My Sick Obsession with framing…

Well, no pun intended on this one… I like to frame, well… everything…for that matter hence my love for photography, but this post is about frame’s as in the one’s you hang on your wall, not the kind you capture with your camera, I like to call those memories frozen in time!  If you’re actually curious about the other frames… take a look at my work at the following places… here and here! I also have a fanpage on facebook you can find under KBP Kimberlee Brooke Photography. Anyway. I wanted to share the frames that I have been obsessed with since I started a photography company back in April of 2011! I actually discovered them before I started a business… and I swear they were one of the reasons I decided to start it… I had been debating starting a business in Photography for about 5 years prior to the time I actually did it, although my whole life I knew this was something I wanted to do eventually. I have many reasons why, but my best reason was that I had too many obstacle’s in my way. Life, (lack of time) really and doubt in my own talent I guess were two big obstacle’s. I also felt that If I had started 5 years ago, it just might have become a huge flop. Different companies, like this one, The Organic Bloom (The most amazing framing company ever!) are what have made it possible for people like me, who feel it’s about “the whole package” , to make a partnership of their product and add it to my packages as a photographer or provide it’s availability separate. The way I look at these frames are like dressing up without putting on nice shoes. If you’re going to showcase beautiful photos, and not put them in beautiful frames, it sort of defeats the purpose of adding “art” or Photography to your walls. (I hope that metaphor made sense)

Since I started small with my photography company by providing the disc of digital images, and prints if needed, I wanted something they can stick those pretty photos into and give them more the reason to want to hang my work on their walls. Here are the following reasons I love The Organic Bloom so much… Reason number 1)… (of 300 that I will spare you) is that they are made of solid wood. That high quality makes me feel as if I’m adding art to our walls rather than just another plain black or white frame with a photo in it; Reason number 2) They use Kelly Moore paints to paint their frames and I think that’s amazing. They are gung- ho about consistency and it shows… there is absolutely no variation in one frame to the next with the same exact color… (trust me I’ve checked…yes I’m OCD), 3) They have various styles and unique versions of each including their “Double stack Frames”… see example here and even better their “twin double stack frames!!!” here!  I am sure they will come up with more amazing combinations as they continue to flourish. Reason number 4) They provide a search engine in which the consumer interested can find a local photographer that sells their product! I am on there… which is so awesome! I am sure I will find ways to use this to my advantage, but for now I just like that I am easily found on the list of vendors in my area! 😀 See here! Reason number 5) They are highly supportive of local business. For instance, they insist that if you are interested in selling these frames as a photographer, to simply only sell to those who are paying for your photography services. They also ask that as a consumer you only buy from those you are purchasing photography services through. I am not sure how they enforce this, but my guess is that it might feel odd as a “photographer” to only be reached out to for the frames you carry and not your actual services. This is why I include them with my packages sometimes or I may offer a freebie as a reward for a client, etc, I also sell them separately to clients who have just purchased a package with me. The list could go on forever (like I said there are 295 more reasons why I love The Organic Bloom – Oh ok number 6) Their name alone? How could you not love something so fresh sounding?, so that leaves 294 but who’s counting!). So moral to this post is, if you’re going to frame, do it well and use The Organic Bloom! 🙂

Here are some examples of their 3×3 “Ornament Frames” in Clover Leaf, White & Flamenco Red!

 

 

Boots and Bubble Baths {My two favorite things}

Christmas Holiday Card 2011

I usually spend quite a bit of money on Holiday Cards every year and after starting a photography company this year I’ve had the hardest time paying full price for holiday cards from places like Shutter-fly, Minted, tiny prints etc, Although I highly believe in these sites, I can’t help but let my creative wheels turn on just how they make these. I’m big on DIY projects because I’m so intrigued with figuring things out on my own. Well the one thing I learned well this year in photoshop is how to collage photos. I am still very much in the learning process {hence the non artsy finish} so these didn’t turn out the clearest but I think as I get better our family and friends will be more pleased every year with the clearer they become and hopefully more creative! So I have officially turned our kitchen table into an assembly line today and I’m determined to finish! Hubby is in charge of mailing them… So you shall receive one soon if you’re in my address book! Hopefully they will make it there before next week! Stay tuned for more photos (better ones hopefully) from my DSLR, these were just taken with my iPhone. P.S. This is what you may or may not need..

~ Shiny card stock {at least heavy weight pearlized card-stock}
~ A printer that prints quality photos {we have the HP office-jet}
~ A decent paper cutter {Michaels or any craft store}
~ Photo shop {I used Elements for this but will probably try next one via CS5}
~ hole punch {I used a snowflake shape one by Reflections from Michaels}
~ Last but not least Tweed! {The tweed was my way of distracting from the non artistic-ness of this years card :-D}

Hearts!

{KBT}

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My Favorite Reality Family

So in the beginning I said my posts are going to vary. Well today I have decided to blog about my very favorite reality show. I am a sucker for reality TV, namely the Bachelor/Bachelorette, CMT Cribs, Real Housewives, etc, but my most favorite show to watch (that is when I even get 20 minutes in my day to do so), is Tori & Dean on the Oxygen Network! Not only was my favorite show growing up 90210, but Tori Spelling has always been one of the most inspiring celebrities for me. She was my favorite character on 90210 because she was always so spunky and witty and always very fashionable. Now that she is a mom, who works from home constantly creating work for herself, I find I have a lot more in common with her than I ever thought I would. As much as their story of how they met, is not something I would ever condone, they were both in a situation where they found the wrong person the first time and were extremely un happy, which I think happens to some people when they are eager to settle down, and maybe think that whomever they are with when they feel that way, is who they should end up with.. You can really see their kinship/spiritual connection and know they were really destined for each other, reality TV or not, I don’t think they would be on air if they didn’t have that natural chemistry, they truly are best friends. I just can’t help but love Tori’s creativity and fashion sense. Beyond my days working as an artist manager, & Photographer, I am always coming up with new crafts and always thinking of ways to start another business. Most of these “ideas” are for fun right now because I only have so much time in my day to really execute, but while I’m mostly being a mom right now, Tori continues to inspire me! You should watch Tori & Dean if you ever get a chance. Their show aires (On U-verse – not sure on other satellite/Comcast) on Tuesdays at 7PM on the Oxygen Network. Currently they are on baby number 3 born this past October, but here is a photo I found (Of their two older children Liam & Stella) at :

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1273&bih=686&tbm=isch&tbnid=LRTCkM7Mxpvm0M:&imgrefurl=http://theknottybride.com/tag/wedding-photography/page/3&docid=AuFC8pRnd8eisM&imgurl=http://theknottybride.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/tori-and-dean-ema-e1277280872811.jpg&w=425&h=566&ei=loPfTuaCFsXiiAKezY3qCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=900&vpy=137&dur=848&hovh=140&hovw=105&tx=101&ty=123&sig=115442053022204251303&page=10&tbnh=140&tbnw=105&start=171&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:171

 

 

Enjoy your Wednesday!

 

❤  Kim