Babies Don't Keep Workshop | Photography Workshop For Mamas

Last Saturday I hosted the first, but certainly not last, Babies Don't Keep Workshop in Maryland.  We spent the day learning from greats like Maya Angelou, Rachel Jankovic, Brene' Brown, Sarah Bessey,  Charles Dickens, Shauna Niequist, Tim Kimmel, Willa Cather, Trevor and Heidi Davis, and Suzanne Snyder (and more!).  Neatly enough, none of these people are photographers.  But each of these people have and have told stories to me in a way that has been earthquakes to my soul.  After I've experienced their stories, I have to pick-up the newly broken things, and take the insurance money to buy different things, and reassemble the house.  
Photography, especially the kind of near-and-dear, interspatial, blood-of-my-blood photography that happens when a mother makes her child the subject, is a rich form of story.  We walked through the gift our children's childhood is not just to them, but to us as well.  It's a thing we can take, as they give; know as they tell.  It's also a time where we build into their souls their place in history -- vastness of this world years and years before but also the unquestionable singularity of their importance in this song.  It's the time where we live before them what we want them to be (scary), and also get to show them what it means to have somebody know and love you.  The difference between fitting in and belonging. Grafting their roots into the solid family tree of time and generation.  
As a mother you are part co-character, part narrator, part author, part illustrator, part editor, part reader.  Photography, I believe, is more than just satisfying mommy-guilt or storing memories.  It is a foundational gift and capability that can have the power to affirm or deny some of the greatest truths in this life.  I've gotten to know and re-know my own mother all over again as I study the images I have of her as a college student, and Army Captain, and mother.  In some ways I see her strength in images better than I ever did live.  I am re-told my place and potential and value when I look at pictures of mom firing off rounds and looking at toddler-me.
We also learned about those beautiful black boxes called "camera" and how to use the buttons and numbers to tell our stories better.  We learned about light, composition; crying in a room full of near-strangers, laughing over meals, exchanging labor -- war -- stories.  These women have face infertility, miscarriage, longing, waiting, incision, blood, and the power of little children in our world.  
I hope all of your emotional and "living" skills were increased, as well as your photographer and technical skills.  I left the day full of dancing memories and I felt a tight sense of camaraderie in my heart.  Thank you, each of you, for being a part of this new experiment and passion of mine.  All of my love, and some of my deepest memories, were yours for a day.  Thank you for walking sacred places with me.  
Also!  A huge thank you to the slew of sponsors and companies who made this event possible!  Learn more about them below.   We took a family trip to Butler's Orchard and picked fresh flowers and raspberries in the rain.  It was an exhilarating, funny memory and I felt very "heart all in" the workshop.  And maybe a little OCD (which is not like me.  "Not the red ones, only the pink hued ones!") Each mama walked away with a bundle of treats.  I wanted them to have some pretty things they may want if they saw it in a store, but wouldn't necessarily go ahead and spend on themselves.  Erin James from Graceful Magazine provided beautiful watercolor notecards.  Her online magazine has so much in store -- enjoy browsing around!  Each lady also walked away with a brand new Baggu Bag (I feel just a little more put together when I shop with a Baggu.  It almost had the effect of a pair of pearl earrings on my spirits -- almost.) I fell in love with the hand-painted art given by our sponsor Victory Day & Co.  You simply must add some of her heartfelt pieces to your wishlist, and get them on your walls.  The artist and owner is a sweet mama of three (two 'here' and one on the way!)  I love being able to support and work with fellow mamas.   Husband and wife team, Chris and Carly, are the delightful founders of Hand Lettering Co.  I've probably bought close to 20 pieces from them this past year.  They were even kind enough to create a custom pink piece for me to give to my mama last Christmas.  It was the last Christmas gift I gave her, and will be a part of our family treasury forever.  Check them out! Takeya is the ultimate for cool, modern, glass water bottles (in my completely biased opinion).  The women loved their grown-up containers and I may have had to get an extra one for myself! The motto journals came from Compendium... and someone needs to stop me before I buy a bookcase' worth! The workbooks were provided by MyPublisher and are the perfect, budget-friendly, little option for tiny photo albums.  Just Knotted killed it with the bright, whimsy-full hair ties!  SmugMug also had 20% off for them!  Online back-up, baby! “One morning as I was leaving, the director said I didn't have to leave the set anymore.  What happened? Why did they change their ways of treating me? 
I came to the realization that it was because I had a mother. My mother spoke highly of me, and to me. But more important, whether they met her or simply heard about her, she was there with me. She had my back, supported me. 
This is the role of the mother, and in that visit I really saw clearly, and for the first time, why a mother is really important. Not just because she feeds and also loves and cuddles and even mollycoddles a child, but because in an interesting and maybe an eerie and unworldly way, she stands in the gap. She stands between the unknown and the known. 
In Stockholm, my mother shed her protective love down around me and without knowing why people sensed that I had value.” 
[Maya Angelou, Mom & Me & Mom]
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Please consider joining us for the Oklahoma Workshop the first weekend in November ---> BABIES DON'T KEEP WORKSHOP to register 

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And if you are interested in having a workshop in your area, please let me know in the comments or e-mail me at kristen@babiesdontkeepworkshop.com.  If there is enough interest in your part of the world, I would eagerly spend the weekend with lovely new mama friends!

StoryTime WorkShop Re-Cap | Part 1

S T O R Y T I M E    W O R K S H O P    R E - C A P 

Right off the bat, I hoped that the StoryTime WorkShop would be more of a retreat, a vision re-setter, a time to be thrown into someone else's story, a getaway.   There is much I could say, but what I'd most want to tell you about our weekend was the people I met.  Five delightful lives.  I spent a lot of time watching them work, talk and interact.  I love them.  And I love how we all connected.  It's a little risky to say "Hey!  Five strangers!  Come stay in my basement apartment, while my family of nine lives upstairs, and I share the space with you... and my husband!"  If it didn't work, it would have been awfully uncomfortable.  But the magic was there and it was as lively, relaxed and comfortable as I was hoping.  And without further ado, I want you to meet (or re-meet) these savory women:

“Advice? I don’t have advice. Stop aspiring and start writing. If you’re writing, you’re a writer. 

Write like you’re a goddamn death row inmate and the governor is out of the country and there’s no chance for a pardon.  

Write like you’re clinging to the edge of a cliff, white knuckles, on your last breath, and you’ve got just one last thing to say, like you’re a bird flying over us and you can see everything, and please, for God’s sake, tell us something that will save us from ourselves.  

Take a deep breath and tell us your deepest, darkest secret, so we can wipe our brow and know that we’re not alone. 

Write like you have a message for the king!  Or don’t. Who knows, maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn’t have to.” 

S T E P H   M A T T H E W S  // taylor clark photography

There's a ring on her hand, and a song in her heart.  I couldn't quite find the perfect word to describe her - she's systematic and thorough and professional and wonderfully clumsy and goofy and fake-gangster.  "My fiance says I'm 'corky.'" Yes! That's it corky.  Cute and dorky ;)  She can barely talk about anything she cares about without crying, and she doesn't know what "half-in" means.  She's irresistible and feisty.  She drips food on herself and laughs heartily while finding a rag to clean up.  She accidentally bumps people when she's talking because the stories sometimes get grander than herself and who can pay attention to arms and hands when you're in the middle of something great?  She's a playful little girl in a statuesque, head-turning body.  She's a strong woman, in a bouncy world.   

H A I L E Y   H U G G I N S // photos by hailey

She's Georgia.  Sunny, dimpled, and demure.  We never called her Hailey.  Georgia Huggins, it's perfect.  Especially with that "coquettish, southern girl smile, the kind you could pour over waffles."  She's - to be sickeningly cliche - all peaches n' cream, but let me be square:  she is no fruitcake.  Tough and fierce.  Confidently kind.  Helpfully stubborn.  She's matter-of-fact, business minded, and doesn't take herself too seriously.  I mentioned to her that I love how most of her profile pictures are her making "stupid" (not duck) faces.  "Seriously though, do girls know they don't have to look good ALL THE TIME?  It's okay to look dumb sometimes!"  Her lack of "trying" is one of her most endearing qualities.  Especially when who she is is so light-hearted and nice.  Stubborn, of course.  But sincerely happy and wanting those around her to be happy, too.  She's hard to not be drawn to immediately, and to want to be your sister forever.

M E G A N  L U C K E R O T H // megan luckeroth blog

Megan was our brilliant iceberg.   She notices, processes, thinks through, and understands far more than she "hands out."  She doesn't blab or rant.   It's like you can nearly feel the poetry when she is around.  She is one of the most fascinating presence's I've ever met, with an intensely beautiful mind - shaded and shadowed and colorful and vibrant - and eyes that take it in, and lips that speak about it slowly.  You get the feeling that she sees things no one else does.  That she appreciates or is moved by or tickled to laughing-tears by a details that most our world would miss.  But somehow she's not an "iceberg" in the sense that she's impossible to crack or difficult to interact with.  She's so warm and delicate and grace-filled - a calming breeze.  She makes me want to ask her questions and hear your perspective.   

H A N N A H  M A R T I N // hannah nicole blog

God decided to describe her with adjectives by making her look like what she is like.   Wide-eyed, specifically.  A short ballerina of a lady, with eyes that are fairy-like nearly confusing and hair that is unruly and carefree.  She asks some of the most heartfelt questions and recites the words of authors easily.  She's chatty and silly and is searching, always.  She is decisive and confident, and sincerely pleasant and inspiring.  It doesn't take long to guess that she is the oldest daughter in a big family - she has that unmistakeable air.  Nurturing, sincere, older-than-her-age, talented, responsible, calm.  You miss her when she leaves.  And learn from her when she's near.

K H L O E   W I L L I A M S // khloe paige blog

After she left, I kept calling her "the firefly."  Khloe is a bright young spark, on the cusp of major life decisions right and left.   She was the quickest to laugh, to tell a story, to open up, to talk.  Her heart strings are tied in many places, and she is a family-girl to.the.bone.  She has whimsy in her eyes, and Elizabeth Bennett in her heart beats.  She could weave in and out of nonsense chatter, plunging questions and ideas, and practical steps seamlessly.  She's not afraid - at all.   Timidity is not in her deck of cards.  I sometimes wished I could scoop up a handful of that trait, and eat it like (clean) snow.  I lost that ability somewhere of the years, and she's a dazzling reminder of the beauty there is in fearlessness.





Ladies and friends, thank you for making my month.  For effecting my life.  Deaths, break-ups, moves, self-realizations, "God moments," childhoods, concerns, wishes - the deepest, realest, honestest ones -, photographs, and stories.  You came open and eager, and I hope you left refreshed and with visions dancing in your head, like sugar plum fairies.  I wish you could come back, now, so I could enjoy in person some more.  But I also love waiting and watching... seeing stories start to pop up on your blogs. I love looking forward to learning more, as you tell it yourself.  You are all dear to my heart <3 p="">

Too Many Announcements | I'm Kristen Workshop + Extras

cause all I know is we said "hello,"
and your eyes look like coming home.
taylor swift

I've been a bustling toaster over here - doing more than just eating + reading birth stories on mom blogs! (though my husband might question that...) - so I have LOTS to share today.  First of all!  TODAY is the details of "The StoryTime WorkShop day"!  We have dates! And applications! And... things!     

April 26 + April 27 + April 28 

(three full days... it'll be a long, full, joyous weekend!)

The price includes "lodging," three meals a day, and all workshop materials.  You will be responsible for any "extras" like travel, trinkets, snacks and shopping.   To apply, please fill out this application and e-mail it to me (if the link is being wonky for you, e-mail me and I'll send you the application in an attachment!).   The last day to apply is February 2, 2013.  I will announce the group the following week, so everyone can make plans accordingly.  I'm also offering a payment-plan instead of a one-time-time-payment-chunk, so if you are interested in that, please note in your application!  I know how hard many (most!) of us are working to save, spend smartly and make decisions about what is best for us at the time, and I want to do all I can to help, not hinder.  

As a reminder, this workshop is geared towards photographers and also more "inspirational" than technical.  Though we will talk photography and do shoots, the goal of this is to really spark and thrill our minds and hearts, and help our delight in stories spill over into our photo-taking.  If you are looking for a business-start-up or "how-to"session, this likely won't be the answer to your dreams!

GUYS. I'm really very excited.  I hope you are too!  Please spread the word if you think any of your pals and gals would be interested in joining the hootin' and hollerin'!  And apply!  Ps.  There are no "rules" on how to apply... if you want to make it "fun" and answer these questions through a more creative means than an e-mail (video/blog post/graphic) by allllllll means!  No pressure.  E-mail works brilliantly too.  WONDER WONDER THIS IS FUN!

Also, coming very soon is the super-trendy-"off-season"-blog-revamp.  I can't wait for you to see!

But here's the kicker (and why you should be PUMPED about the new blog design) is that when the new blog appears... there will be a giveaway.  This isn't happening yet.  But it's happening.  For real.  And one lucky little person will win these FOUR prizes.  Grand slam, if I do say so myself!

As cool as all this is... I'm most happy about finding out what our little person is: a he or she :)  Also.  My basketball team is undefeated (the only team in the school who hasn't lost!)  OH!  And I've baked two days in a row, which is a record for me.  This week might be more fun than wedding week... Gracious.  

Story Time 2013 | An I'm Kristen Workshop

“stories never really end...even if the books like to pretend they do.  stories always go on.  they don't end on the last page,  any more than they begin on the first page.”
cornelia funke - inskpell | STORYTELLING |  the conveying of events in words, images and sounds,  often by improvisation, imagination or embellishment.  stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of  entertainment, education, cultural preservation and to instill values. 
crucial elements of stories and storytelling include  who is in them, where it happened, and the details of the plot. | STORIES MUST BE TOLD | This spring, and also this fall, we will collect and with our hearts, stories and cameras, come to enliven and influence each other.  I suppose this is a photography workshop, but please don't be deceived or disappointed.   This is more about listening for, caring about and wanting the story.  We will watch moving pictures, read out loud, hear music, be together, be alone and take photographs.   Like the children who gather around grandpa's big chair, waiting for a tale, we will listen for the story.  We'll have a photoshoot every single day - with different people to work with and learn about.  This will be no "Follow me around, see how I posed her arm, I'm on f-stop 2.5" shoot.  This will be a "Study your subject, and figure out a way to tell everyone else what you learned about her with your camera."  
The stories are everywhere.  Every portrait shoot.  Every wedding.  Every household.  Every shop.  Every person.  They're there.  Are you looking?  We'll be looking this spring in a three-day workshop.  More details to come soon.  Very soon. -- Here's to the story about the pull-up-ed-jell-sandal-ed-flower-girl waiting to see her aunt in bridal glory. Here's to the wrinkles. Here's to the first morning of life and Edith and Meepers.    

Here's to the story about marriage, penny-pinching, good coffee and opening a shop.

Here's to the last winter in Florida and sun that never stops.

Here's to my own life.

And here's to her life!

Here's to the story of an 100-degree-wedding-day and a baby-girl becoming a bride.

Here's to a baby girl becoming a three-year-old girl.  And here's to donuts! And ties!

Here's to the food that helps Autumn grow!

And here's the nights that live forever, or so.

Here's to the story of the surprise triplets (and their fingers, and toes, and lips.)

Here's to grandma's pearl necklace, and why she wore it everyday.  Until this day... when she gave the necklace away.

Here's to wrinkles, again.

Here's to the faces that know waiting, but also know joy.

Here's to dads with their baby girls (dads who used to be little boys.)

Here's to big best friends,

and here's to little best friends, too.

And here's to the story about finally finding your way home, after all you've gone through.

Here's to the crazy ones, the elegant ones, the dancers and the thinkers...

Here's to roaring laughter, colored ink, spins and silver bands on happy fingers.

Here's to today and now,

and taking lots of pictures.