Cooking with Kristie. . . you can too!

Last night, Kristie invited a few friends to her house to run through a mock cooking class.  I can assure you she did not need a mock run-through.  I happily accepted the invitation prepared for a good meal.  It was much more than just a good meal.  It was a multi-sensory experience.  Let me tell you that these are the most snapshotty pictures that I've posted on the blog.  I threw my camera into auto and took a few pictures just to have something to share with you on the blog.

We were greeted with this beautiful cheese course and a glass of wine.

 

I tried the olive tepenade for the first time and could've eaten the entire thing alone.  Kristie is so good about making things that sound complicated and fancy into meals that anyone can cook.  I left feeling so excited about what I had learned and what I had experienced.  Take the salad.  I'm not a fruit and leafy greens salad kind of girl.  Nor do I opt for dressings that aren't Ranch.  But she made us beautiful arugula salads with apple slices, toasted pecans and her own balsamic vinaigrette.  It was salad heaven.

While we munched on fancy salad, Kristie taught us about balsamic vinegar and let us sample various vinegars sold at different price ranges. 

And then she demonstrated how to cook a proper risotto.

After the main course, Kristie prepared a hot white chocolate sauce and poured it over frozen berries for dessert.

 
 

We left with happy hearts and happy tummies.  Thank you, Kristie!

 
 Kristie will be opening up her classes in the near future.  Her first 3 will be risotto, pizza, and shrimp scampi.  She'll be taking 5 to 6 students per class so be sure to sign up as soon as she sends out the invitation.  You can email her to be included in her email list where she'll send you details on upcoming classes.  klgottselig@yahoo.com

Try it! You won't regret it.  It's money well-spent. 

The Georges: A Family Shoot

This shoot is for those of you that long for that family shoot where everyone stands in place, smiles, and cooperates.  It will happen. It just takes time.  In the meantime, enjoy the crazy, mad, wild shoots.  One day they will be willing participants like these kids and we'll finish in 30 minutes like we did.  No one broke a sweat, I didn't have to dole out too many tickle threats, and it was really....easy.

I love bright, crisp color shots, but now and then I get a moody shot that really strikes me.  The light has to be right to get those shadows that add drama to a photograph.  This is a favorite.  I like the smudgy jewel tones and the backlight on Stephanie's hair.

 

These pictures are for Christmas cards and I really like Stephanie's willingness to let everyone dress as individuals.  I know you've recognized the trend amongst modern photographers.  Gone are the days of matchy matchy solid tops and blue jeans.  I encourage you to do the same for your pictures.  See how prints and colors and a variety of styles really bring personalities to life.

 

And perhaps my favorite group shot of the session:

The Wisenbakers: A Family Shoot

If I could insert a smily face bobbing up and down, I would.  I'm so happy to be back to photography full time.  I'm so relieved to have fulfilled an (at times) overwhelming teaching commitment.  And I'll have you know that even though it was stressful some days it was more often a happy affair.  I was blessed by the time spent there.  So, my first Saturday morning post-teaching, I awoke with an extra skip in my step.  Rather than slipping into my slacks and dress shoes, I slipped into my comfy sweats and camera strap (and my new fingerless alpaca gloves) to go shoot new clients.  The glorious weather did not disappoint.  Neither did the Wisenbakers. 

Meet these new friends of mine:

Princess Raegan is as girly as they come despite the fact that mom and dad are avid outdoorsmen.  Isn't she the perfect model for Shawn's creations?  You'll be seeing more of Shawn's work and more of Princess next week sometime.  We're meeting for a fashion shoot and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.  Make no mistake about the fact that Princess is princess, but she's got a wild hair, too!  Case in point...

Mom and dad were naturals in front of the camera, too.  It makes it so easy when clients are at ease with me.

I loved this family.  I felt like an old friend meeting to take pictures.  There was no awkwardness and that made for an easy shoot.

And you can tell it without me telling you, but the camera loves Raegan.

So there you have it!  I'm back!

Hugs and Kisses .

The Spencers: A New Family Shoot

The Spencer's have recently welcomed baby Caleb into their lives and there's something about a newborn that hastens a fleeting thought in my brain.  Maybe, maybe I should have another.  I  ponder the thought for a few hours and I get over it.  They're just so dang cute and so innocent and so fresh and they always smell like baby powder mixed with formula.  I love that.  I love that and I love their floppy heads and their incredibly soft hair.

These next couple of shots, I tried a retro processing.  I try hard to keep my post processing clean and classic so you get pictures that look good in 5 years and not pictures that look garrish and over-contrasty, but occassionally I get a hankerin' for a more creative post processing.  I do like this retro look on the right picture.  Mackenzie, FYI, I'm also including the original files so you have my traditional post process and this vintage-y look.  p.s. this one also has a bit of texture.

 And here's the man of the hour...

Another vintage-y.  I should name this Honeysuckly Rose processing.  You guys like Willie Nelson?  The hues remind me of that movie.  You should check it out.  But, you can't get it at the Redbox.  My husband is betting money that none of you have ever seen it.  Say it ain't so!

  

And one more I really like.

Heartspun Housekeeping:

I know my inbox is full.  I know I owe you responses.  Hang with me a few more days.  I'm finishing up a long term teaching position on Friday and then I'm back to full time photography.  If you haven't received a response by this Sunday, please email me again.  I'm trying to set aside some time every night to tend to picture stuff, but can't get to all of it every night.    Hugs and kisses. 

Vivi

The Skeens: A Family Shoot

Let the wild rumpus start...or so I thought as Heather opened her minivan doors and out jumped two very boisterous boys that darted towards the woods in 2 seconds flat.

Fortunately, we were able to reign them in and so I snapped away.   But, to my surprise they were rather willing to cooperate.

And to my surprise, we even captured a few genuine smiles.

What's this?  All three sitting together?  (insert Hallellujah chorus here)

But, I had to leave room for boys to be boys.

 
 And that, dear friends, is how I win them over...for short periods of time anyways.

 

 

Heather and I share lots of mutual friends and though I'd never met her personally prior to our shoot, I felt that I already knew her through our friends and through her blog. 

And her hubby...

I am wrapping up my long term sub job next week and I will be so much better about posting.  Thanks for hanging in there with me and thank you Skeen Family for allowing me to capture your family .

My mom dropped by the house the other day and dropped off a pair of cutesy yellow slipper shoes that she knew I would like.  She knows me so well.   A more perfect shade of butter yellow no one else could have brought me.  I've resigned myself to the notion that I'm the apple still hanging from my mother's tree.  Undoubtedly, we are from the same tree.  The perfect yellow slipper shoes are proof of that.  I look at my Natalie and wonder how she'll react when people tell her she's just like her mother.  She is just like her mother.  The crooked pinkies we share are proof of that.  And I suppose time will reveal the makings of our relationship.  All I know now is that my heart floats into my throat when I see her and she stirs an energy inside of me that I didn't know existed. 

She makes me feel like God's favorite person. 

Fab Find: Michele Barata Jewelry

Here's an early Christmas idea for you!  My friend introduced me to Michele Baratta jewelry years ago and I own several of her pieces.  It's funky and modern and different from the traditional James Avery look (that I love, too).  She has beautiful photo jewelry pieces, too.  Here are a few of the pieces I own and love.

  

Michele Baratta