FREE Photography Lessons

Good Morning Friend,

It’s day I-don’t-even-know-anymore of self-isolation because of Covid-19. I am writing you from home while the snow (honestly, Alberta really needs to move on to spring now) gently falls outside my window and the kids take this unsupervised opportunity to wreak some havoc.  Seriously though, I can literally hear them quietly giggling as they fill something up in the sink.  But thats where we are at, letting some of the mischievous antics slide for a moment of quiet or an hour of work.  It's not a perfect system, but ya do what ya gotta do you know?!

How are you doing?   I have been thinking of you all so much.  Wondering if there is anyway I could help besides reminding you to dance on instagram lol.   And I decided that at the very least, I could offer you a fun and creative distraction.  FREE PHOTOGRAPHY LESSONS!  If you follow me on Insta, chances are you maybe joined in on one or two of the live lessons.  But I heard from so many folks that missed out on the lessons or worksheets (sad face).  So I set to work to make everything available for you to go at your own pace.  All the live recordings have been, very non-professionally, posted on IGTV and all the worksheets will be sent to your inbox, just CLICK HERE to grab them! 

Here is a little break down of the lessons:

1. Learn how to shoot on Manual Mode

2. Understanding that Light

3. Creating with Composition

4. How-to Create Double Exposure and other Creative Techniques

5. The Beauty of Self-Portraits

Ahh, so exciting. I honestly love chatting photography with you all and I really hope these lessons bring a little light to your days! If you have any question or just want chat, you know where to find me!  Sending you virtual hugs!

Warmly,

Karmen

P.S.  A dance a day is quite an effective mood booster, just try it!

6 Reasons to Start a Bullet Journal and How to Get Started Today

Did you know that when you write down your goals you are 90% more likely to achieve them?!*

For me journaling is such an essential part of my self-love journey. I check-in with myself daily to take the vortex of anxiety-inducing tasks swirling around in my head and out them down on the paper. And what do ya know, they seem so much more reasonable once they are stationary. A journal is a safe place to say what’s on my mind. A place to dream big, set goals and make promises to myself. And you can easily do the same!

Here is a quick run-down of how journalling can help:

1. reduces anxiety

2. increases productivity

3. helps you to set goals and actually achieve them

4. keeps creative (and sometimes chaotic) thoughts in one place instead of scattered on random napkins, envelopes, and phone notes.

5. the blank slate of each dotted page keeps you creative and in charge of what needs to be said that day

6. and last but not least, it helps to practice the art of letting go of perfection. There are now perfect squares or pre-written titles. I think a lot of people start bullet journals with this idea that they are going to Pinterest worthy, and sometimes they are. But for me, and I’m willing to bet most people, it’s function over form. Just showing up and checking in, is so much more important then having each page immaculately laid out!

Are you sold yet?! Well the good news is that you don’t need much to get started. Just get yourself a pen and a notebook with dotted lines. I don’t use anything fancy here, I most recently ordered this ‘Essential Notebook’ off Amazon for $12 but I have seen similar ones at Chapters as well. (I am on the hunt for a stationary brand who is transparent about where and what their notebooks are made from though! If you know of any please do share!!). And then the final, most important step. DON’T OVERTHINK IT! Just go with it, if you have a messy journal it doesn’t make it any less impactful.

For example, my sister and I both bullet journal. Hers looks like a freaking artist’s sketchpad and mine looks like an explosion of lists, thoughts and the occasional drawing from my beloved children (Ugh, but remember…. the art of letting go…. deep breaths y’all). There isn’t a right way or a wrong way here. You do you girl!

Here is what works for me:

1. Attempt to make the first page of the journal pretty. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. The end result doesn’t matter here, you just showed up for yourself friend. And I am freaking proud of you. I just started a new journal, and since it happens to coincide with the new year, my cover page has the number 2020 written large in the centre and then I wrote down meaningful words that I want to focus on this year. Basically it looks like one of those bubble charts we had to do in school. Call me a nerd, but you will see quite a few of said charts in my journal. They just work so well for plotting together my never-ending train of thoughts!

2. The next page, I write the title TO READ in 2020. This page I will leave blank and whenever I come across a book or post I want to read, I will write it down here so I don’t forget. PLUS, I love checking things off a list. The more lists the better lol.

3. Next page, I write the title TO LISTEN TO in 2020. This page is dedicated to audiobooks, podcasts, music.

4. and the next page, I write the title OTHER RESOURCES. Listen friends, I am a research machine and having a consistent place set aside to keep track of the info I want to indulge on is such a time saver!! If this isn’t your jam. Don’t do it. Easy Peasy.

5. From here on out the world is your oyster. Depending on what I am needing, I may write a daily to-do list. Or maybe I need a good old brain dump…. What’s a brain dump you ask? Well… write Brain Dump (or Thoughts if your feeling fancy) and then you just start writing down what is taking up space in your mind. These two things are what I do the most! But I also use these blank pages to map out plans for social media, to collect quotes that inspire, to write gratitude lists. I also, check in every few months to re-write my brand/life values and make sure that I am living in alignment with those values.

Bullet journals can be as simple or as intricate as you want. Because each page is blank, it means that they are basically universal. It just takes a bit of a commitment at the beginning to get into the habit. But I’m telling you once you settle in, it will be something you look forward to! If you have any questions or would like to know more about bullet journaling just let me know!

I hope this helps so much on your journey toward self-awareness, reflection and goal setting!

Can’t wait to chat more next week! Warmly,

Karmen

* ok I don’t know if it is exactly 90%! I read this fact so long ago that I don’t even remember where to look for the exact information lol. But moral of the story, WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS.

The Story Behind the Photos // The Mojave Collection

Travel Inspired Art in the Mojave Desert by Karmen Meyer Photography

Travel Inspired Art - the Mojave Desert by Karmen Meyer Photography - Roy's Motel and Cafe -Amboy- Route 66 - California Road Trip

Honest Review | Nisolo Heeled Chelsea

 Well the snow has made a return, so it seemed like the perfect time to give you an honest review of these gorgeous boots which have proven to be season-less.So I am not going to lie, I got off to a bad start with Nisolo.  I purchased a pair of smoking shoes (flat, loafer type) and even though they were absolutely gorgeous, there was a bit of damage on them from one of the shoe clamps and sadly I had to be send them back at my expense.  Then they were misplaced in their warehouse and the entire process ground to a halt.  In the meantime they sold out of my size, and on and on and on this story goes.  I swear we ran into every problem imaginable, but I do have to say that they handled it with grace and did everything they could to make it right!!And so at the end of it all, I ended up with these beautiful Brandy Heeled Chelsea Boots (even though I ordered black lol).  And I LOVE them.  They have been a perfect addition to my closet and have helped me create tons of new outfits with my existing wardrobe.  So let me break it down into pros and cons for you.

PROs:

1. Such classic, stylish looking boot! They are just beautiful friends.

2. Incredibly versatile. I love pairing them with everything from dresses to overalls. I have been loving wearing them all winter with wool socks!

3. Both available colours are perfect. They come in a weatherproof black and this brandy colour. I was worried the brandy would be to rich of a colour for my wardrobe but it turns out to be the perfect pop of warmth! Gosh I am so happy with the colour.

4. They are comfortable..... once broken in, which took a few wears. I wear them ALL. THE. TIME!

 CONs:

1. You have to order from a third party, Garmentory, if you are in Canada.

2. They take a bit of time to break-in. I was honestly worried I ordered a size to small but now they are perfect!

3. There is no padding in the sole. My beloved Poppy Barley boots have spoiled me with memory-foam in the soles. These boots are very comfortable, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the cozy padding my PBs have.

All-in-all, these have become an absolute go-to pair of boots and have held up beautifully in Alberta's change of seasons.  I dont' want my struggles deter you from ordering from Nisolo!  It really seems that my experience is not the normal costumer experience for them.  And these boots were 100% worth all the little challenges!  I hope that helps!  Questions?  Comments?  Fire away!KarmenP.S.  I am also wearing Only Child Dune Pants and a notPERFECTlinen cardigan.*While the first pair of shoes I ordered were on my own dime, Nisolo gifted me these boots in exchange for photos.  My review however was NOT paid for.  It is just honest feedback on my experience.  Just want to make sure that these reviews are always 100% transparent! 

The Taylor Family takes on Westerner Days | Red Deer Family Photographer

  Ever since having a family of my own, photographing parents and their beloved little ones has taken on a whole new meaning.  I love tagging along on little outings or just spending some time documenting everyday life.  This session was a first though! Thanks so much for having me join you at the Westerner Days Fair Taylor fam, I am so totally in love your photos!  I hope that you are as enchanted as I am!Would you ever get your family photos taken at the fair?  If not, where would be your dream location?!  

May your portraits age like a fine wine!

 The truth is I don't want your portraits be that cheap pair of flip-flops that broke after one summer of use and then were carelessly tossed into the garbage.  I want your portraits to be that favourite pair of leather boots.  You know the ones!  The ones that just make you feel so darn gooooooood everytime you put them on!  I want them to hang proudly on your walls or rest lovingly on your coffee table. I want your portraits to make you smile every time you walk by that gallery wall or flip through the pages of your album.  I am wildly aware that this will not work for everyone's taste and/or budget and that's ok, because these days there are an incredible amount of photography options to choose from.  But for YOU, you know who you are..... you think less just might actually be more, you would rather have 10 stunning prints for your wall than 100s of files lost on a hard-drive.  For you, I want to create something one-of-a-kind, something long-lasting.  Seriously though, is it egotistical of me to want the photos I take to be the ones handed down to your great-grandchildren?  I imagine that they will lovingly look through them, perhaps they will need to smooth out a crease from it being accidentally folded into the gutter of a book, or maybe the ink will be slightly faded from sitting on that sunny livingroom shelf, and they will wonder to themselves about what life was like all the way back in 2018 with all it's strange, beautiful moments and trends. 

In the Desert | Mojave Preserve California

Driving the through the desert is a magical experience (highly recommended), you come across sights that seem like they could only be from another planet.  Some you drive by with eyes widened, others require you to slam on the brakes and turn that car around.  This was one of those times.  A lone Foo Dog just off of Route66 in California.Model: Rebecca Hughes Poncho: sweetjolieboutique.com Jewelry: volerra.com  (PS.  Volerra is having a HUGE sale today!!)Travel Dates for the remainder of 2018 are listed HERE on my website.  I will be taking portrait and brand sessions at all locations, just shoot me an email or comment below if you have any questions!