Valentine’s Day Mini Sessions~Central Iowa Photographer Carisa Keeling

Posted on January 1, 2013

I am super excited to start off the new year here at CKP! I have so many great and wonderful things in store for this year and I am very, very thankful for all of my wonderful clients and supporters who have made this photography journey so amazing for me. Today, I reached a little milestone on Facebook…I have over 400 fans/followers/likers…whatever you would like to call them! So with the new year, the milestone and just a general good feeling I decided to offer something that I have never done before…mini sessions!

I have been asked about these many times in the past and never put them together, but this is the perfect time. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and what better time to get some super cute images of those little ones to share with the family! Or, if you procrastinated a little too much and didn’t get those Christmas cards sent out…you can send Valentine’s cards instead!

So what is a mini session you ask? Well, they are short and sweet little sessions that are only 30 minutes long and they are also offered at AMAZING prices! At least, that’s the way I do them here at CKP. I am putting together an adorable subtle vintage Valentine’s set to use as a backdrop…nothing too cheesy here. These images will be super adorable and will look just as great hanging on your wall as they will in your custom made little Valentine’s cards. Oh…wait…did I forget to mention those? Yep, the creative fee also includes 24 adorable little custom Valentine’s day cards featuring your favorite image from the session. These make perfect Valentine’s to pass out at school parties and to friends and family. Just think of how many amazing Mom brownie points custom Valentine’s cards will get you!

There are only limited times available though, and you really better contact me as soon as possible to reserve yours! These sessions will be available on Saturday January 12th and Sunday January 20th. The easiest way to contact me is through the contact page here on the site or email me directly at carisa (at) carisakeelingphotography.com.

In the next few days I will be posting some images of the background set that I will be using so that you can start planning outfits and such. I am also putting together some examples of the Valentine’s Day cards.

My sweethearts~Central Iowa children photography

Posted on April 26, 2012

Every once in a while I decide to try and take a few images of my own kiddos. Ok, it is more than once in a while…it is pretty frequently. It is actually so frequently that my little boy typically runs from my camera and even my camera phone! But I know in my heart that these memories are so fleeting, the innocence of their childhood will only last for this brief period of time and I really want to capture that in a way that will really and truly help me hold on to it when they are grown. Most of the time, I get nice images, but to be honest…taking images of your own kids is one of the hardest things a photographer can do. It is really a challenge to wear the mommy hat and the photographer hat at the same time.

Tonight, was a rare and special night…a night when I was able to capture just a little of hint of that amazing innocent quality that make these two so precious to me. Even more importantly for me, I was able to get these images and still be in the moment with them. So what if they are not in matching clothes and the shorts Ava has on are two sizes too small (she keeps insisting she wear them). For me, these images are perfect…just the way I want them because this was exactly how they were tonight. Happy, joyful, full of hope…I can look at Ava and see a little tiny glimpse of the woman she will be some day, and in some ways that makes me just a little sad. They just grow up so fast.

So, these images are important to me, and I love them. One of the things I am guilty of is always thinking I will make a wall art piece with the next image when her hair is pulled back, or when  he doesn’t have dirt on his face. Well, not this time. These are going to be gracing my office wall in the very near future. And yes, I will get some gift prints to the grandparents too!

Little Mr. L~children’s portraits by Carisa Keeling

Posted on April 23, 2012

Mr. L was about the most charming little guy I have met in recent history. He was sweet and so full of expressions. We had a great studio session and he was very cooperative as I changed things around and he changed clothes. I was amused to see that he also had a little Sofie the giraffe…Ava had one of those when she was little too and he was dearly loved.

Olivia turns 2~Central Iowa portrait photographer Carisa Keeling

Posted on April 21, 2012

It is hard to believe that I have been taking portraits of little Miss Olivia for two years now. It is such a fabulous joy to get to watch these little ones as they grow and change. She looks so much like her mommy, who happens to be one of my dearest friends. Olivia was pretty easy going to most of her session, but the expressions really came out when we went outside just before sunset. I love the ones of her smiling and clasping her hands together with the fading sun streaming through her hair. The little boy in the last images is actually my son, Blake. He is about 6 months older than her and he was in a cooperative mood towards the end of the session. Normally, he runs and hides when I get out my camera! I guess I have taken a few too many images of him!

Thank you Kendra and Andy for letting me capture these moments for you!

May’s 6 month session~Baby Photographer Carisa Keeling

Posted on April 17, 2011

May is such a cutie pie and she was just absolutely sweet during her session.  I was extra excited for her session as her mommy and daddy are former wedding clients of mine.  There is something extra special about that type of continued relationship. I was amazed at how quickly May could flip herself over…wow, she was FAST.  She was very good natured about it when we kept putting her back though.  I have to admit, it has been nice to have some little girls in the studio!  I love getting out the tutus and bows and pillowcase dresses…so does my daughter Ava!

Anyway, enough chatterboxing from me…on to the images right?!?

Olivia is 1! ~ A portrait session

Posted on April 5, 2011

I cannot believe that Olivia is already one year old!  The time just seems to fly by.  Olivia’s parents brought some of her favorite things into the studio and we did a session to commemorate her first birthday.  She was such a sweet little thing, and just loved the attention.  I have included a few of my favorite images from her session below.

I just love the expression on her little face in this last one!  So cute, and so full of spirit!

Elliott~7 months old~Carisa Keeling Photography, Ames, IA

Posted on January 16, 2011

I can’t believe how big little Elliott is getting!  He has the most beautiful eyes and he is always so easy to work with.  He is a member of my Little Ones program and this is his third session.  I typically refer to this session as the “Sittin’ Pretty” session because I like capture the session when the little ones are just getting to the point where they can sit on their own.  My Little Ones program is a fabulous value.  If you are expecting soon please fill out the inquiry form here on the website and I can send you additional information.  These images were just a few that I had to share.

Precious Little Ones ~ Carisa Keeling, Iowa Children’s photographer

Posted on September 19, 2010

I have had some absolutely amazing sessions with little ones lately!  I have been trying hard to keep up with the wedding blog posts, but these little ones deserve a little blog love too.  Rather than do separate posts, I am going to put my faves from several sessions all in one spot.  In a strange twist, all of these little guys are about the same age.  They are at what I call the “smiley” stage.  When I set up my baby plan I have it for stages more so than ages.  The smiley stage is about 3-4 months old.  These little ones can hold themselves up on their arms, have good head control and smile…but that is about it!  ;-)  We do lots of propping them up on things, in things, next to things.  The other sessions are sitting, crawling and cruising which typically loosely equally 6, 9 and 12 months.

Isn’t that hat just adorable!

Embrace the drool, it happens!  ;-)

It is not often that the older ones will fall asleep for the session, but this little guy was just plumb wore out!  His mom and I were even able to move him several times before he decided to wake up.

This is one of my favorite baby shots of late.  I just love the expression on his little face.

This little one has the most amazing blue eyes!  And he is always so alert and attentive.

He looks so grown up in the chair, and so serious too.

Another absolute favorite.  He is just such a cutie pie!

I am working on a post that will explain the differences in crop ratios.  I have had several clients with questions about how the cropping is done, when it is needed and what to expect.  I thought it would be easiest to just put up a blog post about it.  So be watching for that, should be finished this week sometime.  Also, BIG announcement coming up about some fall mini sessions!  Get your calendars out and be ready to mark off some dates.  I will have very limited availability, but I really want to do some fall family sessions.  Have a great week everyone!

Welcome Aleksander ~ Ames, Iowa Newborn Photographer

Posted on March 30, 2010

As promised, here is another precious little one session!  Alek was such a trooper, and was very cooperative.  He is just a little peanut and I was able to try out one of my props that a larger newborn doesn’t fit into.  It is one of my favorite shots from the day and is included below.  I favored the black and white style for many of these images.  If you are having a baby and would like to schedule your newborn session, now is a great time!  I have a new Little Ones Program that offers a fabulous value on sessions throughout the babies first year.  Please contact me if you are interested in signing up.  Now, for Alek’s images…

I am definitely going to have to get on Etsy again and order another of those little yarn bowls…just a tad bit bigger so it will work for more of the babies.  Alek looks so cute all snuggled up in there!

Welcome Olivia~Des Moines Photographer, Carisa Keeling

Posted on March 18, 2010

Last week I was fortunate enough to do a newborn session for this little beauty.  Olivia is the brand new daughter of my great friends Andy and Kendra.  We have been close for a long time, and to do this session for them was not only an honor, it was a lot of fun.  Little Olivia was probably the most cooperative baby I have worked with yet.  She was also awake way more than expected considering she was only 7 days old.  Andy and Kendra have a great house with lots of natural light, so I got to leave all of my lighting gear in the car (always a good thing).  There is just something about the soft natural light that works really well, especially for newborns.  I hope you enjoy these images from Olivia’s first portrait session.

Next Page »