of calls the other and says, hey, wanna do a thing? The answer is invariably, Yes. When and where do I need to be?

Thom is a professor in the Patton College of Education at Ohio University, teaching classes in restaurant operations, intro to food production, and the senior capstone class, so when he called and asked if I wanted a summer intern, my answer was immediate.

Yes. Yes I do.

I’d had met Colby earlier this spring when Thom brought one of his classes up to Columbus for a field trip to any of a variety of Columbus food facilities, and we talked that day about getting together to shoot, so when I found out that the intern that would be spending the summer working alongside of me was Colby, I was thrilled.

Without any further ado, meet Colby C Caldwell.

Hello! My name is Colby, like the cheese, Caldwell. That’s right, C.O.L.B.Y. Like the cheese.

Writing an “about me” is probably one of the worst things as a person you have to do. You have to sit down and dive deep inside yourself in order to show the world who you want them to see. And harder yet, you have to do it largely with words.

I’m a visual person. I’m not a big fan of writing or speaking (sometimes) a sentence to save my life. I can tell you just about anything and odds are, you’ll believe it. Why? “because you read it on the Internet.”

I can tell you just about anything and odds are, you’ll believe it.

I love to go to the gym, you’ll see me at the bars every night and I love cats like no body’s business.

All that? Damned lies.

It’s so easy to fall prey to false information on the internet. A photo doesn’t tell the whole story and a being a headline doesn’t make it true. I want to write a blog with the intentions of being real and authentic with my readers.

I’m a wannabe city boy who grew up in the country, surrounded by a family of truckers and farmers

I’m from a small town in Southeastern Ohio where the grass may seem a little greener but the hills – a little steeper. I won’t start all the way back at the beginning, but I’ll sum it by saying I grew up a gay male in conservative Gallia County. I’ve learned to see the world A LOT differently than your average Appalachian, having to tiptoe everyday through the mine fields of bullies, ignorant comments, and religious persecution.

I’m a wannabe city boy who grew up in the country, surrounded by a family of truckers and farmers, and I’ve never had the desire to get down and dirty on the farm or in the garage. No, I don’t want to plant tobacco or feed your cows and I’d rather not crawl look under the 3 ton semi. Thanks, but no thanks. I love my family, don’t get me wrong, but this apple fell far from the farmer’s tree.

I want to travel and see the world outside of small-town Ohio, meet other passionate people, take photos of good food and pet all of the dogs along the way. I live my life seeking authentic interactions, big and/or small adventures, phenomenal food and lots of it.

Currently a student at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, I study Commercial Photography and Restaurant, Hotel and Tourism. I began photographing portraits and weddings but soon found I had a passion for food and how it should be portrayed. Sure, I could take a standard portrait. But I’d rather take a portrait of you and cover you in your favorite food. Nothing will make you smile more than when you have half a pizza on your face. Trust me.

I like to think outside of the pizza box by creating surreal and whimsical photos – something you’d only see in Wonderland.

Five Books to Read This Summer | Self Care for Creatives

June 27, 2018 By // by kate

Five Books to Read This Summer | Self Care for Creatives

A friend of mine asked me a very simple question earlier this summer and it knocked sideways. “What are you reading right now?”. I’m pretty sure my mouth gaped open, and I had that fish outta water thing going for me for a moment. It’s a simple question, and yet, I had let my self care slip so badly that the closest I’d come to reading a book as of late was skimming through Like Water For Chocolate and a book of Robert W. Service poems that sits next to my bed.

How the hell did I get to this point? I LOVE to read. All caps, Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole style L.O.V.E. reading, and as I racked my brain, I couldn’t remember when I last picked up a book for fun. Well, crap.

As I’ve picked up some of my Nora Roberts favorites again, to wind down after a day focused solely on business, website servers, client proposals, meetings, studio time styling shoots, getting my camera and gear out solely for the sake of being creative, don’t forget laundry, and keeping the house clean (you know, the never ending to do list that is adulthood as well as owning a couple of business’), the question got me thinking. What else do I want to read. What have I ordered from Amazon that I haven’t made the time to get around to reading? What does that list look like? The more I thought about it, and tossed it around in my head, I realized that if I was tossing in reading for fun aaaaaand business, that there’s probably a whole bunch of other creatives out there who are in the same boat.

Join me this summer, let’s read together, apart.

[[A quick note (ahem*fine print*ahem) the Amazon links below are affiliate links. What that means to you is this | I’ll receive a small commission should you choose to purchase through them. There is no additionally cost to you, in any way. Questions? Hit me up. I’m happy to answer them, or, click HERE for our terms and conditions]]

The Millennial’s Guide To Changing The World

Allison Lea Sher’s number one Amazon seller Millennial’s Guide To Changing The World crossed my desk when I was reviewing it through Brand Backer, and there was SOOOO much awesome in it, that while I’m exactly a millennial, I’m a HUGE advocate for anyone, at any stage in life picking this one up.

Alison Lea Sher’s Millennials Guide to Changing the World will lead a generation in doing just that. Reading her words is like having a conversation with your big sister over a cup of coffee in your favorite coffee shop. She tackles hard issues head on, with compassion, wit, and humor.

If you yourself are a millennial, you know someone who is, or if you have children of your own, this is a must read.

Blogging Brilliantly for Your Business

I first heard Christine Tremoulet a couple WPPI’s ago, when I sat in on her class, and y’all. MINDBLOWING. In the change the way you think about doing business and life and what not. She’s a force of nature, in the best way, and oh man does she know her stuff.

I’ve read her book multiple times, and like all other books that I go back to time and again, I get something different out of it. This summer, as I delve deeeeeeply into teaching my intern, Colby, how to start his brand (and blog) from the ground up, I know that I’ll be approaching Christine’s book with a perspective that I have not before, and I’m real stoked.

Join Her Facebook Group [HERE]

Let It Out, A Journey Through Journaling

According to my mom, I’ve been keeping a journal since loooooong before I could write. When I’d get into trouble for whatever it was that I’d done to deserve being sent to my room, she’d poke her head in the door and there I’d be, scribbling away furiously in whatever journal I was using at that point in time. I’ve kept journals consistently through out my life, once one is filled, it goes into a big plastic storage tote that to this day, lives at my mom’s house.

I met and photographed author Katie Dalebout when she was a part of The Wine & Shine’s first annual live podcast event at The Wonder Jam, and like with Christine, this chick is passionate, and big time inspiring.

I bought her book on the spot, and with that whole not making time to read for myself thing, have yet to pick it up and dive into it. Hence it’s place on my summer reading list. The sections that I’ve read through however, have been hugely motivating in the inspirational way, and I’m jazzed to kick back with a frosty something or other and get reading.

Faster Than Normal

A friend of mine, who is also a photographer & creative (and fellow ADHD gal), sent me the link to a list of gift ideas for those of us who deal with our brains working faster than our bodies can keep up with, and while I’ve lost the link itself, I did order Peter Shankman’s book on the spot.

The absolute importance of self care has been brought into sharp relief as of late, and for me, that means reading Shankman’s book.

Sooner rather than later.

Light is The New Black

This one speaks for itself. If you’re meant to read it, you will.

Want to work with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Dudes & Details | Working with Heather

June 2, 2018 By // by kate

Dudes & Details | Working with Heather

I met Heather Marlin seven or so days after moving to Ohio two years ago when we both attended a workshop on boudoir photography lead by Erica Coffman at UA Creative. We clicked. (hah. I made an unintentional funny.) She owns and runs Big Fish Stories Photography and Design, and she is one of the best and coolest women I know.

When she called and asked if I wanted to second for her at a wedding, capturing the moments and memories by way of wrangling groomsmen and documenting the details. I was all in. Anytime she calls to ask if I want to get my camera out with her, I’m down. (I get to wrangle babies at her newborn sessions (read = I snuggle the wee ones so that Heather do her thang, and the new mom and dad get a couple of hours to close their eyes or watch tv in her studio sitting room) it rocks)

Anytime she calls to ask if I want to get my camera out with her, I’m down.

Upon arriving a the hotel, Heather headed off with the ladies, to document the getting ready portion of the day with the bride and bridesmaids, and headed off to find the room the groom and groomsmen were hanging out in prior to the ceremony.

These dudes were so much fun to hang out with. They’ve all been friends since most of them could remember, and the love and deeeeeeep rooted affection they’ve all got for each other, it was palpable that day.

Heather, I’ll come shoot for you anytime.

Interested in working with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com