I would like to thank everyone who came out (and even those that couldn’t make it but sent me messages!) I really appreciated all of it! Today I spent my first meeting there, going over album choices and layouts, it was perfect and really why I wanted this space! It was a rough road and I’ll have before and after pictures but as I told everyone, it was like buying a house, you first see it and you’re like “oh this won’t be much work at all!” then you get in and you start cursing everything in it and why the last person did something the way they did. You deal with images falling off one wall (yes, I’m still fighting that one brown wall!!)

I would also like to thank everyone for putting up with the crazy dog!

this is the shooting side, quite boring but it needs to be that way

the meeting side

some of the flowers generously provided by Kristen from Kio Kreations! She did them in my logo colors and I just loved them! They were so unique!

another photo wall of 8×10′s

I do have all my products that I offer there from my new albums and canvases!

I bought a cookie, but forgot a knife, I’m not even 1/4 of the way through it, who wants some cookie?!

I had water and capri sun for drinks, I was skeptical but the capri sun went over very well, be prepared to drink some if you come to visit! I have leftovers!

the shoes I started with….

my adorable flats I ended with…though most of the time, I went barefoot! It’s my place, it’s allowed.

the boys and the dog decided to take a short nap during a lull in action.

the hubs got really comfortable!

and since the hubby took over the couch, Isabelle retreated to the rug.

the toy duck that Isabelle shoved in everyone’s face.

this is what I look like a lot of the time isn’t it?

I was using my super wide 14-24 2.8 so the lens that is huge, really looks that way!

The dog, happy to go home!

I will have winners and a before and after soon!!!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

I’m alive but taking the day off and trying not to work but it’s really difficult! It was a great weekend and I want to thank everyone who came out! I really appreciate it! I was going to post pictures and all that jazz today but the camera still sits in the bag and I’m going to do it tomorrow morning! So you have some eye candy then! Isabelle greeted everyone and I know you all came for her

I will say that I’m announcing my April boudoir dates! April 8 will be a night boudoir sessions for the mini sessions that cost $150! April 25th will be the full day marathon! Cynthia Sally will be doing the makeup for both and I know you’re excited!

So if you’re interested in those dates, just let me know! I’ll be running 1-2 dates of boudoir a month and suggest it 1-2 months ahead of time!

Tune in tomorrow for the pictures of the studio!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

There’s nothing like a couple that says, I want winter engagement pictures!  We literally rescheduled about 3 times due to weather or other circumstances but we were able to fit them in on Sunday, finally!  I loved Loretta and Aaron’s first session that was just in their favorite local area which was so much fun.  They also were not afraid to be themselves or be silly.  They’re not at all camera shy and a lot of fun and I could imagine the craziness that would ensue if we ever had a meal and drinks together!  They’re just fun.  I couldn’t narrow it down.  I even thought about a slideshow because these pictures are just so…them.  They scream Loretta and Aaron!  I can’t wait until their May wedding!!  We started at the Lincoln Park Zoo and went from there!

this one I just love. that’s all I have to say about it.

and can we look at that hair accessory!? Just wonderful

the one on the right just cracks me up!

I suggested this one, I wasn’t sure if it was going to turn out and it did!!

love is….lying in a giant pile of mulch for an engagement shoot

this one is also a favorite! After walking around the entire zoo, we finally got out to where I wanted to go and this foggy chicago skyline just makes me feel wintery!

no words for this one.

This one is a little more dramatic than my usual but I just love it, the lighting turned out perfect, everything is just perfect here!!

I love separating couples and telling them to pose, the guy generally does what Aaron did and just stands there while the girl does something fun, or usually the do the EXACT same thing (which Loretta and Aaron did do in the first frame, haha)

sorry Aaron, this was too funny NOT to post!

I’ve run out of commentary on how much I love these.

I always make winter engagements snowball fight, I think it’s necessary. I really do! Aaron and Loretta were all in and pretty much planned it too. Aaron had one request: snowball exploding on him, and here you go!

whew! That was a long post!! But completely worth it! I’m so excited to start shooting again! I can’t wait for my 2010 weddings and being able to produce amazing photographs!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

So my husband thought I was crazy that I made cupcakes for the dog but I was assured by my other furparents that I was not. And of course I had to document it! I’ve been pretty lazy about capturing our stuff because I have a camera glued to my face every weekend and working hard, so I tend to calm down a bit on our own stuff. I don’t take my camera everywhere but shhh, don’t tell anyone.

First, this is how she spent her birthday, hello nylabone #3

She’s such a princess, she uses pillows like humans do.

I’m not sure how this is comfortable…

“can I go back to sleep now mom?”

“seriously, you woke me up AGAIN?”

“aaah stretch!  This sock looks delicious…”

Hi honey, nope, this isn’t your sock that I’m letting her chew on while taking pictures, not your sock at all….

And now it’s cupcake time!  Notice how she perks up when the cupcake gets set down…

“is this mine mom?  I’m just going to sniff it….”  (notice David in the background ignoring this whole situation…lol)

“um yeah, this is mine.”

“this is delicious!”

“I’m just going to take it before they realize what’s going on and take it from me…”

(notice the frosting on the carpet…thanks belley…I seriously can’t wait to get it replaced this May!!)

gotta get all the crumbs!!

“is there any more left on the plate!?”

“thanks mom!!”

Now wasn’t that fun!?  Happy 1 year Isabelley

Kara

kara@karaschultz.com

I promise lots of blogging tomorrow, been busy obviously I have a fun winter engagement session (I love my 2010 clients) and Isabelle eating cake which is pretty entertaining! And no, no pictures until after Sunday!! You better come!! I promise it’ll be worth it! Prove the hubby wrong that I actually have clients as he laughed and thought only our families would come! I know some of you out there are coming but I’m hoping to see a lot of you! Thanks so much for the kind words! Isabelle will be there too with the husband (so you can meet who I throw under the bus a lot. He provides a lot of material for me. Hi honey, love you. I don’t think he actually checks the blog, for good reason too!).

So until tomorrow!! Be there sunday or be square! (yep, I said that and it’s ok for everyone who told me they couldn’t make it you are not square!)

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

You better be coming to my studio opening! I’m so excited and maybe a bit stressed out about getting things done and ready in time. Please don’t judge the paint job, I was dealing with crappy paint below it that felt like tempera.

Let’s go over the details again!

Sunday March 7, 2010
12-5pm

Location: 227 S. Third St Suite 205 Geneva IL (I’m by the elevator on the top floor!)

Here’s a nifty map for you so you can see the things around it! There’s lots to do in downtown Geneva and it’s just a fun place to be!

So what are you getting by coming to see my new place?! You know I’m a sucker for a giveaway and here’s just a few: a couple of mounted 11×14′s, set of 3×3 accordion albums, 5×7 accordion album and even a $50 product certificate! (p.s. you can buy product certificates at any time, they make great wedding gifts so that couples can upgrade albums or buy wall prints like canvases!). You’ll also get a thanks-for-stopping-by gift that just came in yesterday! It’s a very useful item and you’ll just love it! And anyone who continues to stop by and visit me gets one too!

So I can’t wait to see you! I’m planning on a silly cake cutting experience and you may even get to meet Isabelle!!

Kara

Oh it’s been about 9 months since Isabelle came into our lives and we couldn’t be happier!  Today is her “birthday” or at least the one we write down on vet paperwork because we don’t really know when or where Isabelle was born.  She was abandoned at 3 weeks old and had little chance of survival if someone didn’t pick her up.   Thankfully, Jessica and Kyle of Lizzi and Rocco’s Natural Pet Market took her in despite Lizzi and Rocco’s distaste for puppies   But their deaf boxer, Emma served as sleeping buddy and playmate for Isabelle, originally Itty Bitty because she was TINY.  We got her the 2nd week of May after she was spayed and it’s been a rollercoaster ever since!  Life with Isabelle never amazes me. 

She loves all things plastic (especially milk cartons), she’s incredibly camera aware and will on occasion be nice and pose for me, she loves food and kongs filled with treats, and squeakers and just walks around squeaking away! She maybe barks once a day if we’re lucky unless my parents are around, then she barks at them! She wiggles her entire butt to wag her tail. She’s destroyed 3 indestructible nylabones and the black kong for “tough chewers” was no match for her teeth!

When we wanted a dog, we knew that we wanted to adopt one, not only because we had no breed restrictions but I was also adopted so it was something more personal to me (and here I start crying…).  My mom joked that we went through a lot of what they went through when they adopted me!  And it was just for a dog!  There are millions of puppies, dogs, kittens and cats of every array in shelters and rescues and every day they’re turning away animals or looking for fosters (we’re waiting to foster until we get Isabelle’s separation anxiety under control).

So I made a slideshow of the snapshots over the past 9 months of her life, enjoy the craziness that is the Belley!  She’s currently enjoying her birthday napping on her favorite couch!  Tomorrow or late tonight I’ll post the birthday celebration!

I also hope you all come to the studio opening on Sunday! Isabelle will be there so you can meet the puppy And because since all our friends and family will be there…..there’s no one to watch her!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com
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