South Africa Pictures For Sale

Many of you have asked me about purchasing some pictures from my recent trip to South Africa. Well, I finally have them all done and up on Pictage. If you are interested, just go to www.pictage.com/675963

They will only be up for a limited time. Canvases and big prints are available. I'm going to make a few canvases for my boys' safari themed room and frame a few big prints for my living room. There are also wine country and coastal pictures on top of the safari pictures.

I hope you enjoy looking through my amazing experience there! I'm always up for talking about it...for hours on end :o)

Here's a slideshow preview of what you'll see. Just hit the play button on the bottom left.

Indy Channel A-List

It looks as if I've been nominated for best Indianapolis photographer again. Wahooooo. Thanks so much my friends! Your support is so encouraging. If you'd like to vote, just hit the link below and press the ORANGE VOTE button:

Thanks again and BIG hugs!

Kiera

Oh, and, of course, some pictures from my lovely phone!

Eli trying to "eat the water" Does this boy look hungry to you?

When I came outside this is what my singing diva was doing...I don't KNOW WHERE she gets all this dramatic flare :o)

X wanting to climb to the top of the tree (of course) before church

Why can't iphones take a picture faster? Almost got all 3 at the same time! Yayeee!

Leigh & Brad::Indianapolis Wedding Photography

Watch out: Major gorgeousness below! I've never seen so many blue eyes in my life. I started counting them as I was editing and lost count...along with how many times Brad blinked ;o) I LOVED Leigh and Brad's engagement session and I knew they would "bring it" on the wedding day...and they did!

Here are a few of my favorites with a slideshow at the end. Enjoy!

p.s. I had another Thriller dance reenactment...it's in the slideshow. It's awesome.

Love her smile in this one.

Brad's brother, who is in the military, surprised the whole family by showing up for the wedding! Proud Mama!

I LOVE this picture. Mainly because of Leigh's hand professing she will always "speak honestly", but also because of her twin sister's expression :o)

Check out the "Doctor" in this one!

Favorite!

Another fav

Just click the play button at the bottom left. A big thanks to Jason at Pro-Sound Entertainment, Inc. for the music!

Hot & Steamy: Jess and Mario

Not only were these two hot and steamy, but it was literally...hot and steamy. It was like 90 degrees all day, and we ALL loved it when a gust of wind would go by :o) I had not one, but two, rock star photographers with me, Kurtis and Jeff. I felt like I was being taken care of all day. Kurtis and I were talking about how fun it is to second shoot with someone...no pressure, just have fun. And I even think it makes you think outside the box a bit more. They both captured Mario and Jessica so well!

I fell in love with Jess and Mario back during their engagement session. I was looking forward to their day at the Mavris and just spending time with these to laid back super fun people. Mario and the guys were totally rocking it. It was the first Thriller dance re-make picture I'd ever taken. Plus, they jumped higher than most, majorly GQed it, AND were up for anything! The girls, looked radiant in their yellow dresses with hot pink roses. Jess had the perfect pair of yellow shoes (that took FOR.EV.ER to finally find) and yellow roses to match. Super cute.

Here are just a few that me and guys took on Saturday. With a slideshow at the end. Enjoy!

As I said before, one of my favorite parts of shooting with another photog (in this case two) is to see what in the world I am doing and then seeing the same pose from different angles. Here are some pics the guys got of me, and what my results were:

The "Thriller" Piece




Sassy girl walk


My View

Jeff's view

The only problem with seeing yourself in photos is that certain songs come to mind, such as, "What you gon' do with all that junk? All that junk inside your trunk?..." And, there is issue of something trying to escape from my belly button? Note to self: don't where this outfit again.


I digress...here's the after shot...cool Mario...




Pose 1: My view Classic creamy light+gorgeous bride= happy photographer


Pose 1: Kurtis View...favorite! Love everything about this picture


Pose 1: Jeff's View


Pose 2: My view...this is my signature doorway look, just under a bridge instead :o) Plus, we were all really trying to catch the wind here...I think we did it!


Pose 2: Kurtis' View


Pose 2: Jeff's View...love the composition here

More just for fun...

Shhhh...


Game time: GQ anyone?




















These two had THE most amazing eyes. I did Carter's pictures last year. He's getting SO big!


This just screams HAPPY to me :o)


We were about 5th in line at The Circle to take pictures. There were bridal parties all lined up. So, I decided to take them farther down. I like the look better!

Yes....Hi.lar.i.ous!!!

It was finally cool enough to back outside :o)

Just hit the play button in the bottom left had corner :o)

Susan + Kent + Married!

Yaye! Susan and Kent are married! I first met Susan about 10 years ago (ahhh!). She was in my junior high youth group. It's so fun to see her so grown up now, and into such a lovely lady. Her oldest brother, Michael, was also a big part of Josh's life growing up. AND their mama, Kathy, has a an awesome group for stay at home moms that I've been a part of these past few years. So...I love this family.

We had such a beautiful day, Kent looked so handsome and Susan looked sensational. Here are some of my favorites from the day and a slideshow at the end. Enjoy!

Yes it's back and better than ever...love this! Susan's dress was amazing!



This may be one of my all time favorites!!!


















This frame was made for Susan's portrait!



I fell in love with this window!









This kitchen was to die for. It was literally straight out of the 60s. I could have shot there all day but this was literally taken about 7 minutes before the ceremony started!









"The Game Plan"











The Ultimate Underdog!

Here's a slideshow of my favorites :o)

Just press the play button in the lower left corner.

Urban E-Session: Kirsten and Drew

So I've been wanting to go around my 'hood to take pictures for some time now. I love all the textures and colors that surround my urban life. I usually take my engagement pictures around here, but this week I tried some new locations and LOVED it! I pretty much see my world through a lens...which is actually NOT good for driving purposes. I'm always seeing new places that I forget to write down later. Well...my memory came back to me a bit (I know, shocker) and I took Kirsten and Drew around to my ghetto-fabulous places...complete with a few "get a room" comments from some ghetto-fabulous teenagers in the park. Ahhh...oh how I love the east-side :o)

Kirsten and Drew: I cannot wait for our Michigan wedding on the water.

WARNING: Major Hotness Ahead!

Note: Kirsten is pronounced Kier-sten...like Kie-ra!

Ashley & Alex

I had the privilege of shooting for my good friend Kevin Swan this past Saturday. I've never shot for anyone before, so I was a bit nervous on how the day would go. I must say...it was fantastic! It was like being able to teach and not do any of the lesson plans or grading! I loved it. And I really loved Alex and Ashley. I was able to hang out with the girls all morning while Geno shot the guys. I loved these girls! They made me feel like part of the group as soon as I arrived. Even Mom treated me to lunch...thanks again Debbie!
Listening to people after they would see Ashley was like having someone read from a thesaurus under the word natural beauty: breathtaking, gorgeous, beautiful, a vision, classic, a dream, lovely, stunning. And as you'll see below she IS!
I hope you guys are having an amazing time in Bora Bora!


The girls got their hair and make up done at A Do hair salon in Broad Ripple. They were awesome!




This is Ashley's sista...she is awesome!


Are you kidding me?...good genes!






I LOVE this one.


Meet Lucy. She was a big part of the day. And she smiled for us :o)






This one's for you Alex!




I'm in love with the composition of this picture.




Yes, a Kiera Classic. LOVE IT!


Meet the Ring Bearer...flying through the air.




One of Alex's favorite things in the world is the Red Velvet Elvis cupcake from The Flying Cupcake. So, during the reception, Ashley surprised Alex with an entire tower of them. Delicious.


Oh...and did I mention they also had milk shots. Could it get any better? How cute! A Big Thanks to Kay for making the day run so smoothly.

Comfort

You know when you talk to your friend, read their blog, etc and you just feel totally comfortable with them? Well, that's how I feel about Sara. We went to DePauw together and I even stayed with her lovely family in Hawaii on my way to Australia back in the day. On her blog, she writes about her daily life as a mama, wife and woman. We are SO in the same place right now and I really enjoy reading her blog and picturing my own kids her exact situations. Recently Sara wrote about having an awesome summer and what it will take for her to have it. I was totally inspired and had to share it with all the mama's that read my blog. Did I mention she is hilarious and a brilliant writer. Check it out and you'll agree.

I LOVE the idea of being spontaneous. And as much as it is possible for my life and family, I am up for it. But four children means that I have to have a plan. I can't walk out the door in 5 minutes--it takes at least 15, and that's only if we're already dressed. Unclothed=20 minutes minimum. Activities outside the house can last a maximum of 2.5 hours, before the next meal time. Unless I pack lunch, which adds another 15 minutes on to our departure time.

The heart of the battle to enjoy (versus survive) my summer are my own expectations. I now know that life with 4 kids is logistically difficult. Someone is going to scream and probably be some degree of unhappy all the time. I am okay with that. But it helps to be ready. To anticipate what does and does not work. To know limits, when to push them and when to step back. To know what can be solved with a juice box and what requires a timeout.

So here is my pep talk for Summer '09: I will be prepared! I will enjoy our moments at home and broaden the horizons of my children outside the house! I will plan ahead, and look at the weather forecast ahead of time! I will be consistent! I will potty train my last child (or cry until Mike does it...I do have a weekend away in July!)! I will have a GREAT attitude, even when they beat me up a little. I will be intentional with the time we have, because it is shockingly short. And one day I will want it back, when I forget what it sounds like to have 4 young voices yelling/crying at me. I will work HARD to give them a great summer...and also rest easy and give myself the grace to relax!
You with me, moms?

And some pictures of my own from my camera to complete the post:

Xavier pulling up his pants after I caught him peeing on the neighbors house...sorry Bryan!



Eli REALLY trying to fit in the Barbie car. Let's face it...this kid couldn't even fit into it when he was born! Bless his heart :o)

Cool Uncle Jonny giving my kids "tatoos"....and yes, they will be writing on themselves all summer. Thanks dude.


Daddy took us out to Peppy's Grill for dinner the other night. Kids get free suckers with their meals. Delicious! Yes,the diner is really that big.

Lists :o)

So I love reading other people's blogs for...inspiration, laughter, teachable moments etc. Unfortunately I don't have an extra couple of hours each day to surf the gloriousness. However, I fell in love with 2 blog posts I recently found and had to share them with all of you. The first one is a list. I like lists. Short and to the point. It made me think, but not all day. I'd love to hear what some of your ideas are too!

I AM … tired
I WANT… to have happy kids and find joy in being a mama
I HAVE … A LOT of images to edit :o)
I KEEP … way too many CW shows on my dvr
I WISH I COULD … work on an amazing piece for National Geographic in a remote part of the world
I HATE … driving next to semi trucks in the rain... and mean people
I FEAR … my kids getting sick
I HEAR … one of my kids trying to sneak into the snack closet...be right back...
I DON’T THINK … I know what I want to do when I grow up...entirely
I REGRET … not too much, but maybe not saying I love you enough
I LOVE … my kid's laughter...the full committed kind, like when they're about to pee because I'm tickling them so much
I AM NOT … tall. At all.
I DANCE … ghetto-fabulously and more when I was younger, unfortunately
I SING … well...just not American Idol well
I NEVER … eat enough green vegetables
I RARELY … go to bed early enough
I CRY WHEN I WATCH … Steel magnolias, Braveheart, While You Were Sleeping, The Notebook, Return to Me. Everytime
I AM NOT ALWAYS … a good listener...but I'm working on it
I HATE THAT … my body doesn't look like it did pre-babies, but I'm working on this too.
I’M CONFUSED ABOUT … why Heidi and Spencer are still together. Seriously?
I NEED … Josh to put me to bed at a decent hour or I'll stay up all night...no discipline!
I SHOULD … be putting all my close away right now. but I hate putting my clothes away...add that one to number 6.

And a picture to make a blog post complete: My First African Sunrise


A big thanks to one of my favorite photographers Jasmine Star for this awesome idea! More tomorrow...

Kim + Jason: Part 2

I'm back in Indy as I'm writing this...eating salt water taffy and wishing I was back by the water. We had such a wonderful time with Kim and Jason. The weather held off again, and everything was so beautiful. Here are a few more of my favorites from the day with a slideshow at the end. Enjoy!

Kim loved to pose...LOVED IT!


These girls brought it!


Love this one!






The ceremony was picture perfect on the pier.






Favorite


Jason is a total movie star!




I think Kim looks so stunning here.


These cupcakes were amazing. Every tier was a different flavor. My favorite was chocolate peanut butter. YUMMY!

Here's a slideshow of some favorites :o)  Just press the play button on the bottom left.

Kim + Jason :: South Carolina Destination Wedding

We are down here in Charleston, South Carolina for the fabulous wedding of Kim and Jason!  Josh is shooting with me this weekend, so it's a mini vaca for us too :o)  Josh's brother is in the wedding and he also knows quite a few of the friends down here supporting Kim and Jason.

Last night was the rehearsal dinner at Folly Beach.  It is SO beautiful down here.   We were threatening by a few thunderstorms that were taunting us, but alas after a 5 minute light mist the sun reappeared and it was sunset as usual.  I had fun taking pictures of everybody!  The children here must all come from a modeling agency...they are so gorgeous (more of them soon)!  Here's the first batch from last night.  I'll be putting quite a few more on my facebook page soon :o)

Kim and Jason!

This is Jason's sister and sweet niece!

Rehearsing at the pier...LOVE Kim's hat!

Are you kidding me? How sweet is this moment?!

Indy girls with attitude :o) This picture is money. Period.


Jon and Josh being awesome. No lateral dives for Josh this wedding :o)

Kim and her soccer buddies...girls after my own heart. They all played together in college.

The bridesmaids :o)

Okay...could they be any more gorgeous!?

FINALLY a New Website

I've been wanting to update my website for a while now and the time has finally arrived!!!  I have a lot of new pictures up from my latest sessions.  I also decided to separate my portraits pictures from my wedding pictures.  I'm really excited about it.  Please feel free to check it out any time :o)

www.kieraphoto.com

Rock on.

Sandy + Nick + Slideshow = Super Fun

So...I left for South Africa right after Sandy and Nick's wedding.  I posted their pictures right after the wedding, but completely spaced putting up their slideshow!  I know you two already have all of your pictures, but I think they seem even better when put to music :o)

Just click the play button on the bottom left.

       

Susan + Kent: E-Session

Where do I begin?  Susan was in my Junior High Youth Group a "few" years back, and now I'm going to be her wedding photographer in a few weeks.  AHHHHH!  I'm so blessed!  I'll elaborate more when I post their wedding.  Until then, here are some of my favorite picture from their engagement session yesterday.  I know, I know...they're super HOT!

Sabrina + Brock's Slideshow!

Hope you enjoy :o)

Just hit play at the bottom left.