Spring has Sprung

I had the opportunity to photography one if my best friend's kids, and they are the cutest!!

I fell in love with Mr Jack the first time I ever met him. I was blessed to be able to go out to California to visit and be present for his adoption. He is such a sweet kid, full of spunk and lots of energy!

Then there is little miss Emma Kate. She made her debut last September and she is a cutie! There was a lot going on during the time she made her arrival, and I remember spending one night in the hospital with her mom when we thought she was making her arrival... Turned out to just be crazy contractions, but less than 48 hours later she finally decided it was time to come!
                          
I am so excited to watch these kids grow up. They are going to do amazing things and they are surrounded by amazing people cheering them on!

I love engagement sessions. Seeing two people so in love they are committing to spending their lives together is so beautiful. I recently had the honor of meeting Marybeth and Michael, and they are adorable. Most of my sessions involve people I know in my personal life; someone I know from Church, the community, work or at the least we have a mutual friend. I had never met these two until the day of our session other than on Social Media. Marybeth contacted me about an Engagement session, we talked details and locations and a week later we were meeting up at Rock Island State Park. Here are a few photos from our session. It was a beautiful day!

 These two are going to accomplish so much in their lives individually, hearing about their plans with school and careers, so I know that together, they are going to be an amazing force for good in so many ways!

Seeing the way they look at each other... that is one of the best parts of being a photographer and getting to know these couples.

 Congratulations to Marybeth and Michael!!!

-TK

Ella [Senior 2016]

This young lady is beautiful inside and out. I honestly do not know that I have ever met a more compassionate, talented, incredible young woman. Ella is such a strong and gorgeous girl. She is going to accomplish so many amazing things in her life, and I cannot wait to watch her do it all! She can sing, she is incredibly smart and witty, and is her class Valedictorian!

 

Ella is a truly wonderful young lady. Congratulations to her and all of the Classes of 2016!!! Graduation is just around the corner, and so many great things are awaiting!

Congratulations, Ella!

-TK

Editing Away

So many photos, so little time!

Photography is not a full-time gig for me right now. I love to get out and shoot whenever I can, but I also have a full-time and a part-time job that keep me rather busy. So, unfortunately, editing often has to take a backseat to the "big girl job", as I affectionately refer to it. I do love my job, I work as a nanny for a family with eight children, and yes, you read that right. That sentence has the words 'love'  and 'eight children' in it. Ha! But I love when I have time to sit down and just pour through photos. I love having time to sort through and edit away with little distraction. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I can easily get lost for hours just going through photo after photo.

Right now, having nights like this are extremely rare, and thus that much sweeter. I have a Senior 2016 session I am wrapping up, a wedding with a couple thousand photos to go through, and an engagement session to go through. Definitely enough work to keep me busy every night for the next month and more! I love being busy because it means I am meeting new clients and/or seeing how former clients have grown and changed. That is the magic of a photo. Preserving a moment in time to reflect upon later.

Capturing life through the lens... Preserving memories for generations to come.

-TK

A Work in Progress

I have let this poor blog fall by the wayside. With the popularity of Facebook, Instagram and other social media applications, I have left my blog to die. Such a tragedy.

But I am back, and building a fresh new face for TK Photography. So pardon the mess as I work on layouts, colors, photos and more. Hopefully things will be set and ready to go very soon!

In the meantime, check the links provided in the About Me section for Facebook and Instagram! See you there!


-TK

So little time...

Oh me, Oh my. There is so very much to do and so little time! I promise you all that I am still alive and kicking, and taking pictures every chance I get. Unfortunately, that is not as often as I would like, but at least I am still able to get out there and take some.

 

Have I mentioned before how much I love photography? There have been some times where I could kick myself for not bringing my camera along and capturing a particular memory. There is something so nice about being able to just look at a photography and have a flood of emotions come racing back. There is so much magic in a photograph. So now, for now, I am working my butt off at multiple jobs so that one day, in the not too distant future, I can focus more time and energy on photography and growing my talent and passion for it. Sadly, with student loans and such, my first priority right now has to be money. And what a drag that is! I would much rather be able to do something I absolutely love each and every day. However, that is not the case.

 

I am, however, still available for photo sessions. So if you are in need of any photography services, do not hesitate to contact me for a free price quote, a pricing brochure and more! I love to hear from each and every one of you, and I want you to know that I am still here to capture your memories!

Thanks, Family and Great Food

Happy (day after) Thanksgiving! Just barely missed getting this posted ON Thanksgiving, but better late than never. :)

 

I hope all of you wonderful people in cyber-world have had a truly fantastic Thanksgiving. I love this time of year and how the next month or so brings families and friends closer as we celebrate some wonderful and warm holidays.

 

Thanksgiving day is always full of good food, family and hopefully a much-needed turkey induced nap. :) Unfortunately I never made it to the nap this year!! BUT, I am most definitely getting ready to crash right about now!

 

But before I do, I just wanted to take a minute to thank you, yes YOU! It is because of my amazing family, friends, clients, fans and others that I am who I am. It is because of you that I have worked to develop, and continue to develop, my love for photography. It is because of you that I have the opportunity to do what I love, so THANK YOU.

 

My Thanksgiving was spent with family, eating lots of yummy food and just talking, and, of course, pictures. I have not seen my cousin in a couple of years! Can you believe that... YEARS! But they have now moved much closer, and a four hour drive is much more do-able than a three day drive! So it was so great to see Amanda and Daniel again, as well as Mr. Seth who was only five months old the last time I saw him! He is so big now! And he has a baby sister, Miss Stella who is already six months! Time flies!! But I got the opportunity to hold and love on Stella and to take some pictures of this adorable family!!

 

 

 

 

From TK to you, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you have a blessed holiday season!

 

A Busy Weekend

Boy has it been a long weekend... but, it is one I am grateful for!

 

Saturday was such a beautiful day, and it gave me the opportunity to hold two great sessions!

First up was a Family/Holiday session with the R- Family! This was my first time meeting them, and they were just so sweet, and the kiddos were just too adorable! I love meeting new people! And, since this was my first time meeting them, it means my work is starting to trickle out there a bit. She had seen some work I had done of another group of kids and that brought the family my direction! I cannot wait to get started on this shoot!

 

Saturday afternoon brought another great session, though a much more stressful one! It has been quite some time since I shot a wedding!! I was a little nervous, but I believe I got some great shots! And congratulations to Terry and Neal! They looked fantastic, and I am so happy for them and their new journey as they bring together two families into one! Talk about a house full!! :)

 

 

 

 

 

Growth

“Often, it’s not about becoming a new person, but becoming the person you were meant to be, and already are, but don’t know how to be.” 

 

I don't remember where or when I first heard this quote, and I may not even be quoting it just right. (I suppose with the workings of Google I could probably figure it out... but I'm too lazy for that tonight. ha ha) But there is something about this quote that struck me, and recently it has resurfaced and gotten me thinking.

 

When I learn and grow or try something new, I am not changing who I am, I am adding to it. I am becoming a better me. I am working toward the person I was already meant to be. I tend to shy away from change and from trying new things that often seem too difficult. NOT COOL. It is a flaw I need desperately to overcome, and I have been working to do so. I am trying to put myself out there more. I am learning to not settle, but to push myself and learn more and do and be better.

 

I am not trying to "toot my own horn", not by any means. I still have a very long way to go, but I do see the improvement in my work. I have grown over the last few years of taking photographs. I have come a long way and can't wait to see where I go in the years to come!

 

You can see some improvement in my photos... but I just had to post this. He is my inspiration... the reason I picked up a camera in the first place. Look how much he has grown! From a tiny tot of just three to a handsome little seven year old! My how time flies!

 

This shows some improvement, just over two years. Bryan and Amanda on the left were my very first wedding. And on the left is Brandon and Marie. It has already been two years since their wedding, and I have improved since then also, but I love this shot. With their wedding, and others around that time, I became much more creative in my shots. I took more risks, and finished with far greater images. 

 

 

I am so very grateful I have a passion for photography. Capturing life's little moments is a great feeling. I can't wait to see how much more I can grow and develop!

 

 

 

Late Nights and Gratitude

I have come to the conclusion I have the absolute worst sleep schedule ever! Since graduation, I have not had a set schedule, so I stay up until three in the morning sometimes, other times I am in bed by ten. I get up at noon, sometimes at seven. I am in much need of a regular schedule, I need to get my body back on track and keep going!

 

But, late nights do have their advantages, like when they are spent editing. I love going through photos, looking through the emotions captured and sometimes just remembering the fun that was had. I have had a wonderful time with each and every one of my clients. They are the best! I cannot say thank you enough to them, especially to those who were with me in the beginning, offering me the opportunity to photograph them and trusting me to capture their memories and special moments in life.

 

Without my clients, I would not be where I am today. Granted, I am still small and in the growing stages, but it is because of those original clients that I have been able to begin and get up and keep going.

 

Thank you! to all of my former clients, current clients and future clients. You allow me to follow and develop my passion for photography. You are all absolutely wonderful! I couldn't do any of this without you!

 

 

 

 

 

Back in the Saddle

Today I have resolved to get back on the blogging saddle. I have been faltering for quite some time due to other commitments, especially school, followed by the job hunt. Nothing yet, but on the bright side, forces me to focus more on my photography to work out a living, which is what I would much rather be doing anyway!

 

So, here I am. Back at it. I hope to give all of you, not only samples of my work, but some of the thoughts behind the camera about who I am, what I love and why I enjoy photography.

 

This first post is brought to you by the cutest and TINIEST little girl I have ever met. It was a new experience for me. Up until this shoot, the youngest I have had the pleasure of working with what about seven months old. This little angel was right at a month old when I took her photos, but she was a preemie, so talk about small!

 

She also wasn't too thrilled with her mom and I on the first day. I managed to calm her for a few shots here and there, but for the most part, she was just NOT having it. I went back the next day also, and we tried again, and between the two days, I believe we captured some great shots, and I am quite proud of them. Again, it was a new experience, and I have a lot further to go and so much more to learn, but I look forward to the challenge and rewards that go with working with newborns!

 

 

 

This is little Miss Rebekah Kate. And she is a doll!

You can see more of Rebekah Kate on Facebook!

 

Full Albums

I have created a new site specifically for the purpose of displaying full albums. Here you can browse through large albums and view all of the photos from your shoot.

 

TK PHOTOGRAPHY

 

And while you are at it, be sure to check out our Sports Photography division!

 

SNAP SHOT SPORTS

Nikki [Senior 2013]

Ok, so I have aborted the idea of posting all of the sessions I missed posting on here... to see past sessions photographed by TK Photography, head on over to our Facebook page, give it some love by liking it, and browse through samples of our images! Then, contact us to schedule YOUR session!

Our most recent session was a 2013 Senior Session with Miss Nikki. She braved the intense heat and humidity and even smiled through it for some great images! You can see more of this beautiful young woman on Facebook!

The Partons

I have photographed the Parton family before, and I just love them. Little Jonah is too cute, and now... he is a BIG brother!! The Partons added little Mr. Ian to their family in the Spring of 2011.