Kel Ward Photography | Salem, Oregon

Salem Teen Photographer | Introducing Photo Parties!

2012-03-04T14:35:00.000-08:00

Salem Family Photographer | Feeling Blue

2012-03-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, not really. This family was actually quite happy.

They're just wearing blue

(which I think looks great against the fall colors).

Brother and sister!

I don't know if I've ever seen such a resemblance

between father and son before!

Salem Portrait Photographer | Yes, I am addicted to hats.

2012-02-26T23:12:00.001-08:00

Just a quick glance through my portfolio gives away my obsession wit hats!

I also love hair accessories and textures.

I was so excited when my friend, Laura, showed up for our session with

both a hat and a great feathered headband. In addition to the great

head pieces, she chose a fabulous outfit with layers

(something I always tell my clients to wear), texture, and creativity!

Salem Portrait Photographer | What to Wear.

2012-02-20T08:46:00.000-08:00

Whether you're casual or dressy, dressing in layers and adding accessories always make an outfit look more polished and makes for a better portrait.

This look from polyvore.com is pink, pink, pink!

Choosing a bold color like this is ideal for this time of year since

most of the outdoor scenery is brown and dead. Mixing a bold color with neutrals, like denim and black, is the perfect way to add color without going overboard. Jackets are a great way to add layers, as well

as hide any trouble areas you may have.

Salem Wedding Photographer | Not your typical backyard wedding!

2012-02-13T17:51:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when Azure, of Azure Marie Photography, asked me to second shoot this wedding for her. Not only was it a gay wedding (yay!), but it was a gorgeous couple from New York! On top of that, they had one high class backyard wedding!

They had SO many gorgeous details.

They had so many things for kids to do, it was incredible. This was the puppet show area. They also had a bounce house and a craft table!

Seriously, how gorgeous are these guys?!

Here are all of the girls in the wedding party...Yeah, can we say stunning?!

There was an adorable couple taking film photos there too. I wish I could see the images, but I don't have their contact info.

Just an intimate moment I caught between the formal portraits. I love it!

Gladstone Senior Portrait Photographer | Blake, class of 2012

2012-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Blake is one cool guy and I had a great time photographing him!

His parents and girlfriend are awesome too!

Blake's mom actually came up with this shot.

He's in a band and she wanted an artsy shot that represented such.

Blake was such a good sport, jumping over and over until we got the shot.

Look at those eyes!

This is one of my all time favorite shots. I posted it as a sneak peek, but love it so much that I'm including it again.

Salem Family Photographer | Fall Mini Session

2012-01-30T14:19:00.000-08:00

These were taken this past fall, while we still had some leaves left.

Salem Wedding Photographer | Second Shooting

2012-01-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege of second shooting for Lemondrops Photography several months ago. I have said it before, but I love second shooting. I get to capture more of the little moments that are often missed as the lead photographer because we're so busy shooting all of the big stuff.

This wedding and reception were held at the beautiful Academy Chapel in Vancouver, WA. The couple was young, adorable, and as happy as could be!

Salem Portrait Photographer | Love is in the air!

2012-01-23T16:59:00.000-08:00

Just a cute storyboard featuring some shots I took of a married couple recently. Wouldn't a photo session for you and your significant other be

a great Valentine's gift?!

Salem Senior Portrait Photographer | Seeking Models for class of 2013

2012-01-19T15:28:00.000-08:00

Ashley, class of 2012 | Salem High School Senior Photographer

2012-01-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

What to Wear | Casual Teen

2012-01-10T23:53:00.000-08:00

I'm often asked what clients should wear for their portrait sessions. This year I am making styling a much bigger part of my full service photography.

So...

What should you wear?

The answers are endless, but if I had to narrow it down to one little blurb, I would say, "Be true to yourself, but look more polished than usual. Regardless of the season wear layers and combine textures and don't forget to accessorize!"

Here is an example of a great outfit for a teenager or young adult. It's casual and simple, but still stylish and a bit edgy. The scarf adds a lot of interest to this outfit too, which is why accessories are so important!

This entire outfit was found online at Oldnavy.com

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Guess what?

Kel Ward Photography is getting a makeover!

My blogs and websites will be under construction

for the next few weeks.Please be patient, as things

may look a little crazy at times.

Three Generations of Beautiful Women | Salem Family Photographer

2012-01-01T11:36:00.000-08:00

Giving Back

2011-12-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

Meet Matthew, founder of Matthew's Gift.

I'd love to tell you about this amazing child and charity, but as luck

would have it, he was just featured on the news!

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS NEWS STORY ABOUT MATTHEW!

You may be wondering how I came to photograph Matthew and his family.

Well, last year (about this time) I held a contest.

I had people write to me about families that they

felt deserved something special.

Matthew's family was chosen as the winners and received

a full family portrait session. It took us nearly a year to schedule the session, but we finally

did their family portraits a few weeks ago.

Matthew and his family are amazing!

Meet Ashlyn, the baby of the family.

Like Matthew, she has gorgeous red hair!

These kids were incredible.

They were relaxed, polite, and so cooperative.

Matthew's parents, Rob & Christina, are awesome!

Rob runs marathons to raise money for

Matthew's charity, while Christina

runs this wonderful household and their busy schedules!

Kylie is such a cool kid. She had me cracking up and is so kind.

Tyler is going to be such a heartbreaker.

Look at that smile and those eyes!

We did their session at their house, in their backyard.

It really helped everyone stay relaxed (and warm, as they could go into the house in between shots and warm up!) and it was just so convenient!

It's getting cold!

2011-12-18T17:01:00.000-08:00

Unlike may places, we have not yet had a snow fall.

We have, however, had a few frosty mornings that were just beautiful!

Mama's Girls | Salem Family Photographer

2011-12-15T20:27:00.000-08:00

I've known this Mom for years and years. She's one of my dearest friends and I just adore her little girls! We met up recently for a mini "Mommy and Me" style mini session and it was so fun!

I still don't know what she said, but I loved the response!

Sisterly love.

They cracked me up when they insisted on doing this

old school pose with these serious faces!

My favorite children (other than my own)!

2011-12-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

I will start with an apology.

I am sorry for posting so many photos of these beautiful children.

Wait, not I'm not. I adore these kids

and I'm pretty sure you will too!

I took these photos of my dearest friend's

children at their home while

visiting them in New Mexico this summer.

Meet VH, who recently turned six.

And meet his little sister, E, who just turned one this month!

Here they are in the fort their dad built for them.

The cuteness and detail in this photo makes me smile from ear to ear.

Look at those chubby arms and legs!

I also love seeing her dad's hand there...showing both his love and his size.

I love baby teeth!

E's mother is fluent in sign language (although if you ask her, she'll say that she's nowhere near fluent. To someone like me, though, she sure is!) so to see her baby girl signing "Mama" and getting it in a photo was priceless!

Don't you love her dress? I bought it for her!

Baby fingers!

She was blessed with these beautiful lashes. No fair.

I love her expression here. I believe she's thinking. "Are you serious, lady?"

Gorgeous children!

VH is such an awesome big brother to little E.

VH had just received this cape from his Mama for his birthday (like literally 5 minutes before we took these photos) and as your can see, he was beyond thrilled with it!

Appreciate the "in between" shots.

2011-11-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

When taking photos of your kids, don't put the camera down once you get that perfectly posed shot. A lot of the best moments are the outtakes or the in between shots.

Learn to embrace it!

Once were done with some practice shots, I snapped these of my middle son giggling up a storm, but trying so hard to stop.

Business Portraits

2011-11-21T10:47:00.000-08:00

Business Portraits (aka head shots) are generally boring and stiff, so I like having an opportunity to mix things up a little.

These are still traditional, but instead of being

shot in a studio, I did these on location

with a modern twist. I also love that she thought a

little outside the box in regards to her outfit.

I love the green and the jewelry!

Business portrait start at $200. Please contact me for detailed information.

Family Mini Session {Salem Family Photographer}

2011-11-14T00:35:00.000-08:00

It was such a pleasure to work with this family while in St. Louis this past summer.

I could not believe how well behaved these kids were!

I think we did the entire mini session in about 10 minutes!

Fall is here! {Salem Family Photographer}

2011-11-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

That means that fall portrait sessions are here too!

The leaves in town are gorgeous right now, as is theweather

(okay, not so much the day we took these, but they were troopers!).

I've been photographing this family

for 2yrs now and it's always a BLAST!

Lesson Learned With Gorgeous Baby J.

2011-11-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

I could not WAIT to photograph baby J, because, DUH, he is gorgeous!

Look at him!

As it turns out, though, waking a toddler at 7pm for a

photo shoot is not the best idea.

"Uh, lady, are you serious?"

Unfortunately I only got a few shots, before THIS action went down.

Well, wouldn't you know it, though, he's still

cute even when he's crying.

Unfortunately this was an out of state session that could not be re-scheduled, but there's always next year!

I think we'll do a morning session.

Better late than never!

2011-10-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing this awesomely adorable couple in St. Louis a couple of months ago. They have been together for over 20 years and this was their first professional portrait session! They were a BLAST to work with, as you could feel the love between then and there was a LOT of laughter!

Rustic Country Wedding

2011-10-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of second shooting for Amber Anderson, an amazingly talented photographer. She is truly gifted.

I love second shooting because It allows me to be a little more

creative and I get to capture all of the little moments that might

otherwise be missed. Shooting with Amber, though, was an

amazing learning experience and I hope I get to do it again someday!

Okay, on with the wedding....

The ceremony.

The adorable couple.

I snapped this during their "first look" moment.

The bride, with her parents.

This was such a fun, happy group. Lots of laughing throughout the day.

The groom with his best man and brother.

Awwww.

This, right here, is why I love being a second shooter at weddings.

These little flower girls were SO cute, as one fed

the other one little treats.

I loved her bouquet. So simple, but so bold.

They were seriously SO in love.

Watching them interact just made me smile.

The reception was gorgeous and so detailed!

I mean, they even had their own wine!

I loved the barn and all of the rustic chic decorations.

Sneaking away from the reception for a few minutes.

Their first dance, as husband and wife.

Congrats to A & R on their marriage and a big thank you to Amber for

allowing me to assist her on such an amazing day.

Sneak Peek from a recent senior session!

2011-10-17T14:14:00.001-07:00

Just a sneak peek from yesterday's session.

Sorry, girls, he's taken!

I got to meet and photograph his gorgeous girlfriend too!

Miss Hannah at the Orchard (contest winner)!

2011-10-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Hanna's mom entered an idea for a recent

contest that I held on Facebook. Her idea was to do a shoot with her

little one at a u-pick blueberry farm. Well, my schedule didn't allow

us to do the session before the blueberry season was over, so

we shot at an orchard instead (that was her second idea).

As it just so happens, Hannah's first birthday was just a few days

after our session and her birthday party theme was apples!

How perfect!

Pretty on film.

2011-10-07T19:17:00.001-07:00

Fun Family Beach Session!

2011-09-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

I met up with the "S" family for a fun beach session.

I've known the parents for a REALLY long time and the

kids since they were born.

I adore this family!

They're really an all-american family.

Mom was a cheerleader, Dad was a football player and now

the kids are involved with football and cheerleading too!

Plus Mom coaches cheerleading and Dad coaches football!

This December they will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary!

I can her her laugh every time I look at this photo.

This is probably my favorite shot from their session.

She is laughing so hard and I have a genuine smile/laugh from

him too (not an easy task with the husbands)!

Can we say clones?

The girls look JUST like Mom and the boy looks JUST like Dad!

Yes, the girls are twins.

Their brother is only a year older than them, though, so

can you imagine the early years?!

And of course we had to get a traditional portrait.

They chose a similar pose for their 30x40 wall

portrait and it turned out beautifully!

If you would like to schedule a beach session, I will

travel up to 1 hour from Salem at no additional cost.

Lincoln City and Pacific City are both great

locations and within an hour from here!

Not Your Typical Head Shots.

2011-09-23T16:39:00.000-07:00

You'd never know this beautiful mom dislikes being photographed.

Miss A has a wonderful personality and is an

amazing, generous, funny woman.

I had a great time taking these non-traditional head shots.

Something about this shot is haunting to me. I love it.

Okay, this is not a head shot, but I

had to get a shot of her adorable shoes!

Fall Mini Sessions are here!!

2011-09-19T17:31:00.001-07:00

Please click on image below to view larger!

Mini Session with Miss K !

2011-09-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

I adore this little girl. She's very expressive, cooperative, and hilarious!

Did I mention hilarious?

"Okay, photo shoot is over, I'm going to the park!"

Pinup Girl!

2011-09-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when Miss A inquired about doing a pinup

shot for her husband, who loves old pinup images.

I loved having the opportunity to be creative and

break some rules with photography!

This is the image that she chose for a 20x30 canvas, with

which she surprised her husband!

Carrie & Jon tied the knot!

2011-08-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

Yay, it's officially wedding season!

I had a wonderful time photographing the intimate ceremony and

reception for Jon & Carrie ad the Elk Grove Vineyard in Gaston, Oregon.

The location was gorgeous...

Their details were perfect...

The love was felt...

It was a celebration...

Congratulations, Carrie & Jon!

It's in the eyes.

2011-08-24T09:43:00.001-07:00

I've been photographing Miss A since she was a newborn and

she's always had the most amazing eyes!

She's a little tougher to keep up with now that she's an

active toddler, but she's still just as adorable as ever!

She was very focused on everything she was doing, so for the most part I just got a lot of serious expressions out of her. This one smile, though, is enough to melt your heart!

I'm pretty sure that she thought shaking the tree would make things fall out of it.

Model Material

2011-08-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

Miss J is THE most cooperative 6 year old I've ever

encountered while taking photos.

No joke.

Not only did she follow direction well enough for us to do our

entire session in about 15 minutes, but she is

gorgeous and has stunning eyes!

We ended our session with some fun on the old fashioned swing!

Mini Session with Z-man!

2011-08-19T15:24:00.000-07:00

This awesome 12-yr old was just too cute!

Maybe because he looks like one of my own kids?!

Saved the best for last!

Sneak Peek from a recent wedding!

2011-08-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my lack of posts lately...I've been very busy!

This week is no exception, as I'm getting ready to head to

St. Louis, Missouri and Clovis, New Mexico for

a TON of photo sessions!

I couldn't leave, though, without at least posting

something from my recent work.

I took this right after Katie & Rob got married this past weekend!

Congrats to a very adorable couple!

(click photo to enlarge)

Little Miss Sweetheart

2011-07-29T13:12:00.001-07:00

I loved working with Miss S!

(No, the "S" does not actually stand for Sweetheart).

She has this sweetness about her, though, that I just can't describe.

She is a little bit shy, but warmed right up to the camera.

She is only 6, but she seems much older to me.

I love her eye color!

She totally did all the posing for this session, I might add.

Look at that little grin!

For the grand finale...

Miss E in a white dress {Part 2}

2011-07-25T11:54:00.001-07:00

We decided to meet up at a local park for the second part of Miss E's session in her white dress. The park was full of beautiful flowers and they just made the perfect backdrop for her.

Engagement Session with Katie & Rob!

2011-07-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

In less than a month, these two love birds will be married!

Their wedding collection included a mini engagement session, which we did a few weeks ago in downtown Oregon City. Katie is going to use some of the photos in her guest book, which I think is a really cute idea! I can't wait to shoot their wedding in a few weeks.

They are such a awesome couple and so fun to work with!

The ring!

Do you have a good idea for a photo shoot?

2011-07-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

If you do and you are local (and wanting a free session!),

please submit your idea to me ASAP!

The winner (best idea wins) will receive a free mini

session and a complimentary digital file!

Sweet Teen

2011-07-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

Miss "H" was so easy to work with!

As you can see she's as cute as can be and the camera loves her!

She was sweet and kind and easy going.

{And isn't this field of Scotch Broom amazing?}

Huge Sale on digital files!

2011-07-11T12:54:00.000-07:00

Possibly the cutest family ever!

2011-07-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

I met this young family for the first time when I

photographed their son as a newborn!

We met up again for his one year portraits and then for this

family session now that he is two years old.

Mom & Dad are young, hip, and hilarious!

I always laugh SO hard when I am with their family.

I don't have to tell them what to wear because Mom has a great sense of style.

She even has her own fashion blog. Click HERE to check it out!

Anyway, this is probably my most favorite session to date.

Mom found this amazing orchard and we met up early in the morning.

The light was gorgeous and so were they!

I love when I can get the parents alone for a few shots. As parents most of us just don't think to get couple shots anymore! K & W were SO much fun

Miss E in a white dress {Part 1}

2011-06-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to photograph Miss E again,

after the weather warmed up a tad.

This girl is so photogenic, it's not even funny.

She is only 9, but she knows exactly what to do in front of the camera and she loves every minute of it! Her camera shy mother was kind enough to hold the reflector for us during this session, but Miss E would not let her peek around it to see her posing. It was so funny!

This is only part 1, as we shot part 2 in a different location

on a separate days. So, more to come soon!

Product of the Week: Metal Prints!

2011-06-23T10:52:00.001-07:00

Metal prints are a fairly new product.

They are modern and chic and pretty much just awesome!

Your image is printed directly onto metal and

finished with a protective coating.

You can order rectangular shaped metal prints

as small as 8x10 and as large as 24x36.

You can also order a circular metal

print in 16" (shown below), 20", 24" and 30".

Optional features include rounded edges for the rectangular

shapes and mounting blocks for all shapes and sizes.

Here is a view of the edge.

Mounting block.

Happy 5th Birthday, Miss A!

2011-06-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

Yep, Miss A just turned 5 and she's about the

cutest little girl I've ever met!

I love when kids are missing some front teeth.

It just makes for the cutest photos!

What to Wear: How to do red, white & blue

2011-06-11T17:07:00.001-07:00

I've noticed that the stores and websites are flooded with ultra-tacky (yet very tempting) Fourth of July themed outfits. Anything from matching flag t-shirts to jumpers with stars all over them. While many of these items are adorable for the holidays, they do not make for the best family portrait outfits. Aside from the fact that your photos can quickly get too busy with all those different patterns, holiday themed items really make your portrait a seasonal thing and you should be able to display your family photo all year long!

So, here are just a few quick ideas for those who do want to go with a red, white & blue theme, without it being overtly themed. These ideas are for casual outfits, as this time of year is usually very casual (and hot!)

For Dad...

Blue polo shirt

(This one is from Lands End)

With some basic khakis

(The Gap)

For Little Girl...

White eyelet dress

(This one is from Old Navy)

For Mom...

Red sundress

(Coldwater Creek)

For a boy...

Khaki shorts.

(American Eagle)

Chambray Shirt

(American Eagle)

The idea here is to keep it simple. You can add khaki, demin, or even white pants to the mix. If you have more family members, another boy can wear a red and white striped shirt, while another girl can wear a navy & white polka dot dress.

Crazy cheap photo deal!

2011-06-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

And it's for charity!

I still have openings for the charity fundraiser mini sessions!

Please contact me ASAP if you'd like to sign up!

Product of the Week: GALLERY WRAPPED CANVASES

2011-06-07T15:02:00.001-07:00

These canvases are awesome!

You image is printed directly onto canvas fabric and then wrapped around a wooden frame with neat edges. They are quite durable and do not require a frame!

The look is timeless and will go in practically any

home, regardless of your style and decor.

Your canvas will come with a paper backing and wire,

so it's ready to hang the moment you receive it.

Contest winner!

2011-06-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

This nice young man (well, his mom) was the recipient

of my recent spring giveaway!

He won a mini session and a free digital file.

Thanks for being patient during your session, Mr. K, as I know getting portraits taken is not high on the list of priorities for a 14 year old boy. I'm sure your mom appreciates it, though, so thank you!

Textures

2011-05-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I share images that I've used for an online photography group. I am part of a group that tries to post 365 images a year. We have one theme each week, so we post seven images for each theme. One of our recent themes was textures and these are the images that I used for that assignment.

Beach mini sessions coming up!

2011-05-24T00:18:00.000-07:00

This is the perfect opportunity to get portraits of

your family at the beach!

I have the following mini session time slots available:

Friday, July 1st (at sunset)

Saturday, July 2nd (early morning)

Saturday, July 2nd (at sunset)

I also have ONE spot left for the July 2nd boudoir photo party,

which will also be held in Lincoln City!

Handsome in plaid!

2011-05-18T00:07:00.000-07:00

These little guys are part of a gorgeous (and very loving) family!

I've photographed their mama when she was pregnant with the baby.

Then I photographed the baby brother.

Then I photographed their little sister.

This time it was their turn!

Hunter (the oldest).

I love his quirky look here, but check out those ice blue eyes!

All the kids have their own unique eye color.

I think Hunter gets his from his mama!

Hayden (the next in line)

Doesn't he look like a little man posing like this?

Giving himself a hug.

He has gorgeous hazel-brown eyes!

The whole family was on their way to church so I figured since they were all looked so nice that I'd grab a quick family shot.

I love that they're all coordinated for church!

The ever lovely, Marine.

2011-05-13T12:04:00.001-07:00

I love photographing Marine! Not only is she gorgeous, but she has a GREAT sense of style and always shows up in the best oufits. Oh, and she has the CUTEST dutch accent!

My favorite from this session.

Matthew's Gift

2011-05-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

I have recently become involved with a charity called Matthew's Gift.

Matthew is a cancer survivor, who started this charity himself!

Click on the image below to read the flyer that his mom put together.

It will give you an idea of how what Matthew has

been through and how truly AMAZING this kid is.

I had the the privilege of photographing Matthew recently.

Most people know what a soft spot I have for red hair and freckles and Matthew is no exception! Not only is he adorable, but he is very intelligent and one of the nicest kids I've ever met. He is so giving and caring.

His Dad and I decided this will go on his political campaign posters.

And this is the shot I'd like to call, "I kicked cancer's butt!"

I also feel like I should mention that Matthew

was voted "best dressed" at his school.

Here he is with his Dad, who runs marathons for Matthew's Gift!

You can see the resemblance, can't you?!

And in order to raise money for Matthew's Gift, I am offering an

evening of mini sessions on June 18th in the Vancouver, WA area.

All of the session fees will go directly to Matthew's Gift!

Space is limited, soif you are interested,

I suggest you contact me ASAP!

This is a great deal, valued at $325!

Mini Session with an adorable 3 year old

2011-05-08T10:58:00.001-07:00

Meet "B"...an adorable and spunky 3 yr old.

I wish I'd gotten better shots of her eyes because

they are a gorgeous hazel color.

Is her smile not charming?

If she lived with us, she would be all kinds of spoiled.

She oozes cuteness.

I love this!

Possibly my favorite from the session.

Miss Sophia

2011-05-05T08:22:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't love free stuff?! Enter to win!

2011-05-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

To enter the contest, go to facebook and tag yourself in this photo!

CLICK HERE FOR MY FACEBOOK PAGE!

Product of the Week: PREMIUM ALBUMS

2011-05-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE these high quality albums!

These are ideal for weddings and special occasions, but they are also a nice way to cherish family photos or the birth of a new baby.

Shown here is a 10x10 album, but I do offer this album in a 5x5 size.

Each album comes with a black dust cover and sturdy box.

Each album features a window opening on the

front cover, as well as two lines of writing.

A unique feature of this album is that the pages

lay flat when the album is open.

You will choose some of your favorite photos and I design the album.

You can even have two page spreads, such as this one.

Many pages will feature multiple images, in order to tell your story.

Mohawk & Curls

2011-04-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

Say hello to Mr. J and Miss V!

These two cuties were the winners of my winter giveaway!

I have to admit that V was probably the most

cooperative toddler I've ever photographed!

This little gal loved to have her photo taken!

Awwww.

I love when I catch a moment like this!

And this!!

J was trying so hard not to show his teeth because he was missing teeth, but I caught a little glimpse! I love the jack-o-lantern

smiles that so many little kids have!

Make sure to keep an eye on my facebook page, as I

will have a spring giveaway soon!

Beautiful & Glowing

2011-04-28T23:13:00.000-07:00

Meet Ashlee, a soon to be first time mama!

Although you can't tell in these photos, she and

her husband are indeed expecting a baby.

I swear her skin really was glowing!

Ashlee was a dream to work with and just as cute as can be!

Best Dimples Ever!

2011-04-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

Aidan has the BEST dimples!!

He also has the best personality!

Such a mellow, laid back 10 year old!

I love his eyebrows here!

Yes, these are his own glasses. He wears them for reading and I couldn't resist having him wear them for a few photos.

They're just too cute on him!

Little Miss H

2011-04-21T12:53:00.001-07:00

Holy blue eyed toddler, Batman!

Miss "H" Has some of the best baby blues I've ever seen!

I just LOVE when you ask a toddler to smile. You never know what you're going to get, but I always know it will be funny! This is what H gave me when I asked her to smile (as opposed to getting genuine smiles by making her laugh, like some of the other shots).

Ashley, Class of 2012

2011-04-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, believe it or not, I'm already doing senior portraits for the class of 2012! I've started recruiting my senior models (aka senior reps) for the class of 2012 and Ashley is one of them! Each senor model gets a free mini session in the spring and model cards to hand out. Here are a few shots from Ashley's mini session.

Her full session will be held this summer.

If you are interested in being a senior model, please contact me ASAP for details, as the deadline for senior

model applications is April 30th!

Product of the Week: STANDOUNT MOUNTED PRINTS

2011-04-17T15:27:00.000-07:00

Standouts are a relatively new product in the professional photography would and I love them! When you order a standout mounted print, your photo comes mounted to this awesome lightweight material. The edges are black and give the photo a very nice finished look.

I think that standouts work well in any style of home, whether it be traditional, modern, or rustic!

Standout mounted prints come ready to hang with

pre-drilled holes on the back.

Register now for mini sessions at the beach!

2011-04-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

I am officially taking reservations for mini sessions

at the beach this summer! Space is limited so

contact me ASAP to book your mini session!

Welcome back, old friend!

2011-04-11T23:20:00.001-07:00

I've decided to start shooting film again!

I'll still be using a digital camera for most of my work, but

I would like to go back to my roots and start incorporating

film into more of my sessions.

Gotta love a messy faced little boy.

Taken with my 35mm camera.

Jumping for joy.

Taken with my medium format Holga camera.

King of the world. In his mom's rainboots.

Another shot taken with my Holga.

My Holga camera offers no control over the focusing (among other things), so you never know what you're going to get until you develop the film. Obviously I had him too close to the camera, but I like the somewhat creepy look this has to it.

Taken with my 35mm camera.

A shot of my youngest with one of my Holga cameras.

Taken with my 35mm camera.

I love the grain that you often get with film images.

LOVE. IT.

Another taken with my 35mm camera.

Although these less grainy images are probably more desirable to many, I do not like them as much. If I wanted grain-free images I'd just shoot digital. ;)

The models, however, are perfection.

Guess what?!

2011-04-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

I finally started a blog for my everyday life!

Feel free to check it out.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE NEW BLOG!

Miss E

2011-04-06T23:33:00.000-07:00

I know "E" personally and let me tell you...she is one cool kid!

She has a great imagination and sense of style.

She's smart and clever (not the same thing).

She loves animals with a passion and plans on

being a vet when she grows up.

I have no doubt that she'll accomplish that goal!

So, the three of us (Miss E, her mother, and myself) worked

closely to style her session.

You have to admit...the girl looks adorable!

Hello, gorgeous eyes!!

Can I just say how refreshing it is to work with a child this

age who can pose with very little instruction?

What a nice change from working with my boys. HA!

Can you believe she's only 9?!

I'm so jealous of her eyelashes!

Another Birthday!

2011-04-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, spring is the season of birthdays at our house! Four out of the five of us have birthdays in March or April.

Today is my middle son's 9th birthday!

Nine years ago today I gave birth to a screaming baby boy, who weighed in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces, despite being born a few weeks early. He was NOT an easy baby or toddler, but as he got older he got easier to handle. Karson is one of the coolest kids I know. He's funny as heck (gets that from me), naturally athletic (gets that from his dad), very creative (gets that from me), and has a LOT of energy (gets that from his dad)! He has the most gorgeous blue eyes (from his dad) and adorable freckles on his face (again, from his dad).

He is quirky (gets that from me) and confident in

himself and his decisions (gets that from both of us).

Happy Birthday, Karson!

I love you more than you'll ever know.

Yes, his eyes look green here, but I assure you it's just the reflection from all of the green trees behind me.

His eyes are VERY blue in real life!

Product of the Week: CASUAL MINI ACCORDIONS WITH TIN

2011-04-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

Casual mini accordions are the perfect gift!

The set includes a custom printed metal tin

and THREE mini accordions.

The metal tin is wallet sized and perfect to keep in a purse!

If you decide to give away the three accordions you can use the tin to store wallet sized photos, candies, chapstick, just about anything!

Mini accordions stand on their own and are perfect for displaying on

your desk at work, your coffee table, etc.

You can choose 6 images for each side.

I usually encourage clients to choose color images for one side and b&w

images for the other side, but you can mix and max if you'd like too!

(please note: The color on this is

not accurate...I am no product photographer!)

Fo more information and/or pricing on casual mini

accordions with tin, please contact me!

Girl power!

2011-03-31T09:15:00.001-07:00

I recently had the privilage of photographing another photographer, Rachelle, and her three awesome little girls. This family was full of love and strength and they were just so fun! Not only that, but all three girls have names that start with the letter K, so we were instantly bonded!

These girls were complete troopers, as we shot their session on probably the coldest day of the year. Seriously, it was FREEZING outside and we had to keep taking breaks to warm up in our cars! Anyway, I thought ahead and brought some hot chocolate (and marshmallows, of course) in a thermos for them to enjoy at the end of their session.

This is probably my favorite family shot from the session. Rachelle did a GREAT job styling this session. Their outfits were all coordinating, but weren't identical and the purple looked great against the background at a local park.

Rachelle and I have something very special in common...

our love for shoes (high heels, in particular).

Kiersten is the youngest "K" in the family.

She is 4 and just too darn cute!

She was unbelievably cooperative for a 4 year old!

Kalli is the middle child (age 6) and would you

take a look at those eyes!

Oh my GOSH her eyes are amazing!!

Kiandra, age 7, is the oldest of the three girls.

She was so energetic and silly and you can tell she

just enjoys life to the fullest!

Such a fun girl! I did not ask her to do ANY of these faces.

In fact, this is what I got when I asked her to smile. HAHA!

Uh oh, Mom is in for a surprise!

She had no idea a tickle attack was coming!

are they not the cutest?

I did not even tell them to put their feet like that!

These three have such a special bond.

Again, I did not tell them to hold hands like that! They just did it!

This was my favorite part of the session. The girls were playing telephone and they were having so much fun! We got so many genuine giggles and laughs from them.

Than you, Rachelle, for inviting me into your lives!

My firstborn just turned ELEVEN!

2011-03-26T15:27:00.000-07:00

I am a few days late in posting these, but I am now

the mother of an 11 year old!

I can not believe how quickly time flies!

Eleven years ago I gave birth to a gorgeous baby boy with a full head of black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. He was 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was the most amazing person I'd ever set eyes on.

Today he is still totally amazing.

He's caring and thoughtful.

He's funny and silly.

He's smart and creative.

He's clever and loving.

Happy 11th Birthday, Kayden!

Adorable Little Boy

2011-03-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

I had such a good time photographing six year old Drew!

His mom did an AWESOME job styling him, which

always makes portraits that much better.

Look at those blue eyes!

I think Drew was rocking out in this shot. Haha!

Drew was more than willing to make silly faces for the camera!

Lazy Sunday Morning

2011-03-16T14:02:00.001-07:00

I snapped these recently on a lazy weekend morning.

This is my middle child, Karson (age 8), in his adorable striped pajamas.

I love when I catch a genuine laugh!

Isn't he handsome?

Snow Day!

2011-03-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Yes, day, as in just one.

Not even a whole day, just a couple of hours and it was just a dusting.

It was a couple of weeks ago and I almost forgot that I even took these!

Product of the week: PREMIUM MINI ACCORDION ALBUMS

2011-03-11T09:34:00.001-08:00

I love these little accordion albums!

They're wallet sized faux leather albums with a snap closure.

The lining is a beautiful brocade fabric.

The small size makes it easy to carry in a purse,

brief case, or pocket.

The mini accordion features 6 photos on the front side

and 4 photos on the back side.

It's my birthday!

2011-03-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's my 35th birthday today!

To celebrate I am giving away THREE discounted photo sessions.

To enter, just visit my facebook page and tag the birthday flyer!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kel-Ward-Photography/191696766640

And because a photographer's blog is not complete without an actual photo, here is one of me that I took a few weeks ago, shortly after getting 10 inches of hair cut off! I have before and after photos, taken by another photographer, but you'll have to wait for another post to see those!

Sneak Peek of a recent "girl power" session!

2011-03-07T20:17:00.001-08:00

I had the pleasure of photographing 4 awesome ladies recently. Here is a sneak peek

from their session. Lots more to come!

(Click photo to enlarge.)

Product of the week: STORYBOARDS

2011-03-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

I love storyboards!

They are a great way to show off the candid outtakes or just three of your favorite shots all together. They can be displayed horizontally or vertically and are 10x20 inches in size.

Storyboards usually feature three images, but it's possible to have four images.

Storyboards are mounted on a thick material

(in this case it's matte board)and can

be framed or just set on a shelf or mantle for display.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE STORYBOARD DESIGNS:

(Yes, it's me and my husband!)

My favorite kind of storyboard is one that shows off funny faces or candid shots.

Storyboards also work well with more serious poses, especially when they're all similar in color, background, and clothing.

My little dude.

2011-02-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

I love that one of my kids has green eyes

(or at least he will after they finish changing colors).

My husband has blue eyes and up until recently

all 3 of my kids have had blue eyes.

Don't get me wrong, I love their gorgeous blue eyes, but I'm also excited that one is going to share my eye color.

Vaughn Turns Three!

2011-02-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

I've had the pleasure of photographing this little guy at the ages 1, 2, and 3.

Vaughn has one of the most expressive little faces I have ever seen and his big eyes just sparkle!

I love when I get a genuine smile or laugh from someone, but when it's a little one, it's even that much better! Vaughn's smile just melts my heart.

I think this shot was voted as the favorite by Vaughn's parents.

Vaughn's Mom and Grandmom.

I think this shot is MY favorite from the session.

Lovin' on his Grandma!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Vaughn!

Business Portraits (head shots)

2011-02-21T09:14:00.001-08:00

Product of the Week: HARDCOVER BOOKS

2011-02-17T08:28:00.000-08:00

Hardcover books are a great way to get a lot of images (up to 20) from your session without spending an arm and a leg. Each book comes with either a black or brown leather cover and soft paper pages (similar to a yearbook). There is a nice opaque page prior to your first page that not only provides protection, but adds some elegance to your book.

You can choose color images or black & white images for your book.

For more information about hardcover books, please contact me!

kel@kelwardphotography.com

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T07:55:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh, Miss Hailey was such a trooper during this

freeeeezing cold session!

It was windy and cold and even started to rain, but

Hailey kept a smile on her little face.

She was a total sweetheart and I thought it was so appropriate that I

photographed a sweetheart for a Valentine's themed photo session.

Yes, the girl has sparkly eyes!

I love this one!

She has great lips too, doesn't she?

I love blog comments and so do my clients!

Hailey will get a free 8x10 print for

every 25 comments that she receives on this blog post!

Subtle Details

2011-02-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions this year was to take more photo walks. I want to take the time to enjoy the things around me. The little details in nature, the rust on a building, or just the way the sun shines through the trees. It's amazing what you will see and enjoy when you just take a break from all the craziness of everyday life and enjoy the little things.

Gearing up for Love!

2011-02-10T10:40:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Are you ready?

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2011-02-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

I snapped these photos of my mom yesterday...on her birthday!

She thinks she looks old, but I think she looks great!

Product of the Week: Mounted Wall Prints

2011-02-07T18:17:00.000-08:00

My price sheet lists both desk prints and mounted wall prints.

Desk prints are 8x10 and smaller and they're just

regular photo prints (in other words, floppy).

Mounted wall prints are the same photos, but they're mounted to matte board to make the overall product much thicker and durable.

Like desk prints, it is recommended that you

frame wall prints, but they are thick

enough to lean on a shelf and display that way if you wish.

All photo prints 11x14 and larger will be mounted.

Desk prints are not mounted, but they can be if you so desire.

Just ask me about it at your ordering session.

Self Portrait.

2011-02-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

Hey, it counts!

Too cool for school

2011-02-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

Okay, we actually took these AFTER school.

Once again, the middle child.

This photo makes me laugh so hard that I'm pretty sure

I need a large copy for my walls.

His eyes are normally very blue, but I picked up a

little green in this shot!

A little sunset flare.

Such a perfect representation of the child

that never stops moving. Ever.

Photo Boxes!

2011-01-31T20:15:00.000-08:00

I would like to feature a new product each week.

This week's product is a custom designed photo box!

These are available in 4x6 or 5x7 and can hold up to 100 photos.

Each box comes with an attached satin ribbon to lift your photos out easily.

Top view.

Front.

Side.

You can choose a solid color or one of the prints below.

Now accepting senior models for the class of 2012.

2011-01-28T08:41:00.000-08:00

If you are a current high school junior (class of 2012) and are interested in being a senior model for Kel Ward Photography, please email me! I will only be accepting applications for a short time.

You do NOT need modeling experience. All shapes and sizes welcome!

Confusion in the yard.

2011-01-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

Just one simple image today.

I took this in my front yard yesterday. Apparently my daffodil bulbs did not get the "it's still winter" memo! These started popping up around New Years! Crazy!

What I've been up to!

2011-01-23T13:24:00.001-08:00

I am happy to announce that Kel Ward Photography now offers

boudoir sessions!

Check out the new boudoir blog!

http://www.kelwardphotoboudoir.blogspot.com

The best way is to book a boudoir photo party with a

group of your friends! Boudoir parties are held in beautiful hotel suites with separate rooms for the photos sessions. If you are interested in booking a boudoir session or

boudoir photo party, please contact me!

kel@kelwardphotography.com

Little Hudson, 7 months old

2011-01-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

Mr. Hudson is just the cutest thing ever! He was all smiles and giggles...until the camera came out. He really is a happy little guy, but was just mesmerized by the camera! His mom said he does it with all electronics...phones, cameras, etc. Too funny!

As a thank you to my clients I will be rewarding each client a free 8x10 print for every 25 comments that they get on their blog post! So, leave a comment for Hudson and his mommy will get to choose a free 8x10 print!

I love baby feet!

My little clarinetist

2011-01-19T20:37:00.001-08:00

Really, you just don't mess with a boy and his clarinet.

Practicing a few tunes outdoors.

Looking too cool for his own good.

Gotta love a little sun flare!

At first glance this is just a boring shot of a kid playing the clarinet, but look at the shadows on the reflector off to the right! How funny is that?!

Client Display...work that mantle!

2011-01-19T06:51:00.001-08:00

This display photo was sent to me by Amy, an awesome

client and friend.

Amy put the two largest photos (16x24) on top since those are the furthest away when standing in front of the fireplace.

Then she filled an entire row with 11x14 prints.

On the mantle she has a mix of 5x7 and 8x10 prints, in both color and black & white. The top two rows of prints are mounted hung using 3M picture hanging strips. The photos on the mantle are framed.