Capturing your memories for lifetimes.
There have been so many crazy, wonderful, amazing things happening in our world right now.
I’ve taken a little bit of time away from blogging, but I’M BACK.
We were in Portland over the holidays, which was AMAZING, but super busy at the same time. Got back to Columbus and have hit the ground running, and haven’t stopped since.
Stay tuned for fantastic updates, new styled shoots, new offerings, and a whole lot of fun.
Photography is a way of feeling, touching, loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers the little things, long after You have forgotten everything.”
– Aaron Siskind
Lifestyle portraits are unlike any other. Rather than the staid, frozen portraits of the Olan Mills era, or the frozen (and very dated) department store headshot, lifestyle portraiture captures you and your family in an everyday location, interacting naturally with each other. (Headshots are sliiiiiightly different, but not much)
Examples can be baking cookies, reading books, working on a puzzle, crafts, the simple act of snuggling on the couch with those you love. Serious bonus if you like to play and have fun.
No matter what I’m photographing, I’m a firm believer that in order to capture the truest emotions and the most genuine interactions, the relationship between yourselves and your photographer is hugely important. As such, I like to sit down with my clients, both long time and perspective, over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine at the end of the workday as an initial consultation for all sessions.
Once we’ve both decided that we’re a good fit for each other (yes, you read that right) we’ll walk through k.H.a. lifestyle photography’s portrait session contract, both signing, a retainer of 50% of your total package will be paid.
Then the planning starts.
The creative process, such as it is, starts here. I am able to best serve you at my creative best when I have a crystal clear idea of what you’re wanting your shoot to look like.
Creating portraits for y’all, it’s collaborative.
In order to ensure that we’re on the same page, your sessions mood board is developed.
Here’s where the collaboration really takes off. I want you to email me your ideas, link me into your Pinterest board, text me screenshots, send me links to articles that have images you like. You get the jist.
Once your session has been captured, it will take me no longer than two weeks to develop & finalize your gallery, your reveal is scheduled at the time of contract signing.
Your reveal, at which you will select the images and finalize your fine art product order, includes light snacks, and refreshments.
Questions? Let’s sit down for a cup of coffee!
A couple of weeks ago, through the Columbus chapter of The Rising Tide Society, I was presented with the opportunity to spend a day volunteering at Legacy Candle Co.. For me, the gal who ALWAYS has candles burning, it was pretty much one of the coolest opportunities I’ve been presented with.
I had so much fun, that I’ve kept going back, and plan on doing so until they toss me out. If you like candles, (and even if you don’t) you need to check them out. Amber, their founder has an amazing energy and light about her, and she is doing amazing things. And the candles… best smells ever.
That first day there, I met Brandy, who is one of the leaders of the Columbus Chapter of Out of Darkness.
Both Out of Darkness and Legacy Candle Co. are non profits who’s focus is getting women and children out of sex trafficking, which is a MUCH bigger problem than most realize. I’m partnering with Out of Darkness, for their Holiday Hoopla this year, what’s that you ask?
Out of Darkness is hosting the Holiday Hoopla, on Saturday December 10th, from 11am-2pm, at the Westerville Nazarene Church, where for $5 per child, there will be cookies to decorate, ornaments to be made, goodies to be picked up fro office or teacher gifts, and most importantly, the opportunity to have photos taken with Santa.
I’ve heard rumors that Elsa may be there as well.
Bring your littles out for an afternoon of fun, help this amazing cause raise money, and just stop by and say hi, after all, who doesn’t like Christmas cookies?
It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.
-Eve Arnold
“I had, and will continue to have the greatest experience with Kate and k.H.a Lifestyle Photography. Kate is by far one of the best photographers I have ever had the pleasure of working with. My fiancé and I did a photo shoot to have some engagement pictures, along with some more professional pics for the Christmas cards and family. The overall experience was professional, timely, I didn’t even have to think about it! It didn’t even seem like we were having pictures done it was so natural! Kate was great at giving directions, as well as eager to hear other suggestions and input. Even the dog had a great time! (Really, my dog had so much fun!) I’m more than pleased to have Kate as my Forever photographer and would recommend her to everyone! Kate and her crew will be shooting my wedding this coming April and I can’t wait to look back at the moments she captures on my day. Kate, I can’t wait for April, and I can’t wait to have you capture all the moments ahead for me! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!”
“Kate found out that she was going to be my photographer for our wedding with approximately 16 hours notice after our previous photographer back out less than 24hrs before the wedding. After calming me down and helping me to stop crying we went over the list photographs that were most important but I trusted her to just take the bull by the horns and go with whatever her vision was. That was the best decision I ever made. She showed up at the venue ready to promptly at 9 am and just started shooting! Kate was everywhere at once doing exactly what we needed! Her energy and vibe were really fun, easy, and relaxing. My wedding photos are way more than I ever imagined they could be and we have Kate to thank for that! She also got two other wedding bookings from my guest as they loved her energy and vibe. Kate captures something in her photography that is special and you don’t see every day. I would highly recommend k.H.a. Lifestyle Photography to everyone for their special day!!!!”
“Absolutely one of the best times. Great eye for composition. Has the ability to catch the slightest quickest moment and capture it perfectly. What a gift!!! Huge talent that will go so far by blessing others with moments captured perfectly. Thank you!! Highly recommend! Plus she just made it so fun wasn’t ever awkward or uncomfortable. Just the perfect time.”
“Oh sooo cute!!! Dude, we just finished looking at pics! UNREAL! Knocked it outta the park sista!! SOOOOOOO amazing!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!”
“Unreal, you are the best!”
“Kate, thank you for your hard work! You are amazing! I can’t wait to spread the word to the world. You captured not only Victoria’s physical beauty despite her insecurities, but also the brilliant light that shines from within her. The whole experience has been terrific, I’m really grateful.”
“Kate’s ability to capture beautiful moments at just the right time has lead to some of the most beautiful pictures of my family (and myself) that I have ever seen. When taking family pictures she put all of my three little ones at ease which made my life so easy (imagine that!) and the pictures stunning. My recommendation of Kate is unqualified. Simply put-she is amazing and I look very forward to working with her again. Thank you so much”
“Kate is so easy to work with. She fun to chat with which helps relax everyone so she’s able to capture some genuine emotion. She was very accomodating with clothing changes. She was well prepared with the backdrops she wanted and our whole experience had a very smooth flow. Fun times!”
So this year, Thanksgiving looked a bit different than it has in the past.
Rather than spending the holiday at the Oregon Coast with my family, we stuck around Ohio, spending Thanksgiving itself at the home of our friend Vanessa and Bryan, with their families, and then the weekend with Jeff’s family in Mercer County, where I volunteered to cook for everyone. (Our immediate family on the Heitkamp side numbers at just over 30.) It was a blast.
Both Eddie & Otis (our chihuahua’s) spent the weekend with us getting snuggled all over, sneaking bites of turkey, and enjoying the chaos that comes with 15 small children running around and playing. Thursday night, when it came time to leave Vanessa & Bryan’s, Eddie staged a protest, running into their bed room, rather than agreeing that we should go home.
I didn’t spend as much time behind my camera as I would have perhaps liked, but the time spent with family & friends in the kitchen(s), playing games, and watching football, was so perfect, and so needed.
Happy belated Thanksgiving, from our family to yours.
Book* any of our three wedding packages by Monday, November 28th and receive 25% off.
Book* our Engagement package by Monday, November 28th and receive a complimentary framed 8×10.
Book* a Lifestyle Session by Monday, November 28th and receive a complimentary 8×10 album.
Book* a family session by Monday, November 28th and receive 25% off of your entire print order.
Contact me to take advantage of any of our Small Business Saturday specials! Deals are good through midnight, Monday, November 28th.
*Booking requires 50% non-refundable booking deposit to hold your date, as well as returning our signed contract.
Friday night took us downtown to Nationwide Arena to watch the BlueJackets take on The Rangers, (we won, btw) Jeff and two of his brothers were off to schmooze in AEP’s corporate box, so Mariah and I took our tickets for a gals night… great game, bookend-ed by drinks at Gordon Beirsch made for a great Friday evening.
Every year the female contingent of our family here in Ohio spends the Saturday before Thanksgiving kicking off (and in some cases completely finishing) their Christmas shopping. Due the fact that until a few months ago I lived in Oregon I’ve never been able to partake in the Heitkamp Ladies Shopping Day.
This year, I was all in. We started the morning with everyone converging on my sister in law’s to game plan our day, then as all mornings start, we hit Starbucks for our liquid energy and we were off… Target, Toys R’ Us, Hobby Lobby (LOVEEEE Hobby Lobby), fast stop for lunch, then back at it, Kohls & ended at the Polaris Fashion Place Mall.
Largely, I was along for the ride, as Jeff and I plan on utilizing the fine folks of Amazon for the bulk of our Christmas shopping so we don’t have to schlepp gifts back to Portland with us, or mess around with shipping. Christmas decorations & household decor on the other hand… We’re finally to to the point that we’re ready to start decorating here, so the timing of a girls day at Hobby Lobby was just about perfect. I can’t wait to start decorating for Christmas, which will take place much to Jeff’s chagrin next Sunday, when we get back from our Thanksgiving celebration at his parents.
Sunday our littlest nephew and God son Connor turned one, so we all converged on Greg and Meredith’s to celebrate the little dude, whom when presented with his little cake to smash was just not quite sure what we wanted him to do with it.
We wrapped up the weekend again in front of the fireplace, winding down from a busy weekend with family, and gearing up for the week ahead, which, according to all the notes I have, is going to include a bazillion pounds of potatoes, as I gear up for side dishes for Thanksgiving at our friends home, and then the family Thanksgiving in Fort Recovery this coming weekend.
I met Katy & Josh while photographing a wedding earlier this fall, and pretty much fell in love with them both on the spot. They are two of the most open, gregarious, loving people you’ll ever meet. When I was asked to photograph them for their Christmas card, I was through the roof.
“We didn’t know we were making memories, we just thought we were having fun”
Katy reached out a couple of weeks ago, asking if we still had time to get a session in for Christmas card photos… my response was instant, OF COURSE WE STILL HAVE TIME! I asked Katy if she had any specific ideas about their session, and we hit the ground running.
We spent last Sunday evening at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park west of Columbus, where laughter and conversation flowed like water.
The energy that these two share is magnetic and so full of love, the entire session was a dream, and I can’t wait to get them back in front of my camera again!
