Right before Thanksgiving this year Sandra Costello of Studio SMC and I went down to Miami to photograph V & O’s Miami wedding. I have known V since 2010 when I went to Peru to volunteer with Coprodeli. It was so fun to reconnect with her, meet her family and of course, meet her amazing hubby. The days we spent with them were WARM, emotional, super fun and incredibly happy. I will never forget my days down in Miami, FL photographing their wedding.

A huge thank you to my buddy Sandra without whom I could not have survived 2011. To have a solid sounding-board in your life that values art, photography and business the same as I do has been an invaluable experience. I am beyond happy that we are such good friends. Sandra, thank you! xo Sandra is a fabulous wedding and portrait photographer. Please go check out her work.

Here are the photos:

Sandra’s photo on the bottom left.

this is Sandra’s photo:

Sandra spent some time with the boys. All the following boy shots are hers!

I love these girls!

First look time so we could get all out photos in before boarding the yacht! This first look was incredibly sweet.

Shoe shot by Sandra!

So much excitement here. All of these shots are Sandra’s.

Sandra’s shot below.

Sandra’s shot below.

Sandra’s shot in the bottom left corner.

Sandra’s shot below.

Top shot is mine the other two are Sandra’s.

Winner of the most enthusiastic kiss of the year!!!!!!!! LOVE!!!

The shots below are Sandra’s.

Sandra’s rad jump shot!

A HEART cloud!!!!!! WHAT!!??!?!?!?!? How amazing!!!!!!!

We spent about 20 minutes the day after the wedding playing silly on the beach. Here’s what we got! First shot is Sandra’s.

Probably one of my most fave shots. ever.

V & O thank you for your kindness, hospitality, and love. Sandra and I had such a blast photographing your wedding in Miami. Here’s to a lifetime of love and togetherness, forever and ever.

xoxo,

Katie

After the short time I was with them, I drove home thinking I had become a little wiser on the meaning of life. (The meaning of life is something I ponder upon quite often actually!) These two exposed to me something valuable, something I have probably known all along, and something I hope we can all say we have done when our time to move on comes along.

To love and be loved.

That’s it. We are here simply to love others, and be loved back. It’s pretty elementary, right? The more I think about it, the more real and true it becomes in my heart. There is no other reason why we are here but to love and be loved.

With sadness in my heart, I will tell you that the gentle soul in these photos, Chuck, passed away this week. He will be forever missed by his lovely family and brave, beautiful wife. My heart goes out to them that they may find comfort and peace in their hearts soon. I will be praying for them.

And I’d like to end this post on a happy note if possible! On this day of thanksgiving I am announcing the winning families of the Thankful Family Contest that I held this year! I am so happy to announce the two families but first I’d like to share that anyone who entered the contest in the correct timeframe will receive a gift certificate for themselves and the family they entered for $150 to be used towards a portrait session! Every. Single. Entry. was beautiful and touching and heartbreaking. Everyone had so much love to share about the families that they submitted!! I was beyond humbled by kindness and grace. Reading through the nominations brought tears to my eyes constantly. So, a huge thank you to all the people who submitted entries!

The winning families are the Wilson family and the Neumuth family! Both families are from Marlborough, CT! You will both receive a comlimentary family portrait session and a 16×24 canvas of any print you’d like!

If you are a winning family or if you’d like to claim your $150 gift certificate towards a family portrait session, please email me at katie(at)katieslaterphotography.com with your address so I can mail you your certificate!

Thank you all so much for participating!!

From the bottom of my heart, Happy Thanksgiving!

xo,

Katie

Sometimes I get to thinking that it won’t always be this good and that’s a thought that scares the sh!t out of me. But today, I have two healthy, smart and loving kids. My kind, wonderful husband hugs me, loves me, and makes me laugh on a daily basis. My parents are so loving and thoughtful. My siblings are all successful and happy. I have good health insurance. A warm house. Two sweet dogs. Good neighbors and friends. Clients that like my work. While what we have isn’t the most expensive, or biggest, or newest, or cleanest (!) what we have (or what I have) – is perfect today.  For this I am thankful. And grateful. My heart is full.

And so, on that thought, I want to give back. I want to give family portraits to a family who may be struggling with some of life’s basic luxuries. Not everyone can afford family photos. But I want people to have them anyway. If you know of a family that would be thankful for the surprise of family photos, I want to hear from you. Tell me their story, tell me how you know them, what you love about them, and why you think they’d want something like this. In nominating a special family for portraits, you in turn nominate yourself. That’s right, if the family you nominate wins – you win too! The exact same thing!

I am offering a family portrait session and a 16×24 canvas of any print you’d like. (A total value of $550!)

Please email your nominations to katie(at)katieslaterphotography.com. All stories and names will remain confidential. These stories are sacred and special. I completely respect and understand that. Deadline for submissions is Tuesday November 22nd, 2011. I will announce the winner Thanksgiving evening.

Thanks for participating! Please share this contest opportunity with your friends! If I receive more than 25 entries I will choose two winners!!!

And upon closing, I leave you with a family portrait of my own family. I love these people and couldn’t be happier that I get to call them mine. Oh, and if you are wondering who Deb Schwedhelm is – she just so happens to be my favorite family and child photographer. She is absolutely amazing and her work is nothing short of fantastically beautiful, emotional, and just simply gorgeous. She met us up in North Carolina this past April to photograph our family on the Outer Banks. Her photographs of us are my most prized possession. I love them dearly and I can only imagine that I will treasure them until the day I die.

Here are a couple:

Thanks for paticipating in the contest! I can’t wait to hear from you all!

xo,

Katie

And yes, Jim Altieri of the famed Jim Altieri’s Vintage Cinema worked his magic yet again. You absolutely MUST watch his family movie of the Spinelli’s. I’ve attached it at the end for your viewing pleasure!

Enjoy!

And without wasting another minute, please watch this:

The Spinelli Family from Jim Altieri on Vimeo.

See, it’s awesome!! Right!?

Thanks to Bishops Orchard for allowing us to shoot on your property.

And Tony, Deanna, and little Ant – you are so, so awesome, thank you so much for spending so much time with us!

xoxo,

Katie

It’s a question us photographers hear a lot! And it’s a dilemma that most families face before going in front of their photographer! I know when we had our family photos done last April, with the amazing Deb Schwedhelm, I struggled with what we were going to wear too!

To make this easy for everyone around (including me!) I am going to refer to you to an amazing article written by an equally amazing photographer, Jeannette LeBlanc out of Phoenix, AZ.

To paraphrase: Be comfortable. Be simple. Feel good. Be comfortable. Don’t be matchy matchy. Oh, and be comfortable. :)

________

You are what you wear.

A little cliché?  Perhaps.  But when it comes to portrait photography, this Phoenix photographer believes firmly that clothing plays a huge role in the success of the finished product.

Before I go all Stacy and Clinton on you – let’s be clear what your clothing does NOT need to be:

1. Brand New I’m down with your favorite ripped jeans, retro band T’s, and worn converse - as long as you know how to rock them in your own fabulous style.
2. Fancy-Schmancy and Uber-ExpensiveUnless it’s your thing (If it’s really your thing, then by all means baby, bring on the bling).   If you’re not normally a dress-up kind of person, don’t feel like you have to be one for your session.
3. Matching No need to focus on matching everything from the color of your fuchsia headbands to the stripes in your socks.  In fact, I beg of you, please, please don’t.  If you’re heart is set on everyone in white button downs and khaki pants, I’m probably not your girl.
4. Stressful No need to worry about each and every item, or fret about the suitability of each accessory.  This is supposed to be fun.   If you’re unsure – call me, and together, we’ll make sure you look fabulous.  I promise.

I want you to be happy, thrilled, over the moon about your images, and I know that this is much more likely if we take the time and work together to help you choose clothing that fits these few simple rules:

Feels Good.

During your shoot you could be sitting in a pile on the grass having a tickle battle, rolling down a hill with your fiancé, throwing your kiddos in the air or climbing a tree. Wear clothing that lets you do all that (and more) comfortably.

As for the kids? Well…uncomfortable kids have a tendency to look…uncomfortable, and are often cranky to boot. Happy kids make for happy pictures.

Bottom Line: Don’t choose outfits that make any of you feel constrained, stiff, itchy, scratchy, like you’re dressed up for Halloween, or that leave you with a nagging worry that a button might pop if you bend the wrong way. Trust me.

Looks Good.

This can be tricky, looking good is totally subjective – right? If you’re not a Carrie Bradshaw fashionista in real life, you might want to pull in some extra help from a straight-talking friend or your trusty photographer (that would be me) who knows about such things and has plans in place to help.

Sometimes last year’s of-the-moment dress has already become hopelessly untrendy. Sometimes the current fashions just don’t look or feel like you. Sometimes outfits that look good in the mirror might not be ideally suited for photography. If you’re really looking for extra help, I can put you in touch with some incredible folks who make people look good for a living.

Bottom Line: If you don’t feel fabulous-fierce-take-on-the-world gorgeous in your outfit, you’re not going to love, love, love the end result – and I’m all about you love, love, loving the end result.

Makes Sense.

Here’s where we pull it all together. It’s not just enough that everyone look good and feel good – you’ve gotta look and feel good together AND the outfits should fit with your location and the desired mood for your portraits.

Glup. That seems like a lot, doesn’t it? (quick – revisit #4 in the top list, and remember, don’t stress).

Bottom Line: It’s easier than it seems.Think twice about having Emma in a lace prom dress if you can’t get Tommy out of his spider man cape and favorite Star Wars pajama top. If we’re going to be running around in a park, you’ll likely not decide to wear your starched Sunday best. Hate the way stripes and plaids look together but Dad has his favorite stripped polo ready to go? Best steer mom away from her beloved family tartan. Easy-Peasy. [unless Mom is really attached to that tartan, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it).

~~~

If you’re still not certain, and you can’t decide between the yellow wrap dress with your red heels or your dark skinny jeans and purple  belted shirt – I’ve got good news.  You don’t have to decide.   Bring lots of options.  Heck – throw your whole wardrobe into the back of the car.  When we get to the session we’ll wing it all with fabulous results.  Trust me.

Now take a deep breath.  Close your eyes.  Imagine how blow-everyone-away-fabulous-ready-for-America’s-Next-Top-Model  you’re all going to look in those pictures….

Can you see it yet?  I totally can.  OMG, you look INCREDIBLE!

I can’t wait for your session.

______

Thanks Jeannette! You said it better than I ever could! I appreciate your words of wisdom! And so do my clients! Yay!

xo,

Katie

]]> http://www.katieslaterphotography.com/blog/connecticut-family-photography-what-should-we-wear-to-our-shoot/feed/ 0 http://www.katieslaterphotography.com/blog/to-be-loved-ct-family-photography/ http://www.katieslaterphotography.com/blog/to-be-loved-ct-family-photography/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:11:20 +0000 admin http://www.katieslaterphotography.com/blog/?p=1471

Don’t let your mind get weary and confused
Your will be still, don’t try
Don’t let your heart get heavy child
Inside you there’s a strength that lies

Don’t let your soul get lonely child
It’s only time, it will go by
Don’t look for love in faces, places
It’s in you, that’s where you’ll find kindness

Be here now…

~Be Here Now, Ray Lamontagne

You guys are on my mind. Thinking of your family and of safe returns.

Thank you beautiful Amber and Avonlea.

xo,

Katie

Take a look at Jim’s video here:

If you would like something like this – reach out to me!!! We are looking for families to film! We’d be happy to send you the details!

Sara, Nick, and Mirah – we are so lucky to have you in our lives. Thanks for opening your hearts to us!!! We hope you enjoy this!!!

xo,
katie

Costa Rica, 2010.

xo,

Katie