Looking Back | Appleton Sports & Portrait Photographer
Another year has almost ended and another one is about to begin. It's a time to look back and reflect. Each year, I look back at the year in my photography. What could I do to improve? What things am I proud of? Where will my business head in 2016? What will my personal life have in store for me?
2015 brought lots of joys and a few disappointments, but with each day, I grew. My clients appreciate my photography, but they don't know how much I love and appreciate them. I learn their story - who they are, what their dreams are, and sometimes what their struggles are. I feel as though they become part of my family. I absolutely LOVE every senior that I've photographed over the years. Sometimes, I even get to photograph them with their families and I get to know all of them too. It's an amazing job! I tried to pick out my top 10 favorite portraits of 2015, but came up with over 30! I've decided that it's impossible to choose only 10, so I'm not even going to try!
I've also had a few photo adventures with friends over the year. I went to my first photography conference in St. Louis and learned so much and had a blast following the Mississippi back home! I went to a night sky photography conference in Two Harbors (just north of Duluth) and met so many people who love photographing the night sky as much as I do. Of course, I spent a few weeks in Door County over the summer camping and exploring. I've also done a few day trips with friends just to get out. I'm able to slow down, and look at nature through the viewfinder of my camera. It's a great way to de stress, and notice the beauty that's all around us. I even won the editors choice award for one of my photos this year! With the prize, I was able to take Austin & Jenna to The White Gull Inn for breakfast. One of my favorite restaurants in Door County.
So, I tried to choose 10 of my favorite landscape photos, but added a few extras :) I wish you well for 2016. Look at each day with gratitude, and be thankful for all that you have. Enjoy the beauty all around you.
~Kathy
Embrace the Day | Kathy Weigman Appleton Photographer
There seems to be so many people struggling lately with different issues. It's in the news and I hear it from my friends - drug deaths in the Fox Valley, missing adults and children, health issues, mental illness, loneliness, family and marriage struggles, worries about jobs and finances. Each day is a gift, but some days it may be hard to see the beauty of the day beyond the struggles.
Everyone has their own struggles and they are no more or no less than any one else's struggles. They are THEIR personal struggles. Many times you don't know what the struggles are of your friends or coworkers. Be kind, and understand that we are all on a journey that holds twists and turns, ups and downs.
Even with the struggles of everyday life, each day is a gift. I walked around my yard today, with my camera and took a few shots of the beauty that surrounds me each day. Take a minute to see the beauty that surrounds YOU!
Generation to Generation | Kathy Weigman Photography - Appleton Family Portraits
I'm sitting in McDonalds having a Diet Coke listening to the people sitting next to me. It's a daughter with her elderly father talking about their heritage. Grandfathers and great grandfathers and tracking their family tree. The conversation turns to pictures and the daughter is asking for him to give her the family pictures so she can make copies for everyone to have. I can't help but think what the conversation will be in 20 years when it's her daughter asking her for picture to share with her children.
Will she have any? Will they all be on a computer that crashed years ago, or on a CD that has since become corrupt? We take more pictures than any other generation but have fewer prints than any other generation as well. Think about technology..... how many of you have the ability to play an 8 track tape, or get files you put on a floppy disc? The same holds true for photos. Many computers don't even come with a CD drive anymore!
Have professional portraits done and purchase prints! Do you have tons of pictures on your iphone? Print them! Photos on your tablet? Print them! Most labs have the technology to print right from your phone. As a photographer, I take tons of pictures with my expensive camera, but I also take them with my iphone. A picture of Austin & me in front of his dorm (the same one I lived in), a selfie of me and my mom, a picture of my 2 boys playing disc golf. I printed them!
In 20 years when my kids ask for pictures of their grandparents to share with their kids, I'll haul out my photo album and hand them over. I won't be giving them a disc.
One last thought.... If there were a disaster and you had to flee your house what one thing would you take with you? For me, it wouldn't be my tv, or my wallet, it would definitely be my photo albums. I'm SO lucky to have these portraits. One is of my great-great grandfather at his wedding, and the other is of my mother as a little girl.
Good Luck 2015 Graduates!
It's seems like just a little while ago that I was photographing all these amazing seniors and now, they're ready to graduate from high school and move on to bigger things!
I'm SO fortunate to have spent a little bit of time getting to know these young men and women. They each have a story, unique personality, so many different talents and were GREAT to work with. I learn so much from them, and I'm so honored that they chose me to do their senior portraits.
I wish them nothing but the best in years to come and look forward to seeing the amazing things they do with their lives. Good luck and best wishes <3
~Kathy
Mississippi River Adventure | Kathy Weigman Photography - Appleton Portrait Photographer
Part 2 of my amazing Shutterfest / St. Louis / Mississippi River adventure! After the conference ended, 2 of my friends decided to spend a few extra days "adventuring" around the St. Louis area. We spent the first day in St. Louis at Forest Park. If you spend any time in St. Louis, Forest Park is a must see! Everything at the park is completely FREE! We started out wandering around the grounds, which are stunning! Water fountains, walking paths, green space and lots and lots of tulips.
We spent some time walking through the Art Museum, pictured above, then headed over to the zoo. Who doesn't like the zoo? And with the temps in the 70's, and me wearing capris and flip flops, it was a great way to spend the afternoon! Lions, zebras and crazy birds, oh my!
One of the other places that was recommended that we go to was The Hill. The highest point in the City, The Hill had German and Irish immigrants working the clay mines. Italians seeking a new future in America came to the area to work those same clay mines and made The Hill their neighborhood in the 1890’s. The Hill has been home to some of Saint Louis City’s most nationally known residents, including baseball heroes Joe Gargiola and Lawrence “Yogi” Berra. We ate at one of the local restaurants that had an abandoned warehouse across the street. If only we could have gotten in there! :) We loved the houses in this area, long and narrow and very close together. We left for Hannibal, just as a big thunderstorm hit.
The next day we spent the day in Hannibal. We went up to Lovers Leap, and took the tour of Cameron Cave, where Mark Twain explored as a child. It is the setting for the caves in his writings of The Adentures of Tom Sawyer. We went to the river and spent some time at the Riverboats and the Lighthouse. Had a great lunch at a local Brew Pub, then headed north along the Mississipi.
We ended our day in Davenport, IA where we were treated to a fantastic sunset over the Mississippi. Sometimes, you just have to pull over to the side of the road :)
We spent the night in Davenport after dinner at one of my favorite places - Steak 'N Shake! The next day we headed home, and stopped for a quick hike at Governor Dodge State Park just outside of Madison.
It was an amazing week, spent with some great friends. Life is definitely an adventure, especially when you travel with photographers <3