Grand Opening of New Studio!!!

It's finally arrived!

After a year of renovations, the new studio is now open!

And it's a great thing for all my clients - old and new! For the month of April, book your session with my new studio and get up to 75% off my regular prices!

With the new studio, comes a new studio name... Amber Light Photography. It's for the sweet amber light that you get from the late afternoon rays of the sun.

If you're wondering why the name change... well, it's due to another company that had the same name when I tried to get a website domain. So, my new website address is:
www.amberlightphoto.com

You can find out more about me, the studio, and soon to come - my staff on that site.

I'll be leaving this blog up to show samples of my work, but will be adding new posts to my amberlight photo blog...

Thanks for checking us out - and please call me about the gala evening event as well! Prizes and fun will be had in May! ;)

Take care,
Karen

New News!

Well, it's the new year already!

And, to start the year off right, I'd like to add a new client and project to the site.

One I'm very excited about!

The Client - Dolores Baron

The Project - CD Cover Art & Website Photography

The Result - Pure Artistry!

Although I did have fun doing the artwork and photography for the web and the CD, I'm really talking about an incredible work of art on this CD from so many perspectives.

Many people worked on making this CD the work of art it is. And when you hear the sound - you'll be amazed!

It's very healing, and is the perfect cd for those who work in the healing arts, especially massage therapists. The sound is artistically designed to create balance and harmony in the listener. The pure sound produced by chakra tuned quartz crystal bowls, Tibetan bells, tuning forks and ancient bowls from Nepal & Tibet is also perfect for anyone who meditates.
Here is the back cover design... The artist at work...

To order the cd, to hear some sound clips, or to learn more about what Dolores does with this healing cd - go to:

www.crystalsoundtherapy.com

As for the Artist -

Dolores is an incredible artist who creates harmony and balance in the body and mind through sound. She's a lovely lady, kind and gentle in spirit. I think it shows in the portrait we captured of her! (Shown below)

She's also an amazing therapist, who uses everything from color sound therapy to Reiki in her work. She's multi-talented - trained in such arts as philosopy, craniosacral therapy, lymph drainage therapy, reflexology, and massage.

Dolores is a member of several associations, including the Sound Healers Association and the Massage Therapists Association. She's also a wholistic practitioner. A citizen of both New Zealand and Canada, she is a gentle spirit whose life lessons have been all about love and compassion.

Meeting her and working with her was a real treat...

If you live in her area, I'd highly recomend going for one of her healing treatments! :)

And if you're in the mood to buy her CD - now is the time to buy it. It's got a special price until the end of January!!! Only 19.95!

Thanks again to Dolores - a terrific client and wonderful healer and artist! :)

Childhood Innocence... Paintings by Karen

Just doing some fun work today...

thought I'd show some of my latest paintings...

Two beautiful girls, Alyssa and Shyanne...

I love how the innocence of childhood is captured in these quiet moments...

Ahhhhhhhhh.... Summer

Yes, I do love summer...

And I love photography in summer. I love the weather, and love the joy people just seem to spread when the weather is warm and holidays abound. It's also the time of year when I get to travel most, so here's some photographs of my latest trip to Edmonton, AB and Seattle, WA...

This first photo was taken in the Rocky Mountains between B.C. and Alberta. I was driving in pure rain, then rounded a corner and the sun just poured out around the next mountain.

It was stunning and awe inspiring.

Photography just can't capture the feeling as well as I'd like...

The silence, the smell of the fresh mist coming up off the road - and the joy and freedom I felt while driving - alone and on my way home...

Of course, after I rounded the next corner, it was sunny and warm all the way.

I decided to stop for lunch on the side of the road.

Is this not just the best lunch spot?

And I had it all to myself too... well, the birds and other animals were enjoying the sun there too... but it's amazingly peaceful to find a spot in nature with no other person around for miles. Really lets you appreciate the true beauty of nature without any distractions...

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These next photographs are from the most amazing conference I've ever had the pleasure of attending!!

The Sacred Activism Conference proved that over 5 milion 'culteral creatives' can't be wrong - or alone!!! There were thousands here over 4 days, and the most amazing speakers I've seen in a long time...

From Caroline Myss to Robert Kennedy Jr...

And, last but not least...

my trip to Edmonton gave me some incredible time with family and friends...

and some great photo opportunities as well...

of which I'll post more in future...

Welcome!

Welcome to those coming to the site from Pizzaz's Fashion Show Sunday!

And Congratulations to all the winners!

Here's a few photos for those who were there.

All photos will be uploaded to
www.eventpictures.com
over the next few days.

If you don't see the one you are looking for, do go back in a few days, as I'll keep loading them up as I get them processed.

You just need to put in the province, BC (under Canada) and the type of event (arts and entertainment) to get logged in to see the photos.

Thanks to all who made the event so much fun!
It was great to meet you all!
:)

April Showers Bring May Flowers... and Pet Portraits

And pets love the flowers!

Pet Photography is a specialized area of photography.

For many people, their pets are like family. At Imago Studios, we understand this love of animals, having two pets of our own. Our furry 'babies,' Missy and Ben, are a great joy to us.

However, just as in the case of photographing people differently for different needs, pets may require different types of photography for different applications.

For instance, if you are photographing a pet for a magazine, it's a whole different ballgame than if you are photographing them for part of a family album. And to properly photograph a pet, special lighting is needed for their fur.

Many great candids of pets are easy to capture at home.

But to really show off their best features and qualities, especially for show dogs and cats, care must be taken in posing as well.

For example, look at the photo of the kitten in the basket with the border around it.

Even the tips of the fur on the ears shows, and the pose, though of a cat laying down, easily shows her best facial features close up.

She's a pensive, fearful and delicate girl,
and this photograph truly captures that.
Her face, staring warily at the camera, almost speaks aloud her questions about "how safe am I with you?"

The same cat, in the same basket, looks entirely different with different lighting and a different pose.

Of course, she couldn't care less if I took her photo by now. She's resting and knows I don't pose any threat. Her sleepy look is adorable, but this portrait is more suited to the people who love her and who see her sleeping routine daily than to a magazine on beautiful pets. Unless of course it were an article on places cats like to sleep of course! :)


Candid shots of pets like the one above are great to show personality and favorite habitats.
But they can also be quite stunning and usable for larger framed prints or magazines,
such as the photo below of "Perkins" on his favorite chair. This photograph, though quite simple, has effective use of composition and line to emphasize the cat and to take it a 'step above' a traditional candid. Of course, I did use some extra lighting, to help make this portrait stand out better. And black and white is always a great classic for emphasizing the beauty of line, form and texture.















And the following one, of our buddy Ben, sniffing the flowers,
reflects his love of the outdoors. (Even though he's too old to go out anymore)













For tips on photographing your pet,
for paintings created specifically for your pet,
or for your own family or pet portrait,
contact Karen at Imago Studios at
imagostudio@telus.net

Photography Tips 101

Hello again!

Can you believe it's March already?

I sure can't.
Time flies when you're having fun!

And the older you get, the faster it goes!

Whatever happened to long lazy summer days that seemed to stretch on forever?

Well, enough longing for more time...

Here's some tips for you on how to get better family photos from your own camera.

Tip One:
Composition.

Composition can really make a so-so portrait look spectacular. Before you take the photo, take a second to really look at the scene before you. If you squint your eyes, can you see any dominant shapes in the lens?

For example, instead of cramming everyone for a group portrait on the couch, take a look at how you can move them around to make a more interesting composition. Put a few people behind the couch, and at different levels. If you look at them with your eyes squinted, instead of a rectangle of heads all in a row, can you make triangles of groupings with their heads? This will keep the eye moving in the portrait, and will make for a more interesting photo all around.

Try to get in closer or to back up too. Notice what a difference that makes to your portrait. Do you notice faces more or less as you back up or zoom in?

Tip Two:
Clear the clutter.

Make sure the front of the frame is clean.

For example, that same family portrait on the couch. Do you have a bunch of stuff on the coffee table in front of the family? That clutter can be distracting and take away from the portrait. The eye will go to the clutter instead of the people.

Tip Three:
Perspective.

Perspective is everything. Take that same family portrait. Take three shots at the same spot. But instead of taking the second shot at eye level, take it from below. Get down to foot level and shoot upwards. What does that look like? And then take the third from above. Get on a chair or the coffee table - without killing yourself or the furniture! :)

Tip Four:
Color.
Or lack thereof.

Color can make or break your family portrait.

If you are shooting outdoors, take a look at the colors around you. Do you notice flowers more against a green background of bushes, or in a mess of color? If you are looking for one flower in a sea of color, you'll have a difficult time picking it out. But notice how beautifully it stands out if against green grass or trees.

This is the principle you want to think about when taking a portrait - professional or amatuer. If you can, get everyone to wear similar tones and colors in your family portrait. That way, the faces (the beautiful flowers) will stand out. If everyone's wearing something different in style, color and design, the eye has no idea what to focus on. The faces will get lost instead of being the focus of the portrait as they should be.

If you absolutely can't get anyone to wear anything similar, try taking the portrait in black and white. The lack of color will help put the focus back where it should be - on the faces. Make sure with black and white to not have a bunch of distractions in the photo around the faces though. (See tip two on 'clear the clutter.')

Of course, the best way to capture the special moments in your family's lives are with a professional photographer. A good photographer will help you not only with all the design elements, but with making everyone look and feel their best.

Well, that's a start, look for more tips to come!

Happy portrait taking!
:)

I love B.C. because it's February and spring is in the air already!!!

Yes, I love living in B.C.!!!


After several years in Alberta, dealing with blizzards for my birth month instead of springtime fun, I am glad to be back to flowers, the good ole green stuff, rain and sunshine.


Here's a few photos I've taken of the local area...

From last summer until now.

Enjoy!

Here's one taken in one of my most favorite parts of B.C.

The Queen Charlotte Islands, or Haida Gwaii.

I did a little artwork on it... Can you tell?

Valentine's Day & Boudoir Photography go hand in hand...

Because it is almost THAT time of year - my favorite time for the Romantic side of me....
it's time to feature a certain type of photography.

Yes, I'm talking about Boudoir Photography, which makes the perfect gift for Valentine's Day!

Boudoir photography is an intimate type of portrait that can range from Innocently Glamorous to Glamorously Sexy and everything in between. Because it's also a romantic type of photography, whether you do it for yourself or someone else, it's the perfect match for Valentine's Day.

A bit about Boudoir photography...

Boudoir comes from the French word for a ladies bedroom or sitting room where a woman could be alone. And Boudoir Photography is all about the intimacy of the bedroom area. If done well, it should show the sensual side of a person, (most often a woman, but sometimes a man or a couple) whether it "shows anything" or not.

Valentine's Day is the most common time for women to get a boudoir portrait done for herself or for a loved one, second only to birthdays and Christmas. And many partners give the gift of a certificate to their loved one to have it done for a Valentine's Day present.

Although it's done with the woman in mind - the partner always enjoys the results! (And not just in the photos themselves, but in the increased confidence a woman exudes after having this type of portrait done with Imago Studios.)

To do Boudoir Photography properly, one needs to have a sensitivity to the client. It is often the most difficult photography to do well. Not only in the sense that the client may feel uncomfortable at first, but also in the sense that one has to know lighting and posing extraordinarily well to cover perceived flaws and to highlight the best features of a client.

At Imago Studios, we have over 18 years experience in making women feel better about themselves in Boudoir Photography. Having fun is the goal, and making someone look beautiful is the result.

Here are some testimonials of women who've experienced a boudoir sitting with Imago Studios:

Marlene:

"How can I begin to express my excitement about a photo shoot last week with Karen? I had the great pleasure of spending a number of hours with Karen, and during the entire time, felt extremely relaxed and pampered. She has a unique connection with the lens of the camera and is able to capture truly magical moments.

Last night I saw the musical slide presentation that she had prepared.

I cried. I laughed.

I couldn’t believe that the person that was looking back at me was ME.

I was flawless.

Karen somehow minimizes the not so good parts and enhances that which shines through the lens. She makes you see your true beauty.

If you have ever felt intimidated by images peering at you from the Victoria’s Secret catalog, I have great new for you. With a little help from Karen, you too can be a sexy pin-up girl and save the moment for a lifetime. It is called “boudoir” photography, and Karen provided me with an opportunity to feel completely at ease. She made me feel really good about myself during the process. For me it was like playing “dress up” for the day! My hair and makeup were all done, allowing Karen to work her magic with her camera and different props.

Now the difficult part will be choosing which photos I want... because I want them ALL! I am so thankful that I stepped out of my box and did something that I have only dreamt about doing.

Having done this, my self confidence has increased and now I feel so EMPOWERED. I encourage you to call Karen and set up an appointment - it will be one of those lasting memories of your life.

Thank you Karen.

You are an angel."

-Marlene


Jan:

"Karen has been doing the photography for my organization, Women Empowering Women, for years now and has done three personal photo sessions with me.

Karen is absolutely amazing at capturing all the right moments. In working with her personally, she makes you feel comfortable, special and brings out the very best in you.

Karen has been the best photographer I have ever worked with not only in bringing out the best at the photo shoot but she is so incredibly artistic that her finished products are truly works of art. "

-Jan Janzen
Women Empowering Women



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Give the gift of Passion, Romance, & Fun this Valentine's Day!

E-mail Imago Studios now for your discounted Valentine's Day certificate on a Boudoir Portrait!!!

Imagostudio@telus.net

New Paintings

This first portrait is one you may recognize from a previous post.
I did this one to show how "firey" and vibrant this lady is.

This next piece of artwork is of our municipal buildings in Vancouver.

Happy New Year!

Just for fun, I thought I'd post some artwork I've been doing...

I love painting and photography.


Mixing the two is a great feeling! ;)

This portrait was taken at a Spring Garden event.

This one, taken at the same event,

goes to show that event photography

does not have to be all about

the stagnant posed photographs

one traditionally sees from these events.

Christmas Angel

What an Angel...

I caught this Little Girl playing with an angel nightlight she just rec'd from her Grandma.

Her Mom and Dad loved this set of photos...

I think Gran and Grandpa will too! :)

Sweet Baby

This little cutie is almost a year old.

Photographed at 3, 6 and 12 months old, she's the most happy baby I've seen in a long time.

Philosophy about Charity Work

I believe it's crucial for everyone to
make a difference in our world.

Everyone knows charity work is important for a business - to get out in your community and to make a difference. Plus - it's a great way to meet some amazing people in your community that are like minded!

However, many people get lost in the media negativity blitz. Thinking they have to do everything, they are paralyzed into doing nothing.

I think anything we do - simply by being, makes a difference to everyone we meet. Who you are impacts the world in many ways every day.

I also believe strongly in the following quote by Ghandi:

We must be the change we want to see.

However I also know I can't do everything.

So I pick my causes, and I only do what I can, without leaving my family in the background.
Every year I pick a few projects that are of value and where the people don't have the money to pay for a shoot to do at no charge.

This post is for all the work I've done for free for a good cause or have started work on to help others...


and hopefully, in the comments section, we'll have links to other great things people are doing around the world!

This photo set was done for a "goodie" basket set where all proceeds went to the "Make a Wish Foundation" - a great cause!

You can find out more about them by going to:


http://www.makeawish.ca/



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"The Butterfly Project" was a special event started to help women from "Dress For Success" get more than just their new suits.

We offered a one weekend make-over from advice on dealing with people and confidence raising skills on the Saturday to a complete make-over and free portrait on the Sunday. This was open to the general public, who paid, in part for their portion of the event, and in portion for the women of "Dress for Success" to come to the event at no cost.

Shown on Global TV on the Sunday night of the event, this charity event was a complete success and well worth the time taken for all the women who contributed their time to help these women feel beautiful!

Here's a before and after photo from one of the attendees:

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Another good cause is www.nobullyforme.org

Stephen Hill and myself run the site, the group support meetings and offer workshops and educational seminars. We do the work voluntarily, after our regular jobs and life, and hope to make a difference in educating people about bullying and violence in the workplace.

I also have developed and facilitate artistic & therapeutic "playshops" to help targets deal with anxiety, trauma, Post Traumatic Stress due to workplace violence, etc.

Feel free to contact me at nobullyforme@gmail.com for more info on these courses.

And Remember - you are making a difference simply by being - even if it is to be a "bad example!" :)

So what are you going to do today to make someone smile... to make a difference in the world around you???

I'd love to hear what you are doing! Please add your links to the comments section - anything you do for family, friends, the environment or the rest of the world....

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Romancia

This is a sample of the Artwork I can now do on photos.

It's a charcoal and pastel sketch of one of their wedding portraits...

Artwork takes time, but it's well worth the effort!

BW Bride

BW Bride.

I wanted this recent bridal photo to look like a graphic magazine shot, rather than a normal shot.

I like the way it turned out...

What about you?

Back of Dress Detail

Capturing the Details are so important - especially on a wedding day!




This is the day the bride has dreamed of since childhood.
She has pored over hundreds of magazines, talked to friends and family and planned how to make this day "just right."
Every detail reflects her personality and joy in planning her wedding...

New Wedding Photos

The most important part of any bridal shoot is getting the bride at her best. That usually means also getting a good photo of her before the crowds, heat, and other stresses of the day can take away the joyful look of anticipation as we see here, with one of my latest beautiful brides, Teri.

Teri looked stunning, and she was absolutely radient. I wanted to make sure we captured her at this moment, before the look was gone...

Our New Studio!!!

Well, the excitement never ends!!!

After an exciting month of negotiating, we finally have our first home studio.

We are hoping to open sometime in the new year, once we move in and renovate, if all goes according to plan!

Commercial Work - Abigail's Inn, Victoria, B.C.

This is the Orchid Room and exterior of "Abigails's Inn" in Victoria, B.C.

A most gorgeous place to stay if you ever get the chance!



The above photos were used in a story in a Bed and Breakfast Inns magazine.
The others in this section were used in the story and in their regular advertising.

The next two were used on two different magazine covers...


The hotel exterior was used on the cover of Inn Traveler Winter cover.
The hotel interior was used on North American Inns - Winter Luxury Issue.



On this shoot, the client wanted everything from 'lifestyle' type portraits,



of people enjoying themselves,
as shown above,



to interior shots of food



and different rooms around the Inn for their website advertising.






The most welcoming thing I found about the Inn while staying there, besides the absolutely phenominal service, was their lovely robes.

I added a photo of the robes for their "romance package" on their website - as shown below.




This Inn is all class.

And the owner, Ellen Cmolik, is at the top of my list of incredible businesses.

Why?

The photo below shows it all.

This is Ellen serving her staff breakfast. She does this every week. She makes sure her staff know they are just as important as the clients. And by treating them well, and by having regular friendly staff meetings over breakfast, she shows them how she wants the guests treated. Ellen reflects the importance of service, not by yelling at staff, as many establishments do, but by treating them with respect and curtesy.

This is not something seen at every workplace, believe me!



I highly recommend Abigail's Inn!

Check it out if you are ever travelling in Victoria, B.C.


It's conveniently located close to the harbour, and is within walking distance of many famous spots, including the museum, Beacon Hill Park and the Legislative Buildings.

Abigail's Hotel booking information can be found at:

http://www.abigailshotel.com/gallery.html