New Blog!

Hi friends!

I'm happy to announce that my new blog site is up and running. From now on you can keep up with all that is going on at www.kristin-j.com/blog. Let me know what you think! I love hearing your thoughts!

Keep On Keeping On

I'm back! True confession time: I have not been a good blogger. I know it and I'm sorry. I don't know what it is, maybe the summer heat, that has made it unusually hard for me to settle back into my daily/weekly routine after being out of town a few weeks ago. I've been feeling just a little blah and had creativity blockage (yes, it's a term) when I think about sitting down to type. Even today.

I have been shooting, but am having to keep a couple of my sessions top-secret for a few weeks before posting them. With no pictures to blog, I've been left to my thoughts and wondering if anyone really cares to hear about what book I'm reading, my trip to the lake last weekend, the new dress I bought, or what I've been eating for lunch.

So, to combat my recent lack of inspiration and creativity, I'm going to keep plowing on. I'm going to answer my e-mails, make the decisions that need to be made and learn how-the-heck to set up my new blog site (that will hopefully be coming soon). I may make chocolate chip cookies for brain food and for the man next door who kindly brings my trash can up from the road every week. After all this, I'll leave tonight to go hang out with high school students from church who will make me smile. Ultimately, I'll settle into the pages of my new J. Crew magazine that arrived in the mail today (my favorite go-to for shooting inspiration) and I'll be excited to get out and have some fun with my camera!

Until then, just in case anyone does want to know: I've been reading The Gospel in Life by Tim Kellar - completely challenging my thoughts on how I "do church". My trip to the lake last Saturday was amazing! I haven't tried to ski since high school and didn't plan to get up, but I did! I'm planning on a turkey sandwich for lunch, and... I got a new dress that I'm hoping will keep me cool at this weekend's wedding!

Follow me, Find me, Join me, Like me

Hi friends! I just wanted to let you know about another opportunity to follow what is going on at Kristin J. Portraiture. You can now "like" Kristin J. Portraiture on Facebook and stay up-to-date with the latest news and pictures of your friends and family! I'm cooking up a fun contest, so you'll want to make sure you're in-the-know!

You can join me on Facebook by clicking here.

And, as always, you can find me on Twitter here. It still kind of amazes me that 10 years ago we didn't talk in this language! I know, that makes me sound old. I promise I'm not!

Lessons from Last Week

Hello! I know I'm a little behind on blogging. Last week I was in Estes Park, CO with Fellowship Student Ministries. Every year, the high school students at Fellowship take to the mountains for a week of refreshing time with the Lord and good summer fun at Ravencrest. It was great to be able to spend some time with cell group girls and get to know them a little better! As always, Colorado was beautiful. I absolutely fell in love with gorgeous Estes Park and was reminded, once again, of the majesty of the Creator.

Monday (our first full day at camp) we had a little adventure that I was not prepared for. My 16 year old brother, Luke, went out caving with his group. He was the caboose of the group and, partway through the cave, got stuck in a place that required some tricky maneuvering. At first, it didn't seem like a big deal. People have gotten stuck there and are usually out within 30 minutes or so. This time, we weren't so lucky. They tried for several hours to get him free and eventually had to call emergency services and search and rescue to assist. After a looong afternoon and evening, Luke was out of the cave and down off the mountain at 8:30p after being stuck for 8 1/2 hours! You can't imagine my relief once he got down to the bottom. He was doing well, a little shaken up and strapped down with harnesses, IV's, oxygen and the works. We went to the ER that night and spent the next 24 hours in the hospital so that the doctors and nurses could keep a close eye on him.

Through all of this craziness, not surprisingly, the Lord showed Himself incredibly faithful and sovereign. There were many people praying and MANY prayers were answered very specifically. Just a few of our answered prayers:

1. A friend prayed that Luke would be out and down from the mountain by 8:30p (before it started to get dark and cold - low's in the 30's). We looked at the clock the moment his stretcher touched the pavement and it was 8:30 on the dot!

2. This may be kind of silly, but was a direct answer for me and showed me that God was there caring for the little details. I was having a moment of worry and was trying to form a prayer in my head. I said, "Lord, I just don't know what to do... I need a hug." At that exact moment, someone put their arms around me a gave me a huge hug without me saying a word to them. It's the little things...

3. Finances are taken care of. No worries on hospital bills, search and rescue etc. So thankful.

4. Luke's ok!!! The obvious answer to prayer. We were so blessed with incredibly skilled and KIND search and rescue workers, police officers, and hospital doctors and staff. They are awesome!

I won't go into all of the specific provisions and ways we saw the Lord at work, there are too many to count. I'll just say that it was incredible to experience Him in this real and personal way through answered prayers and His Word. It was good for me to be reminded that He is my strength, provider, and the ONLY thing that I need.

Thank you so much for your prayers for us last week and standing up on Luke's behalf. If you think about it, we would appreciate your continued prayers. Luke has some nerve damage in his right arm which is preventing him from being able to use his hand. The doctor said that it should return to normal, but may take a month or two. It's a little frustrating to him as he's right handed and not able to use it much at all for even the most basic tasks.

I'm excited to be back at the office this week working on some fun pictures and projects. Give me a call if I can do anything for you!

** On a side note, if you're interested in going to Bible school, you might look into Ravencrest. Ravencrest is one of 26 international Bible schools founded by Torchbearers International. They are the real deal for good solid teaching and instruction in the Word.

Fayetteville Engagement: Sarah & Ryan

Oh my, what a fun engagement shoot! Sarah and Ryan called me earlier this year to photograph their wedding this fall. After discussing several locations for engagement shoots, we decided to go out to Ryan's family farm in Greenland. His family owns 300+ acres of land, so we had no shortage of gorgeous scenery to choose from. There is so much that I love about this shoot: the location, the light, the green, the dirt road and farm equipment, the horses, and, of course, the sweetest couple I could have hoped for!

Sarah and Ryan, I had a blast with you last weekend! Thanks for being such good sports and putting up with the heat. It was totally worth it! I can't wait for your wedding in November (and maybe a little horseback riding in the future :) )!

A special thanks goes to Christy at Shabby Chic Salon in Farmington for doing a fabulous job with Sarah's hair!

Morrilton Wedding: Jenna & Seth

Good morning! I can't believe it's already Friday! The week has flown by!

Jenna and Seth got married June 12, 2010 in Morrilton, AR and I can't think of a better way to end the week than to show you a few pictures from their wedding! One of my favorite things about working with Jenna was that she truly decided to make me her friend. I frequently received text messages and e-mails saying hi and checking in to see how I was doing and telling me funning stories of wedding planning... I LOVED it! I didn't meet Seth until the day of the wedding and he quickly made me feel welcome. On a side note, a few guys in the bridal party decided to get even and turn their cameras on me. Those pictures will forever stay in the archive if I have anything to say about it :)

Jenna and Seth, I loved getting to know you and had a blast at your wedding. Thanks so much for letting me be a part of your special day. I hope you had a wonderful time in Maui!

Enjoy the story of their day.

I love the pink that Jenna's bridesmaids are wearing... so fun and cheerful!

Portrait time! It was hot, but we were so glad the sun was shining!

A sweet glance to Mom while walking down the aisle. Doesn't Jenna look sooo happy?!?!

Happy First Day of Summer...

Hi everyone! Happy first (official) day of summer! I hope you had a great weekend. After lots of traveling the last few weeks, I was back in Fayetteville this weekend and soaked up every possible minute of time at the pool. The tennis club behind my house just opened up a new pool area which, literally, is just out my backdoor. I went with my friend Ruffin, who knows how to lay out with style. She came prepared with lots of magazine and a radio so that we could have a little music. Ahhh, love. We're already planning for next Sunday and thinking poolside margaritas or milkshakes may be on the agenda! Can't wait! I'm going to have to resist the temptation to sneak out there again today so that I can get some work done.

Have a great day and take a little time to enjoy some summer fun!

A little sneak peek from a wedding I will be blogging later this week...

The Perfect Combo

It's no secret that I have been a major fan/supporter of Starbucks over the years. My obsession began when I moved from my small college town to Dallas post-graduation. In Dallas, where there's a store on every corner, it was hard not to give in. So, I did. Lattes, mochas, cappuccinos, frappuccinos, you name it. I was hooked. I don't know what they put in that stuff to make a sane person willing to spend $4 on a cup of coffee...

Anyway, I have tried many times over the last few years to give it up, without success. I could never do it. I could make it for a few days, maybe even a week or two, and then it was over. It was a losing battle. I craved the stuff, especially those stinkin' frapuccinos in the summer time. It's tragic, I know...

Well, I've been doing better. Last January, I decided to be hard core and stop. And I did. I'm super proud of myself!!! I got a french press and have loved the morning ritual of boiling water and making my coffee. It even tastes good. All of that would be well and good if it wasn't for this:

Last fall, wandering up and down the aisles of Wal-Mart (which is ALWAYS trouble) I came across the Starbucks Caramel Macchiato ice cream. DARN! I convinced myself that I just wanted to try it. I just needed a tiny taste of something sweet. Besides, it was much cheaper than going out and getting a drink. Huge mistake. I know better than to listen to inner dialogue. Once I gave in, I found out that this stuff is truly the perfect combination of vanilla, coffee, and caramel and better than ANY ice cream I have ever tasted. I didn't really need to know that.

On the upside, at least I'm (technically) saving a few bucks :) The battle continues...

Happy Thursday!

Intimidation, Fear, and Friends

Last night, I had the opportunity to chat with a few friends I made at the Escalate conference over Skype. After 20 minutes of trying to figure the Skype thing out, adding people, calling, hanging up, and wondering if our long-awaited conference call would actually happen, 10 or so of us quickly dove into conversation about photography, life, our joys, and our struggles.

In an industry that is so highly competitive, I am so thankful for this group of people who have made a commitment to challenge, encourage, and help one another out in any way possible. It has been a breath of fresh air for me to visit with other photographers in every stage who are going through the same experiences I am facing. As we talk through our challenges and our dreams, it is so incredible to brainstorm creative solutions with one another and gain the courage to continue walking forward through the intimidation.

Without people like this in my life, I would not be here today and my business would not be what it is. When I first picked up a digital camera for the first time in 2005, I had NO IDEA what I was doing. It was a miracle that anything turned out (maybe I shouldn't be admitting this here...). I am so grateful to photographers such as Brooke Robinson, who took a chance on me and invited me to tag along to weddings as her second shooter, who have given me the benefit of their hard work and knowledge, turning me to resources I never knew existed. They have had more influence on me than they even know.

Though I have hopefully grown a little since those first days, camera in hand, I am far from where I want to be; both professionally and as a person. I continue to face obstacles and challenges, get intimidated by the incredible work of other photographers, and some days don't want to get out of bed for fear of failing. Thanks friends, for being willing to stand beside me. It is my hope that, in the future, I can give back to you some of the encouragement and help that you have graciously given to me.

Mountain View Wedding: Keegan & Justin

I can't believe how quickly time flies. It seems like just yesterday that I was talking to Keegan for the first time, hearing all about the wedding that she and Justin were planning.

Well, the big day came fast! On May 29th, Keegan and Justin were married at Flatwoods Missionary Baptist Church in Mountain View, AR. Keegan was the perfect bride, happy, sweet, and smiling all day long. She was sooo excited to be marrying Justin, and it was easy to see why. Justin is the perfect gentleman, thoughtful and caring, certain to make sure that everyone and everything is taken care of, and simply adoring of Keegan.

I always say it, but I love getting to know my clients, both throughout their engagement and even after the wedding is over. Immediate following the honeymoon, Keegan and Justin moved to Springdale to start new jobs. I am sooo thrilled that they're up here and am excited for the friendship to continue.

Keegan and Justin, it has been such a pleasure getting to know you. I love you guys and am so excited to get to know you better as you start your married life here in NWA. I can't wait to show you around town and introduce you to Fayetteville!

Sharing a special moment with Dad





Seeing each other for the first time. Love these special moments!











We went out for some extended portrait time after the ceremony. This was the first time I've ever taken portraits right after the wedding and it was so fun! It was easy for everyone to be super relaxed and have a good time! Keegan was feeling a little sassy and WORKED the camera!