kara elmore photography

FREE seat give-a-way!

HEY - time flies when it's not your birthday!  SHEESH!!  I kind of wanted it to last longer .... :(.  THANK YOU everyone who said happy bdays to me!  

Nate is out of town until Saturday (don't come kill me boogie man .... my doors are armed!).  I hate when he's gone.  It makes me not want to stay up and do photo work (sorry clients!)  Because I'm TOTALLY creeped out in my office!!!!!  

Oh oops - I forgot!  I wrote to tell you we are giving away a FREE seat for our ASPIRE 2012 class!!!  Go to: withinframe's site and follow the directions.  You can do ALL sorts of things to get a seat for FREE.  But .... HURRY because we announce that winner on MONDAY.  And registration closes next Saturday!  Time really IS running out.  SO HURRY YOUR BUMS UP!!!!!

My files are being rearranged as I'm SERIOUSLY trying to finish my new website. hahhahahahahahah!!!!!!!  WHY is it taking me SOOOO long?????  :)  So really - I can't be bothered to organize them for the blog.  BUT - I wanted to post these 2 pictures that mean so much to me.  Recently my darling nephew, Ashton, returned home from serving an LDS mission for TWO WHOLE YEARS in Brazil!!!  We waited at the airport to welcome him home.  I was happy to capture the first few moments. 

My sister ... holding tight to her husband's hands as they await the arrive of their first born.  Not having seen him for exactly TWO YEARS to the day.  

And his first embrace with his father ... so tender.  So sweet!  What a wonderful day this was.

Very proud of that boy - who came home a man.  I can only imagine the feelings I'll have when my boy goes .... 9 more years.

 

My birthday is in two days.

Just thought I'd tell you.  Just in case you wanted to call me.  Email me.  Fly a present to me.  Drop some chocolate off.  Have a small parade.  Launch some balloons.  Buy a new car (with a BOW on top!).  Eat sushi with me.  Or .. offer to babysit while I eat sushi with Nate.  Except that's a little freaky seeing as some of you I don't ACTUALLY know.  So letting you in my home to watch my kids .. ok - maybe not. :)  BUT THANK YOU FOR OFFERING!!!!!!!!! :)

And it's not that I've let my blog sliiiip (like my sister said ....) It's that I've been sending orders off.  And I really just don't know how to multi task!  Send orders off or blog.  Blog or take pictures.  Take prints to clients or blog.  It just can't be done.  And those who do - they've hired someone to do that.  Me.  nah.  I just forget my blog password.

And so - for my birthday ... I'll post some recent pics that I've loved.  Hold please while I pull up photoshop, find the pictures, resize the pictures, add my logo tag to all said pictures, file them all into a place that I can ACTUALLY FIND THEM ONCE I'VE CLOSED PHOTOSHOP ... ALLLLLLLLLLLL while answering phone calls, packing up neighbor gifts, disciplining my children  (what?  huh?? they nevvvvveeeeerrrrr fight!!) clean my house and shop for CHRISTMAS!  SHEEESH ... no wonder I never post pictures!!!! :)

I'm excited for 2012!  The Aspire Business Workshop is getting more and more exciting (go here to sign up!) and I think that I, myself, should set aside some much needed time to redo my blog - update my website (uhh HELLO!  I purchased a new website 7 months ago - and literally have NOT had the time to plan it all out! No WONDER website maker people make some cash on that!)

Ohhh and P.S.  Nate asked me to speak on Christmas day at church!  WHAT???  Ooo he is going to OWE ME for that.  HAHAHHAHA!!!!!  I got a great dress out of it though - so it was SO worth it! :)  Ooo and a plaid shall/wrap.  With a brooch at my shoulder.  And some new shoes.  And ... :) :) :) See.  Worth it.  Now ... to plan the talk. ..........................

Ok.  Pictures.  To justify my photography business.  :)

Oh and don't forget my birthday.  It's the 20th. Of December.  In 2 days.  5 days before Christmas.  On Tuesday.  After Monday.  The day before Wednesday.  Not to be confused with Thursday.  They both start with t's.  The first t.

 

Gorgeous Brinn.  Love her!

One of my favorite black and white images of the whole year!!!

And one of my favorite home sessions this season .... doesn't it look like we're in the Hampton's??

Now I'll go start another shift of motherhood.  Baby just woke up from a nap.  Love those barely awake eyes!

xoxo

WithinFrame presents Aspire 2012 - a Photography Business Workshop

One of the struggles that many new & old photographers face is running the business side of their business, and there are surprisingly few local resources to help. Jess Curren from picture me mine photography and I are teaming up to offer an AMAZING 6 hour - jam packed - get your business up and running or give it a complete overhaul workshop. It is going to be AMAZING!

Over the last few years, I have developed an intense PASSION for the business side of photography. I have increased the QUALITY of my clientele, I am happier, more successful, spend time with my husband & kids, and really feel like I can make my dreams come true. I firmly believe you can have it all. You CAN be a successful, money-making, photographer machine AND have a life outside of your camera & computer. If you are just starting out, or  if you’ve been in this for awhile and are just feeling burnt out, let us help you!! Come learn what I have spent hours and hours learning and putting into practice in my own business. Make yours amazing right from the start!!

The details? Visit our new website - WithinFrame and take a look around. We'll be posting awesome content - useful tips on business, creativity, working with clients, inspiration, you name it!! It is going to be a great resource for helping YOU as photographers run your business. Under the Workshop menu - you'll find a page with details for Aspire 2012 - our business workshop. Registration links are at the bottom of the page - and until Nov 30th at MIDNIGHT you can get an ADDITIONAL $100 OFF early bird registration. Oh yeah! So, don't wait!! Sign up now and let us help you make 2012 your BEST year yet!!

PS - Ohhh my heck - isn't that WAY super cute????

PSS - you'll be watching over the next couple weeks as my blog AND site get an overhaul.  It's going to be AWESOME SAUCE!!!!! :)

xoxo

 

WOULD YOU LIKE A BUSINESS WORKSHOP?????

Would you?  huh .. huh ... HUH??  

I KNEW it!  You do ... you WANT a business workshop!!!!!!!

Would you like meeeeee to teach it?  Would you like me to team up with my fabulous friend Jess Curren of Picture Me Mine Photography?

Huh? Huh?  Would you?? Would you???

ok.  you talked me into it!

This is going to be AWEEEEEESOME!!!!!!  We're SO excited!  SO many details to come.  BUT - you have to wait.  BUT only until MONDAY, November 28th.  Then ALL the details will be announced.  RIGHT HERE!

So check back on Monday.  And you can be one of the lucky ones.  Because we're giving a KILLER deal on MONDAY only.

YAYYYYYY!  I'm SO excited for this!!!

xoxoxoxo!

(ps - THIS is why I've been MIA on the blog.) :)

breathing ...

That's what this photo makes me do.  Just breathe.

And this one ... makes me want to get married ALL over again.

I am so happy seeing my crazy dreams come to reality in print!

SOOC!

No.  Not THAT kind of sock.  But SOOC.  Photographer's term for STRAIGHT OUT OF CAMERA.  No photoshopping.  No fixing of any kind.  Just straight ... out ... of ... my ... camera.   And lens.  My pretty, pretty lens.

That's what this was. Pure happiness.  Perfect lighting.  PERFECT couple.

So with this ... I think this next week I'm going to throw out to you all a CONTEST!  I've got some pretty amazing couples out there that's I've shot over just the last few weeks.  And they are GORGEOUS!  I think I may do a little "what's your favorite shot" and let the couple win something ... what do you think?  

UGLY wedding venue vs. The Victorian!

Are you local to Davis County?  Did you ACCIDENTALLY book an ugly venue for your wedding and/or reception and now you don't know what to do???  Did you look at  The Victorian in Layton but didn't book because you didn't have enough money in your budget?  Are you secretly ... or not so secretly DREADING renting chairs and tables and having to assemble it all together the night before your wedding?  UGGGHHHH!!!  Would you LOVE a garden wedding/reception ... but can't plant fast enough in your own back yard??  :)

Well ... I've got a SOLUTION!!!  

 

Did you know for $1395 you can RENT the VICTORIAN??? Yes - you CAN!  For only $1395 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday (and some FRIDAYS and SATURDAYS too!) weddings/receptions you can have

1) Use of the entire mansion and gardens for three hours!

2) Tables and chairs

3) You provide your own decorations, catering, and manage your own wedding, YOUR WAY!

Seriously - that is a KILLER deal!  Renting chairs and tables adds up fast!  If you've already planned and booked a church and haven't printed your invitations... you could ACTUALLY CHANGE PLANS and have it at the mansion instead!!!!!!!!

WANT a little more involvement from the wedding specialists??  The Victorian is also having a FALL and WINTER special for $1995.  For that price you will receive:

1) Use of the ENTIRE MANSION and gardens - FOUR hours (4:30-8:30)

2) Light catering for 100 guests - bread and spreads or CUPCAKES (darling!!!!), PLUS sweet lemon drink!

3) Tables, chairs, linens, TV, sound system, easels

4) WEDDING COORDINATOR!

5) Decorations in your colors!!

That is SERIOUSLY everything you need.  OOOOO and you can add your ceremony for just $295.

Because this is such a killer deal, they only offer it Tues., Wed., Thurs.  (but some fridays and saturdays they offer it ... so call them to check which ones!)

Here's a thought  ... a lot of people (you know who you ARE!!!) think they can skimp their way through a wedding. Whether it be the pictures (seriously ... this is a NO NO!  Trust me ... the pictures are the ONLY things you have for the rest of your life! GET A PROFESSIONAL!!!!!!) or a dress they borrowed or tuxes out of their dad's closet.  BUT ... you want to feel HAPPY about your wedding. Your reception should be magical and romantic and a fairy tale!  And it can be ... you just have to know the right people to make it that way.  And that doesn't come from 1) making your own cake if you've never done that before (really ... you WANT to take that stress on ???) and it doesn't come from doing a hod podge location that feels cold and un inviting.  Do it right.  And doing it right DOES NOT have to mean spending a FORTUNE!  Trust me ... I've done many weddings .. my FAMILY has done a couple THOUSAND weddings between all of us in our photography.  We KNOW it can be done in a GORGEOUS way - for a GORGEOUS price. :)  

Call them.  Do it.  Book there NOW!  Make it gorgeous!  Make it ROMANTIC!  Make it a dream of yours coming true!  You'll never look back and think "geeeeee ... I wish I wouldn't have spent that extra $400 making it PERFECT"  But you WILL look back if you don't have your wedding/reception there and think "hmmmm - it really WAS expensive renting everything and I COULD have had it all for a few hundred more.  And it would've been relaxing and DREAMY."

YA.  You know you want that.  I did.  We all do.

Sooooooo ... call Robert or Katherine at (801) 544-9007.

Utah State Fair!!!

For a few years now I've wanted pics at the Utah State Fair.  Never seemed to get there!  Lucky for me - Jess Curren and I were able to team up this week!  I shoot her fam - she shoots mine!  And because I LOVE staying in my pajamas .. I decided to quickly look through and post some of hers RIGHT NOW! (and NO I am NOT in my pajamas ......... or at least I will be out of them in the next few hours!)

Such a great family "adventure" ... :)  A way to document your life that's not stiff.  But rather real.  Because we all know none of you sit and pose all perfect like in real life!!! :)

 
Ohhhh the way I got this pic ... hahahahahaha!!!!!

And ending the night ...

 

Thanks Jess!  I love being with you!  Your family is fantastic!  Annnnnnd ... good luck with mine tomorrow!!! :)

BABY BERRY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!

I can't believe she's ONE already!  Tonight - at 9:04.  My sweet little baby berry ... one year old.

This photo was taken just 30 minutes after she was born.  All wrapped up in her little cocoon.  

And then the next morning - as she laid in my lap - as we waiting for the kids to run into the bedroom to meet her.

And now she's ALL big and mini chubs.  Weighing just about 21 lbs. With light blond hair and blue, blue eyes.  And the longest, most loveliest straight eyelashes anyone would ever want.  Her first word was YAYYYYY!  (uhhh of course!) while she learned to clap at the same time!  Followed a few days later with "HI!"  She got her bottom teeth first - at 10 months (quite a bit later than the other kids).  And quickly learned to bite mommy.  Mommy was sad about that - and sometimes screamed. :)  Baby Berry doesn't bite anymore. :)  She then got FOUR teeth in 4 days (poor thing!) just 2 weeks ago.  She loves Quinoa mixed w/ almond milk and mangoes or bananas.  Followed by "green smoothie".  My mother would say "poor thing" ... but I say YAYYYYY!  :) She's a very strong and noble spirit - who loves her family.  You can feel her love for everyone!  I know that SHE knows she belongs with us.  And because of that we work extra hard to make our family strong!  She loves mommy most ... followed by Miss Flava and Oscar.  :)  But if mommy is holding her, she loves everyone else.  You can tell she's either hungry, tired, or "unsure" if she's sucking her left pointer finger.  Cracks us up!  So predictable.  So mild mannered.  So "go with the flow".

WE LOVE OUR BABY BERRY!!!!!!!!!!  Happy first birthday my sweet petite! 

 

Why does summer have to end?

I know I've been horrible at blogging.  How do I know?  Because ONCE AGAIN, I'm getting CRAZY emails from some of you!  Yes I'M ALIVE.  But really ... I don't LOVE blogging.  It's a TON of work.  And because it's not a personal blog (although I DO write mostly personal things ... mixed in w/ client photos!) just sitting down at the computer to write takes major brain cells.  And because MOST of those brain cells were destroyed while proofing said client pics .... you can see which takes priority.

I've been traveling most of July doing photoshoots.  It's been SO great!!  I love my clients.  LOVE THEM!  I am sweating by the end of the session (And you all KNOW I don't sweat ... remember my pits and feet and face ... DO.NOT.SWEAT... which is kind of dangerous when you think about PASSING OUT!) ... and my make up is gone - and my hair is flat.  And then I look at the beautiful mommies with flowing hair ... and I'm like UHHh yaaaa - not getting MY  picture taken today! :)  Summer is flying by WAY too fast.  And although I do LOVE the schedule that school provides.  I LOVE that tomorrow morning my kids will sleep in until 9:00 (HOPEFULLY!) and my 1:00 a.m. bedtime schedule will not be so awful! :)  My sweet husband arranged a 4 hour get a way for me tomorrow because he just left for scout camp for 4 days.  And WHY IS IT that my SISTER is going to be judging a Miss Bear River ALLLL DAY LONG.  ON MY SHOPPING SPREE DAY!!!  AHHHHHH!!!!!  !@#$.  So I'll be forced to spend Nate's money alone.  I was thinking of buying school clothes.  But opted to spend his money on me.  :)  Now ... what to buy .......

I should go to bed.  My proofing fingers hurt.  Like bad.  Like my left thumb hasn't been working lately.  And I think I have "trigger" finger.  NOT EVEN KIDDING.  From shooting.  Is that real? Because I REALLY think it is.  Worried ... because I'm entering my busy season. And it's only going to get worse.

So I KNOW I'm way behind in blogging.  I couldn't even remember what I HAD blogged!  This was one of my favorite senior session (OH CRAP .. that means it WAS forever ago!!!)  He was a BRAVE soul ... climbing onto of EVERYTHING!  It was AWESOME!  Photographer's dream!

But this one takes it ... MY FAVORITE!  Beautiful clouds.  Coolest architecture.  THE GOAL POST!

HAPPY THURSDAY!