Why Documentation is SO Vitally Important. (And How it Will Save Yo’ Ass)

November 9, 2019 By // by kate

Why Documentation is SO Vitally Important. (And How it Will Save Yo’ Ass)

Anyone who’s been in business or worked in a business environment for more than a day, has come across an unhappy client situation. No matter what your role is in the situation, the business owner, the unhappy client, the receptionist who may have had the misfortune of being the first person to get blasted when in all reality you just needed to know who to transfer the call to, it’s not a fun situation to find yourself in.

I’ve found that often, once unhappy clients feel as though their frustrations have been heard, and really heard, not heard to the point that they stop talking so that you can jump in and try and fix it, but well and truly heard and acknowledged, they’re often willing to work with you to find a solution. (I’m using you here, as this article is geared towards photographers, and often we’re operating as our business in this unhappy client situation.)

One of the hardest, and most important, things to do when we have an unhappy client (and here’s the sticking point. It doesn’t matter if it’s justified, or not, at least not at first) is to separate the emotions from the facts.

Waaaaaay easier said than done, I know.

As photographers, and creative entrepreneurs in general, our work is us. We pour so much of ourselves not only into the work that we deliver, but into our business, that it is personal for us, and separating that out is REALLY hard.

That is only one of the many reasons that you absolutely, 100%, all of the time, no matter what need to be using contracts for EVERY. SINGLE. CLIENT. EVERY. SINGLE. SHOOT. Even when you do them for free.

Why You Should Listen to What I Have to Say

Before I took the leap to full-time photography and blogging I worked first in professional sales for a national diamond retailer, and then as a relationship manager for two of the big five banks. Throughout those job roles it was drummed into my head on an almost hourly basis just how important it is to properly document all communication you have with your clients.

You think people get emotional about photos? Try working with their heirloom diamonds and their money.

Documentation is EVERYTHING. When it really comes down to it, if it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen. Simple as that. The LAST place you ever want to be when emotions are heightened is a he said she said situation.

Yes, once words are said they can never be taken back, but it’s when they’re in writing that they stand up in a court of law, should it ever come down to it.

Document EVERYTHING. Do I sound like a broken record yet? It is THAT. IMPORTANT.

Create a file for your clients, and into it goes notes on every conversation, every email, screenshot every text message conversation, and anything sent via Facebook Messenger. Ideally, you’ll never have to refer back to it, but the reality is that it’s not an if, it’s a when that you’ll be thanking your lucky stars that you keep the records that you do.

Why (Good) Contracts are so Damn Important

If you read through the discussion boards in Rachel Brenke’s Facebook Group, thelawtog® – the legal resource for photographers, (if you haven’t joined that group yet, get on it. The information and knowledge in that group is MINDBLOWING) you’ll find that almost all of the people posing questions and asking for advice didn’t use a contract up front.

By not using a contract, and a properly worded one at that, for every single client, every single time, (ESPECIALLY when working with friends or family), you are opening yourself and your business up to a whole lotta heartache down the road.

But Kate, you say, no money is exchanging hands, I don’t need one. WRONG. False. You do need one. EVERY. SINGLE. CLIENT. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

If no money is changing hand, cool, anywhere that talks about the money, simply put $0.00. Your contract is what legally outlines what each parties’ responsibilities are regarding the business transaction that you are about to enter into.

How many days do you have to deliver your final product? It’s in your contract.

What all is included in that final product? It’s outlined in your contract.

How much are you getting paid for the work that you’re doing? It’s in your contract.

Are the RAW files you shoot available to your client, in any way? (The answer to that had better be HELL no, by the way) That’s all outlined in your contract.

What happens if you’re being harassed or made to feel unsafe by a guest at the event you’re covering? Can you pack your gear and leave, and know that your client CANNOT sue you for breach of contract for leaving before the end time listed on your contract? That had better be outlined.

Rachel Brenke made available, FOR FREE, the contract language regarding abuse and harassment. Get it, and get it into your contract ASAP if it isn’t there already.

You get the gist. Your contract is what lines out, point by point what is expected of and from you as the photographer, and what is expected of and from your client.

When you find yourself in a situation that cannot be resolved between yourself and an angry, unhappy client, you had better believe one of the first things your attorney will ask you for is a copy of the signed contract.

It’s that contract that everything will refer back to, and it’s what will ultimately save yo’ ass. If you know, without a doubt, that you have delivered everything you were contracted to, and have that signed document, along with the supporting documentation of the conversations you’ve had with your client leading up to the point of getting attorneys involved, you’re golden.

Not only do you need to have it, you need to know exactly where to find it, and it needs to be organized.

Invest the money in your business, and in yourself, to have good contracts. While something scribbled on the back of a grocery store receipt, or a contract that you’ve cobbled together MIGHT work out in your favor, you can’t know that for sure.

Rachel Brenke is an attorney who is also a photographer. The contracts that are available for purchase through her website, The LawTog, and also through Rachelbrenke.com, are written specifically for photographers.

Spend the money. The few hundred that you spend on your contracts upfront, will save you potentially thousands down the road.

Contracts Between Colleagues (Yup. You Need Them There Too)

Any business relationship that you enter into, be it with your favorite makeup artist, someone you’re guest blogging for or someone that you’ve hired to work with you as your second shooter at an event, should be backed up by a solid contract.

It doesn’t matter how well you get along with the people you have business relationships with, if you don’t have a contract set up, you’re being an idiot.

Your contracts are what protect you, and just like with clients, they’re what outline the salient points of your working relationships, and should things go south, they’re what your attorneys, and ultimately a judge will refer back to.

Your Clients Initials are Your Best Friend.

Throughout my career in the financial world, I learned just how important it is to walk through each provision in your contract, with each client. Remember that every client every time thing?

Yup. We’re back to that.

You may know your contract inside out and backward, and be familiar with industry standards, but your clients aren’t.

It’s our job as professionals to help educate our clients, and the general public, as to what we do. What we include in our packages, the timeline that a client’s gallery will be finished and delivered, the manner in which the gallery is delivered, ALL of that should be explicitly stated in your contracts.

There should be ZERO room for interpretation, and ZERO room for misunderstanding.

Raise your hand if you’ve had clients blow you up the day after a session, asking when their photos will be done, or if you have a sneak peek for them yet. Drives you crazy right?

If you not only have the answers to those questions in your contract, but you’ve explained each point to your clients, and then’ve gone the additional step of having them initial next to each provision, you’ve eliminated the majority of the chance for miscommunication. Note that I am hedging a little bit there, as there will always be a client who refuses to read everything before they initial and sign, but once they have, read it or not, legally, you’ve covered yo’ ass.

Client Communication. (Why it is SO important to document everything.)

Life is busy. Owning your own business is a never-ending to-do list, and I’m pretty sure that no matter how caught up we may feel at any given time, there is always more to do.

If I asked you what time any given client first accessed their online gallery, and from what email address, could you tell me? Could you tell me with enough certainty that you would swear to it under oath to a judge and jury of your peers? Off the top of our heads, probably not, but that’s where documentation comes into play.

Now add the stress that dealing with an irrational and angry client to your day. Now, when I ask you to tell me what day and time you delivered their gallery, and oh by the way, how did you get them that info? Can you do it? Would you be able to swear to it to a judge?

That is how important it is.

Does anyone expect you to know all of that info off of the top of your head for every client you’ve ever had? No. That would be insane.

But you should have your processes in place so that you can find it, and you can find it quickly.

Email has made keeping track of communication with clients remarkably easier than it used to be. Print out the email thread, add it to your file. CRM’S have made it even easier. (This is the one that I use)

Have a phone conversation? Take notes as you go, and once the call is over, send a recap email, and make sure to ask your clients to reply to the email to acknowledge both receipt of the email, as well as confirming that recap is accurate. Does it take time that you may feel you don’t have? Absolutely. Will it someday save yo’ ass? Absolutely.

I have a word document, for each client, each business interaction, that every time we communicate, I go in and notate it. It can be as simple as 10/28/17 – chatted via FB messenger with Stacie regarding guest blogging for Colorvale LLC, see attached screenshots.

You’re creating a record, a timeline of your interactions with your clients and peers, because in the event that you let your processes slip, and have to go back through months of email threads, screenshots, to create that timeline for your attorney, you’ll be seriously kicking yourself in the ass.

File Folders are Your Friend

There’s a reason that you see so many file cabinets in office buildings. Business creates mountains of paperwork, and again, if you don’t have a solid organizational system in place, it can get overwhelming, fast.

Each client has their own folder, and into goes all printed copies of contracts, screenshots, email print outs, the photos of their outfits for their sessions, EVERYTHING.

File folders keep things contained, and easy to find. Especially when you need to answer a question quickly.

Plus, keeping everything in your workspace organized and uncluttered will help with productivity.

How Documentation Will Save Yo’ Ass

You’ve got your processes in place now. Your contracts are solid, you’re documenting your communication with your clients and those with whom you’re entering into business relationships. You have copies of all signed contracts, both physically printed and saved electronically, and you’re rocking it organizationally. Life is sweet.

Aaaaaaaand then a client moves past the difficult stage and you find yourself hiring an attorney.

First thing that they’re going to ask you for, a copy of the signed contract, and an outline of the situation. You don’t have to try and remember.

You’ve got it all lined out.

#khalifestylephotography #cookeatexplore #theladyh

Let’s Talk Plan B | The Brass Tacks

September 9, 2018 By // by kate

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LetstalkplanB #CollectiveBias #ad

The Importance of Having a Backup Plan | Let’s Talk Plan B One-Step | The Brass Tacks

I’ve always been told that I’m too loud, too ‘extra’, too blunt. Well, no, I’m just not afraid of talking about the things that can make others uncomfortable. I figure it this way. If my talking about women’s health, the “taboo” topics (which I don’t believe should be taboo at all) and being real, open, and matter of fact about all of it, if that makes it so that ONE other woman either has a question answered, or finds the courage to voice her own concerns or opinions or seek out more information, I’ll be doing backflips. So, let’s talk Plan B One-Step.

We as women run households. We run companies. We run families. We plan vacations. We absolutely understand the importance of having backup plans for the backup plans.

Whenever I’m working on a project, be it for Cook.Eat.Explore (the food and travel side of my professional life), styling a session for a client, throwing a dinner party, or traveling back to the West Coast to see family, I inherently understand the importance of having a backup plan. (Or five. Whatever. I like to be prepared for all eventualities)

So why should our birth control be any different?

Despite our best efforts, life never goes quite as we planned.

So much so, that the number of colloquial phrases summing said up seems endless. Sod’s Law. Coughlin’s Law (Nod to one of the best movies of the 80’s). Murphy’s Law. Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Life is all about how you handle your ”plan B”. Failure to plan means you plan to fail. Here’s the thing with all of that, though. While there may be a sliiiight grain of truth to those sayings, we do the best we can to ensure that we cover all of the eventualities. We make sure that we cover alllll our bases in every aspect of our lives, because let’s be real for a second, surprises are only a good thing when it comes to birthdays. And diamonds. Or maaaaaaaaaaybe vacations.

“Surprises” and “birth control” in the same thought? Nope. No thank you.

We as women have more choices and options at our fingertips now than at any point in time. We can do or be anything that we want to be, and the fact that we have a second line of defense (that we do not have to rely on anyone else to take care of) in the realm of birth control, that’s HUGE. HUGE.

No matter how careful you are (and let’s be real for a second, mistakes happen, and we don’t always make the best choices for ourselves), condoms break, pills get skipped, or even worse, someone slips something into our drink and rape occurs.

Before Plan B emergency contraception came onto the market (either with or without a prescription (and requisite visit to your doctor)), women who were not ready to be pregnant had to look at the calendar, figure out the anticipated dates for Aunt Flo’s next visit, and pray.

And wait. And pray. And wait some more.

Now? Now we have options. Now we have choices, and now, now we more than ever, are in control of our own futures. Which is all well and good (and in my opinion, as it should be), but what about the woman who’s not sure of what questions to ask? What about the woman whos drink was drugged the night before and has turned to Google prior to heading to the corner drug store?

That’s where I come in. If I can answer one woman’s questions, ease the mental stress even a TINY bit? Win.

There’s A TON of myths about Plan B, right? Plus, add in the whole fear of the unknown thing, and things can start getting a little overwhelming. What does it do? When does it need to be taken? Why does it work? At what point does the efficacy drop? Most importantly, why having a backup plan in place before you could ever imagine needing it is so vitally important.

I’m here to provide a resource to anyone who is looking to learn more about what Plan B, what the process for taking it is, and where to find it. Here’s the other thing, I’m not a doctor. (basic chemistry and I, not so much of a good match) so if you have specific questions, I’ve gotta tell you, reaching out to your doc, the pharmacist in your drug store, or to one of the resources listed at the bottom of this post, that’ll be the way to go. I can remind you of one thing, though, Plan B One-Step does not replace regular birth control methods. It is a backup option when regular birth control failed or somehow unprotected sex happened.

Ok. So, tell me more about Plan B. What does it do? Why does it work?

Biggest myth I’ve heard tossed around about Plan B is that it’s “the abortion pill”. Nope, false. The active ingredient in Plan B is levonorgestrel, is the same ingredient in many common birth control pills – just at a higher, single dose. Plan B works mainly by delaying ovulation – it helps to prevent pregnancy BEFORE it begins. It WILL NOT affect an existing pregnancy. I will say that again for those in the back.

Plan B WILL NOT affect an existing pregnancy.

When does it need to be taken?

The short answer? The sooner the better. The sooner you take it, the better it works. Plan B must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or birth control failure. That’s three days. Even with a three-day window, stick to the sooner the better thing. Also, as with all medicines, make sure that you take it as directed.

The sooner you get Plan B into your system, the better it will work, and real talk here (hey, I meant it when I said I’m not afraid to talk about the hard stuff.), if you’re at a point that you’re taking emergency contraception, you get that time is of the essence.

Even the worst hang over I’ve ever had, it didn’t last three days, so don’t even try and tell me that you’re too hung over after a night that you may or may not remember fully to drag yo’ hungover self outta bed and drag yourself to the store.

At what point does the efficacy drop?

At the end of 72 hours, after you either made a questionable decision, your primary birth control method failed, or the worst case scenario happened, and you’re reading this after having been raped. If that’s the case, please, PLEASE go to an urgent care clinic, an E.R., your gyno, the closest Planned Parenthood clinic, the closest police station, the closest fire station, your best friend’s house and get them to go with you, and report it. You can walk into any of those places and ask for help. IT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT.

Oh, you just wanted the short answer? The sooner you can take it, the better, but NO LONGER than 72 hours after unprotected sex.

Where can I find it? Do I have to talk to anyone to buy it?

CVS is my drugstore of choice, so that’s where I’m going to tell you to go. That’s where I’m going to show you where to find it at, but you can find it also at CVS Caremark, Target, Walgreens, Rite Aid or Walmart, etc., and you should not have to talk to anyone if you don’t so choose.

If you’re a CVS gal like I am, Plan B is on aisle 14, (the adult care, feminine care, and family planning aisle) near the end, right about knee height.

Not near a CVS? You may have to ask the pharmacist because some stores keep it in different locations, or if you’re standing in the pharmacy, and got here via Google, ’cause you’ve looked and aren’t finding on your own, you can always ask the pharmacist and they will be able to help point you in the right direction, and answer any further questions you may have.

Click [HERE] for a coupon that’ll save you $10 off.

Hang on a sec, I want to have kids at some point down the road… will taking Plan B affect my fertility in the future?

Nope.

Am I going to have to show my ID to someone? I don’t want anyone to know I’ve taken Plan B, and I DEFINITELY don’t want my name to go on any list.

Yo’ body yo’ choice. Period.

You don’t have to tell anyone that you’ve taken it. You don’t have to tell anyone you bought it. If you want to, awesome. If you don’t, awesome. You wanna shout it from the rooftop? You do you.

You do not need to show ID to buy Plan B. If someone tells you that you do, turn around, walk yo’ ass out of that pharmacy, and find one that respects your right to privacy. Because here’s the thing. There is no age restriction. You do not need an ID or prescription to purchase.

So…… I’m in my 30’s, will it still work?

Absolutely. While half of the women who use Plan B are 18-24, the other half are 25+. There is no specific “type” of women who use emergency contraception. There is no one group of women that use EC more than another. We’re all human. Mistakes happen. Birth control fails.

That’s why we have a Plan B, in all aspects of our lives, and that’s why we plan for all of those eventualities. You never know when you’re going to need plans b-z.

#LetsTalkPlanB

Want to work with me? hello@khalifestylephotography.com

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

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

May 31, 2018 By // by kate

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

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.

Want to work with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com

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

I’m Kate | Let Me Introduce Myself

May 21, 2018 By // by 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.

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

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

Want to work with me? Email me. hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Top 100 In The World | Shoot & Share 2018

May 6, 2018 By // by kate

Shoot & 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.

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

30 Days of Thankful // Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

November 2, 2017 By // by kate

This past year has been a crazy adventure, with some big highs, and some real deep lows, and throughout, even in the darkest moments, I maintained a practice that my Aunt Kim instilled in both my brother and I years ago while our parents were in the process of separating. Every day, no matter what had happened, before you slept, she taught us to write down three things that either had gone well that day, or that we were thankful for.

Before that, growing up we’d go around the dinner table each night, each sharing something that we’d learned that day, and something that had gone well. It was second nature.

A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles – Inspirational Quotes Magazine

Now, as an adult, I don’t always write down my three, but you can bet your boots that before I fall asleep, I think through the day and mentally jot down my three things from the day.

Andrew Barlow, the man behind Shoot & Share, started #30DOT, and the industry has ran with it. As have a whole lot of other people. The month of November, with Thanksgiving at the end of it, is a month to be thankful, or perhaps I should say, is a month that the nation focus’ on what they’re thankful for.

This year, as I was drafting a Facebook post about what I’m thankful for, I decided that I’d be participating in the #30DOT movement not only personally, but through my business as well. If you want to follow along, I’d love it. You can find the daily prompts [HERE], each day, I’ll post that day’s prompt, comment if you want to, or simply follow along, you never know what might inspire you.

Moving out to Ohio last year was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and both Jeff and I knew that it would be hard. Very hard. (Insert that’s what she said joke here) The reality of it though? SO. MUCH. HARDER. than I ever could have imagined.

So what better time than now, when I’m starting to finally feel like I *mostly* have my feet underneath me again, to celebrate the wins. Celebrate those three things, that even in the darkest of times, they’re still there.

Join me. Do this with me.

It doesn’t have to be public, you don’t have to tell me, or anyone else, what you’re thankful for each day, but make sure that you tell yourself.