Christina + Jeff // A Dayton Wedding

November 10, 2017 By // by kate

Jeff has damn near 100 first cousins. Yup. You read that right. ONE HUNDRED FIRST COUSINS. (technically, I think it’s 97, but you get the gist) One of those cousins, his wife, and their three kiddos moved to Columbus the same time that we did last year, down to a matter of days difference. Since then, Matt and I have talked about getting together to shoot, and as we’ve been tossing around date ideas, nothing had ever stuck.

So when he called me a couple weeks ago, on I think a Monday, and asked if I wanted to go shoot a wedding with him the following Thursday, which I happened to have open, I was down. I grabbed the closest pen, scribbled it into my planner (seriously, I’d be so lost without that book), and didn’t asked any more questions. Matt told me he’d pick me up at two, and that worked for me.

Day of, he picked me up, and as we drove I was asking Matt the various questions I’d ask anyone I was second shooting for, Are they planning on doing a first look? What about a shot list? Do you know what family portraits are important?

To which he responded with one of the two following answers :: “Dunno”, or, “Not Sure”. Finally, I went with, “So tell me what you know about the wedding. The answer? The address, and the start time.

Awesome.

We got to the park in which the wedding took place, and it blew my mind with how gorgeous it was, the only question I had for Matt at that point was “how open to portraits are they?”

Thankfully, they were down.

We got to play with the light and come up with some awesome portraits.

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.

The Launch of PRIZM Magazine

October 12, 2017 By // by kate

PRIZM Magazine launched last week, with a kick off party a top the Smith Hardware Building, with the Columbus city skyline floating below. As the sun dropped out of the sky, the light changed and danced across the sky.

Watching what I know was months and months of hard work by a passionate group of incredibly talented people was energizing in the best way possible.

I never could have anticipated the level of passion, and the level of talent that this city hosts.

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.

Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Tres Leches Cake Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

Dinner Combinations Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast casual Somali

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

Some of Ohio’s best food is tucked into strip malls throughout the city. 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.

Columbus Lifestyle Photography

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

Hoyo’s Kitchen | Fast Casual Somali

Eater.com’s Travel Home Page