I don’t remember cake walks being so difficult to win…1/2 hour of walking in a clock-wise circle in the elementary school gym with nothing to show for it.  I touched a woman’s bare bottom today.  I got a bit hostile with the Schwan’s man yesterday, I was convinced that he decided to come every week, instead of every other…I made him prove it…he was right…clearly my life is whizzing by so quickly I feel as though I order chicken nuggets on a weekly basis, instead of bi-weekly.  Allright, elephant in the room…the naked butt…I photographed a boudoir shoot today (sorry, no sneak peeks for that jazz), and I had to help buckle the gal into some sort of contraption…it took me a while to help (obviously, I can barely put on my own bra).  Korey got his credit card stolen out of his pants pocket on Monday.  Thankfully, no one touched his butt, they took it from his gym locker…lesson learned:  bring a lock.  On that note, living without credit cards for 4 days has been more challenging than I thought….I miss my Discover card real bad.    Lately in the world of drama (aka:  women in the photography business), the girls have been in an uproar over photographers who ‘hang babies’, apparently, some women are ‘qualified’, while others, clearly, are not.  I would like to know if there is a place to become certified to ‘hang a baby’?  Do any colleges offer courses on such a thing?  I doubt it.  So unless you have a degree in newborn safety techniques, I suggest you keep your self-righteous facebook rants to yourself.  I, in return, promise to stop reading the drama (TIME SUCK) that has been going down, as it is doing nothing to help grow my own business…Anyhoo…Has anyone else tried those ‘body by vi’ nutrition shake things?  Those taste like heaven in a glass…certainly, they can’t be good for me?  yum.

This family is about as cute as they come!  Loved these little girls, they were so sweet and giggly!  Definitely didn’t have to work for any smiles on this day….I can’t remember what was so funny…was there something on my face?  I was able to do this session in my front yard in the morning…sometimes the light is too harsh to shoot there, but this day was overcast and worked perfectly!

Annnnd, we’re back.  Enough about my undergarments…let’s talk baby girls!   I know the mommy of this little princess, we went to the same small high school~it was so good to re-connect with her!  Congratulations on your little one, she is perfection!

Hello eye contact!  When she was awake, she meant business~so alert!!  I love this shot

*Mom’s who shoot their kids

*Make that camera your b*!&h

*Take a picture, it will last longer

*A is for ‘awesome’ not ‘auto’

Finally, I just thought I’d keep it simple…CameraMom….kind of like SoccerMom, but with camera’s and stuff….mini van optional.

So, it’s decided.  You.  Need.  Help.  CameraMom workshop DETAILS:

WHEN: Saturday, February 11th from 10am to 2pm

WHERE:  My studio located in between buffalo and monticello, mn

Please Note:  This class will not be covering any information on starting a photography business, advanced photography skills or photoshop techniques; but rather is focused on the every day photos you take, and the basic concepts of using your camera off of auto-mode.  If you’re looking for education on taking your photography to the next level, this class is not for you.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

* A 60+ page full color workbook for you to take home, covering all the lessons taught, so that you can continue to practice and refine your skills at home.

* Lunch!  What’s a girls day out without food and chocolate?

* Prizes and a swag bag of goodies

* A child model during the last hour of class to practice the new concepts you’ve learned.

* A private facebook group to stay connected and help each other learn after the class is over.

WHAT’S REQUIRED:

* a DSLR camera  (this is a digital camera that allows you to switch lenses).   Here’s a general list of popular DSLR camera’s:

nice~Canon Digital Rebel T3, Canon Digital Rebel T2i, Nikon D3000, Nikon D5100 ($500-$650 with kit lens)

nicer~Canon Digital Rebel T3i, Canon 60D , Nikon D90 ($780-$980 body only)

nicest~Canon Canon 7D, Canon 5D MarkII, Nikon D300, Nikon D7000, Nikon D700 ($1500-$2500 body only)

* Kit Lens that comes with your camera.  If you really want to step up your game, consider purchasing a 50mm 1.8 lens via Amazon for CANON or NIKON. This is not required, but I think you will really love how your pictures look when using it!  Cost is just over $100 for this type of lens.

* You must bring your manual!

* Bring a pen/notebook in case I say something earth shattering and you want to write it down

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The cost the workshop is $149+tax, due when you register (this is the only way to officially reserve your seat).  I am limiting the class to 10 people, so that we have time for a little one-on-one instruction.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

* Learn how to get your camera off ‘auto mode’ by understand the exposure triangle (ISO, Shutter speed, Aperture).

* Learn how to utilize natural light and turn your flash off!

* Tips on getting natural and candid photograph’s of your children.

* Understanding composition and how it effects the feel of your picture.

* You will then put your new knowledge to use with a little photo shoot!  If it’s above 25 degrees, we’ll take our camera’s outside for a bit too!

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

*Email me:  kelly@photographybykellyklatt.com  I will send links to the shopping cart in the order the emails come in.  You are not officially registered until payment is made.  After that, I’ll have a little online questionnaire for you to fill out!

I think this is going to be a lot of fun, I can’t wait!  I would also like to apologize in advance for any tacky comments, crass jokes or potty language that may seep out during the workshop….I do this when I’m nervous, and having 10 people stare at me is bound to unleash my inner-demons.

fine print:  The workshop fee of $149 (+ tax) is due at time of registration and is non refundable.  However, you may sell your seat to someone else if you are unable to attend.  All attendees will be required to fill out a non-compete form.

“MY DREAM BOAT” (pimped out fishing boat pics featuring built in beer coolers and TV’s with ESPN playing)

“HAIRSTYLES I LIKE” (pictures of Will Ferrell in Anchorman perfectly coiffed)

“SIX PACK” (toss up here…could be favorite beers, or a washboard stomach)

“MANLY FOODS” (recipes of burgers and all things beefy)

“I LIKE TREE’S” (tips on how to plant as many tree’s on your property as humanly possible)

“MAN CAVE” (articles on how to convince your wife that if you build a bar in the basement, you will use it ALL the time)

“SHOES I GOTTA HAVE” (a pair of Napoleon Dynamite in his moon boots)

“VACATION DESTINATIONS” (images of KOA’s and log cabins in the woods, preferably within a 2 hour drive of your home.)

“WORDS TO LIVE BY” (featuring canvas prints with hand painted quotes such as: ‘I don’t see why you’re making such a big deal out of this’   ’six to one, 1/2 a dozen to the other’  ’so, does this mean you’re mad?’  ‘it’s twelve o’clock somewhere’  ’shhh, the games on’)

Wow, that turned into a weird tangent….

One of my favorite little boys is growing too fast…I think I need to extend my baby plan into a 5 yr deal…one year is too short!  Here was his six month session, isn’t he a love?

These two little cuties did so good…waaay better than their dog~LOL!  You’ll see.

Hey, you on the left…could you scoot in just a teeeensy bit closer?  No?  Could you just move your head in from behind that branch?  No?  Fine.

We’ll just crop you out.

Oh NOW you want to be in the picture…you’re left eye looks amazing…check out those beautiful catch-lights

This family met me on a warm evening back in August.  It was sunny, then raining, then sunny again.  But the light stayed pretty the whole time, and this little field was just perfect, I can’t wait to go back there this summer!  We’ve been trying to shoot this session for 2 years now, so I’m glad we finally got the chance to do it!

These step-brothers were so stinkin cute together

Coversation at the dinner table:

Korey~  Lucy, I’ve swallowed boogers bigger than that pill.

Kelly~ Lucy, you’re NINE.  The children’s tylenol is for toddlers, should I warm a bottle for you?

Riley~ Lucy, I’ll do it, you want me to show you how?

Brady~ Lucy’s a baby, Lucy’s a baby, Lucy’s a baby.

Korey~  Lucy, stop crying, I’m going to make you eat outside.

Kelly~ Lucy, if that  pill was an M&M you would have swallowed in .04 seconds

Riley~ Mommy, can I eat Lucy’s dessert?

Brady~ Lucy’s a baby, Lucy’s a baby, Lucy’s a baby.

Kelly~ Lucy, just watch, you just set it on the back of your tongue (insert crazy woman screaming here), okay, I give up.

After 2 hours of crying and semi-hysterics (much to the annoyance of her parents and the amusement of her brothers), I ground up the 1/2 of a pill, stirred it in her milk, and forced her to drink it.  Something tells me that she will be silently suffering through many headaches and leg aches in the future.  I laid in bed that night wondering where a parent should draw the line; between sticking to their guns, or caving for the child’s sanity.  I guess we’ll find out when she’s 26 yrs old and either A) lying on a therapist’s couch reliving every agonizing detail of her childhood, or B)  Calling us up to say “thanks for helping me conquer my fears” (option B is unlikely, but let a mom have her dreams).  Either way, I am confident she won’t be a pill-popper!

Oh my, this session was ages ago…look how bright and sunny it was that day!  I got to see this handsome little boy for his newborn, 6 month and 1 yr sessions…it’s been awesome watching him grow!

He was not feeling the smiles this day~luckily, his serious looks are just as cute!

*CLICK HERE to view the slideshow.  Access Code:  prop

If you do not want to sit through the whole slideshow, click the ‘grid’ tab(looks like a grid) at the top right of the slideshow.  Then you can easily choose which image you would like to see.

To see the price, simply click on the item you are interested in, and look at the ‘name‘ of the image #.  For instance: pbkk_15 studio sale 037.  The number directly after the pbkk is the total cost(total is $15).  Confusing much?  When I numbered the images, I did use a $$ symbol, but apparently that does not show up in my slideshow!!

*To purchase an item, email me with the item you’d like: kelly@photographybykellyklatt.com  I will respond with paypal instructions if it the item is still available.  I will try to keep the slideshow updated, and remove things once a transaction is complete.

*I’ve priced things fairly, so please don’t haggle me~LOL!  If something is still available after a few days, I’ll consider it!

*I would prefer local pickup, NOT shipping.  I will consider shipping the small hats/backgrounds/fabrics, etc.  But I’d like to keep this as simple as possible (for myself).

*I will have designated pick up times here at the studio (located 7 miles out of Monticello), or at my husbands store in Buffalo (@ Klatt True Value, near the Walmart) during the next few days…in your email, please let me know where you’d like to pick up.

And because the blog looks naked without a picture…

Well, I am off to clean out the studio today…going to be selling some backgrounds and props.  I’m usually really good at purging.  Once I decide to clean, into the trash it goes…but props are different…I mean, who KNOWS what kind of shoots will come up in the future?

I thought it best to start out the New Year with a fresh new baby (even though his 6 month session is right around the corner!!)…This whole family is so adorable….I can not WAIT to see them again!

Sweet little boys…not all siblings are this kind to their new baby brother’s!

Some plans for 2012:

*Specialize more.  My focus will be solely on newborns/kids/families/high school seniors.

*No more weddings.  I LOVE photographing weddings, I just don’t LOVE everything that goes along with it…the planning, the stress, the huge amount of editing, the loss of valuable weekends with family!  Not to mention, there are SO many amazing wedding photographers in Minnesota already, why not leave all the bridezilla drama to them? (I’ve never actually dealt w/ a bridezilla…but surely my luck would have run out sooner or later).

*No more extended family sessions.  Basically, my reasoning for this are the same reasons I don’t do weddings any more (see excuses listed above!).

*Decide if hiring a very PT employee is beneficial, or if it will be a big headache (this is what Korey thinks…but he lovingly fights me on every big decision I make!).

*Become more known in my community…especially for high school seniors portraits.

*Begin entering image competitions…Also begin working on becoming certified or accredited…but first figure out which word it is; certified or accredited.  Is accredited even a word?

*Fit into the jeans I wore in 10th grade.  Okay, lady…now you go too far.

Here are some of my very favorite pictures from the past year.  I really tried to keep it to 10, since I love a good top 10 list.  But the numbers kept growing, and I had to stop looking at every-one’s files.  So here are the top 20 (in my humble opinion).

Have a wonderful New Years Eve~I’ll see ya on the flip side