Print Yo’ Photos

July 29, 2020 By // by kate

Collaborating with my clients to create heirloom artwork that they and their families will be able to pass down through generations is LIFE. Seriously. Life.

IB Art kicked off not only my study of the interplay of emotion and art through documentary photography, but the actual creation and expression of my own body of work. From there, a degree in psychology.

Print Yo’ Photos

I’ve documented my life, and by proxy, the lives of those around me since I was 16 years old, and studied emotions since I was 18.

(For those of you keeping score, that means I’ve had a camera in hand for more than half of my life.)

Enter Lifestyle Documentary

Sessions are built around celebrating and documenting who you are.

Want to do it up Black Tie? GREAT. Want to kick it and cuddle on the couch in sweats with steaming hot mugs and piles of books? FANTASTIC. Digital Nomad? YUP.

We can do that, too.

The saying that “You’ll never know the true value of a photograph until it’s gone.”, you can’t know how true that is, until you do.

Show up in photos. Take up that space. Then print them, hang them on your walls, set them on the shelves in your office.

Document your moments, because this life is not a dress rehearsal.

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

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

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

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

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

Arthritis Foundation Gala ‘18, a Black Tie Affair

March 12, 2018 By // by kate

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.

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

Arthritis Foundation Gala ’18

Arthritis Foundation Gala ’18

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.

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

Shoot & Share // THE Contest 2018 // k.H.a lifestyle photography

January 23, 2018 By // by kate

Shoot & Share // THE Contest 2018

Last year, after entering The Photo Contest at the last minute, I swore that I would be more organized this year with the photos that I wanted to submit. Most of the time now I know almost immediately when a frame that I’ve shot is one that I’m going to love, and it was those that I had planned on putting aside, organized into category of course, so that when this years submission window opened I’d be ready.

None of that happened.

December, however, saw the first drafts of the 2017 look book (more on that at a later date) and with that, a file of the years bests and favorite images were complied. Better late than never. Sitting down and narrowing it down to 50 frames though, that was markedly harder.

As I was getting ready to write this post, I read back through 2017’s Photo Contest Posts (which you’ll find linked below) and I came to a realization. A light bulb moment of sorts.

Talk about a subtle nod from the universe to take a second and reflect.

Two years ago, at the end of January, I left corporate America and I haven’t looked back since. (Real Talk :: I’ve probably looked in every other direction, but back sure as hell hasn’t been one of them.)

How cool is it that The Contest and the anniversary of my freedom come at the same time. Talk about a subtle nod from the universe to take a second and reflect.

Looking through my favorite photos from the past year, and then looking through my submissions to the 2017 Photo Contest, gave me a forced then vs. now comparison of my work. I shocked myself. It was so much more than just a moment to reflect, it reminded me how important balance is. From time to time I’ll see others post a then v. now with their work, and it’s always fun to watch and celebrate others progresses with them, but I’d been so focused on the working side of things to really stop and really look at my own body of work.

We can so easily get caught up in the day to day side of working (life) and forget to stop and celebrate our own wins when it comes what we do. And very realistically, if we don’t celebrate them, no one else will either. It’s easy to focus on the details and the minutiae, and to get caught up in them, but we HAVE to take the time to celebrate also.

It’s always fun to watch and celebrate others successes with them, but what about our own?

As excited as I am for voting to open, (and let’s be real, the first few days voting opens, I, like all us, will be glued to my screen voting, and will probably rope everyone I know into spending at least some quality time voting on theirs), that reminder to stop, and take a moment to really look at how far I’ve come in the last two years, I’m so grateful.

I can’t wait to see what the industry has been working on over the past year, because photographer or not, voting will inspire you. And it will hook you.

Expertise.com // Top 19 Maternity Photographers of Columbus // Third Year in a Row

January 19, 2018 By // by kate

Best Maternity
Photographers
in  Columbus
2018 “>

Expertise.com’s Top 19 Maternity Photographers of Columbus

For the second year in a row we here at k.H.a.lifestyle.photography have been named to Expertise.com’s best maternity photographers of Columbus’ list!

Each year, the folks at Expertise.com rank photographers across more than 25 variables across the following five metrics, reputation, credibility, experience, availability, and professionalism. To say that I’m flattered to be among such talent, for the second year in a row doesn’t even touch it.

The email went out a couple of days ago, to those of us on this years list, and it was so much fun to find not only my name on this list, but that of two good friends as well. Being able to text them, and share this feeling and moment of pride with them when I found their names on the list at well made my heart happy.

We’ve been in Columbus for 18 months, and to be able to call these amazing photographers friends, makes moving to Columbus just that much sweeter.

A Boutique Experience

A session in front of my camera is unlike any other experience that you’ll have with any other photographer.

I promise.

Whether it’s been a while since you’ve had your head shots updated, you’re expecting, engaged, or simply want to document the beauty of your everyday ordinary.

Columbus Family Photographer

Print Yo’ Photos

Arthritis Foundation | 2018 Cruise-In & Auto Show

Arthritis Foundation Auto Show Food Court

Rockin’ out with Snidely Whiplash

Want to work with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Second Shooting | Jorgensen Farms

Jorgensen Farms as a Wedding Venue

Want to work with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Five Books to Read This Summer | Self Care for Creatives

The Millennial’s Guide To Changing The World

Blogging Brilliantly for Your Business

Let It Out, A Journey Through Journaling

Faster Than Normal

Light is The New Black

Want to work with me? Hello@khalifestylephotography.com

Arthritis Foundation Gala ’18 // The Crystal Ball

Arthritis Foundation Mission Statement

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

I’ll learn to fly on the way down.

After all, our home is made for hosting.

Shoot & Share // THE Contest 2018

Talk about a subtle nod from the universe to take a second and reflect.

It’s always fun to watch and celebrate others successes with them, but what about our own?

Read more about last years contest by clicking [HERE] & [HERE]

Expertise.com’s Top 19 Maternity Photographers of Columbus

A Boutique Experience

Read more about last years Top 19 by clicking {{HERE}}