In honor of it being the FIFTH day of February and then sun coming out after FIVE straight days of rain, I’m offering a weekend blog promotion. 

If you email me this weekend (ending at FIVE p.m. on Sunday, February 7th) to book a spring photo session in Texas, I’ll give you FIFTY big ones off the normal session fee.  Act fast!

Just one pic of my little soccer star, taking down the competition any way he can!

When my friend Erica asked if I would ‘pretty please with sugar on top’ take photos at her husband’s homecoming after a year-long deployment in Iraq, I told her to hold the sugar because it would be my honor.  This is something I’ve been longing to photograph–a moment full of sheer joy, happiness, surprise, tears, hugs, and kisses.  I wasn’t prepared for how emotional I would feel…especially since it wasn’t even my loved one returning home!  I was hoping Erica wasn’t hoping I would provide any emotional support, because I was a mess.  I was truly honored to stand in the 30 degree wind at 1:00 in the morning to welcome these soldiers home–they deserve it! 

Welcome home…and THANK YOU…to all our soldiers and their familes!

It was an exhausting, stressful, and crazy end to 2009 and quite frankly, I’m glad that year is over.  We had three years in our home state of Kansas and we thoroughly enjoyed being so close to family and old friends, however I do believe I’m ready for the next adventure.  

Being a military family and moving so much, we tend to categorize each duty station by the big events of our time there.  Here are some of the memoriable events of 2007, 2008, and 2009 at Ft. Leavenworth:

• –starting my business, Kelly Holder Photography, and watching it grow into something bigger than I could have ever imagined
• –Jake attending 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades at an wonderful school on post with amazing teachers
• –Jake playing his first year of intense tackle football
• –Cody growing from a 2 1/2 year old in a crib to a soccer playing kindergartener
• –the adoption of Fresco, the adorable long legged pound pup, the eventual sad return, and the happy ending with his new family
• –the purchase of our new puppy Remy, and all the trials & tribulations…and joy of having a new puppy
• –Jason graduating his master’s program with an MBA
• –getting reaquainted with old high school and college friend who live in Kansas City
• –networking with some amazing KC photographers who’ve now become great friends
• –traveling to Atlanta and Germany to shoot weddings
• –traveling to DC, Maryland, and North Carolina for week-long client shoots
• –traveling to Branson, Bald Head Island, North Carolina, and Las Vegas for workshops and conventions

I will look back on Leavenworth, Kansas with fondness–glad to have been there, but ready for my next life!  Texas is already treating us well.  We adore our new house and neighborhood.  The boys love their school and teachers.  I’ve become fast friends with some amazing ladies who are just “my kind of people”.  So far, so good.  I’m sure once Jason starts back to work next week in the “real army”, it will get crazy and hectic again, but there’s so much to look forward to…and I’m going to embrace that.

After a month off, I’m also ready to embrace shooting and working again.  My eyes have missed viewing life through the lens as I haven’t even picked up my camera once.  I did purchase a great little point and shoot camera since one of my 2010 goals is to take more candids of the boys and just life in general.  No more excuses that my camera is too big. 

Kelly Holder Photography “Texas Style” will be taking clients very soon.  I purchased a new website, office furniture, and desktop computer and will be working on getting all of that set up next week.  I still need to explore the area to find my shooting locations, but hope to take clients in February.  Check back to the blog for some fun incentives and promotions I’ll be running.  And if you are a friend, client, or stranger–please spread the word that KHP has moved and will soon be booking sessions!  There may even be a little something in it for you!

Late this fall, my good friend Julie Lackey shot a few family pics for our Christmas card.  Since a post just isn’t a post without a pic, I’ll share a few.

Wishing you fun and laughter in 2010!

Last year I was one of the many photographers who participated in Giving Is Awesome.   Giving is Awesome is a simple effort by photographers worldwide to give back to their communities. Regional contests are sponsored by photographers across the globe. Each photographer is encouraged to give both a session fee and a generous amount of portrait product (typically $1000 or more) to a worthy individual or family this holiday season.

Due to our move to Texas over the holidays, I knew I wouldn’t be able to participate as I did last year–taking nominations and announcing a winner.  However, I still found a way to contribute and hopefully make a family happy with the gift of custom photography.

As many of you know from experience, Facebook can bring you back into the lives of long lost friends.  About a year ago, I was able to connect with a high school friend I haven’t seen since probably 1992–and he lives just 30 miles from me!  Several months ago, Jimmy sadly posted that his 9 year old daughter, Alexis, had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).  Alexis is a tough little girl and has been completing rounds of radiation and chemotherapy and has just recently attended a few half days of school.  She is bravely fighting her cancer while her parents do anything and everything they can to support her.  They are an amazing family!

I told Jimmy I would happily donate a session with Alexis if she was up to it.  You never know at any given time how she’ll be feeling.  Thankfully, Alexis was excited for the session and had lots of her own ideas on locations.  She’s a gem with a beautiful outlook on life and I’m so glad I was able to spend some time with her. 

As fundraisers for Alexis’ treatment at Children’s Mercy, they are selling Team Alexis t-shirts, bracelets and buttons at this website.  You can also join Team Alexis on Facebook.  If nothing else, you can always donate blood! 

I’ve been pretty wishy washy about whether or not I want to add weddings to my services.  I truly love shooting them (especially when my husband can 2nd shoot with me)  but the stress of THE DAY and the massive editing job have kept me from just going for it.  However, when my lovely hairdresser, Jamie, asked if I’d return to Kansas in June and shoot her wedding, I didn’t hesitate at all.  I adore this girl and now I adore her fiance, Cameron.  They make a beautiful couple and I wish them all the best.  Look for their wedding images next summer!