It inspires me to say the very least.  

Other local photographers inspire me as well.  We all are sort of the same...but we do have our own style. We all run our businesses differently.  But in this crazy world we shoot in...everybody knows or knows of everyone else.  I love networking with other photographers and sharing ideas.  Let's face it...there are more subjects to shoot than photographers.  But the good thing here is when you believe in another person's work...work ethic...and integrity. It doesn't feel like competition at all.  I for one am fortunate to lean on my friends for help. I have referred jobs to them. I have gotten calls to work along side of these talented people at weddings and functions.  

I want to say Thank you to all the pros out there who have lended me a hand...and ear or a piece of advice. Thank you to those who trusted me with their treasured clients and shared your time...talent and ideas. And a special thank you to those rising talents who pick my brain and admire my work. 

xoxoxoxo to my favorite gals...and guy.

Thank you for teaching me to water my lawn instead of climbing the fence. 

Remember that movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise? Love story of sorts...no? O.K. it was about an over achieving bartender who falls in love with a rich girl. Anyway the back story has nothing to do with what I am trying to say here.  

I am in the midst of having a logo created. I have a very talented artist on the job and I am very excited to see the finished product.  I tried to think about what kind of logo would best represent the business I have created...that people would look at and could identify with Kellyanne Adams Photography in turn really just be associating the logo with me...are you following? 

I thought of cute...think butterflies and hearts, I am not warm and fuzzy like that. 

I thought of swirls and a really cool font, too fancy for me.

Then I thought I am a mom a plain old, pony tail wearing...tee shirt and sweats, driving a minivan kinda chick.

When I showed my idea to my incredibly talented artist...he ran with it.  

I would like to present the newest logo in the world of logos...

Cute...huh! I want to thank the very talented Alex Mostovyk for this awesome logo. And as it turns out...swirly font...not that fancy. 

So back to the whole Cocktail thing...Remember his simple neon sign hanging in his bar window?  Cocktails and Dreams...

Having my own business...meeting great people and learning so much everyday is pretty much my Cocktails and Dreams...only in sweat pants and a pony tail. 

The ladies...well. It amazes me how they go all out. Hair. Make-up. Dresses that trump some people's wedding dresses.  

I went to the senior prom in a pink puffy number. It was awful. I loved it. I had to have it. I think it cost like 99 dollars. The dresses the girls had on tonight were in the ball park of $400. 00 and up. 

Next week my daughter is going to her senior prom.  Her dress is expensive...It's at the ball room at the Ben. She and her friends will ride to the prom in a trolley.  It all adds up, believe me. But in the end I think she will have the time of her life.  And to me and her daddy that's all that matters. 

So here's to all prom goers every where. Enjoy your night. dance till your feet hurt and be safe! 

These are the times of your life!!!!

I just read an article about a woman who has a blog and a facebook page and she had a "confession" day. As it turns out, a lot of her followers confessions were about cheating on a spouse and other really non-mom-like things. This woman has a blog about being a stay at home mom and she thought the confessions would be about people getting away from the grocery store with a case of water on the bottom of their shopping carts or admit to letting their kids watch the Simpsons or something. 

So what would you confess if you had the chance? 

No questions asked?

Don't tell me I don't want the burden of knowing anyone's secret...lol

But really...lets get back to people confessing on a facebook blog to a mom who's status are about getting puke stains out of her shirt. It's like desperate housewives! 

So on this very important day, that only comes once a year...

 I just wanted to say that without my two sisters and my two sisters in law , I would be a hot mess. I know that I could call any one of these women and they would come to my rescue...lead a therapy session or make me laugh until I cry. Well,  actually I wouldn't cry...o.k. laugh until I peed my pants. 

Being sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within a family...and as we grow, it's probably the strongest relationship within a family. (clearly we have a lot of growing up to do.) We are not always easy on each other...but that is the way it goes with sisters.  There is competition. There are roles each of us fall into and I want to thank the good Lord above that they allow me to be the messy, creative...fly by the seat of my pants sister, because if any of you acted like this I would be pissed. 

I am so very thankful to have the greatest (FREE) marketing team, assistants and prop creators any gal could ask for in this world. 

Thank you for your endless support...babysitting...picture bitchin'...and staying out of my way when I need that too. 

Soooo...Love to you all and for all of you I am grateful. 

Now go and make your facebook status about me since I have middle child syndrome! 

I am the most content I have ever been in my life.  I just wanted to say "thank you" to all of my clients, cousins, sisters and friends who keep me busy. Thank you for all the referrals and trusting me to preserve your memories.  I can't wait to show you the photos of your family...I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoy taking them.  

I read that  "sometimes things have to fall apart to come together"  It's true...the most fun I have had in a long time, is finding ways to do what I want on my own terms.  

I just wanted to tell you...I AM DOING IT!!!! 

Thank you for your support. 

I jumped on facebook and was looking for information.  Then I remembered my son's best friend...his dad is a firefighter and so is his teacher's brother. In the same station...in the same station where the fire fighters who died came from...still no news. 

I prayed some more. 

Then I thought about a few more families I photograph...the dads are firefighters in the some of the same stations who answered that alarm this morning. 

When I finally saw my cousin posted that her brother was safe...I prayed some more.  I heard that every fire fighter I knew was safe through out the day today.  Still I have this tense feeling in my body.  I just feel sad.  I know what happened doesn't directly affect me.  But I am thankful for those people who make it their business to protect our lives even if it means laying theirs on the line,  no questions asked. 

Before I fall asleep tonight I will say some more prayers for the families of the injured and lost. I will pray for the firefighters who grieve for their brothers, I will pray for the souls who went to heaven today and I will pray that more people do what they want today, because there are only so many tomorrows. 

2. Wanna meet up?...Invite.

3. Wanna be understood?...Explain yourself. 

4. Have a question? ...Ask.

5. Don't like something? ...Say it!

6 Like something?...State it.

7. Want something?... ask for it.

8. Love something?....tell it. 

Keeping it simple tonight. Hopefully I can follow these...they seem easy enough, but when I read these I thought about that episode of Friends where Chandler and Monica are together and everyone knows but Ross but Monica and Chandler only think Joey knows...and then whole misunderstanding occurs and Pheobe tries to seduce Chandler but he can't kiss her because he loves Monica. oh and Monica and Chandler knows they know, but doesn't want them to know they know. Funny as hell. But in real life this would be insane and probably not as funny.  

I am going to try to make a conscience effort to follow these pieces of advice I found today. And if you want to try out # 4  give me a shout out! 

I hope every one had a nice Easter...Love to you all! (#8...yeah baby!!)

I was watching the movie, The Blind Side I like the part where the father in the movie compares both his wife and his adopted son to an onion.  He says “HE/She is like an onion…you have to peel them back one layer at a time.”  So it gets me thinking, we all have these layers...including myself.  And since this blog is about me, I was thinking about how many layers it takes to get to the heart of me. 

So I am sharing my layers…kind of a getting to know me through a root vegetable.

I am somebody’s child…although my parents have passed they are the very first people who made me who I am today. I think I get my creativity from my mother and I keep to myself…my father was like that. \Not in an anti-social kind of way but more in an afraid to be exposed kind of way...hence this blog.  Facebook status's aside...I go deeper than hating darts, my friends. 

I am Big Jim's  wife.  It’s one of my favorite layers of all.  We have been together for a long time…more than half our lives.   I still get gitty when he is about to come home. I nag him likes it’s my job and I love him like there is no tomorrow.  Some days are not easy and we have seen some sad times. But at the end of the day if I am creeping over to his side of the bed and asking if he “missed me today” and he answers “ I miss you every day”  then nothing else matters. 

I am a mom.  It's hard work. Expensive. It is the most rewarding thing I have had to date.  Each one of my brilliant and beautiful children are different.  I sometimes get overwhelmed being a parent.(God's honest truth!)  I guess it's normal to feel that way.(what is normal anyway?)  Things my kids do amaze me, gross me out and make me laugh!  And it just so happens,  I actually have that kid my mother warned me about. This layer is a little haggard and sleep deprived. 

I am an artist...it's really the most difficult layer which I can identify.  Why? When I think of artist I think of famous people, especially photographers.  I am no Annie Liebowitz or Anne Geddes or Anita Gooden  I am Kellyanne Adams.  I admire these people. I dream of someone looking at my photos and saying..."oh that is a Kellyanne Adams...I love her work." These women are passionate...dedicated...famous for crying out loud. 

I am a believer...I believe my parents would be proud of what I become. I believe I can look into my husband's eyes and know he thinks I can do anything and he is there to push me when it gets too hard.  I do believe my kids think that iI have a cool job and as long as there is dinner on the table it's all good.  And I may never become a household name all over the world, but I do believe that this artist's work has been seen in more places than I will ever know...THANKS FACEBOOK! Ha!  

and by the way...every time I think about comparing something to an onion I immediately think of a blooming onion from the outback steakhouse, because they are yummy and warm and creative...oh and breaded and deep fried.  The other onions are just smelly and make you cry. 

It's still a job...I still have to research and learn and put money out for props and equipment. I still have to have patience with a hyper kid or a fussy baby who's mommy is running on 2 hours of sleep and she has puke on her shirt and is trying to hold it together while I am in her house with laundry screaming at her from the basement.  But I could care less about the house, I'm a mom too...your baby isn't the only baby who ever cried for no reason and the only thing I care about is getting that one shot that makes you smile.  

Every click of the camera teaches me.  I hone my technical skills. I grow socially.  I learn to adapt to my environment.  and I get paid to do all of these things.  It's an awesome gig...and sometimes I think I need a little pinch to get back to reality.  But the greatest thing is....this is reality and it's all mine.  

So if I ever have had the privilege of taking photos for you, THANK YOU! It was fun for me and l learned a lot from you. And in that time we we are together...I was loving the ones I was with! 

I for one do not allow play doh in my home.  In fact,  I am pretty sure 2 of my 3 kids have never even touched play doh.  I know totally     un-American, right?  But I can't help myself...I hate the smell of Play Doh.

I also have a personal rule to not say something unless  I truly believe I am right.

1.  You can't take back words

2. I like to be right. 

Today, I came across these...

Rules for a creator:

1. Do more than what your are expected to do. 

2. Try new things

3. Teach others about what you know.

4. Make work into play.

5. Take breaks

6. Work when others are resting.

7. Always be creating.

8. Make your own inspiration. 

9. Love what you do or leave. 

9 good pieces of advice...that's a great start.  However, here I sit and I am thinking...#1 tells me to do more...so i want to add a few more rules to make it personal for me.  Which of course puts #7 into play and if someone happens upon this, than I am already doing #3.  

All kidding aside, my #10 would be : Try to make a friend at every job.  Then you would definitely want to do # 1...# 2 would not be hard to do with a friend believing you can.  It doesn't seem like work at all when I see my friends...bang#4...DONE! 

I would add a # 11 and it would be: Don't let someone make you think that you can't, when you are already doing it!

So this Blog is dedicated to all the people who believe I can...I thank you...and I will. JUST FOR YOU!  

Is there anything better in the world than dreaming? One of my friends tells me, whenever he drives past the Mega millions billboard on 95 he thinks about all the things he would do if he hit the lottery. (O.K. Winning the lottery is more of a pipe dream then an attainable dream, but it passes the time.)  Dreaming is healthy. It helps us attain our goals…to strive to outdo ourselves…overcome mediocrity.  We teach our children that they can be or do anything they set their minds to…but as we get older we sometimes stop dreaming ourselves.  My goal is to never stop dreaming…I never want to stand still because something or someone is in my way.

In my dreams I have my own studio painted bright colors and comfy couches.  There would be a large window with sunlight that pours in and gives natural light.  In my dreams photos of my babies, brides, beach buddies and families would hang from my walls.  But for now I will go down the road set out before me smiling the whole way. (Even if it’s in a minivan packed with props) I am on my way!

What’s your dream? (I know…I know, it’s a “Pretty Woman” reference, but share anyway!)

Not all assignments I take on are joyful. There are the phone calls I receive that send my mind in to overdrive. I was always taught to do what you can for others and time is the perfect gift to give when you can’t do anything else. Some situations are so heart wrenching that I have to do everything I can to keep my composure and work through what’s happening. It’s not easy to see Parents grieve a stillborn child, to feel the heaviness in the room and the desperate looks on their faces.

For me there is also beauty in sorrow…I have photographed some very special people who were taken from this world too soon.  Photographing families with a sick child or parent may not sound like a perfect way to spend your afternoon.  But it is…for one precious hour or two, everyone is perfect and everything is normal.

Yesterday was World Autism Day...Several of my littlest clients have Autism.  Although there are challenges that come along with photographing kids with Autism like knowing I need to hit the gym to keep up with their energy and remembering they are running the photo shoot...not me.  I just want to say "thank you" to all the awesome parents out there who invite me in to their lives and let me make memories with your families.  

If you are ever interested in donating to a charity....check out the following:

http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

http://www.facebook.com/events/349208251790171/ - $50,000 for Joey's 50th

http://www.autismspeaks.org/

          As a photographer I have the ability to make things beautiful and perfect…even when they are not.  I have a front row seat to the most important moments in people’s lives.  I am a memory maker…I preserve innocence…I stop time.

I didn’t always want to be a professional photographer. The first camera I received was a gift from my husband. His intention…or so I thought was to buy me a big camera with professional lenses and I would chase our children around snapping photos. His real motive to this investment was that if I was photographing our children I would stay out of the mall portrait studios and stop spending hundreds of dollars a year.  Well he was right about not having to go to the mall but oh so wrong about the spending money part. Little did he know he opened a door to a very expensive hobby.

I loved learning about the camera. I begged local photographers to let me watch what them in action, I picked the brain of my son’s preschool teacher and brought her samples of my “work”. After all she is an award winning photographer and if she thought I had potential then I was on the right track!  I began to take classes at a local art school.  There I was in the heart of South Philly, mediocre old me among (and by mediocre I mean mother of three, minivan driving, knowing the dinner dishes were home waiting for me) the free spirited and privileged.

I fell in love with the instructor’s stories of traveling the world and shooting assignments for National Geographic. As instructed we had to shoot photos of our surroundings every week and bring them to class to be critiqued. While most of my classmates used the city as a subject I was subjected to only shooting my children and my family's and friend’s children.

 One week my children were “unavailable” to be photographed so I bribed my twin nieces.  I took them to a park and asked them to act natural. Their idea of natural was to argue about who was getting more pictures taken. Finally they took a seat on the curb and I was scolding them for fighting and told them that they needed to understand that they are sisters and to give each other a hug.  Neither would budge and I told them that we were not leaving the park until they apologized. I walked away from them to shoot some trees and pretended not to pay attention to them. As I turned to check on them I noticed that they were engaged in a conversation and began to snap photos of them without them knowing. Then out of nowhere they must have solved the issue and hugged one another. As I called their names to tell them how proud I was that they worked it out on their own, they just stared at me still locked in each other’s arms. Right then and there one of my favorite photos was born.

I went to class that week with some tree photos and the one of the girls, when it was my turn to display my work to the class I cringed at the  thought of boring the instructor with yet another children’s portrait and a couple of trees from Penny Pack Park. He came from the back of the room and asked me about the photo of the girls.  What was the situation concerning this photo? Why are they not smiling? I explained the situation and he was real quiet. I thought this is it…he is going to bury me right in front of the whole class.  But he didn’t, he told me that I took a moment of chaos and controlled the situation. I was able to find the beauty in a situation that was not ideal as far as children’s portraits are concerned. 

That teacher in that class was a turning point in my quest to improve my interest in photography.  I went on to take more classes. I learned that composition is totally different than the cookie cutter images displayed in mall portrait studios. The ability to capture an image or subject for what they are is a beautiful thing. Anyone can manipulate a situation but there is nothing like having a situation that manipulates you!

One day my phone rings and there is a young man on the other end, he sounds no older than my daughter. He explains that he is getting married in the park to the love of his life…he is 19 she is 18. I listen closely to their story and how he acquired my phone number.  Then he drops the bomb. “We want to know if you will photograph our wedding”. I nearly drop the phone and tell him that I have never photographed a wedding, I am a low budget children’s photographer. I tell him that he was misled and I will make sure I kill my friend that recommended my services. He then proceeds to plead with me, he says he has never gotten married before and so we can try this out together. IS HE CRAZY? I tell him I would not even know what to charge. He says he will tell me what he can afford. I tell him this is his wedding day I have no wedding experience. He still doesn’t care! Finally after us debating back and forth I give in, I take on my first wedding.  IT WAS AWESOME! I never felt so much freedom. And since we were both new at our tasks at hand we helped each other.  Then and there…I fell in love with weddings. How could I never want to be part of capturing one of the most important events in a person’s life?