knight light is done for the year
Monday, December 07, 2009Labels: knight light
I finished up my last Knight Light session and officially closed my business for the year.
When all is said and done, Knight Light shot two weddings, ten baby/kid sessions, six families and twenty-four Seniors. I'd say it was a pretty good year.
knight light update on flickr
Sunday, September 20, 2009Labels: knight light
Just spent an hour watermarking about 30 pictures from recent sessions. (I hate watermarking!) Have a peek at Flickr if you'd like to view some recent snippets. Knight Light has been VERY busy this summer and it's not slowing down!
And of course, it wouldn't be possible if it weren't for my lovely assistants. Thanks boys.
had to share this senior session
Thursday, August 27, 2009I haven't been blogging much about my sessions. Mainly because there are just too many to keep up on here. I've been using Facebook a lot to do preview pictures and that is working really well. I love all of my Seniors. Many of them I've kept in touch with after their session which is awesome. I love that age. I think maybe because I'm still 17 at heart. Labels: knight light
Anyway, sometimes I have a session where the client really gets it. They get what I do, they understand the process and are up for anything. This was one of those sessions.
I think she looks like an old Hollywood movie star in that last one. Lots of fun these Seniors... I'm feeling lucky that I have been doing so many!
balance and guilt
Monday, August 17, 2009Being your own boss is a tricky thing. You are the only one who decides when and how much you work. I have been fortunate enough to have a pretty successful photography business. I'm getting calls every week from new clients. The really hard part is knowing how much I can do. Labels: knight light, sahm
One thing I have decided and feel good about is my decision to only shoot a VERY limited number of weddings each year. This year we only are shooting two and it's great. The couples are ones we click with, get our style and want us to do our thing. I'll admit that it's been extremely hard to say no to the many brides that contacted me throughout this year. But once I taught myself the phrase "We are booked for the '09 season", things went pretty smoothly. After I say no, I feel guilty for awhile and then I start to feel relief that I'm not shooting another wedding. So it works out....as long as I can get through the guilt.
I never expected so much guilt to accompany having a business. I feel guilty when I spend too much time working on pictures in the evening because I miss out on time with my husband. I feel guilty when I crash on the couch watching TV instead of doing work. I feel guilty when I have to tell a client that I can't get them in until October because I'm booked up. I feel guilty when I cram three sessions into one weekend.
Slowly though I am learning balance. I have accepted the fact that I cannot shoot four sessions every week like I have been doing. I am occasionally planning a Saturday off here and there. I'm taking it easy this weekend because of the wedding we are shooting the following weekend. And I'm not beating myself up if I choose to sit on the couch for an evening.
It's all about balance and finding that place in the middle. I am learning.
a knight light catch up post
Thursday, June 11, 2009I haven't been so good about blogging all of my photo sessions lately. One I'm not very good at self promotion. I feel like my work speaks for itself and if someone wants to hire me then cool. Also, I'm totally lazy and hate going through watermarking all of my pictures. I kind of think if someone is going to steal them then they can photoshop it out. Watermarks usually take away from the picture and are they really necessary? I mean, if you're looking at my pics you know who I am. (This is me justifying my lack of watermarking.) So anyway, I thought I would just post a bunch of pictures as a bit of a catch up. Labels: knight light
This is my August wedding couple. The sister of one of my brides from last year... I wasn't sure if I would do any weddings this year until she asked me. I got along so well with the family that I couldn't say no. 
I've had a lot of fun Senior sessions lately. Kids that really "get it". They understand that I've usually got a vision and just go with it.
Even my own husband thought I was a little crazy for asking this girl to run down the alley in her prom dress. But I had this image in my head and thankfully it worked out. I love when people are up for any of my weird ideas.
It also helps if they are flippin' gorgeous. Seriously, I did not look like this as a Senior in high school. Ha. What am I talkin' about? I don't look like this now!
It makes me really happy when I can get genuine smiles from every member of the family, even the dad who wasn't really into it.
And I am also happy when lighting works in my favor or have a husband to hold my reflector.
I get excited when newborns actually sleep for me.
Although I really can't complain when they look this cute when they're awake.
I have a TON of sessions coming up that I'm looking forward to. Expect to see more as they happen, just don't expect them to be watermarked. :)
the intern
Sunday, June 07, 2009Something kind of cool going on with Knight Light this summer...we got an intern! Emily was a client two years ago as a Senior in high school. Since she's now in college and studying photography she asked if I'd like an intern for a couple months. Why, yes...I do need someone to fetch me lattes. Labels: knight light
I threw her right in with one of our cameras and told her to snap away. I've also been showing her the ropes with Photoshop although I'm trying not to overload her. She's a quick study and really seems to be enjoying it. Plus she puts up with my husband's extreme goofiness so bonus there.
Occasionally she'll snap a picture of me in action which I always enjoy seeing. I rarely am in front of the camera so it's nice to have those pictures. 
I think by the end of summer I will be wishing she wasn't going back to school!
deep sigh of relief
Friday, October 03, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun, knight light
I was determined to finish up all Knight Light work this week since last weekend was my last shooting weekend. I've spent most of my evenings this week working away at the computer and even decided yesterday to take off work at noon to process pictures. I didn't move from the computer yesterday except to eat and take a quick nap. And just like that I finished up. I still can't believe it!
The big project was the last wedding album. Once I finished that up yesterday, I got it uploaded for the couple to view and already started to feel better. And because that couple is so awesome I already heard back from them approving the album.
I have made all of the calls I needed to make, my inbox is empty, my call/waiting list is updated... Knight Light is officially on maternity leave.
Josh and I were joking that I won't even know how to handle the weekend with absolutely nothing hanging over my head or any sessions. He suggested I sit on the couch all weekend, play Lego Batman and eat. I just might do that. Now if only my hospital bag was packed!
completely unrelated
Tuesday, September 30, 2008- When we go into labor, Josh or I will tweet so be sure to keep an eye on our Twitter accounts. Labels: bakin' a bun, knight light, nerd alert, randomness
- We bought Lego Batman for the Wii and I can't believe how fun it is. Josh and I can play as a team which works best for us. When you beat up a bad guy the little Lego pieces fall apart.
- I'm wearing my "We're Hungry" shirt today. Figured I better wear it while I can!
- Not sure if it's nesting or just the fact that my house is so dirty, but I would love to be at home cleaning.
- I heard some good news last week and anytime I forget I get really excited again when I remember.
- If we have a little girl, we're not going to name her Piper. A couple that live a block over named their baby Piper (she was born last month) and I'm hearing a lot of people using that name. We just don't want to end up with a "trendy" name.
- It's not even 8am and I would love some ice cream.
- I'm really proud of where Knight Light is this year. No advertising or promoting really... This just might turn into something great!
- I have finally settled on a new cell phone since mine is over two years old. My PDA has been acting flaky for awhile and I know I really need to replace it. I wasn't sold on the cell phone/PDA combination until I heard about the HTC Touch Pro. I can't wait until it gets released!
- Two Senior sessions left to process and one wedding album to wrap up. I really want to be done before the weekend.
one week too many
Monday, September 29, 2008Labels: knight light
I had my last scheduled photo sessions on Saturday and I was so thankful to be done. This past week I had a session on Sunday, Monday and two on Saturday. That was a lot for me. Okay, I'll admit it...it was too much. I should have been done the Saturday before. Saturday's morning session was at a nature preserve where you had to hike anywhere to get to different places. The mosquitoes were terrible and by the time we were done I was wiped out. I just kept telling myself that I had one more after that.
I was so relieved to get to Saturday afternoon's session, anticipating it would be an easy one. Hmm...well, two hours later I finally finished up the Senior session. My longest Senior to date! I think she had nine outfits. If Josh hadn't been with me I would have sat down on a picnic table halfway through and said, "I'm done". I was huffing and puffing by the time we got done. I even got a little snippy with Josh which I hate. I just was so exhausted, tired of walking around the park, and so thirsty! We got in the car and my wonderful husband took me to get ice cream. I had a Braxton-Hicks contraction when we parked the car at the ice cream place. I laughed that my body was really saying, "You did too much!". I get it, I get it! Sometimes I just have a hard time accepting it.
My Knight Light To Do list is shrinking and my client waiting list is getting bigger. My goal is to wrap up all outstanding sessions this week. Then ideally I would have all next week to clean my house and prepare for the baby! Holy moly...this is happening!
my husband, the assistant
Friday, September 19, 2008Labels: all you need is love, knight light
Having my own business on the side has been a really great experience. I can choose when to schedule photo sessions and when not to. I plan everything and usually just let Josh know what is coming up. I guess that's the bad thing about being the "assistant", you just have to go along with everything. With only two sessions scheduled for the weekend (one on Saturday and one on Sunday), I felt like I was doing pretty good. I got an email last night from Saturday's client. She had to cancel. I told Josh that we no longer had a session on Saturday. He stopped in his tracks and repeated, "No session on Saturday?". He asked if we had anything going on this Saturday. I thought for a minute and realized for the first time in THREE months we have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING planned. He then proceeded to tear around the house with Bebo running and barking at his heels.
Poor guy, he needs a break too. I know he would never complain at how busy I've been keeping him. He just is there for me and completely supportive. I'm lucky to have him. And I'm feeling lucky to give the guy a Saturday off!
getting closer
Thursday, September 18, 2008Labels: bakin' a bun, knight light
Five more sessions to go... Hopefully none of the others include me in two inches of mud. Hiking around a creek in flip flops is hard enough but add being 9 months pregnant!
jenna's pictures
Wednesday, September 17, 2008Labels: family matters, knight light
I took my sister-in-law's Senior pictures last night. We were running out of light quick so some of the shots were completely dictated by that. She wore a prom dress in the middle of a creek and it was awesome.
She's fearless that girl and didn't mind anything I asked of her. We actually ran out of daylight to finish up her pictures so we've got one more outfit to do. I wonder what other crazy things I can ask her to do.
caught up
Monday, September 15, 2008Labels: knight light
I haven't had much to say lately because my free time has been spent on Knight Light. I was determined to get caught up and yesterday I succeeded! My chalkboard checklist all was marked off in the past two weeks and it's such a great feeling. The only thing outstanding is the wedding album for the wedding we shot on the 6th. Woohoo!
I'm down to five scheduled photo sessions before maternity leave and one I need to try and squeeze in that was rained out. I really wanted to be ahead of the game so that when I go into labor I don't have anything hanging over my head. I'm feeling good about where I'm at!
last wedding of the year
Friday, September 12, 2008Labels: knight light
Josh and I shot our last wedding of the year on Saturday and finished with a bang. The wedding started at 11am which was great for me. I was home and on the couch by 5:00! The problem with an early wedding is that things get delayed so quickly. Pictures didn't start until 10am so that left us about a half hour to do family pictures and a few of the wedding party. Luckily the bride and groom both had small families. We did a large wedding party shot immediately after the ceremony and then stole the bride and groom for 15 minutes before their reception. It was crazy quick and I know I could have done better with more time. Josh kept reminding me that we can only do what we have time for.
I had never shot a Catholic wedding before so that was interesting. The church was ENORMOUS. I couldn't get over the size of the sanctuary. The lighting was impossible but the church made for some amazing pictures.
The reception was held right after the ceremony. The place had loads of windows and since it was afternoon it was pretty bright. Normally receptions are pitch black and our lenses have a hard time finding what to focus on. I think we got a lot of good stuff at the reception this time!
As we were leaving the reception, I had the biggest Braxton Hicks contraction yet! We were still in front of the building and I had to stop walking for a second because it surprised me so much. Kind of funny that I would have a contraction at the end of the wedding I was so anxious for.
Josh and I joked that we should put in our wedding contract that to book us your wedding has to start before noon with the reception following. It was awesome to get home so early especially since I get tired so quickly these days. I felt relief to have the wedding over even though I was a little sad because I had looked forward to this couple for so long!
no longer green
Tuesday, September 09, 2008I have my calendar on my computer set up to show different types of appointments in different colors. Green is for Knight Light appointments, Aqua is baby-related things... The past few months my calendar has been loaded with green. Most weekends were solid green. I opened up my calendar for September and was surprised to see a whole lot less green and a whole lot more aqua. Photo sessions have been replaced with child birth classes and doctor's appointments. Labels: knight light
I have been telling Josh that I would slow down and I somehow managed to do it. With the last wedding done, I have just a handful of sessions scheduled before I will officially be on maternity leave. I'm actually looking forward to a break from Knight Light since I've been so busy with it this summer. Although...I do have a waiting list started already for Spring!
one of my favorite senior sessions yet
Wednesday, August 27, 2008Labels: knight light
This girl was barefoot the entire time we traipsed around her farm. She rode a bike, climbed a tree...
and yet could look gorgeous in a prom dress.
a couple of CJ
Monday, August 25, 2008Labels: knight light, the one with friends
Pam and Chris took a little road trip on Saturday to see us and they let me take some pictures of their adorable little guy. I'm not even kidding you when I say I smiled the entire time I worked on his pictures last night. About every other picture I would have to yell for Josh to come and look.
CJ did so well spending the afternoon at my house. He ate a couple times, napped, played, giggled... Oh, the giggling...that could melt anyone's heart! I already can't wait to see them again and do some more pictures of the little guy.
click, click, click
Thursday, August 21, 2008Labels: knight light
After my weekend off, I decided I should update my Knight Light "To Do" list on our chalkboard door. The list of four quickly grew to nine projects in the works. And then I had a nervous breakdown... Actually I think I'm handling it pretty well and working any free time I have.
The biggest project is the wedding we shot a few weeks ago. I finished up all basic processing last night. That's about 1000 pictures, people. I'm really hoping to get that completely wrapped up tonight which would be a huge relief. I'm really trying to stay chilled about everything and not stress out.
So for now, every evening has me in front of my computer just clicking away.
i really like black and whites
Tuesday, August 05, 2008Labels: knight light
a couple more
Thursday, July 31, 2008Labels: knight light
I finished up two Senior sessions at the end of last week. It's been fun to do so many Senior pictures. Before each one I worry for just a second that they'll look similar to another session... Each one turns out so differently!
It helps when the locations are new but even if I did them all at the same place, they would look completely different. You just never know what you're going to get!
taking off work to work
Thursday, July 24, 2008Labels: knight light
Today and tomorrow I am only working half days so I can go home and work on Knight Light. It's pretty strange to need to take off work to work. I do so much better when I can process pictures during the day. I have a difficult time concentrating in the evenings.
Hopefully I'll be back on Monday with lots of finished session pictures to share!
more seniors!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008Labels: knight light
I lucked out this year since Josh's youngest sister is going to be a Senior. I got a built-in client list for Senior pictures. This is perfect because I LOVE doing Senior pictures. They are young enough to be open to suggestions but old enough to take direction.
I also just love that age. I think about where I was before my Senior year of high school. Feeling grown-up, yet still a kid. Trying to figure out what type of person you really are... Definitely time for big changes!
I try to capture that person's personality best I can. Sometimes if they're shy, I don't get it until the very end (like the above picture). But when I do...it just makes the whole session.
trying to slow down
Monday, July 21, 2008Yesterday I finally admitted that maybe I was overdoing it a bit with Knight Light. I scheduled ten sessions during the month of July (plus we had those three weddings in June). I actually ended up canceling my late Sunday afternoon session yesterday because I just wasn't feeling well. I told Josh that I realized I was over-scheduled and I didn't really know why I did it. He replied, "Well you love it so you want to get as much as you can in". Labels: knight light
This weekend I was able to finish up processing for the last June wedding! My goal though is to design two wedding albums by the end of the month since our next wedding is August 2nd. Yikes. I had just two sessions this weekend...some Senior pictures and a delightful little family session. I'm looking forward to working on their pictures because I think we got a lot of good stuff.
So I'm two wedding albums and five sessions out... Three sessions scheduled for this week. Hmm...what was I saying about over-scheduling?? What can I say? I'm a work in progress.
cheering for knight light
Thursday, July 17, 2008Last night I had my usual evening freak out about Knight Light booking so much. I am getting emails every day to book a session! Good news for the business but it's making me a little crazy. I really want to do as much as I can so I'm trying to schedule them all in. Labels: knight light
I told Josh that it just figures my business would boom this summer when I'm going to need to be off in October for the baby. Josh said, "No, this is going to be a really good thing". I was like, a good thing?? He said, "Well of course, you're in high demand and there will be people that can't even get into Knight Light. Once you're back in the saddle again, BOOM. You're off and going".
Not sure what I would do without my own cheerleader.
plugging along
Friday, July 11, 2008Labels: knight light
I finished up another of the June weddings last night which was a huge relief. Now I have one wedding left to process and two albums to design. Still plugging along... I think I'm doing good since it's only two weeks into July. I've got to have those all wrapped up by the end of the month before my next wedding, which is August 2nd.
I think that's why I feel like time left until Baby comes isn't very long. I'm counting down the days by sessions and what I have to do. Processing a wedding takes SO much time that it's easy to become overwhelmed.
I have three Senior sessions this weekend which I'm so excited for. LOVE those! Hopefully the rain holds out and we can do them all.
ten?
Thursday, June 26, 2008Labels: all you need is love, knight light
Writing about wedding photography the other day made me remember when I first discussed with Josh about taking next year off. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Josh, how many weddings do you think we can shoot next year?
Josh: Hmm, I don't know. Maybe ten?
Me: TEN??? Are you serious?
Josh: Sure, why not?
Me: Oh I don't know. Because we're going to have a baby, plus be working full time???
Josh: Right. Maybe a couple?
Having already booked a wedding in March, we decided to just not schedule anymore. Then a friend of a good friend contacted us about shooting their early summer wedding. Alright, maybe one more. Then the sister of our first June bride contacted us about an August wedding... Okay, so three it is. No more. At least they're all spread out!
Fourth scheduled wedding of the year tomorrow...here's hoping things go smoothly!
