Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off

Hi Everyone!
I just wanted to post about something really neat going on around the country this coming Monday. As you probably know, it's Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. Many of you will have school off or maybe work. If this is true, make it a day on, not a day off. Around the country groups are committing to community service projects. The organization that is spear heading this is called, "Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service."

Here in Vermillion, there is a whole day of projects planned. The community will be meeting at the high school at around 11:00 am for breakfast. From there you are randomly placed in a group and each group has a different objective (ie collecting 500 cans of food). You'll work on this until 4:00 or 6:00.

For more information and to register for the event, visit: http://sites.google.com/site/sdmlkday/ You can register up until Monday! Just think of the work that can be done on this day if everyone takes the time to help their community out. Plus, with these economic times, it's important to help those around us effected.

Hope to see you Monday!

Started Thinking about Valentine's Day Yet?

Hi Everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted! It was a busy holiday season for me, but now I'm back to school. In early December, I took some pictures of a very lovely lady as a Christmas present for her significant other. Since it's after Christmas, I can finally post some of the images. You may have noticed by now that none of my intimate pictures on my blog have my clients face. If I do take your intimate pictures, you will have teaser images like the ones on my blog, but the vast majority contain your face. So, the only one who knows you did the pictures are you, your significant other and me. And, I'm not telling anyone. :) I thought I would clear up that bit of confusion people have had.

Intimate pictures work great for Valentine's Day gifts! Since the day is fast approaching, I encourage everyone to make appointments within the next week or so. I usually take the pictures in the evening, and can only schedule one a day. I'm thinking the vast majority of the pictures will be done the weeks of January 18-24 and January 25-31. Therefore, spots are filling up quickly! Contact me at kristambenson@gmail.com for information! Remember that I only do this as a fun hobby, so I have to work around my two jobs and school.

Enjoy the pictures and have a great day!

'Tis The Season!

Hi Everyone!
I took another study break...I know..I'm good at that part...and designed a few Christmas cards. I originally designed the "Holly Jolly" card for my husband and I, but I haven't found a picture to use for it. I decided to instead give the design to one of my clients, because I'm not sure if I like the light blue and pale pink card I originally made for them. I might just end up doing the silly thing and actually purchasing a design for my husband and I. Who knows...I haven't thought that far in advance.
Well, enjoy the designs. I should use this post to let everyone know that I'm going to be done with the semester on Wednesday December 10th, which means I'll be open for sessions again. If you'd like to get an intimate session in for Christmas or get engagement or family pictures while everyone is out of school, just let me know! kristambenson@gmail.com
-KB

C, H, & A Family

Hi Everyone!
It's been a while since I posted. I am in the middle of our two finals weeks in law school. I'm done with two of the harder finals and have one left on Wednesday. So, I took a study break today to upload some family pictures I took a while ago. Working with children is so different than engagements or seniors. Patience is definately the key...as well as the ability to capture a smile. (more difficult than it seems!)

I've include some of the formal pictures that worked, plus some of my favorite candids or bloopers if you will.

Shout-Outs

Hey There!

I often (and by that I mean at least once a week) get asked for my recommendations for vendors for weddings. I think everyone knows that I was quite submersed in wedding planning and vendor research last year...instead of school. Oops. :p So, I thought I would just try to kill two birds with one stone, and give my recommendations via my blog.
My first recommendation is of course a wedding photographer! I personally made a decision to go the "cheap" route...and I unfortunately got the "cheap" result. A lesson lived, a lesson learned. I would personally recommend AC Ellis. She is a photographer in Brookings but is willing to travel. You might be spending more than you budgeted for, but you're going to get the result you pay for. The quality of her work is above and beyond many local photographers. (And definitely above my amateur work...leagues above :) ). She also offers wonderful intimate sessions which make great wedding or anniversary gifts. I stalk her blog quite frequently. One of her other photographers, Maria, is a bit newer at the wedding photography business...but her photographs are equally amazing.

My second recommendation is a DJ. The DJ we used was DJ Jer. He was highly recommended on The Knot. He definitely delivered. We had Jeremy (the Jer in DJ Jer). That night we had many compliments and plenty of phone calls afterwards asking us for the name and number of the DJ. He did exactly what we asked...but better.

The third recommendation I have is the florist we used, Flowers on Main. I didn't think that I was going to care about my flowers. I just went with the place that the first person I talked to recommended. Once I saw the flowers that day, I knew that I did care! I absolutely fell in love once I saw them. I actually had someone compliment my flowers in the receiving line. If I had a "do over," I would absolutely pick them again.

My last recommendation would be for a bridal shop. I personally went to David's Bridal and mostly had a good experience. Recently, I went out with a friend shopping for her wedding dress, and was very impressed with the French Door in Sioux Falls. There new location is nice, and their employees were helpful.

I would recommend a reception location, but I didn't really have a great experience with either location. The first location we had booked cancelled one month before the wedding...after our invitations had gone out. The second location was kind enough to pick us up with short notice, but the service that evening was a bit pushy and lack-luster. So, since I have nothing good to say, I'm going to say nothing at all and not name either location or my photographer.

Hope that helps some of you! I should be back to posting pictures in the next couple of days..then it's time to study for finals! I'm almost done with 1.5 of my law school experience!

-KB

I've included a picture AC Ellis took last fall as an engagement picture of me and my hubby. Aren't the colors wonderful!?!? Plus, Adam's eyes are actually open. That rarely happens. :)

Picture is the property of AC Ellis

A Family's Best Friend

Hi Everyone!

I was frequenting a pet photographer's blog I love and saw a post about one of her clients who had passed away. The photographer encouraged people to photograph their pets before they passed. I felt particularly touched by this post since last week my parents put our 15-17 year old basset-beagle mix to sleep. I'm not overly upset by this since it was really for the best. She wasn't feeling good and couldn't do anything she loved to do (walk, jump on you while covered in mud, escape under the chain length fence, and dig massive holes to China in my mother's garden). So, her passing isn't really much of a surprise.

However, a few months ago, I felt that DD might be reaching her end and felt it was important to take a few portraits. This one is easily my favorite because I've had several people note that she looks like she's laughing/smiling. So, I pass along the message of the pet photographer I love so much...take pictures of your pets!

Ironic enough, on Saturday, I signed up my three dogs for a photo shoot with my favorite photographer, AC Ellis. She's doing the pictures as a fundraiser for the Brookings Humane Society. She might still have some spots open if you're interested. It's only 45$ and you get a release for one picture. Just call or visit the Brookings Humane Society to sign up.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

-KB

Save-The-Date!

Hi There!

I spent the afternoon finishing up some Save-The-Date cards I had promised to do. I just learned how to use a couple of different tools, so it was fun to play around with Photoshop. I am going to try to make some Christmas cards in a few days. If I can ever wrangle my own family together, I might attempt some self family portraits of us...but that might be overly ambitious for me, my hubby and three dogs. We'll see! Until then, enjoy your week and hopefully you'll stay warm during the impending blizzard.

-KB