KORI + JP MARRIED, BELLA VISTA IN STEAMBOAT
DENVER WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, SARAH + ANDREW, MARRIED! HUDSON GARDENS WEDDING
LAUREN + BRANDON, ENGAGED! DOWNTOWN URBAN ENGAGEMENT SESSION
HOLLY + ROB, ENGAGED – COORS FIELD ENGAGEMENT SESSION, LODO

Archive for July, 2009

FRIDAY IS NOW – FLAVORFUL FRIDAYS ON THE BLOG!!

So, a few weeks ago, I mentioned how I was going to start sharing some FAQS on the blog, information, or more personal stuff.  After thinking long and hard, I thought Friday’s would be a good day for this!  And, you know I am going to bring the flavor!  Stay tuned on Fridays for this special blog edition :)

This week: Follow your dreams no matter what the cost!

In high school, I was on the yearbook staff and took an instant liking to photography.  I always did photography for fun, but never really gave a second thought to it.  I was sure I was going to be a Federal Law Enforcement agent.  When we moved to CO, I pursued that avenue, and even began testing for my dream position with a law enforcement agency.  I was getting my Master’s Degree and working for a super respectable company!  In the mean time, I became so inspired by the scenery here … and my business started blossoming.  I realized that I may be able to do something that I loved every day and it would NEVER feel like work. I had friends and family that were asking me to take their pictures … and I loved this so much.  I decided that there was a business in Photography, and I could do it!  I would find any way possible to follow my dreams. I LOVED capturing people’s special moments on film … and making it a lasting memory!  I LOVED meeting new people. I LOVED photographing people in love!

Matt (that is my husband), was offered his dream job and it became the perfect opportunity for me to take a leap of faith and make this business a full time gig!  I can’t say that I was never worried about things.  Starting your own business requires a ton of patience, work (I think I work more now than I did when I was at my 8-5 job), and determination.  I was determined to follow my heart, my dreams, and my passion.  It was taking a giant step in to an area of gray … or the unknown, from something that was a sure thing. I started getting nervous.  I even thought I would miss punching that time clock on a daily basis!  And … in truth … sometimes I do; however, I absolutely love my business, my clients, and my photography.  It was faith … faith that I could and would do it … run in to the gray!

It’s been 3 years and I have never been happier!

For those of you that have written in the past months asking how to start your own business … or how I took the first steps in starting mine, my first word of advice is to do your research, and go for your dreams! Seriously, the sky is the limit!  Life is way too short to be wondering about how life ‘could’ be!

Today … my dream not only effects my life, but it effects hers … and she is my pride and joy :)  Each day, she inspires me to be better at what I do!

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Category: news        

Heather Cole — Well done Karie. This has inspired me to do something similar. I love your sharing. :)   ( July 31, 2009 @ 1:28 pm )

kelsy nielson — Nicely Said. I agree 100%. Sometimes you just have to leap and the net will appear!   ( August 4, 2009 @ 12:12 pm )

NICHOLE AND DUSTIN

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to go to Kansas City and second shoot for my AMAZING friend Heather Cole.  You have heard about this girl thousands of times on my blog … she is an amazing friend, and I would never be where I am today without her!  Love you Heather :)

I LOVE second shooting, and don’t get to do it very often.  When you are the second shooter at a wedding, you get to see things in a totally different light.  Heather WORKED IT OUT :)  She is amazing.  Nichole and Dustin were such a fabulous couple.  They love each other so beautifully.  I mean, I think I cried at least 15 times at their wedding.  It was a SUPER hot day (temperature wise, I have forgotten just how hot KC gets, and I am thankful to live in CO where it is not as humid), but what an amazing day it was.  Nichole’s girls wore hot pink …. HOLLA!  In case you didn’t know, that is one of my favorite colors :)  Heather, Nichole, and Dustin … thank you for letting me share your day with you!  I had so much fun second shooting for Heather at your wedding!

Loved this shot of Nichole and her Maid of Honor as she was getting in to her dress

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I am in LOVE with these kids … they had the most beautiful eyes … LOVE THIS SHOT

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Just after the girls finished getting dressed, we headed outside.  I caught these two practicing walking down the isle.  My heart is melting … SERIOUSLY!

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Nichole – you are gorgeous!

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My FAVE of the day

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Just before they headed down the isle :)

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Dustin saying his vows

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Another fave … just before the reception began … I grabbed this shot as Heather was doing the Bride and Groom’s Session

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Nichole’s sister gave a little toast that again made me cry :)

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I had such an awesome time!  Thanks guys!

Category: denver wedding photographer        

Heather Cole — YOU ARE AMAZING!! LOVE YOU!!!   ( July 29, 2009 @ 8:00 pm )

2010 FREE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY GIVEAWAY – CONTEST

**PLEASE NOTE: FOR THE DURATION OF THE CONTEST, THIS POST WILL REMAIN ON TOP. ALL NEW EVENT POSTS WILL BE LOCATED BELOW**

It’s HUGE, and it’s FINALLY HERE!  The 2nd Annual Free Wedding Photography Giveaway is on!  I can’t believe it has already been a year since our last contest.  For those of you that are new to the contest, each year I give away wedding photography to a cool couple who has an awesome love story.  The truth is, I LOVE my job and I am always looking for ways that I can give back.  I get so excited to document someones LOVE STORY through pictures!  Please help spread the word so that we can find the most deserving couple for this contest.

What’s Included?

Up to 8 Hours of Photography with Karie McLain

Engagement Session

Online Proofs with Custom Shopping Cart

High – Res Disk of Wedding Images (with a print release), so you can print them when/where you want them

 

In order to be considered for the contest, you must send a nomination email to kariemclainphotographer@gmail.com.  In the subject line, you must write “Free Wedding Contest”.  Please include the following information.

Your Name (if you are nominating someone else, please put their name as well)

Your Contact Information

A Picture of the Couple

Your Wedding Date

Your Wedding Location

Your LOVE STORY (ex. details on how you met, why you deserve to win the contest, what you LOVE to do)

How Important is Photography in Your Life?

Submissions MUST be received by Wednesday August 19th, 2009 at Midnight.  Nominations received after this time will not be considered.  We seriously cannot wait to hear your stories.  Judging will begin immediately.  Our panel of judges will include Matt, Myself, and this year’s free wedding give away winners, Angela and Nate.  We will be choosing 3 finalists.  After that, the voting will begin.  The finalists will be posted on the blog with their picture and story on Monday August 24th.  At that time, your friends, family, and my blog readers will begin voting on the winning couple.  Your voting email must include “Free Wedding VOTE” in the subject line, the name of the couple you are voting for, and why you think they should win the contest.  If those 3 things are not met, your vote will not be counted.  Please note, Voting will not begin until Monday August 24th.  At this time, we are only taking nominations for the couples.

CONTEST RULES

Your wedding MUST take place in 2010

Your wedding can be ANYWHERE, however if it is outside of the state of CO, the travel expenses must be paid by the winning couple

Your story will be shared on the blog

Check out Angela and Nate’s Wedding Slideshow below.  I am seriously blessed to have met them, and captured their LOVE STORY this past year, they are such an amazing couple!  You can view their wedding HERE, their engagement session HERE, and you can check out our recent wedding slide shows for more.

 

Category: denver wedding photographer,news        

Kate — Karie, this is awesome! I'm excited that I get to vote! Woo hoo!   ( July 22, 2009 @ 1:48 pm )

BASHFUL FAQS – DENVER WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s like I’m still in a dream, a haze, some sort of fantasy … if only someone would pinch me and I would wake up … and I’d return to sitting in a cube with no windows.  To me, everyday is like a dream!  Someone once told me that if you love your job, you will never work a day in your life.  This is so true in my case.  I am truly blessed to do something that I love so much day in and day out.  I meet the coolest people, have the most amazing couples, and shoot rocktastic weddings (and yes, I made that word up).  I am so humbled everyday when I don’t have to sit in traffic to get across town, or don’t wake to a beeping alarm clock.  Quite frankly, I have never been a morning person, but since starting my business, I love mornings (okay, this is exaggerating a little).  I seriously cannot wait to start my day, and finish a project that means so much to me … like editing the biggest day of some one’s life.

Lately, I blush a little when I open my email inbox.  I have been getting more and more emails from aspiring photographers or entrepreneurs that I have some how inspired.  Really?  Little ole’ me?  And, truth be told, I am a little fish in a big pond of amazing photographers!  So, because I can’t always respond to each one in the way that I would like to … I have decided to start sharing more of ME here :)  Yes, folks, hold on tight … this is going to be a fun ride :)  Stay tuned as I dedicate a special day to all of these questions!

Since everyone likes a post with a picture best … here is a photo of my family on the 4th (from our Point and Shoot)!  I hope you all had a fabulous holiday!

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Category: news        

Jennifer — LOVE IT!   ( July 6, 2009 @ 9:12 am )

stacyZ — Love it Karie! Your family is so adorable. Cannot wait to see more, since meeting you at the F-Stop I knew you were made for great things!   ( July 6, 2009 @ 9:14 am )

carolyn bowles — Karie, what a beautiful family you have! You are truly blessed and I love being your online friend. Miss you!   ( July 16, 2009 @ 6:41 am )

kelsy nielson — What a cute family! Ava just melts my heart!   ( July 22, 2009 @ 8:49 am )

amanda — You are such an amazing photographer, Karie. You are inspiring to me as I've been pondering a cubicle job lately instead of starting my own design biz : )   ( July 23, 2009 @ 8:34 am )

A SHAMELESS LOVE STORY

I can’t believe it.  I mean seriously, I think about it as if it was just yesterday.  I was almost as big as a house, and shooting weddings for all of my wonderful clients last year at this time.  Sure, my feet were more swollen, and I was hotter (temperature) wise :) , but I wasn’t really sure what journey I would embark on next.

Reflecting back on last year, so much has changed in just a small amount of time.  I’m a mother now :)  And it is AWESOME!  I am blessed with a pretty special gift.  Here she is at 10 months old already!  I love her SO much and don’t want to forget these precious moments!

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Category: personal        

Kelly Casey — Karie, you and your hubby are blessed! She is a beautiful little girl!!!   ( July 1, 2009 @ 9:33 am )

Debbie — Oh my gosh Karie! She is growing up so fast. Ava is just the cutest thing ever!   ( July 1, 2009 @ 9:40 am )

Jennifer — Oh my goodness, look at those little feeties!!!   ( July 1, 2009 @ 10:09 am )

Heather Cole — If I could bottle her up and eat her up, I WOULD! LOVE HER SOO MUCH   ( July 1, 2009 @ 1:58 pm )