Come visit our blog at its new location:
www.kellyniemannphotography.com/blog
See you there!
Thanks,
Kelly and Chad
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
New Arrivals! Twins!
After much waiting, Chad and I finally decided to adopt. A surprise to us, it turned out to be twins! They both arrived this week! One arrived on Monday, the other today. We were so excited!
Since you were probably wondering, no, they are not identical, but fraternal, I'm sure. (Maybe different dads? Does that happen?)
Anyway, I'm very excited that they are finally here and we plan on spending some quality time together this weekend... taking pictures.
Below are their first pictures together. I took them out to the back yard and gently placed them on the picnic table and locked the dogs inside.
Lenses are so amazing...
Since you were probably wondering, no, they are not identical, but fraternal, I'm sure. (Maybe different dads? Does that happen?)
Anyway, I'm very excited that they are finally here and we plan on spending some quality time together this weekend... taking pictures.
Below are their first pictures together. I took them out to the back yard and gently placed them on the picnic table and locked the dogs inside.
Our newest arrivals! Meet our 70-200 f/2.8L IS and our 50 f/1.4!
Aww! They're laying down together "scoping" out the backyard.
Lenses are so amazing...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
We've been blogged! Houston Wedding Photographer's meetup
Last Thursday, Chad and I headed down to Goode Co. BBQ to meet up, network, and learn some tips of the trade with a group of fellow Houston wedding photographers.
Scot of Studio 563 brought his Polaroid and blew some of his precious, last packs of film on our goofy and smiling faces.
Check out the scanned Polaroids on Scot's blog.
More fun stuff to come!
Scot of Studio 563 brought his Polaroid and blew some of his precious, last packs of film on our goofy and smiling faces.
Check out the scanned Polaroids on Scot's blog.
More fun stuff to come!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Teresa and Rick's Engagement Session
Chad and I knew that Rick and Teresa were going to be a bunch of fun as soon as we arrived at their house for their engagement session. They answered the door in their fun "Jimmy Buffet" shirts and asked, "Do you want wine or beer?"
(I like either of those options, thankyouverymuch.)
It tuns out that this couple has a beautiful backyard with a sparkling blue pool and lush, green landscaping. We really enjoyed shooting in this couple's private tropical oasis!
Did I mention how much I loved their backyard?
Teresa is a Texas transplant and a proud Florida State Alumni. And Rick, well... he loves St. Arnold's beer. I hear he has successfully completed many tours of the local brewery.
outtakes! 
One of my favorites...
Thanks Teresa and Rick! We're looking forward to your fall wedding!
(I like either of those options, thankyouverymuch.)
It tuns out that this couple has a beautiful backyard with a sparkling blue pool and lush, green landscaping. We really enjoyed shooting in this couple's private tropical oasis!
As a pooch lover myself, when they suggested getting some shots with their 100 lb Doberman, Ace, we were all for it! He's such a great poser.
Did I mention how much I loved their backyard?
Teresa is a Texas transplant and a proud Florida State Alumni. And Rick, well... he loves St. Arnold's beer. I hear he has successfully completed many tours of the local brewery.
They had their back patio completed just a week before, so got some photos of them enjoying it.
After their backyard, we went to a local park.
outtakes!
Couples in love are so much fun!
One of my favorites...
And they will live happily ever after...
Thanks Teresa and Rick! We're looking forward to your fall wedding!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Updates and McKinley and Noah
Ever have those times when you feel totally overwhelmed? Isn't it the greatest feeling when you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel? (Cliche, I know.)
I think I got myself in a little over my head in the last couple of weeks. Starting back almost a month ago, I had two photo sessions in one day. The next weekend, I had three family shoots. That following weekend (I think I'm at April 19th now), I was supposed to fly out to meet a friend in Virgina, but last minute, she couldn't have me stay. It turned out to be okay (not just okay, but great!) because we got a call from a totally awesome couple to come and photograph an engagement session!
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to second shoot a wedding with the uber talented Christine and Elaine. On Monday, another totally awesome photographer, Stacy Reeves (who I assisted at a very exciting wedding last year), invited me on (my very first) Trash the Dress shoot.
Which leads me to today. Right now I'm typing this from my Blackberry in the car as we're driving to Dallas. (Don't worry, I'm not driving.). :p Isn't technology awesome? (I'm probably going to find a ton of typos, misspellings, and realize the whole thing doesn't make sense when I get to a computer.) Anyway, we're driving to Dallas to for a family photo shoot and for our nephew's 1st birthday!
I promise this whole blog had a point that tied into the first sentence. Obviously, I'm behind where I want to be because I'm just now blogging about the third photo shoot from April 13th. The reason I'm behind is that I had a total of four papers due at school since April 21st and photo shoots EVERY weekend! (I've been a wee bit stressed.)
The light at the end of the tunnel? Finals are this week, all my papers are completed, and I only need three more credit hours until I graduate with my Associate of Arts degree!
Throughout my return to school and a busier than expected wedding season, my dear Chad has patiently waiting by my side, helping out anywhere he can. He may be guest blogging again for me soon!
And now back to your regularly scheduled blog.
Adorable little Mckinley turned one! To help her celebrate, her Grandmother Pam flew in from from Pittsburgh and her aunt Liz and cousin Noah flew in from Washington DC! She's such a special little girl!
Mckinley's parents asked that Chad and I come and photograph their little daughter with her 4 month old cousin at Grandma Kathy's house.
I had trouble narrowing down my favorites for the blog, but here they are, with commentary.
I think she wanted to come check out my camera
Grandma Kathy's house is on a beautiful lake. Mckinley didn't care. She wanted to try and munch on the grass. (See it in her left hand?)
Then over to Grandma and Grandpa's garden
This is little Noah and his mother, Liz. It was Noah's first trip to Texas and they wanted it to be memorable, so they got him a cowboy hat, boots, and a Texas stallion (kid sized)!
A comforting moment
Getting hungry. Fingers always make a good substitute.
I think I got myself in a little over my head in the last couple of weeks. Starting back almost a month ago, I had two photo sessions in one day. The next weekend, I had three family shoots. That following weekend (I think I'm at April 19th now), I was supposed to fly out to meet a friend in Virgina, but last minute, she couldn't have me stay. It turned out to be okay (not just okay, but great!) because we got a call from a totally awesome couple to come and photograph an engagement session!
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to second shoot a wedding with the uber talented Christine and Elaine. On Monday, another totally awesome photographer, Stacy Reeves (who I assisted at a very exciting wedding last year), invited me on (my very first) Trash the Dress shoot.
Which leads me to today. Right now I'm typing this from my Blackberry in the car as we're driving to Dallas. (Don't worry, I'm not driving.). :p Isn't technology awesome? (I'm probably going to find a ton of typos, misspellings, and realize the whole thing doesn't make sense when I get to a computer.) Anyway, we're driving to Dallas to for a family photo shoot and for our nephew's 1st birthday!
I promise this whole blog had a point that tied into the first sentence. Obviously, I'm behind where I want to be because I'm just now blogging about the third photo shoot from April 13th. The reason I'm behind is that I had a total of four papers due at school since April 21st and photo shoots EVERY weekend! (I've been a wee bit stressed.)
The light at the end of the tunnel? Finals are this week, all my papers are completed, and I only need three more credit hours until I graduate with my Associate of Arts degree!
Throughout my return to school and a busier than expected wedding season, my dear Chad has patiently waiting by my side, helping out anywhere he can. He may be guest blogging again for me soon!
And now back to your regularly scheduled blog.
Adorable little Mckinley turned one! To help her celebrate, her Grandmother Pam flew in from from Pittsburgh and her aunt Liz and cousin Noah flew in from Washington DC! She's such a special little girl!
Mckinley's parents asked that Chad and I come and photograph their little daughter with her 4 month old cousin at Grandma Kathy's house.
I had trouble narrowing down my favorites for the blog, but here they are, with commentary.
Mckinley is the happiest little girl!
I think she wanted to come check out my camera
She is just too cute!
Grandma Kathy's house is on a beautiful lake. Mckinley didn't care. She wanted to try and munch on the grass. (See it in her left hand?)
Then over to Grandma and Grandpa's garden
This is little Noah and his mother, Liz. It was Noah's first trip to Texas and they wanted it to be memorable, so they got him a cowboy hat, boots, and a Texas stallion (kid sized)!
A comforting moment
Getting hungry. Fingers always make a good substitute.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The Importance of Photography
I wish I was eloquent
But I'm not.
A fellow photographer and friend, Carlos Benjamin, wrote this wonderful post last night on flickr to share with his fellow photographers. I wanted to share it with each of you.
Please check out Carlos' website and blog.
I was shooting an e-session this past weekend at the Mesa Arts Center with my pastor's daughter, Christine and her fiance, Christian. The place has this fabulous blue wall that I love to use as a background element and all kinds of nifty water features.
We were taking these shots at one of the water features when I glimpse some movement coming into frame right (albeit out of focus).
The movement was this little guy. He dropped in with lunch and just wanted a drink, so I snap a shot with him as the center of attention
...and then the bird flies away.
It's at this point that I think, "That's why I do this...... To catch fleeting moments that will never be just so again. These two people; this place and time of day; this little bird......"
How often you hear stories about loved ones who've died and what comfort the photos bring to the family, or sadder still when they pass on and the thought is, "We were going to get some photos done....." I'd been talking with someone about getting a shot of the various members of their family for some time and one day one of them was, like this bird, no longer there. Gone......
Have you ever seen a movie where someone suffers the loss of a loved one and they interact with a photo on the nightstand, drawing it close and examining the features, tracing them with a finger and then embracing it? Sure you have. Maybe some of you have actually interacted with photos in that way.
It's not just the passing of loved ones that may trigger this emotional connection to our art. Moms might sit on the side of the bed holding a photo of a son or daughter who's left home for college or a job in a distant place. Parents look back at photos of their children when they were younger and you see a trace of a smile at the corners of their mouth and a faint twinkle in the eye.
There's a reason why we hear about people dragging the family photos out of a burning or flooding home - sometimes even risking their lives. I can't picture someone racing back into a burning house to rescue the frozen wedding cake or tearfully tracing the edges of the caterer's menu.
This may sound maudlin or sappy or even self-serving, but as important as they may be to the whole experience, I just don't see the other things folks spend money on to make their wedding day "special" being able to have the same impact over time as our images and albums.
That's why I think that what we do as photographers is important.
www.benjphoto.com
But I'm not.
A fellow photographer and friend, Carlos Benjamin, wrote this wonderful post last night on flickr to share with his fellow photographers. I wanted to share it with each of you.
Please check out Carlos' website and blog.
I was shooting an e-session this past weekend at the Mesa Arts Center with my pastor's daughter, Christine and her fiance, Christian. The place has this fabulous blue wall that I love to use as a background element and all kinds of nifty water features.
We were taking these shots at one of the water features when I glimpse some movement coming into frame right (albeit out of focus).
The movement was this little guy. He dropped in with lunch and just wanted a drink, so I snap a shot with him as the center of attention
...and then the bird flies away.
It's at this point that I think, "That's why I do this...... To catch fleeting moments that will never be just so again. These two people; this place and time of day; this little bird......"
How often you hear stories about loved ones who've died and what comfort the photos bring to the family, or sadder still when they pass on and the thought is, "We were going to get some photos done....." I'd been talking with someone about getting a shot of the various members of their family for some time and one day one of them was, like this bird, no longer there. Gone......
Have you ever seen a movie where someone suffers the loss of a loved one and they interact with a photo on the nightstand, drawing it close and examining the features, tracing them with a finger and then embracing it? Sure you have. Maybe some of you have actually interacted with photos in that way.
It's not just the passing of loved ones that may trigger this emotional connection to our art. Moms might sit on the side of the bed holding a photo of a son or daughter who's left home for college or a job in a distant place. Parents look back at photos of their children when they were younger and you see a trace of a smile at the corners of their mouth and a faint twinkle in the eye.
There's a reason why we hear about people dragging the family photos out of a burning or flooding home - sometimes even risking their lives. I can't picture someone racing back into a burning house to rescue the frozen wedding cake or tearfully tracing the edges of the caterer's menu.
This may sound maudlin or sappy or even self-serving, but as important as they may be to the whole experience, I just don't see the other things folks spend money on to make their wedding day "special" being able to have the same impact over time as our images and albums.
That's why I think that what we do as photographers is important.
www.benjphoto.com
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Happy Birthday to Arnold!
During our busy weekend, on Sunday morning, Chad a I woke up bright and early and drove down to sunny Galveston to meet Arnold, Irene, their 5 daughters and 7 grand children.
Why were they all there? It was Arnold's birthday! He was turning 65 and his family flew in from as far as California to spend his birthday weekend with him!
This was such a large and cheerful family, Chad and I really enjoyed spending the morning with them. (I also really enjoyed feeling the sand between my toes and the waves splashing on my feet.)
Chad and I later headed down to The Strand for a cool Sunday morning stroll before our afternoon shoot with Mckinley and her cousin Noah (but I'll save that for a later blog).
Below are some of my favorites from that crisp morning.
Why were they all there? It was Arnold's birthday! He was turning 65 and his family flew in from as far as California to spend his birthday weekend with him!
This was such a large and cheerful family, Chad and I really enjoyed spending the morning with them. (I also really enjoyed feeling the sand between my toes and the waves splashing on my feet.)
Chad and I later headed down to The Strand for a cool Sunday morning stroll before our afternoon shoot with Mckinley and her cousin Noah (but I'll save that for a later blog).
Below are some of my favorites from that crisp morning.
Someone spotted a dolphin
The birthday boy with his beautiful wife
Grandma and Grandpa with all the grand kids
And with all the girls!
And now for the families...
What? Was I not supposed to take this one? ;)
Yes, I asked them to hug. But they did! And aren't they so cute!
sisters
And now it's time to swim!
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