50 Favorite Things

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Kaia Calhoun

It is very self indulgent to list off my favorite things. However, today I will take the liberty because a list of favorite things can be a list of story starts. Unlike some lists, I also want to very specifically list my favorites… not vaguely. I also am going to only give myself permission to list one thing about Josh, Haley, and Sam each because they could take up the whole list otherwise 😉

yellow anything (even the ragweed that that induces my allergies)
the way spooning Haley can wipe away any and all worries
the way Sam makes me laugh even when I’m supposed to be mad at him
when Josh’s face lights up into his biggest, most pure smile when I tickle him
the smiles that light up the whole face
itty bitty creations
painting pictures with my written words
the way a newborn looks curiously at my flashing contraption as I photograph them
the moment when a newborn is fading into sleep in your arms
wedding joy
Disney movies
decaf hazelnut coffee
children’s books
temperate fall days
spooning in the morning before getting out of bed
reading on a rainy day
coffee dates with my husband
curling up with a good book by my paren’t fire place in their log home in the winter
iceskating on the lake before the first snow
making a house a home
“eclectic” everything
Minnesota
night time thunderstorms
a life full of color
plants to love in my backyard and that love me back by giving me the tastiest of treats
sunsets that are golden, and fiery, and deep all at the same time
early morning mist
fluffy snow lit with Christmas lights and surrounded by Christmas songs
singing Christmas carols around my uncle’s neighborhood at Hagberg Christmas
Christmas eve dinner and present opening
setting up the Christmas tree on a snowy evening with Christmas music
the unhindered love, curiosity, and joy that exudes from puppies
hard-working, weathered hands
sunflowers
catching fireflies at dusk
eating around a table with good company
the intimacy of the human eye
the curve of voluptuous lips
the goofy look of belly buttons
books that cling to your brain even when you’re not reading them
old, wise-looking trees with climbing branches
freshly sharpened pencils
creamy coconut smelling chapstick
photo booths
the moment I know I’ve snapped a winning photograph
the smell of summer air, as if watermelons were cracked open all around
the crunch of shoes on gravel roads
the smell of new books
African safari animals
cantering on a horse in the open field

What is your list of favorite things?

Mega Bus, Mega Problems

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Kaia Calhoun

Yesterday I had another Megabus travel experience. I think I have ridden with them a good handful of times now… but the past couple have made me wonder if I should continue this travel habit.

The benefit to riding the bus to visit my parents, or to travel in general, is that you have more flexibility. Instead of driving and hoping music or an audiobook will entertain me for 7 hours I get to read or play games on my iPad or write. The ride goes much quicker!

My bus yesterday was 30 minutes late. Then, when we got to UW Madison to pick up folks at that stop, I found myself playing navigator. The whole time the bus driver mumbled about the construction and other nothings about why it wasn’t her fault. After that pick up, I had to play navigator again to get us back to the freeway. This time she mumbled in circles about how she passed the exit the last time. And just when I thought my bus navigating days were over I found myself navigating us to the final destination in Minneapolis… yikes! This time the bus driver alternated between mumbling and yelling repeatedly about the ridiculousness of the directions that Megabus gave to her as heated discussions erupted behind us. People were now incredulous, they were all hollering because not only were we significantly late but she skipped the St. Paul stop.

Finally we parked and I made my speedy exit while chuckling at the hilarity of the whole bus ride. At least it makes for a good story right?

Things I Don’t Like

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Kaia Calhoun

My favorite photographer and friend Andy Brophy launched his new website yesterday. I took a look and in his about section he had two columns labeled “Things I Like” and “Things I Don’t Like.” What struck me as I read them was that I was way more interested in the Things I Don’t Like category. I am not negative or pessimistic so I pondered why this might be. A millisecond later it occurred to me that I liked the Things I Don’t Like because it was more descriptive and unique so I felt it told me more about Andy than the “Things I Like” category. Perhaps part of it is also the fact that I can tell what he likes just by looking at his photography and by following him on social media – we photographers tend to photograph the things we find beauty, joy, and love in. All of these thoughts lead me to want to explore and colorfully explain my list of Things I Don’t Like. So here we go…

Things I Don’t Like

unexpected traffic (expected traffic I can do… maybe because I have allotted extra time to get from A to B)
when eatery establishments seem to be hurrying you out the door to open your table
when we run out of something right after I’ve gone grocery shopping
days when I’m so cold I can’t get warm or I’m so hot I can’t cool down
2-4pm in the summer (disgusting lighting = the world looks ugly to me)
excessive shot lists I don’t request – since you chose me, I want you to trust me
when people make fun of me
any excessively loud noises (unless its a concert)

What things don’t you like?

Proud Parent of Two Small Dogs

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Kaia Calhoun

Wednesday Words

I photographed a wedding a few weeks ago that led me to discover a dog park. Since then, Josh and I have been taking our furry children over there 2+ times a week. Upon just our second arrival Haley clearly recognized what we were pulling into and started shrieking in a voice that can only be described as the blend of a hyena laugh and a squeaky toy.

Yesterday was one such celebrated dog park day. It struck me while I was there, rooting for my furry babies to make friends with the other nice dogs, that these dogs have provided yet another experience that may come in handy if Josh and I ever conjure up children that are within our own species.

Our Haley has always been particular with who she is friends with. At the start it was due to a fear of other dogs – I suppose she was bullied in the shelter we rescued her from. And now I suppose it’s a blend of pride and wariness – funny that a dog can have so much pride. Anyway, she seems particularly hesitant with oversized puppies. In her defense, puppies have yet to learn boundaries or proper dog etiquette so put that unrestraint in a horse-sized puppy and I have a nervous and persnickety dog on my hands. There was one such puppy there yesterday and even after Haley snipped at him a few times he still seemed bent on winning her over. Good for him.

Eventually my furry babies started warming up and started the slow process of learning how to play with dogs bigger than themselves. I have confidence that they will soon frolic merrily along with all the dogs. There is one such dog that frequents the park. She is a husky and she will play with anyone. I turned to Josh after observing this and wished aloud that any children of ours, and maybe even Haley, can be this way some day.

Despite my desire though I am also fully aware that I am no more in control of the way my dog interacts with other dogs than I will be in control of some child. At the end of the day, all I can do is teach Haley kindness and how to relax and hope that she’ll forget her pride and wariness and play with that over-sized puppy.

My Wedding Shot List

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Kaia Calhoun

Today is Wednesday Words day and I’ve decided I would like to share a little business secret with you all. This is a list I wish I could have accessed when I first started photographing weddings. I remember so many questions running through my mind always. What kind of staple shots does every bride and groom want? How many shots of the bridal party should I take and in how many different formations? How can I best capture the ceremony for the bride and groom? Well, three full wedding season summers later here is what I have come up with on my own.

Keep in mind these are only the bare essentials. They are the easy, but necessary shots. All the artsy stuff, of course, is incorporated also but those are different for every wedding because of the flavor of that wedding and what the day and locations have to offer. I take WAY more pictures than the list below and have WAY too much fun with creative poses and shots, I know this looks stiff but please don’t fret… I really am fun 🙂 Don’t believe me, check out my work HERE.

Bridal Detail

dress
shoes
jewelry
flowers
other (handkerchief, special pin, etc…)

Groom Detail

boutonniere
cuff links
tie

Getting Ready

just candids but I like to get a bird’s eye picture of the bride applying mascara if I can

Bride Alone
(smiling, serious, and looking over shoulder)

full length
mid-waist level
chest level

Groom Alone
(smiling, serious, and looking away)

full length
mid-waist level
chest level

Ceremony

processional: stand (shooting up at people isn’t flattering) near the front of the center aisle, tucked into an aisle if you can manage
back, wide
right, wide
left, wide
behind (if available), wide
back, 50mm or 85mm
musicians
audience shots (particularly bridesmaids, groomsmen, bride’s parents, groom’s parents)
candids of all the main events (kiss, exchange of rings, vows (particularly their facial expressions during this), candle lighting, etc

Family Portraits
I ask for a family shot list so any additional arrangements come from that form.

Bride with mom
Bride with dad
Bride with parents
Bride with siblings
Bride with each sibling separately
Bride with immediate family
Bride with grandparents (if in attendance)
Repeat with Groom
B & G with both sets of parents
B & G with both immediate families

Bridal Party/Couple Pictures

B & G smiling (full length, waist level, chest level)
B & G looking at each other
B & G kiss
Ladies smiling in a straight line (flowers held at the belly button)
Bride with each bridesmaid separately
Bridesmaid’s flowers
Guys smiling in a straight line (hands in pockets)
Groom with each groomsman separately
3+ more arrangements of both the guys and the girls
Full bridal party smiling in a straight line (guys on groom’s side, girls on bride’s)
Full bridal party smiling in a straight line (guy, girl, guy, girl, etc…)
3+ more arrangements of the full bridal party

Reception

your number one job at a receptions is to capture the moments (introductions, cake cutting, first dances, speeches, etc… the list below excludes these obvious needs)
ring shot
place cards
room shots
cake
table
head table details
details on table
any other visual decor details

These are all the things I have logged in my brain to capture at every wedding. It’s a sort of mental checklist that I have never written down until now. Outside all this stuff is all the creative freedom, but these things are important so don’t forget them!