Oh My Gosh!!!

Ok, thats not mine! LOL! My best friend just found out today she is expecting a baby!!! I am so excited for her and her hubby, and hope that the next nine months is morning-sickness free, and nothing but wonderful! It truly is the beginning of the rest of your life!! Enjoy this, every single moment!! Congratulations Korkki and Mike!!! (picture by The new mom!!!- thats right k, i said mom!!!) Now, I have to go wipe my tears I am crying like a fool!

The Classroom #1

Class is in session! This is the first in a 10 part series on taking better snapshots of your children, pets anything. {hint: CONTEST BELOW! CONTEST BELOW!}

Ok...and we are off!
This weeks lesson is about getting closer....

1) Focus test: Take 4 pictures of your babies eyes, one at 8 feet, 6 feet, 4 feet and 2 feet and see how they look. Doing this will give you an idea of how your camera focuses and how close you can get to your subject. You have to get to know your camera and its strengths and weaknesses! Up close pictures are tricky, but practice makes perfect!

2) Get Close to your subject. Start by cutting the distance between you and your subject in half, then maybe even closer. Yes, the tree behind fido is beautiful, but is your picture of Fido or of the tree? The most important thing you can learn from all this is the distance between you and your subject is very important. Photograph with your heart and soul, fill the viewfinder with what you love!

3) Now...get CLOSER! Find something on your subject you adore, the mouth full of teeth, the little hand, a fuzzy paw, heck a fuzzy paw and a little hand! There are so many "parts" once you get started, you will find its hard to choose. Those of you with new babies, do this with someone else, and take a pic of babies hand in someone else's hand (dad, grandma, heck your own if your camera will take that close) and do that each month. You will be amazed at how that little hand grows!

4) Loosen up and have fun, your subjects know if it stresses you (TRUST ME) and you want them to be relaxed!

5) And the most important tip of the month, find some flattering light. A window, the garage (with the door open - incredible light), below a shaded tree, sunset and get close to that light with your subject. Flattering light creates shadows and what is called "modeling" it gives your subject some dimension. High noon is not flattering! Squinty eyes do not look good on anyone! Those of you that have had outdoor sessions know this (and yes, I will give my tip for that, but thats another month).

PS send me an UP CLOSE image and the best one gets a $25 gift card to target (best- did you follow the directions??). We all could use some Target money!! Send those images over to my email address!{ kelly@khitephotography.com } I am excited to see what you guys do with your camera. This runs till the next issue of "the Classroom" is up (don't worry you will get a newsletter).

Ok! off you go, take some pictures, capture Life's sweetest moments before they are gone! Stay Tuned for October's classroom series which will have some tips for Halloween pictures and an INCREDIBLE contest!!

Happy Shooting!

The Diamond Girls

October begins Breast Cancer Awareness month, a charity close to my heart. In college I was a Zeta Tau Alpha, one of the primary sponosrs of The Susan G Komen Foundation. I have a grandmother who was a survivor, one of my best friends mother's, a survivor. It has touched every single one of us, affecting our mothers, our sisters, our friends, our grandmothers. I wish you sat here reading this today and could honestly say "I do not know anyone who has been affected by the disease". But, unfortunately, that's not the case. Breast cancer effects 1 in 7 women, an astounding statistic.October is Breast Cancer awareness month and the beginning of the Diamond Girls.

If you got the newsletter, you know all about this (if not, get to my website and subscribe). The Diamond Girls, was started by Andi Diamond, a photographer in Tampa. Her mother and sister in law are both survivors, as is my Grandmother. Andi started the Diamond Girls as both a fundraiser and an awareness campaign. Her goal, to raise money for breast cancer research while giving hope to the women (and men) currently battling breast cancer. Once Andi told me about this, I knew I wanted to continue the concept up here in Jacksonville. Our goal - to photograph Breast Cancer Survivors, the scars, the stories, the pain as well as the triumph. At the end of all of this, we hope to put together a book of stories and images about surviving Cancer, a book that gives both hope and empowerment to all the women currently diagnosed with breast cancer, and sadly enough, the ones who will be diagnosed in the future. These women are our daughters, our sisters, our friends, hundreds of thousands of them diagnosed each year.

I would like to give these survivors a complimentary private "survivor session" where she has the opportunity to show her brave "battle wounds", physically and emotionally, in an artistic, tasteful, beautiful, and empowering manner. I want these women's stories to encourage other women going through similar experiences. Each woman will have access to a web gallery to view her images. At the end of the month, I plan on hosting a party to showcase the images we created together while raising funds for Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation (www.komen.org). I am anticipating alot of interest in this endeavor, so if you have a friend or family member who you think might be interested, please have her contact me ASAP as space will be limited. Thanks in advance for your interest and support!

Beach Family

This past Friday I got to photograph the most beautiful family! The parents have been married for 40 years, what an amazing accomplishment! And together they have the most beautiful family, 4 children, 3 daughters-in-law and 2 beautiful grandchildren. I had so much fun with them and we had the most fabulous evening (ok, so a little windy)! For the first time in 3 months, it was pleasant outside! The baby was so sweet, and even woke up for a few shots. And the Miss "S", who is learning to walk was adorable, and had some great nicknames! I hope you guys enjoy your sneak peak and the rest of your vacation!

First Tooth!

Its gone! The first tooth is gone. Ash is just shy of her 5th birthday and she has lost her very first baby tooth. Of course, the tooth fairy came, and Mark and I immediately noticed that there has been 500% inflation from when we were kids! She got the tooth out by biting into Laffy Taffy~ hey, you have to do what works! The Sprout is growing up (can you hear my crying???). Of course, the first thing she did was check it out in the mirror! Congratulations Ash!

I've been Tagged...

I have been tagged by one of my photog friends and so I have to say 8 random things about myself:

1) I am addicted to email, I love it! I cant go a day without checking it, much less an hour!

2) I love products: lotions, makeup, etc, and my girls do too!

3) I love watching a Baby Story, watch it every day! (its no wonder I photograph pregnant women and newborns)

4) I have been married for 2 years to the most supportive and wonderful man, we have 3 stepchildren, and one beautiful daughter together.

5) I LOVE Christmas, decorating for it, planning for it, cooking for it! All of it! Its an addiction, and my husband is as bad as me!

6) I love wine, and I love chocolate! Well, all desserts, really!

7) I used to work in film and television, and have been on the sets of movies, commercials and music videos.

8) I LOVE to watch college football, especially the Gators!!

Well, thats it! Me in 8 little facts. Now, I am off to tag someone else!

Happy Birthday!

The Fabulous Miss O turned 1! What an exciting day! I photographed Miss O when she was 7 months old, and she has just gotten cuter (who thought it was possible). She was a bit nervous to start, but no girl can resist jewelery! She did so wonderful and has some adorable pics to prove it- I could not decide what to show! Happy Birthday to a beautiful little girl!!

Another maternity..

It must be baby season! This session was done in studio, and I had more fun! M and her son both came to get maternity pictures taken before the little one made her entry. Here is a sneak peak of her session, I cant wait to meet her! Congratulations!!

Beautiful belly

I had another wonderful maternity session at the beach. I swear there is nothing more beautiful then watching the sunrise and photographing that with a new mom to be. There is so much hope, so much joy and anticipation, its just perfect! Thank you for allowing me to capture this beautiful time for you!