#1 piece of advice...

whenever a friend, an acquaintance, a client, even a stranger gets engaged i pass along this one piece of advice...

when it comes to the day of celebration, hand off all details, all control to someone else.  may it be a friend, family, or even better a hired professional it's so important that you don't feel stressed by the details.  it's inevitable that something will go wrong...(our wedding the flowers were wrong, we couldn't light the unity candle, guitar strings broke.) i was oblivious to most of these mishaps and i was able to enjoy my new husband, the celebration and my family and friends.  so whether you're a bit of a control-freak or a free spirit have someone who can run the little details so you can focus on the big detail...you're getting married!

and if you're looking to hire someone i met a delightful spirit...aletha vandermaas, of pearl events, is available for many event planning services.  whether it's just for the day of, to oversee all the details, or to provide you with yummy resources for your celebration.  i love her energy and would have gladly hired her from my day.

invitations and other yummy products...

along with my love for photography i'm a huge paper addict...cards, stationary, crafts.  there's something so meaningful and fun about sending a friend a handwritten letter or card.  for your special event, the invitations or save the date cards can be a great way to reflect the type of celebration you  are planning or it can say something fun about your personalities.  here are a few of my favorite new finds when it comes to paper...

vreeland design creates original art invitations using block-cut printing.  they're so simple and fun!

eva paul offers some modern and bold designs

bottle my message create wedding programs in a fan layout. perfect for hot summer events, beach celebrations...

DIOurself Invitation works with you to create a fresh design.  i love the colors and whimsical designs...

a glimpse back...

one of my weddings from last season was for dan & christina...i got to know this couple from my time working at calvin college. actually dan was one of my student leaders. i knew when they asked me to shoot their wedding that it wasn't going to be a traditional celebration. they had their ceremony downtown and the reception at a sushi bar. and they wanted all of their pics taken in urban settings, back alleys, grungy walls...i was elated for the chance to play with my creativity. this unique couple is now in japan teaching english. here are a few of my favorites...


while this picture may not be "technically" perfect...i love the motion of it, i love the joy on her face. to me it's perfect...

christina is such a graceful spirit...she has no idea how beautiful she is! and i love her simple dress...j.crew!

dan loves animai and graffiti...this is one of his favorites' downtown GR.

as michigan is getting hit with another snow storm it's fun to think about the coming wedding season. i look forward to "playing" with my camera to capture your unique personalities!

dedications...

i always wish i could write a book, simply to write a dedication page.  to let everyone know who had inspired me and who i am grateful for...well take this as my dedication page.

to my mom, who has been so generous with your affirmation and encouragement.  and who instilled in me a love for celebrations...

to my dad, betsy, and sister kate.  your passion for the arts stirred my creativity.  your words of support resonated with love and sincerity.

to mandy, who loved me even more when i was a mess.  thanks for teaching me that being an artist doesn't mean being perfect.  it's about the joy we feel...

to cara, who with tough love called out my desires to be an artist.  who celebrated me with ridiculous enthusiasm.

to the community at mars hill graduate school.  there are so many faces and voices that played a redemptive role in my story.  you helped me see the sacredness in art.

to crystal, my first photography partner.  thank you for playing with me!

to jeanette, for always listening to my doubts and dreams.  i always sensed that you were patiently hoping for me to find this space...

to mike, my husband, best friend, and biased fan.  you made me feel safe to pursue this dream...i'm so glad to be creating a life story with you.

to my God...i know that my creativity, my ability to see beauty in ordinary things, to feel joy in the midst of other peoples stories is a testament to You.  thank you for the challenges and the blessings along the journey.

i'm a www...

i never, ever thought i would be a web-site...but here i am with my own business and my own web-site.  it's been scary, fun, affirming, inspiring.  

i don't know where things will go from here...i just look forward to meeting people, knowing their stories, and offering what i love to do to give them some art of their lives.

be sure to check back soon to hear about some "grand opening specials" i will be offering...

cheers,
kp

there is nothing more truly artistic than to love   vincent van gogh

i love the little details...

one of my favorite things to shoot at a wedding are the fun, creative, and intimate details.  i like to see how a ordinary object can become art...i can't explain how i see art or beauty in a stack of glasses or a pair of shoes,
but i do.  i think the details help tell the story of the day.  
 and they are the little things that can make a simple day into a celebration.

my hope is to pass along to you any resources that i find that may help you with the details of your day...

my new discovery... i need a favor from kate.  she offers fun, sassy, creative favor boxes.  you choose the paper to coordinate with your event and the unique presentation shape.  
they would be great for your wedding, shower, or any other celebration.

coming soon...

the past couple of weeks i've been finishing up the details of my web-site and i can't wait to "go live" with it!  

recently i met with a couple to share with them my style of photography and see if i would be a good fit to capture their wedding.  it was such a delight to hear their story and i was so drawn into their lives that i almost forgot it was a "business" meeting.  

and that speaks to why i've pursued photography...it's not the motivation to have my own company and to make tons of money.  it's about stories.  it's about connecting with other people and using my art to capture the beauty, the honesty, the celebration of their journeys.  

and i can't wait to experience lots of stories this coming year...

I think the best pictures are often on the edges of any situation…
I don’t find photographing the situation nearly as interesting as
photographing the edges.

-william albert allard

christmas delights...

during the holidays, family must endure my roaming lens, always seeking a delightful moment to capture...my favorite subject was my niece brei. the only girl in the midst of three rowdy brothers, she's going to be one precious and sassy girl!