When you're a kid, it's easy to make-believe... | Sacramento Portrait Photographer | August 2013

When you're a kid, it's easy to make-believe what life will be like when you become a grown-up. How many children you have, what your partner is like, your career choice, all fantasized about while playing dress up with your childhood best friend, to recreate Mariah Carey's latest music video in your bedroom, on a Sunday afternoon. Not a care in the world, except for maybe who to invite, and who not to invite, to your birthday party...

That was what my childhood was like, with one particular family friend, who became family over the many years, and many different zip code changes. Our parents are really good friends, and go back to their college days. We lived in different towns, and went to different schools, but that didn't stop our afternoon music video recreations, or slumber parties filled with Goldfish Crackers. When we were younger, envisioning what our future families would be like, was a walk in the park, and we had the most beautiful children ever!

Well this childhood friend I speak of, had an absolutely gorgeous, and very healthy, baby girl, and I was privileged to meet her for the first time this summer! With Alesha, and her beautiful daughter Cali, living in Texas, and Alesha's parents living here in Northern California, her first visit to her home state was an extremely important one for all of us! This was an impressive first meeting for myself, as I was meeting that child that we had once fantasized about, many years ago! 

Just recovering from a broken kneecap and appendicitis, I was dying to get back behind the lens! What better way to get back into the swing of things, than with a very simple, home-town, photo session with my childhood best friend and her daughter! (That is still a little weird to say! We are officially "grown-ups" now... even though my favorite place on Earth is still Disneyland!)

I would like to introduce you to Cali! I have absolutely no words for this beautiful face! I cannot wait to watch her grow as I have watched her mother grow along side myself! Looking forward to many more home-town sessions with this cutie! :)

So in love with that beautiful face and cannot wait to see you two beautiful ladies soon!! :)

Life has a funny way... | Sacramento Photographer | August 2013

 Some of my fans and followers are already aware of my ironic misfortune these last few months, perhaps you have seen if you follow my everyday life through Instagram. But for the rest of you, let me fill y'all in a bit... Sit back, and grab some popcorn, it's a good one! ;)

My misfortune all began to try and hold me down, with a broken kneecap in April... That didn't hold me down for long at all!! I proceeded to photograph a gorgeous wedding, only a few short weeks later, with a full leg immobilizer, and couldn't have been more pleased with the results! (See the beautiful highlights from that day here.)

Healing of my kneecap that was once cracked in half, came along very nicely, as I am fully healed and back at the gym! I love working out! Woot! :) Anyhow, the ironicism (is that even a word) that is my amazing life continues...

During the beginning of June, nearly eight weeks and fully recovered from my broken knee, my misfortunes traveled to my midsection one very interesting Thursday evening.

My very first surgery, at 27, (yes I am 27 and proud!), was brought on that very early Friday morning, due to the amazingly, stupid organ that has no purpose at all, but to cause pain... the appendix. Really, what is the purpose of the appendix? Some prehistoric appendage that is treated with antibiotics in Europe, when inflamed, and surgically removed here in the states (as was mine that Friday morning in June).

Three small incisions and one very ironic story later, things are beginning to turn uphill, extremely quickly! Life can happen very quickly as it has for me, and suddenly I have found myself moving to a house (from a very tiny duplex), where I finally have my very own office! Running a business from your home can prove difficult when your office is scattered all about your living space!

 Moving day came and we had amazing amounts of help!! From the old house...

To the new house! This front room has amazing light for portraits, and a working fireplace! Not to mention...

My very own office!! :)
Got some pretty cute new roommates too!! :)

I will be using my new space to have a session giveaway at my new home studio! I need some new canvas and samples to fill these walls! I am extremely grateful for all I have experienced, and all I have photographed. Details coming soon!! Happy Tuesday!

Sights of Sacramento | California State Fair, Sacramento, CA

I absolutely love the California State Fair! My parents have been taking me since I was a child, and the tradition carries on every year. Being able to experience all the glories of fair with my mom, year after year, makes it that much better! :)

Hours would be spent walking the grounds of Cal Expo every year, exploring all that the great state of California had to offer. From flowers to shoes, horses to bunnies, there is always too much to look at in one visit! 

This year, I was privileged enough to make it not once, but twice! Both visits, I had to be sure to pack my camera and tripod, because it was the magical midway at dusk, that always captured my imagination the most... Something about the way the lights of the midway glow against the Californian night sky, that absolutely mesmerizes me! 

The first night spent at fair, there wasn't a cloud in sight... But my second trip to fair, included one amazingly breathtaking sunset, accompanied by a whole sky full of perfectly shaped clouds! Oh, how I love clouds!!

These pictures really do speak for themselves, and I am going to be making some large canvases of some of these images for purchase. If you are interested in purchasing some of my artwork, please email me at ksmith_photo@hotmail.com.

Hope you enjoy these images as much as I do! :)