Kelli Harris Photography

Worst Blogger Ever

2011-01-10T20:08:00.002-06:00

I am seriously the worst blogger ever! It takes me a minimum of 6 months to post anything new.

It's been a busy year. I've photographed a few weddings and a few babies, but for now I just want to share some shots of the snow that blasted through Texas. My daughter has been having loads of fun throwing snowballs, making snowmen, and sledding (and by sledding, I actually mean me pulling her on a trashcan lid because that's just what we do in Texas).

Senior 2011

2010-08-07T12:59:00.003-05:00

Am I a slacker or what? It seems like this blog only gets updated every 6 months. Anyways, I've been doing a little shooting lately... with my camera, of course. I just finished a session with a senior from Arkansas High. Most of these photos were taken in downtown Texarkana. I will be offering a "Last Minute Senior Special" for those 2011 seniors who are slackers, like myself. Email me for details at kelli@kelliharrisphotography.com!

Sometimes, Life Gets In The Way...

2010-03-27T10:37:00.007-06:00

My first year teaching has been overwhelming... I love the kids, but it's crazy! I'm taking an Arkansas History course and preparing for my Praxis 3 this semester, and on top of that our school went through a scholastic audit, an ACSIP review and an IB authorization this year. Let's just say it was a rough year even for the seasoned veterans. I'm looking forward to next year. It should be a little less hectic.

For all of you who have tried to contact me and it took me weeks to get back to you, I'm sorry. I will be booking weddings this summer but not until after my Praxis 3 assessment on April 6th, and I will only be booking a limited number of weddings this year.

I did manage to get out this week and do some spring pictures of a few lil cuties, including my own. Thank goodness for spring break!

Halloween Mini Sessions!

2009-10-03T10:24:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year! I'll be booking a limited number of halloween mini sessions for $100. They include a disk of 10-15 images. All sessions will be on-location (your home or a local park/public area). Sessions will last between 30-45 minutes and can include one clothing change.

Pumpkin patches make great locations!

And little ones in costume look cute anywhere.

Oh, so busy!

2009-09-18T18:28:00.004-05:00

I have been seriously neglecting my blog... and pretty much everything else, too. I absolutely love my new job teaching 5th grade science. It's crazy and stressful - but at the end of the day, I feel like I've done something good. It just doesn't leave me much free time right now.

Anyways, things have been busy. I had a session a few weeks ago with 2 adorable little guys.

My beautiful cousin came to visit with her husband and precious son last month. I snagged a few family pictures and managed to step in some dog poo. Never a dull moment!

I've also been busy with miss Riley. She started ballet last month and loves it. She is quite possibly the cutest ballerina ever! (That's her on the right in the picture below).

So, please forgive me for being MIA. I probably won't be around much until this summer, when I'll have 9 glorious weeks off from work!

Hey Texarkana! Take advantage of my "Starving Artist Special!"

2009-08-12T20:01:00.002-05:00

Another Brick in the Wall

2009-07-20T10:02:00.005-05:00

Here's a little peek at a senior session from, well, a while back. This is the lovely Krista. We met in downtown Texarkana for her session. Downtown is my favorite location for senior pictures around here. Congrats to Krista on her graduation!

*And a little note for all of you 2010 seniors... don't wait until next summer for your photos! Book your sessions now!

Back to School

2009-07-15T15:09:00.008-05:00

I better get my pencils sharpened...

because I'm heading back to school! I'm super-duper excited to announce that after two [frustrating] years of trying to land a teaching position... I finally did it! I'm now a science teacher with the Texarkana Arkansas School District.

I'm really excited about working with the kids and all of the fun activities I have planned. I'm also excited about having more time for my daughter... two weeks at Christmas, spring break, and two months in the summer.

This also means that I'll have more time for my photography! I'm planning to really launch my wedding business next year. I got my feet wet in 2009 and had a fantastic time with all of my brides. I have some awesome ideas for next year and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Jarah & Steven

2009-07-07T16:48:00.003-05:00

I had so much fun shooting Jarah and Steven's wedding! I've known Jarah since she was about 13 years old and we were both showing cows in FFA. Who would have thought more than 10 years later I would be photographing one of the most important days of her life?

Their wedding was at the Hendrix Ranch in DeQueen, Arkansas. The chapel there is absolutely stunning! It was one of the most beautiful locations I've ever seen. I'm so honored that Jarah chose me to capture such a special event for her.

Congrats to the happy couple!

Her dad was saying his pockets were empty because she spent all of his money on the wedding. Ha ha!

Falling Behind!

2009-06-24T13:25:00.003-05:00

I was doing so well, but now I'm falling behind, and not just on my blogging, but on everything. Between work (my 9-5'er), weddings, job hunting (because I don't like my 9-5'er) and Riley... there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Here's a wedding a did a few weeks ago. These guys & gals were a lot of fun! Lots of energy, and aside from a couple of whiney groomsmen, they were up for anything. Congrats to Amiee & Ryan!

Beautiful Wedding

2009-06-05T11:23:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Meagan and Josh! I had a lot of fun working with them - from rained out bridal shoots to crazy old men at the train station during the engagement shoot. They had an absolutely beautiful wedding, and here is a sneak peak.

Win Some Super-Cool Jewelry!

2009-05-27T10:49:00.004-05:00

My uber-talented friend, Carolyn, is giving away some of her fantastic hand-stamped jewelry. To enter to win, you need to check out her blog at:

http://carolynsprangerphotography.blogspot.com/

Photo & Jewelry by Carolyn Spranger

Go sign up now!

Magen

2009-05-22T21:28:00.002-05:00

I've been doing lots of last minute senior sessions. This is Magen. I work with her step-mom, who asked me if I could do her senior pictures and get some wallets in time to send them out with her invitations... oh, the things I do for people. =)

Congrats to Magen on her graduation!

Rain rain, go away!

2009-05-19T12:27:00.003-05:00

We've had some wild spring weather this year. Lots of storms and tornados... and I am terrified of tornados! There was some damage in southern Texarkana a few weeks ago.

Note to self: do not park under trees during a storm.

Riley, like most kids, is enjoying all the mud puddles created by all the rain.

And here's an interesting shot I got out of my window one night.

Thankfully, this week has been very nice. I hope the nice weather holds out for the wedding I'm shooting this weekend!

Rain & Sunshine

2009-05-11T10:09:00.005-05:00

We had quite the time getting Meagan's bridal photos. Our first appointment was rained out, but we still managed to get a few shots.

This is inside the Chapel at Prissy Chrissy Ranch.

We rescheduled for the next week and finally got some sun! You know what they say about east Texas weather... if you don't like it, just wait a minute.

We took all of these photos at Prissy Chrissy Ranch in Texarkana. What an awesome place! Jan and Barnette are super-nice and there are lots of great locations for photos. I definitely recommend giving them a call if you're looking for a location for a wedding or just for photos.

Class of 2010

2009-05-08T18:53:00.004-05:00

Attention Class of 2010! I am looking for "Reps" from schools in the Texarkana area. As a Rep for Kelli Harris Photography, you will get a free photo session, a disc with 10 low res watermarked images (for posting on the web), 3 high res images for printing and 25 Senior Rep Cards to hand out to your friends.

If you are interested, please contact me at Kelli@KelliHarrisPhotography.com with the following information: name, school, a photo and why you would be a good rep for Kelli Harris Photography. Only ONE rep will be chosen from each school. The photosessions will be scheduled this summer.

Sample Senior Rep Card (size of business card):

Mother's Day Special

2009-05-01T09:38:00.006-05:00

Looking for something special for mom on Mother's Day.... why not get her a photoshoot? Buy a gift certificate for mom between now and Mother's Day for only $35. Contact me at: kelli@kelliharrisphotography.com for more information.

Here are some beautiful moms...

And don't forget those moms-to-be!

Sweet Baby Girl

2009-04-29T13:56:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned how much I love babies? I really do. Mind you, I don't want anymore...I just wish mine would stay little. Since mine refuses to stay little, though, I will be content to snuggle with other people's babies when they bring them over for photographs.

Here is a cutie from last week.

And here is her precious big brother. I just love his blonde curls and big blue eyes!

Where the Bluebonnets Grow

2009-04-24T13:20:00.006-05:00

One of my favorite things when I lived in San Marcos, Texas was to make the drive back to Texarkana in the spring and see the bluebonnets that lined the roadways. Ever since Riley was a baby, I've been planning a roadtrip to get pictures of her in the bluebonnets. You see, they don't grow around Texarkana and I have to drive at least an hour away to see them. We finally had a free weekend and went to visit some family and friends in Burleson, Texas. We found an amazing field of blubonnets.... but we had 2 very uncooperative children. I didn't get a single good photo of Riley because she threw an epic tantrum.

And this is the only photo I got of her cousin, Clayton.

But, I was able to get some photos of my beautiful friend Aimee and her adorable son.

I guess we'll try again next year. Hopefully Riley & Clayton will be a little more cooperative by then.

Class of 2009 - The Procrastinators

2009-04-20T14:49:00.005-05:00

Has it really been a month since I posted? Geez, I am so behind! And it doesn't look like I'll get caught up anytime soon. I am swamped with sessions for the senior class of '09 trying to get their senior photos done at the last second. Here are a few from a senior session in downtown Texarkana:

It's hard to choose a favorite from this session. Brittany is just beautiful and we found so many great locations downtown.

Seniors of 2010: book your sessions this summer!

All American Momma

2009-03-27T15:27:00.004-06:00

This was a fun session! Her husband is a marine, so they wanted some patriotic photos. Here's what I came up with....

And I just had to use the baby blocks, too.

Congratulations to mom & dad!

Tis the Season...

2009-03-25T14:24:00.006-06:00

...for weddings! It's going to be a busy year, but I love it. My first wedding of 2009 was this past weekend at Marlsgate Plantation near Little Rock. Marlsgate is beautiful! Here are some shots from Becca & Darrin's wedding....

Wedding Prices

2009-02-19T15:56:00.004-06:00

Since this is my first year officially doing weddings, I'm offering an introductory rate... but because I'm booking up faster than I can blink, my wedding prices will be going up at the end of February.

I still have some dates available in April and late summer. Once those are snagged, I'm booked up clear until fall. Contact me for more information.

And... here some shots from a fall wedding that was oh-so-much-fun!

To see more from this wedding, visit the album on Flickr.

The Traveling Tutu

2009-02-16T13:58:00.005-06:00

I participated in a group on Flickr called "Me, You and the Traveling Tutu." Photographers signed up and the tutu has been making its way down the list. What luck that I got the tutu the week before Valentine's Day!

This is my little stinker. She was less than thrilled about wearing the tutu, but I'm not above a little bribery.

And here's my darling cousin, Indie. She didn't protest about the tutu, too much.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day and I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the journey of the Traveling Tutu.

Color of Love

2009-02-04T15:15:00.006-06:00

Indulge me as I get a little philosophical. This is Riley and her friend Nate. Even though civil rights have come a long way since my mother's generation, I still feel that we have a ways to go. I hope that my daughter grows up in a world where skin color, social status, sexual orientation, and religion doesn't matter. I hope she loves people because they deserve her love. I hope that her generation is more compassionate and embraces diversity. She will be my message sent to a time I will not see.

Is the weekend already over?!

2009-01-25T12:31:00.008-06:00

Oh, there's just never enough time to get everything done!

I managed to update my website this weekend, so go check it out if you get a chance - www.kelliharrisphotography.com. It was in desperate need of an update! My contact phone number was still my California number... which changed back in October.

I also ordered new business cards. I went ahead and got 2 different designs. One for my general photography:

Front

Back

And one for weddings (has the same back):

I also got a new camera (YAY!). I finally found a good deal on a Canon 5D and I'm over-the-moon happy. I now need to sell my Canon Rebel XT body, because I do not need 3 cameras. Any takers?

I still have so much to do! I will update again soon with some new photos.

It's Been a While

2009-01-22T14:53:00.003-06:00

Wow! I have certainly fallen behind on my blogging. The holidays were hectic, as usual. I didn't do nearly as many Christmas photos this year because I just didn't have the time. I did do a quick session for my friend Kim and her adorable little guy. He's one of my favorite subjects to photograph!

The new year has brought lots of new clients my way. A great deal of my weekends have been spent behind the camera. It's been very busy, but lots of fun, too.

The new year has also brought some new endeavors for me... I'm going to start officially photographing weddings. I've got my first wedding booked for March with lots of other inquiries for this summer.

I'll be posting again soon with plenty of new pictures and some details on wedding photography.

JUMP

2008-11-06T11:06:00.007-06:00

I shot my first paid wedding 2 weeks ago. Wow, that was hard work! I started at 2:30 in the afternoon and got home around 8:30 that night. It was exhausting, challenging and fun! It is going to take forever to edit all of the photos. Here is my favorite:

Happy Halloween

2008-11-03T14:33:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone had a safe and happy halloween! We had a wonderful evening of trick-or-treating in my grandmother's neighborhood. I didn't get photos of Riley in her adorable little black cat costume until 2 days after halloween. Luckily, by then the sugar rush had worn off and she was a very well-behaved kitty.

Seasons Change

2008-10-21T16:10:00.005-05:00

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one autumnal face." ~John Donne

I absolutely love fall: the colors, the weather and, of course, the food. I took my daughter to the pumpkin patch this weekend. I think she'll have a lot more fun carving the pumpkin, than she did picking one out.

A new baby in the family...

2008-10-17T16:00:00.006-05:00

My cousin, Jennifer, is expecting her first baby. I'm so excited for her and her hubby! I know they will be amazing parents. She drove down from OKC last weekend for her baby shower and maternity photos. She looks amazing, just see for yourself...

Wow, it's been a busy month!

2008-10-12T22:20:00.004-05:00

I started working last month, and between work, motherhood and photography I haven't had a spare moment. It's a good kind of busy, though. I am so thankful for my job (and the insurance!). I'm hoping, now that I have a job, I can get out of this apartment and into a house where I can have my own studio. A girl can dream, right?

I've had a few sessions this month. My favorite was, of course, a newborn. I did her mother's maternity photos a couple of months ago and was very excited to get to do her newborn photos - and what a doll baby! There's nothing better than a precious newborn baby....

Balloons Make Everything Better

2008-09-19T21:19:00.004-05:00

I did some portraits for N's family not too long ago, and now it's time for some birthday photos. I just love this little guy. He's so sweet and just adorable beyond words. Happy birthday N!

Trash the Dress!

2008-09-09T14:41:00.004-05:00

These are some sessions I did right before I left San Diego. I love "Trash the Dress," but it isn't something people request very often. I guess most brides aren't into ruining a wedding dress. The way I look at it, though... what is that dress doing? It's sitting in a closet collecting dust! Have fun with it and create something you can look back on for years to come. Here are a few of my favorites, but you can go to my Flickr account to see more.

Party time!

2008-09-02T19:43:00.004-05:00

Birthday parties are so much fun and first birthdays are so very special. I am lucky that part of my job is capturing all the joy and memories of these occasions. This past weekend I was the photographer for Baby E's first birthday party. What a lucky little guy to have such a wonderful family!

Halloween is just around the corner!

2008-08-30T11:09:00.004-05:00

Last year Riley went as the cutest little witch ever.

And we also got a pumpkin costume, just for fun.

I will be doing Halloween Mini Sessions again this year for $35. Book yours now for photos of your little ghouls and goblins!

Baby Belly

2008-08-14T14:16:00.003-05:00

I am coming to realize that maternity photography is one of my favorite things to do. I love working with women to capture the beauty of their pregnancy. Of course, my work is easier when I keep getting these gorgeous clients!

Happy 1st Birthday!

2008-08-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

This little guy just had his first birthday and I had the honor of taking his one year photos, as well as a few family shots.

Young Love

2008-07-19T11:51:00.004-05:00

My stepbrother and his fiance finally set a date for their wedding... and finally had some engagement photos done. They're having a fall wedding and they wanted their photos to look more "fall-ish." So, I applied textures to some of them. They're such a cute couple and I can't wait to photograph their wedding later this year.

I was going for a vintage look.....

Congratulations Charlie & Chelsea!

Weddings, weddings, and more weddings!

2008-06-26T14:28:00.006-05:00

It's been a very busy summer! Several of my friends have gotten married and several still have weddings coming up. We traveled to Wisconsin last month for my friend Lisa's wedding. I am not a wedding photographer, but I always snap a few while I'm there. Maybe one day I'll take the leap and start doing weddings.

First dance as husband & wife

We also saw some lovely scenery on our trip. The barns in Wisconsin are beautiful!

Fun for the whole family!

2008-06-11T11:53:00.004-05:00

I had a family session with my friend Kim a couple of weeks ago. Her son N is the sweetest boy! I just adore him. We did the photos at Spring Lake Park in Texarkana. I took my daughter along, which proved to be quite the challenge because the kids were more interested in playing than in getting their photos.

N was trying to share his apple.

My little nugget of cuteness.

Babies, babies everywhere!

2008-06-05T19:04:00.004-05:00

It seems like there are babies everywhere lately... or maybe it just seems that way because I am painfully aware that my baby is growing up. This abundance of babies is keeping me rather busy, and since I love newborn photos, it's a good kind of busy.

Meet the very adorable Miss A. I had so much fun at her photoshoot, even though I got wee-wee'ed on. It's a hazard in my line of work. Here are a few of my favorites.

Beautifully Pregnant

2008-06-04T14:18:00.005-05:00

My first maternity session in Texarkana was with the lovely Krista. She recently delivered a beautiful baby girl! Congratulations momma! Here are a couple of my favorite shots from the session.

Here I am...

2008-06-03T22:54:00.001-05:00

I finally gave in and started a "professional" blog.

I recently relocated to Texarkana from San Diego. I grew up in Texarkana, so it wasn't a total shock, but definitely a big change from what I had grown accustomed to. I love being close to my family again. Because of the move, I've had to start completely over with my business. Which is good.... and not-so-good. It gives me the chance to re-create myself using everything I have learned during the past 2 years. But... business is slow. I've had a few paying sessions, a few pro-bono sessions... but nothing like the packed schedule I was use to in San Diego. On the bright side, I am able to devote all of my energy to the few clients that I get!

Anyways, here's to new beginnings!