• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content

KHA Lifestyle Photography

Capturing your memories for lifetimes.

  • Blog
  • Inquiries
  • Intimate Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • Hire Me
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy, Terms, Conditions, & Disclosures
  • Blog
  • Inquiries
  • Intimate Lifestyle

The Second Annual Live Pod Cast Event | The Wine & Shine Podcast

May 31, 2018 By //  by kate

WINE-AND-SHINE-LIT-LIFE-YOGA

THE SECOND ANNUAL LIVE POD CAST EVENT | THE WINE & SHINE PODCAST AT LIT+LIFE YOGA

#wineandshinepodcast #juliewojno #ashleyrector #harnessmagazine #litlifeyoga #shortandstoutbar #columbusohio #womensupportingwomen #blogandbizbabes #khalifestylephotography

I met Liz and Nina, the duo behind the Wine & Shine Podcast, last year, when we teamed up to create a lifestyle branding photography for the podcast, and I subsequently became the Wine & Shine’s photographer.

These two women y’all, they’re seriously kick ass. They’re passionate about what they do, passionate about supporting and lifting up other women (something that is SERIOUSLY lacking in todays world), and all around passionate about life.

Last year they hosted their first ever live podcast event, at Allie and Adam Lehman’s Wonder Jam, with guests Katie Dalebout, Taylor Riggs, and Simi Biotic (legit, the energy that these babes bring together is phenomenal).  This year, the Second Annual Wine & Shine Live Podcast was held at Lit+Life Yoga, and featured Ashley Rector, the founder of Harness Magazine, and the powerhouse health coach that is Julie Wojno.

The light, and energy, and good jujus that filled the Lit+Life that night, real kick ass, and real fun to photograph.

Short and Stout, Columbus’ favorite mobile bar, kept the wine flowing in the cool evening air, and the light that night? It was perfect.

#wineandshinepodcast #juliewojno #ashleyrector #harnessmagazine #litlifeyoga #shortandstoutbar #columbusohio #womensupportingwomen

Want to work with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com

#wineandshinepodcast #juliewojno #ashleyrector #harnessmagazine #litlifeyoga #shortandstoutbar #columbusohio #womensupportingwomen #blogandbizbabes #khalifestylephotography
#wineandshinepodcast #juliewojno #ashleyrector #harnessmagazine #litlifeyoga #shortandstoutbar #columbusohio #womensupportingwomen #blogandbizbabes #khalifestylephotography
#wineandshinepodcast #juliewojno #ashleyrector #harnessmagazine #litlifeyoga #shortandstoutbar #columbusohio #womensupportingwomen #blogandbizbabes #khalifestylephotography
#wineandshinepodcast #juliewojno #ashleyrector #harnessmagazine #litlifeyoga #shortandstoutbar #columbusohio #womensupportingwomen #blogandbizbabes #khalifestylephotography
#wineandshinepodcast #juliewojno #ashleyrector #harnessmagazine #litlifeyoga #shortandstoutbar #columbusohio #womensupportingwomen #blogandbizbabes #khalifestylephotography
#wineandshinepodcast #juliewojno #ashleyrector #harnessmagazine #litlifeyoga #shortandstoutbar #columbusohio #womensupportingwomen #blogandbizbabes #khalifestylephotography

 

 

Filed Under: As Seen in Columbus, Community Events, Self Care for Creatives, This Creative Life Tagged With: Ashley Rector, Branding Photography, Columbus Lifestyle Photographer, Columbus Lifestyle Photography, Columbus Ohio, Columbus Ohio Photographer, Eat Play Cbus, Julie Wojno, Lit+Life Yoga, Liz Garster, Nina Boyce, Short & Stout Mobile Bar, The Wine & Shine Podcast

I’m Kate | Let Me Introduce Myself

May 21, 2018 By //  by kate

I'm_kate

So here’s the thing. I’ve been putting a lot of thought into how I wanted to write this. How to start writing this. And I kept getting stuck.

Everything felt wrong and forced and fake. And tonight, I figured it out. I was trying to figure out a way to ease into it, smooth the road, and all that.

Here’s the thing though, that’s bullshit, on evvvvvery level. I’ve spent far too much of my life trying to be less of myself so that others would be happy, and I’m real done with that.

Imma be real open (read=vulnerable) and realllllllllly real with all this. I grew up in Oregon, and traveled all throughout the West (which means anything rest of the Rockies, and the state of Montana, should there be any inquiring minds.), and while I have friends scattered across the country, and globe, my family pretty firmly planted between California, Oregon, and Washington state.

Jeff and I made the decision to move away from Portland together, and I was ecstatic to be moving closer to my nieces and nephews, to actually get to be involved in all of life, not just an aunt that shows up at holidays bearing gifts. Scared (because duh, I moved to a state in which I only knew a handful of people) but excited to see what the world had in store for us across the country.  Know the saying “If you want to make God laugh, tell him  your plans?” Real true.

I did everything that I was supposed to do, and not only did it not work, I lost myself in the process.

We did move across the country, and yup, closer to family. I was excruciatingly careful to not post anything on Facebook, here through k .H.a. Lifestyle Photography, or on Cook.Eat.Explore, that could be seen as “too much”, “too out there”, “too polarizing.” Didn’t matter if it was something that I’m passionate about (for the record, I’m 100% pro-choice. What a woman chooses to do with her body, that’s her business. Not yours.  I think that states who have legalized the use of recreational thc are genius (don’t believe me, or think otherwise? Check out the tax revenue that those states have been pulling in, hand over fist, which fixes roads. And fund schools. I think that Trump is Hitler reincarnate. (We are on a dangerously similar path to that of Hitlers Germany), but see, I had to tamp all of that down. Because it might be too much. I might offend someone. A potential client may not hire me, because I’m outspoken about what I believe in, but worst of all, what if family saw it, what would they think?  (It’s amazing what you can make yourself ok with. Until you can’t.)

I did everything that I was supposed to do, and not only did it not work (that’s a conversation that will only ever be had in the inky darkness of the other side of midnight, soaked in bourbon) I lost myself. I stopped being me to try and make everyone else happy. Well, guess what. The family that we moved out here to be closer to? The mask finally slipped free, and it always does, the truth came out.

My “sins” had been roundly counted,  listed, and apparently broadly discussed amongst everyone in the family, save my husband or myself, anyways. It didn’t matter that I’d been doing EVERYTHING I could to try and fit in. It happened anyhow. I stood up for myself. (You can guess how well that went over).

After WPPI this year, I drove through the Sonoran Desert to  Phoenix to spend time with friends, and we ended up driving over the Superstition Mountains, on a historic stretch of road that is real high up the list of the most dangerous roads in the world (totally by accident), which also traverses land that is considered to be cursed by both the Apache and Navajo tribes (the blood that had been spilled there so long ago stained the earth in the truest of senses), under a full moon.  Whoops.

Randall, I know I’ve said it before, and I’ll be saying it until I draw my last breath. I have such HUGE respect for how cool and composed you were behind the wheel that night. Driving over those mountains that night, my life (and his own, and that of his husband) were absolutely in Randall’s hands.  The right side of the car, sheer rock face, straight up. The left side of the car, straight down.

Had his grip on the wheel slipped once, had his attention faltered, at all, that would have been it for the three of us. Curtains. Swan song time.

It was only after we’d (finally) got into our room that night out at Apache Lake, that the adrenaline coursing through our bodies finally began to abate that we were able to process the prior four hours, stretch out and get some VERY needed rack time.

Gut check time.

The next night, watching we had the Oscars on when we got back from dinner, and  Keala Settle performed This Is Me on the Oscars, (I still haven’t seen The Greatest Showman) and it was like a dam burst open inside of me.

I am never tamping myself down in that way to try to be accepted again. This is it. This is me. Flaws, faults, and all.

THIS-IS-ME

What makes me, me.

Aside from 33 trips around the sun? My passionate love affair with a really good manicure, massage, or night out laughing with friends. I’m killlller in the kitchen, and when I offer to cook for you, I really mean it. Bear in mind that dinner in our home is rarely served before 9:30. HOWEVER, there will not only be good wine flowing, there will be multiple appetizer platters put in front of you, bites of whatever I’m cooking offered for tasting along the way, and more likely than not, a big ass box of Goldfish crackers in the pantry. Because I apparently have the same taste in snacks as most two-year-olds.

I am blunt. Friendly. Funny. Loyal to a fault (again, of which there are many). I play the piano. I am a shoulder to lean on when the world gets too heavy. I’m a sanctuary for my loved ones. My blue eyes will pin you to the wall, and I will know without question if you’re lying to me. I make a hell of a cocktail. If you tell me you can hang, I’ll believe you. I’m not your mother or your priest. Music pumps out of the speakers in my car and in my home. All of the time. I’m a night owl.  I’m an old soul. I’m passionate, I’m caring, I’m compassionate. I swear like a sailor on a five-day bender.  I can be too impulsive and I don’t have a huge amount of patience. I very firmly believe that sexuality is powerful and that confidence is sexy. I know what it means to have your heart broken and your hopes dashed. I’ve traveled the world. I’ve held back other women’s hair, and I’ve had my own held back. I believe in destiny and karma and I own more than one tarot deck. I’m loud, and I have zero tolerance for bullshit.

I may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I am a damn fine shot of whiskey.

Want to work with me? hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Filed Under: Self Care for Creatives, This Creative Life Tagged With: Columbus Lifestyle Photographer, Columbus Lifestyle Photography, Columbus Ohio Photographer, Columbus Photographer, columbus wedding photographer, Columbus Wedding Photography

Arizona | Desert Photography & Recharging My Soul 

May 13, 2018 By //  by kate

Arizona | Desert Photography | Recharging My Soul

When I was a couple years into university, I knew I needed a big change, and as such, opted to move to Northern Utah. Yup. You read that right. I moved to Northern Utah. Everyone I know thought that I had 100% lost my mind me, living in Utah. I knew though, that that was where I was supposed to be at the time, and I am hugely glad that I listened to myself, packed it all up, and moved from Oregon to the high desert of  Northern Utah, not knowing a soul.

It was the best decision I could have ever made for myself.

The high desert, the air, the light, the way it smells, it recharges my soul in the best ways. Now that we’re living in Ohio, I make it a point to head Southwest at least once a year to recharge my batteries, clear my mind, and soak in as much desert as I can.  This year, the week following WPPI, I headed to Phoenix to stay with friends, and that extra week in the desert, it was exactly what I needed.  We hiked. We drove out and spent a couple nights at Apache Lake Resort and Marina, we stayed up late sitting around the fire, drinking and catching up, cooking together and generally recharging our batteries.

Hiking in the desert is it’s own special thing, unlike hiking any where else.

Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak

One of the last evenings before it was time for me to heads back to Ohio again, we went hiking for the sunset at Piestewa Peak. Getting out into the mountains and hiking was exactly what I needed. We settled in at the top of a wash (which also turned out to be right at the bottom of a mountain bike jump, watching the bikers jump, whoa.) and settled in to watch the sun drop below the horizon. I got to play with the light, we all recharged our batteries, and slept like rocks when we got home that night.

Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak
Sunset Hiking | Piestewa Peak

k.H.a. Lifestyle Photography WPPIWant to work with me? Email me. hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Filed Under: Exploring, Self Care for Creatives, This Creative Life, Travel Tagged With: Arizona, Columbus Lifestyle Photographer, Columbus Lifestyle Photography, Columbus Ohio, Columbus Ohio Photographer, Columbus Photographer, High Desert, Soul Therapy

Gangstagrass at the Rumba Cafe

May 11, 2018 By //  by kate

Gangstagrass at the Rumba Cafe

One afternoon this spring, as I was editing and writing my way through the afternoon, I got a call from Rochelle, one of the most bad ass women I know, asking what I was up. Easy answer. Same as all other days that are devoted to the computer & office-y side of life, “editing”. Her next question bounced right back, what was I doing in an hour and a half, and I did I want to come second for her on the shoot that evening that had come together at the last minute. Again, easy answer. Hell yes I do, send me the address of where I need to be, but it really went something more along the lines of this. ,

“Hell yes I do. Send me the address. Wait. What’re we doing? Nope. Hold that thought, I’ll you back when I’m on the road (and will be using bluetooth, don’t worry Mom and Kim, you taught us well)”

As I was locking the door behind, leaving the house as I finally had a second to hit send on my Google search for Gangstagrass, the name of the band that Rochelle had texted over while we were both getting ready.  Walking to the car, scrolling down reading through what had come up, I tripped over my own feet when I realized that this was the band that did the title track of Justifed.

Their music y’all, is fantastic.

Getting to play with and around in the light as they performed, with all that creativity and music swirling around, MIND BLOWING.  Check out my favorites

Gangstagrass at the Rumba Cafe

k.H.a. Lifestyle Photography WPPI

Want to work together? Email me! hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Rench | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Rench | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
R-Son the Voice of Reason | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
R-Son the Voice of Reason | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
R-Son the Voice of Reason | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
R-Son the Voice of Reason | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dolio The Sleuth| Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dolio The Sleuth| Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Rench | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Rench | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dolio The Sleuth | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dolio The Sleuth | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Dan Whitner | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Landry McMeans | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Landry McMeans | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Rench | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Rench | Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe
Gangstagrass | Rumba Cafe

Filed Under: As Seen in Columbus, Beauty and Artistic Tagged With: Columbus Photographer, Gangstagrass, Ohio Photographer, Ohio Portrait photographer, Rumba Cafe

Top 100 In The World | Shoot & Share 2018

May 6, 2018 By //  by kate

Shoot And Share Contest ResultsShoot & Share 2018 | Contest Results

Ya’ll remember last year’s Shoot & Share contest, the one that I entered at the 11th hour, and did so with a wing and prayer, and, how stoked I was for this year’s contest. Like last year, once voting opened, it becomes almost all consuming. And in the best way possible. Friends vote, husbands vote, wives vote, family votes, and you’d better believe that screenshots are sent back and forth when we recognize our friends work.

As we’re all voting, and working, and running errands, and meeting with clients, and cooking, we’re also watching our heart counts rise. Keep in mind that heart counts do not equate to votes, not by a long shot, but they do let you know that you’re still in the running.  Which, right around when the round advances is something that is watched like a hawk.

This year, as the rounds rolled one into the next, my heart count kept going up. And I kept getting screen shots from friends, letting me know what they’d seen while voting. And then it kept going.

While absolutely a large focus of our professional lives (ahem. let’s be real here for a second, it becomes a big presence in all parts of our lives) we do also have other things that occupy significant space on the professional lists of things we all have going while the contest itself is running, and as such, the fact that I still had photos in the running into the best of the best round.

Holy. F*ck.

Having photos in the Best of the Best round, that means that I had photos that were finalists. And thanks to the fantastic friends that send me screen shots of what they’d seen while voting, I had more than one that made it. I had three.

THREE.

Three of the 50 photos that I entered into the Shoot and Share contest this year, made it to the top 100 of their category.  This year, 11,351 photographers entered 413,065 photos, from across the world. That’s almost a half of a million photos, and I had three place as finalists.

 

It’s taken me a while to process that fact, to really get it, and it didn’t fully sink in until recently when I was asked in a soundly snarky tone, “Well, top 100 by who’s count?”.  The world, dude. The world. And generally, photographers across the world.  To say that I’m proud, that barely begins to touch it.

I can’t wait to see what next February brings.

 

https://khalifestylephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018_Top_100.mp4

k.H.a. Lifestyle Photography WPPI

 

Want to work with me? Send me an email! hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Filed Under: Accolades, Beauty and Artistic, Children, Exploring, Family, Food + Kitchen Life, Headshots, Maternity, Self Care for Creatives, Senior Portraits, Southern Summer Road Trip, The Biz, This Creative Life, Travel Tagged With: Columbus Lifestyle Photographer, Columbus Lifestyle Photography, Columbus Ohio, Columbus Ohio Photographer, Columbus Photographer

Arthritis Foundation Gala ‘18, a Black Tie Affair

March 12, 2018 By //  by kate

Arthritis Foundation
Arthritis Foundation Gala ’18

 

Arthritis Foundation Gala ’18 // The Crystal Ball

Last fall, I met Liz Martin, of the Arthritis Foundation through a mutual acquaintance who was at Slow Foods Shake the Hand That Feeds You dinner. We connected on a Sunday morning as I was driving to that mornings shoot, Columbus SOUP’s fall event was that evening, and the photographer that they’d had lined up had to back out at the last-minute due to a family emergency, Liz and I were put in touch, and the rest is history. She reached out again this winter, when it came time to hire a photographer for Arthritis Foundation’s annual fundraising gala, The Crystal Ball.

Arthritis Foundation Mission Statement

For those of you not familiar with what the Arthritis Foundation does, their mission statement is this,

The Arthritis Foundation is the Champion of Yes. Leading the fight for the arthritis community, the Arthritis Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections. Our goal is to chart a winning course, guiding families in developing personalized plans for living a full life – and making each day another stride towards a cure. We also publish Arthritis Today, the award-winning magazine that reaches 4.2 million readers. – Arthritis.org

Photographing a black tie fundraising gala? Yes please.

The gala was held this year at Villa Milano, in Westerville, and was so. much. fun. When I’m photographing an event, the frozen, staid portrait isn’t something that you’re going to get. The standard step and repeat? No thanks. If we’re going to do this, we’re going to have fun. And oh man did we.

Everyone that opted to have their photo taken ended up laughing and having snuggling thier date, or making funny faces at the camera, or really any combination of both.

A bunch of money was raised to help work towards a cure for arthritis, and we all got to rock out to Mojo Flow while we did it.

Arthritis Foundation Download Instructions

 

To be guided to the gallery, please click either the above image, or, simply click [HERE] to be taken to the gallery log in.

 

k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-34
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-13
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-115
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-75
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-96
Arthritis Foundation
Arthritis Foundation Gala ’18
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-103
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-125
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-104
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-84
Arthritis Foundation
Arthritis Foundation Gala ’18
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-77
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-140
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-15
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-131
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-69
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-119
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-33
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-57
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-80
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-146
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-97
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-82
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-98
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-108
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-147
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-71
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-107
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-28
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-88
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-61
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-90
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-93
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-120
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-47
k.H.a. Arthritis Gala-1-94

 

Filed Under: As Seen in Columbus, Community Events Tagged With: Arthritis Foundation, Arthritis.org, Columbus Family Photographer, Columbus Lifestyle Photographer, Columbus Lifestyle Photography, Columbus Ohio Photographer, Columbus Photographer, columbus wedding photographer

Sexuality is powerful and confidence is sexy.

March 9, 2018 By //  by kate

If I asked you what boudoir photography meant to you, what would you say?

The answer is going to vary widely, depending on who you ask, and what sexy means to you. The best part of it though, there isn’t a wrong answer.  For some, it’s being posed and photographed in a studio, with killer lighting, the perfect lingerie, and heels that make your legs look like they go for days. For some, it’s being at home, cooking breakfast with your lover in flannel pants, a t-shirt, and a pony tail. For some, it’s sinking up to your chin in a big ass bathtub full of bubbles singing along with the Prince that you have pumping through your headphones.

It was interesting reading through what the interwebs had to say about the definition of sexy, and the one that I ended up settling on for the purpose of this article is from Wikipedia, check it out.

Boudoir photography is a photographic style featuring intimate, romantic, and sometimes erotic images of its subjects in a bedroom or private dressing room environment, primarily intended for the private enjoyment of the subject and his or her romantic partners. It is distinct from glamour and art nude photography in that it is usually more suggestive rather than explicit in its approach to nudity and sexuality, features subjects who do not regularly model, and produces images which are not intended to be seen by a wide audience, but rather to remain under the control of the subject.
It is common for women to have boudoir photographs of themselves made as a gift to a partner, conventionally on the occasion of their engagement, marriage, or before an enforced separation such as a military deployment. Boudoir photography is also sometimes given as a gift with the intention of re-affirming and encouraging the romance and sensuality between partners in a long-term relationship.
Increasingly, boudoir photography is seen as something that a person might do purely for their own enjoyment, for the pleasure and affirmation of seeing themselves as attractive, daring, sensual, and sexually-desirable. – Wikipedia.
Everyone needs a booty shot

Intimate Lifestyle & Boudoir

Pretty sure that if I told you that not only was I going to get you in front of my camera, but that I was then going to tell you to take off all of your clothes first, you’d balk, and in a real big way. Aaaaaaand if that wasn’t enough, then I’m going to tell you that you should bring your partner with you, and they’ll do the same, that most people would look at me like I’d grown a second nose, or that I’d suddenly sprouted a second set of eyes in the back of my head.

Hear me anyhow.

Overt sexuality, especially from women, has been a taboo in our culture for a really long time. You hear it allllll the time. Probably sounds something like this…

“Well what was she wearing? She was probably asking for it” 

False. If you’re comfortable in something, wear it. Rock it. NO ONE is ever ‘asking for it’ based on what they’re wearing, and EVERYONE damn sure has the right to say no, whenever they want to.

“What did she expect, dressing like that” 

She expected to be treated like a human being with thoughts, feelings, opinions, emotions, and the ability to do with her body whatever she wanted.

“Pull up your shirt, your cleavage is showing” 

This one is especially triggering for me, as I’ve heard it MY. ENTIRE. LIFE. Here’s the thing about that.  The effects of being told to cover up, constantly, and that you clearly aren’t able to dress yourself, it takes a big and lasting toll on a persons self esteem and self worth, over something that they’re most likely already self conscious of.

“Cover your bra straps, they’re showing” 

Uh….. so?

“Isn’t that a little revealing?” 

This one gets me all kinds of wound up too. It’s always posed as a question, and it NEVER is. There’s always a slightly raised eyebrow and snide side eye that accompanies it, and the message of “hey, I think that you look like a ‘ho” comes across LOUD and clear.

“They’re going to judge you. You shouldn’t do that at your size.”

Thanks for the unsolicited opinion you a$$hole. So what if someone judges you for being confident? They’re not someone that you want in your life anyhow.

“She must be really insecure if she needs that kind of attention from men.”

HA! Oh is that so? Let’s see you rock this ensemble Linda. Now, let’s see you do it and look relaxed in it. That’s what I thought.

“That dress is a little short, don’t you think?”

Sure is. That’s why I wore it.

“it’s so sad that she feels like she has to dress like that”

It’s so sad that you have nothing better to do in your life than judge mine, but hey, I’ll still thank you for the press and word of mouth.

“your legs are so long that you really can’t wear short dresses like other girls”

Well you should see what they look like when I’m in a bathing suit then, ’cause I can promise that this short dress covers more of them than that.

 Here’s the thing though. F*CK ALL OF THAT.

The most common refrain that I hear from people, both men and women, when they find out that I’m a boudoir photographer as well is “I’m not sexy. I could never do that.” False. You absolutely are sexy, you’re just not thinking of yourself that way.  I went to urbandictonary.com to see what they had to say about the definition of the word, and it illustrates perfectly how varied, and how subjective the definition really is.

Click [HERE] to check it out, and make sure that you read all of them.

Your boudoir or intimate lifestyle session isn’t one that you show up for, shoot your one hour, and be on your way. I don’t work like that. The entire the session is designed around you, and what you feel sexy in. For some, that’s leather, straps, and ball gags. Others, it’s a white cotton nightie that’s soft from years of washing. Others, it’s their partners work shirt, backwards baseball hat, and nothing else. Your session is built around you, and at no point will you be left feeling like you’re guessing as to what to bring with you, or what to expect.

We’ll work together, from the time you first inquire about booking through the end of your ordering session.

What is sexy to one person may not be to another, and that’s the beauty of our world. Thank God we don’t all like the same things. Variety is truly the spice of life.

The human form has been the subject of art for centuries. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years, so why is it something that’s still getting society’s feathers all ruffled? It’s the bottom line. All kinds of industries would collapse if we as a collective whole embraced our bodies and their beauty.

Sexuality is powerful and confidence is sexy.

Let me show you how sexy you really are, whether it’s through an in studio boudoir session, an in home intimate lifestyle session on your own, or one with your lover.

Let me show you how powerful you really are.

Interested? Let’s talk, and design something specifically to celebrate your sexy.

Click  [HERE] to reach out, I can’t wait to hear from  you.

 

 

Filed Under: Beauty and Artistic Tagged With: Columbus Lifestyle Photographer, Columbus Ohio, Columbus Ohio Photographer, k.H.a. lifestyle photography

Cook.Eat.Explore :: Food, Love, Laughter, & Photography

March 9, 2018 By //  by kate

 

Cook.Eat.Explore :: Food, Love, Laughter, Photography, & Wine.

My love of food and travel (and photography and wine) is well known amongst friends, and as of November 2016, I took a massive leap and started Cook.Eat.Explore. k.H.a. had been up and running for a bit by then, and we’d gotten almost everything unpacked into our house in Ohio and Jeff looked at me and asked something along the lines of “what the hell are you waiting for, you’ve been talking about starting a food blog since before we met.  Just do it.”

So I did.

I knew what I wanted to write about, but actually narrowing that in and being able to name it, that was a hell of a lot harder than I thought it would be. With the help of friends,  *cough-crowdsourcing-cough* Cook.Eat.Explore was named and born.

So what is it, what does that mean to all y’all, right?

The short answer? (ha) 30 plus years of travel, using WHATEVER is handy to take a snapshot or photograph (be forewarned, if we’re out together, your phones camera will be considered fair game when mine’s battery dies), growing up cooking, learning from family, friends, and anyone else willing to answer my thousands of questions, with a couple of absolutely epic, now and forever a part of family lore failures along the way… (ask me sometime about the five alarm chili, or the very first time I decided I could bake without a recipe…it was bad. Quinten Tarantino bloodshed bad)

I’ve long talked friends into throwing lavish dinner parties with me for our parents and friends, drafting them as my sous chef’s, starting when I was in high school, feeding friends and throwing together big pasta dinners with a more the merrier approach to life.

One of my earliest memories is a friend of my Dad’s telling him that when I grew up, if we were throwing a dinner party and someone asked to bring a last minute guest, my response would almost certainly be “Who the hell are they? F&*% it, it doesn’t matter, of course they can come!” Remarkably accurate prediction of the future. Also quite possibly where my love of profane words started.

30 days of thankful

Fast forward into college, I spent a lot of years working in hospitality in one form or another, I’ve bartended, waited tables, been a hostess, had a brief stint as a cocktail waitress in a rather seedy establishment that shall forever remain nameless, ran the kitchen of a wine bar & bistro, worked the line in a now defunct small Italian restaurant (in which I also bartended), worked the line in another rather famous Portland restaurant who had the bad habit of bouncing paychecks, created the menu for, and did all the legwork for weekend breakfasts, at a (again) now defunct, tiny bistro in a tony Portland suburb.

Throughout all of this I’ve collected cookbooks, and have spent COUNTLESS hours pouring over them, trying to learn everything I can about why they’re laid out they way they are, which recipes are easy to read and follow, which have appealing photography (again, and the why behind it), and cultivated an innate love of entertaining (thanks Mom & Dad).

Growing up, my Mom made certain that we traveled extensively as a family, and as such, my brother and I were very blessed to have passports full of stamps from a very young age, and have had many an adventure exploring. While last in Germany we ended up raising a glass (or four) at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, the night that Mexico played (and beat) Germany, in Germany. Both my mom and I speak Spanish, and ended up celebrating with the Mexico fans, singing Celito Lindo at the top of our lungs, quite possibly also from the top of the table, though that part is hazy…

Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport” -unknown 

I’ve had a wide and varied career path that has brought me to this point, toss in a few more years of professional sales (fashion retail, then diamonds & banking, respectively) and a really great track record of making mistakes, some far more entertaining than others, and here we are.

Throughout it all, a small handful of things have remained constant. My love(s) of cooking, entertaining, traveling, and photography.

Which brings us back to now. I’ve rolled them all up into one, and jumped.

I’ll learn to fly on the way down.

My husband, God love him, asks me often if there are any strangers to me, and the answer is invariably “nope”. Aside from being my partner in life, he’s decided to join me on this foodie journey, and while he’s not planning on being a super active or vocal participant in Cook.Eat.Explore, you can definitely expect to see his contributions on our blog from time to time.

Join us, on this crazy wonderful journey through new cities, small towns, big name cookbooks, tiny hole in the wall restaurants, with a big handful of my own recipes tossed into the mix as well, after all, the happiest I am is surrounded by friends in my kitchen, cooking, laughing, and sharing a bottle (or twelve) of wine. Wear cozy clothes, and be prepared to crash in one our guest rooms.

After all, our home is made for hosting.

 

Want to learn more? Click me to Check out Cook.Eat.Explore

Filed Under: As Seen in Columbus, Exploring, Food + Kitchen Life, Travel Tagged With: Columbus Family Photographer, Columbus Lifestyle Photographer, Columbus Lifestyle Photography, Columbus Ohio, Columbus Ohio Food, Columbus Ohio Photographer, Columbus Photographer, Light Chaser, Team Canon

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 14
  • Go to Next Page »
  • Home
  • Portfolio
  • Hire Me
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy, Terms, Conditions, & Disclosures

Copyright © 2025 KHA Lifestyle Photography

 

Loading Comments...