Kararhea Photography Blog

February 24, 2010 // Personal / Photography / Travel

I just returned from 3 weeks in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I'd be exaggerating if I said that it was the trip that changed my life, however, a few weeks away from real life usually helps a person to put things back into perspective. I had many evenings to lay awake in bed and think, many sleepless mornings while the roosters crowed, many quiet moments on the beach. I've been contemplating some major business changes, and being away for a while and taking time to think about what my goals are and what will help me stay in this business longer and what will keep me happy while I'm doing it.

With that, I have a little announcement. There will be more changes coming in the future, but for now, just this; I will no longer be doing children's and newborn sessions. It's not that I don't love a challenge, or equally love the feeling when the photos turn out great despite the struggles to get to the end result, it's just that I want to make more room for the things I really love. I will still be doing family sessions, including family sessions with your newborns, during which I always capture a few individual shots of your children, I just won't be doing individual children or newborn sessions.

The sessions I will be focusing on now are:

Family

Graduation

Maternity

Engagement

Wedding

Back to School

and any type of "Just for Fun" session with anyone over the age of ten.

I'm excited to take on 2010 with new energy and excitement! Please contact me for pricing.

And, since a post is boring without a picture, here's a tiny sneak peak from my trip:

This super cute little girl shared her chips with me!

Our cabina on Little Corn Island, Nicaragua

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Pam:

You have all of my support Kara! Here, Here to your career in 2010!

(02.25.10 @ 11:56 AM)

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Sister, Sister

February 23, 2010 // Lifestyle

I'm back from my 3 week vacation in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. We're all moved in to our new house, my internet is now up and running, and I am all out of excuses to not get my work done! So, now it's time to get caught up on some blogging!!

I am the proud owner of three sisters. Yup, one of four girls in my family, and no brothers (my poor father!). Growing up my two older sisters were my hero's, but not exactly my friends. They were my baby sitters, my role models, and sometimes my enemy, but as a kid I wouldn't say we were close. Of course as we grew older that all changed and now I am blessed with not only three sisters, but three great friends. My relationship with my sister Kendra changed when I entered highschool and she was in grade 12. Suddenly I wasn't just her twerpy little sister, but somehow became someone she respected. She recruited me to work on the yearbook that year, as she was the editor. I partially credit that yearbook work to the beginning of my passion for photography. When she moved out after highschool I spent many weekends visiting her in her Winnipeg apartment, exploring the "big city". When I finished highschool and didn't know what to do with my life, I moved to Halifax to live with her for a year while she went to college. We spent Christmas that year just the two of us and our two foot Christmas tree. When I started spending my summers in Sioux Narrows, she came to visit often to spend time with me at the lake. I spent 6 weeks in South America in 2005 and she met me in Costa Rica at the end of my trip for a week of what we called "the beach bum tour". She moved to Toronto and I went to visit her and get a taste of real city life. We rode the subway and she made me try sushi. I bought a house in Winkler and she moved in so I could afford my mortgage when I went to school. Our lives have been constantly affected by one another in so many wonderful ways. We fight like sisters, and we love like best friends.

These days our lives lead us in opposite directions more often than not. Real life gets in the way, work is busy, we are constantly making plans and rescheduling them. I miss her constantly (as I miss my other sisters as well). We connected one gorgeous day in October for a just for fun photo session. It was so great to just hang out, not talk about all of our problems and our busy lives, but just have fun. We drove around in the country for a couple of hours exploring the gravel roads, seeing where they would take us. We had such a great time we were almost late for our date with two of our favorite men, our Dad and our nephew Tristan and an evening of trick-or-treating!

Here's what we ended up with...

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Amanda Sakundiak:

Very cool pictures. i love love love the leggings and the color that it pops.

(02.23.10 @ 12:47 AM)

Becky:

Ahh! welcome back! I have missed looking at your beautiful pictures!!

These are so awesome! Love all her wardrobe! The one of her through the window of the house is fantastic!!

(02.23.10 @ 07:40 AM)

Mandy:

Wow Kara! The pictures are beautiful! The location is awesome and Kendra looks gorgeous! Breathtaking pics!

(02.23.10 @ 11:42 AM)

Kendra:

Oh I just love these!! Thank you!!!! I had so much fun being a supermodel for a couple of hours. Thank you for the memories and thanks for making me feel so pretty and special. xo

(02.23.10 @ 11:55 AM)

kelly.:

ummmmmmmmmmmmm ..... you are absolutely GORGEOUS Kendra xoxox

(02.23.10 @ 12:16 PM)

Kelli Horner:

Kendra your such a beautiful women! Your amazing! Actually all you Bergen girls are hotties and so amazing and talented in your own ways! Kara Love, LOve, LOVe,LOVE your work!

(02.23.10 @ 12:20 PM)

Kim:

LOVE THEM ALL! Kendra you are gorgeous! Kara, you are so talented!! Two of my favorite sisters!

(02.23.10 @ 01:06 PM)

Krista:

I want to do this too!!! Kendra looks beautiful and it looks like you found some fun places to shoot. My faves are the last casual couple of sets...but I love them all.

(02.23.10 @ 08:24 PM)

Trish:

I love these sooo much! I love how you can make any place gorgeous!

(02.23.10 @ 10:52 PM)

Carmelle:

Gorgeous.

(02.26.10 @ 10:01 PM)

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Wish you were here...

January 28, 2010 // Travel

Well, I fully intended on blogging this week, but my computer had other ideas. If there's a good time for my computer to decide to quit working however, now would be it. Dwayne and I are heading off tomorrow, on our way to Nicaragua and Costa Rica for three glorious weeks. I don't plan on doing much work while I'm gone, but will be answering emails if and when I can get to a computer. Email me at kara_rhea@hotmail.com if you need to get in touch with me.

See you all at the end of February. Until then..... wish you were here!!!

(photos from our last year trip to Cuba)

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Jenelle:

HAVE SO MUCH FUN!!!

(01.29.10 @ 12:46 AM)

Kim:

have a wonderful trip!!!! I do wish I was there!

(01.29.10 @ 03:08 PM)

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Walter and Terri

January 21, 2010 // Wedding

Life is made up of milestones. We are born, we have our first birthday, we turn five and begin school, we start junior high, high school, we graduate, we go on to college, get our first job, MEET THE ONE!!!, marry "the one", buy our first house.... not always in that order. Then there's life in between the milestones. Real day to day life. The stuff that happens while we're planning everything else. When we finally do meet "the one", we know if they are right for us based on the every day, boring, routine type things. Great if my husband can bring me flowers on valentine's day, but will he fill the gas tank when it's nearly empty? Fabulous if with those flowers he brings chocolate, but even better if when he fills the gas tank he washes the windshield... maybe even the entire car.

Life in between the milestones is 95% of the journey.

At the end of November I photographed Terri and Walter's wedding. It was a gorgeous day... for November. They toughed out the chilly weather like the troopers they are, and we got some beautiful images to show for it.

Terri and Walter may be young, but they've been together long enough to truly, truly know one another. I believe 100% that they are going to make it, from one milestone to the next and through everything in between.

For a HUGE slideshow of their day (I just couldn't narrow it down, I love so many of these images!) click here! A few images in the slideshow are taken by Marcy Penner, who assisted me for the day.

Marcy found this great location for us to take photos of Terri's dress. Love it!

Terri and Walter chose to do photos before the ceremony, which I love! When couples choose to do this, we make sure to have a special moment, just the two of them (and my camera) when they see each other for the first time. It's usually pretty emotional, and I love it! These images speak to how in love Terri and Walter are...

the girls came dressed for the weather, in leg warmers and tights! So cute!

The following image is in my top 10 for sure...

If I had to pick a favorite, this one below might be it. Or the one above. Or the one below the one below. Well... who says I have to pick?!!!

For more photos of Walter & Terri, view the slideshow here.

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Jenn Wieler:

I think you have mastered perfection! These are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(01.21.10 @ 08:48 PM)

Becky:

Loooove the shots Kara!! My fave is the one right above the B&W one you say is your fav.
what a GREAT November we had this year!!

(01.21.10 @ 09:11 PM)

Krista:

Love LOVE LOVE them, Kara!! Your favorites are also my own...but I really love the bridge location as well.

(01.21.10 @ 11:21 PM)

Jen D:

i see why you had a hard time narrowing it down!!! these pics are stunning!! and great locations kara! i really like the jumping haybale pics, very fun :)

(01.21.10 @ 11:47 PM)

sonya:

kara! i think this is your best work yet! terri makes an absolutely gorgeous bride. you caught so many great moments. Love the bridge and #25. So much good stuff here!

(01.22.10 @ 07:40 AM)

Kim:

Amazing job!!! The couple is so photogenic! Love all of the locations!

(01.22.10 @ 09:20 AM)

Anna:

Oh my gosh..the lighting makes me knees jelly! Kara, these are so fab..of course!

(01.22.10 @ 09:51 AM)

Rebecca:

Gorgeous photos!!! They're such a cute couple!! I love your favorite ones, too!!!

(01.22.10 @ 06:16 PM)

tara andersen:

Could these pictures BE any better!!!??? this makes me so excited :)

(01.22.10 @ 10:59 PM)

Carmelle:

Wow! Their photos are incredible! Great work, Kara!

(01.23.10 @ 10:57 AM)

Erika:

I cant pick a favorite. So many great shots Kara. The couple is so cute together, great idea with the leg warmers!! he hee.

(01.28.10 @ 10:56 AM)

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Dean and Mandy

January 10, 2010 // Engagement

Before the holidays I traveled (yet again!) to Saskatoon for a short little visit. Yes, I had just been there for Thanksgiving to attend my niece Kenley's dedication at church, but I had a REALLY good reason for going again so soon. My friend Pam was home from Israel for Christmas, and if she was coming all that way, surely I could drive the 8 hours to Saskatoon to see her. It had been roughly 15 months since I had seen her last, and even then we had but an hour to catch up at Starbucks! I'm so glad I was able to make it out there to visit her, as well as all of my other favorite Saskatchewanites! I'm so grateful that some of my best friendships can withstand the hundreds to thousands of miles.

Speaking of friendships, while in Saskatoon, I had the opportunity to do an engagement session with Mandy and Dean. Mandy is a good friend of my sister Krista, and has been for as long as I can remember. I remember back in the days of jean jackets, side ponytails, neon, and ripped acid wash jeans, how badly I wanted to be just like them! Mandy is just as gorgeous now as she was then, minus the feathered bangs!

Dean and Mandy are getting married in Saskatoon in June. Oh how I wish I could capture their day! Turns out I've been nearly booked up for 2010 weddings since last July, so I had to settle for doing their engagement session instead.

Here's the gorgeous couple, and a few more in a short slideshow. Thanks guys for braving the cold and coming out with me on this gorgeous winter morning!

again, for the slideshow click here!

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Mandy:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE them Kara! Thanks so much!!

(01.10.10 @ 05:33 PM)

Krista:

Great Job Kara! I've been excited to see these and you did not disappoint! I think Mandy will have a hard time picking her favorites!

(01.10.10 @ 05:56 PM)

Kim:

oooh! I love them Kara! You did an awesome job! I love the one of Mandi laying on Dean's legs in front of some door. They are a cute couple. I don't remember the last time I saw Mandi, but she looks the same as she did when she was 15!! Beautiful!

(01.10.10 @ 06:31 PM)

Trish:

I love these Kara! Absolutely Beautiful!

(01.10.10 @ 09:01 PM)

tara:

Oh so super cute :) love them all... especially the 4th from the bottom! Excellent work Kara!

(01.10.10 @ 09:19 PM)

Pam:

Perfection!!! As always:) Love them!

(01.10.10 @ 09:50 PM)

Tina:

Great pics Kara!! Especially love the one where they're crouching in the wooded area... so romantic!

(01.11.10 @ 08:32 AM)

Becky:

Kara these are awesome! Love all the locations! And your B&W processing is stellar!!

(01.11.10 @ 03:07 PM)

Jenn :

Great pictures Kara! I love all of them! :)

(01.12.10 @ 09:10 AM)

Paula:

such a small wonderful world. I am a big fan of Sarah Rhoads and found you through her blog (you do amazing work by the way!!), then to find out you are a fellow Canadian (I live in Sask.) then to find Mandy on your blog. She is a great friend of one of my friends, Gina. Mandy actually got me going to my awesome dentist where she was a dental hygienist. Mandy is such a sweetheart and she looks so happy. You captured them beautifully!

(01.26.10 @ 10:34 PM)

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