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I was supposed to go and photograph Collin’s entry into the world but he and mother nature had other plans! He was born during the first horrible snowstorm of 2010 and me trying to get up to Milwaukee to photograph it just wasn’t happening! My good friend Amanda told me to stay home and not drive. I was completely bummed as I was really excited to finally get to photograph a birth! Collin ended up having to be delivered via c-section so there wasn’t too much action going on

Amanda and Kevin are so much fun, and their puppy and cat got in on the game too. Amanda has been supportive through my photography adventure and now I have a child to practice on (and she’s in love with that idea!)

My goal was to make Amanda cry, do you think it worked?

So here I am almost a year later. I can’t believe how my life has changed this past year. At this time last year, I had only shot 4 weddings, had several on the books for 2009 but never thought my 2009 would end up like this. In 2009, I shot 30 weddings, countless engagements and ran 4 boudoir marathons with over 30 girls in my hectic schedule. I quit that other job and took this one by the reins. I’ve fumbled, I’ve been swamped to the point I thought I’d never see the end of the tunnel. My office became a disaster zone, filled with photo-related items that I needed and massive empty boxes (these are still in my garage, anyone need a box?)

I’ve taken a good hard look at myself and at my business these past few months. I’ve really dug down deep and with the help of some very good friends (thank you Mel, Gerrie, Krystal , Pam and Tori) for listening to me hash these ideas out or tell me I’m crazy. Now I wouldn’t have normally done this on my own, but my formal education is in public relations and communications (and some political science and now I take pictures for a living, getting use out of my BA!). Somewhere along the lines I forgot everything! So it was getting back to what I know and what I’m good at.

It all sort of culminated at Partnercon in New Orleans, I was truly inspired by all the photographers around me willing to share, help and also learn in return. Joe Buissink made more of an impact on me than any one else, he was real, he was himself, he was humble despite his resume. I laughed and cried during his presentations and had the chance to spend 2 hours shooting with him. His passion for photography reignited what I do and how I do it. So to the drawing board I went about a month ago.

I wrote copy upon copy, I changed it, I moved it around. I knew what had to get done. Mel started the logo design process while I finished up the other half, branding. When I started this business- almost a year and a half ago, it was a name that I didn’t plan on keeping, it was kind of a joke but then stuck and I was never really 100% confident about it, I tried really hard to embrace it but it just didn‘t feel right. I also felt sorry for any of my brides that kind of had to explain what was going on with their photographer, people thought it was cute or clever but I just couldn’t get behind it and I think that affects some other things as well. So I dropped the -tography and added my last name -Schultz! This will make things easier for you to know what’s going on and how it all works. I also didn’t realize how fast it would grow, FAST! 2008 – 4 weddings, 2009 – 30, 2010 – ?? It’s amazing to see such fast progress with bookings but also with my skill. I knew I wanted to be photojournalistic in nature but never felt like that was fully me or that it was exactly what I wanted to embody mainly because photojournalism in it’s truest form doesn’t allow for any guidance in posing or prompting those moments. And my style is to help and I may set up a shot so that the light is right or that you have the right background or so that it’s flattering so I never felt like photojournalism really told my style. So on and on I searched for what was my thing.

We finally found it: storyteller. Now you may ask, what exactly is that? Look at an image and see more than just the prettiness of it If you look at my recent slideshows, you’ll see the story of a day over 100+ pictures, but if you stop and look at each image carefully, you’ll feel what is happening. The idea I take when shooting a wedding is to have people feel like they were there even if they weren’t. I want to show that emotion and have my clients see it. It’s not always about that “perfect shot” because I’ve learned that there’s really no such thing, sometimes the shots that you aren’t planning for are the perfect ones, the ones that just happen, sometimes it’s even the ones where you can’t see all the faces.

It’s about that emotion that you feel when looking at your pictures. Every time I go to edit a wedding I relive the entire day over, I see what happens, I remember what was said when everyone was laughing. And my goal is so that you feel the same way when you look at your wedding pictures and maybe even remember some things you forgot and laugh about it (you know when you sit there and you go OH MY! I forgot THAT happened!). This is something different, it‘s a story, a fairytale maybe, a romantic comedy or just a comedy. This is what you really want and what I’ve been provided for the past few months. This is who I am. You want those intimate, fun and joyful pictures of the bride and groom. You want the bridal party to be simple but have fun and not complain. You want your family to say, wow, that was easy. My focus continues to be on the bride and groom and getting that 16×20 (or larger) canvas picture so that you have to have that canvas, that it’s so difficult for you to choose what goes in your album. And I want it to be easy for you, I always joke with the bridal party that “painless is my motto” and it kind of is. I want it to be painless for the couple, their wedding party (because we’ve all been in that wedding party…), and the family.

My pictures will be modern but still show emotion, but not be too abstract that you don’t really know what’s going on. It’s about the couple not about them being separate. It’s about the connection between you and your new husband or your fiance during your engagement session. Don’t be afraid to show me who you are as a person or a couple and forget that I’m there! I’m still there and will get what I need but most often the images that are the best are the ones when you don’t notice that I’m around at all. Forgetting that I exist and I’m there is a good thing, despite what you think, ignore me, I’m no one!

Just recently I had a bride who emailed me about must take lists, she said this “ I’ve loved just about every picture I’ve seen of yours on your website and blog. I just want creative, sentimental yet fun shots that capture the little details you sometimes forget about, the big moments, but also the quiet moments (just the two of us) as well.” and THAT’S exactly what I’m going for and what I do! It was too perfect timing! Once I said I would take control and make sure that’s what she got, she was relieved that I made it so easy for her.

At heart I am an artist first, I’m emotionally connected to what I create and want to pass that onto you!
Let’s see some pictures right? I’m calling these my signature images. The images that define me as an artist

This one really started it all for me, it was from Brooke and Brett’s wedding in May.  You can see what they both feel at that moment and how much they really love each other.  Look at Brett’s face specifically.

Mike and Kim didn’t care that I was there at all.  Mike obviously said something to make Kim laugh and here we are, no looking at me, no worrying about what I think, just themselves.

This is just one of my favorites of this year.  This is Amanda and her grandfather dancing, halfway through the father/daughter dance, her dad gave up the spot to her grandfather who is ill, I’m pretty sure the entire room had lost it at the point (including me!).  Even though you can’t see her grandfather’s face, can’t you see what it looks like?

Another favorite from Amanda and Steve’s wedding.  I didn’t tell Amanda to look at me like this or even tell Steve to slightly rest his head on hers, can’t you see how comfortable she is with him and just how much he loves her?  Isn’t it amazing that in one picture, you can see what their life is like?

From Karen and Greg’s wedding, I told them to just look and interact with each other, and this is what I got (along with a ton of other great images).  You can only slightly see Karen’s face, but you know that smile is genuine.  And just the way that Greg’s face is wrinkled up you can tell he’s just having the time of his life.

This moment I’m not even sure that Katie and Mark knew it happened.  It was following their ceremony and just as they finished the receiving line.  I had told them earlier to stay out for just a second for just a few pictures, as the last guest in the receiving line went in, this is what they did.  Can you see the relief?  The comfort they have in each other?

Shannon and Matt were the first clients to ever book me.  But it’s about the pictures right??  So here, look at how Matt is gently touching Shannon, do you know what is going to happen next?  Yep, they kissed.  That’s not something you can set up, not something that is forced and if it is, it looks forced, this was truly what Matt felt like.

This image is from another one of my favorite weddings this year!  Jessie and Mike’s wedding was nontraditional in the greatest sense of the word!  They did nothing that was planned but this picture when I uploaded it from my card made me gasp.

Another gem from Jessie and Mike’s wedding.  Again, I didn’t tell them to do much and they ignored me just like they’re supposed to.  Do you see how they feel about each other in this image?  Can you feel it?

You know how much I love first looks, so here’s one of my all-time favorites from Lauren and Brian’s wedding.  As Lauren got emotional, Brian just wiped the tear off her cheek so gently.  Can you see Lauren’s expression, no, but do you know what it looks like?  Of course!  That’s the beauty of this image.

Now, this isn’t all about weddings, I get these things at engagement sessions too!  This picture is from Loretta and Aaron’s session.  We had a wonderful time, they were fun and laughing the whole time.  And then we get to the end.  I tell them to sit on this bench and get all close.  Aaron whispers in her ear about how beautiful she looks and Loretta lost it (and I have pictures of the crying) and this kiss says it all.  Look at it.

Stephanie and Dave were nervous about their engagement session, not really knowing how it would all work and I actually went to college with Stephanie!  So even a bit more scary for her I’m sure.  Can you just see how calm she is and how she often uses Dave to lean on?

This one will always be a favorite and their entire session was as well.  Remember a few up when you saw how Mike looks at Jessie?  Well now you see the other side, this is how Jessie feels about Mike!

This one also cracks me up every single time I look at it.  Don’t you just smile when you see Anna’s pout to Ethan?   They have such a fun relationship where they joke, laugh and have fun together and this just shows that one time when Ethan didn’t want to play along!  (I’m pretty sure Anna asked for a squirrel at this point)

And finally, I’m going to get killed for posting this but it’s way too cute.  This is Mel and Dave and of course, Brando.  Dave is just like this.  Can you tell how happy go lucky he is?  Can you see how much Mel loves Brando?  And at the very least, can’t you see that Brando loves his mom and dad?  Look at those faces!  He’s so relieved they’re both there!  (and Mel is my fabulous graphic designer…so she’s going to kill me for this.)

(note: yes, a lot of these are black and white images and you’re probably asking why?  I have a slight idea, while I love color I also love black and whites!  There’s something so simply beautiful about them and the ease in which they convey what you’re looking at!)

My new galleries are called stories and you’ll see just a few of my favorites! Go ahead and check them out! Each one has a special meaning to me and really created an emotional charge with their images, I think each bride emailed me telling me they cried and laughed during their slideshows which to me is really what my job is about!

Because of the name change, my current email kara@karatography.com will no longer be in service as of today. If you are using my gmail account karatography@gmail.com that will still work but please switch to kara@karaschultz.com (or karaschultzphoto@gmail.com) This has been sent out to an email for all my 2010 brides and other regular contacts.

I’m really excited for the changes that are happening in 2010! There’s newsletters that are going out to really help all my brides with questions from the expert (me!) since I know there can be some fumbling and confusion during those times. We’re increasing the communication with ALL my brides (and grooms), so if they ever want to grab coffee or have dinner (or meet my adorable puppy) just go ahead and email me! I’d love to sit down with each couple (or just the bride, I know how the planning works!) and just talk about their day and their life. So don’t be afraid!

Also, I’m doing something really awesome now that no one else does. I’m giving all my 2010 couples (old and new) a mini-session 1 year (or right around there) after their wedding. Let’s look at this like a story, the engagement session is the preface, the wedding is the story, and this is the afterword! So my AfterWord sessions are short, sweet and let the couple reflect on their first year in marriage whether that means an addition of a furry child or a baby we’re going to follow up on your story! I also know that you get to a year later and you say something to the effect of “the only pictures we have printed are from our wedding, I think it’s time to print others” and that’s what this session is for!

In another post I will go into more detail about this, but I will no longer be doing boudoir sessions, my last marathon will be in March 2010 with a limited amount of spots available. So if you want a session with me this is your last chance!
I also will talk about albums in another post, this one has gotten huge as is!

Let’s recap, I know this was a lot of information to take in:
1. The new name is Kara Schultz, no longer karatography
2. My focus will be on storytelling, especially with the bride and groom, this isn’t photojournalism, it’s better
3. Painless is still my motto for everyone
4. I’m offering a brand new, never before seen AfterWord Session for all my couples in 2010 and beyond.
5. No more boudoir after March 2010
6. MY EMAIL HAS CHANGED TO KARA@KARASCHULTZ.COM (that one’s kind of important)
7. It’s not about anything else but you
8. Hiring me solves world hunger (ok, that one was just making sure you were paying attention…hiring me does not solve world hunger, this is what you get on your wedding day, me and corny jokes, I make fun of myself pretty well, I’ll make you laugh! In all seriousness, I do donate to a local women and children‘s shelter and animal shelter)
9. the url is now www.karaschultz.com (though karatography.com will continue to work)
10. you’re the best

Thanks for coming on this crazy journey with me! And if you read the entire post, you deserve a cookie!

Kara
kara@karaschultz.com

It’s always weird to be on the other side of the camera and Okema and her family got that experience first hand! Someone else posing them and actually have everyone in the family be in the picture! Imagine that! It’s a sad realization that many photographers don’t have pictures of their own family, and then we get desperate and say “I need pictures!” or the other way around when we hand off the camera to a family member who doesn’t know really how to get all our attention and then we’re not all looking at the camera. It is a finesse to get children (or in my case, puppies!) to look at the camera! We call it Photographer’s Child Syndrome (PCS) and most kids/dogs have it, just ask any photographer!

So Okema begged asked me to get some pictures of her family! We met up at Wilder Park in Elmhurst where you may remember Beth and Tom’s wedding . I think we squeezed the last bit out of fall! I smell holiday card pictures!

these next 4 are my favorites!

while I was editing the ones of her and her dad, I thought about how I see the other side of this photo, I generally see the dad and daughter as he’s giving her away and the emotion he feels seeing her in her dress, handing her off to her groom, it’s just too sweet to see both sides of it!

(don’t worry, I have more of you two together!)

Hope you enjoy them Okema!

Kara
kara@karatography.com

Everyone remember Saturday?  Yeah, it was rainy.  All day!  And cloudy and just didn’t seem like it would perk up at all for my session that day.  It rained 5 minutes before we were supposed to start and then, gone.  For the next 45 minutes, nothing!  The sun came out, it was gorgeous and actually quite warm!  I spent the day with Becca and her family doing some pictures at Lilaiia Park in Lombard, this place is gorgeous and would be perfect for wedding pictures!  I need to go back when it’s in full bloom!

Ok, onto the pictures…

And this one is cute, they were looking a frog in the waterfall that hadn’t been hooked up yet.

Until next time!  Really fun wedding this weekend, can’t wait!

Kar

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