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Catherine Keene Photography bio picture

Hello!

Welcome to the CKP blog!  Grab a chair and a drink, sit down and relax to enjoy your backstage pass to the world of Catherine Keene Photography.  Browse through the sneak peeks, learn a little more about me, and keep up with the goings-on of CKP. 

Do you Facebook?  If so, please be sure you're a fan of CKP on Facebook.  You will find Facebook only contest and giveaways, special session sneak peeks, and it's a great way to interact personally with CKP!  Click the link below to join in on the fun!

Holy Guacamole, Batman! | NC photographer

Good grief!  I do apologize for the INCREDIBLY long lapse I took in updating the blog.  The last post was at the end of September and that is when us photographers get busy busy busy!  Between having a little one in school now and all the business that came my way – my blog took a back seat!  If you are a Facebooker (like I am), please be sure to become a fan.  I often surprise people with the little contests and rewards…  :)

SO – to bring you up to speed, here are a few of my fave images from the Fall/Holiday Rush of 2009.

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Thank you to all my clients, and those of you who spread the word!  Thank you for helping to make 2009 a WONDERFUL year!

February 6, 2010 - 9:01 pm Cheryl Bragg - WOW! They all look fantastic! That tiny baby with the purple flower hat is my favorite :-) she is adorable, I wish I had one. Thanks Catherine, you are amazing

February 5, 2010 - 11:24 pm Amanda Prince - LOVE these cat. Beautiful!

February 5, 2010 - 10:46 pm Dawn DeCristofaro - Hello Catherine, I am a Photographer, I don't consider myself to be a real professional yet, although I have been paid for my work. I don't consider my self a pro, YET anyways lol. I just wanted to tell you I absolutly love your work. Your pictures are capturvating. You are an inspiration to me and I hope to be as good as you some day. Bless you and all the work you do. - DAWN

February 5, 2010 - 10:26 pm Sarah - Beautiful images Cat!!

What To Wear Wednesday | NC Family Photographer

It’s time for family portraits – which means it is time to stress over what to wear!  Most families make clothing selections for their portraits harder than it has to be.  Make it simple by picking a pair of coordinating colors, and work your outfits out around that.  Don’t be afraid to use a subtle pattern, and don’t be afraid to have members of the family wear different colored shirts!

Below is a really simple idea of color coordinating (all of these clothes are available from the GAP, Inc. stores):

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This is very basic – and you can expand upon these ideas.  Pick colors that work well with your family and don’t be afraid to step away from “matchy-matchy” blue jeans/khakis and white shirts.  Have some fun and mix up your colors.  The one simple rule I have for family portraits – DON’T CLASH!  :)

Until next time…

February 4, 2010 - 11:33 pm laura stoddard - great combinations. i love brown & green together!

Remembering 9/11 through service | NC photographer

In honor and remembrance of all who lost their lives on 9/11, and all those whose lives were forever changed -

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Do not let the evil tragedy of that day 8 years ago win out.  Help Catherine Keene Photography assist our brave servicemen and women by donating a shoebox filled with toys, school supplies, clothing – what ever you can fit – to the people of Afghanistan.  Your shoe boxes will be mailed to a family friend who is currently stationed in Afghanistan and he will distribute to the Afghanistan people near his base.   Help our military develop a trusting relationship with the people of Afghanistan.

If you have not scheduled a session for this fall, your credit can be used at a later date.   Email me at info@catherinekeene.com if you would like to participate.

Thank you – and God Bless America!

September 20, 2009 - 11:37 am Melissa - This is a great idea! Love that you have found a way to live loving your country not just saying it! :)

September 12, 2009 - 2:49 pm Danielle Neil - What a great cause! I hope that all your clients participate!!

The return of What to Wear Wednesday! | NC child photographer

With cooler weather on the horizon, it’s time to start up What to Wear Wednesdays again, to bring you some new ideas for fall clothing suggestions for your photo session.

This week, I’m featuring clothes for big kids from Boden!

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Be sure to stop by next week when What to Wear for Families is debuted.   Until next time – happy shopping!

September 22, 2009 - 12:49 pm Laurie Terry - Well, those are just the cutest outfits I think I've ever seen. I always love this time of year when the kids can start wearing sweaters again. I love your color choices too.

Back to school and back to business! | NC photographer

Whew!  it’s been forever since I’ve posted to the blog.  We ended up having a lazy, relaxing summer, enjoying having my little one at home with me before he started kindergarten.  I let photography take a back seat and enjoyed having the opportunity to go and do things on our own schedule.  Trips to see the grandparents, trips to the mountains for blueberries and hiking – it was nice to have no particular place to be.  :)

That doesn’t mean I didn’t pick up the camera this summer.  ;)   Here are some pictures from a few of the sessions from the past couple months.

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If you haven’t received the latest newsletter, please go to the main page of the website at www.catherinekeene.com and sign up for it.   (To view the current newsletter {click here} ) There are a couple specials going on right now – and we’ll be announcing another Giving Back special next week!   Also, if you’ve been thinking about booking a session, now is the time to do it.  Weekends are filling up in October, so call or email to book your session before available sessions are gone!

Until next time…

December 29, 2009 - 7:25 pm Desiree Hayes - LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEE!! That tea set, so adorable!!!

October 16, 2009 - 11:18 am TaraMc - Beautiful work Catherine!

September 23, 2009 - 10:16 am Michele - These are great! Really love the one on the swing!

September 22, 2009 - 10:17 am Jen G. - Very nice! I love the little peanut in the porch swing!! I love them all, actually!

September 21, 2009 - 9:26 pm Jane Photo - So precious, every one of these. Too hard to pick a fave.

September 21, 2009 - 6:28 am laura stoddard - what fun, playful images! great job!

September 20, 2009 - 4:41 pm kay spedoske - wow, what a great set, love the color.

September 18, 2009 - 7:43 pm Sara Mellander - These are great! LOVe the tea time!!

September 8, 2009 - 9:35 am deb - Beautiful images..... Really love the tea party image. The outdoor swing image needs to be on a large canvas over a couch :)

September 5, 2009 - 10:12 pm Christine - I've missed your posts! Glad to hear the break was for a good reason! These are amazing--as expected. :)

September 4, 2009 - 3:32 pm Danielle - You've captured some great photos! Love them all. And glad to hear you got some down time with your little one before school!

Twin Time! | NC baby photographer

Just sharing a couple from my latest sessions.  These first little girls just had their first session of the First Year Plan.  It’s a great way to document your baby (or in this family’s case babies’) first year and those important milestones… first smiles, sitting up, crawling, standing, walking…  I can’t wait to watch these bebes grow!

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This second set of twins are now graduates of the First Year Plan.  It’s been so much fun photographing these sweet girls!  Notice the basket they are in… we had to confine them so I could actually get pictures of them TOGETHER.  They are on the move now!!  :)

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AND, I should be having another twin session coming up within the next month or so – as soon as they are sitting on their own.  So far, 2009 has been the year of twins for me!!  Now I just need some twin boys to photograph… anybody got any?  ;)

Next week, we will have a What to Wear post, I promise!  Until next time…

September 4, 2009 - 5:08 am Jane Photo - So incredibly sweet. Great job with these.

July 8, 2009 - 12:15 am Laurie Terry - Oh my gosh, those are cute twins. Hard to shoot, but so worth it if you get a shot that good. Love it!

July 1, 2009 - 1:12 pm Michele - Oh, how adorable they are! I know that first one is older, but wow - love it!

June 30, 2009 - 1:18 pm Candy Howard - Beautiful, as always, Cat. Love those smiles!

June 28, 2009 - 3:40 pm Melissa - Its raining twins!! I love them!! So sweet!

June 28, 2009 - 12:39 am Danielle Neil - Wow - you do have lots of twins lately! Fantastic photos - how can you beat double models!!

June 27, 2009 - 9:41 am Frances L - Twice the handful, but very cute none-the-less. :)

June 24, 2009 - 10:11 pm Shera Smith - I have 2.5 year old twin boys!

June 24, 2009 - 9:49 pm Petra - adorable...loving the green background!!

Facebook fans – CONTEST for you!

Do you Facebook?  If so, come be a fan of Catherine Keene Photography and enter to win some great deals for your next portrait session!!  Click here to go to the CKP facebook page!

Some sneak peeks should be up tomorrow – I know I have two mommies who are anxious to see their bebes on the blog.  :)

A little princess and her big brother

Yay for being back to blogging!  I had a nice relaxing time in New York visiting a friend and doing a whole lot of NOTHING!  :-)

Here’s a sneak peek from a session that was completed before I left for NY, but we had overlapping vacations, so I’m posting the sneak now.

Here is the princess.  Aren’t her eyes just amazing?!?!

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And her brother was quite the jokester.  He thought we should switch jobs at first…

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I LOVED his room!  The African safari motif was awesome!!!

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J, your gallery will be up VERY shortly.  Thanks for your patience!!!

June 24, 2009 - 2:33 pm Sara Mellander - Very nice!!!

June 23, 2009 - 11:07 am Angela - I absolutely love the beautiful and smooth bokeh in the first shot! =) Great photo(s)!

June 21, 2009 - 11:39 pm Jane Photo - Wow, I love that first one. Big bro is cute too!

June 19, 2009 - 1:29 pm Amanda Prince - LOVE the first one! What beautiful eyes!

June 18, 2009 - 9:28 am Danielle Neil - Oh my, those eyes!! What a sweetheart! Great photos!

June 17, 2009 - 8:46 pm Joyce - You are incredibly talented. I am in love with these pics and i can't wait for the rest! Thank you. You have given us something so special.

Aiden turns FIVE | NC child photographer

I am behind on posting client images here on the blog because my son is stealing the show.  It’s hard to believe that 5 years ago, tonight, I was sitting in a hospital room with my husband, scared out of my mind what would happen the next day.  I had already been in the hospital 9 days due to preterm labor.  They gave us until 34 weeks for him to come, and that didn’t happen, so at 34 weeks, I was taken up the elevator to a labor & delivery room where labor was induced.  About 9 hours later, our precious little boy had arrived… just as healthy as could be too!

We are now well into the transition from preschooler to big kid.  Aiden graduated from preschool last Friday, and is now super excited about starting kindergarten in the fall.  I can’t believe how fast the time has gone.  That’s why pictures are so important.  Aiden and I have been reminiscing this past week, looking back at the story of his life.  I’m thankful for the photographs documenting his baby days and childhood, especially the moments I know he will not remember.  While I thoroughly enjoy working with my clients and helping them create a photographic journal of their own lives,  I love being able to give Aiden the gift of pictures of his life.   I hope he appreciates it when he gets older.  And even if he doesn’t, I’m sure his future wife will love me for it.  ;)

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Happy Birthday my sweet angel.  You brought new meaning to my life, in so many different ways.  You challenge me, and you help bring out the best in me.  You have made me  a more understanding person.  You have taught me patience.  Your early arrival brought me closer to our Creator and for the first time in my life, I really learned to trust His will, and I thank you for that.   What mattered to me changed when you came into my life.   No longer do I care about wearing the right clothes, or having the perfect house, or driving the right car.  Those days of superficial worry are behind me now.  Two people were born that June evening five years ago – you and your mommy.  The person I was before you were born doesn’t exist anymore, and the person I am now today is because of you.  I can’t imagine a time without you in my life.   Maybe it’s because deep down, I always knew you.  I might not have been able to picture your face in my mind, and I didn’t know your name, but you were always there with me, even before you were born.  You are a dream come true for me, a dream I had since I was a little girl, about the same age you are now.  You are my buddy, my little pal, my friend, but more importantly, my son.   No matter how big and strong you grow, you will always, ALWAYS be my baby boy.

June 11, 2009 - 8:48 am deb - Gorgeous, lovely eyes. Looks like he was having fun!

June 8, 2009 - 7:18 pm Candy Howard - He is so cute! Happy birthday, five year old!

June 6, 2009 - 10:13 am Mary Beth Johnson - Sooo sweet! He's a cutie! Five is a fun age!

June 5, 2009 - 9:03 pm kasie - So sweet!! Children are a blessing from above. They grow so quickly and every moment is a treasure. Happy Birthday Aiden.

June 5, 2009 - 5:11 am Jane Photo - Awww, that's too cute. Love the five fingers.

June 4, 2009 - 12:23 pm Jenny - AWWWWW!!!! So sweet!!! Happy Birthday Aiden!

June 4, 2009 - 6:58 am Merna - Just beautiful Catherine. Happy Birthday Aiden

June 4, 2009 - 1:52 am Amanda Prince - Beautiful... Im in tears! :) Happy Birthday little Aiden!

What to Wear Wednesday | NC photographer

Another Wednesday is upon us!   The time sure is flying.   My son’s preschool is winding down for the year  – he graduates Friday.  :)   It seems like only yesterday I was dropping him off for his first day of school while I was wiping the tears from my eyes as he ran into his school all by himself.  (It didn’t take me long to learn to appreciate that 3 hours a day I had to myself though!)

This week’s What to Wear Wednesday entry features clothes for baby (yes, I chose clothes for baby, again…) from Old Navy.  These are some fun summer styles for little ones and I especially love the hats.  Hats are a great way to accessorize too and they make for great portraits!  I work quickly to get the picture before the little one snatches the hat from his or her head.  ;)

Happy shopping!

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May 29, 2009 - 1:32 am Laurie Terry - Well, your outfits are just darling. What a great idea to give recommendations. My clients are always wondering what they should dress their kids in.

May 28, 2009 - 3:42 pm Stephanie - CUTE!