Hello all, I wanted to share something that is very near and dear to my heart.  My good friend Monica Van Wegen just a few days after her birthday, found out she had two tumors in her brain.  She was able to get an emergency surgery with one of the top doctors in San Francisco, however with top doctor service came a hefty bill.  Monica also has a long, costly recovery process ahead of her and needs our help.  This Thursday a benefit party will be held at Whiskey Jacque’s bar in Ketchum.  The cost is only $15.00 and gets you beer and pizza!  See details below.  There will also be a raffle drawing held for some awesome prizes including a FREE 30 minute photoshoot provided by me!  I hope to see you all there.  If you can not make it, you can still help Monica out.  Checks can be made out to: Bald Mountain Fund.  In the memo line of the check write: In honor of Monica Van Wegen.  Mail to: Bald Mountain Fund PO BOX 370 Ketchum, ID 83340.  If you can make the party, be there by 7:00 to obtain your raffle ticket.  The raffle will take place at 9:00, although you do NOT need to be present to win.

An image I took of Monica just days before she found out about her tumors:

The event flyer:

45 degrees and rainy…not the best weather for a volleyball tournament, but the staff at Sun Valley pulled it off!  Sun Valley contacted the Open Room Furniture Store in town to obtain a few of Aeroplastik’s Queen of Love Chairs!  I work for Aeroplastik’s sister company, Acerbis, and, of course, being such a dedicated employee, I decided to head over to the event to capture some images of our chairs in action!

Hello All!

I have returned from my semi-annual vacation to Playa Del Carmen!!  I had a blast spending the week relaxing in preparation for this summer’s weddings!! I am back home editing and preparing to photograph some AMAZING families and couples!  Stay tuned for more blog posts!! In the meantime, here’s a shot from a day trip I took in Cozumel…the water was the most amazing blue water I have ever seen.

~Kristin

Sofie is my dog.  She’s my buddy and was willing to sit for me this morning as I played with the settings of my brand new strobe light.  I was really bummed because after several hours of trying to figure out why my camera wouldn’t set off the strobe with the cord properly connected, I called the store from which I bought the strobe to find out, after more testing that the cord is not working.  So, I am having to resort to using a speedlight to set off my camera, which, is less than optimal, but I am going to have to make it work, because I want to use the new strobe to photograph the baby bump of my good friend Brittany today!  So, back to Sofie.  In order to get her to “sit” for me, I knew I had to put her in her favorite new coat that she received as a Christmas present from Hillary Maybery, as well as her favorite toy, yet another gift from Hil.  She sat nicely on the couch and I fired away.  I think we have the settings ready to go for Brittany’s photoshoot!  Stay tuned…

I LOVE this new Queen of Love by Aeroplastik!  It is a unique new chair that is made of enviro-friendly polyethelene and is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use!  I was able to get this chair into Hillary Maybery’s studio for a little photoshoot, as well as my friend Jen as model :)  This chair is also positioned just inside the entrance of The Open Room Furniture Store here in Ketchum, so if you are in the area, make sure to stop by and give the chair a try!  It’ll put you in a happy place!

Check out all the colors available!

The red chair is currently at The Open Room Furniture Store:

I have recently been hired for photoshoots as a gift for dog portraits, maternity shoots and family portraits.  So I went ahead and ordered quite a few gift certificates and want to spread the word that I’m available for hire :)  So if you have a friend who’s birthday is coming up, an anniversary or any occasion and you’d like to give them the gift of photography, give me a call

Wow!  December flew by sooo fast!  Well, the entire year did, actually.  2009 was a great year.  I enjoyed a one-year anniversary second-shooting for Hillary Maybery as well as photographed even more weddings on my own.  I have met many great families and dogs, too!  I spent the final week of the year with Hillary in Boston.  She and I were both flown there to photograph the wedding of Jonathan and Jennifer Zang.  It was great to spend soo much time with Hillary as well as a fantastic couple.  We have big plans in 2010 and I can’t wait to get started!  Oh and, a wise person once told me that if you put a new year’s resolution in writing, you are much more likely to achieve it.  So here goes: in 2010 I would like lose the weight I’ve gained since I moved to Sun Valley in May of 2006, and in general, eat healthier and move more!

In closing here are two of my favorite photographs from the Boston trip:

Hillary and I walking on the Freedom Trail (I’m in the velcro shoes and Hil is wearing the Chuck Taylors)

The youngest attendant at the wedding looking out of the window at No. 9 Park at the firework display on New Year’s Eve:

I LOVE the holidays!  I especially love receiving cards with photos that I’ve photographed throughout the year…SO, if you have made a holiday card with a photo that I’ve taken this year, send it my way, I love it!

Here’s two that I’ve already received

Ashley and Alex

The Robertson Family:

The Tempest Family:

Angela’s card (I helped her design it):

and Finally, here’s mine

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I’d publish a mini post :)  Sofie (my dog) I am home in Atlanta visiting my family for Thanksgiving.  We have taken a few photos with the family, but some of my favorites are from the family dogs

Sofie (all the way from Idaho) with our good family friend Lucielle:

My Mom’s dog, Jake:

My dad’s dog, Tootsie:

I LOVE my dog, Sofie.  She goes wherever I go, which includes skiing!  I moved to Idaho three years ago, having only skied once as a child.   Moving to a ski resort town from the deep south was quite a challenge!  I have, however embraced skate skiing over the past two years, and am very much looking forward to this winter’s ski season!  Sofie and I received our nordic trail passes last week and are ready to go, all we need is snow!