Waiting for Wesley

     

I’ve known Rachel and Noel for over 7 years now, and although we like teasing Noel about his tendencies to wear things like speedo’s and fanny packs, Rachel still wanted to marry him and start a family with him. I was right there when they got engaged, and was honored to be involved in the wedding. A few happily wedded years later, (and a new wardrobe for Noel), and (ta-da!) little baby Wesley was on his way. Rachel settled comfortably into the newly pregnant role well, and 8 months later, I was asked to take their maternity shots. You can see the anticipation of becoming new parents on their faces so well. At one point, Noel pulled out his beautiful guitar and started singing softly to his little boy, and he started dancing and kicking inside Rachel’s belly! Those kids hear everything! It was very cute. It was a fun day, and I am happy to share these photos with you.

Kellie Fite – Finding Beauty

This picture is not the prettiest flower you’ll ever see. In fact, some may say it’s ugly. Some might snicker that it should have been  Photoshopped. But I say, it’s beautiful and perfect the way it is. With all it’s faults, and all its brown spots, it still has class. It’s standing tall right after the rain came down on it. It’s making beauty out of what God gave it. Something to think about..

Kellie Fite – Alternative Gifts For the Holiday Season

Right around this time of the year, I start feeling overwhelmed with trying to find the perfect gift for each person on my list. I go on 1,000 different websites, scour through the Black Friday Sales, and window shop for a deal like there’s no tomorrow. So, I thought this year that I would try to save my family, friends and clients some time and tell you my top picks for holiday shopping in 2010.

1) www.Etsy.com – Seriously folks, if you haven’t heard of this site, you need to go check it out. There is a whole world of people out there that actually make things by hand….yeah! I swear! These creative individuals (myself including), make everything from beautiful homemade books (www.erinzam.com), to baby blankets, wedding invitations, jewelry and much more. Such cute, affordable stuff here! Support your local artisan’s this year.

2) www.kiva.org – This is my new find for the year. For $20, you can give someone in an under developed nation, a micro-loan, for which they can then make money and support themselves with. This is the gift that gives back. You get to be a hero, and help a person move from desperation to thriving. Check it out.

3) www.REI.com – Did you know you could buy a class from REI for anything – Rock Climbing, Kayaking, Camping, Back Country Cooking class and even a Digital Photography class! You can get a lifetime membership to REI for $20.00 (www.rei.com/membership), which entitles you to a 10% refund on all purchases for the year….they gave $80 million back in 2009..pretty cool.

4) Instead of going out and buying something, why don’t you try doing a ” White Elephant gift exchange” this year. Don’t deny it…you know you have at least 2 or 3 gifts that you’ve been saving for someone’s forgotten birthday that you will never, in this lifetime, use.  Everyone is having hard times right now with the recession, you might as well have a good attitude about it and have some fun exchanging these horrible and useless gifts!

5) Wouldn’t Grandma love to have that 8×10 picture of little Joey on her desk for Christmas? Guess what? I think I know someone who could hook you up with a beautiful photo session! (hint, hint).  Grandma and Grandpa will be bragging their butts off when they show the pictures of little Jessica or baby Ben cooing during their photo session with me. Trust me, this is the best present in the world! (ok, I’m biased, but seriously, it’s a good present!)

6) www.Chicobags.com -  If you haven’t started collecting your reusable non-plastic bags yet, please go to this website and grab a few. Not only will you be helping the environment, but they’re cute and affordable.

7) Recycle and Repurpose. When was the last time you went to a second-hand store? The Salvation Army has come a long way, and has some extremely good deals…many of which were never even used and still have the tag left on! This is definitely a good way to save money, and repurpose material items for gifts. Recycling at it’s best.

8 ) Plant a tree! We cut down on average 34 Million Christmas trees every year in the United States alone~ we need to be responsible and replace the tree’s we are cutting down. Make it a new tradition in your family to plant a tree to make up for the one you took down to enjoy. There are many sites that do this, but www.PlantaBillion.org will plant a tree for $1.00!!! That’s right, $1.00 will plant a tree in the Atlantic Rainforest in South America. Why there instead of in the U.S.? It is one of the most critically endangered ecosystems in the world, with only 7% remaining. Tropical forests such as the Atlantic Rainforest serve as the “lungs of the earth,” and the restoration of this forest will have a positive impact on people everywhere by helping remove dangerous “greenhouse gas” from the atmosphere, mitigating climate change, and supporting an extraordinary diversity of plants, animals and birds which are rarely found in other parts of the world. If the entire Atlantic Rainforest is restored, it will ultimately remove 10 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year.  Wouldn’t this be a GREAT STOCKING STUFFER???

9)  Trade chores. Yep, I said that. If you’re really low on cash, why not trade a chore with someone? You know that one thing that’s been on your to-do list since 1997 (i.e painting your spare room, cleaning the God forsaken closet, organizing your desk)? Why not have your friend do it, and you do the thing they can’t get themselves to do. Genius!

10) www.WorldVision.com.  This is one of my all time favorite charities. You can’t go wrong helping others survive. Not everyone can live in the United States and have access to clean water, or doctors at every corner. Is your passion helping children become more educated? Providing clean drinking water? Helping people with HIV get medications they desperately need to survive? Do you want to help rescue sexually exploited girls from being entrapped in the sex trade industry?  For as little as $25, you can donate $150 of school supplies to kids in the United States (thanks to matching donations from large corporations), or also for $25, give $75 worth of supplies for families in Haiti. For 5 cups of coffee at Starbucks, you can give a wheelchair to a child with a disability, or give job training to a women in poverty-stricken Ghana. I can’t say enough about this organization. Not only will this gift give to others, you will feel good giving it! Check it out…

11) Why not save the planet and do your body some good, by investing in a BPA Free Klean Kanteen bottle. www.Kleankanteen.com.  They even have sippy cups for kids now, and insulated bottles for holding the cold or heat for longer.  This is a great present.

Alright, if you’ve made it this far, I congratulate you and appreciate your time. It’s never too early to think of a thoughtful present for your loved one’s this holiday season, instead of buying something they don’t need. If you have another suggestion, leave a comment below.

Peace and Blessings,

Kellie

Kellie Fite Photography – Flowers for Barry

As I’m sitting here, this very deep sadness has come over me, seeping into my chest, and filling my eyes with tears.. it’s been 1 year already.  Last year, to the week exactly, my cousin Barry passed away. He was only 35 years old. He and I had a very special kinship. We would tell our secrets to each other, helped each other get through some devastating times, and exchanged yummy smelling candles, secretly, each year at Christmas. And, in celebration of our friendship and closeness, I want to tell the world a little bit about what made my cousin, so special.

1). Barry was 6 foot 8 inches. Yep, you read that right. Imagine having to duck through doorways every time you walk into a new room in your home.

2) When Barry hugged you, he’d reach down his arms and put those big tree trunks all the way around you. He’d give you one of those all encompassing hugs, that made you feel like, whatever was happening in your world, that it was going to be alright.

3) He was a Democrat, and proud of it (that was for you Aunt Susie!)

4) He had watched over 5,000 movies, and could quote many of the lines from each one. He Loved The Big Lewbowsky.

5) He had a wonderful green thumb and could make plants and flowers grow from a weed.

6) He and his cat Spike had a love that transcended normal animal-owner relationships. They loved each other so much, that one month after Barry died, Spike died too.

7) His main priority in life was to help and take care of his mom. They have a heavenly connection and love.

8) His favorite place in the whole world was India. He got to travel there twice and fell in love with the culture and the people.

9) He was one of the smartest guys I knew. He knew everything about computers about 10 years before any of us even owned one.

10) And besides his laugh, the most amazing thing about my cousin, was his heart. It was bigger and more giving than anyone I know. He is really missed. Today and always.

Love you, Bar.

Kellie Fite – Baby Elyse Naming Ceremony

It was a beautiful sunny southern California day, at a Mansion in the hills of Los Angeles, where I was hired to capture serene baby Elyse at her Jewish baby naming ceremony. She had just woken up from a long nap, was very hungry, and all these strangers were in her house, so it took her a little while to acclimate, but wouldn’t you too if you were in that situation? I think she handled it way better than you or I would have… On a side note, the service started late with the Rabbi, because Elyse’s grandmother (pictured below) got stuck on the freeway when her car died on the way to the ceremony! This completely unknown / God send family came to her rescue and drove her all the way to their house just in the nick of time…now that’s a miracle! Speaking of the house… is it possible to be in love with a house? It is absolutely gorgeous! I want to take a vacation there! (I told the parents that I would gladly house sit for free whenever they wanted). I also fell in love with the food that was catered by TaDa! Catering. Shelleylyn’s  pork chops are still making my mouth water thinking of them.  Anyhow, the day went on nicely, and baby Elyse was absolutely precious, and I captured her glorious day, and the beautiful family, and here are some of their pictures…

Kellie Fite – How to Look 10lbs Thinner in Photos

Have you ever wanted to know how models make themselves look thinner in their photos? Here are the top 10 ways to make yourself look thinner at your next photo session.

Secret No. 1: Turn partially sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot.

Secret No. 2: Pull head forward slightly to minimize any appearance of a double chin

Secret No. 3: Hold arms slightly away from your body. This keeps upper arm flab from flattening out and therefore appearing flabbier (much like thighs do when one sits on a couch).

Secret No. 4: Pull shoulders back, chest forward and gently suck your stomach in. Be careful not to suck your stomach so far in that your ribs show, thereby causing those who later see the photo to think, “they’re sucking it in.”

Secret No. 5: Try the “look away trick” that supermodels use . To do this, look away from the camera, then turn towards it, breaking into a smile just before the camera clicks. Your smile will appear fresh, not frozen. Try this at home in front of the mirror first folks, it takes a bit of practice.

Secret No. 6: Ask the photographer to take the photos from above. If the angle they take it at is below you, this adds another 20lbs to your body in the picture. (nobody wants that!)

Secret No. 7: Use objects you are holding to your advantage by placing them in front of parts of you you’d prefer to hide. A purse or flowers in front of your belly. A jacket slung over the shoulder. Many stars use their gigantic purses to hide their baby belly bumps before they announce it to the press.

Secret No. 8: Oprah is right on the money with this one. She will not go on camera without her Spanx hosiery.  The very modern version of the corset, Spanx are famous for making women all over the world appear 10 pounds thinner.  I own a few pairs.

Secret No. 9: Get a tan. That’s right folks, a fake tan will take off pounds in the picture by making your body look healthier and darker. I absolutely love L’Oreal’s Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Gele’e that you can buy for $10 at your local Rite-Aide.  Or, there are plenty of spots around town that will give you a nice spray tan. Just remember to lather on that protective lotion in spots like the palm of your hands, and the bottom of your feet so they don’t get weirdly stained.

Secret No. 10: Clothes can camouflage your body if you know which types to wear. Dark colors look best, which is why Black is always “in”. Also, wearing all of one color makes you look thinner as well. Whether it’s all white, all blue, etc, one color tends to elongate your figure.

If you feel a little overwhelmed by all the things you need to remember to help make you look thinner, why don’t you purchase a photo session at my Promotional Rate for $250 (normally $400), and I will make you look 10 lbs thinner and gorgeous!  Sometimes it’s just easier to hire someone who already knows how to make you look your best. You will not have to remember all of the steps, and I will pose you at your best angles.  I can adjust your body so that it looks smaller or hides parts you don’t like, and take photos at certain angles that create shadows where you want them, and highlights your assets. **This FANTASTIC promotion is only for a limited time and ends May 31st. You can Contact me at kelliefitephotography@gmail.com, or at 310-877-2846.

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All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth…

What a fun day I got to spend with Emma…. She is one fireball of a kid, and a great big sister! We met at Palisades Park, the park that over looks the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. When she first got there, this little 5 year old and I sat down and talked for a bit, and I got a chance to get know her better. She told me all about her hobbies, and I told her about why we were there. I explained that her parents loved her soooo much, that they wanted pictures to capture their little girl on camera forever. This was a special shoot, because Emma just lost 5 teeth all at once! Her parents wanted me to capture her beautiful smile, so they could admire the sweet, gaping hole in her mouth for years to come.  So I did, and at the same time, I got to see what a great personality this little girl has…just pure spunk!  Unfortunately there was a big wind storm that day, so after we took some shots there, we went over to the preschool that (no kidding), both her and I attended. We took some photos at the playground, and explored some fun equipment. It’s never all work and no fun for me on a photo shoot, so I got to play like I did some 34 years earlier…At the end of the day, the pictures turned out fantastic, and I couldn’t have been happier with the session. Thanks for the fun time, Emma, and don’t worry, your teeth will fill in eventually!