Kim Kalyn Photography » admin

Favourite Things Friday

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:59:11 +0000

This post is for my brides out there looking for something a little unique for their getting ready images. I LOVE shooting detail images. Shoes, jewelry, rings, purse, veil, make-up and the dress. That gorgeous dress that you will be walking down the aisle in to greet your future husband. One issue I often run into while shooting the dress is that a lot of the hangars are (how do I put this delicately?), ugly! They are plastic or standard wire hangar and just really don’t compliment that stunning gown hanging off it.

I found this fabulous vendor on Etsy, Lila Frances, and she changes everything! Her hangars are sooo creative and add a great personal touch for the detail shots.

They range in price from $12-$25 and 10% of all profits are donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund in honor of her lovely mother.

Check out the link to her Etsy store HERE. Images are courtesy of her site. First image by Megan W. Check out her awesome blog HERE.

Travel Snaps Tuesday – Athens Continued

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:27:08 +0000

Ahhhhh Athens. I just loved it there. The character. The history. The ruins. The culture. The fabulousness.

Here are just a few more of my faves. Then it’s on to Santorini !!

*Sigh* I heart Pronovias

Riot Police ! It’s time to go.

A little bit of “bling” at a museum in Athens

I called my Mom and Don at this phone booth. Guy on the scooter waved for the photo

Darren taking out money. We did that a LOT in Greece!

My mom and Don saw this man too when they were in Athens.

Neat old movie theatre entrance

Favourite Things Friday

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:16:36 +0000

Gratitude is a powerful thing. Every night before bed I lay there and think of 10 things I am grateful for. This may range from my health, the health of my family and friends, my amazing husband, our incredible home, being fortunate to live somewhere so beautiful, clean air and water to watching a movie that made me laugh so hard I cried (The Hangover!) or my iPhone. Not everything has to be ‘deep’. I am darn grateful for my iPhone

One thing I am always so grateful for is the amazing clients that come into my life and the friendships I have developed along the way. I like to think that for some reason or another I always end up with the clients I am meant to have. I believe everything happens for a reason and I also believe that the energy you put out there is what you get back.

Not to toot my own horn, but I think people would generally describe me as a happy and positive person and so I am not surprised when my clients fit this similar description. I love it when I meet with a bride for the first time and we end up talking and chatting like long-time friends about our love for Etsy, cute summer dresses and Dairy Queen Skor Blizzards. The relationship ends up becoming so much more than photographer and client, and I love that. Because really I am working with people, not wedding #13. It is my goal to always run my business with a focus on who my clients really are and supporting their needs in the best way I can.

Ok, I think I got a bit off topic there so I am going to try to tie this all together now.

When you really get to know your clients beyond what time you start and what time you finish, I believe you open up yourself to capture their day from a perspective that compliments the things that matter most, because you have put the time and energy to really get to know them. I think this is a huge advantage to creating images that not only are pretty pictures, but have an emotional component that not just anyone could create. It is something to set you apart.

Just last night I had a spontaneous visit with one of my bride’s Gemma. We chatted about our love for Vegas, HOT and colourful wedding shoes and fabulous red wine. We talked about family, and surviving stagette parties. And we got to know each other that much more. When I worked with Dawn, I almost died when I saw her home for the first time. It looked like it was straight out of a Cath Kidston catalouge and I freaked out! I had first discovered Cath Kidston when Darren and I travelled to the UK to visit our friends Jo and Dan. Jo had told me that she had to take me to see a Cath Kidston store as she knew I would fall in love. She was right !! So when I asked Dawn if by chance she knew who Cath Kidston was, she flipped because she is also such a fan.

So I want to leave you with a few images of some of the incredibly sweet gifts I have received recently from some special people. I am one spoiled photographer! Thank you THANK YOU guys for these lovely gifts.

After shooting Dawn’s session a package from the UK arrived on my door. I recognized the packaging and squeeled with excitement when I saw what was inside ….

Sarah gave me the BEST raspberry jam and I have been looking forward to it every morning on my toast !

And Karen gave me an incredible necklace! I get SO many compliments on it

I am so grateful for these beautiful gifts and the joy that I receive from doing what I love and meeting amazing people!

Lia & Sean {Married}

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:30:34 +0000

I attended Sean and Lia’s gorgeous outdoor wedding at the Victoria University Club last Saturday. As the sunshine filtered through the trees and as the pond quietly flowed in the background Lia and Sean said their vows to become husband and wife.

There were happy tears and lots of laughter and memories were made. It was amazing to be apart of it.

Thank you both for choosing me to document your love!

Just Married !!

Travel Snaps Tuesday – Food Focused

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:15:28 +0000

It is no secret that I LOVE food. I LOVE IT. So when Darren and I were planning on where to go for our honeymoon, I was paying particular attention to the local cuisine I wanted to sample. Greek food has always been a huge favourite of ours and so it was no surprise that we quickly settled on Greece. Besides the food you can’t go wrong with that turquoise Mediterranean Sea, perfect cobblestone alleys, and picturesque views from every angle. But really for me it was about the food in a big way. I have to say that Darren and I have been fortunate enough to travel a lot. And Greece wins HANDS DOWN for having the best food out of anywhere we have been so far. I could have survived on the olives alone. Or maybe just the baklava. Ok, or the Moussaka. No maybe just the Spanakopita. You get the picture. So I have decided to dedicate this post strictly to the food. Here is just a few shots to give you an idea of some of what Greece and Turkey had to offer.

Yes that is a GIANT slab of Feta

Our favourite drink there the Freddocino

Turkish Delight YUM !

Mr. Linden is on the move !!

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:45:33 +0000

Things I loved about this family: they smile and laugh constantly, their happiness is contagious, they were up for anything, they trusted my vision for their photos completely, they had so many great ideas, and they were completely easy-going. Attitudes like that make my job a breeze! This session could not have seemed less like ‘work’ if I tried. We spent the session just trying to keep up with little Mr. Linden who is on the move now. Between fits of giggles and running away from mom and dad we captured this family just simply being themselves. I love these images. They just feel so good to me. Mel and Dave I hope you love them too!

Thank you for being so incredibly fun to work with ! I hope we get to do it again sometime

A few more for Jadine

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:15:19 +0000

Jadine is so excited about her photos it’s adorable !! I had to post just a few more for her

Favourite Things Friday

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:28:24 +0000

I was sitting on my back deck soaking in the sun (wearing sunscreen of course!) enjoying a blue freezie and trying to decide what I should post for this weeks Favourite Things. There was the cute new dress I have my eye on at Ruche, or the soft serve ice cream at the Beacon Drive Inn, or my iPhone apps I couldn’t live without. Even though I could write a post on any of those, I had the strong urge to give into my brownie craving and post my favourite brownie recipe in the world.

Those of you who have not heard of the Smitten Kitchen food blog MUST check it out. However, I must warn you that you may end up spending hours crusing Deb’s blog and drooling over her amazing creations. This blog inspires me to cook and create in the kitchen. I may even go so far to say that I may have a slight obsession with this site. I am a food blog addict. Admission is the first step, right ?!

So if you love cooking or baking I guarantee you will love her site. I first made these brownies about six months ago. I made them 3 times in that first week. I promise I didn’t eat them all myself. But I could have! They are so delish. They are the perfect combination of moist and chewy and will satisfy that chocolate craving in a heartbeat. I have brought them to parties and baked them as thank you gifts and they are always a huge hit. So if you want to make THE BEST brownies please click this link to chocolate heaven.

You will not be disappointed !!

And because every post is better with a picture. Her is a quick teaser for Mel and Dave of their super cute little man, Linden. Seriously, how cute is this ?!

Balloons, bubbles and blue skies

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:06:37 +0000

I was so happy when Jadine contacted me for another family photo session. I have had the pleasure of watching her adorable kiddies grow, and documenting another year of their amazing family was such a treat. I can’t believe how much they have changed. Even their personalities are so different now! Jarret talking away and taking the lead. Teyha showing us her sassy attitude and strutting her stuff. I couldn’t believe it. Wow, the changes in one year are really incredible.

Jadine went all out planning for their session and it really paid off. She was so organized! The outfits were SO super cute (just look at Teyha’s pearls, diva sunglasses and flower headband!) and she brought plenty of fun props to keep her little ones playing and having fun.

Thank you guys for asking me to capture these special images for you. I am always honoured.

Travel Snaps Tuesday

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:25:16 +0000

So here it is. My first instalment of “Travel Snaps Tuesday”. These shots are from our honeymoon. Darren and I ventured to Greece and Turkey this past May for our incredible honeymoon. I will be starting these snaps from the beginning. I like order So it begins in Greece. Athens to be exact.

Greece is a magical place and it was everything I hoped for. We spent our days exploring ruins. Sipping lattes or white wine while nibbling on Baklava and enjoying the hustle and bustle of the Plaka and Montastraki districts, while in the shadow of the Parthenon. Amazing.

Getting there was a dream come true. I know I will go back.

In the airport in Brussels. YUM!

Staying at our friend Katya’s place right in the most beautiful suburb in Athens.

Our first glimpse of the Parthenon. Can you see it ??