Kelsey Bigelow Photography

Shannon & Eli | Boulder Baby Photographer

2011-12-13T09:32:00.002-07:00

Shannon and her husband Jason own Creekside Tree Nursery in Boulder and they just had a baby 2 months ago! Shannon and I have been friends for a while and I wanted to make sure we got photos with Eli before he was out of that squishy newborn phase. Unfortunately, Jason wasn't able to join us because he's been insanely busy selling Christmas trees to the masses but Shannon and I got to hang out for a bit with Eli before we headed outside to the Christmas tree lot. I think you'll agree that Eli is so cute!

Marcil Family Story | Boulder Family Photographer

2011-11-22T13:50:00.002-07:00

I absolutely adore this family! I've known them for so long and they were some of the first families I ever photographed. It's so much fun to hang out with the kids at their beautiful Boulder home and see how much they've grown. I think you'll agree with me- these kids are quite adorable!

Whitney & Sage Proposal Story | Boulder Proposal Photographer

2011-11-21T09:39:00.007-07:00

I met Whitney while I was in school at UNC. I met her boyfriend Sage when we all worked on Help-Portrait together last year. Through some internet snooping, Sage found my phone number last week and gave me a call. The message went a little something like this:

"Hi Kelsey, this is Whitney's boyfriend Sage. I've been wanting to propose to Whitney for a while and I'm wondering if you could help me out..."

And that was all I heard. Because I had hung up the voicemail and quickly called him back. Whitney? Proposal? Oh I am all in! What do you need from me?

We stealthily set up a plan for yesterday afternoon that hinged on one very important scenario- Whitney would need to be my assistant for a shoot I had planned yesterday morning.

I have never encountered more resistance from someone before. She was really dragging her feet- not lunch, not gas money, not pleas of desperation could get her to agree. Until finally, at almost the last second she agreed.

We made our way up to the Stanley Hotel while Whitney excitedly told me about how her boyfriend Sage had flown in to her surprise her. Really Whitney?! What a surprise to me! Ha! It was so hard to keep a straight face and pretend like I had no idea what was happening.

On our way back down to from Estes Park, I told Whitney I had to make a quick stop somewhere. She went along with it, all the way up to the point where we'd turned down the driveway of the stables I was dropping her off at.

"Wait wait! What are we doing here?!" she kept asking me.

"UM I have to pick something up!" Slash drop you off so you can go on a magical carriage ride!

Her face when I dropped her off by the barn and she saw Sage in a horse drawn carriage- it was so great. I think she was so stunned- she just kept looking back and forth between me and him and shouting "YOU KNEW?! YOU KNEW TOO?!"

Oh Whitney. I knew so much. You had no idea.

After dropping Whitney off, I quickly moved my car behind a fence and jumped out to hide behind a tree, the designated proposal spot. I couldn't hear or see what was going on and my feet were quickly falling asleep.

Finally! I heard the bells from the horses and I poked my head out. I hid in the grass in front of them while I watched Sage's proposal. I'm not sure how Whitney didn't see me- I'm about as stealthy as an elephant and the grass did nothing to hide my bright purple coat.

I heard her scream "YES YES YES!" and poked my head out to take some photos of the two of them. It was such a beautiful moment to be a part of and I'm so thankful to Sage for letting me be involved.

Congratulations again Whitney and Sage!!!!!! I'm so happy for both of you!

And of course one with Dennis Kuehl from Mountain View Belgians, who drove the carriage!

Solomon Family - Stapleton Family Photographer

2011-11-16T19:55:00.002-07:00

This family is absolutely adorable and a complete blast to photograph! Their two girls are so cute and so much fun!
Last Saturday was unseasonably warm for Colorado but also super windy! We tried to play outside as much as possible but it's a little bit difficult when leaves keep whipping you in the face! Instead, we hung out a lot inside where this family shared just a bit of their story with me.

Sarah & Scott | CU Engagment Photos

2011-10-21T19:35:00.004-06:00

Sarah and Scott- where do I even begin? I guess I should say I am so excited for your wedding next year! We laugh so much whenever we're together; I know it will be so fun. I had a blast with you and Kayden for your engagement photos! I hope you love them as much as I do!

Sarah is the mommy of the adorable Kayden. We all climbed into her fiance Scott's giant yellow truck one Sunday and rumbled down into Boulder to photograph their engagement session on the CU Campus! I was excited to photograph at CU because the entire campus seems to have all sorts of surprises every time I visit. I've photographed a couple of weddings there with other photographers and it seems every time I go, something different catches my eye. We had a lot of fun running around after Kayden and avoiding students as we shot.

Hope you enjoy!

Oh yeah- Kayden was there too but we didn't see too much of him because he was too busy showing babysitter/maid of honor Jenny how fast he could run.

San Diego

2011-07-31T11:26:00.003-06:00

Do you ever find yourself drawn to one city, over and over again? For whatever reason, that city for me is San Diego. Maybe it's the fact that my family is there, or the memories I have, or that I've been there almost every summer since I was a baby. Whatever it is, I love this town.

My mom and I went to San Diego a couple of weeks ago for a much needed vacation. For those of you who don't know, I've been working 50 hours a week as a nanny and photographing on the weekends. I was in serious need of a break to refuel.

I took my "real" camera with me but all these shots are from my camera phone. I was experimenting with some new Android apps I found. Plus, the best camera is the one that's with you, right?

Most of the photos are from Balboa Park, which is one place I can't get enough of. We spent hours walking around, and I loved the Botanic Gardens.

Easterly Family

2011-06-14T09:40:00.002-06:00

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Liz Easterly and her family and photographing their cuteness. Liz runs the incredibly informative and fun StapletonMoms blog. Nonie was in town and we had perfect weather for a fun shoot. How could you not with boys this cute? Jack showed me all his lacrosse skills, we played on the playground and they got Popsicles! There is no better summer day than that!

Roots

2011-05-31T17:57:00.003-06:00

It was never hidden from me. The woman I grew up calling Grandma on my Dad's side was not my biological grandmother. His "real" mother was killed in a car accident when he was two. All he remembers is whatever my grandfather told him, which wasn't much.

It never felt like I was missing something until, suddenly, a couple of weeks ago, I was missing everything. I was missing the story of an entire side of my family. Where did they come from? What did they do?

My grandfather wrote down as much of the story of his childhood and his family as he could before he passed away from lung cancer when I was very young. Unfortunately, he never wrote down anything about my biological grandmother.

At first, I tried doing a little research on my own. But because I knew no one's last names or really anyone's first names, I got stuck pretty early on. My dad wasn't much help either.

I turned to my grandmother for help. Not only did she know a little bit more about my dad's birth mother from things my grandfather had told her and the few correspondences she had had with that side of the family, she's also very involved in the genealogy of her own family.

Today we met in her basement and she gave me everything she had left from my birth grandmother. There were a few newspaper clippings from her death and some letters my great grandparents had written to them. Everything else had been given to my father and is buried somewhere in his basement.

Then we started looking through Ancestry.com's archives. Suddenly, a whole world opened up. The answers I had been looking for sat right there. Grandma helped me with names and was able to verify we were on the right path with some memories of other family member's names.

I learned at least two women in my family died very soon after having children. I also learned my family came to Colorado from Texas. Before that, we lived in Tennessee and Arkansas. We learned I come from farmers who didn't have a lot of money but certainly had a lot of children.

Now, I have the beginnings of my roots, the beginning of my story.

Our roots are our families and they are everything. They give us history. They give us a story, a past, something to be proud of. They give us who we are and where we belong.

I love photographing families. I love documenting this story, for the generations living it and the future generations that will one day sit down to do their own search and discover their own past.

Rachel + Andy | Boulder Engagment Photographer

2011-05-04T15:25:00.002-06:00

I was so excited to photograph Rachel and Andy's engagement photos this past weekend. They met while in college, taking Theatre and Holocaust classes together. We met up last Sunday and had no idea we'd be contending with SNOW in May for their photos! Eventually the weather settled again and we had a great time running around some open space with their dog Atticus. Then it was off to Red Frog Coffee where owner Emily was so gracious to host us! The sun even peeked out from behind the clouds for a few minutes.

Rachel + Andy, best of luck to both of you on your big move to California! Thanks for hanging out with me on Sunday and bearing the freezing temperatures! I hope you love your photos!

O'Rourke Family

2011-05-02T09:29:00.002-06:00

I am crazy about this family- they are awesome. They truly understand what I'm trying to say as a photographer and warmly opened their doors to me to photograph their family a second time! (See the first time here) Last weekend, I woke up to snow on the trees and drove through a little storm to get to the session but by the time I arrived, the weather seemed to have settled down a little bit. It was still ridiculously cold out so we spent most of the morning inside, just being and having a blast.

Thank you O'Rourke family! I had a blast hanging out with all of you again! I hope you love the photos as much as I do!

Declan is a big boy now- he's one!

Dad Shawn + boys play this crazy game where the boys climb on a blanket and Shawn pulls them around on the wood floor. Declan didn't want the game to stop!

We ventured outside a little bit...

Declan rode around in the wagon and Colin showed off his dragon skills!

The left is Colin's "No I don't want to be involved in any family photos or playtime."

Kayden! | Boulder Baby Photographer

2011-04-25T10:58:00.003-06:00

It was so great to see Sarah and Kayden last week! I hadn't seen them in a while - with school and work, things kind of got away from us. Kayden is a big boy now- even sleeping in his own big boy bed! He's always such a ham and so fun to photograph! He showed me all the fun stuff in his room and even tidied up a little bit for Sarah. We had fun playing outside on the swing set and Kayden discovered that sometimes the most simple toys are the most fun.

Kayden took a huge stack of wipes out and started cleaning everything in sight- his bed, the floor and even Sarah! :)

Kristi, Nathan & Sam

2011-04-14T10:30:00.002-06:00

In December 2009, I attended a photo workshop in Boulder put on by Dane Sanders. I gained a lot of knowledge that day, but the best thing I got was close friendships with other local photographers. Kristi was one such photographer. We've worked closely together in the past year, going to WPPI together last year & working on Photographers for Haiti together. I was overjoyed when she sent me a text message with a positive pregnancy test and I couldn't wait to meet Nathan and Kristi's new little guy. I trekked to Colorado Springs on Monday to hang out and of course, had to take some photos.

More Lessons from Stub Hub

2011-04-08T20:08:00.000-06:00

Thank you to everyone who's read the blog and commented on it here or on Facebook. I truly appreciate it.

Stub Hub responded to my blog and to my posting on their Facebook page. They took the time to craft a thoughtful response and I wanted to share with you all what I felt about it.

"Hey Kelsey we totally get it, there's nothing worse than getting shut out for your favorite band and then seeing someone else selling those tickets for a lot more money. Keep in mind, as a marketplace a ticket is only worth what somebody else is willing to pay for it. If no one is willing to pay double for the ticket, then those tickets will keep getting lower in price. So try checking back over the next few weeks and hopefully you'll find something more in your budget."

For this, I applaud them. To me, here's what they did right:

1) Personalized response: Stub Hub got rid of the cut & paste response and gave me something that was real. This made me think that I was talking to a real person, who was passionate about the company, and wanted me to love it too.
2) Acknowledged the issues that I was upset about: In my posting, I talked about not being able or willing to spend so much money on tickets. Stub Hub got that and acknowledged that I was hurt and sad I wasn't able to see my favorite band. They showed that they understood why I was upset, which is the first step to remedying a solution.
3) Offered a solution: Stub Hub offered me a realistic promise. They offered me something they could reasonably deliver on and further acknowledged that there was some things that were out of their control.

The point of my ranting before was to ask why have a Facebook page or a Twitter account or be at all engaged in social media if you don't actually intend to be engaged? Social media allows for a two way street- not only am I allowed to say something about the company, the company is allowed to say something to me. If you're not going to be truly concerned with what I have to say, you come off dishonest, insincere and fake. There is a very thin veil with social media and just having it isn't enough. You have to be able to use it properly.

Learning from Stub Hub

2011-04-08T14:05:00.002-06:00

I love Mumford & Sons. Since the very first song I ever heard by them, I've loved them. They don't come to Colorado often which is why I was so excited when I heard they were going to be here for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. We missed our chance to buy the tickets for the festival- being poor college students, my friends and I didn't have money to buy the passes before they sold out. We were majorly bummed until I found out Mumford & Sons was performing two dates at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver.

Thanks to being a KBCO member, I was able to get the pre-sale code and my friend and I got on yesterday morning at 10 am, as soon as the tickets went on sale, to purchase 3 tickets. We couldn't get through. No matter how many times we tried, we couldn't get through. All day yesterday, we would try and fail. This morning, all tickets went on sale at 10:00 am. We were on there at exactly 10 trying to get tickets. Still, we were unable to get through. We called the Fillmore directly and found out the show was sold out. We were crushed. Our favorite band and we'd missed them.

Then my sadness turned to anger. You see, the website Stub Hub listed 513 tickets for sale to Mumford and Sons at 10:30 am this morning. Mysteriously, although Live Nation had no tickets, Stub Hub had tons of tickets! Not only did Stub Hub have a lot of tickets, they also had tickets on sale for $72- more than double the price of tickets, before fees, from Live Nation. When my friend and I went online this morning to buy tickets, both on separate computers at separate houses, we had no idea we were competing against a major site like Stub Hub for the purchase of three tickets.

So I went online, like any consumer in "the digital age" can do and I found Stub Hub's Twitter account and their Facebook page. I sent them a few tweets letting them know how disappointed I was with their business practice and the fact that I couldn't get tickets because they had them all. It may not be illegal but it certainly is ridiculous and unethical. No response from the great Stub Hub. Then I went on their Facebook page.

Person after person was unhappy with Stub Hub's service. Person after person felt taken advantage of. Person after person was upset that they had tried to buy tickets to see their favorite band, only to be told the tickets were sold out, and then have tickets magically reappear on Stub Hub's site. Stub Hub's response to these upset potential customers? A cut and paste response. "[customer]thank you for the post. We wanted to clear up any misconceptions you may have about our service. StubHub is a secondary ticket marketplace where fans can buy and sell tickets to and from other fans. All of the tickets listed for sale on our site are being provided by other individuals. StubHub does not buy or sell tickets, and we hold no ticket inventory. Thanks!" At least they bothered to change the name of the customer.

Here's what Stub Hub has failed to realize. I can see these comments. You can see these comments. Anyone with access to the internet can see these comments. A company shouldn't have Facebook page or a Twitter account just to plug more stuff about how fabulous they are or to try to sell more stuff to people. What Stub Hub has ultimately failed to see is that Facebook and Twitter are connection devices .Instead of using their Facebook page as a way to connect with customers, they tried to crank out responses as if it was a customer support line and they were reading a script. Stub Hub doesn't get that they could have turned a bad experience by a handful of upset potential customers into a chance to connect with their customers and reverse the negativity towards their company. They don't understand that even though Facebook and Twitter and any other social media outlet may be online and technology reliant, the people who use these sites are just that- people.

Stub Hub should have at least attempted to make a sincere apology to people who are upset. Perhaps they never would have fixed the relationship with that customer but here's the thing- they could have stopped potential problems from other customers. Customers want to know that they are heard. If you're not going to change your business practices, at least come up with a better explanation for why you're not so terrible in the first place.Humility is important in business no matter the size. Social media has made it so I can connect with a company as big as Stub Hub or as small as the bakery down the street. And everyone is a part of the interaction and conversation that we're having.

Because here's what happened- I was upset. I went to Facebook to get my voice heard. There I saw that Stub Hub wasn't really listening to what their customers were saying. Instead of engaging, they were pasting a response as quickly as they could to any customer who was upset. To me, they were being fake, insincere and unapologetic. So what did I do? I made more noise. I put it on my Facebook. I put it on Twitter. I put it on Reddit. And I wrote this blog about it and sent it to everyone I know.

Here's the thing, Stub Hub. You may think that when somebody posts a comment on your Facebook page, your interaction stops with that person. You did your part right? You posted a comment back. Problem solved. But the fact of the matter is, whoever can see that is now part of the interaction too. I don't know those other people on your page but I feel connected with them. And now their anger is my anger. And my anger is this blog.

Signposts

2011-04-06T14:46:00.002-06:00

My dreams can be annoying sometimes. They seem to show up at the most inconvenient times- as I'm about to drift off into sleep, while I'm driving in the car. Sometimes, they just won't leave me alone. They stubbornly claw their way into my head and set up shop. I fall in love with them, those stubborn, elaborate, kooky dreams. So I work to make them reality.

Inevitably, some giant metaphorical boulder seems to land smack dab in the middle of the road the dream and I are trying to travel on. I get a little sidetracked trying to pick through the mess. Sometimes money is tight, sometimes time is short, sometimes I'm just tired and my spirit is drained.

This is when I need a signpost. A friendly email, a meeting with a new colleague- these are the things that confirm my path is right. These are the things that refresh my soul and inject my vision with a much needed dose of hope. I don't seek them out; they seem to find me at times I need them the most. Sometimes, I follow the posts for days, weeks, months and then they disappear. This is frustrating. I followed my heart and my vision and it disappeared. The funny thing is, the posts aren't really gone. They just made a left turn somewhere back down the road and I missed it.

Dreaming can be hard sometimes. There's times I find it challenging to keep going, to keep pushing, past the point when things are hard, never knowing what the future holds, if anything. When the vision gets cloudy or difficult, I try to patiently wait for my heart to find another post and another small confirmation that this path is right. There will always be another, even if it's one I walked past or leading down a path I hadn't thought about.

One For One - My Partnership with Mother House

2011-03-28T16:55:00.003-06:00

My mom has one of the biggest hearts of any person I know. Consistently throughout my whole childhood, she was always teaching me to think of others. She would volunteer for food drives and gift drives and was always donating books to kids who needed them or gifts to those who couldn't afford them during the Holidays. And each year, my mom donates diapers and other baby items to an organization called Mother House in Boulder.

Mother House is an organization dedicated to providing a safe house for at-risk pregnant women. They are much more than a shelter- the team is dedicated to helping the mothers build a successful and healthy future for themselves and their babies. The women come to live at the house while they are pregnant and can stay for up to three months after the birth of their child. They are responsible for a wide variety of things during their stay, including paying rent and applying on their own for government assistance programs.

Ever since I'd heard the One For One business model of TOMS Shoes, I've been trying to find a way to marry that model with my business. TOMS Shoes was one of the first philanthropic businesses I'd heard of. For every pair of shoes they sell, they give away a pair to a child in need. One for One.

My brainwaves started working and connecting and I came up with an idea I wasn't quite sure was going to work. I knew I wanted to help Mother House but I wasn't quite sure a One for One model was going to work. One photo session for One photo session. I told anyone who would listen my plan and asked for feedback. Finally, I approached Mother House and told them my plan.

Today I got to meet with them in person and talk in more detail about my plan. And now I am so excited I can formally announce to everyone my new One for One policy.

For every portrait photo session Kelsey Bigelow Photography does, a new mom from Mother House gets one AND a print to take with her as she leaves the house to start her new life.

I got to meet several of the girls who live at the house today and their excitement made me a hundred times more excited to embark on this project. I know the healing power of a photograph because I have seen it. I have seen those struggling with grief and with fear and I have seen these emotions diminish, if just for a moment, when they are able to see the beauty of their life, just as I see it in every moment.

This is not a marketing ploy or my attempt to bring in more business. Rather, it is my attempt to show women who have gone through the darkest moments of their life the beauty that is their new beginning. It is about acknowledging where they have come and celebrating where they are going.

I am so excited about this new step. I hope you'll join me.

-Kelsey

Buffy & Fiona

2010-12-22T09:47:00.005-07:00

Poor neglected blog. How sad and out of date you are. More on that later.

A couple of months ago, I partnered with a great store, The Giggling Green Bean, to offer a free photo session. A great family won the session and we got to work setting it up. Then something really cool happened. The photo session winner had a friend who was having a hard time. She wondered if she might be able to pass on her winnings to her friend so she would be able to have some photos of her family. How could I say no to that?

I met up with Buffy and Fiona a couple of weeks ago and we had a great time. Fiona loves to read more than anything else so there was a lot of reading going on!

Thank you Buffy and Fiona for welcoming me into your home! I hope you love the photos as much as I do!

The Day Kayden Met Cake | Boulder Baby Photographer

2010-09-21T00:07:00.004-06:00

One year ago, Sarah was introducing me to her little guy for the very first time. Now he's walking, talking and making a mess. How could we not do some fun photos with a cake to make Kayden's big one year birthday?

Sarah had to help Kayden a little bit with the cake. And before you yell about putting cake in the baby's face, she put it on the side of his face. It just makes for a funny picture.

Friday Favorites

2010-09-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

As a general rule, the more ridiculous a television show, the higher probability I will like it. Show about man putting his head in fish's mouth? Seen it. Show about hunting yetis, chupacabras and dinosaurs? Seen it. Multiple times.

My friend (and roadtrip buddy) Merida takes the cake on watching ridiculous shows. Last night, we were working and planning and she turned on Ma's Roadhouse. I'd never even heard of this show. And it was AWFUL. Whoever decided these people needed a television show? The basic premise is this- Rick owns a biker bar. Rick's mom "Ma" is the manager of said bar. Chaos, nudity and lots of emphysema cussing ensues. In short, it is terrible television.

This week's Friday Favorites do not go to biker bars or Ma's Roadhouse.

They do go to:

1) This video by Kings of Leon. I'm SO excited for their new album to come out and this song makes me want to dance around like the little kids.

2) This bread recipe. Made it on Wednesday and it is AMAZING. I added cheese but I'm sure it's just as tasty sans cheese!
Fresh Herb Batter Bread

1 loaf, 20 slices
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 package regular or quick active dry yeast
1 1/4 cups very warm water (120-130 degrees F)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons shortening
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1/2 teaspoon chopped dried thyme leaves
Butter or margarine

1. Grease bottom and sides of 8 x 4 inch pan with shortening.
2. In large bowl, mix 2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast. Add warm water, parsley, shortening, rosemary and thyme. Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in remaining 1 cup flour until smooth.
3. Spread batter evenly in pan. round top of loaf by patting with floured hands. Cover loosely with plastic wrap lightly sprayed with cooking spray and let rise in warm place about 40 minutes or until doubled in size.
4. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
5. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Immediately remove from pan to wire rack. Brush top of loaf with butter, sprinkle with additional chopped fresh herbs if desired.

3) This charity in New Orleans. Merida and I have been discussing what we're going to be doing on the road and one thing we absolutely agreed on was we needed to volunteer as much as possible. We're hoping to work for this organization and rebuild houses in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

4) This CD. I cannot stop listening to it. I only stop listening to it to listen to the Kings of Leon song and dance around like the little kids in the video. You must listen to this CD. It's intoxicating, addicting and heart achingly beautiful.

5) This book. Dane Sanders, workshop leader, author, photographer and motivator extraordinaire recommended this book and I have to say, I love it nearly as much as Fast Track Photographer. If you're an aspiring photographer, or maybe you're just interested in the role vision plays, you must read this book.

Hope you all had a great week! Lots of exciting goodies are coming soon!

Isaac- 9 Months | Longmont Baby Photographer

2010-09-11T11:33:00.003-06:00

For 40 days this summer, he was my buddy. We played games, took walks and sometimes just stared up at the leaves. While Mom and Dad worked, Isaac and I played. I got to watch him grow from a 4 month old to a nearly 9 month old. From sitting up, to crawling, to now pulling himself up on furniture, I got to watch him grow. Last weekend, I met up with Isaac and his parents again for some photos.

Conquest Design

2010-09-08T22:14:00.003-06:00

Hmm. What to say, what to say about these guys? I met them two years ago in my Graphic Design 2 class. You know, the one I took before I took Graphic Design 1? It became clear to me that these guys were setting the standards for the class. They are ridiculously talented designers. There's a reason I go to them for everything I need designed. Since graduating college in May, these three have been cooking up a scheme to rock the design world. Like mad scientists, they've been plotting and are nearly ready to launch their Conquest. (See what I did there? I made a pun. Because their name is Conquest Design. It's true; I'm funny.) I helped them out with some photos a few Saturdays ago and we had a fun time destroying my living room, scaring my roommate and hiking the grasses of my backyard.

Tate R Tot | Boulder Family Photographer

2010-08-24T08:52:00.002-06:00

Oh internet. I adore this family so much. I spent every Wednesday this summer watching their sweet baby Tate, who is one of the cutest baby's I've ever met/seen/encountered. I know I'm going to miss them and that baby, who Rachel pointed out I'd known half his life.

We met last Saturday, my last day before returning to school to do some photos of them as a family. They're so real and genuine and open with each other. They all just fit together, like a puzzle that likes laughing and snuggling and making funny faces. They know how to just be.

Music Monday: Alexi Murdoch

2010-08-23T08:38:00.002-06:00

Today is my last first day of school ever. Crazy to think that I'll be done with school in December. It makes me feel such a soupy mix of emotions.

Anyway, to kick off the school year/semester, my Music Monday pick is an absolute favorite artist of mine. Ever since I watched Away We Go, a favorite movie of mine, Alexi Murdoch has been on constant replay.

I hope you all enjoy!

Music Monday Wednesday

2010-08-18T10:14:00.003-06:00

Well it's not Monday anymore but it's my blog and I can do whatever I want. :p

My music pick for this week is The Temper Trap, a band made up of "3 Australians, 1 Indonesian and a New Zealander." Last week, my friend Merida invited me to their concert at the Ogden Theatre here in Denver. First of all- this band has seriously cool music. Second of all- they know how to rock a live show. We didn't stop dancing all night. Here's some of my favorite songs.

This is a song that is necessary to see performed live.

Saying goodbye.

2010-08-13T17:04:00.003-06:00

"But Kelsey. It's just a car."

That's what my dad told me. The decision needed to be made- did I want to trade my car for my brother's car so he could sell mine to buy his new one?

The benefits of taking my brother's car far outweighed any benefit of keeping mine. But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to just say yes and take his car.

Yes, this is just a car. It's just metal, welded together. It's just fabric and tires and a million moving parts.

But.

This is the only car I've ever had.

This is the car I learned to drive on, down a bumpy dirt road on neutral, swerving to avoid potholes as my father turned paler and paler.

This is the car that I drove to drama practice, concerts, prom and high school graduation.

This is the car that moved all my stuff from high school to college, from childhood to adulthood, that moved me from my parent's house to a place of my own.

This is the car that saved me from skunks, birds and a flying truck bed liner.

The more I thought about the car, that silver hunk of metal, fabric and a million moving parts, the more I realized why it made me sad to think of saying goodbye and letting it go.

This was the car that saw me at my best- after my art show, after my directorial debut, after all the successes. This was the car that saw me at my worst- through tears, fights and the frustrations of growing up.

To me, saying goodbye to that car means saying goodbye to part of myself, the innocent, young child part. The part that didn't know where she was going or what she wanted.

Like a giant rolling security blanket, this was the car that was the constant through all that changed.

I haven't had to say goodbye to a lot of big things. I live in the same state I grew up in. I see my parents at least every weekend. Parting with this car is saying goodbye to a big thing and it's not the car itself.

I realized that everything that happened to me in this car, every experience I've had that this car was a part of, was not caused by my car. It was because of me. I made my experiences.

This may seem like a dumb realization- how can a car cause anything? But it's an important one for me.

I am big enough, old enough, strong enough to be my own security blanket.

It doesn't matter if my car is silver, red, purple or blue. Saying goodbye doesn't change where I've come from, where I am or where I'm going.

So that's why I finally said yes. I would trade my car for my brother's. If you're in the market for a nice Honda Accord, I know where you can find a pretty damn good one.

Win a photoshoot with me!

2010-08-05T20:57:00.001-06:00

The Giggling Green Bean is a fantastic little store in Denver. They literally have an entire wall of cloth diapers and feature many organic and eco friendly baby options. Plus the entire staff is super friendly and knows what they're talking about! The Giggling Green Bean must be doing something right because this weekend they turn a big one year old! And to celebrate, they're having a gigantic party!

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, if you make your way to their store on Tennyson St., you can win so many fun things. To be exact- Amy, the lovely lady in charge, says over $2000 worth of stuff is up for grabs, including a $500 complete diapering kit. And I'm giving away a photo session!

So stop on by this weekend. You just might win some pretty cool things!

Image from The Giggling Green Bean

Denver Photographers! I need your help!

2010-08-05T08:00:00.003-06:00

I am having a scary realization.

In December 2010, I will graduate from college. I will be done with school forever.

I have this idea I've been working on. What if , starting January 2011, I went on a massive road trip? One RV, 48 states, 48 weeks, 53 city stops. At each city stop along the way, a group of photographers, new, student or established, could convene for portfolio building, networking and world changing. The fee for each portfolio shootout would be low and the money raised from the shoots would go directly to Thirst Relief International.

Here is my hope: I cannot pay for this trip myself. I am looking for sponsors who can help pay for travel essentials, like gas and RV insurance. I know that the benefit for sponsors is huge- connections to an event that's entire goal is to do a whole lot of good in the world and reaching new and student photographers first, before they even emerge into a market and begin the search for companies. As a new photographer myself, I know the importance of that first meeting with a company. There's so many different companies out there, I felt overwhelmed. Those who reached me first usually won my business.

To show the value of this project to potential sponsors, I'm organizing a "test shoot" in Denver.

All the details:
Sunday, September 12, 2011 at 4 pm!
We will meet at Civic Center Park in Downtown Denver, then split into groups and spread out.
Fee is $25, paid that day.
Any person who desires to be a professional photographer or is one is welcome to come.

To register for the event, visit our EventBrite page. Please register in advance so I know how many couples we will need to model for us!

I need your help- any photographer you might know, please invite them to join us. The more people that come, the higher the chance for sponsorships and the more people we will be able to help!

In advance, thank you!

Kempe Center Tour

2010-08-04T08:00:00.000-06:00

Kayden | Boulder Portrait Photographer

2010-08-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

Kayden is 10 months old. It's amazing to me that this time last year, we photographing him inside his momma's belly. Now he's a crawling, toothy, "KA!"-ing boy who likes to giggle and smile.

Kayden likes to wave to Katie.

The "over the shoulder wave" to Katie.

Music Monday: Mumford & Sons

2010-08-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

I first heard Mumford & Sons on local radio station KBCO. With beautiful lyrics and melodies, it struck my heart strings. The rest of the album does not disappoint. Here's my Music Monday pick, Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More."

This song haunts me.

21 Years.

2010-07-22T08:20:00.001-06:00

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

Andersen Family | Greeley Family Photographer

2010-07-21T22:37:00.001-06:00

This family is so special to me. I spent last semester working for them, watching their two boys. They're one of the nicest, sweetest families I've ever met. David is all boy, running, jumping, wrestling the dog. He has his tender moments too and his downright hilarious moments. Erik is a gentle baby who likes making you laugh. He's smiley and happy and likes to observe. He also has a heart condition and cerebal palsy.

Erik was born with both and had to have surgery on his heart when he was just a little guy. Now, he has to have surgery again on Friday to replace the valve. We met tonight to do some family photos before Erik's surgery.

So if you're a pray-er, positive thought-er or just a hope-er, spare a couple minutes Friday to think of their family.

Andersen family, I adore you. I'll see you in August!

This is David being "sweet" to his brother. Or something like that.

The day that changed everything.

2010-07-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

Do you have a day in your life, one day, that you can point to and say "That's when everything changed?"

December 11, 2009.

That's my day. The day everything changed.

I was attending my first photography workshop. The Fast Track Photographer with Dane Sanders. I'd read the book. Now I wanted someone to point me in the right direction and say "go." I wanted someone to give me the rule book, to let me in on all the secrets. I got something else entirely.

I had never really thought about why I wanted to be or why I was a photographer before that day. If I asked myself why, I answered "Because it's what I'm good at." When I closed my eyes and tried to see what my future might look like, it was murky and foggy. I eventually gave up trying to figure it out.

Finding my purpose or vision for my business was not a concept that was foreign to me. I'd heard it preached by countless photographers.

And I laughed it off every time.

Vision wasn't important. Talent alone would drive my success. No need for a road map or gps directions; I would blindly stumble my way through, led by my talent and my ability to make people laugh.

I was asleep at the wheel, foot to the gas, hoping and praying I had magnets in my shoes that would keep me close to something that could be called a road. I was veering comically and dangerously off course.

I wanted someone to give me the secrets, the rule book, the magic equation that would make everything work and would guarantee me a multi-million dollar, 50 year running business.

But until I woke up, none of that would be any help. How can you learn, grow, accomplish when you're asleep?

Dane asked me to wake up. My fellow Fast Track Photographers asked me to wake up.

I was surrounded, for the first time maybe ever, by photographers with talent, drive, vision and the ability to make people laugh. I would drown trying to support myself simply on my ability to push a button.

I panicked.

And then I started to close my eyes, push away the fog and figure out what I wanted.

I stopped the car, pulled over and drew my own map.

My vision isn't complete. There's moments of total fog still. But I don't let myself blindly drive my life anymore.

I can't afford to.

And ever since I started letting myself dream? Some pretty outrageous things have popped up in that head of mine, like Photographers For or a road trip across 48 states.

Maybe sometimes the best dreams happen when you're asleep, but my best dreams have happened since I woke up.

You know what? Ever since I started dreaming, some pretty crazy opportunities have come my way. Small confirmations that what I'm doing is right. It fits.

Would these opportunities have come if I had kept driving in kamikaze fashion? Maybe. But zonked out at the wheel, I would have let them whiz by.

So December 11, 2009? That's the day that changed everything. Focus, vision, passion. Things in me I didn't know were there. Things in me I didn't care weren't there. Suddenly, they were there. Front and center, as if they'd been waiting for me to just lift the fog and invite them to speak.

There was no rule book handout. No A+B = Success equation. But I got the secret formula anyways. Vision + Focus + Passion = Unstoppable.

Dane Sanders and his team are headed back on the road for RoadShow 2.0 across the U.S. the latter half of this year and beginnings of next year. If you're a photographer, I highly recommend these workshops. The friendships alone are worth the price. To find out more dates, visit the Fast Track Photographer store here.

Friday Favorites

2010-07-16T10:00:00.002-06:00

Well it's been a little while since we've had a random posting of things I love this week. So here it goes.

1) Pedigree's Adoption Drive: Both my boys came from shelters. I love shelter animals. Somehow, I think they're more loyal, loving and happy companions than other animals. Pedigree started something really cool- Click "Like" on their Pedigree Adoption Drive page on Facebook and they'll donate a bowl of food to an animal in a shelter. Find out more here. You can also donate to shelters and find out ways to adopt or volunteer at animal shelters across the country. Also, this commercial makes me cry. And I never cry at commercials.

2) Summer mountain weddings: Almost three weeks ago, I second shot with Kristi Crosson in Vail. Last weekend, I third camera'd for Marilee Langner Sturgis in Beaver Creek. What do these two weddings have in common? Amazing, stunning mountain locations. The mountains are the reason I love Colorado. Not so much for activities that happen in them, like hiking, skiing (I've never even been!) or mountain biking but mostly because of their views. Even better when people get married up there! And I get to photograph it!

3)Weird small world stories: Isn't it weird when you find out that so-and-so knows so-and-so? One of my close friends from high school is on a study abroad trip to Mexico this summer with my best friend's brother. SO random. But very very cool!

4) Yankee Candle's Lemon Lavender candle: This candle smells divine. I want to eat it. It also gives me the strong desire to bake a lemon lavender cake.

5)Etsy shopping: Etsy is a dangerous place for me. Everything is so cute. And handmade. And run by small business people. I love it all. Like this gray bag I bought myself. Or this adorable jersey top with delicate flowers. Or this dress. Or this convertible wrap dress. I mean, really. The shopping could go on all.day.long. And that would be really, really, really dangerous.

6) Summer dinners: Summer meals are so easy and so fresh. Lettuce from the garden drizzled in oil and vinegar, meat cooked on the grill and thick, crusty bread. Yum yum yum!

What are you loving this week?

My birthday wish.

2010-07-12T22:20:00.002-06:00

I remember reading the website's homepage for the first time. More than 1.1 BILLION people lack access to clean drinking water. Not million- billion. Not access to water, just access to stuff that's clean and safe.

How could this be? Something I take for granted, something so simple. I turn the faucet on and there it is. Clean water. I never worry about getting a disease that will keep me out of school and could potentially kill me.

Thirst Relief is my favorite organization. Literally, I love them. Not only are they doing a remarkable thing but the people who run it are just so darn awesome. Like Jim Davis-Hicks: wedding photographer, Thirst Relief creator and really cool guy. I got the opportunity to meet both Jim and his equally awesome wife Lara at WPPI in March. It's hard for me to listen to people who are so passionate about what they're doing because it makes ME passionate about what they're doing. And Jim and Lara, well you two sucked me in. I've never met two people more focused on a goal and more driven and passionate about a cause.

Not only is Thirst Relief run by awesome people, it's an organization who's strategy is one I love. Dirty water causes health issues- 2 million people die from waterborne illnesses each year, many of them children. It keeps sick kids out of school, causing countless other problems down the line. Instead of throwing money at treating the illnesses or the other results of dirty water, Thirst Relief goes to the source.

Clean the water.

Everything else will take care of itself. The coolest part of that? Thirst Relief's solutions to cleaning the water are sustainable. They take care of the root problem and they take care of it for a really, really long time. And for a lot of people.

It's my 21st birthday next Thursday. As a present to me, would you donate to Thirst Relief? The really cool part is all it takes is $5 to save a life. Instead of a coffee, you buy someone clean water.

Click here to donate.

You can do so anonymously or fill in my email: bookings@kelseybigelowphotography.com and I'll send you love, kisses and adorations.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Thanks for letting me share my passion with you. :)

Music Monday: Cary Brothers

2010-07-12T07:58:00.002-06:00

The first time I heard Cary Brothers was on the Garden State soundtrack. I thought it was a band of brothers, not just one guy. Once I cleared up my confusion, I discovered I actually really like the one guy that is Cary Brothers and his music. His new album "Under Control" came out in April and I've been listening to it a lot while editing, site creating and airplane riding. Enjoy!

Where in the world? Headed to San Diego.

2010-07-01T17:33:00.002-06:00

There's just certain cities that have a hold on me. There's something different about them. Maybe it's their food, their skyline or their culture but there's something that lingers in me after I've left them.

San Diego is one of those cities.

It's not because of the food, the skyline or the culture. It's because of my family.

I've been visiting San Diego since before I could walk or talk or sit up. It's where my aunt lives and it's where my memories live.

I'll be gone today through next Tuesday, loving the city and my family it keeps.

I won't be able to answer emails, but hang tight and I'll get them when I get back.

Lindsey and Stephen | Vail Wedding

2010-06-30T09:40:00.000-06:00

My good friend Kristi Crosson was gracious enough to let me tag along and second camera with her this weekend at a gorgeous wedding in Vail. Lindsey and Stephen were married on top of the Vail Wedding Deck surrounded by their family and friends from San Antonio, Texas. The group was so fun to be around and the view from the top of the mountain made me gasp. And it was only a little bit because of the lack of oxygen.

Thanks, Kristi, Lindsey and Stephen for letting me tag along! I had a fantastic time.

Music Monday: How to Find Your Own Music

2010-06-29T17:04:00.000-06:00

The internet never ceases to amaze me. Anything you want: POOF. Instantly at your fingertips. Want to see a baby laugh so hard as it rips a piece of paper he falls over? Simple YouTube search. Want to know the strangest way a person has died? Google, at your service.

My personal favorite use for the internet, besides finding videos of the before mentioned babies laughing, is to discover new music. There's a gazillion sites out there that will match you to your new favorite artist. That may be a slight exaggeration, but here's some of my favorites.

TuneGlue - This site makes a map of artists you may be interested in based on the one you type in. Click on the artists name and then expand. The swinging words and moving map can be a little frustrating sometimes- click Lock Position to stop the movement.

Last.Fm- This site gives you a little more information about the new artists you're matched up with with small biographical paragraphs. It'll also give you more information about your originally searched artist.

Music Map- This music map groups artist by the probability that you'll like them. It takes a little while for the artists to gather themselves so wait until they settle down before clicking.

If you're in the mood for a random playlist, try Pandora or stereomood. You never know what you'll get. But that's the fun right?

This is summer.

2010-06-15T20:05:00.001-06:00

There is no place he is more at home than the pool during summer.

The First Harvest

2010-06-14T18:35:00.002-06:00

Tonight is the first time this summer we're eating food from our garden.
It's also the first time we've successfully grown strawberries.

Music Monday: Alpha Rev

2010-06-14T08:32:00.001-06:00

I first heard the song on KBCO. "Have you heard, my Mona Lisa? Have you heard who you are? You're a new morning." I must find who sings this, I thought! And with that, my love for Alpha Rev was born.

I already featured the song "New Morning" on a past Music Monday, but the whole album is available now and boy is it a good one!

Enjoy!

Music Monday

2010-06-07T08:00:00.001-06:00

I think my Zune is magic. Putting it on shuffle, it somehow identifies exactly what I need to hear. It also somehow manages to perfectly match the beat of the dancing chicken or Statue of Liberty on the side of the road.

Today, it pulled up "Car Crash" by Matt Nathanson. I had forgotten how much I love this song, this album, this artist. So this is my Music Monday pick this week.

Stumbling Around the Internet

2010-06-02T08:30:00.000-06:00

Link time! I've been stumbling around lately, mostly on the internet. Here's some favorite findings!

This lady is absolutely insane in her coupon saving madness.

I'm so inspired by this design blog. Makes me itch for a place of my own!

I want to make these and fill them with chicken salad for a summer picnic. Sounds divine!\

Ditto with this. My tummy is rumbling just thinking about it!

I absolutely adore the concept of this site. It's like a giant baby sale and best- it's green!

I love the weird, the bizarre, the slightly kooky. So this was right up my alley!

Wyatt - 6 Months! | Denver Portrait Photographer

2010-06-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

It was so great to see this family again. Little Wyatt has gotten 5 months older and so much bigger! The light in his room and his parent's room was stunning plus his mama has white bedding- my favorite! I think it might have something to do with that interior design degree she's been hard at work on! Guys, thanks for inviting me in again to photograph your little monkey!

Wyatt's mom painted this at a great place called Sipping N Painting in Denver. Sip some wine, paint a picture!

America: The Story of Us

2010-05-31T09:34:00.002-06:00

We used to call it the Hitler channel. My dad had a passion for watching the History channel late at night and the only thing that ever seemed to be on was stories of World War Two.

As I grew into my nerdy roots, I discovered the channel wasn't just about Hitler and it was actually pretty interesting. When I heard they had created a documentary about the story of America, I was so excited. Not only is the show visually stunning, it's an amazing story. There's things I never knew about America and hidden heroes who shaped the country in amazing ways.

Having the finale on Memorial Day seemed only fitting. I'll be tuning in tonight, will you?

If you haven't seen the show you can catch a few episodes from History's website here. The whole series is also available on Comcast OnDemand. You can also catch when the finale will be playing again here.

O'Rourke Family

2010-05-26T07:38:00.002-06:00

This family stole my heart! They're so sweet and loving and silly and playful! It was a blast to photograph them on Saturday! Little Colin is a handful and kept me running for a large portion of the two hours! Baby brother Declan was content to just watch and observe.

Thank you O'Rourke family!

Noah is one! | Denver Portrait Photographer

2010-05-25T21:03:00.003-06:00

Noah turned one two Saturday's ago and I got to party with his family as they celebrated his big day! It's crazy how fast he's grown. I feel like we just did a session with him at 6 months and now he's on the move, walking eveywhere! It was so nice to see the whole family again!

Music Monday: Seabird

2010-05-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

My music pick this week was an accidental stumble. I found Seabird through TuneGlue, which is a super cool site that matches you to other artists like the one you search for. Awesome for finding new artists with similar styles to ones you already listen to! I'm loving this CD so I hope you do too!

Music Monday

2010-05-17T06:48:00.000-06:00

Yippee! Here's more music I've been feasting my ears on!

Josh Ritter- So Runs the World Away

This choice comes from my friend Gail Werner who posted this video to twitter.

I fell in love with the song which led me to search for it on Google and download the whole album.

Here's some songs that I'm loving! Hope you enjoy it as much as I've been!

Stumbling Around The Internet

2010-05-12T19:00:00.000-06:00

Have you heard of StumbleUpon? It's quite possibly the coolest internet tool around. Every time you push the conveniently located Stumble button on your tool bar, it generates a new site for you, based on interests you indicate. It's a great for when I'm waiting for files to import, export or upload.

Here's some favorite sites Stumble's led me to!

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind - If you're in a soul searching mood, these questions will help you get started.

List of Unusual Deaths - Is it weird that I find these interesting and, at times, amusing?

Raspberry Gelato - This looks SO GOOD. And it's so easy! Now, if it'd ever stop snowing, I'd make it for a summer picnic.

The Best Time to Buy Anything, All Year Long - I love a good sale. Now I know when the stuff I want will be on sale!

Garlic Butter Rolls - These look amazing. I'm going to make them tomorrow night!

Best Protest Signs of 2009 - These make me laugh.

The Best Gift: Piece of Mind - This is brilliant! Such a great gift!

Miss Kitty Mae | Denver Commercial Photographer

2010-05-11T08:22:00.000-06:00

Susan Dillion is the insanely talented designer behind Miss Kitty Mae's Over the Top Millinery! We had so much fun at our shoot months ago, we decided to do it again! Susan pulled these hats out in, I think, 10 hours. Jenae Bordeaux provided the make-up AND hair for the day and made the girls look so fabulous! We headed to the Denver Aquarium where the girls got more looks than the fish! I had such a great time with the whole team involved! I love it when that happens! It's not always the case that everyone on the shoot actually gets along and not just in a professional way! This shoot was so fun and I made some new friends! Thank you Elizabeth Gallegos and Gwen Cole for modeling, especially on such short notice!

P.S. Me at the aquarium? BIG deal. Only got mildly freaked out by the fish the size of my torso.

Music Monday

2010-05-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

Woohoo! Another installment of Music Monday!

This week's choice: Needtobreathe- The Outsiders

I've been listening to this album non-stop since I downloaded it last week via my Zune Pass. It's melodic and beautiful and at times has me tapping my feet, doing a little dance wiggle and at other times it has me wanting to cry in the corner. Take a listen to some of the songs below and get ye the CD!

P.S. If you're running with a Zune instead of those pesky Ipods and you don't have a Zune Pass, I beg you to get one! It's $15 a month, the price of one CD and you get unlimited downloads to play on your Zune and on your computer. Last month, I downloaded 18 albums. SO worth the $15 if you ask me!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T09:16:00.001-06:00

Since I was young, I've been surrounded by strong women. My family is extremely close, especially on my mom's side. My mom, brother and I would travel regularly to Glenwood Springs where my aunt lives and to San Diego where my other aunt lives. These cool ladies all played a part in raising me, teaching me and loving me. The memories I have of us make me laugh and make for great stories when we're all gathered around the dinner table.

So on Mother's Day, I, of course, send special love to my momma but I also wanted to send some love to my aunts, my grandmas, my friends mom's, and all the other special ladies who helped me grow. Thanks, ladies!

Today, we're celebrating my wonderful mom by taking her out to brunch and then planting her garden. What special things do you have planned?

Things Your Babysitter Should Know

2010-05-08T09:32:00.003-06:00

I love thinking of new segments to post on the blog so here's another new one! I've been a babysitter and a nanny for 7 years now so I thought I'd share some tricks and hints for parents and babysitters that I've learned along the way!

Today's hint: Give your babysitter a tour of your house!

Most parents are pretty good about showing me their house but sometimes they forget. It's so important that I know where your kid's room is, where their extra clothes are, where their diapers are (and where the extra diapers are!), where you keep their food and what areas of your house they're allowed to play in.

This little tour makes it so much easier for the babysitter! I can't tell you how many times I've run out of diapers and not known where the extra ones are kept! It's difficult to change your little one if I don't have the right supplies. And if I don't know where stuff is, I might end up calling you in the middle of your work day or in the middle of the only date night you've been able to sneak out to!

The tour can be done during the first meet-up and doesn't have to be super formal. Just letting babysitters know where stuff goes helps us keep your house clean and helps us do a better job of caring for your children, which is what everyone wants!

Contact Kelsey! email: bookings@kelseybigelowphotography.com | phone: 720.308.9662 | portfolio: www.kelseybigelowphotography.com

Megan & Lauren | Greeley Graduation Photographer

2010-05-06T10:25:00.001-06:00

I met Megan and Lauren in my Basic Photography class last year and we've been friends ever since. These girls are hilarious and supremely talented! Lauren's the creative genius behind my logo and Megan's been my second camera for a wedding. How'd I get such talented friends?

They're graduating on Saturday so I wanted to post some of the graduation pictures I took a couple weeks ago of them!

Congrats guys! I'm so proud of you!

An Update on Jack

2010-05-05T22:49:00.004-06:00

Thought you all might like an update on the case of Jack. Today, Jack's father plead guilty to child abuse resulting in death. Here's the article, from 9news.com

I hope this can bring some peace to Claudia and the rest of Jack's family.

Father pleads guilty in death of infant son

BOULDER - A father from Lafayette pleaded guilty on Wednesday of biting, shaking and suffocating his infant son when he would not stop crying. He was in court on Wednesday, seven months to the day his son, Jack, died of his injuries.

Twenty-seven-year-old Benjamin Koller was originally charged with first-degree murder.

Boulder County prosecutors dropped that charge in exchange for his guilty plea to child abuse resulting in death. Because the district attorney says this is an "aggravated" case, Koller faces 16 to 48 years in prison.

At a hearing, a detective testified Koller admitted he sometimes covered the baby's nose and mouth to make him stop crying and once dropped him onto a changing table.

9NEWS has followed this story since Jack was injured in July. We first met him when he was 7 weeks old. He was making some progress recovering from a skull fracture, significant brain injury, and many cuts and bruises.

Doctors allowed him to go home with his grandmother, Claudia Riggs.

"It would be my hope that this would never happen again to another child, somehow we are going to make really good things come out of this," she said.

Within a month, Jack took a turn for the worse. Doctors could not do anything to help him. He spent his last days at home with Riggs. She calls those moments with him precious, but heartbreaking.

Jack died on Oct. 5.

Riggs was in court when Koller pleaded guilty.

"I feel relieved. I feel assured that the judge will give the appropriate sentence. I'm looking forward to making a statement on Jack's behalf during the sentencing. I only wish he was still here to speak for himself," she said.

A spokesperson for the Boulder District Attorney's office, Catherine Olguin, said, "The district attorney feels that this is a tragic and difficult case. He is proud of the work that the office has done to reach what we believe is a just and appropriate disposition."

Shannon | Boulder Commercial Photographer

2010-05-05T08:13:00.005-06:00

Shannon is a really close friend of mine. She was the first person I photographed outside of my friends and we've been friends ever since. She's also a great photographer! Shannon needed some new photos for her commercial book and I was excited she came to me! We hung out for about an hour a couple of weekends ago and had some fun!

Contact Kelsey: email: bookings@kelseybigelowphotography.com | phone: 720.308.9662 | portfolio: www.kelseybigelowphotography.com

Remembering Today

2010-04-29T20:16:00.003-06:00

I want to remember today.

I want to remember that today, a friend I've never met and know only through the internet sphere, sent me a message to ask if I was interested in a workshop. No prompting from me, just something she thought I might be interested in.

I want to remember that a dear friend brought me my favorite thing in the entire world, a Sonic Limeade Chiller in Cranberry, my favorite flavor, simply because she felt we needed to celebrate. Nothing specific, just celebrate.

I want to remember that my housemate, a lady I've known since I was a very small child, who opened her home for me to live in, asked if she could take me out to dinner next week to celebrate the end of the year and as part of my Christmas present from December.

I want to remember that my dad asked me if I'd like to go RV shopping on Saturday for a project I'm working on, a project he was doubtful of in the beginning. I take this as a sign he is turning around.

I want to remember that I finished my painting today. A painting I've worked on for weeks. A painting that I'm actually proud of and a school project that I actually love.

I want to remember that today marked the official end of a class I was terrified of taking. I put off taking Painting for as long as I could because I was scared of it. For the past 4 months, I've worked my butt of in that class and I survived.

I want to remember that when I got home for the day and laid on the couch, my cat crawled into my lap, started purring like she was going to take off and refused to budge no matter how many times I wiggled. Even when I physically moved her, she plopped right back into my lap, purring and just happy to be near me.

I want to remember that today I felt the benefits of my work setting in. I sat on the couch with my friend, looking over maps and planning our project.

Today, I felt loved, supported, and encouraged.

Tonight, I feel safe, peaceful and happy.

Thank you to all who made this day so great. I wanted to write this to remember it.

Kayden, meet sunglasses. | Boulder Baby Photographer

2010-04-26T08:00:00.001-06:00

These made me laugh while I was editing. Hopefully they can cure any case of the Mondays you have!

Kayden is a big 6 months old and has all sorts of new tricks. One of which is apparently taking off sunglasses.

Kempe Foundation Benefit | Denver Event Photographer

2010-04-23T19:57:00.002-06:00

Last Friday, I had the great opportunity to photograph the Kempe Foundation Takes New York Benefit in Denver with two other great photographers and great friends, Shannon vonEschen and Kristi Crosson. The benefit was a rousing success, filled with laughs, a few tears and hope. It was a great event for me to honor Jack. And I got to see all the great work Kempe does. Enjoy the photos! Thanks for letting us be a part of this great event, Kempe! I had a great time!

P.S. Looking to make an impact against Shaken Baby Syndrome? Kempe and Calming a Crying Baby with help from Kohl's just launched "Give Your Word." Sign the petition and give your word to never shake a baby here! I did!

The theme of the event was Kempe Takes Manhattan. The entrance to the lobby of the Denver Marriot City Center was decorated like a subway station!

No New York party is complete without a few street performers, like this friendly mime.

A very friendly mime!

Mike Nelson from Channel 7 was the MC for the evening!

The evening concluded with a great performance of Broadway hits from kids from the Denver School of the Arts!

The lovely ladies who photographed the event with me, Shannon vonEschen and Kristi Crosson!

Jack's Story

2010-04-15T08:00:00.002-06:00

I've wanted to write this blog for so long. Since October. But I wanted to do this story justice; to do Jack's story justice. So I waited.

This is the hardest thing I've ever had to write.

This is the most important thing I've ever had to write.

I met Jack Koller when he was just over 3 months old. His grandma was friends with my mom. In those 3 months, Jack's little body had gone through life times of trauma. Jack was a victim of Shaken Baby syndrome. He was taken to Children's Hospital in July of 2009. My mom received the phone call about Jack while we were on vacation and the whole time we were gone, I hoped and wished for the best for little Jack. For a while, he was doing well. So well in fact, that he was able to go home with his grandma.

Then Jack started doing not so well. The swelling in his brain came back. He stopped eating. So his grandma took him back to Children's. The decision was made for Jack's well being that they would stop feeding him and let him pass away gently.

When we got word that Jack wasn't going to make it, my mom and I made plans to go visit his grandma and to finally meet him.

Meeting Jack was not what I thought it was going to be. I thought he was going to be hooked to machines and we were going to be able only to look at him.

I was wrong.

When my mom and I arrived at his grandmother's house, Jack and his grandma were sitting outside rocking in a chair, like ordinary babies and their grandmas do. It wasn't until I got closer that I saw Jack was not an ordinary baby. The tubes in his nose and his tiny swollen head told different stories. It was hard to look at Jack and not cry. It was hard to look at Jack and not want to punch something. I've never felt so angry and so sad at the same time.

What could I do? I wanted so desperately to save Jack. I wanted to think of the magical cure that would make it all ok, the cure that would fix this sweet baby. But I'm not a doctor. There was nothing I could do.

I had my camera.

So I did what I knew how to do. I photographed Jack. While he sat in my mother's arms, I photographed him. I photographed his ten perfect fingers and his ten perfect toes. I photographed his little ears against his swollen head. I photographed his bright blue eyes and although he couldn't see, those blue eyes held more meaning than any I'd ever seen.

I gave Jack's grandma the pictures of him the next weekend when we brought food. Never has someone had such a reaction to my photos. I felt my body pulse as if it was awake for the first time. Never had someone had such a reaction to my photos because never before had my photos been so important. Never had they held so much meaning.

My mom and I visited Jack for three weeks, bringing food and listening to whatever his grandma wanted to talk about. The last day we saw Jack, I remember my mom saying "I know there's some people in Heaven waiting to hold such a sweet baby." We both had such difficulty holding back tears as we made our way to the car that day. I think we knew it would be the last time we would see Jack.

On October 5, 2009, at the age of 4 months and 1 day, Jack Koller passed away.

For being here such a short time, Jack had a deep impact on me. I've always had trouble with the phrase "Everything happens for a reason" especially in the face of such tragedies as this. How could there be anything good that would come from Jack's pain?

Here's the good things I've been able to find for myself since I met Jack.

He allowed me to talk to my friends seriously about Shaken Baby Syndrome. He allowed a face to the name and a name to the cause. I hope by telling his story I've helped people understand why it's never, ever, ever ok to shake a baby.

He awakened in me a desire I had buried for a long time, the desire to help people and to go out into the world and do good. He showed me that my photography can be bigger than me- it can change the world.

Jack brought me closer to my mother and helped me meet some pretty incredible people who rallied around him.

Jack reminded me why I take photos to begin with. Because sometimes a photo is all you'll have left.

This Friday, I'm photographing the Kempe Foundation Benefit Gala in Denver in honor of Jack. After I met Jack, I knew I wanted to help prevent any baby from ever having to go through what Jack endured and prevent any family from the pain Jack's mother and grandmother went through for months.

What can I do? I'm not a social worker, I'm not a doctor.

But I am a photographer.

So that's what I'll keep doing. Photographing.

For Jack.

This is a video 9 News did about Jack after he passed away.

Sam is One! | Denver Baby Photographer

2010-04-13T22:32:00.004-06:00

Guess who turned a big one year old?

That's right- it's Sam! Sam's photoshoot started off with a bang- you can read about my road adventures here. He was a little grumpy when I first got there. Being woken up in the middle of your nap to see a whole lot of people staring at you is no fun at all. With plenty of hugs and kisses from his parents and grandparents, Sam settled down to enjoy his party, especially his chocolate cake baked by his grandma!

Happy birthday Sam! I can't believe it's been over a year since I first met your awesome mom and dad! It's been so fun to watch you grow and discover new things each photo session! Can't wait to see you again!

Music Monday

2010-04-12T08:00:00.001-06:00

Just a few quick songs I'm listening to this week.

- Alpha Rev- New Morning

- Peter Bradley Adams- Los Angeles

- Pearl Jam- Just Breathe

- The Civil Wars- Poison and Wine

One Day Without Shoes

2010-04-08T12:50:00.004-06:00

When my friend Merida told me about One Day Without Shoes, I thought easy peasy. I'm on board. One day. Without wearing shoes. How could this be difficult? Just don't put shoes on my feet. Done.

Then I started to think about it. This is usually where I get into trouble on things.

How was I going to walk down that disgusting Greeley alleyway from where I park my car to the campus building without getting a nail or glass in my foot? How was I going to avoid burning my foot or freezing my foot on the pavement? And what about all that dirt on the ground? My feet would be filthy!

Then I stopped thinking. I felt selfish. I was making this about me and what an inconvenience this was for me to take my shoes off. Had I missed the whole point?

Maybe that was the point of the whole thing. To feel selfish. To think about shoes, really stop and think about those things that you put on your feet every morning.

Kids who don't have shoes don't get to choose if they walk on the hot pavement or walk through the gross alley way. They just do. Because there simply isn't another way for them to get where they're going. The issue of shoes on feet is similar for me as the issue of clean water. Give people clean water and a million other problems take care of themselves. Give kids shoes and the same thing happens. Why shoes? The following is from TOM's Shoes official website:

"-A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

-Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.

-Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential. "

So I took off my shoes.

And I walked in the alley way barefoot. And it hurt. I made it about 100 feet before I had to put my shoes back on. I couldn't even make it the whole way coming back from class without shoes. I walked into class barefoot. I drove barefoot. I almost walked into Kinko's barefoot but the no shoes, no service sign stopped me.

Shoes are so expected in our country, we don't even let someone pick up their copies without them.

I never realized how important shoes are until I took mine off. So my next $44 is going to a pair of TOM's shoes. One for one. One more kid won't have to walk barefoot. Maybe even a million other problems will take care of themselves.

If you didn't take your shoes off today for TOM's One Day Without Shoes, that's ok. There's always next year. But if you'd like to try a little sooner than that, let me give you a word of advice - make sure to bring some in your bag for any last minute runs to Kinko's.

Haven't heard of TOM's shoes? Click here to find out more.

It's a bird...it's a plane...it's a...

2010-04-05T16:45:00.002-06:00

flying truck bed liner?!

Yep, that's right. On Saturday, I was on my way to a session in Denver and was hit by a bed liner when it flew out of the truck in front of me on I-25. The driver pulled over to make sure I was ok and gave me his information then got back in his truck and drove away without me getting his insurance info or his license plate number. And of course, when I tried to contact him, he had disappeared- his phone is disconnected and his address doesn't really exist. Without the license plate number of his truck, the state patrol is unable to find him.

My mirror is gone. My hood looks like it's competing in a moon costume contest. Both need to be replaced. My windshield was looking pretty scraped up but we were able to SoftScrub the majority of the damage out. My insurance won't cover the cost of the repairs because they say the accident doesn't count as a "contact accident" because I wasn't hit by a vehicle, just part of one and therefore we aren't covered.

I've been trying my hardest to find the silver linings in all of this. I try to keep reminding myself that I, by some miracle, was totally unharmed in the whole thing. I could have hit the cars in the lane next to me when I swerved to try and avoid the flying liner. The liner could have hit my windshield first instead of my hood and cracked it, sending glass everywhere. It could have hit me while I was driving. It could have hit one of the other dozen motorists on the road behind me, which to my knowledge, it didn't. It's hard to remind myself of these lucky things when I'm looking at what the bills will be for my new mirror and hood for something that was unavoidable by me.

I have to remind myself that although I'm looking at over $500 in damage that wasn't there Saturday at 11:05 but was there by 11:20, there's positivity in what happened. A friend's boyfriend has offered to repair my hood when he's out here later this month as has the father of a family I babysit for. At the very least, I learned to right down license plate numbers. And to avoid driving behind trucks on windy days.

Summer Maternity Casting Call! | Denver Baby Photographer

2010-04-05T06:52:00.004-06:00

Just in time for all those spring and summer babies, I've got a special on my sessions for super pregnant mommies AND a special rate on my new Baby's First Year package!

Maternity Session:
2 hour photo session at the location of your choice
Proof book of all images
Online viewing of your 50-75 images

Normally valued at $150 but if you're due before the end of August and email me with "Casting Call" in the subject, you get the session for just $100!

Your Baby's First Year Package includes:
6 Photo sessions: Maternity, Newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year
60 Sided Flush Mounted Album including photos from the first year
Low Resolution CD of each session for use with digital frames or online (not for print)
50 Newborn Announcements
1 8x10 from each session
2 5x7's from each session

A $3500 value normally $3000. Respond to the casting call and you get the whole sha-bang for $2500!

You must email me with "Casting Call" in the subject line by May 8th to reserve this special offer. You also must be due before the end of August. As always, payment plans are available.

Email me at bookings@kelseybigelowphotography.com to reserve your spot.

I can't wait to meet all you new mommies and daddies! And your sweet babies!

And because a blog post is boring without a photo, here's a fun photo from my shoot Saturday for a very special little guy who just turned one!

What Comes Next?

2010-04-02T08:11:00.006-06:00

My ideas and plans have a tendency to fizzle out and never really achieve anything. I was so afraid that Photographers for Haiti would be one of those ideas. It scared me because this idea wasn't in the form of creating the perfect theme party. This idea was about creating real change for real people who were really hurting. And for some reason, it worked. It worked to the tune of $10,784.04 There's so many people I have to thank for that. Photographers, our sponsors and the wonderful clients who booked sessions and often gave more than had been asked. Thank you to all of you. I can't speak for Kristi, but I know for myself, this has been life changing.

During the time, I was working on Photographers for Haiti, I started receiving emails from so many photographers saying things like "I've always wanted to use my photography to help and I just didn't know how." I started thinking that if so many people were sending me the same thing, it was probably a problem. But what was the solution?

Here's what I came up with. I will be launching a blog site very soon called Photographers For. Photographers For will be a site that connects photographers with organizations that need them. The site will also feature interviews with photographers who are doing really cool things for their community and interviews with the charities about who they are, what they need and why they do what they do. It is my hope that Photographers For can be the map to lead so many photographers in the direction they want to go, to use their photography for real change.

I think photography is such an interesting profession to be able to do this, especially wedding and portrait photography. Our jobs are people and people's stories. We also are in charge of our businesses. We can steer them any direction we choose and we can make a stand and define that giving back is an important part of not only our business but our lives.

So what do I need from you? Simple. I need you to spread the word. First with this blog post and then when the site is up, send that to everyone you know. If you know of any companies that are interested in sponsoring the site's hosting fees, please send them my way. The site will feature a list and description of all the sponsors who are so generous in offering their support of this new site. And if you know any photographers who are doing really cool things or charities that need help, send those over too.

We've built a community with Photographers for Haiti. This community is full of amazing, caring people who I've seen work hard for people they've never met. Let's keep the momentum going and go change the world.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in Photographers for Haiti. I could never thank you enough but I hope you know what a great thing you all did. You literally changed people's lives.

I will continue to update you on the process of Photographers For. I can't wait to share the final site with you all!

Update: I guess I should give you all a way to contact me about this huh? For the time being, you can email questions, ponderings, doodles, etc. to kelsey@kelseybigelowphotography.com

Laura + Nick | Longmont Wedding Photographer

2010-03-31T18:32:00.002-06:00

I've known Laura since I was 5 years old. I've known Nick since December. But in the time that I've known Nick and Laura together, I've come to realize that they just fit. And now I've known Nick and Laura as husband and wife since March 13, 2010.

Nick and Laura, thank you for inviting me to your special day. It was truly beautiful and filled with love. I hope you had a fantastic time in Hawaii and I hope you enjoy building your new lives in Georgia together.

P.S. The offer to photograph any newborns in Georgia still stands. I like to travel. :)

The Empty Bottle | Denver Commerical Photographer

2010-03-29T19:57:00.003-06:00

This Saturday, I had the great pleasure of photographing the recently reopened Empty Bottle wine shop in Denver's Platte Park neighborhood. The ladies who own it are super nice and have worked hard to create a great store. The shop is totally dog friendly and the ladies sure do know a lot about wine. I had a great time photographing their cute shop! Next time you're down in Platte Park, check out the Empty Bottle. It's next to Park Burger, which, while I didn't stop in to eat myself, I've heard it's the best burger in Denver! It's also located next to what I'm sure is the best wine shop in Denver.

Theresa and Christy and all the other fabulous people I met Saturday, thanks so much for letting me encroach on your space while you were preparing for your reopening party!

Friday Favorites

2010-03-26T07:35:00.003-06:00

This week has been a little stressful, to say the least. It was my first week back at school since taking off for Vegas two weeks ago and I got launched into it with rockets strapped to my back. It's been go, go, go and shows no signs of slowing down. I also received some disappointing news that a class I need in order to graduate in December isn't going to be offered in the fall semester like it's supposed to because the teacher changed the rotation of the program. So since Wednesday, I've been fighting for the opportunity to take this class when it's supposed to be offered and not in the Spring. No way am I staying an extra semester for one class!

But with all the crazyness and the struggle to graduate, I also have some beautiful things happening. So, in an effort to lift myself out of a pity funk, here's another edition of my Friday Favorites.

1. This bedding: I got this bedding a few weeks ago from JcPenney's. It's super comfortable but it's also light and springy, which is something I am in definite need of since it keeps snowing here!

2. These jars: About a month ago, I decided to start baking more for myself so I started buying bulk flour, sugar, etc. But then I had nowhere to put it. So I went to the thrift store and found myself these jars which cost $12 total. Score! A quick scrub with soap and a heavy duty wash in the dishwasher and they're ready for use. Aren't they cute?

3. Sonic Lime Limeade with a squirt of watermelon: Tuesday night is Sonic Happy Hour night when I get together with a friend and we head over to the local Sonic for some tasty limeades. We're a little adventurous with our drink choices (Watermelon Dr. Pepper or a Chocolate Cherry Slush anyone?) but this week's drink was pure heaven to me. We had to go Thursday night instead of Tuesday night because of the stupid snow. If you're a little adventurous like me or you just like weird combinations of flavors like me, a Sonic Lime Limeade with a squirt of watermelon is just the thing. Be sure to get it at Happy Hour though- half price!

4. Switchfoot's new album "Hello Hurricane": I started listening to Switchfoot after sobbing my way through A Walk to Remember some years ago. They just released their new album and it's been on serious replay from my Zune software since. I love every single song. Check it out!

5. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: This is the best late night show currently on television. Throughout the drama with Letterman's affairs and the whole Conan vs Leno debacle, Craig remained funny, relative and downright silly in the perfect European way. It makes me laugh constantly and is the perfect cure to a crummy day. If you aren't watching, you really should be!

6. Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution: I watched the preview episode of this on Sunday night and was blown away. I already knew I loved Jaime Oliver for his delicious, simple and nutritious approach to food but I didn't know I would love him more for his fight to show America that good food made at home is easy, cheap and better for you. Watch this show! Speaking of shows to watch...

7. Life on Discovery: I was obsessed with Planet Earth when it came out. Shush. I'm a huge nerd. It was absolutely beautiful to watch the series and now the Discovery channel (one of my favorites by the way) is serving up another plate of deliciousness with their new series Life. We watched the first two episodes on Sunday and my jaw was probably like this :0 85% of the time. Bonus: it's narrated by Oprah!

8. Sprouts Market: Those who know me will attest to the fact that I am obsessed with grocery shopping on a budget. I comb the ads extensively, match my clipped coupons to the sales and go over the aisles with a fine tooth comb. Normally, I gather up a group of friends and every two weeks we trek to Sunflower Market in Fort Collins. But then the most magical thing happened. A Sprouts Market, which is practically the same as Sunflower Market, opened right.next.to.my.house. Not kidding. I could walk to it if I wanted to.

9. My new ShowIt site: I've been talking of launching a new site ever since I got back from Las Vegas and I kept rewording things and moving stuff around. Finally, this morning, I pulled the trigger and published the site. I think it's beautiful. But what do you think? Next, I think I'll redo the blog. ;)

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! If you're in the C O it's supposed to snow AGAIN but next week should be warm and toasty again!

Friday Favorites: WPPI Recap

2010-03-12T13:46:00.002-07:00

If you're at all wondering where I've been the last 5 days, let me tell you. I've been off in Las Vegas, Nevada, learning, growing and changing. I attended WPPI for my first time and I loved it! Here are some of my favorite moments.

-Meeting Laura and Jim Davis-Hicks from Thirst Relief and raising the energy in that room because we were excited to meet them, they were excited to meet us and then we were all just plain excited!

-The super cool shout out for Photographers for Haiti by Jim Davis-Hicks at his Thirst Relief platform talk.

-The people that waited after the talk to speak with Kristi and I about participating in Photographers for Haiti.

-Seeing Jesh de Rox speak. When someone is that passionate about what they're speaking about, you have to be passionate about it with them. I was so moved by the speech!

-Erin Cady making me eat fish at Wolfgang Puck's.

-Getting to meet and talk to SnapKnot's co founders!

-Flying out of the Fort Collins- Loveland airport. An experience to say the least. Didn't know it was possible to squeeze an entire airport into two sheds.

-Seeing Dane Sanders speak. I walk away tingly and inspired every time.

-Meeting new Fast Track buddies! I love belonging to a group where every person welcomes you with open arms and so much support!

-Walking the Vegas strip in search of a drag queen, Elvis and a pirate, among other things, on our Fast Track shoot out!

-Finding said drag queen, Elvis and pirate on the Fast Track shoot out.

-Walking in the rain over to the MGM Towers to meet Melinda Bunker and Leila Jones and being greeted with said Fast Track open arms and support!

-Signing up for NILMDTS

-The trek Kristi and I accidentally took to get to Walgreens and seeing the Vegas Strip at night.

-Eating a pretzel the size of my face.

-Walking the WPPI tradeshow and finding so many new cool products to use!

-Mango Sorbet. The Venetian. 'Nuff said.

-Getting kicked out of the Finao Album party by hotel security because too many people were there and it was too loud.

-Trying to find the Monorail from outside the MGM, ending up in the basement of the MGM and then finding out the Monorail costs $5 a person per way.

-Watching Tamara Lackey, Audrey Wouldard and Amber Holritz's platform talks about portraiture.

-Meeting every single incredible person I got to meet who are changing what it means to be a photographer and who affirmed my big ideas with me AND gave me new ones!

So if you're wondering, I've been in Las Vegas the last 5 days, learning, growing and changing.

Simmons Family | Red Rocks Portrait Photographer

2010-03-04T07:39:00.002-07:00

Saturday was one of the most gorgeous days we've had in a long time! Good thing too- I had two great sessions scheduled that day! The Simmons family was the winner of the contest held by a good friend and client Angie Wilson. We met up Saturday at Red Rocks for their session. I'm not sure it would have been possible to pick a more ideal and stunning location. I've been to Red Rocks before in the hot, dry heat of summer but right before spring had sprung was the best time to go. There was still snow in the valley and on the top of some of the rocks. It was so beautiful and so is this family! We had a blast!

This is a little trick I learned from fellow photographer Tara Whitney who says each session, she asks each of the older kids to run towards her at full speed!

Apparently, I'm pretty funny.

3 Sisters

2010-03-02T21:49:00.002-07:00

It's been nearly 3 months since I've seen this lovely family with their 3 girls. Saturday was a gorgeous day for a photo shoot. Sun was shining, no clouds in the sky. We were even able to go outside for a little bit! Can't wait to see them again in June before they pack up and move across the country!

Why March is the Best Month Ever

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love summer. It's warm, it's free of school, it's vacation season. But lately, the month of March is looking pretty darn good. It may not be as warm, as the snow on the ground the night before March 1stt is any indication, but it's still got some pluses.

1. WPPI- Las Vegas. Photographer Convention. Need I say more? My first one! I cannot wait! WPPI is next week so I will be out of town from Sunday through Thursday, filling my brain with knowledge, my backpack with swag and mingling with the best of them. If you need me, you'll have to wait till Thursday night. I have a feeling I'm going to be busy.

2. Spring Break- Of course, it would have been too perfect for WPPI to fall during the week of Spring Break. But, since it doesn't, I'll be taking the next 7 days to recoup from school AND Vegas. No big plans this year but quite a few little day trips and small fun things planned like heading up to the mountains again for a night or two. Plus, it's 7 days off of school. Who doesn't want that?

3. Destination Truth is back- Ok, this may sound totally dumb. And it probably is. But I am obsessed with this show. It is the perfect blend of intellectual-ness to keep my nerdy brain occupied and complete and total ridiculousness. I'm learning and laughing at the same time. If you have the Syfy channel, you must check it out. You will not be disappointed!

4. It's one month closer to summer- How can I resist? March is giving June and July a run for the money but I'll always be a summer girl.

SHINE: The Big Event

2010-02-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting when Bart Lillie, a fellow Fast Track alum, emailed me in January about an event he was doing called SHINE. He detailed the event and asked if I'd like to help out. I immediately jumped on board, offering to help in anyway I could.

I'm not really sure I knew what was happening.

You see, SHINE is/was an event put on by Flatirons Church in Lafayette for people who have various special needs. SHINE was to be their prom. Everyone dressed up in fancy clothes. Girls got to try on dresses a week before to find their special gown and, on the big night, were each given a tiara to wear. There was dancing and games and a photo booth and dinner. I helped edit candid photos photographers were taking for a slideshow that played through the night. Guests got to take home balloons and gift bags and their own matted professional photo.

I walked into the training on Tuesday night and was blown away. Flatirons Church was packed full of people, ready to love on those who came Thursday and Friday night. Packed as in there weren't enough chairs and people had to stand in the back. I walked into Flatirons tonight and saw some pretty amazing stuff- tables decorated, a dance floor, 4 photo booths, carnival games.

And then I saw the photos.

And they were even more amazing. Seeing photos from photographers as people entered down the red carpet to rounds of applause and flashes from paparazzi. The looks on their faces and the faces of their caregivers is something indescribable. Seeing photos of girls being given a tiara and boys playing games. Photos of people dancing and smiling and laughing. Absolute joy permeated every corner of that church. I am so thankful Bart sent me that email and so happy to have been a part of it and to have met such an incredible bunch of photographers.

Ava is One! | Denver Baby Photographer

2010-02-25T21:27:00.000-07:00

I adore all these little boys I've been photographing lately with their blue and their trucks but it was such a good change to get to photograph a little girl on Saturday! Miss Ava just turned one and is already quite the girly girl. Pink, pink and more pink surround her with a few frilly dresses and bows thrown in for good measure. She was absolutely adorable and so much fun to photograph! This cute family even braved the snow and cold temps for me. We played inside and outside and Ava is busy as can be exploring.

Happy first birthday Ava! Enjoy the photos!

Meet Blue

2010-02-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Blue is, in almost every way, the exact opposite of Chip. Chip cries in the car; Blue sits quietly in his chair, looking out the window. Chip hates getting a bath; Blue loves water. Blue is a rescue pup too. We got him from Lifeline Puppy Rescue which I highly recommend if you're looking for a puppy. A great alternative to a pet store! We got him as an 8 week old pile of fluff and he's now a 3 year old speed demon.

He loves chasing the frisbee and would do it for hours except that we can't throw it to him very much since he screwed up his shoulder last summer. He's a burst of speed on the agility course and I can barely keep up with him. It took us a long time to potty train him 1) he didn't seem to know when he needed to go and 2) his signal that he needs to go outside is simply to look at you. Blue's incredibly smart, sometimes too smart for his own good. He likes to bark at squirrels in the back yard and they chatter back at him. This goes on for hours. Blue loves to cuddle and gets very sweet at about 9:30 pm when he's tired.He'd be content to just spend all spring, summer and fall outside, lounging on the deck, running the yard or splashing in his kiddie pool. He adores Chip and waits at the window if Chip gets to come outside with me to get the mail. His 50 pounds of muscle belongs to one sweet dog.

Christie and Nick | Windsor Family Photos

2010-02-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege to meet up with Christie and her now husband Nick last Friday for some pictures! It was so great to meet up with them again and chat. I haven't seen them since their August engagement pictures! I wasn't able to photograph their wedding in September so it was especially nice to see them again. They have quite the little family started with two dogs who were crazy hyper for the shoot. Nick's working as a financial planner and promised to make me a millionaire right after he gets Christie and himself there and Christie told me all about the great work she's doing with a quadriplegic. We braved the cold temperatures and slushie roads for their pictures. Coming home, my feet were soaked but it was totally worth it! This couple is super fun and super sweet! Enjoy!

Music Monday

2010-02-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Music Monday is back, back, back! Here's my picks for the week.

1. Mother Mary- Joshua James

2. Money- Matt Morris

3. Family Tree- Peter Bradley Adams

4. Green- Brendan James

5. Help Yourself- Sad Brad Smith

Let me know what you think about them!

Meet Chip

2010-02-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

He's the first dog we've ever owned as a family. We searched shelters for weeks trying to find the perfect fit. I wanted a dog on one condition- it came from a rescue. We were visiting this particular shelter looking at another dog. Then the lady asked if we'd like to look at a puppy she had.

He was the last of his litter, born in a shelter to a mom picked up off the streets. He was the runt, the tiniest baby, picked first by a guy looking for a hunting dog and returned days later, deemed unfit. When I saw him, I was sold. It was a done deal- the little white dog with the black nose was ours.

He howls when we bathe him; as if he's allergic to water. He rarely runs during agility but loves to say hi to all other dogs and humans. He barks at his food before eating it. He loves belly rubs and cheese. He always greets everyone who walks in the door with a toy in his mouth and his butt wagging, even if they've been gone two minutes. He likes to squeak when he's excited, nervous, scared or just because. He puts himself to sleep in his kennel every night. He's my ribbon winning, 5 time State attending 4-H Obedience dog. He's too stubborn for his own good but he makes it up with his sweetness. He has the best eyebrows in the world. They move more than his tail does. He's my buddy, content to walk by my side.

He's my dog.

Last week, my parents brought the dogs for a mini-session to benefit Haiti and I finally got some pictures of my sweet dog's face.

Photographers for Haiti Mini-Sessions- UPDATE!

2010-02-10T17:23:00.000-07:00

Hey folks!

The Photographers for Haiti mini-sessions are coming up this Saturday! I'm super excited for to meet so many new people and see some old friends! Problem is, I still have some spots open. Maybe I sound like a broken record. But that's ok! It is my goal to raise enough money to help 500-1000 people in Haiti have access to clean water by rebuilding their well. The only way I can do this is to book out every session that day!

So as a bonus to anyone who signs up, I will include a disk of the 10-15 images from your session! Of course, any prints purchased through me will go to help Thirst Relief but you will now have a disk of your photos!

Here's the rest of the details:
Date: Saturday, February 13
Times: 10-4:30, sessions are scheduled on the hour and half hour
Fee: $30- 20 minutes of shooting time and 10-15 images PLUS the disk!
Charity of Choice: Thirst Relief

Thirst Relief is dedicated to providing clean water to people who don't have access to any. Before the earthquake, this was 80% of Haitians. Water is vitally important to life and clean water is the first step to stopping so many other issues, like preventable disease.

Thanks for all your help and support! Can't wait to see so many of you on Saturday!

Ross Family- Denver Family Photographer

2010-02-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

It was so hard for me to narrow down some images to post for this family. I adored their session last Saturday. It was full of giggles, love, cuddles and a giraffe named (I'm told for that morning only) Kermungerhead. It was not full of cheese. This family's love and positive energy radiate from them in a very real and genuine way and I'm so excited about their pictures.

Take a look for yourself.

Wyatt

2010-02-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Little Wyatt was supposed to have a newborn session. It was supposed to happen in December, multiple times. But I guess supposed to wasn't in the cards for us. This session's been snowed out, iced out, and sicknessed out. (I think I just made up a word.) It finally happened in January. So here's little Wyatt's not-so-newborn newborn photos.

Elizabeth & The Frost

2010-02-02T12:50:00.001-07:00

aka When the sun didn't cooperate and made all the fog go away

My house in Greeley backs up to a great piece of open land. There's dirt roads and paths, a huge corn field, a ditch and some huge trees with grass and cat tails. Needless to say, this area is incredibly inspiring to me. The textures are amazing and the light always seems to be just about perfect.

Yesterday morning, Elizabeth and I tried to catch the fog that had rolled in to do some photos. As soon as we got outside, the sun broke through the clouds in triumph and crushed our dreams. So we took some pictures with the frost sans fog instead.

Post #100

2010-02-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

This is post #100 on this here blog.

Only fitting then that this milestone marked by some HUGE announcements.

First of all, the brand spankin' new Kelsey Bigelow Photography is LIVE. Like you can see it and touch it and smell its new website smell. I love it so and I hope you do too.

You may have noticed something a little different with the rates. I've bumped them up an extra $25 for a total of $150. The reason for this is so that I can hire an editing service for each session. Sessions take me a long time to edit and it's been taking me too long to get the photos out for you to see! But the editing service will be able to get the photos done so much quicker than I am, meaning you'll get to see your cute kid sooner!

Secondly, there's only 3 days left to enter the photo contest a client of mine is holding to win a photo session with me! Check it out here and enter to win! I can't wait to meet the winner!

Finally, some news about Photographers for Haiti and my mini-sessions. I am blown away by the amazing feedback I've gotten from so many people in just a week. When Kristi Crosson and I started Photographers for Haiti, I'm quite certain we both thought we would get a couple of other photographers to participate. As of right now, we have had inquiries from 150 photographers from across the WORLD. Not just America folks. The whole world- Japan and England already have photographers! If you're checking me out from somewhere besides Colorado, be sure to check out the Photographers for Haiti website and find a photographer in your area. The whole session fee is donated to the charity the photographer has decided to donate to and will benefit relief in Haiti.

Here's the information about my mini-session for Haiti! Please tell all your friends- the more people we get, the more good we do!

Date: February 13, 2010
Location: To be finalized but probably a studio in Niwot, in case of yucky weather
Session Times: 10, 10:30, 11, 11:30, 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30, 3, 3:30, 4, 4:30
Session Fee: $30
Charity: I have chosen to support Thirst Relief. Check them out here.

Sessions will last 20 minutes and will yield about 10-15 pictures which will be put online for your viewing. 50% of the proceeds from print sales go to benefit Thirst Relief's efforts in Haiti as well.

At the session, you will make your check out to Thirst Relief. Do not make your check out to me or Photographers for Haiti.

Tell your friends, please!

And because posts are boring with pretty pictures, here's a cutie from a couple weeks ago who's about to be blogged!

Duhadway Family

2010-01-28T17:30:00.000-07:00

My, my, my. It would be impossible to tell you how much I adore this family. I've known them since I was 6 years old because my dad worked with this cute couple. Oh the adventures we've had. I've spent many a night at their house, surrounded by horses, of the model and live kind. We'd eat dinner together often. Well we'd be at the same restaurant but the adults were so trusting of us kids they'd let us sit at a different table. They're probably the reason I loved horses in the first place. There were stays in the cabin, high in the mountains, where we were allowed to venture off by ourselves, provided we didn't get eaten by a bear. My point with this rambling? This family is in a large portion of my childhood memories. They are such close friends, I'm surprised I hadn't done a photo with them before. But when Momma Faelynn emailed me and asked if I could do it, there was no way I would hand this job over to someone else.

Music Monday

2010-01-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

That's right folks! Music Monday is back this week! Here's my favorite jams for this next week.

1. Better than Love- Griffin House

2. I and Love and You- The Avett Brothers

3.Plastic Jungle- Miike Snow

4. Just Say Yes- Snow Patrol

5. Lovers in Japan- Coldplay

It's a short list this week, but these songs are awesome! Be sure to check them out.

In other news, have you heard about the contest a dear client friend of mine is holding? Angie Wilson is holding a contest over on her blog and the winner gets a photo session with me!

And, have you checked out Photographers for Haiti yet? We're getting an amazing response- over 90 interested photographers so far! My mini-session date is February 13- mark your calendars! The official announcement will be coming later today with prices and location.

Happy Monday everyone! It's going to be a great week!

Today.

2010-01-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

Today was amazing.

Last night, I went to bed feeling dejected over something that's been going on at school. It's draining me, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Then I woke this morning to find more emails from photographers interested in participating in Photographers for Haiti and I felt a rush of warmth. So far, we've had 96 photographers send emails to sign up for spots. Each email is special but I am loving the ones that include a story, an affirmation of why I'm doing this and a link to someone else, somewhere out there. We've had inquiries from photographers in Japan, England and Canada. These are the emails that make me stop and say "Wow." I can't stop smiling as I sit surrounded by love and support from so many I have never met.

A high school student emailed me today asking to interview me for her assignment on a photographer whose work inspires them. I was shocked that this person was emailing ME. As I sat, answering questions, I started reflecting on where I came from, where I am and where I'm going. I could not have done any of these things without the support of so many of you. So it is with much appreciation that I say this-

Thank You.

National Western Stock Show

2010-01-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

Ah, the National Western Stock Show. Every January it rolls into Denver. I used to attend every year when I was younger. I was obsessed with horses and I had a few friends who showed their horses at the show. I'd watch reining and barrel racing and sometimes, if I was really good, Dancing with Horses. This year was my first year down to the Stock Show in a while but boy was it fun. Sure, there's huge crowds, Merida and I had to park in a mud pit, and everything is insanely expensive. But there's also horses, guinea pigs, funny feathered chickens, corn dogs and lots of learning.

Oh and pretzels the size of my face. :)

Big Announcement- Part 2

2010-01-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Unless you were awake past midnight last night, (Looking at you, design kids) you might have missed a big announcement from a client of mine! Angela Wilson is running a contest over on her blog and the prize for the winner is a photoshoot from me!

Check out the rules and enter at : http://wilson-family-adventure.blogspot.com/

Can't wait to see all the entries! And just because it's boring to post so many blogs with no photos, here's another one from Sam's last session with me.

Photographers for Haiti

2010-01-21T20:38:00.000-07:00

As I hope most of you know, last week a large earthquake hit Haiti and destroyed most of the capital city. We're bombarded with images and video of the chaos and destruction. I wanted to help. The day after the accident, I 'tweeted' about setting up a mini-session date and donating proceeds to relief in Haiti. A fellow photographer, Kristi Crosson, suggested that we take it one step further and get tons of photographers involved. Photographers for Haiti was born. The premise is simple. One day between now and the end of February full of mini-sessions. Proceeds go to one of four organizations. I am so excited for this project.

To find out more information about the Photographers for Haiti project visit http://www.photographersforhaiti.showitsite.com/

My mini-session will be February 13. If you are interested in signing up for a mini-session, please email me at bookings@kelseybigelowphotography.com A more formal announcement will be coming tomorrow so you can pass it on to your friends!

P.S. This announcement one of two for tonight! Can't wait for you to hear what else is coming. :)

Valentine's Specials

2010-01-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hello dear clients and blog readers! Happy Tuesday! It is very overcast and sad today but I have some news that will hopefully cheer you up!

Have you been thinking about getting a Valentine's Day present for your honey? Have you thought about a creative photo gift? If you order before January 26, canvas prints and coffee table books are on sale 15% and 25%, respectively. Plus, you'll get them in time before February 14th!

You can either order them through your online Pictage account or if you were a client before I switched to Pictage and would like to order some, email me and I will put your photos online.

Happy shopping!

Free Zoo Day!

2010-01-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

I love a deal. Oh internet, how I love a deal. I compulsively clip coupons and shops the ads. And when something is free? Well that makes my heart beat in happiness! I also love the zoo. Wandering around, learning about exotic animals? What could be better? I get to be an outdoor nerd for a day!

So what happens when the zoo is free? Something nothing short of amazing. Of course, there's the crowds and the lack of parking to deal with but you get all the benefits of the zoo for the low, low price of $0.00 Elizabeth, Merida and I ventured to the Denver Zoo today on our day off from school. People watching is almost as fun as giraffe and elephant watching. We only had to park a couple of blocks away. We only ran into a couple of people. And we only had a ton of fun.

Music Monday will return next Monday but until then, feast your peepers on this photo from today's zoo outing.

Sam- 9 Months

2010-01-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Can you guess who this little cutie is?

I'll give you some hints. 1. The first time I met him, he was still en womb. 2. He makes the best faces EVER. 3. I adore his whole family.

Any thoughts? Well let me tell you! He's Sam! A much bigger and more grown up version of Sam! He's an adorable 9 months old! Newborns are cute and squishy but I love 6-9 month babies because they are squishy and cute but make faces and have all sorts of new tricks to show me! So all the mommas out there- bring me more 6-9 month babies! Oh, and enjoy these pics of cutie Sam.

Favorite!

Just a note to say, this is why sessions are 2 hours. If your little one needs a snack or a cuddle, we have time. :)

Wednesday Weekly Photo Tip

2010-01-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

One of my new year goals was to blog every day. A photographer I really admire named Jasmine Star said that what helps her blog every single day is having a few weekly topics that take up some time and then she's not thinking of what to do seven times a week. So with that in mind, I present to you a new weekly topic: How to take better pictures.

Now why on Earth would I do this? Why would I encourage people to take better pictures when my business is taking pictures of people? Well the thing is, I can't be with you every day. Oh dear client I wish I could because somehow you are the sweetest people with the most adorable children. But I can't. And you should still be able to get pictures of your little one's milestones, even when I'm not there. So here it is, your weekly photo tip.

Know Your Camera Modes

How many of you read the manual that came with your camera? And if you did, did any of it sound like a foreign language? I am so guilty of this one. When I got my first digital camera, it had so many buttons, I had no clue what to do with it and just left it on automatic. That's no way to go through photography life though. Sometimes, the camera is fooled by what it sees and gives you not such a great picture of a great scene.

Most cameras have a variety of different modes. Some vary by the maker of the camera and what model it is but there are also several modes that are the same. Each mode helps you photograph a particular type of scene. For example, Portrait Mode automatically selects a large aperture which will keep your background out of focus. You can use each mode to get a different shot, even when if the shot isn't what the icon tells you. For example, using the Portrait Mode to photograph something other than people. If you were to photograph a flower, it would keep the flower in focus and the background out of focus.

Knowing what each mode of your camera does can help you get creative with your shots and can help you get great shots for a variety of different scenes. Reading the camera manual is the only way to know what exactly each mode of your specific camera does.

I hope this little tip helps you in taking pictures of your family throughout the day. I'll be back next week, posting more tips!

Laura & Nick- Engaged

2010-01-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

I've known Laura since I was 6 years old. Wow. Just calculated that in my head. That's a long time... Laura and I went to the same elementary and middle school and were in Girl Scouts together. After middle school, we split, went to different high schools and lost touch. Through the amazing-ness that is the social networking site Facebook, we reconnected. And then Laura got engaged. And then she asked me to be her wedding photographer for their upcoming March nuptials. I jumped on that like my cat jumps on my face to wake me up. I was so excited! I was even more excited when, during our consultation visit, Laura said "I want to get married at just the right time, just when the light is perfect." Done. My little photographer heart soared hearing that.

Nick lives far away so on his last afternoon here, we all journeyed up to Lyons to do some engagement pictures. The setting was frozen and beautiful and poor Laura was sick! But with the cold and Laura's sickness playing against it, they still rocked it out. And this March, I will be photographing their wedding, just when the light gets right. I can't wait.

Music Monday

2010-01-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

I love music. Love love love it. Have loved it ever since I was a little girl. And my daddy didn't raise me on Madonna and Prince. Oh no my friends. Not that there's anything wrong with them. Every musician has their place. But I was raised on Van Halen, The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Since Daddy didn't raise no fool, I like to think that my taste in music is still pretty good. If you have $9.90 and want to spend it on some music, here's my playlist for the week.

1. The First Days of Spring- Noah and the Whales: This song is beautiful. Epic. Painful and yet joyful. All about rebirth. I love it.

2. Astronauts- One eskimO: Fitting for a song called Astronauts to be spacey. Feels empty but it's fitting for this song.

3. Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo)- Blakroc: A rock/rap group between The Black Keys and a bunch of rappers. Very interesting.

4. Orange Sky- Alexi Murdoch: I've raved about this guy before on my blog. I absolutely love his voice. I first heard him on the Away We Go soundtrack and immediately downloaded his other music. It's beautiful, quiet and lyrical. Perfect for background music while editing.

5. Marchin' On- OneRepublic: This song comes on and I immediately smile. The steady beat combined with the lyrics makes me want to run out and accomplish every goal I have.

6. City in Black and White: Mat Kearney: I love this song so much I made it a ring tone on my phone. It's so delicate and simple yet complex. I absolutely love this song.

7. I'll Fight- Wilco: Such a simple yet beautiful song. Apparently, my cat also loves it. She cries in the car when I bring her back to Greeley unless this song is playing. So if my cat's musical opinion has any merit for you, check this song out.

8. Sing the Changes- The Fireman: A very dreamy song. If you like U2, you'll probably like this song.

9. Draw the Line- David Gray: Very rhythmic but gentle. Flowing like a gentle river but also a very strong song.

10. If I am a Stranger (Live)- Ryan Adams: I prefer the live version of this song to any other version. It's so lovely accoustic.

So there you have it. My Top 10 for the week. I love music so what are your faves? I like to explore all different types!

Headed Back to Greality

2010-01-10T10:19:00.001-07:00

Packing for returning to school after break is a lot like planning for a very long vacation except instead of trying to fit your stuff into a small carry-on, you just pack everything. And the coming weeks are full of school work not sipping fruity drinks on the beach. That's right, everyone! I'm back at school.

Because of this, my shooting schedule is a little different. I will now be offering shoots Monday, Wednesday and Friday after 1 pm in Northern Colorado. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I will be offering shoots in Boulder and the Denver Metro area.

I hope your new year is going great! I have two photo blog posts coming this week and I'm still working on the new website. Hoping to get it launched very soon!

To contact Kelsey, email bookings@kelseybigelowphotography.com or call 720.308.9662

Friday Favorites

2010-01-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody! I'm busy over here doing some editing and lounging around on my last few days of winter break. In the mean while, here's my Friday favorites for this week.

1. LaLa- This music site is the coolest. It's like Pandora but it lets you listen to whole albums! Awesome! I've 'discovered' so much new music this past week.

2. Twitter- When I first heard of Twitter, I was so on the anti side of this debate. It seemed so dumb to me. But I have to admit, I love it. Some of my clients are on it too and I get to peek into their lives more often than when we just have photoshoots. Plus, I can follow all sorts of other photographers and get inspiration, advice and meet new friends. To follow me go to www.twitter.com/kelseybigelow

3. Sunflower Market- During winter break, I live with my parents which means no grocery shopping. I go back to Greeley on Sunday and I will be totally foodless! So I've made my grocery list for next week. One grocery store I absolutely love is the Sunflower Market. Their prices are ridiculous and I've always gotten good food there. The whole store just makes me happy!

4. Lunch with Photographers- This week, I got to have lunch with another photographer that I have long been an admirer of. It was great to meet, eat and talk all things business. So nice to have a friend who's been there or is going there with me!

5. Coupon clipping- I'm addicted to coupons. It's slightly sad. I have a huge pile. I get this from my mother who, before every shopping trip, would lay all her coupons out and match the ones that were also on sale that week. Grocery shopping would take hours because she would go through the whole stack, finding the best deals. Now I've taken over that tradition. Some friends won't even go grocery shopping with me because I have so many coupons. I know that they're jealous they aren't saving as much as I am. ;) I love that coupons are online now too! Another way for me to feed my habit.

Hope you all are having a great, albeit snowy, cold and frozen, week! I'll be back at school next week but that doesn't mean anything's slowing down over here. Got some big things to announce soon!