All in the Details

Yesterday I had the pleasure of shooting a beautiful Sweetest Day wedding. However getting to that wedding and rehearsal dinner the night before was not exactly easy. The rehearsal was to start at 4:30 Friday night. At approximately 3:00, I blew a tire on my car. Luckily, I have an  amazing, heroic uncle who came to my rescue. Because Lord knows that I don't know the first thing about simple car repairs. And no, as my uncle pointed out, they do not teach you how to change a tire in college. The following morning while in the shower, getting ready for the wedding, the water pump went out. But other than my troubles behind the scene, the wedding went incredibly smoothly and was a beautiful ceremony. Everyone pitched in to make everything beautiful and every detail was perfect. A lovely way to celebrate love and Sweetest day.

Keep smiling,

Kaylina

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Back to School

Sorry it's been so long since the last post but school started last Wednesday and I've been swamped. That's one thing about quarters, they waste no time getting started. This week for a business class we had to take a Myers-Briggs test and give a presentation on our personality types. For those of you who have never taken it before you take a 70-something question test with all yes or no answers and it spits out a 4 letter acronym at you. For example, I'm an ISFJ and Blake's an ENTP (yes- complete opposites). You can then look up your acronym and find out more about yourself. Your strengths, your weaknesses, your habits, your best suited careers, and your perfect mates. Or my favorite: all the famous people who share your acronym. I've got Queen Elizabeth II, Mother Theresa, and Robert E. Lee- strange mix.

While I found the whole experience pretty interesting, what I loved most about my personality profile was this: I'm born to be a portrait photographer! I already knew that but it was nice to hear it from a complete stranger who doesn't know me. I'm the kind of person who like making people feel good about themselves. I use my photography as a service to others. I make them feel comfortable and help them enjoy an experience that is special. I believe in the power of photography and anyone who has known me knows how much I love pictures.

I've always been iffy on personality tests because if you're broad enough- you'll match everyone. And I don't need a personality test to tell me who I am, what I love, or who I'll get along with. I was lucky enough to stumble on my passion through experience and a little help from my loved ones. I continue to learn and grow everyday. I have weird little eccentricities that a personality test will never be able to pinpoint.

That's what I love about people: at the heart we're all the same, but completely different. And it's why I'll never want to stop trying to capture that something that makes everyone special.

And because everything is better with a picture attached, here's my favorite picture I took this past week.

Take the test here or just keep smiling,

Kaylina

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First Looks

So yesterday while skimming through my favorite blog, Jasmine Star, I happened upon an answer to a question I’d been asking myself for quite a while: how does she have time to take all of these gorgeous, one-on-one bride and groom shots? Her answer: first looks.



If a bride and groom decides to have a “first look” on their wedding day it means that they sit aside time before the ceremony to see each other privately (and of course take pictures). Now, I understand that some people want to keep the “tradition” of not seeing each other until the alter. But as Jasmine, and many other wedding photographers, will tell you- the new tradition is first looks.



For those of you who are more detail centered, here’s exactly how you would set up a first look session: The photographer and groom would wait at the shoot location (a room in the church or outside the church on a nice day) and the bride would then be called in. That way that moment when the groom first sees the bride is still captured but in a more intimate setting that can be followed by more breathtaking pictures.



As a photographer, I love the idea of a first look. It gives you time to have those one-on-one intimate pictures you can’t take after the ceremony when everyone is watching and the guests are all waiting for you so they can eat. If you make time to take pictures then the experience is so much more cathartic. Anyone who has ever been a part of a wedding party will tell you the day is completely packed full of last minute running around. If a bride and a groom does not make time to see each other alone and take pictures- it won’t happen. You’ll rush through the whole day and realize when it’s over you missed a big opportunity.



There’s no right or wrong way to go. But for those couples (or brides) that want a million pictures of their special day, a first look is a way to take pictures without being rushed by hungry guests.



Check out Jasmine’s post here and check out the amazing pictures she gets from “First Looks”.

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Labor Day Weekend

Yay for holiday weekends. Anytime I get an extra day of work, I'm for it. This weekend was particularly nice.

Blake and I taught the 9:00 am Sunday school class for K-5th grade Sunday morning. It was our first time, but it went really well. It helps when it's a holiday weekend and only three kids show up. We spent Sunday afternoon and evening watching "Band of Brothers" on Blu-ray. And we wrapped up the night by meeting some friends for dinner.

Today Blake, who is the Percussion Caption Head for Canal Winchester's band, had to go to Canal's Labor Day Festival Parade. I decided to go along because I can't past up insanely unhealthy festival food. I took my camera along and had a pretty great time.

It was a pretty great weekend, which we needed. Blake starts back to college tomorrow and it's back to work for me. Hope everyone else had an amazing weekend also.

Stay smiling,

Kaylina

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The September Issue

Wow!

This week just flew by. Work was completely hectic and I've been trying to soak up these last few weeks of summer. I know that almost everyone is back in school which means I can feel my summer coming to an end and I'm not ready! Because all I see when school starts is the impending winter. It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I HATE winter. But I forget that there's an amazing 2 and a half months before the cold.

The September issue of Vogue came a few days ago. It's huge: 758 pages with Kate Moss rocking the cover. I normally read every word on every page of every issue but I'm not so sure I'll be able to finish this one. The arrival of the September issue means fall is here. It means that I can start wearing my boots again. And all of the clothes I have tucked away in the back of the closet, waiting for the first chilly days.

Autumn is my favorite because everything about it is beautiful. The colors, the clothes, the weather. I want it to last forever. We just have to get through the sweltering weekend first.

Stay cool and stay smiling!
(And Go Bucks!)

Kaylina

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Meet Jonas Glay

Happy Friday!

My week has been a little crazy and I can honestly say that I haven't looked forward to the weekend this much in a long time. My one highlight for the week was my photo shoot with the Glay family on Tuesday. Adam and Nichole and big brother, Owen, welcomed Jonas Edward Glay to the family on the 12th.

The shoot was so much fun. Two year old Owen met me at the door so excited to take pictures. He was such a big helper and sat beside me "taking pictures" with his Elmo camera. Jonas was amazing as well, so calm and not even a little bit fussy.

My new assistant

It amazes me how photogenic children are. They're so comfortable around cameras and always ready with a big smile. It's truly contagious. I want to thank the Glay family for inviting me into their home and sharing their toys with me.

Check out my Facebook for more pictures from the session and don't forget to "like" my page and follow me on Twitter. I can't succeed without your help!

Thanks for all the support and keep smiling,

Kaylina

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Tuesday Tunes

Goodmorning!

Since moving back to Baltimore a week or so  ago, I’ve had to look forward to a daily commute to Columbus for work every morning and night. Because I’m not a morning person, I depend on external stimuli to keep me awake and alive all the way to Columbus. Now I’m only driving from 9 am to 9:40 but that is plenty of time for me to catch some Z’s. I got my father’s narcoleptic tendencies. And because it’s the last hour of the Morning Zoo on WNCI, it’s not worth listening to. This means I’ve been on an epic search for a new radio station. Today, I found it: 106.7 GenX Radio. The dj kind of stinks but it doesn’t have five minute commercial breaks and it plays all of the songs that make you go, “Oh, I haven’t heard this in FOREVER!”

Today’s mix included “Miami” by Will Smith (that’s what hooked me), “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette, Hoobastank’s “The Reason”, "Creep" by Radiohead and Outkast’s “The Way You Move”. I found myself singing along and remembering every word. Much better than listening to the 100^th playing of whatever Britney Spears’s new hit is on WNCI, in my opinion.

My new discovery has put me in a wonderful and playful mood which is perfect for my photo shoot tonight. My model is 10 day old Jonas Edward Glay. I’ll post pictures from the shoot soon.

Stay tuned and keep smiling!

Kaylina

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