Baby piggies! - Kimberly Kester Photography

Got to see some newborn piggies the other day. Love how the toes scrunch up around mommy & daddys rings. She's so sweet, right down to her toes!

Baby C is so tiny - Newborn Redding photographer

Isn't she tiny & adorable!!

How I took it - Redding CA photography

Can't wait!!!!, I'm attending a few events for people that I care deeply about & I'm just pretty darn excited about that right now. I love Jon so much for helping me get to where I need to be, I love him more than he could ever imagine (......but somehow I think he has just a little idea by now, wink wink!). Hope everybody has a great night & fulfilling weekend, I know I going to.

Here are a few resident finches tearing up the gay feathers to get to the seed. I LOVE these plants even more now, definitely getting more for next year, the finch love them.

NOTE: I didn't have the ideal conditions to get this shot but it was well worth what I came out with. The plant is on our front porch, I didn't want to spook the finches so I couldn't open the door all the way, it was about 11am so the sun was reflecting brightly on the entrance flooring & into my face & lens. I used my Canon 24-70 2.8 lens, set at 70mm & I still cropped the photo.

My Manual camera settings were aperture f-4, ss 1/400 & ISO 125. The wind was blowing, which made the plant bob & weave, so I increased the aperture for that movement, I kept my ISO low which left the shutter speed at 1/400, not enough to freeze the wings but pretty close. I didn't expose for the entire photo, I was worried about the bird, not the background & those finches are fast, this was such a lucky shot. It may not be the right way but it's how I took it. Enjoy!

Visit my page on facebook

Come visit my page on facebook & see what I've been up to & what I've already done http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberly-Kester-Photography/113161385442478

Baby Nellie - Redding Newborn Photographer

Introducing Nellie, what a sweet, adorable baby girl! I wish the sun made more of an appearance this morning but I'm happy for what I get so I'm really not complaining...really. I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves, Enjoy!!

I LOVED this blanket, the rose pattern was so pretty & dainty like Nellie.

What a nice family, I was having so much fun, they nearly had to kick me out. I stayed later than I had anticipated & have come to realize that I need to wear my phone on me so I can keep better track of time & not let that happen again :) I hope to see them again in about 6 months, wink wink.

"What would you do if you could never fail?" - Matson Vineyards

I wish I'd heard that question when I first got my camera 3 years ago. I could never imagine where my life would be today without it. There was a time when it was always by my side, wouldn't leave home without it, I might miss that Once-in-a-lifetime shot & that wasn't going to happen to me. Now, I don't take it out of the house if it's raining unless I'm headed to an appointment & rarely when I know I'll be strickly donating my time during my 2nd graders classroom visits. Back then I took only a few photos of people but I mainly searched out nature shots, I wasn't considering myself a people photographer. Added to that, I'm completely self taught, only the internet (just got high speed about a yr ago), listening to just about every professional photograph that would give any advice through their websites or blogs & tried to cram a lot of data, into a little amount of time. Even getting a little local photography store portrait courses. thinking I would become a professional in no time (which I would highly recommend to others wanting classroom interaction. I barely knew there were so many rules to photography, little lone I was allowed to ignore them after I learned them. Yep, I was a little overwhelmed... Come on...I bet somebody out there relates to what I'm saying, I can't be the only one....right? Recently, I turned to a professional photographer that I have followed since before we got high speed internet, Amanda Pair (based in Birmingham, Alabama http://www.amandapair.com/) & emailed her asking for some advice I was seeking. Saying that I was amazed she got back to me the same night I emailed her is a complete understatement, not to mention the fact that I contacted her in the first place (only 2nd time I've reached out to a pro to ask for their opinion). If you knew me, you'd know why. For the others that don't know....I have security issues, it's as simle as that. I'm not necessarily proud of it, it's simply who I am. Amanda actually responded to my email (that resembled a novel to her I'm sure), with the best advice. To make a short story long, I applied her ideas into what I was comfortable with & just went for it. The future outcome is still to be determined & it's something I'm learning to move past & just let God handle it. I'm almost there....I hope :) Anyways, the point I'm trying to make (like I said, short story long), I wanted to include a post that gives you a few of my favorite blogs, websites & inspirational photographers & sites of all shapes & sizes. These helped me continue my love for photography, they seemed to be there when I needed them the most,...at times I would read a blog post or article, I could totally relate to what they were saying, it seemed that God put that little something in front of me when I truly needed it the most, to just keep going in what I love. He has a way of doing that you know. Sometimes you notice it when it's happening, sometimes it takes a little longer. He has this way of touching our lives... For whatever reason, you just found this site (or a follower) & you might think something I have to say is interesting, you might follow a link I added, then discover yourself & what truly makes you happy. Isn't it time to make ourselves happy from time to time, I'm still learning to take my own advice on that part. So for those of you interested in photography, here's a list of places you can visit that inspired me or just simply taught me something new (online anyways)....I would also recommend adding Showit to your fb page, I love how giving & inspiring they are. David Jay is awesome & btw, he was also Jasmine Stars wedding photographer & the reason she started her wedding photography career in the first place. See, didn't I tell you, God has a way of touching our lives when we need him the most. Ahem, I know, I know....back to the list....

• Amanda Pair http://www.amandapair.com/
• Jasmine Star http://www.jasminestarblog.com/
• Crash Taylor http://www.crashtaylorblog.com/
• Digital Photography School www.digtal-photography-school.com/tips
• Me Ra Koh http://www.merakoh.com/
• Melissa Koehler http://www.melissakoehlerblog.com/
• Melissa Jill www.melissajill.com/blog.cfm
• The Pioneer Woman http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/
• The Sartorialist http://www.thesartorialist.com/ (so addicting, don't know why)
• Shutter Sisters http://www.shuttersisters.com/
• B&H camera store http://www.bhphotovideo.com/
• Showit fb page http://www.facebook.com/#!/Showit

Well, there you are, just a few cents I wanted to give. It was hard narrowing down my huge list this far but I hope this helps somebody out there. Btw, these photos are sooc (straight out of camera, I didn't even take the time to resize them), I really love them just the way they are.

They were taken at Matson Vineyard during their Crush on Sunday, October 2nd. I hope to go back to the next event for more photos. I'm really enjoying this creative Marketing avenue it gives me. If you haven't saved Matson Vineyard on your facebook page or stopped by for a visit and you love wine (or just interested in it), you should & go by their tasting room too.

This last pic is my favorite photo from the day & for my niece Amanda...I used my 50mm 1.4 lens, the camera settings were Manual mode with the aperture @ f/3.2, Shutter speed 1/640, ISO 200 on overcast morning with the sun peeking through here & there. I got down a little lower than the grape bunch & shot a little upwards & tried to get the leaves in the foreground for that nice blur. I use my back focus button for a sharper image, used the center focal point, focused on the grape pod then reframed the camera for a nicer shot with the grapes off center. Yep, I'm pretty happy with it if I say so myself! I hope to be posting more pics in a future post soon.

And if you're asking now how I would answer the question in the title at this stage of photography, I would say....you're looking at it, you can't fail, especially at art, it's all subjective & how I "see" things, so there's no reason to give up on my dreams so soon.

I thank "Showit" for asking the question in the first place, LOVE that site!!!

Baby Ava - 20 days old

Look at this sweet little angel sleeping on her daddy's blanket from when he was a baby. What a cool idea Kristi, I love how it added family history to the photo. Next visit will be with moms baby blanket, it's Pink!

I LOVE baby details! From their tiny kisses...

...to their tiny eyes lashes, lips & nose...

...all the way to their tiny toes. So precious.

Doesn't it look like her little fists are resting in a heart shape.

Striking a pose already, such a little diva :)

Ava has gotten so big since the hospital photos & I'm super excited I get to capture her again with her big brothers before this month is over.

I love this last photo of Ava laying on Kristis chest. I think it's because it brings back wonderful memories of my own children at this age, how little they are for such a short time & how they get hungry instantly & start to bob for food when bare skin touches their face. It was so flipping cute to see that again. I kinda miss it but don't at the same time. I love developing my adult and pre-adult relationships with my own kids. I can't wait to see where their lives & careers take them but miss the baby in them at the same time, being able to protect them from the world & all it's troubles. The most important thing is...whatever they grow up to be, I just want them to be happy.

Sorry... I had a Sentimental Mommy Moment, it's been happening often since the beginning of my photography journey, I'm getting time to relive my own wonderful memories through what I do for others. Makes me appreciate each precious moment I get with every person who touches my life, especially how my children have been the light source to mine. I LOVE my kids!

Thanks again Kristi & Ed :) Couldn't do what I love without you.

Welcoming Katelynn

Isn't she beautiful?! Look at that smile, I know...I know...but to me, it's a smile. I am honestly extremely honored to do what I do & I have loved watching this wonderful family grow. Thank you to Jennifer & Chuck, you are both so awesome for calling me during these special times. Here are just a few photos from this very very, warm morning, Enjoy!

Thank you Jennifer & Chuck for each visit. I hope to see you all soon.

Precious Baby Alannah

As soon as I seen Alannah (which was 1 week before her mommy & daddy would get married & she was 1 month old), I couldn't help myself but want to take newborn pictures of her before she lost new brand-newness. It was cloudy & cold so indoor shots will have to do for now (further increasing that desire for a small indoor studio with a huge window for great natural lighting for such an occasion as this). Alannah was born Jan 3rd, little sister to Allilah, and new baby girl to TC & Shannon, CONGRATULATIONS!

Love little fingers & toes.

The next series is so adorable, my favorite of these is the last picture.

I love this one with mommy too.

Shannon runs her finger softly along Alannah's face to put her to sleep...

...works like a charm. Is she adorable or what! Welcome to the world little one!

Personal note: When I first got my DSLR camera, Jon thought I would stop a new mother in a store & ask if I could take pictures of the baby. It cracked me up how he looked at me with concern when I seen a baby from a distance, thinking I would really do that & seemed to steer me in an opposite direction as I'm saying "AAAHHHHHH". Well, to this day, I have refrained from doing just that & know how relieved Jon must be ;) Thank you TC & Shannon, I appreciate you letting me stalk your baby & take pictures of her.