Results tagged “Pembina Valley Photographer” from Kararhea Photography Blog

March 1, 2010 // Engagement

You may all recognize Sonya from my blog, she's graced these pages on three separate occasions, here, here, and here. She is Dwayne's cousins daughter, and I am lucky to also call her my friend. John and Sonya began dating shortly before Dwayne and I did, about five years ago. Sonya's been planning her wedding like every girl does, long before there was any proposal. As my 2010 wedding season continued to get busier and busier, Sonya and I impatiently waited for John to propose. She just knew it must be coming soon!!! I didn't want to miss this wedding, wether I was photographing it or there as a guest, I would have been SO disappointed if I couldn't attend. The call came from Sonya's mom Irene one day shortly after New Years. Sonya was ENGAGED!!!! ...and let the planning begin! I am so honored they have chosen me to be their wedding photographer!

What can I say?!?!? Yesterday Sonya, John and I went out to capture their engagement photos. We lucked out, to say the least, and were blessed with gorgeous frosty trees, mild temperatures, and a bright sunny day. We had such a fun time, I just can't wait to photograph this gorgeous couple on their wedding day!

Click here for the slideshow!!!

In case you missed it, the slideshow is here.

13 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

Becky:

Kara these are so fantastic!! In love with that last shot!! looks like you guys had a blast!
Congrats John and Sonya!!

(03.02.10 @ 09:11 AM)

caroline thissen:

these pictures are gorgeous. i swear you get more and more talented. i hate that i'm in calgary, and have such a hard time booking a shoot with you. it is my hope for this summer. thanks for sharing these pics. although i don't normally comment on your blog... i look forward to seeing your new pictures all the time. great job kara.

(03.02.10 @ 09:56 AM)

sonya:

i love Love LOVE them all! you did such a stellar job capturing some really great moments. what a fun day we had! :)

(03.02.10 @ 10:26 AM)

Christine:

These pictures look great Kara!! Once again, great job!

(03.02.10 @ 11:29 AM)

Danielle:

Oh my gosh- these are INSANE!!! Killer shots! The steps shot is hilarious!

(03.02.10 @ 12:35 PM)

Krista:

Can't pick a favorite, Kara. You did a great job. Sonya has the most beautiful smile! :)

(03.02.10 @ 01:27 PM)

Carmelle:

These are AWESOME!

(03.02.10 @ 02:14 PM)

KIM:

Wow! Kara, these are great! I love the fourth one from the top! My favorite, but they are all great. Sonya and John make a great looking couple! Looks like a fun day!

(03.02.10 @ 03:23 PM)

Russ Dueck:

someone said "you keep getting better" and they are absolutely right! these are outstanding! great job Kara!!

(03.02.10 @ 10:53 PM)

Alison Wolfe:

Absolutely fantabulous! I love the picture in the slideshow with the one big tree in the background. Johnya - you guys are awesome ;)

(03.03.10 @ 01:23 PM)

Kristel Bueckert:

Beautiful work Kara! I love the emotions you captured!

(03.04.10 @ 11:36 AM)

laurie:

kara... these are seriously amazing!! love the fun, loving feeling in them. (and the camper is pretty cool too!!)

(03.06.10 @ 11:50 PM)

marcy Penner:

stunning! love them kara!

(04.26.10 @ 11:57 AM)

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: John and Sonya . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://kararheaphotography.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/141

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...

10 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

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)

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Sister, Sister . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://kararheaphotography.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/136

Finding a Balance

November 26, 2009 // Family

I'm sure you are all just as sick of it as I am. Sick of me talking about "editing, editing, editing" and being so busy I can hardly take it. This year has been such a learning curve for me. It's the first year I've been so busy I've been turning down work left, right, and center. Along with turning down work though, have been the people that convince me to take on the job even though I've already said I don't have time. Shower me with compliments and I can't turn you down! In the process, however, this has left me incredibly behind! Taking on "just one more" portrait session means a couple of hours for the session, double that for editing, another hour or so for blogging.... and there we go, I'm a day behind. Do that a few times... well, you get the picture.

I would thank all of you who have waited patiently (and not so patiently) while I catch up. For the most part I've been able to deliver my product within the quoted time limit, but that hasn't always been possible. I am learning for next year!

A part of getting behind has also been my struggle to find balance in my life. It was so hard for me all summer turning down invites to the beach with my Mom, Sister, and niece and nephew. Turning down walks for ice cream with my husband, and camping trips. Turning down a trip to Saskatchewan to see a friend who lives overseas. This fall I have tried to make up for it by saying yes more often. My client's are important, but so is my family. I started to worry that once I was finally caught up with my work, there would be nobody around to live my life with! I am slowly learning to find some balance, a work in progress to say the least!

On to other things... This post would be boring without photos, so here's some images I just finished of Dorothy and Leighton and their beautiful little girl Kadia. I went to MCI with Dorothy in grade 12 and it was so nice to reconnect with her. Leighton grew up here in Winkler, and we also found another connection when we realized that he has relatives in Rosthern, Sask where I lived as a child. It's such a small world.

This little family is just the cutest! Enjoy!!!

4 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

sonya:

gorgeous kara! i recognize the old shop. very nice! :)

(11.27.09 @ 07:52 AM)

Kim :

Kara! We will always love you, even if you are busy!! But, I do miss spending time with you too!! You are a very special and important person in my life and I am sooo proud of you for starting your own business and doing what you love!!! You are an awesome photographer. And these pictures show that so much! Great job, and what a cute family. That little girl has some awesome cheeks!!

(11.27.09 @ 11:29 AM)

Gabrielle Touchette:

What an adorable family! I love your editing. :) worth the time it takes!

(11.27.09 @ 05:26 PM)

Leala:

Great pictures, as always! What a beautiful baby girl! I love the one wear she sitting in the grass laughing and the one above it that shows her big baby blue eyes.

(11.29.09 @ 11:18 PM)

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Finding a Balance . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://kararheaphotography.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/126

Pushing Forward

October 30, 2009 // Engagement / Photography

I've never been one of those people that can read a "how to" book and then go build a house. For as long as I can remember, I've needed to learn hands on. I excelled at math in school, but still needed each new thing explained to me by the teacher, and then I got it. Photography hasn't been any different for me. It is because of this that I decided to go to school, spending ridiculous amounts of money on things some people can teach themselves. It is also because of this that I went to Seattle. Sure school taught me a lot, but in this ever changing industry I need to continue to push myself to learn new things and keep up!

I heard about Sarah Rhoads Photography through Into The Darkroom, who designed my blog. They were photographers of the month one month and I've been following them ever since. They are husband and wife team, Chris and Sarah Rhoads, of Seattle. I was so drawn to both their images and the things they had to say. Their style is so unique and all their own. As I feel I am still trying to define myself, they seemed like the perfect people to learn from.

In September I was fortunate enough to connect with them in Seattle. I booked them for a full day mentor session. Those 8+ hours flew by. We chatted about everything under the sun, from branding, editing, and pricing to their upcoming trip to Thailand. I was excited to talk about that with them, as I've been there a couple of times and always like to share my tips on what to see and where to go! Chris and Sarah are so approachable and were so open and honest with me about what works for them and how I can improve.

A big part of our day was a photo session at my hotel, The Ace Seattle. What a place! I was so excited to stay here, I've seen this hotel in a few photo sessions and loved it! It was perfect for our shoot. The shoot was styled by Tiffany Lowry, and the gorgeous couple are Emma and Bubba, who just happened to recently get engaged so it was a perfect fit. Their engagement story is as cute as they are too!

The credit for the shoot goes to all of them. Sarah and Chris are crazy talented at what they do. Tiffany did an amazing job as well with making these two even more beautiful, and choosing their wardrobes and helping to create this shoot. Emma and Bubba were completely adorable and so easy to work with.

I am so thankful for this opportunity. It has pushed me to be better and I will continue to seek new ways to be good at what I do.

For Sarah and Chris's killer images, go Here.

Sarah also captured a few shots of me, they are here.

For the most part I chose to watch them work and take mental notes and shoot from the sidelines. Here's my take on the day. I had a super hard time narrowing it down to even this many, they're all just so cute! Sorry for such a huge blog post, I'm just still so excited!

17 Comments Add a Comment Send To Friend

juanita Malcolm:

k WOW!!!! cutie couple - what a FUN FUN shoot!!!.....and yay for you - you got to spend time with sarah....etc.....
that rocks kara!!! i know you'll keep pushing to be amazing.....even tho to me it seems your there!!!
thanks also, for your incredible words on our blog......yu are so kind!! can't wait to meet up again in s'toon.....hope it's soon!! keep up ALL the wicked stuff!!!!

(10.30.09 @ 05:11 PM)

Sarah Rhoads:

kara sister! you rock! it was soo much fun making magic with you on this shoot! I feel blessed to have met you

(10.30.09 @ 05:12 PM)

Jenelle:

I love the passion you have for your work, and it definatly shows in what you do..love it!!!

(10.30.09 @ 05:25 PM)

Briony:

these are fab! what a fun mentoring session :)

(10.30.09 @ 05:28 PM)

Emma Robertson:

LOVELY!!!!!! Man, this day has been so fabulous getting to see what you and Sarah got at the shoot :) It was AMAZINGLY awesome getting to meet you and be apart of your mentor session!

(10.30.09 @ 06:32 PM)

sonya:

love #19. looks old hollywood! you rock kara!

(10.30.09 @ 06:33 PM)

Kim Driedger:

Oh My Gosh!!!! These are awesome, Kara!! I love them ALL! You are amazing. The couple is so adorable! I wish I had style!

(10.30.09 @ 07:53 PM)

Erika:

KARA!!!! this shoot looks like so much fun!! What a great day this must have been for you. what talent!

(10.30.09 @ 07:53 PM)

Rebecca:

These are so so so fabulous!!! I love them all, I love the energy of all the photos and that couple is so incredibly adorable, and your processing looks amazing, too!! I'm so excited for you both for the mentoring session which I'm sure you learned so so so much from, and also for getting these amazing photos!!!

(10.31.09 @ 12:04 AM)

Ayla:

Your such an inspiration... Seriously! I admire your work so much! You have a true talent!

(10.31.09 @ 02:25 AM)

Anna:

Kara!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!! You've outdone yourself this time, Girl! What a fun shoot. Fun couple. Fun location. Awesome! Love it!

(10.31.09 @ 09:39 AM)

Trish:

oh my gosh!! Amazing!! That is all I can say!

(10.31.09 @ 11:30 PM)

russ dueck:

i love this whole shoot! looks like it was a lot of fun! awesome job!

(11.01.09 @ 01:48 PM)

Julia :

I snuck over here through Sarah's blog. This mentoring session looks like play more than work.. what a great investment in your work. Your picture turned out great, by the way.

(11.02.09 @ 01:44 PM)

Kendra:

These are soooooooooooo fun!! You are super talented, my sister!!

(11.02.09 @ 04:25 PM)

Amy:

Holy Crap Kara!!! These are totally awesome!!! They look like they belong in a magazine!!! FANTASIC!!

(11.10.09 @ 04:43 PM)

Lucy:

I love these pics sooooooo fun!!!

(03.29.10 @ 11:06 PM)

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Pushing Forward . TrackBack URL for this entry: http://kararheaphotography.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/120