McKinnon PhotoBlog

September 28, 2011 // my life / news

I just returned from a lovely gathering of photographers. It was held at the Sidney Pier Hotel and I HIGHLY recommend it there. The service was fab, the food delish and the rooms just right - it didn't hurt that I got up-grated to a premier suite.

I often forget how important it is for me to take some time to be with my photographer peers. I have to say, in general photographers are kind of a quirky bunch, and if you are with the right kind, they let it all hang out - which makes me feel right at home.

One of the conversations that was presented to us was "Emptying Your Cup" - forgetting what you know, resetting and seeing things different.

On the dark drive home I had lots of time to ponder this and realized it is an approach I am going to push to the front of my consciousness more often, and not just in terms of my photography and business.

We make so many assumptions, so often, we see people the same way, we react to things the same way and I am definitely guilty of that in my family life.

I feel so refreshed and happy today - it's a good day.

I have tons to blog, many shoots, look for lots of share's coming up.

Oh, and Utah came to the studio for the first time yesterday! It went great, but I just got an email from this mornings client saying her daughter loved Utah - he totally showed me up -

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Dean & Louise - Steamy

September 28, 2011 // my life / portraits

Despite the weather's uncertainty we headed out and were sweetly rewarded with beautiful light. I was rewarded with a couple who totally adore each other and fit together completely naturally.

Thanks Dean and Louise, I had such an inspiring morning with you!

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Louise:

Thanks Karen, for such a wonderful morning! We had such a great time during this session with you. Thank you so much for capturing those "moments" that we have every day but never see from "outside" of where we are... can't wait to see the rest of the photos.

(09.28.11 @ 02:10 PM)

kevin:

I really like this one.

(10.01.11 @ 06:42 PM)

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I was even a little bored

September 9, 2011 // my life

So for august I did something a little radical, for me that is. I just stopped. Other than photographing weddings and processing them, I did no work - really - none. Selah and I packed up and moved to Hornby Island for the month. My step-children were away with other family and John was working, so most of the time it was just the two of us. The month was about slowing down, disconnecting from computers, and spending extensive time with my mom and step-dad.

It was incredible - here is a little de-brief of our time:

- I was not a stressed at all - rarely did I say or think - "I need to......."

- We woke up late and just passed time, we hit the beach, the couch, rode our bikes, ate blackberries, played games and read.

- I am thankful my 8 eight year old likes to read - a lot. Many hours were sitting on the beach reading with her. Not once, did the eight year old tell me she was bored. She also thinks that cuddling is an activity. I am so incredibly thankful that the two of us sync so well.

- My mom and step-dad are really as fabulous as I always think they are.

- Christine, my office-manager/work-wife, also is really as fabulous as I always think she is.

- Only once did I feel restless. Which is quite something considering my life is usually go,go,go. The feeling lasted about 15 minutes. I think I actually was experiencing a bit of minimal boredom - which was such a luxury and an oddity

- Spending extended time with myself, my true self, not what anyone wants or needs me to be, was like a huge deep breath.

- I was expecting for it to be life changing, not so, just life affirming. I am slightly addicted to personal growth and to learning. So it seems I was even able to take a break from that. A true holiday.

- I smile, a little indulgent smile, thinking about it. It was one of my best choices in years. It will be annual event.

xoxoxo Hornby Island -

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Sandy Lipovsky:

I loved this blog---one day I hope to have a similar experience. So far, my vocabulary is still "I need to slow down". I am even more impressed with your Hornby retreat because most of my self-employed friends (including me) mostly say 'yes' to more work if it is out there than 'yes' to relaxation time. Thanks for the inspiration! And THANK YOU for leaving your idyllic haven to photograph Lindsey and Tony's wedding - you ARE being spoken of often and the words include 'incredible', 'how did she get that shot-I never saw her', 'where did you learn about this photographer', etc. Besides, every vacation needs at least one rocking party in it, right? So glad you could be part of ours.

(09.09.11 @ 10:15 AM)

Karen McKinnon:

So true Sandy, it is really hard to say no when you are self-employed, as you are always thankful for the work, however making sure you have enough energy for each job is so important. It really felt like a bit of a risk to disappear for a month, but as they say risk often leads to reward. Thanks so much for the feedback on the wedding - made my day!

(09.10.11 @ 12:06 PM)

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Out of here - ticking off the bucket list

August 6, 2011 // my life / news

I am living the dream, it is exactly what I always wanted. To enjoy the beauty of my life, the people in it and to document it with my camera. I am a goal setter, so getting here wasn't by accident, I have had one year, five year and ten year plans - yes I am an A type personality, yes, I write my goals down, it seems to land me in places I had always dreamed of and for that I am so thankful, I carry gratitude with me always and I am regularly dumbfound that I should be so fortunate.

Sometimes when you are loving what you are living, you can get so caught up in the day to day that you can forget to step back and look at it from different perspectives. I am the type of person who likes to step back and check in with myself - even when all is well.

When a family member became ill last year it sent me for a bit of a twirl. I also lost a good friend last year. I always live life like it is fleeting, but every once and a while the notion that we are only here for a short time really smacks you over the head.

One of my dreams for the last three years has been to spend a month on Hornby Island, where my mom and step-dad live. As my daughter got older and I became a step-mom this seemed increasingly farther out of my reach. I always imagined doing it in the winter when photographing isn't quite as busy, however as our kids lives have grown busier this just didn't seem possible. Then John, my wonderful other half, looked at it from a different perspective and suggested I go in the summer. Eeek - during my super busy season? Yes. I thought there is no way I could go in August, there were so many obstacles - the cost of Hornby in the summer, work, work work. I was full of reasons why it wouldn't work, for about five minutes that is. Then off I was to google finding a little Hornby Cabin down the road from my moms.

So today we head to our Hornby shack for a month. It will just be me and my daughter, John is working, my other daughters are away visiting family.

We are going to stay up late, sleep in, wake up in the morning with no plan, we will ride our bikes, help my mom in her garden, do art, hit the beach. In order to achieve the life I want and pursue all my interests and friendships my life is so highly scheduled - this month will not be.

I will just BE.

I am not abandoning my post here entirely. I will be travelling off Hornby each weekends to photograph a wedding and limited portraits. I would like to give a huge thank you to Christine, (my office wife/diva/manager/friend/left-over-sharer/stabilizer,) as she will be in the office three to four days a week and will be taking care of all your needs and relaying them to me.

I hope you have some quiet moments and perhaps I will see you on the beaches of Little Tribune. You might see me on the blog or on facebeook or you might not, that's part of the plan to have no plan, we'll see what happens, I might find that I miss writing and sharing or I might just be unplugged.

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April B:

Sounds heavenly Karen! Enjoy!

(08.07.11 @ 10:35 AM)

Keltie:

Have a wonderful month, I can't wait to hear of your adventures when you return!!!

(08.07.11 @ 04:21 PM)

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I'm better in the summer

August 3, 2011 // my life / portraits

It is always around this time of year that I begin to consider homeschooling. I am a much better mom in the summer, when I don't say "hurry up" six times before 8:30, when I can let the child work on their own rhythm of late nights and long sleep-ins. I feel like I am more loving, more consistent , a better watcher and a better teacher and guide in the summer. When I can pull over on the side of the road to look at the sheep in the field, or spend hours in the library looking at photos of Egypt.

So the thought of homeschooling hits me at some point during the summer. Yesterday it happened after a hour long bike ride in Campbell River, where we discussed birds, feminism, healthily choices and how they relate to patience and effective planning - all while exercising. On our way home the light was stunning, so we ran home, grabbed some cameras and headed out again.

I felt 100% present, and I could tell she was 100% relaxed and receptive.

Now, as for homeschooling, those of you that know my busy life, no need to panic and stage an intervention, just allow me to play with the idea in my dreamy summer state, don't worry I go through this every summer and no rash decisions have ever been made.

Selah captured the image of me on the right tonight, I see she has my eye for strong foregrounds and breaking compositional rules, the photo cracks me up...

Our dog Utah hasn't made a blog appearance in some time, she had a hair-cut today and is sporting what I call the Cugly, ie. Cute-Ugly-Do, she was along for the ride with us last night -

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