New Year, New Plan

Time to rethink, improve and come up with more ideas and more time. There are lots of resources out there and I'll spend some time reading up on trends, services and smart ideas.

So far I've finally changed my profile picture on my Facebook page to the maximum size of 200x600 pixels. It makes a bigger impact. I've also taken a few minutes to get a vanity url on Facebook. It is now www.facebook.com/KarenKellyPhotography. That's kind of cool, especially when I share the link, I think it looks much more professional.

I've designed a new business card, but I might like the old ones better. I'm not sure yet.

My website possibly needs a reorganization. I was thinking of breaking down the rodeo categories into events. For example, bull riding, steer wresting, team roping, etc.

Oh yes, a much hipper and artistic blog is in order, right?

Of course there is always the constant continuing education. I love the courses at NAPP (National Association of Photoshop Professionals), they offer a wide variety of subject matter. Going at my own pace, on my schedule is convenient. Technology changes so fast and I feel it is so easy to get behind to the point where I only know what I need to know. I don't want to get in that rut, otherwise I will never improve!

I've had many requests for greeting cards and calendars and the such, it is also one of my goals to get those designed and produced.

Oh yeah and to finish my plan...better get going....if anyone has any suggestions or opinions, by all means! Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2011!

Merry Christmas, there is no place like home! Make the time to make the memories if you can. Happy Holidays to all! Many blessings and love to everyone.

Cowboys & Indians Finalists

Thank you to Fay Ellen Whitehead for letting me photograph her horse, "Poco" in Iron River, Michigan. This image and the Arches National Park image shown here have been selected as Finalists in the annual Cowboys & Indians magazine photography contest.

Arches National Park in Utah is not just about delicate arches. The red rock formations are unreal. To me, it looks like the Flintstones live in this picture! I softened the sky to give it more of a watercolor look as a contrast to all of the texture in the landscape. It was taken at sunset last fall.

"Poco" the horse photo came about with me just following horses around a field with my camera and having one of the owners interact with all of them. It was a harshly lit summer day, but some work in Photoshop helped me create a dramatic portrait.

Wish me luck, although it really is just an honor to be nominated. :)

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a wonderful, blessed, safe and tasty Thanksgiving!

Fast and Furious

What does shooting a 2 year old have to do with shooting rodeos?

It's fast and it furious! I found out that rodeo shooting has been good training

for photographing toddlers. They don't sit still, they move fast and have

minds of their own!

I learned to how to anticipate action and be quick on the shutter, but I found it to

be more of a physical challenge with the kids. This lovely family requested a shoot at the Denver Botanic Gardens. 2 hours later I was exhausted from moving quickly, looking for fleeting movements and doing about a billion power squats. I was actually a little sore the next day! Sometimes I forget how much energy they have!

Little Kaitlynn was especially uncooperative always running the other way, etc, etc. and we ended the session not quite knowing if we got anything, but I think we did, because it wasn't my first rodeo. :) These are just a few shots, let's talk more about this next time.

Thank You Veterans

To all veterans, past, present and future...we salute you and we salute your sacrifices. We thank you.