The Children Project - Michigan Photographer

Lately I have been missing shooting with film, more specifically b&w film. I no longer have a film camera (will be investing in one) There is something about shooting with film that forces you to look at things differently, to double, triple check lighting, angles, background. Forcing the best out of you. After all there is no "delete" button when it comes to film. Don't get me wrong, I love digital and I don't think I ever would go back to strictly film...though never say never. I miss the developing of film as well, the smell and feel of exclusion in the dark room. Alone with your own thoughts and visions. I was big into b&w imagery for a very long time. You can't replicate the drama and mood in color. I kind of faded away from that for the last several years, but thinking of film made me once again want to envelope myself with b&w.

I decided to start a project, to get me back in touch with what it is that made me fall passionately in love with photographic art. This is a project just for me, one to reach down into my soul. I love to share so will share some of the photos I create. To start with, I will be using my own children as my subjects. I want to capture their mood and the way they are daily. Where I will go next remains to be seen. I want to look at the world with fresh eyes again, just for me. Light, shadows...how they dance together. I will go back to taking my camera with me everywhere. That way if I see something just driving to the store I can stop and make a picture.

My first in this project is my 6 yr old. She is always topless, she prefers the freedom of no clothes, so that is just how I wanted her. She had PBJ stains on her face, but insisted on washing them off, I wanted her to leave them...but I have to give a little sometimes when convincing my children to model for me. There is old pile of rubble way back on our property. It is the remnants of a bridge that crossed the PM River (locals will know the river) Its' been back there for a couple years now and knew before they came to clear it out I really wanted to incorporate it into some images...this project was perfect! Crumbling rock and re-bar with a beautiful innocent child...how amazing!

So here are some of the photos I made last night. It was about 8:30 when we headed out, great light, deep shadows...perfect!

Thanks for sharing in this with me. Promise yourself you will never loose sight of your passions in life and will go after them with vigor!

-Kristen Marie

Glowing Light - Michigan Child Photographer

There is this sweet little grove pretty much across the street from me that I have been drooling over for a few years (I am slow)...in the morning and evening the light that dances through there is to die for. It GLOWS! I have been wanting to shoot there, why it took me so long to do it, I'll nver know...but last night I did. Grabbed my girl after her bath and out we went. The light was even BETTER than I imagined. We spent about 1/2 to 45 min there just drinking in the breeze, the light, the tall grass...it was for me, just a little piece of heaven.

Here are a few shots and moments captured.

God Bless

-Kristen Marie

My Rock Star - Michigan Child Photographer

I've had this idea for awhile now, this session with my son. Due to the bitter cold, it just wasn't happening. So today, with the slight warm up...we jumped on it!! Didn't get to the area I had originally planned on shooting at (really deep snow) so we improvised..and honestly, I love how it turned out. We trudged through some deep snow to get here (some places up to my knees). We had fun...shot for about 20 minutes since he had no coat on...I know bad mommy..but he didn't complain.

Show my boy some love will ya...leave a comment for him here..(he will LOVE it) you know how these tween boys need to have their egos stroked a little.

Thanks Hunt...I had fun and I love you bunches!

Thanks all!

New Horizon's - Childhood Photographer

2010 was an awesome year for me! I am looking forward to grabbing onto 2011 and going to new heights and reaching new horizons. Change is in the air.

The biggest change for me will be a return, yes a return, back to my creative corner. Loveography will no longer be photographing families and will be placing full focus on where my heart truly lies and my creativeness comes from...capturing the moments of childhood. From the squishy freshies (as I so love to call newborns) who are just starting their lives, up to the high school seniors who are passing their childhood and entering into another new life of adulthood. Childhood and all it represents is precious and fleeting. Every moment is a gift, every stage should be chronicled and preserved for it's rich memories. This is where my passion and creativity come from. This will give YOU the very best of me.

I will be looking for some new models in 2011 as well. My mind is always in over drive and ideas just *POP* into my head! New props will be found and I will need to give these ideas and new props a "test drive". All models get a fun filled session with the session fee being waived. What's the catch? You need to put full trust in me, hand over all control and let me dive right in my vision. That's it! Believe me though...when you let an artist go they create beauty, so you will not be disappointed. These will be very limited sessions, so when I find the model I am looking for and the session filled...it will be gone. So be on the look out for that. I will announce both here and on facebook. Be sure to follow my blog though so you are sure to not miss it.

2011 is also going to be a year of giving back. I will looking for ways to give back to local charities. I will be running specials and/or promotions, which could equal a great deal for you as well as a way for you to help out your community.

I also will begin a new venture in selling templates for custom designed cards. You will have to have photoshop in order to use them. I will likely be selling them here on my blog and possibly on etsy. This is a bit in the future, however it is a goal of mine. I just think it is high time I put my graphic arts education to work a little as well.

Another hope I have for this year is to feature other business women, or Mompreneurs. I will be looking for the creative women out there. If you know of a Mompreneur who you would like to see featured, give me shout and I will look into it. I also hope to post some yummy recipes that we have found, made and tried in my family. Fun projects we are working on. In general, making a blog just a little more on the personal side. I am excited to jump right into 2011...EEKKK!!

In closing, I must thank each of you who have supported me through the last year, it means more to me than you could ever know. A special thank you to the wonderful people I have met who may have started out as clients but became much more than that to me...each of you is a part of my heart now. I can not thank you enough for letting me be a small part of your life.

So....let's go 2011...give me what ya got and you'll get nothing but the best of me!!!

God Bless
~Kristen

Over due - West Michigan Child Photographer

Early in the summer, my kids and I would take little road trip scouting locations for me to shoot at. Begrudgingly (at times) they have to be my models. Sadly when you're a photographer and you get busy, your own childrens images get put by the way side, only later to re-discover. I love finding little gems like these. I had honestly forgotten about them. I decided I had a vision when I made the image, I was going to see that through. So here are my very beautiful (yes, I am biased) children and my lost and then found treasures!


My son likes his images to have an "edge" to them. He thinks its pretty cool! You're right Hunt, it is pretty cool!






of course my little princess like her images to be "princess fairy tale" like. I wanted a dreamy, breezy feel to these and thought full color was not what would give it the right feel, so I went with a duo or warm (orangey) and cool (violet) tone...just a hint, a kiss, a whisper...



I have to tell ya, this mommy sure do love her babies!!!!

Peace and God Bless
~Kristen Marie

childhood models

I am looking for children, girls and boys between the ages of 2-12 to possibly model for me, to help bring Loveography visions to life.

I am always getting new props, finding new locations and have new ideas running through my head that I am wanting to try. I like to stretch and grow and yes, even play. It helps me to learn and become better and stronger at what I love to do, which is photograph children.

So here's what I am looking for you to do. If you have a child in this age group, send in a simple clear head shot of them to me at kristenmariephotography@ym

ail.com, with "childhood model" in the subject line. A little detail about your child(ren) as well. Age and name is all that is really needed. I will be putting all your childrens images into a file and when an idea strikes and your child(ren) "fit" with my vision I will contact you and set up a photo study.I had been using my own daughter for a lot of my ideas, however sometimes my visions and ideas are of a fiery red head with adorable freckles, sometimes a light blond, sometimes a more ethnic looking child. Now, yes I think my daughter is beautiful and I love photographing her, but she is not a red head, a blond or ethnic...so this is why I have decided to ask YOU to help me out. Of course if I contact you and ask to photograph your beautiful or handsome child(ren) there will be no session fee, that's right no session fee PLUS a $25 print credit.

My mind is constantly racing with ideas and visions and imagery come to me at all times! Just ask my family... though they love me dearly, I think I drive them a little crazy sometimes!

So all you have to do is send in an image, just a head shot thats clear, I need to be able to see your childs eyes to kristenmariephotography@ymail.com, make sure to put "childhood model" in the subject line. That's it...when I get a new idea, new prop, find a great new location that I really just have to try I will look through my file and maybe pick your child(ren) to model for me.

I look forward to getting the images of your precious children!

Have a wonderful day!