Category Archives: portraits

Masterpiece

So far the count goes like this:
Three continents
Two islands
Ten apartments/rent houses/homes
Two homes owned and in a few weeks we will close on one more.

That’s a lot of moving folks, but most of the people I know have done twice
that!
That is also a lot of paint parties, scraping wallpaper off weekends, vinyl
letter placement afternoons, and stenciling/sponging nap times. And by a
lot, I mean years off my life ya’ll. Years!

A few months ago, I had the great pleasure of having my Mom and sister visit
for one last European jaunt. I had the guest room all set up with my tea
cups and an old German buffet, the wall a nice sunny yellow. As I’m doing
laundry, Mom comes in with the wall art that was hanging above the bed.
“What is THIS?” she asks me.
“Um, DUH, it’s a flower vase,” I say.
“Well, WHY is it hanging in your house? Cause really Staci, it’s the
ugliest thing ever! Why isn’t YOUR art hanging there?”
I will admit, it was pretty much just a piece of dollar store art. I was
just never down in the guest room much.
Honestly, upstairs my home was full of MY art. I truly believe that the
most beautiful thing in the world is my family. I believe the most
beautiful places on earth are the places we have visited together. And
having lived in all those houses and homes, the most beautiful one is the
one I’m living in now, cause we are together. (Even though we currently
have no furniture and are sleeping on a mattress on the floor. We have been
doing this for the last 3 months, but the end is in sight!) Don’t get me
wrong, I appreciate a great piece of art and there are a couple of Thomas
Kinkade’s in my storage unit ;)

When I walk into someone’s home, I don’t gravitate to the paintings, I head
straight for the portraits! It’s the smiles and the memories held in those
shots that tell me about you and your family. Nothing thrills my heart more
than to walk into a clients home and see a fabulous piece of portrait art
hanging on the wall! Yes, ART! Your family is YOUR greatest Masterpiece!
That masterpiece should be front and center!
Of course we will paint, and wallpaper, and stencil. Just make sure that
your masterpiece shines!

I love what Heather did with her images from our recent photo sessions.
A 24 x 36 canvas of her favorite! And another canvas with all the best from
the session.

Aren’t they just stunning! A timeless treasure of memories!

Now wait a sec! Don’t freak out! If you are unsure of which image or how
you would like to display it, just talk to me. I have ways to show you
exactly how your image will look, which size would be perfect, and what
placement would best suit the needs of your home and vision. We go over all
of this at your “view and choose” appointment.

Easy!

-S

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We are OPEN!!

Here we GO!
Simply Taken Portraits is open!  Open in Maryland (that’s in the U.S. of A. Ya’ll!) and serving the Washington D.C./Metro area!
To say that we are excited is beyond an understatement!  (More on that later, cause we are in the U.S. of A. Y’all!!)
We have lots of exciting things planned for the next several months including a website update, new blog design, more video fusion, and sweet fall mini sessions with the beautiful fall foliage of Maryland (cause we are in the U.S. of A. Ya’ll!)
We have a new contact number which is:  301-266-1570
and in cause you didn’t know, I LOVE to talk, so give me a call!  ;)

Thanks everyone for your patience as we made the biggest move ever across the water to a whole new country.  We still have a few months before we are in the house, but we are settled in and soaking up every second of this beautiful area surrounded by friends, family and new neighbors!  We feel truly blessed and know we are in the exact place that God wants us to be.
Can’t wait to meet some new faces and catch up with a few past clients.

Right before we left Germany, I had one last session with some very dear friends.  Donna snapped a few of these pics of me “doing what I do” and I just laughed when I saw them.  Cause that is totally ME!
Flip flops, holes in my pants, sun glasses on my head.

Here is what I was shooting at the time.

I’ll have more from this session in the next couple of days.
Until then, why don’t you book a session before October 1st, and I’ll give you an extra $25.00 print credit!

-S

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Boudoir Marathon | KMC Portrait Photographer

Just had a spot open up for the Boudoir Marathon that will be held next week, March 29-30.  The setting is a super swanky hotel in Downtown K-town with lots of modern touches.

If you have been thinking of a Boudoir session this is the perfect time!  It’s the perfect chance to pamper yourself and I promise when you leave you will feel like a million bucks!

Contact me for more details!

 

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From the Red Couch | KMC Family Photographer

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be sharing some of my favorite shots from “the Red Couch” last fall.

 

I love this family!  LOVE them.  I think they know it too because I pretty much stalk them!  I’ve been trying to give them some space over the last couple of months so that I don’t get arrested!  (I actually have a funny story about getting arrested for stalking…wasn’t funny at the time, but it’s crazy hilarious now!  But, seriously, I’m not a weird-o…really!)
This Momma and Daddy can throw a killer cocktail party!  And I don’t want to brag or anything, but my hubby is in possession of their very famous “Cranberry Margarita” recipe!  See, they love us too!  We may or may not have it framed in our kitchen.  That’s not stalker-ish at all, is it?

And if you have heard the rumors that I am leaving this summer…they are true.  Sad faces all around.  There is still time to get in one last Simply Taken Portraits session!  Keep your eyes peeled for a special “last chance” family day coming out in the newsletter.

I know that you are reading this KDP and sitting here across from you while you are working on your classes is very inspiring.
XOXO

-S

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Levels | KMC Portrait Photographer

Sometimes it’s hard to describe love.  I don’t think there are different types of love, maybe just different levels of love.  I mean, I love a sunny day.  I also love cake, but not on the same level as I love my family.  Get it?  Levels.
Three years ago, if you told me that I would love a dog on that same level as my family, I would have laughed in your face.  But it happened.  I guess it really is hard to explain to a “non” pet owner.   It’s really is true though, they become members of your family.  Sophie is like my second child.  There was a time when she was crazy sick for two weeks and I couldn’t leave her side.  So when I was contacted by this family, there was no question about it.      We were gonna take some wonderful family pictures and Maggie would be the star.
A few weeks before the family found out some horrible news.  Maggie was sick.  Very sick.  The Dr. didn’t give her much time, but they were trying some experimental therapies and things were looking okay but not great.  Now was the perfect time to see her in action, because she still felt good enough to do some of her favorite things.
During the shoot we talked a lot about Maggie.  I learned that she went to school and played with the kids quite a lot.  Her favorite treat was hotdogs.  She loved to walk the trails behind her house and chase butterflies in the open field.  Maggie had a particular disdain for a “certain” neighbor dog, but we are all like that sometimes.  She watched one special boy grow up and move off to collage.  She slept in the “big bed” and had a special ramp so that she didn’t have to jump.
We took things slow and hit all of her favorite hangouts.  She even got to swim in the fountain, where she found a stick that she carried around for the rest of the shoot.

 

A few weeks later I got the e-mail that said Maggie hadn’t made it.  My heart broke.  Maggie was loved on a different level. A high, deep, reserved for family level.
I’m sure she is chasing butterflies and eating all the hot dogs she wants now.  Here though, she is more than missed.

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