Father's Day 2011

Fathers - Defining a father has been a great topic of debate for years. Some people say the father must be the individual whose DNA is printed in our profiles. Some people say the father is the man who raised you, gave you life lessons and shared all your dreams and visions, heartbreaks and failures; and that man transcends to “Daddy”. Not to fire up this crazy debate because I believe in the latter. I believe that everyone has a father, sometimes they are not the biological father, however they are one of the most important individuals in our lives. Sometimes our “Daddy” is taken away and we don’t have him here with us. Sometimes he is our biggest fan and at other times he is our hero. Dads wear a million hats in our lives. We all have stories of our childhood with our dads.


To Honor your father this Father’s Day, what better gift than to spend some time and share some memories. Even consider making new memories if you can.

Katherine Payne Photography will be offering mini sessions for Father’s Day. We all know Dads don’t always like to be “super models” so until June 30th, I am scheduling mini sessions for $75.00 and you will receive either one 8X12 finished print or one small resolution webshare image. The mini session will take about 30 minutes. We have longer days so we can easily manage your session in the early evening before the sun sets. These sessions will go quickly so if this is something you want to add to your tribute to Dad, contact us and get on the schedule.

Sending a special Happy Father’s Day to all those Dads who are away, if they are serving our country or living in Heaven. To my Dad, thank you, even with you gone, there are so many times I find myself replaying events in my mind of your silly antics and unwavering love. We miss you and Happy Father’s Day ♥ Thanks for the memories.

Keep seeing the light

Finding Your Heart and Feeding Your Passion

Finding Your Heart and Feeding Your Passion........
As the weather was beginning to rain, I noticed this one dandelion and I immediately saw the center as a Heart, you might not see it and that's OK, but it brought me to the heart of this post and also gave me some "Me" time doing some painting.  

We find ourselves often living in a world of  "waiting for someday". I am easily caught up in this thought process and honestly it is a rough road to get off of. We are always waiting to take those overdue vacations and spending that special time with those special people in our lives. I cannot even tell you how many times I've heard, "OH, lets do that once I've ...... "(You finish the sentence).  I'm sure guilty of that, I've said it and here I sit realizing time is still passing by. You have to find out who you are, and find your heart.  Now, my medical friends will give me a bit of grief over this because we all know where our heart is, but I'm talking about our "Heart", what feeds our passion and gives us excitement and takes us sometimes to those uncomfortable places that result in amazing rewards. Just last night I was completely blown away with a PBS program on Vic Muniz and his "Waste Land" project, then I watched parts of the movie "The Bucket List".  OK, so I'm behind on the movie tracks, but the point is, what a powerful message both these films have. After watching the Bucket List I was so taken with emotion, crying and not holding back the feelings of "what are we waiting for?????", realizing we cannot wait, we must act, we must find our hearts, we must feed our passions and we must live. Vic Muniz spent nearly three years filming and photographing his project near Rio de Janeiro. Waste Land (2010) - Official Trailer Both these films touched me and frankly lead me to ramble here on this blog.... Don't know who to tell you to thank for that...LOL but thanks for reading and listening.

I would like to drive this to that uncomfortable place with you. If you have a passion, what steps do you need to take to move toward your dreams and goals.  If you have put off things waiting for "someday", make someday today. Like the dandelion, time is passing and within a very short window it is gone, live life today, even in the rain.  To quote Vic Muniz "Recycle Yourself".

I have always welcomed individuals who have a passion for photography to join me on my field trips.  I love the sharing and I learn from them nearly as much as they learn from me, no egos, no BS, just honest time to capture and share. Part of living for me is giving, and be it giving of my time, my knowledge or my images, I feel great rewards when I can give back.

In the spirit of giving, I would like to repost the deal that I am offering to benefit Marley the Mustang.  If you want to help sponsor Marley, just let me know when you schedule your session and $200 of every portrait session will be given to the wish list fund and Marley.

Here is Marley:

Keep Seeing The Light
 

Blessings

Hello Friends ~
This is going to be one of those, unusual posts from me.  So pardon the chaos that is running through my mind. Just remember I was born in the 50's, have blonde hair and I talk alot. I look back at my weekend and see so many directions, but wanted to take a moment to share, reflect and ask for prayers.
Mother's Day 2011 - Weekend Review

Spent some great time with a Mustang named Marley and Lauren.  Great Horse, amazing bond, so blessed to have these opportunities.  Please consider visiting Marley's Blog at: Marley the Mustang
Marley could use some sponsors to help keep him with Lauren after the Extreme Mustang Makeover is done, so if you have a few dollars you would consider sharing, Marley would love it, I would love it.  As a matter of fact, here's my deal on that note:  If you purchase a family session and say you want to sponsor Marley, I'll donate $200 of every Family Session to Marley and his wish list. Contact me at katherine@katherinepaynephotography.com for more information and to schedule.

Saturday, I was so blessed to spend some quality time with my family, which included the Ballet Gala for Isabelle.  OH MY, what a beautiful Ballerina she is, she was simply an angel, to quote my friend Jon, these are angels when they are on the stage and he couldn't have said it better. 

Sunday, I attended Church with my family and prepared for a special photography session.  Many of you know I am a Photographer with Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. 

Sunday evening, I was honored to meet this beautiful military family. Mom delivered her young son premature, and he is doing very well. Mom however is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. Please lift her and her family up in prayers. ♥♥  We will refer to them as the {E} Family so if you would please keep them in your daily prayers as they journey through these difficult times.
I'll end today's post with this beautiful link to Laura Story's song "Blessings"  Please take a moment, pause your day, its most touching and reaches me personally.

Blessings by Laura Story


Keep seeing the light.
♥♥♥

Think May.......... Think Memories

Happy May,
For those of you who remember May Baskets, that fun event is where you quietly took a special basket to the door of a special someone, rang the door bell and ran like the wind (like a surprise Valentine).  If that special person caught you, you got a kiss.  Run from a kiss.... must be a kid thing.... ☺  Maypoles, Beltane and other celebrations of Spring. 

The cycle of life is bringing new babies, baby chicks, baby horses, baby cows, babies, babies, and more babies. The flowers are starting to make their appearance and the gardens are all taking shape. Lawn services are ramping up blowing out sprinkler systems and trimming back the winter dead from the trees and bushes. The winter is fading away and outdoor activities are starting up. Kiddos are playing outside, riding bikes, playing soccer, running with the dogs and whatever makes them giggle and smile. 

Mothers' day is 5 short days away.  I've been busy doing that "spring cleaning" and celebrating the birth of a new grandson.  With all the exciting new activities and events going on in our lives we also have the realization and loss for our loved ones who have passed away, be it your parents, grandparents and sometimes sadly your own children.  It is easy to procrastinate getting that family portrait scheduled, waiting until the time is right, or the money is fluid, however; the cycle of life doesn't promise us time. We all don't have that expiration date on our foreheads like the milk carton on the shelf of the dairy counter. I recently received a call from a client who was so struck in their grief because they always wanted a family portrait of the entire family with the Parents, Grandparents, Brothers with their wives and children, and their own family, unfortunately tragedy struck, this client said "Life Happened" and her brother lost his life while serving in the military and now that wish for the complete family portrait died with Mark.  During our call, she asked if I could "photoshop" Mark into the picture or maybe add him somehow to make the portrait complete.  Yes, that is an option but as I reminded her that adding Mark to the picture doesn't put him in the picture, yes his image could be there but everyone in that photograph will always remember that Mark wasn't there, that it was the photographer's magic to put him in the picture. I reminded her that Mark lives in their hearts and memories and in the faces of his parents and his own children. I told her that the time is not lost, its never too late. Perhaps too late to capture the complete picture she has painted in her mind. However; think about it a step further, Mark wouldn't want the family to not gather, not get that family portrait because he is no longer here, that would be more crushing than I can even imagine.  I gave her some amazing options to not limit the session to just a "Large Group Portrait" but include individual family units with her brothers and their families, her parents, her grandparents, the kiddos and yes, her family, even with Mark missing from the image, he is alive in their faces. Proud of the sacrifice that he gave his country and family, yes we can capture images including a framed portrait of Mark in his dress blues. Yes, we want to celebrate and capture our memories, because our memories are still being made.  I lost my mother nearly a year ago and I wish I had those special family portraits too, but like my client, time just didn't allow me that luxury to capture perhaps that once in a lifetime portrait, I had painted in my mind. I have lots of images, lots of memories and a lot more being made every day. Often I think my family would like me to "STEP AWAY FROM THE CAMERA".  ☺ LOL 

We are a visual world, our memories stay strong, but sometimes fade; the details of the day drift away and what brings us back to the moment are our photographs and portraits. Like our memories, we gather and collect them over time and our families grow and loved ones pass away and the walls of our lives are like the branches on the trees.

With spring cleaning as we freshen up our homes for the summer season, I hope you consider capturing more of your memories with photographs and portraits, add those new images to your family collections.

As a professional photographic artist, I love to capture images; I would love to capture your images and help capture your memories to last a lifetime.  I am a person with a passion and if you want it to happen, just ask and there are always ways to help make it happen.  Don't think of your family portrait that you didn't capture as this image.  We have financing available and methods to help you.

It's not about the money, its about the memories.

Keep seeing the light. ♥♥

90's are GOOD....He has arrived

90's are Good ☺ 

Master Christopher made his debut on day 90 of 2011.  Which also happens to be on my father's 90th Birthday.
I released the First 90 days video of Photographic Art which if you haven't had the opportunity to view it, please take a moment and enjoy it.  Here is a link to view it in higher resolution.

The First 90 Days - Photographic Art by Katherine Payne

I would also like to thank you for all the very kind and supporting comments of my work. Please continue to enjoy as I share this year long journey with you, it touches my heart more than I can ever say.


This is my first grandson... what a little man.  He is all boy.  Often I hear people talk that babies all look alike. Well, I couldn't disagree more. I have had the great honor and privilege to meet and photograph a lot of babies and I will stand strong on my opinion that each baby has his or her own image, character and beauty.  They change so rapidly, I can see that just from Day 1 to Day 3 with Christopher in how much he has changed.   

If you haven't noticed, I have taken a different approach to my Art and Photography Business.  I love to capture images, I love to spend time with my clients, my colleagues and I love to mentor the up and coming photographers of all skill level, both in photographic skill and business coaching.  I have several long term projects in the mix and I really feel that images should speak to people.  Perhaps a silent message but none-the-less a message.  I am still available to capture weddings, portraits, special events and destination events, so feel free to contact me.  I have broadened my scope to include more travel, speaking and teaching.  I will be introducing a new area with Katherine Payne Photography, dba Katherine Payne Productions, so stay tuned for more details.

Some photographers have taken an approach to the "Beloved" style which also speaks to my heart. Each time I see images captured with this style and approach, I am impressed, they are beautiful, touching and timeless.

I am not a supporter of those photographers who bash their colleagues, or don't support the appreciation of the art of photography.  We have so many individuals who have a passion to try and when they try or reach out to us as professionals, I believe it is our job, both professionally and personally, to help support and guide them to a higher standard and success. This strengthens our industry and raises the value of the art we love and provide. I am not talking about the "dime-store" fronts with employees pushing shutters.  Although I understand the value of that product especially in this economic time, its not my preferred method of portraiture but it does give photographic memories to families.  I must also admit there are some images I've seen posted as "professional" and I'm not sure which profession they are talking about. It reminds me a lot of the Disc Camera that was introduced back in 1982 by Kodak.  If you've not seen such a item, here are a couple images to help introduce or remind you.

These cameras took "Snap-Shots" and the the small size made it possible to have a camera with you in your pocket for special events you might have during the day.  It was never intended to replace professional images. I honestly think it was one of those movements to get people to start "WANTING" pictures again.  The Brownie Camera was found in many if not most homes to capture those birthday parties, and holiday snap-shots dating back to 1900.

We've come a long way... Our Phones have cameras, and believe me, I've seen a lot of pretty cool pics captured with the iPhone.  With that said, the world of professional photography has evolved and if you love photography, love images and love to share. You're at the right place.  The opportunities are amazing.

I'll close with this last comment.  Find what moves you and move.... If it is flowers, then embrace the flowers, if it is clouds, reach for the clouds.  Don't be shy if you need or want some help and advice.  It is OUR job to help you.  I once heard the road to greatness is to surround yourself with the great.  Come join us.

Keep Seeing The Light.
XO

The First 90 Days

Where did the first 90 days of 2011 go.  I'm excited to share my video of "The First 90 Days" the 365-2011 Photographic Art Project.  I hope you enjoy seeing what I saw, my photographic art.  I'd like to dedicate this video to my Mother, I hope she would be proud of me, to my Father, Happy 90th Birthday (we miss you) and to my Daughter who has blessed me more times than I can ever mention. 

This year I have many goals to reach.  I am excited to step into the next 90 days and every day after that. 

The photo safari's and field trips are never ending, so if you want to join me, please drop me a note and lets make a plan. 

Next up is the birth of my grandson. 

Keep seeing the light.

All Things Spring

I'm sharing my beautiful granddaughters as I announce All Things Spring, Secrets, Smiles and Smooches (Kisses) and Savings.

What do you think about when you think spring? I think about the beautiful flowers poking up making their debut, preparing for a season. I think about the new grandbaby I'm going to meet soon. I think about all the outdoor times I will be sharing with my girls and all the fun trips, daytrips and long trips I'll be sharing with others.

The lesson for the day will be about the Vernal Equinox. Which on Sunday, March 20th at 4:21pm, Pacific time heralds the beginning of the spring season for the Earth's northern hemisphere. At the instant of vernal equinox, the sun lies in the plane of Earth's equator. As a consequence, days and nights are of equal length (12 hours each) everywhere on our planet. Another consequence is that the sun rises due east along the horizon and sets due west. During the next three months, as the sun shines more and more directly on our hemisphere, daylight hours will lengthen and the rise and set positions of the sun will gradually shift toward the northeast and northwest, respectively.

What better time to start thinking about NEW things, like new babies, new homes, new relationships, Weddings and new wall portraits. I certainly have. Being a photographer, I'm no different, I need new images on my walls, showing all the growth and changes my family has made.

I like to think of our young kiddos and their growth spurts which take us by surprise, or at least it has me. All of a sudden, as an example, my youngest granddaughter got out of the bath not so long ago here at my home and I went to get her robe. OK, so this wasn't something I grabbed everyday or each time I saw her but when I attempted to put it on her it was the funniest thing you would have seen, not only had she more than out grown this robe, it was by 'a lot' which made me step back and notice, these are not babies, they are little girls. We have tons of conversations, my girls and Nana; stories of princesses, princes, castles and knights. I experienced the same thing with ballet slippers and my oldest granddaughter. I could have banked that the slippers I just got were going to fit for a while, no actually not at all, so off to the Boulder ballet store, to fetch a new larger pair. Now, I'm thinking maybe I needed to get an even larger pair... So with that said, take a moment, think about those images hanging on your wall, are they showing you the past or do they represent your present. If your answer is the past, then it's time to give a call and schedule your family portraits. Have them hanging when you have your summer gatherings with friends and family.

Keeping this post on the shorter side, I'll close for now and remind everyone to take some time, look around your house, revisit your wall portraits and continue to write your stories with images. I'll be anxious to share my grandson once he arrives.

Think Spring, watch for that full moon and keep seeing the light.

Time and Timing

Here we are the last week before we SPRING ahead. Next Sunday, March 13, 2011 we all set our clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time. For me it is like a waking bear after a long winter's nap.

Daylight Saving Time (or summertime as it is called in many countries) is a way of getting more light out of the day by advancing clocks by one hour during the summer. During Daylight Saving Time, the sun appears to rise one hour later in the morning, when people are usually asleep anyway, and sets one hour later in the evening, seeming to stretch the day longer.

This is an exciting time; it gives me, as a photographer, more hours to capture the beautiful images around me in natural light. From early morning sunrises to amazing sunsets, the availability of that extra hour has always made an impact on my personal schedule.

Lots of photographers have already started their 2012 Senior Programs, but I like to have my seniors be seniors when I capture these portraits. It sounds a little strange, I know, but like all our young children, our high school students also mature and change a lot during the end of their junior year and the summer before their senior year of school. Not to mention, how do you do a "Trash The Dress" session of your Prom Dress if you've not attended it yet? Often these are the last portraits captured of these young adults until they are engaged, married or have children, so perhaps, since I'm talking about time, timing is important. If you are one of the 2012 Seniors and have already gotten your images captured, I'll make a deal for you. Give us a call and I will give you your Senior Portfolio Session for free. There is a catch; you have to bring me and show me your already captured images and the ordering receipt which validates that your session has already been captured. If you are a senior rep of one of my colleagues, I'm sorry but you are not eligible for this free session as I believe my colleagues have already given you a pretty sweet deal and I respect their Senior Marketing Campaigns. However; if you still would like images by Katherine Payne Photography, I'll honor a 50% discount on your private session with me. If you aren't sure if you qualify for this deal or you don't know the ins and outs of Senior Adventures with Katherine Payne Photography, give a call and we can talk about it, I'll answer all your questions and get you scheduled.

Keeping this post short because if you know me, you know I love to capture images and that is where I'm off to. Leave me a message, send me a text, or shoot me an e-mail. I'm excited to hear from you.

Keep seeing the light and now looking forward to more of it. ☺

What's Next

What's Next..........

So we are closing in on the end of February having two of the major Professional Photography Conferences done for the year, celebrating 20 years of marriage and eagerly awaiting the birth of my third grandchild and first grandson.

I've asked the question what's next? I like to think the sky is the limit, but let's be honest, there is no limit in the sky so every day and every turn in the road brings new adventures and opportunities.

We have Spring on the way with the excitement of Easter and Mothers' Day as well as many other special upcoming events. So even if it feels like it is down the road, remember the road isn't that long.

I would encourage you to pick up your calendar and schedule those special events, update your walls with new family portraits, consider throwing that celebration with friends and family and don't forget to capture those memories, you only experience each day, once.

Embrace every day, know the day is a gift and special no matter what it brings.

Keep seeing the light.

Celebrating 20 Years ~ One Day Only Reward ~

Celebrating 20 Years today, February 23rd. I am offering a never before one day only reward.

Like these old trees spending their life together forever enjoying beautiful Colorado, hand in hand.

Schedule your special personal portrait session for 20$, today only in honor of my 20th Wedding Anniversary, I am giving your session to you for only $20.* Some Restrictions apply, contact me for details.

If you want to take advantage of this special reward, get on the horn, drop an e-mail, PM or use contact page on the website: http://www.katherinepaynephotography.com/ or leave a voice mail with contact information. As long as I receive your request today, February 23, 2011 (until 11:59pm), I will honor the Twenty-Dollar session fee for your personal session.

I am not available to take your calls personally today, because I am planning to spend the evening with my husband since it is our Anniversary ♥, however, every call and every message will be returned starting on Thursday 2/24.

*Not available for Weddings or Super Senior Sessions and time and location restrictions apply.

All sessions are by reservation only and session fee is due on the session date.

Have a wonderful day helping me celebrate my anniversary by giving yourself this special reward.

Keep Seeing The Light.

Forever...Passion.....and Never

I was thinking the other day about my BFF; you know my "Best Friend Forever..." Well I got to thinking more and more about it and thought wow Forever is a lot like Passion. The more I thought about it the wider and broader my thoughts became so I thought I would share.

As a child we are forever wanting, needing and desiring, this sounds a lot like passion. As young adults, we forever wish for, thrive to achieve, and dream, and again sounds a lot like passion. As parents we forever love and cherish and protect, this is absolute passion. As partners we forever promise and plan. As grandparents we forever long for more time and as senior citizens we forever look back at our lives at where we have been and how long we have before we leave and where we are yet to go. Everyone can come up with something that defines Forever and Passion. This is not by any stretch a complete list or exact definition of forever but you should be able to get the idea of how forever does have elements of passion.

Forever can be a friendship, a favorite sweet treat, a memory, a moment or feeling and often we freeze those forever moments in photographs, music, literature and more.

Thoughts that come to mind are:

"I will love you forever", "this has been my favorite place forever"; "I've wanted to come here forever"; "I will remember you forever"; "I have loved dark chocolate forever': "That has been my favorite song forever"; "This will be my best day, forever".

Passion can be a feeling, often defined as a physical interpretation between two people. I see passion in people, in their actions, in their worlds and careers, and in their dreams. I see passion in the compassion that I witness from strangers reaching out to help someone or something. Just mentioning Mother Teresa's name, you know passion and compassion.

Thoughts that come to mind are:

"I have a passion for horses"; "I have a passion for cooking"; "I have a passion for teaching"; "I have a passion for travel"; "I have a passion for friendship"; "I have a passion to help people".

Now if you go the other direction on this philosophical journey with me, Never would be the opposite of Forever. However with as close as Forever is to Passion, Never is also close to Passion. The act of Never has been the corner stone of many passions.

Thoughts that come to mind are:

"I will never let that happen again"; "I never want to feel this way again"; "I have never had such a bad day"; "Never will I work at a place like that again"; "Never look back"; "Never give up"; "Never stop believing, dreaming and wishing".

So as I've rambled about these three words, some defining points to them I want to charge you all with identifying how you see Forever, Passion and Never and feel free to drop me a line and let me know how close or how far we might be on this topic. I like to say if you want it, you must make a plan and go after it, if it cannot be reached, let it be because it was never meant to be, not because you never tried to reach it.

Feed your passion, reach for your stars, enjoy your BFF and keep seeing the light.

Quote from Earl Riney - "The stars are constantly shining, but often we do not see them until the dark hours"

The Sun Always Shines On The Other Side Of The Clouds

Katherine Payne Photography, Photography Artist, Portrait Artist, Destination Wedding and Event Photographic Artist, Wedding Photographer, Senior Portrait Artist, Maternity and New Born Photographer, Children's and Baby Photographic Artist, Pet Photographer, Serving Colorado, and around the world.

Good Saturday Morning and how exciting it is here in Colorado as we are having a little warm up from the subzero temps we have been living with. I hope you are all enjoying this weekend as we approach Valentine's Day on Monday, if you don't have a Valentine, be my Valentine, there is always room for more. :)

I love the quote: "The Sun Always Shines On The Other Side Of The Clouds". It resonates that in fact even when we think things are the darkest and gloomiest, the sun is still there and will return. I've written about feeding your passion, whatever that passion is, if you like to cook, experience new recipes and create new exciting dishes and treats. If you like to write, start that project that will one day blossom into your book, your novel. If you like photography, get involved in your passion of photography, I have been doing pretty good keeping up with my 365-2011 project, posting an image created by me every day so I can share what I see in my world and adventures. The difficulty comes when I don't know which images to share and then we have the ultimate OH MY moment of how to post it so people can enjoy it and still protect the copyright of my work.....I'm still working on this particular factor and with the help and assistance of the legal team and other resources. I'll continue to share with everyone my 365 project unless I am directed differently by the greater legal powers, but even if I stop posting them, I'll still be creating them for a future passion project.

While out a couple weeks ago, I again came upon some barbed wire, this is not the first experience I've had with barbed wire, I actually had my very first "Experience" with the pokey painful stuff when I was a kid and got caught into it when running through a field, I've got the scars to show for that one, I do understand why the stuff is effective. However this particular piece of barbed wire was along the roadway overlooking a beautiful valley with dramatic foothills and it wasn't until I continued my hike that I found it was also the final resting spot for many deer, elk and animals who were killed by the cars and trucks on this highway. With total respect to the earth and this special place, I found myself reflecting on a multitude of emotions.

So you might be asking, barbed wire? Really? Well let me share a thought. As I travel along the paths and roads, I often stop the car, change the path, drive a different direction, and start hiking up a hill, or down a ravine because of something that catches my eye. Many times, I find myself discovering something different and something deeper and believe there is always something to be appreciated and learned. You might say you're going NOWHERE but really take that and read NOW HERE, Life is like barbed wire, now here, appreciate the beauty of your life now and here, share the moments, extend the kindness, allow yourself to love yourself. There are twists and turns, smooth edges and sharp edges, the wire is strong, weather resistant and dependable to the purpose and use. Everything has a purpose; defining yours may be tough, at first you may not know where you are going or what you'll be doing but the key is going and doing, growing and giving. Appreciate the gifts that even in silence are shared and given.

I'll end this post with a simple request... NOW HERE, take your time, do one thing not nothing to reach for or step toward your passion. Everyday is a gift, there is no guarantee there will be another so embrace yourself.

PS - Happy Valentine's Day to all my Valentine's out there. (MUAHHHH)

Keep seeing the light.♥

Some Sundays Are Extra Special

Good Morning and Happy Sunday.

I have returned from an excellent trip to San Antonio Texas for Imaging USA sponsored by PPA (Professional Photographers of America). I last wrote about feeding your passion and my trip to San Antonio was one of those acts to feed my passion. Everything fell right into place, Marie a friend and colleague of mine contacted me about the conference and ultimately it flourished into a wonderful road trip down to San Antonio and back with such fun and awesome opportunities to capture images. We had no expectations other than get to Texas, attend the tradeshow, and capture some images along the way. Adding to our trip were some funny moments, some not so funny moments and a few adventures (a perfect reflection of my world and how sweet it is to share those moments with someone). Thanks Marie.... You are an awesome traveling buddy and I'm excited to see where the next one takes us. I am still not able to talk about that Safari without laughing out loud and tears.

I'll be sharing a few images on Facebook and add an image or two to the 365_2011 Project so stay tuned.

I woke this morning to a very touching note from a family I served over a year ago. To share, I was called to the Children's Hospital that day for a NILMDTS Session for a beautiful baby boy who was on support and not expected to survive. I captured beautiful images of this little man with his parents. I left the hospital praying for the family, for peace and comfort. I recall this particular family well because when I finished the images, I had sent notes to confirm the address however; didn't hear back so I started calling the phone numbers I had to make contact so I could get their finished discs to them. I left a message on their cell phone and received a call back to find they were still at the Children's Hospital with this little man. I was stunned and surprised that this little man, now nearly three weeks since I captured his images was not only still alive but now looking to going home to be with his brothers and sisters. What a blessing. Along with this touching note of thanks was a beautiful image of this little man today, his smiling eyes lifted my heart. Yes, this little man has many struggles ahead, but his family has patience, faith and love.

It is not too late to capture that special Valentine Session; we have two full weeks to capture and still allow for Valentine's Day Delivery with that Special Gift. February 5th is the final day to order your Valentine Prints and receive the special gift. Prints ordered after February 5th, cannot be promised for Valentine's Day, February 14th ♥

Call/Text/E-Mail to schedule your personal session. If you would prefer an intimate couples session to be captured with your Valentine, we have a beautiful gift certificate that you can present to your Valentine this Valentine's Day so options are endless. Now is the time to capture your memories in Portraits to last a lifetime.

Keep Seeing the Light,

Katherine

Take Time To Feed Your Passion

We have all heard the saying "Take time to smell the flowers" feeding your passion can be seen this very same way as well. First before you can feed your passion, you have to identify and find your passion. Sometimes the road may appear narrow, beaten or in some cases nonexistent. Do not mistake this narrow path as a dead end; it's sometimes only the beginning.

Everyone has something they are passionate about. I've met people who are passionate about Love, people who are passionate about Dance, people who are passionate about Animals, people who are passionate about Art, and people who are passionate about Photography just to name a few. A common misconception is "there is no room for my passion". Because someone has seen the passion of others they feel their own personal passion has no place, well this is just not correct and that is one of the first thoughts you must give up before you can move forward. We may touch on what we do with the product of our passion at a later date but know this: having passion and feeding passion is personal and is something you own, it does not warrant critique, criticism or jealousy from others, it belongs to you.

This year I am making a point to feed my passion and I have suggested the same to many people. You do not have to be part of a special club or have the most expensive tools to feed your passion. You don't have to be perfect to reach out for your passion. You do have to have the determination to do something about unlocking your passion and the willingness to do something with it, to feed it. It is one thing to say you love music and are passionate about music, now identify what about music you are passionate about; is it that you love to sing, or maybe even love to write songs, or you might just enjoy listening to music.

For some this is old news, take forward motion toward your passion. Just saying you have it doesn't keep it alive. If you want to dance, identify what you like about dance, get up and do it. Sometimes this means enrolling in a dance class, attending a workshop, finding a teacher or mentor, going to the ballet.

I have a few simple suggestions that I will share regarding forward motion, at the end of each day, answer these questions:

1. What did I do that addressed my passion? This could be anything from the grandest gesture to the tiniest details...a kind word, taking time to gather information, a phone call, starting a to-do list, taking a photograph.

Now once you've come up with at least five things, move to number 2.

2. What did I give to others today that benefitted them? (Yes giving back feeds your passion to move forward).

Now come up with five things here and go to number 3.

3. What difficulties did I cause others today?

Wow you might say, the beauty of this question is that it requires you to step back from your own viewpoint and see the world from another's perspective. Do not just look for mistakes you may have made, instead, think about the impact you had on others today. In a perfect world you would not have caused difficulties for others but we all know we do not live in a perfect world so as crazy as this last question may appear, answer it honestly to yourself and allow for forward motion.

Do this daily and you will find the road to your personal passion becoming much clearer and fed. All artists need continual growth to feed those things they aspire to be better at. You cannot buy the passion; you must physically take forward motion toward your passion. Sometimes things will appear to slow you down but do not give up, so you are not moving as fast as you had hoped to but you are in fact moving forward and feeding your passion.

I hope this post answers perhaps one question of what to do next as we feed our passion in 2011 together.

I'll be attending Imaging USA in San Antonio Texas, feeding some of my passion.

Keep Seeing The Light♥

Katherine Payne Photography joins Thirst Relief

Katherine Payne Photography has joined the Thirst Relief Efforts. This post is dedicated to the upcoming Mentor Auction which goes live on Monday, 1/10/2011. Please read the information and consider supporting. THIRST RELIEF MISSION

Our mission is to overcome death and disease resulting from the consumption of contaminated water by providing safe, clean drinking water to those in need around the world.

Vision

Our vision is simple yet profound - to save lives and change the world.

Thirst Relief International is a water development organization working to improve access to safe water in nine countries worldwide. Founded in 2005, Thirst Relief works with its implementing partners to launch and sustain water projects in impoverished rural areas and urban slum communities. By providing infrastructure development, training, and financial and technical resources to our partners, we are helping thousands of people each year improve their health through safe drinking water. Without Thirst relief's support, and the generosity of our donors, many of these water projects would never come into being.

The Worldwide Water Crisis

In this day and age, the statistics are seemingly unbelievable. 1.1 billion People lack access to clean drinking water, and nearly 2.5 million people die each year due to waterborne-related disease (90% of which are children under the age of 5). As a result, the World Hunger Organization (WHO) has declared a worldwide water crisis among the world's poorest people. Further, the UN has declared 2005-2015 Water for Life: International Decade for Action.

Each week, due to easily preventable causes, diarrheal disease claims the lives of 30,000 people, most of them young children. This is a silent humanitarian crisis that thwarts progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs). The consequences of our collective failure to tackle this problem are the dimmed prospects for the billions of people locked in a cycle of poverty and disease.

HIV/AIDS and Clean Drinking Water

The lack of clean drinking water is at the root of the African HIV/AIDS pandemic. Children and adults living with HIV/AIDS require clean drinking water to survive. Waterborne illness, considered normally mild in healthy adults, becomes an incurable death sentence for those affected by HIV/AIDS. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, millions of people lack access to the basic necessity of clean drinking water. In this same region, some 25 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. The result - over 2 million children and adults die of HIV/AIDS annually in sub-Saharan Africa alone.

Integral to this horrible cycle, sickness and disease resulting from the consumption of contaminated drinking water destroy the strength and development of African families and communities. This leads to extreme poverty, lack of education, tremendous inequities, and greater illnesses, creating conditions ripe for the continued spread of HIV/AIDS. Caught in this downward spiral, it becomes difficult, and most cases impossible, for individuals to progress out of their terrible plight.

The Power of Prevention

One of our Thirst Relief partners, who is an emergency/trauma center doctor turned medical missionary, attended a tropical medicine seminar. He was astonished to learn the following - over one hundred medical practitioners agreed that three ongoing medical clinics a day, in any given tropical region in the world, wouldn't have as much impact on addressing a community's health as simply addressing their need for clean drinking water.

By providing a source of clean, safe drinking water to those in need, we are preventing waterborne diseases and circumventing the need to treat it. For those without access to doctors and antibiotics, this prevention is literally live saving.

Katherine Payne and Katherine Payne Photography is proud to be part of this effort. Stay tuned for more details as we approach the unveiling of the 2011 Thirst Relief Mentor Auction on Monday, 1/10/2011.