Valentine's Day Gifts for Him

This is a very late post, but if you're like me, you've put off your Valentine's Day gift hunting!!  I've perused a few other blogs and scanned the internet to try to come up with a list of gifts for the "Him" in your life for Valentine's Day!!

I'd love to hear your best and worst Valentine's gifts ever!  Just post them in the Comments section.  ;-)

1.  Rent his favorite car for the day...don't forget the rental insurance!

2.   Glow-in-the-Dark Corn Hole

3.  Beer of the Month Club!

4.  Red Neck Wine Glass - DIY - glue a candle holder to a Ball Jar...and voila!

5. Premium Poker Set

6.  For you married folks - a print to make him seriously LOL!!

7.  T-Shirt of the Month Club

8.  Hot Rod Heated Travel Mug

9.  Licensed NFL Grill Cover

10.  A pocket knife

Dad's 60th Birthday!!!

Whoo!!!  It sure has been awhile.  I don't know about you, but the holidays were crazy and life hasn't really slowed down for me since then.

Before I update more katiejames images and news, I need to tell you about my last week.  My dad turned 60 and he, my mom, and some of their friends all met in Nashville to celebrate him.  My house was homebase, and we all really had a blast.

I recently joined Pinterest (I stayed away for a long time, but just couldn't resist the temptation anymore) and found the most amazing idea....so I stole it.  I contacted (with Mom's help) a bunch of Dad's friends and acquaintances from his high school days through today.  I told them that I was putting together "60 Years of Memories" for Dad, and I'd love their recollections.

It turned out awesome, and it was such a fun surprise and gift for Dad!!  I think I enjoyed reading the memories as they came in as much as Dad did.

My Dad is one of the most amazing men I have had the pleasure of knowing.  As we became adults, he  mastered the art of transforming into our friend and not just our parent.  He is full of fun, integrity, honesty, and he has been a living example all my life of the love of Christ.  I love you, Dad!!

Jerry Ghionis Workshop

Hola de Buenos Aires, Argentina!!

It's been awhile, since I've posted on here, but I'm back at it.  I spent last week attending an absolutely phenomenal workshop with the very talented wedding photographer Jerry Ghionis. 

It was eye-opening, emotionally and physically exhausting, amazing, exhilarating, awe-inspiring, intimidating, humbling, and encouraging all at the same time.  I'm sure I could think of a lot more adjectives to describe the experience, but I'll stop with those.  ;-)

I thought I'd show you a few of the photos I took on day 2 of the workshop.  These photos were taken in the Gold Coast of Chicago, and the models are an amazing couple from Mexico City, Mexico.  Hopefully you'll notice a few things done a little differently in these images!!  ;-)

My favorite Iphone images...

Several months ago, I jumped on the Iphone bandwagon.  It was with a lot of thought and consideration, and overall, I'm thrilled I did it!!  It takes some pretty good photographs...thought I'd share with you my favorites so far (for most of them, I used a free app called Instagram, and I LOVE it!!!)

www.katiejamesphoto.com

My Miss Clara

Miss Clara is the daughter of my bestest friend, Kimberly Heavey.  I don't get to see her near as often as I'd like, and when I do, I'm always shooting pics of her - she's just too cute!  Hopefully she knows who I am even withOUT a camera around my neck or at my eye!!  She is about to become a big sister in May, and I know I can't wait to meet her little brother.  I'm sure she's even more excited than I am!!

So, this may be the last time you see a bunch of pics of Clara without her little brother in tow.  ;-)

Playing with Grandpa's glasses

Bathtime!

Clara's little friend who met us at the train restaurant - so cute!

Love that 2-year old camera smile!!!

mmm...cupcake!  how do we eat this?

Oh!  That's how!!

What are you doing this weekend??

I'm heading to Atlanta, GA for a dog show!!  Those of you that know me may think this is a bit odd, but my husband has started showing our whippets.  It's actually a pretty fun experience, though aspects of it are scarily like the movie Best In Show.  ;-)

Here are a few pics from the last dog show we went to.  I need a little more practice at shooting like this - for some reason, a wedding reception is much easier for me! - next time I'll rent the right lens so I can get some awesome shots.

If you are going to be in Atlanta this weekend, give me a call!