A great friend of mine is an artist. Her paintings are brilliant and completely reflect who she is on the inside (her incredible imagination and ability to be comfortable in her quirkiness) and I'm amazed by that. Imagine my amazement when she asked me to help her with her upcoming gallery show by taking conceptual portraits of her. Me? Little old me? ;-) Sign me up, sister. I love a good artistic collaboration and an opportunity to think outside of the proverbial box. (Damn that box!)
So...at first glance these images are gonna look like I'm trying to shoot them with a fashion angle. Well, yes. You would be partly correct. The point is to make them very much look like they belong in a magazine. However, if you look closer, you will find something that is a little off in each one. These photographs aren't about trying to make the artist pretty or necessarily glamorous, but are instead striving to show you bits and pieces of a girl who is not perfect and even flawed and perhaps a smidgen disillusioned and maybe even vulnerable. The concept is that the artist has a back-story is that she isn't really a celebrity, but lives her life as one with her entourage, hair and makeup team, and phoned-in paparazzi. It's all for show. So, these images are capturing a show within a show. Confused yet?
I absolutely LOVE what we ended up with, and hope you enjoy them, too. Let me know which one most encapsulates what I was trying to describe in the previous paragraph by commenting in the comment box at the bottom of the post. Muah!
So...at first glance these images are gonna look like I'm trying to shoot them with a fashion angle. Well, yes. You would be partly correct. The point is to make them very much look like they belong in a magazine. However, if you look closer, you will find something that is a little off in each one. These photographs aren't about trying to make the artist pretty or necessarily glamorous, but are instead striving to show you bits and pieces of a girl who is not perfect and even flawed and perhaps a smidgen disillusioned and maybe even vulnerable. The concept is that the artist has a back-story is that she isn't really a celebrity, but lives her life as one with her entourage, hair and makeup team, and phoned-in paparazzi. It's all for show. So, these images are capturing a show within a show. Confused yet?
I absolutely LOVE what we ended up with, and hope you enjoy them, too. Let me know which one most encapsulates what I was trying to describe in the previous paragraph by commenting in the comment box at the bottom of the post. Muah!
I TOTALLY forgot to show you guys Millie's Christmas photo shoot. It lasted about, oh, 5 minutes due to the icy cold winds, but she was unflappable. I guess she could see the inspiration and my affection for both her and the sun oozing from my pores and just buckled up for the ride. What a champ.
These were taken in a field at the end of our street. Nothing glamorous there...about as glamorous as a back of a Wal-Mart. BUT, I always say that you can find beautiful locations anywhere if you keep your eyes open! Just get to know your subject, look for good light (learn what that means first), and BADA-BING. Home run. Gloriousness, if I do say so myself.
These were taken in a field at the end of our street. Nothing glamorous there...about as glamorous as a back of a Wal-Mart. BUT, I always say that you can find beautiful locations anywhere if you keep your eyes open! Just get to know your subject, look for good light (learn what that means first), and BADA-BING. Home run. Gloriousness, if I do say so myself.
I'm the luckiest mom in the world!
Gran says:
Kate, We LOVE our prints of some of these photos. Your love for Mills comes through the lens. What a beautiful girl; what a talented mom! Love you, Lyn
(01.21.10 @ 07:49 PM)
Anonymous says:
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
(01.10.10 @ 05:02 PM)
Jenna Cole says:
What a fun idea! She poses like someone much older than she really is, especially in the first black and white shot. I can only hope I have a daughter who looks so great in front of the camera!
(01.09.10 @ 10:22 AM)
Wesley says:
Man - O - Man she is PRECIOUS! I loved my Holiday card and I can't wait to see what you cook up for next year!!!
(01.08.10 @ 04:52 PM)
Katharine says:
What a beautiful little girl! And I'm sure she had fun playing dress up!
(01.08.10 @ 03:14 PM)
Wilma says:
Beautiful, the images as well as the girl. She looks so grown up!
I love how on the b&w in the middle her eyes are completely drawing you in.
Since we'd done a ton of our usual SF stuff with Mills, we thought we'd take her to a place that was more kid-oriented. After looking at a few killer options, we decided on Yerba Buena Gardens, as it was only a few blocks away. Though the children's museum (Zeum...a MUST for next time) was actually closed (duh! shoulda checked on that first!), we found this brilliant playground out back and let 'er rip.
Watching Mills on the playground brought me back to this post from almost a year ago and as I processed each image made me realize how big she is getting and how much closer to fearless she is becoming. And what a beauty! I know I am biased, but she continues to blow me away day in and day out and I couldn't be happier that she actually still lets me photograph her. She's my muse!
With this post, I'll say goodbye to San Francisco, but hello to a wonderful new year full of many types of adventures that I cannot wait to photograph and then, of course, show you. Thanks for being a fun audience!
Watching Mills on the playground brought me back to this post from almost a year ago and as I processed each image made me realize how big she is getting and how much closer to fearless she is becoming. And what a beauty! I know I am biased, but she continues to blow me away day in and day out and I couldn't be happier that she actually still lets me photograph her. She's my muse!
With this post, I'll say goodbye to San Francisco, but hello to a wonderful new year full of many types of adventures that I cannot wait to photograph and then, of course, show you. Thanks for being a fun audience!
Lauren says:
Love all the pictures, but have to say the first one is my fav!
(01.10.10 @ 05:05 PM)After gorging ourselves silly near Fisherman's wharf, we came back to the hotel and rested for a while. Then, we got the bright idea to go get mani-pedis...Millie's first time. I swear, I've never seen her smile so wide and for so long. She was in utter shock throughout the whole process. It was obvious by the look on her face that she felt VERY Hollywood! The ladies at Lux Salon were very sweet, and their location is smack dab in the middle of everything. Super cheap, too...especially considering how long they rubbed my feet and that they touched Bobby's hooves at all!
Next on the list? Head to North Beach (our favorite span of Italian restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other hot spots that pay homage to the Beats) for some grub. We decided to hit up Panta Rei, our consistent top pick. Where else can you get authentic Italian food, free tiramisu, and witness a waiter and a bartender tangle in a fistfight, spouting expletives in Italiano? Can't get that back home in McKinney, that's for damn sure.
On the way back, we used our pampered peds to trapse through Chinatown. We definitely found a recurring theme: SALE! Every single store seemed to be having the sale of a lifetime, but we weren't buyin' it. Our personal favorite? The Retirement Sale. Also weird? Ya never know who you'll run into. This time? A white Obama and Santa. Gotta love the city. All of that in ONE NIGHT...oh, holy night, in this photographer's world.
Next on the list? Head to North Beach (our favorite span of Italian restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other hot spots that pay homage to the Beats) for some grub. We decided to hit up Panta Rei, our consistent top pick. Where else can you get authentic Italian food, free tiramisu, and witness a waiter and a bartender tangle in a fistfight, spouting expletives in Italiano? Can't get that back home in McKinney, that's for damn sure.
On the way back, we used our pampered peds to trapse through Chinatown. We definitely found a recurring theme: SALE! Every single store seemed to be having the sale of a lifetime, but we weren't buyin' it. Our personal favorite? The Retirement Sale. Also weird? Ya never know who you'll run into. This time? A white Obama and Santa. Gotta love the city. All of that in ONE NIGHT...oh, holy night, in this photographer's world.
Courtney Holm says:
Such a precious pic of Millie and Bobby! Love it!
(01.08.10 @ 12:21 PM)If I could build the perfect day, it would definitely involve seafood and chocolate. Thank heavens for Pier 39 and it's neighbor Ghirardelli, as my dreams came true. Yeah, I've been to both places several times, but I got to do it with my man and my kid and that made the experience ten times sweeter. Clam chowder and sourdough and chocolate peppermint sundaes, oh my! We probably should have walked back to Union Square after eating all of that, but it was freezing, so we wussed out and took a cab after waiting for a cable car for 30 minutes.
Sorry for the random non-Pier 39 images at the bottom, but that car was just far too bitchin' to NOT photograph, AND one of my neighborhood besties is a chica named Natalie who is obsessed with antiques, so...that one was another shot that begged me to take it. I gave it no mercy. Karate Kid style. Sweep the leg.
Sorry for the random non-Pier 39 images at the bottom, but that car was just far too bitchin' to NOT photograph, AND one of my neighborhood besties is a chica named Natalie who is obsessed with antiques, so...that one was another shot that begged me to take it. I gave it no mercy. Karate Kid style. Sweep the leg.
So...this is the last post of the year for me. I'm slowly but surely working on a 2009 favorite images slideshow, but it will be done in 2010, peeps. Gotta get my party on. Nobody likes a boring photographer, right?
Jennifer says:
Thanks for sharing your family vacay pictures! After your photo tour of SF, I might just have to add San Francisco to my "places I must visit before I die" list. =)
(01.05.10 @ 11:42 AM)
Jennifer Brozovich says:
Looks like the SF trip was fantastic! Your pictures are amazing as usual! I hope you have a truly wonderful New Year's and can't wait to see you in January.
(12.31.09 @ 08:04 PM)
helga says:
Greeeeeeeat Photos as always!!! Happy new year to you and your lovely Family!!!!
(12.31.09 @ 06:25 PM)
My fave is the 1st pic with her in the distance and the paparazzi coming in. The one with her applying lip gloss is totally gorgeous. I also loved the fact that you can see someone's reflection on her sunglasses. The last one with the "fizzy" water is totally cool ;).
(01.15.10 @ 05:04 PM)love that last shot! dope!
(01.12.10 @ 05:34 PM)these are amazing kate! my two favs are the one on the postal box and the one on the lounge chair. great stuff!
(01.12.10 @ 03:42 PM)I have to pick my favorite ONE?!? I LOVE absolutely EVERYTHING about all of these, but especially the picture on the roof with the fluffy black dress and dy-no-mite shoes!! And I literally laughed out loud at the "personal disco"...love that the disco ball is being held above her head, genius! And the ladybug/batgirl pics by the pool are FAB too! What a great muse, she looks like a super fun gal! Kate, these are truly remarkable and are just another testament to how incredibly talented you are!
(01.12.10 @ 10:01 AM)