Ooops, sorry!
I will no longer be updating this blog!
I’ve got a splashy new design over here. Please update your bookmarks!
If you got here from the splash page on my website, I’m aware that the link is buggy and I’m having issues trying to update it – hopefully it will be fixed soon.
The link from the Blog page on the website does take you to the new blog, though. Sorry for the confusion!
But c’mon over and check out my schmancy new design! I’d love to hear what you think!
Love Karla
Guilt
All you brides out there, try not to be a bride like I was. I’ve been married for over 4 years now and have yet to give my fabulous bridesmaids any vanity shots of how gorgeous they looked that day. Can you believe that? I’ve felt guilty about it forever. I also have yet to create a wedding album of our own to show off our pictures, but researching album companies and professional printers along with dreaming up album designs for sample albums has inspired me to get my butt in gear.
So naturally, the first album I’ve designed is from our wedding. Enter KISS Wedding Books! I ordered some ‘little Kisses’ in ‘Redlight Red’ a few weeks ago. They update you at every stage of the printing and binding process, which frankly just fuels the anticipation! They arrived on Tuesday this week and they are. So. Friggin’. Cute! 
They even come with that little patterned pouch to tuck them into, which is just gorgeous. I was so very impressed! I got 3 of them – one for each of my bridesmaids and one to keep for myself. I think they’d make perfect gifts for your wedding party – they’re so small, yet so elegant and a great keepsake! (However, I’ve also ordered some prints for my ‘maids in case they want to hang their gorgeous selves on their own walls.)
As for the inside, here are some of the spreads I designed myself. I’m so happy with the way they turned out and anxious to see what my bridesmaids think! (I have a feeling that when I give the one to my sister, my mom is going to want my spare!!) Photos by Sharla Mawhinney of Eye of the Beholder.
What do you think? Will it be enough to alleviate my guilt of being such a dead-beat bride?
Jon and I are headed out to London (ON, not UK) for Easter with his family and I’m hoping spring will be in full bloom out there so I can get some great shots. It will be several weeks yet before Calgary is any colour but brown, I fear!
Hope the Easter Bunny is good to all of you and that you get nothing but Bernard Callebaut chocolates! (That’s totally what I’m hoping the Easter Bunny brings ME!)
Cheers,
Karla
Brrr!
In latest Lilypad News, I’m hard at work on some sample albums for clients to browse. They look gorgeous, and I’m hoping to put up a gallery of sample pages on the website once I’ve got my favourites picked out. I’ve got a few dates booked this summer for weddings already, so if you need a photographer, please don’t hesitate! I’m also working on new pricing & packaging, which will streamline the whole process for couples to get exactly what they want and more from Lilypad Photo Arts. Exciting!
One thing about us Canadians, we sure can complain about the weather! I’m pretty lucky to live in Calgary where we do get the warm chinook winds from time to time – almost all our snow was gone because of a lovely chinook last week! But today, it’s chilly and snowy and just not so much fun. The good news is that I get to wear my new winter boots a lot, though. And sometimes we get a little fog that makes the ice crystals stick to the trees and they just look so pretty!
For New Year’s, Jon, Tucker & I trekked out to Radium, BC, to hang out with a bunch of friends and pig out on raclette & fondue. There were a lot of activities early on in the evening for kids to enjoy the New Year, too, which included tobogganing on a little slope nearby, which Jon felt his duty to make sure was safe for the little kidlets. Which was so nice of him, don’t you think? I think he had some fun, too, though.
2010 is looking good! In the spirit of the Olympics starting in just a few weeks practically next door, I’ve signed up for another half-marathon this year in May. I know, what was I thinking??? Didn’t I vow I’d never run that far at one time again? Yes, well, I figured the flat course I ran last year wasn’t enough of a challenge – this year, the race is in Canmore, Alberta, which is in the MOUNTAINS. Seriously, I must be cracked. Enjoy the picture of me nearly passing out as I crossed the finish line last year. GOD.
Yours in health, happiness & success in 2010,
Karla
‘Tis the season…
Hello!
Announcing Gift Certificates at Lilypad Photo Arts! I just received them, so if you are still in need of a gift idea, why not some family or individual portrait time? The gift certificates can be made out to any denomination, and will be deducted from the final amount of time and product purchased, so the possibilities are endless!
I did some great family shots this past weekend for my cousin who is visiting from Memphis with her family. It’s rare that my cousins, their families & my aunt & uncle are all in the same place, so they wanted to make sure we captured some family photos. It was a pretty, snowy and chilly time outside, but we managed to get some shots in, and the black and whites turned out to be my faves. The twins couldn’t remember my name very well as it was the first time we’d met, so they kept referring to me as, “Karl, The Photographer” which is STILL cracking me up!
And I finally got the last of my Christmas cards out this week. Jon was not super-impressed with having to wear a hat, but don’t we look CUTE??? Maybe next year I’ll be able to think of something more dignified for him…but probably not.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! Take care, be safe and have fun!
Cheers,
Karla
New gear makes me nerdy…
So I made my first E-bay purchase a few weeks ago and other than pulling a total newie move by not flat out asking the seller if they could ship to Canada just because their posting said they wouldn’t and having to go through a whole process of shipping to my parents’ place in California and then get it home from there, the experience was pretty good! And now I have a spanky new 100mm/f2.8 Macro lens to boast about! Yay!
And so it was Remembrance Day not long ago. The City of Calgary made a display of crosses representing all the soldiers from this area that gave their lives in all the battles Canada has been involved in, right up to the soldiers who have died this year. It was nothing short of amazing I thought, so I took the time out of my day to go have a look, pay my respects and take photos to share it with everyone. It really moved me – I almost needed rain gear for my camera, there were so many tears.
Peace everyone,
Karla
New site finally up!
Whew! Working a full-time job really put a dent in the amount of time I had to work on the redesign, but I think it turned out pretty nifty in the end, if I do say so myself! Please check it out:
Also, I wanted to post a little blurb about Christmas cards. Over the past two years, I’ve managed to get it together enough to create a photo Christmas card to send to family and friends which I love to personalize with a photo of my little family on it, along with a seasonal greeting that’s both sincere and fun. I’ve already got some ideas for this year’s card, as well, but I wanted to share with you the ones I’ve made in the past on VistaPrint (front & back images), so if you’re thinking of sending out cards this year, these are totally worth the little extra effort to design and personalize!
And let me know if you need some photos for your Christmas cards!
Take care,
Karla
It’s a little weird, being the model…
I got my husband, Jon, to take some pictures of me yesterday so I’d have something more recent to add to the ‘About Me’ section of my website. It was a little awkward not being the one behind the camera (I didn’t want to be too bossy!) and smiling made me feel a little cheesy…I think he did a great job, tho:
That’s our 2-year-old Bichon-Poodle, Tucker, with the dirty paws.
Anyway, I’ve just finished editing the final version (hopefully) of my website and just have to upload it to my domain once I get the behind-the-scenes domain hosting stuff done and linked up with my email. If it hasn’t been clear so far, I am excited!
Take care,
Karla
