ESSENTIAL IMAGERY, Philadelphia photographer http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog Feisty photography for the whole family. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:05:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.essentialimagery.com/bloghttp://www.essentialimagery.com/images/feedburnerheart.jpgEssential Imagery Blogessentialimagerybloghttp://feedburner.google.com SOAR. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/Zj1m2Mx25KU/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/kids/soar/#comments Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:05:55 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3405 “Refuse to be average. Let your heart soar as high as it will.”
– A. W. Tozer

]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/kids/soar/feed/ 1 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/kids/soar/ THE DIVA. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/YDGorbaz4To/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/dogs/the-diva/#comments Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:49:38 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3394 Sometimes Hermione demands that I take her picture.  This time, she wanted a House Beautiful shoot in which she looks casually posed and carefree.  (Note the carefully de-fluffed pillows that give that lived-in feel.)

She’s also decided she prefers film to digital, so this was shot with film I picked up from the drugstore after her plans were revealed.

Hermione made me vacuum to set up for this shot but didn’t want to let me show it off.  I’m typing this while she sleeps on the couch, oblivious, and will deal with the consequences later.

]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/dogs/the-diva/feed/ 0 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/dogs/the-diva/ BACK HOME http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/UKkR5PVbPQw/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/back-home/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:35:51 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3334 My friend Sue is collecting eggs from her lovely chickens.  Even though it’s her birthday, and even though there are plenty of volunteers for this work.  She’s quite a wily woman at age 89, and I hope to be moving as quickly as she does in 60 years.  Happy Birthday, Sue!

]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/back-home/feed/ 0 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/back-home/ BLUE HORSE BOUTIQUE HELPS YOU SHOP FOR THE SHORE http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/SQ51Tlvx1V8/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/blue-horse-boutique-shopping-for-shore-home/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:19:12 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3384 As you savor the last weeks of summer, you’ll be spending every possible minute at the shore.  Here’s what you need for the beach house from Courtney, manager of the Blue Horse Boutique, to have the perfect Labor Day Weekend.  The Blue Horse Boutique sells fun, fabulous, and perfectly-priced products, so pop into the boutique at 118 East Lancaster Avenue in Wayne.  (Stop by the loft and say hello while you’re there!)

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Yes, I am my own best customer! I was recently at our shore house and it seemed like everywhere I turned I was looking at or using something from the Blue Horse Boutique! These are of course, things I have acquired over the years, but it was pretty funny. The buyer for the Blue Horse Boutique definitely has fabulous taste.

It starts with my Toss Weekender bag – I love it (and so does Oprah, by the way) it’s covered in vinyl so I can put it in a puddle and my belongings will stay dry – not to mention it is huge! I can pack for a whole week in this bag. I also have my bikini bag (although my bikini days are long gone) lined in vinyl, and perfect for the trip home. My Henry Brown cosmetic case is handy as well, it is lined in vinyl, large and has pockets for all my bottles of lotions and potions.

My kitchen is jam-packed full of Blue Horse wares, from my crab shaped bottle opener (so cute we have to hide it from our renters) to my Fred Ice Kabob trays – perfect for the afternoon cocktail. I also have my Vapur bottle which I fill with water (or vodka lemonade), freeze and take to the beach. It stays nice and cold all day, or for as long as it lasts. On the floor, I have my machine washable Bungalow rug that looks like a photo of seashells (very cool) and great to stand on while cleaning up. At some point of the weekend, I’ll whip up some Village Gourmet dip. It not only tastes great, but easy to make, organic and comes in many flavors to choose from. My personal favorite is the Cheddar Onion. This is, of course, one of the many reasons I no longer have that bikini body – the one I like to pretend I had in the first place.

We burn our Woodwick candles in the house (they fill the entire room with their fabulous scents), our Lamp Berger at night to keep the bugs away, and my Cotton Flower Woodwick block diffuser stays in my powder room to keep it smelling fresh while the house in not in use.

Speaking of the powder room, you have to have Loo-Pourri handy, especially when you have guests! And my Danielle travel kit – everything I need for a weekend anywhere – soap, shampoo, lotions – all organic and in a TSA approved package – great for the airplane ride ladies and gentlemen! I also have my JAO hand sanitizer, facial moisturizer and lotion – I am addicted! The entire line is great and locally made!

My latest favorite items are by Glam! Key finders are the best things ever! I never have to dig in my purse (aka: trash can) for my keys again. Love That!! I also love my pocket Manicure set. I always have scissors, tweezers, and clippers with me in a cute, compact case. I gotta tell you, it is soooo convenient. I use it ALL THE TIME! This is just the tip-of-the-iceberg…I have lots of other items too, glasses, handbags, jewelry, jewelry, jewelry…no time though. I’ll have to save that for another day.

]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/blue-horse-boutique-shopping-for-shore-home/feed/ 0 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/blue-horse-boutique-shopping-for-shore-home/ HOW GORGEOUS ARE THEY, TOGETHER? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/2lq5ylE-464/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/families/father-daughter-portraits/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:57:46 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3372 They love each other to the moon and back. And it’s obvious.
]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/families/father-daughter-portraits/feed/ 2 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/families/father-daughter-portraits/ A SUREFIRE WAY TO GET KRISTEN TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, EEPING WITH JOY. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/Lj9CPORSMMU/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/a-surefire-way-to-get-kristen-to-pull-over-to-the-side-of-the-road-eeping-with-joy/#comments Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:03:22 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3344
]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/a-surefire-way-to-get-kristen-to-pull-over-to-the-side-of-the-road-eeping-with-joy/feed/ 1 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/a-surefire-way-to-get-kristen-to-pull-over-to-the-side-of-the-road-eeping-with-joy/ READY TO ROCK AND ROLL http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/hTJLTTEcT2k/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/gossip/ready-to-rock-and-roll/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:58:27 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3328 We’re back from vacation and ready to rock!  Images of Europe will be coming soon — and I’ll wrangle some touristy Hawaiian photos out of Haunani, too.  We’re booking back-to-school/fall/holiday goodness now through the end of November right this second, so don’t put off your portrait planning any longer!

]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/gossip/ready-to-rock-and-roll/feed/ 0 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/gossip/ready-to-rock-and-roll/ ROCKING THE POINT AND SHOOT http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/KT3TR8n3CBI/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/best-point-and-shoot-camera/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:38:23 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3301

Before leaving for Europe, I wanted to purchase a point and shoot camera.  I searched high and low to find the perfect camera for my needs:  great lens, high ISO (sensitivity to light), small, lightweight, and a reasonable investment.  ($100 = it will break tomorrow, $700 = I could have just purchased something nifty for my arsenal of pro gear.)

The camera that meets those requirements?  The Panasonic DMC-LX3.  It’s just-under-$400 price tag means it was perfect for my budget, and it’s rocking a Leica 24mm lens.  Whether you’re a hobbyist or a pro, you should know Leica.  And ogle Leica regularly.

In field tests, photographers’ spouses prefer the LX3 two to one over trying to focus SLR cameras with toggling focus points.  The LX3 takes high-quality pictures without any sort of manual input on the user’s part.  It takes panoramic photos (see Big Kitty modeling this feature above) and has tons of tweakable features to keep the kid in me who likes to tinker with cameras from getting bored.

If you need a point and shoot, or just a break from that big ol’ camera weighing in at 5 pounds over there — grab yourself an LX3.

]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/best-point-and-shoot-camera/feed/ 0 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/good-stuff/best-point-and-shoot-camera/ REACHING. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/TNU3sqBpGNI/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/film/35-mm-analog-photography/#comments Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:45:33 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3323
]]> http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/film/35-mm-analog-photography/feed/ 1 http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/film/35-mm-analog-photography/ AT GRANDMA’S HOUSE http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/essentialimageryblog/~3/BdHBPOfo5Jk/ http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/dogs/at-grandmas-house/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:39:15 +0000 Kristen http://www.essentialimagery.com/blog/?p=3318 Hermione has been chillin’ at her Grandma’s house while Matt and I are in Europe.  She will no doubt return to us demanding organic satin sheet sets, peanut butter dog treats by the pound, and relaxing massages before bedtime.

Spoiled.  Rotten.

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