About a month ago, we decided to book a trip to Maui for my 30th birthday (whoop, whoop!). I had never been to Hawaii and we had never taken our two year old on a long flight, so this was a big deal! After the 5 hour flight (which was a bit tougher than I'd hoped), we landed in Maui and arrived at our hotel. Even though we couldn't check in for 4 hours, we tried to make the best of it! The three hour time difference was difficult for all of us, most of all our son. The kid didn't go to bed until 10 every night, a far cry from our usual 7/7:30 bedtime. Pair that with a 5 am wakeup time, minimal naps, and... yeah...

The second night we were there, little man woke at 11 pm screaming with a barky cough. We had a feeling it was croup, which he's had once before, but I worried that he could be having an allergic reaction to something. We bundled him up and ran downstairs to the lobby, only to discover that the closest hospital was 45 minutes away! That's when we really panicked! Luckily, a kind man came up to us, noticing our frenzy, and suggested that we go to the walk-in clinic across the street. Even though they were closed, this interaction gave us a moment to pause and regroup. After a little discussion, we decided to go back upstairs and run a steam shower (classic croup remedy). After about 2 hours, we all finally fell asleep. It's now 3 am...

Two days after this, a huge storm came rolling in! Lighting struck the whole island of Maui and the power went out around 1 am. Our son has a sound machine that helps him sleep, so of course, without power, no sound machine. He woke up around 4 am screaming, with croup, in the pitch black. So picture me in the bed, little man in his little metal jail of a crib at the foot of the bed, and my husband in the living room on the hide-a-bed. We wake up in a panic because we can't see ANYTHING, so I crawl to the foot of the bed and pick him up. Then I try to set him on a bed that I can't see, and when I go to lie down myself, I FALL OFF THE BED!! Holding my son, we hit the floor - hard. I stand up and yell for my husband to come to the bedroom and help, and he kicks a table trying to get to us. My son is screaming, my husband is swearing, and I have a giant bruise on my hip. We turn on the battery powered aquarium about 10 times to keep some light on, and eventually we fell asleep in the same bed with our son, who we have lovingly dubbed the sleep ninja because of his ability to kick you in the face no matter what position he is actually in. 

The power was out for about 12 hours, and the next few days went by with relatively little drama. It rained every day, but considering how the trip started, that was small potatoes. Maybe it was being forced to let go of control, or maybe it was sheer exhaustion, but we were finally feeling like we were on vacation. We went to a beach every day, which was absolutely amazing. I remember sitting on the beach and taking photos of my guys, thinking, "I am SO lucky." We built sand castles together, only to be maniacally destroyed seconds later by our two year old. We played in the crashing waves and smiled so hard our faces hurt.  We ate shaved ice, tons of delicious fish, and had countless drinks by our hotel's gorgeous pool.  My thoughtful husband booked me the most relaxing massage, and he got to do his favorite thing, which is diving. Our son got to see and taste lots of new things for the first time. We even visited the local park and aquarium. Despite all of the drama, when we look back on our first family vacation, we'll remember how much fun we had together. Yes, it was stressful, and yes, there were times when I just wanted to come home; but in the end we made some beautiful memories and pushed through the drama together. That's what family does, right? 

Until next time!

-Karcy

As many people know, the wildfires in Northern California have been absolutely devastating, and so many people have lost their homes and their livelihoods. My heart is so broken for them. I decided last week to donate 10% of my holiday mini shoots to the Red Cross to help victims of the fires. Its not much, but its something, and I am so happy to help in any way I can! Here in San Ramon, we have been lucky enough to avoid these fires, but our air quality has been horrendous this past week. My son was basically losing his little mind being cooped up inside for 4 days! He finally got to run free today when the air quality came back to normal. Yay!! (Because mama was kind of losing her mind, too!) 

So last weekend I finally got to try my hand doing fall mini sessions! I was so nervous, you guys! I didn't have a ton of bookings, but I am so grateful for those who turned out! And it turned out to be a blessing that my weekend wasn't completely overwhelming. I made the decision to hire an assistant to help me, and I am SOOOOO happy that I did! My assistant, Mikayla, (who also doubles as our baby sitter - score!) is absolutely adorable and so tenacious! She's great with kids, whip smart, and super likable. I could also tell that my clients felt a little more comfortable having two of us there, and I did too! She helped move sets when the sun shifted (as it does every half an hour) and she kept the kids focused on the camera with our adorable stuffed bunny. I have already hired her for our holiday mini shoots in a month. (Here we go again, right?!)

Every family looked amazing and came dressed to impress. They were so sweet and a blast to photograph! At the end of the day, it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I could breath again. After everyone had left, I sat in the gardens in silence and took in the gorgeous scenery around me. I felt thankful for a successful weekend, and excited about the future. I even made a point to take a few nature shots. But, the true calm came when my clients let me know just how much they loved their photos - Which were delivered within TWO DAYS!! ('Cause, you know, I'm a woman on a mission!) I cannot even describe how big the smile on my face is when I learn that a client is happy with my work. It is my motivation and my absolute goal, and these mini shoots were no exception!

I feel blessed to be living my passion and to have the opportunity to grow as a photographer, and as a person. 

Spread some love today. :)

-Karcy

One of the reasons why I love photographing families and children is because of the LOVE! It is so satisfying and heart warming to be able to photograph the bond between parent and child. Having a little one myself, I am lucky enough to understand this kind of unconditional devotion and it is something that I strive to capture in every session.

I absolutely still have moments where I think to myself, "What the heck am I doing? Am I even good at this?!" But as time goes on, I have started trusting my gut and being open to wherever the shoot takes me. The cool thing about doing this is that each of my shoots have a different feel to them. Each session is unique and I can't necessarily guarantee that my client's final photos will look a certain way, but I can guarantee that I will capture the love.

I know that I have so much more to learn, but I am really looking forward to learning it!

Until next time! Make someone smile today!

-Karcy

(Photos are in order from most to least recent)

Fall is almost here! Can you believe it? The weather is getting colder and wetter, and pumpkin spice is everywhere you look. (No complaints from me!)

I live in gorgeous Northern California and because I have only been open for business for a couple of months, I haven't had to pay too much attention to the weather- until now! On a positive note, overcast conditions can make for some great shots if you do it right. Shooting from above can help to capture those catchlights in the eyes. Also, its important to try to create some depth and contrast where you can, since those grey clouds can make everything look flat and dull. Cloud cover acts as a giant softbox, diffusing light and eliminating harsh shadows and sunspots. I'm sure I'll have plenty more practice in the next few months!

One of the big things I have decided to try is the oh-so-popular mini shoot. Honestly, I was a little hesitant to jump aboard this train. Not only is it a lot of preparation, but you are dealing with a lot of people in a short period of time. One of the things I absolutely love about photography is getting to know my client and their family. I really enjoy spending an hour or so with them and letting the kids warm up to me. That's how I capture those sweet, relaxed moments of kiddos. It takes time! As many photographers can attest, the first 10 minutes or so of a shoot can be a little... awkward. Everyone is getting used to being photographed, which can be uncomfortable in itself, and sometimes I'm still hammering out the exact lighting, backdrop, etc. Within 15-20 minutes, things are usually running smooth and my confidence is back up. Mini sessions last 20 minutes max! So I have to make my clients comfortable right away, know exactly what backdrop I want to use, as well as have lighting and my settings all figured out. Of course, once I do that, I'm good to go for most of my shoot (with minor adjustments for the sun changing locations). Another element to mini shoots is pricing. I see lots of sessions going for $150-$200 or more. While I absolutely respect a photographer's right to price themselves where they see fit, I cannot justify charging my customers nearly that much. Not just because I am still new to this business and building my portfolio, but mainly because I want families to be able to afford quality photos and not break the bank doing it. This is very important to me!

So, I decided to set up my Fall themed mini shoot on October 7th and 8th, from 9 am - 1 pm. And I am offering two options: Option A is $50 for 5 photos, and Option B is $75 for 8 photos. I picked up some great props from Michael's, including some fake pumpkins, fake leaves, and a basket with sunflowers. Pair this with a cute plaid or knitted blanket, and I think it'll look great! Wish me luck!! 

I have been so busy with my new photography business lately that I haven't had as much time for my son as I would like. So this morning, we woke up, had breakfast (banana pancakes, recipe below), and took the trike out for a walk down our road to a community garden. I've driven past this place a zillion times and, to be honest, it doesn't have much curb appeal. Once we got inside, my son immediately wanted off his trike and to run around. We had a blast and got some really fun pictures. I actually love how he's pretty dirty in these photos! Such a great indication of childhood! And while we were munching on our pretzels and grapes, we noticed beads all over the ground. So naturally, they became a subject! This place has lots of rustic structures and shade. It's a perfect place for a photoshoot - which is great, because I have TWO there this weekend!

Until Next Time! 

BANANA PANCAKES

This recipe is great for little ones! Minimal ingredients, nutritious, easy to make, and delicious!

Ingredients:

Two Eggs

One Banana

(optional)

Cinnamon, Spinach, Carrots, Kale

Directions: 

Quickly Blend one banana with two eggs in the food processor. (You can also smash the banana by hand and thoroughly mix in the two eggs.)

(Optional: If you are using spinach, kale, or carrots, blend them in the processor FIRST and then add the remaining ingredients.)

Heat a hot pan on medium and pour "batter" into 2" x 2" pancakes. Flip when brown.

It may take a couple tries to ensure that you have the right consistency of the batter and temperature of the pan.

ENJOY!

Man, I never thought I'd have to re-introduce myself to the universe. 

I never thought I would be a stay-at-home mom, either. Even typing it feels weird...

Quick back story... Okay I lied. It's not that quick... I am from Washington State. I truly never thought I would leave. Not necessarily because I loved it so much, but because, why would I? I was 23 years old and had worked extremely hard to make a life for myself. Coming from a family of five kids, we didn't have much money and stability was something that I desperately craved.

I am no stranger to hard work. In high school, I worked two jobs and took college classes, assuming that I would go to college after I graduated. Then, real life kicked me in the face and I realized how much college would cost. I was not willing to go into debt. No. Matter. What. So instead of college, I got a job. A real job. I became a receptionist at an environmental company and started on the road of working my way up the corporate ladder. Using basically nothing but my personality and tenacity, I joined the accounting department within the year. And I loved it. I loved the people. I loved the money. And I LOVED the independence I was earning. A couple of years later, I began doing accounting at another environmental company and really felt grounded. I even went back to school and got my general associates degree. Why not an accounting degree, you ask? Well, if I'm being honest, I think a big part of me knew that I didn't want to do accounting forever. After my serious (then) boyfriend got an awesome job offer that would require him to uproot his life, I decided to ditch my accounting career and follow love up and down the West Coast. Crazy, right? Well, yes. And no. You see, even though I so deeply wanted security, what I needed was adventure. And art. And Music. And love. 

I have been artistic ever since I can remember. When I was nine, I painted my entire dresser using nothing but nail polish. These weren't janky chicken scratches, either. These were ornate, intricate patterns that fed my soul and smelled horrible. (But it was in the name of art, right?) I used to draw and paint and color anything and everything I could find. I loved painting, even though I was never amazing at it. When I was 23 and my little sister was born (yes, you read that right, little sister!), I volunteered to paint a mural on her nursery walls. And you know what? I did a pretty darn good job. I'm not bragging here. My point is that I have always needed art in my life. And maybe that is genetic...

My dear Nana, who passed away early this year, was an amazing artist. And author. And poet. And person. She infused art appreciation in me at an early age, and I will always be so grateful to her for that. I could easily say so much more about her, but I have a feeling that it would lead to tears and heartache and getting off topic (which I do so easily, anyway), so suffice to say that she was and still is a huge part of my heart. And I miss her terribly.

So, back to my adventure. Except for a brief stint at Starbucks in Southern California, I haven't been able to work because we relocate so often. Yes, I know, what a blessing. But for a busy body like myself, I felt a little restless. Even useless at times. I know, I know! Following your hunky, career-driven boyfriend around the coast well you get to sit on your butt! And I'll admit- I'm a lucky girl. We have lived in so many amazing places that I never would have known existed if it weren't for this leap of faith. Portland, OR (three times), Glendora, CA, Alameda, CA, Spokane, WA, and even Calgary, AB, Canada for a while! After we got married, we were assigned a job in the idyllic city of San Ramon, CA. This is my favorite place so far. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that this is the first place we settled down in after our son was born- which that is how I discovered my love for photography. With the most life-changing event that anyone can experience.

Like so many self-taught photographers, I decided to follow this passion after the birth of my son. Instead of paying hundreds every few months to get family photos taken, I decided to invest in a new camera. And like so many things I have done in my life, the confidence and the desire to learn propelled me into a new hobby. I had never had a more intriguing subject than my little guy. Flash forward two years later, and here we are. 

After months of talking about starting my own business and learning as much as I could, I was getting really serious about making it happen. But, embarrassingly, it wasn't until I watched a show called Girl Boss on Netflix that I finally decided to pull the trigger. (Side note, if you've never seen Girl Boss, it will light a fire under your butt.) The main character reminded me so much of my younger self. She was ambitious, feisty, and wouldn't let anyone tell her that she couldn't reach her goals. I wanted to be that girl again. Or at least, see if she was still inside me. 

Disclaimer: I LOVE being a mom. All the time. Well, let's be honest. Not all the time. But most of the time. My son has filled my life with more love, laughter, and light than I could have ever imagined. My little family is the stuff of holiday cards and perfect summer days. They make me feel loved, needed, and deeply happy. But... I need more. At least, more from myself. There are parts of me that I am eager to rediscover and I know that pursuing photography can help me to do that.

I should mention - parts of this process are uncomfortable for me. I've thought about starting a blog for some time, but I am a very modest person and feel awkward assuming that people will want to read my thoughts. Because, well, you have your own life, right? I also hate being judged. I am not one of those sure-footed women who tear through life with the confidence of Heidi Klum. No. That is not me. I'm the nice girl. The polite girl. People certainly wouldn't describe me as mousy or shy, but I'll admit. I care what you think. So putting myself out there is not second nature. But again, its in the name of art.

So please, join me in this crazy adventure and let's see what happens.

More to come-

Karcy