Brand Sessions Just Got Even Better

 Oh I have some exciting news to share with you today!!

I have officially partnered with this talented woman to take branding sessions to the next level!  Tammy Swier of Tammy Swier Design is a graphic designer, web designer and visual director with an incredible eye for developing your brand.  We have been working together for the past year and I just adore her natural instincts when it comes to style and design.  I can't wait to show you what we have created together so far! If you have any questions or are considering if a brand session is right for you just shoot me an email!  I'd love to help you out.

Warmly,

Karmen

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. 

Solid Gold Esthetics | Brand Session Sneakpeek

Last month Carla hired me to capture some photos of her studio, as well as, one of her classes and I am so excited about how much we were able to accomplish in a quick one hour session.  Take a peek through the photos above!It really was such an honour to document some of Carla's incredible hard-work and talent.  Carla is the owner of Solid Gold Esthetics in Blackfalds.  She also happens to be the one to give my first ever tattoo!!  And I know a bunch of you have noticed because I get DMs about my fab new brows all the time haha.  Honestly, as girl who can barely handle mascara, Carla is basically some sort of magical creature to me.  This woman effortlessly free hands the most perfect brows a girl could dream of.Annnyways, now that I am done fan-girling, let's chat quick about brand sessions and how they can add value to your business:

1. They help tell your brand story. Let's be real. As customers we prefer to buy from people not faceless companies. Lifestyle photos show people who YOU are and why your work matters.

2. They are workhorses. You can use your images in print, on instagram, on facebook, on pinterest, your website, your blog, in brochures, on business cards (I really could go on). These photos are meant to give you a visual foundation for you online and offline presence.

3. They show you and your business in the best light. Literally.

4. Lifestyle sessions are versatile and totally customizable. In an organized one or two hour session, we can capture everything from products to behind-the-scenes. This variety can serve you (and your instagram feed) for months to come!!

If you have any questions about Brand Sessions OR my micro-blading experience let me know!!  I am all ears and would love to help ya out.Warmly,KarmenPS.  I took daily videos during the micro-blading process.  If you guys are interested and would find this sort of info helpful let me know!  I will happily post them for you! 

Vintage Trailer Reno | 1970s Triple E Camper

 OH my goodness you guys!!  I got an email from Alberta Parks saying that we can start booking camping sites at the end of the month! When I read it, two things immediately crossed my mind:

1. That's flippin' crazy.  Its FEBRUARY.  I don't plan that far in advance.
2. Weeeee camping!

And now I keep finding myself daydreaming of summer, and actually considering camping sites in February lol. So since I can't get summer off my mind anayways, I figured now would be the perfect time to share our little trailer reno here on the blog.If you follow me on instagram you have probably caught me over-sharing about our beloved little trailer already. But for those of you who haven't, I inherited this teensy little home-on-wheels when my Dad passed away and proceeded to spend a good chunk of last spring giving it a bit of a face-lift. I can honestly say that it turned out to be a wonderful healing process for both me and the trailer! We are both feeling lighter and brighter and less leaky.Here is a little glimpse at the BEFORE pictures:[gallery type="square" size="large" columns="4" link="file" ids="4725,4723,4726,4721,4724,4722"]My grandparents bought this trailer brand new in the 70s, so it is filled to the brim with road trip memories. The fabric on the cushions has already been replaced at some point, but I really wanted to keep as much of the rest as original as possible. The hardest part really was tying in the new fabrics with the (awesome) existing patterns and colours of the 70s. Not gonna lie, I think it was a wonderful success. Everything feels fresh and clean, but nothing is so precious that dirty camping fingers and muddy paws can ruin it. Last summer we gave it a good test-run. We enjoyed every bit of our hard-work, and I reveled in the fact that I get to keep this little piece of my dad's childhood alive with my own family. To say we are excited to make some new memories this year would be a giant understatement..... So I just might have to be that person who books their camping in February lol️. How about you? Do you book early to get your favourite spots? Or do you do what I usually do and just call around until you find something available haha?P.S.  If you have any questions regarding the reno let me know!!  Just didn't want to bore y'all with the details 😉

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HUGE thanks to Suzanne Taylor Photography for taking some photos of us hanging out on a perfect Alberta summer night.  All the lovely photos of us are by her.

Tammy | Genuine Portrait Series

 Hey Friends, it's been a little while since I posted a Genuine Portrait Series session here!!  But it just so happens to be Volerra's second birthday this week (hooray)!!  So, I thought there was probably no better time to share some photos of the incredible lady then now.Meet Tammy.  Tammy hand-makes gorgeous jewellery which is as easy on the eyes as it is on the soul .  Her attention to design and love of nature is evident in every single piece.  You should really just do your lovely free-spirit a favor and head over to her website (or instagram feed).  I'm serious, just looking at her jewelry will leave you with that good sorta feeling.  You know the kind I'm talking about?  Hard to miss, but hard to describe.  I asked Tammy if she wouldn't mind sharing a little bit more about herself and Volerra, so without further ado, here she is:

"Working from home as a graphic designer full time while still managing a house, two small children, battling anxiety and hardly sleeping - my days were getting stressful. Apart from healing myself holistically, I delved into ways to bring peace and calm to my everyday by adopting minimalism, and decorating in ways that were very soft and inspired joy.

Gemstone jewelry came next. I had been making jewelry all my life, starting out with glass and wood beads and through my hunt for peace I progressed into gemstone beads.  I started making bracelets I could wear everyday that would help me with my stress and anxiety. With so many women out there wanting peace, and also self-confidence, love, healing, and gratitude - I began carefully selecting stones and botanicals to share my pieces with others in hopes that it could help other women on there journeys.

I want to create pieces that not only do good, but also in styles and hues suitable for any occasion and all outfits. I want women to wear these frequently so that they can gain the most benefits from them. I now offer gemstone bracelets, bracelet sets, naturally shed deer antler necklaces, beach jewelry and I have even taken the leap into making children's gemstone jewelry.

Perhaps starting a second business isn't everyone's idea of how to manage stress, but I have always found joy in making things quietly. I pour loving thoughts into each piece and find the act of creating things with intention so rewarding."

It is always such a joy to have such a kind, creative soul in front of my camera!  And am so grateful that our paths have crossed.  I CANNOT wait to see what's in store for you, Tammy, and Volerra in your third year <3

<3K   

Rebecca | Genuine Portrait Series

I have always been drawn to simple portraits.  You know the kind that pull you in a hold you there.  Somehow frozen in time, is this person and their personality.  No distractions, no bells and whistles.  It's genuine and it's  pretty wonderful.  I have known for a while that I wanted to start a project like the #GenuinePortraitSeries, but I wasn't really sure how to go about it.  But, I finally decided that couldn't just wait around for the perfect idea to formulate, if I want to start a simple portrait series, well then I should just do it!  Sometimes the best things just happen organically, you know what I mean?So I hauled out my lighting equipment and set-up for weeks in my living room (Ok it's still up, but I have taken it down a couple times lol).  I started photographing woman after woman (men are welcome too haha, just hasn't happened yet) and started to really, truly fall in love with the project.  I am so excited by not only the beauty of the portraits, but also their potential!  These people are all so unique and amazing, and, WOW, am I ever excited to tell their story through portraiture!!  And I honestly can't wait to see how each person uses their new photos to develop their brand or to hang in their house or to give to their Moms or to freshen up their Instagram feed or, well you get the point =)!Annnnnyways, it is about time that I start sharing them with you all here on the blog!!  And I am really excited about it (don't suppose you can tell?)! So without further ado.  Here is Rebecca.  She is incredibly passionate about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the strength that she has found within the sport!

"Hi, it's me Rebecca.  I started jiu jitsu in January of 2015.  I learned about this particular martial art through a good friend of mine who had started jiu jitsu the summer we met.  After just a few months of training in jiu jitsu she knew enough to show me some moves on her basement floor. The technique is one I will never forget (arm lock series from side control.) Up until that moment I had never felt truly empowered by what my small 115lb frame could do. With a sort of fragile physical history, (having crushed my T9 vertebrae in 2012 while cliff jumping) I was surprised to understand that with proper leverage I could not only break someone's arm but that I could actually hold a grown man's life in my own two hands.  Once unlocking this new found strength, there was no turning back. I moved to Calgary the next month and found the gym closets to my home. Since that day I have been training, traveling, and competing for jiu jitsu. It has taken me places I thought were out of my reach. That’s what jiu jitsu will do. It will bring you places that you didn’t even knew existed within yourself and the world. But that’s for you to find out.

I am passionate about helping others learn and love welcoming new people to the sport.  You should try it, I guarantee you will love it.  Here are 5 things you need to know before your first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class:

• You are not an inconvenience to anybody. Every single person on the mat has been exactly we're you are right now. Even world champions.
• You are not going to be good at it. But after your first class you will feel happy. No matter what you'll love it.
• Yes people sweat and it's ok if you do too. Jiu jitsu is cardio x1000. Bring a small hand towel or face towel if you are really worried.
• What to wear. Regardless of what Academy you are planning to attend most Jiujitsu players dress the same. We will start with the gi. A gi is a garment worn in jiujitsu that looks like a judo or karate kimono but is very different. It's used to grip, control, and to submit your opponent. Call the gym you are planning to attend and ask if they provide a rental gi. If not that's ok! Under the gi we wear a rash-guard and spats. A rash-guard is a top that does exactly what the name insinuates, provides a layer of protection from bacteria for your skin and from the friction of your gi. You can buy special jiujitsu brand but it's not necessary, it needs to be tight fitting and breathable (anything but cotton). Next are spats or tights. I know you're thinking "but I'm not Peter Pan." It's okay you can wear shorts overtop or most likely gi bottoms. Trust me, rash-guard and spats are life savers. Pro-tip: TAKE OFF YOUR SOCKS!
• Information overload is a real thing.

You are not alone. Nerves are real and we all have them to a certain degree."

  I hope you enjoyed learning more about the #genuineportraitseries and this spit-fire of a woman!  If you are interested you can follow her journey on Instagram @beansofnebula.Warmly,Karmen