Category Portraits

The Beautiful Staff of Bloom Skin Spa | Raleigh Portrait Headshot Photographer

April 25, 2013 0 Comment Beauty, Portraits

It’s hard to believe sometimes how fast time flies. An entire year ago I was commissioned to take head shots of the staff of Bloom Skin Spa. Since then I have become a patron on a regular basis, and have come to know & love this staff!

Last year I decided that head shots do NOT need to be blah & boring, and we had a total blast making each other laugh and shine with true smiles! You may remember THIS POST with their gorgeous pics.

Here we are, one year later, and this year we decided to glam up the head shots a bit. I had my favorite hair & make-up artist Elaine (see her website here) join us as well as her assistant Adrian.

The staff was treated to some pampering and I think enjoyed it a whole lot!

What they may not have enjoyed so much was the fact that I asked them to step outside for their portraits. Originally I had planned to be inside in a well window lit room, but it was a cloudy, rainy and chilly day. I do know how to use my flash, but I really wanted the softness of the natural light.

Here is a back shot of the partial set (we are under an overhang to stay dry!):

I promise you head shots with me is not boring, it is an experience and I take great pride in capturing you as beautiful as you are.

I spent about 5-10 minute photographing each staff member, and here are some of my favorite images …

Love these two with a black and white film effect

The owner and I decided we would take a good hour of this day to take some beautiful & glamorous portraits of her.

These will be presented in their own blog post, but here’s a teaser for you.

Stunning.

Did you know that every beauty & boudoir session booked with Kathy Howard Photography receives a gift card for an amazing organic facial at Bloom Skin Spa! You will not only love the facial, but the staff is extraordinary.

~Kathy

Portrait Photographer Raleigh NC

Mom & Daughters Preview | Raleigh Portrait Photography

April 24, 2013 1 Comment Beauty, Portraits

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing this gorgeous family. Would you even believe they are celebrating Mom’s 70th birthday?!

So much beauty that I literally had goosebumps several times during this session.

Enjoy the preview!

It has come to my attention that the images coming through in email are reduced resolution. Until I figure out the fix, please feel free to click HERE to view high res on my blog.

Thanks you for your support!

~Kathy

Portrait Photographer Raleigh NC

The Lund Family | Raleigh Family Portrait Photography

April 11, 2013 0 Comment Children, Family, Portraits

I have known this family for a while, through school & summer swim team. The Mom is amazing and one of those super-volunteers that makes everything happen beautifully and effortlessly!

Sadly they moved out of our school district, so we don’t get to see them as much.

I have always had a fondness for these sweet & polite children, so when I booked this session I knew I was in for a real treat.

But I really had no idea!

This family is the epitome of a strong & loving family. And the kids, oh my goodness I honestly left this session wanting more! Wanting to take them with me!

We had so much fun and they all brought their best to this session.

I will start with my favorite shot of the session.

“All you need is love …”

A close second favorite, so genuine, so happy …

Mom & I met up to shop for the outfits for this session. We had a great time picking and choosing the fresh colors of Spring clothing.

Now I have to say, she is a bit of a black & white ‘junkie’ like me. However, we designed two wall displays for her home, and they are ALL color images!

(I will share her choices & designs in the next blog post – awesome!)

Beautiful Miss E. The big sister. So bright, so smart and very sweet 🙂

Mr. N. Stole my heart. A kind soul & huge amounts of positive energy!

What a Q.T. Pie 🙂

If you are my fan on Facebook, you have seen this pic.

I just can’t get enough of it! I want to hang it in my own home!

(If you want to be a fan & follow my page, click HERE. I’d love to see you there!)

And the baby of the family. Sweet, spunky, and a little heart breaker! (She told me she has two boyfriends at this time lol!)

And the icing on the cake… three siblings that truly love each other, although they may not admit it in public 🙂

Great job Mom & Dad!

Thank you again Lund family for a truly enjoyable session!

~Kathy

Family Portrait Photographer Raleigh NC

Alex | Class of 2013 | Raleigh High School Senior Photography

April 8, 2013 0 Comment Portraits, Seniors

Meet Alex. Alex who met me with a huge smile and a firm hand shake. He has been accepted into the physics department at North Carolina State University. He was also recently he was voted page of the week with the NC Legislature! I love meeting seniors with a strong head on their shoulders, gives me so much hope for the future.

We met on the campus of NC State, walked around and photographed what inspired us. Such an enjoyable way to shoot, I think for the client as well as for me.

Alex was completely personable and just a ton of fun to photograph. No nerves, or at least they didn’t show!

Seriously, this was one of the first images I took …

We didn’t spend too much time at the the bell tower, because I knew I wanted to come back when the light was a little lower in the sky.

We began our walk about, and came upon this beautiful brick path.

I think walking images can show so much personality, to me this image shows strength.

More strength, and a good dose of GQ!

Alex wanted some pictures in & around the free expression tunnel. We got a ton of great shots, but this is Mom’s favorite, as well as mine …

Photographing men can be so different than women, in my opinion.

I really enjoyed incorporating more of the edginess of the environment in Alex’s pictures, and am especially fond of this shot.

I was thrilled that the clouds stuck around for the end of the day.

And really glad that Alex brought his red NCSU shirt!

An iconic location in the background. Mom’s idea for a pic. I decided to slow down my shutter speed to blur out the car, and think it turned out pretty cool!

I just may have lay on my back for this shot. But I did not alter the colors or the clouds.

Lucky to live in NC!

A few more portraits to wrap up the session.

Just couldn’t get enough of those baby blues!!!

Thank you Alex & Brenda for a truly enjoyable session & afternoon!

~Kathy

Portrait Photographer Raleigh NC

“That Fun Confetti Photographer” … | Raleigh Portrait Family Photography

March 28, 2013 0 Comment Beauty, Children, Portraits

I am sorry it’s been over a week since I’ve blogged. No real excuse except this busy life! I have been shooting a lot, and do have several sessions to share with you, hoping to blog at least one today. Spring break is here and we are headed down to Florida for a week! Packing up my family & errand running may trump blogging, we’ll see 🙂

I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while. A few weeks ago I was invited to my friend Dawn’s house for an oyster roast. You may remember her gorgeous children from this blog post HERE.

We were hanging out, eating oysters & drinking a cold one, when Dawn introduced me to her friend. Her friend said, “Oh my gosh, are you that fun confetti photographer?” I laughed because first of all, I still get excited when people call me a photographer 🙂 And secondly, the fun confetti photographer. Loved it. Yes, I want to be that person. Wait, I AM that person! Sweet!

The whole confetti fun started with my daughter’s 14th birthday, and it trickled down into several sessions from there.

Here are some of my favorites from my fun confetti journey. Hope it brings a smile to your day!