I decided on a whim to nab the kids and head outside, before playing in the newly fallen snow, to take a few pictures of them. I find myself not taking as many portraits of them lately… which is something I’m trying to do more of this year.

I took some time the next day to poke around our property line where we have an old rock wall and barbed wire fence… I’ve seen some wonderful photography friends of mine use freelensing and I’ve been intrigued by it. I decided to try it out on the rock wall and see where I got. I have much more practicing to do with it, but it was a fun first attempt I figured I’d still share my less than perfect photos. I do love the dreamy effect that freelensing gives. (the second and third image below were done with freelensing… the fourth the lens was reattached to give a comparison of freelensing vs lens attached)

“Michelle Kersey is a Portrait Photographer. Her work is quickly becoming recognized as some of the most creative photography in Louisville, KY. You can read the original blog post here Winter!.”

“Michelle Kersey is a Portrait Photographer. Her work is quickly becoming recognized as some of the most creative photography in Louisville, KY. You can read the original blog post here Empty Nest.”

This year has been such a blessing. Last year, I started back on a passion that has been within me for longer than I can recall. Photography has always been a part of my life. My parents took many photos during my childhood and I truly started my photography journey to take better pictures of my kids… and then I got on a train that just took off. I have dedicated myself for quite some time to learning all that I can. Many, many late nights on the computer learning. Many hours behind my camera practicing. I have so much more to learn and so many goals I wish to accomplish next year. I hope to keep improving and growing as much as I have in the past year.

I’d like to give a big “Thank you” to all of you that have entrusted me to document moments in your life in 2011. I hope to see you again in front of my camera next year!

So, without further adieu, here are some of my favorite images from 2011. I hope to photograph you and yours in 2012! Have a Happy New Year!

“Michelle Kersey is a Portrait Photographer. Her work is quickly becoming recognized as some of the most creative photography in Louisville, KY. You can read the original blog post here 2011 In Photographs.”

First of all, there are the “typical” places you hear about. The southernmost point in the US is usually #1. There’s also Hemingways house, which we strolled past, but they had closed for the day. I did see an “Alley Cat” at one point which might even be one of Hemingways famous 6toed cats. Then there’s Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville and all the cute little shops on Duval Street. (Which also have hilarious signs…)

Here are some other things you don’t want to miss out on:

The nightly Arts Festival at Mallory Square. The sunsets are beautiful and it’s a really fun time. There are people juggling fire, dogs doing tricks, people camouflaged and popping out to scare you… It’s fun.

There’s a little hammock shop that is pretty self explanatory… it’s nice… typical Key West… “Chill”… and an awesome place to stop on Duval street when your dogs are barking.

A little place called the “Tree Bar” has an AMAZING Key Lime Colada. So amazing, I took a picture. So amazing, I debated on making my sweat drenched husband walk back to get one for himself… but I’m nice and shared… a little.

There’s a beautiful church (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church) on Duval Street… there are no other words than it’s just beautiful, especially with the sunset hitting the steeple.

Now, I’m going to let you in on my personal little secret. I’m very serious. Pay close attention now. There is a restaurant, tucked away on Duval Street called “New York Pizza Cafe” (Or New York Pasta Garden, oddly, I’ve seen both names). You MUST go to it. Seriously. Seriously, Seriously. You can thank me later. Best Italian food I’ve ever had… and I’ve been to Europe. Seriously. I don’t think you’re getting it. My husband got a little taste of this place on our honeymoon, but our meal was cut short since the cruise was about to leave without us. For SIX years, my husband has been talking about going back to this restaurant to “finish” his meal. Funny enough, even when we finally got to sit down and eat, the portions are so large, he literally couldn’t finish his meal. It’s pictured below, and each “half” of the Stromboli is larger than his hand. Moral of the story: This place is ROCKIN’! And don’t even get me started on the staff and atmosphere. This place is a 5star restaurant in my book. One of my favorite things though, aside from the DELISH food, is being able to see parrots up close and personal. The Owners, and even a waiter, will bring in their parrots. Our waiter that day brought his bird in, and let us pet him and my son even got to hold him. So cool for a Kentucky girl like me.

The Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is enchanting. You literally feel like you’re in another world with beautiful delicate butterflies flying around you, landing on you. It’s literally a fairytale and very magical.

Oh yes, and you mustn’t leave before getting a slice of full key lime pie from the Key Lime Pie Factory. Wowzers.

And before I forget… our accommodations for one night… The Truman Hotel. It was beautiful, tranquil, and in a great central location. The pool was the perfect temperature and the included breakfast was good enough to get you pepped up for more walking. (At which point your husband looks at you with daggers for being so peppy in the morning… which I must add, the pictures of our daughter on the lounger, he hadn’t seen until last night because he still in bed sleeping.)

Oh, and these last few photos aren’t in Key West… But, a few hours North where we were staying for most of the trip.

Hope you enjoyed hearing about my little vacation as much as I enjoyed taking it.

“Michelle Kersey is a Portrait Photographer. Her work is quickly becoming recognized as some of the most creative photography in Louisville, KY. You can read the original blog post here Kentucky Photographer in Key West.”

So, for my family, my friends… for the roughly 3,000,000,000 women on this Earth that deserve to have better odds…  I’m going to offer a shop discount to you. Then, I will give all the profits from my Etsy shop in October to Breast Cancer research. Research that is necessary to help future generations.

There are plenty of “Pink” items for sale! If you see something on my website: www.michellekphoto.com or my facebook page www.facebook.com/michellekphoto that you would like to have made into a print, canvas, or note card, let me know and I’ll create a custom Etsy Listing for you.

Use SAVETHETATAS2011 to receive 10%off your purchase in my Etsy shop this month.

“Michelle Kersey is a Portrait Photographer. Her work is quickly becoming recognized as some of the most creative photography in Louisville, KY. You can read the original blog post here “Save the Ta-Tas” {Breast Cancer Awareness}.”

Here’s her comment below:

“Michelle Kersey is a Portrait Photographer. Her work is quickly becoming recognized as some of the most creative photography in Louisville, KY. You can read the original blog post here Winner of the Giveaway!.”

Take a look around your house. Is there a place that could use a little life? A bare wall that could use some colorful artwork? A really cheap poster that is past it’s prime? I’m here to offer you the chance for a free 12×18 standout print!  What’s a standout you ask? In a nutshell, it’s a print that is mounted and ready to hang on the wall, without a frame, the moment it arrives! The winner will get to pick the image of their choice from the album titled “Giveaway!” on my facebook page. Prize valued at $160.

Here’s the rules… you must:

1.) Like Michelle Kersey Photography on Facebook

2.) Check out the album of photos titled “Giveaway!” and leave a little love on your favorite photo.

3.) Come back here and comment that you liked the page, brownie points if you share which photo you like, and where you would hang it!

Only one comment per person, be sure to leave a valid e-mail so I can contact you if you win. E-mail addresses will not be published.

Want an extra entry? Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook and link back to my facebook page www.facebook.com/michellekphoto Come back here and post a second comment saying you shared on Facebook!

Only comments on this post will count as an entry. You may need to click on the title to see the comment field. Comments require moderation, so be patient if your comment doesn’t post immediately. Contact me with any questions: Michelle@MichelleKPhoto.com

Open to all of the Continental US.

Winner will be chosen randomly July 22, 2011 12am and announced on my blog!

“Michelle Kersey is a Portrait Photographer. Her work is quickly becoming recognized as some of the most creative photography in Louisville, KY. You can read the original blog post here Giveaway!.”

Well, today I set up my studio for a session tomorrow and I decided it was finally time for a new family portrait. My last one was taken when my daughter was around a month old…. She’ll be 1 Saturday. (Whoa.) While my husband complained about doing the pictures this instant (what man wouldn’t) I persuaded forced him to do it.

I started going from closet to closet trying to find something. All the while yelling speaking loudly to my husband to get off the Xbox 360 and come help. (Do you think he turned off the game? Of course not… Men.)

Here’s how the hunt for a coordinating, but not totally matching, outfits went down:

My son’s wardrobe is pretty limited, he wears pajamas all day and play clothes when we’re out. But, I had just found a pair of plaid shorts from last year that would still fit him. Oh wait… the only matching shirt (also from last year) is way too short. So, I kept searching through his closet, and I found a couple polo’s. There was a green one I liked, so I took it and went to my daughters dresser. Crud. There was nothing that looked good with it. Then, like the shining sun, I saw my daughters bright yellow capris! Score! I just saw a yellow and white striped polo in my sons closet! Add the only “nice” shorts my son has (Khaki) and a white top for my daughter and they’re done!

Whew! Now I have to find something in MY closet to match… yikes. I went through my husbands side first. He only wears khakis, so that was a no brainer. Seriously, the man does not own a pair of jeans owns one pair of jeans that were a gift and never wears them. So, I thew them at him while he was still paying the Xbox 360 and told him to put them on. He was still in disbelief that I was going to force him to quit playing a game to take some family pictures.

So, here’s the even “funnier” stuff… so, the kids are wearing yellow and white. Do you think my husband owns a yellow shirt? Surprisingly there was one in his closet… circa 1998. No kidding. And, the kicker, it was actually my sisters. No, she’s not as big as a man, that was sadly the style back then… to wear a mans polo much larger than you need.  *shakes head* what were we thinking? So, I threw that at him and went to my side.

OK, remember the whole “I don’t have anything to wear moment”… insert that here ____

I’m looking and looking through my pitiful amount of clothes. (Seriously, how does my husband have MORE clothes than me?) Well, I remembered I had just bought a couple tee-shirts from target, two of them where yellow. I got one off the hanger, looked at it and went “What am I thinking?! Everyone is wearing a polo or something nice, this won’t coordinate. ” Then it hit me… hidden in a JCPenney’s bag… in the back of the closet… was a brand new white eyelet dress. (Thanks Mom!) I hadn’t worn it yet, but I fell in love when I saw it and had always wanted a dress like that. (Can I give another thanks to my mom? She bought it for me… THANKS MOM!)

So… there you have it in a not so small nutshell. Oh, and least I forget… footwear… when in doubt… go barefoot. Kids feet are too cute to hide behind shoes. As you can see… it IS possible to have a cute, coordinating family without buying a single thing. If I can do it, you can too! Seriously.

What have we learned today?

• Start with the person that has the least amount of options and work your way through the family.
• Don’t match. Coordinate.
• Pick one main color (White) one neutral (Khaki) and one pop of color (Yellow)
• Show your personalities (yes, my sister’s polo is kind of my husband personality, he lives in polos and tees… just never wore that one)
• Go barefoot

“Michelle Kersey is a Portrait Photographer. Her work is quickly becoming recognized as some of the most creative photography in Louisville, KY. You can read the original blog post here What should we wear?.”