Slow Food Columbus’ Annual Shake the Hand that Feeds You Dinner

October 12, 2017 By // by kate

The Slow Food movement, started by Carlo Petrini, is an organization that promotes local food and traditional cooking. The way that I was introduced to Slow Food is that it encompasses something far more encompassing than that. It’s about taking the time to slow down and enjoy a meal with friends, away from the busy and hectic of our daily lives.

Tuesday I sat down with two friends at a place I’d not been to yet, (make sure to follow along with the food side of my life over at Cook.Eat.Explore) to hear more about all that, but the point was made, by Chef Thom Stevenson, that it’s not possible to sit down and share a meal, with someone you don’t respect and like. Sure, you can sit down and shovel something that resembles food in your face, but that’s not slow food.

Slow food is sitting down and connecting with people you enjoy while sharing a meal. It’s about connecting with each other. At least that’s how we were raised with it.

Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about it ::

Slow Food began in Italy with the founding of its forerunner organisation, Arcigola, in 1986 to resist the opening of a McDonald’s near the Spanish Steps in Rome.^[3] In 1989, the founding manifesto of the international Slow Food movement was signed in Paris, France by delegates from 15 countries.^[4]

At its heart is the aim to promote local foods and traditional gastronomy and food production. Conversely this means an opposition to fast food, industrial food production and globalisation.^[5]

The Slow Food organisation has expanded to include over 100,000 members with branches in over 150 countries.^[6] Over 1,300 local convivia chapters exist. 360 convivia in Italy—to which the name condotta (singular) / condotte (plural) applies—are composed of 35,000 members, along with 450 other regional chapters around the world. The organisational structure is decentralised: each convivium has a leader who is responsible for promoting local artisans, local farmers, and local flavors through regional events such as Taste Workshops, wine tastings, and farmers’ markets.

Offices have been opened in Switzerland (1995), Germany (1998), New York City (2000), France (2003), Japan (2005), the United Kingdom, and Chile. Global headquarters are located in Bra, near Turin, Italy. Numerous publications are put out by the organisation, in several languages around the world. Recent efforts at publicity include the world’s largest food and wine fair, the Salone del Gusto in Turin, a biennial cheese fair in Bra called Cheese, the Genoan fish festival called SlowFish, and Turin‘s Terra Madre (“Mother Earth”) world meeting of food communities.

This is how we grew up, this is what was instilled in us (thanks Mom) from forever, so when I found out that Slow Food Columbus wanted me to photograph the 10th annual Shake the Hand That Feeds You Dinner, I was THROUGH THE ROOF. Hell yes. I was so in.

Being at that dinner, and around all amazing and inspiring chefs that were there to combine thier talents to feed everyone, the farmers whose farms produced what those chefs were using, and a great group of people who were there because this is what they support… phenomenal. Not only did I get to be there, I got to photograph it. I got to check something off of my photography bucket list.

Night of Chocolate 2017 | Cancer Support Community of Central Ohio

October 11, 2017 By // by kate

I can’t believe that it’s already been a year since I first photographed the Night of Chocolate, the fundraising gala for Cancer Support Communities of Central Ohio. I really can’t believe that we’ve lived in Ohio for 18 months. Time seems to be going by faster and faster each year. Capturing this years Night of Chocolate was a happy anniversary of sorts for me, and I was thrilled to be ableI to capture and document it again this year.

Volunteerism is a value that we grew up with (thank you Momma, for instilling this in both Alex and I from a young age) and being able to donate my time and talents to this great organization is so much fun.

Their mission is this ::

As the largest professionally led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization includes an international network of Affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral, and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation.

– Cancersupportcommunities.com

I love it. I couldn’t believe in what they do more.

This 2017 Inspiration Award winner is Cheryl Eddie, who I was fortunate enough to be able to spend an afternoon with Cheryl, capturing her portraits. She is a phenomenal woman, and so beautiful, both inside and out. Watching her walk on stage to accept her award was really fun. I’m also pretty sure that I’m the only one who let out a huge whoop of excitement.

If you weren’t in attendance last year, or this one, get it on yo’ calendar for next year, and make sure you come by.

Huge thank you to Amberly, the PHENOMENAL force of nature behind Merriment.Imaging, and Dominique of DMP photography for bringing thier talents with me to capture the evening.

Night of Chocolate 2017

Night of Chocolate 2017Night of Chocolate 2017

Night of Chocolate 2017

Hoyo’s Kitchen + Eater.com // k.H.a. lifestyle photography

October 11, 2017 By // by kate

It’s been a crazy whirlwind of a couple of weeks for my studio, and part of that was Eater.com hiring k.H.a. lifestyle photography to photograph Hoyo’s Kitchen, a restaurant here in Columbus, for Bill Addison’s feature article on the Midwest’s 38 Essential Restaurants. I was through the roof excited.

Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast Casual Somali

Not only did I get to go try a new restaurant that I’d had on my list of places to check out, my work has now been featured on Eater.com. (Insert happy dance here, and to make sure that we’re on the same page, it’s happy dance Meredith Grey & Christina Yang style)

Being published on Eater.com? HUUUUUUUGE deal. HUGE.

Make sure that you check out the article, and scroll down to the Hoyo’s Kitchen feature. Please note that you will not see the featured photograph in the gallery below, as that is a part of the deal. I won’t be sharing said photo, as they have exclusive rights to it for the next few months.

Eater.com’s Travel Home Page

It’s been a big week when it comes to having my work published, so stay tuned to find out what other big news we here at k.H.a. have.

Some of Ohio’s best food is tucked into strip malls throughout the city. Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Dinner Combinations Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Somali Chai. MIND BLOWING. Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Tres Leches Cake Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Tres Leches Cake Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

This is Kim // k.H.a. lifestyle photography

October 9, 2017 By // by kate

I met Kim what feels like a lifetime ago, when our parents lived next door to each other. She and her mother are two of the kindest, most amazing woman women I’ve ever met. Ever.

While I was in Portland this summer we spent a part of an evening with our families, and I talked her into getting in front of my camera for a while, as we were having a glass of wine and catching up.

We were both having exceptionally rough days, and getting to spend those couple of hours together was amazing.

Next time, Kim, we’re doing it up for real.

Enter TyLemar // k.H.a. lifestyle photography // Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

September 26, 2017 By // by kate

Before moving here to Ohio, I probably would have told you that I wasn’t going to ever use studio lighting, that I was absolutely a natural light only kind of photographer, and at the time, probably would have meant it.

I am SO glad that that is no longer the case, nor is it my mindset.

Off camera flash and studio lighting, HOW DID I NOT TAKE THIS LEAP SOONER?

I started working with Staley earlier this year, producing shoots, assisting where needed and just generally learning all of the things. I’ve been buying books to teach myself different lighting diagrams and the theory behind it, but it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to watch it in action that I really truly realized how amazing (and powerful) lighting can be.

This fall, I had the opportunity to produce along side Staley the fall fashion editorial for PRIZM News, which is launching October 1st. No, these frames are absolutely not from that shoot, for those you’ll have to wait for the first issue to drop, but I did meet TyLemar while working that phenomenal shoot. Finding out that his background is in dance rather than modeling kinda blew my mind, he is a natural in ever sense of the word.

Thankfully, he was willing to come get in front of my camera, again, which meant that we got to spend some more time playing with light.

Finding someone who is not only willing to come and get in front of my camera but is also inherently comfortable doing so, that’s a rare thing. We had a blast in my studio that night, created some really fun images, and loaded TyLemar up with new head shots for his new adventure living in Philadelphia.

When is the last time that you had your head shots updated? If you have to think about the answer to that, let’s get you booked.

I promise, you’ll have fun.

Haley + Dane | k.H.a. lifestyle photography | Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

September 25, 2017 By // by kate

I met Haley last year, in the fall, while I was bouncing back and forth between Columbus and Portland and as we chatted, the fact that I’m a photographer came up. Then the fact that she and her fiance, Dane, were in the planning stages of thier wedding, and that they were still looking for a photographer.

We swapped info, and planned to connect later in the fall.

Once life started to settle down, we made that connection and Haley I started talking more about what they were looking for wedding photography wise and we were off.

The love between Haley and Dane is so calm, and so peaceful, and I was so lucky to get to photograph the day that they became husband and wife.

Thier wedding was held at a private residence in Canal Winchester, in gorgeous garden, one in which the beds looked as though they’d always been there. The koi in the pond danced below the surface of the pond, playing with Haley and Danes children, who watched with HUGE smiles as the I-do’s were said.

Haley’s couture gown was designed around her vision for the day, and the heart shaped back of the gown, SO FREAKING COOL!

Damien Tobi, a designer here in Columbus, tapped into his genius, and built the perfect gown. Haley glowed, in a way spread to every person that was there to celebrate with them. She and Dane, thier love is calm, and peaceful, and seeing them say I do, it was magical.

The First Annual Watermelon Picnic // k.H.a.lifestyle photography // Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

September 21, 2017 By // by kate

One of the biggest reasons we decided to move out to Ohio last year was that we wanted to be closer to our every growing brood of nieces and nephews. I’m about 90% that we’ve crossed in the twenties when counting them all up. Growing up, my aunts played a pivotal role in my life, coming to soccer games, swim meets, track meets, school plays, and one ill-fated attempt at a dance rehearsal. We had sleepovers, and when we were older a whole bunch of long conversations that you don’t realize at the time are shaping the adult that you’ll become, but that’s totally what’s happening. I hated that we were so far away, and that in all reality (at the time) a lot of them didn’t know who I was.

They got the concept of “Uncle Jeff is married to Aunt Kate”, and they could identify that Jeff was in fact Uncle Jeff, but when it came to knowing who I was, nope. No idea. I will never forget the moment that my then youngest niece stood with next to her mom, wrapped around her legs asking who I was. Well, says my sister in law, that’s uncle Jeff, so who’s that? Silence. Then a shy “I don’t know”.

My heart cracked a little bit at that. The chance to be more involved in the lives of this side of the family and get to be a part of thier lives? In a heartbeat.

I called my sister in law that lives here in Columbus and asked her if she’s bring my two nephews over for a watermelon and popsicle idea I had had brewing for some time. She said yes.

We got to have a backyard snack picnic, the littlest brother got to have his first popsicle, and we played. It was amazing.

Headshots for Todd // k.H.a. lifestyle photography // Columbus Lifestyle Photographer

September 20, 2017 By // by kate

I had the opportunity to work with Todd, a friend of my dad’s that he went to elementary school with in Montana, to update his head shots while we were in Cannon Beach.

We had a ball.

We started in Midtown, just outside the houses that we were in, taking our cocktails with us, we moved down to the sand (because let me tell you, I had my feet on the sand as much as I possibly could, soaking up all the time I could get while being at the beach) ending up tucked into the dunes with Haystack Rock rising out of the ocean just off the side.

Getting to work with someone who’s known me my entire life was a pretty cool experience.

Plus, Todd’s smile makes him a really easy subject to photograph.