by Kimberly | Sep 4, 2015 | Coffee with..., creatives, north carolina
Each month I love to introduce you to creatives so you can get to know them, know their work, and continue to build community in this social media world we now live in. Today, I’m featuring Jenna Diprima who owns her photography business based out of a small, wonderful little town near the Triad in North Carolina, Mebane. We met because of my bestie and turns out that I go to church with some of her family. Small world. I actually had a chance to sit down with her for some coffee as I was passing through back in March, but with two toddlers, even when you venture to a playground, it can be difficult to carry on continuous conversation. Enjoy getting to know Jenna. Jenna – thank you for sharing some of your life and photography with us!
I did get the chance to sit down with you for coffee, but can you tell everyone else what is in your coffee cup?
My favorite thing to drink in the mornings is black coffee from a french press.
Most mornings I end up with coffee from my coffee maker though
because let’s be real, most mornings are rushed. 🙂
Why photography?
I have always loved photography. Ever since I was a little girl,
I’ve usually been the one taking pictures at family events and when I’m with friends.
I’ve also always loved fashion, design, and other visual art forms.
I got my first DSLR about 6 years ago and as friends and family began asking me
to take pictures for them,
I realized how much I loved photography and
that I wanted to make it more than just a hobby.
How does your belief in God play a role in your photography?
My belief in God plays into my role as a photographer in many ways.
First, I believe God created all things and He wants us to delight in the beauty
we find in the world and thank Him as the Giver of all good things.
Second, I believe God has blessed me with the gift of photography
and I should use it to love and serve others.
I want to go above and beyond to serve every client and to love them as Christ has loved me.
I also work hard to do the best I possibly can at every shoot and every wedding because,
ultimately, I am working as unto the Lord, and I want to glorify Him with my work!
How’d you get started photographing weddings?
I began second shooting for weddings a few years ago
and I realized how much I love it! I love working with couples
and I love capturing such a significant and happy day in their lives.
I also love the details and the beauty that goes into weddings.
You live in a small town. What’s the best perk to living in a small town?
I live in Mebane, NC.
I love living somewhere where you almost always
run into someone you know! I love the sense of community that small towns have.
I’ve actually always been more drawn to bigger cities.
But I love that Mebane is central to so many big cities (it’s less than 30 minutes from
Greensboro, Chapel Hill, and Durham).
How do you balance being a wife and a photographer?
Great question!
Balance is always something I’m striving for and something
I often feel like I’m struggling to achieve!
Specifically as it relates to marriage,
I try to make sure that my husband and I have at least one day or one evening
where we’re spending quality time together. As a wedding photographer,
I’m often away on nights and weekends and so I try to be careful not to
schedule too many nights or weekends back to back
so that we can have quality time together each week. In addition,
I’m trying to train my husband to become a second shooter for me!
I think shooting together would be so much fun and would be great for our marriage!
If you could photograph a wedding anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I would photograph a wedding in London or Oxford.
I studied abroad in London and that city holds a very special place in my heart.
I love the architecture, the history, and the beauty found in that city.
Shooting a wedding there would be a dream!
by Kimberly | Sep 3, 2015 | creatives, kcreatives photography, photo shoot
I’m encouraged to be a part of Pursuit Community ATL, a city group of Pursuit Community, which is a group of ladies who love Jesus, community and creative ventures. In August, on a misty rainy day, I drove up to the Alpharetta area and pulled into this breathtaking sweet venue tucked by some water and greenways. Little River Farms is a sublime venue for an indoor or outdoor wedding – the grounds are just as pretty as the light, window-filled place that sits on the land. Sweet Luisa and her husband had just celebrated their one year anniversary. Such a treat to shoot this couple. They make shooting weddings easy!
Since this was a styled shoot, we had the best of the best wedding vendors from around the ATL metro area
Florist: Kim McNaron from Holland Daze
Furniture and Detail Decor: Cindy Brock from Miss Milly’s
Venue: Jennifer Ivey, owner of Little River Farms
Cake: Carissa Hobbs from Cakes by Carissa
Model: Luisa Hammett of Peaches to Pearls
Table Settings: Vanessa Gilbreath of Vintage English Teacup
Party Stylist/Food Decor: Lisa Formaro from The Sweet Trend
Hair stylist/Make-Up Artist: Robin Johnsen from Robin and Roux
Wedding Invites and Paper: Bailey Wilson of Bailey Wilson Designs
All photographs are by kcreatives
So thankful to have been a part of this learning experience but also so glad to capture beauty in the making.
by Kimberly | Aug 21, 2015 | Bible, Coffee with..., creatives, flowers, illustrated faith, kcreatives photography, photo shoot
Watching people who are really great at what they do do what they do – it excites me! And I want to introduce you to one of those people.
Lindsey Hohman. I met Lindsey while we were both getting pedicures at a spa night hosted by her sister-in-law. I immediately was connecting with her down-to-earth personality and her creative bent toward everything. This girl has so much creativeness that it oozes out the ends of her hair.
You can see it in everything she does and her style fits her home perfectly. When I left her home a few days ago I called my husband and told him I found our dream house. No joke. Gray, white, lots of light, hydrangeas, plenty of space, a huge back yard, a rocking chair front porch, Gator stuff in the house. Yup. I hope this girl keeps me as a friend!
Lindsey is a handletter-er genius and it flows from her. I wish I could do it – and I can’t. We all have our gifts. Apparently. But, I love her whimsical style of writing and her soft style of watercolor. I love her floral looks but it doesn’t make everything too girlie. She is authentic. She loves Jesus, the Bible, and the Gospel. She uses an ESV Journaling Bible. She has two really cute kids. She loved my food. Yup. She’s a winner.
Our kids played, we ate and talked, and she was kind enough to answer some questions so you can get to know her a bit.
First, the question every one will want to know, what is in your coffee cup? Sweetness. Hazelnut coffee with french vanilla creamer. Stevia for more sweetness. If its not sweet, I’m not drinking it.
What are you learning from your art? I’m learning to view God in the light of grace. I am getting out of the box of “I need to do this before I will be ______” Living in grace and not living in law.
“Its a challenge to see you how God sees you.” – LH
What’s one area as a business creative in which you want to grow? I need to work on my shop set-up. Learning which avenues are best for which art styles.
What are your favorite materials? I love being creative with paints and pens and chalk. I like manipulating them in different ways to get a different effect.
What inspires your creativity? LOTS. I am a visually-inspired person. I love pretty things. Magazine and Pinterest lend inspiration. I love to sketch and doodle. If I’m listening to someone talk, I’m usually doodling. Watercolor is a new medium. One thing I’m learning is you can’t base your creations on others’. A lot of my inspiration comes from magazines and other print work. I love taking time to sit alone a read through a magazine!
How do you balance being a wife and a mom and a creative? Inclusion and patience. Basically, multitasking. I can’t do just one of the other. I am always Mommy and _____.
Lindsey, thank you so much for hanging out with me. I look forward to future play dates, cupcake dates, and creative sessions with you.
And yes, Lindsey made that necklace!
All photos are property of kcreatives photography. Use with permission.
by Kimberly | Aug 7, 2015 | creatives, kcreatives photography, newborn, photo shoot, Uncategorized
Little toes. Little noses. Little fingers. Lots of laughs and pokes and sweet, tender moments from older siblings. Lots of wonder and amazement from tired but grateful parents.
Newborn shoots are a really sweet time to spend with a new family – maybe been a family for a while – but with the addition of each child, each special creation, a new family emerges.
I got to spend an evening with a sweet family in our church. Baby was quite awake even with a full belly. Perfect lighting outside and eager siblings made it for a fun, eventful evening.
Thankful to be able to capture such moments. Never to be had again.
“Something worth remembering” – all photos property of kcreatives photography.
If you’d like to “schedule” a newborn shoot, or talk about other services, please contact kcreativesphotography@gmail.com
by Kimberly | Oct 13, 2014 | Bible, creatives, Uncategorized
When I first met my husband, I knew immediately of his love for integrity and his love for the Word. It was clearly evidenced in his life and speech and faithfulness to the ministry that God had called him to. It still is. He pursues integrity and fights the sin that so easily entangles.
Before we got married, on my first tour of the entire house which we would share, I walked in to his master bathroom and saw a printout of Ephesians 6: the Armor of God section. What? Single men don’t have Scripture on their walls that they are memorizing. He said he read it every morning to help engage his mind and prepare his mind and body for the battle against sin that would face him that day. I didn’t know any single men that did this – that took Scripture this seriously – that was just an added confirmation that I was right when I said “yes”!
Our first three years of marriage have been exciting, ever-changing, and hard at times too. One of the verses that have been such a comfort to me has been this one:
I love the truth that I hear and know to be a fact in this verses. That doesn’t mean that no harm will ever come to me or my family, because the Bible indeed says that we will face hardships in this life. But, God has promised He will protect me. I am safe in his hands. And my family is too.
As I head out of town this week, with our boys, I know I need to pray a shield of protect around this house, my husband’s car, his work place, our church where he will be some while I’m away, his mind, and his heart. I don’t only need to pray this while I’m away, but I need to pray for him daily that he would remember this truth and the truth found in Ephesians 6 – that God is his armor.
Gracewear Collection contacted me a few weeks back about their products. Their simple jewelry line whose primary purpose is to remind folks that God has given us an armor. We are shielded by faith! Their jewelry is simple and artistic. I love the shielded charm that I picked out. I love pearls and I loved the fact that I could wear it or hook it on something that I with me at all times. What woman doesn’t love jewelry. And this jewelry doesn’t scream hey – look at me. No. It is simple and pretty – creatively designed to not draw attention (1 Peter 3) but to remind of the truth it proclaims and to look pretty.
Christmas is coming up. And if you’ve already completed your Christmas shopping – then what about birthday, a housewarming gift, a wedding gift, a baby shower gift (because don’t we mommas worry about our babies?). There is always a reason for jewelry. You can use my referral link to shop and I get credit. How great is that?
Ladies – our trust isn’t in jewelry, but in the God who created all things for his glory – and we hope in Him to be our shield.
(This post is sponsored by Gracewear Collection, but all thoughts and comments are my own.)
by Kimberly | Oct 9, 2014 | creatives, Uncategorized
When I wake up in the morning – I stare at the bits of light streaming through our mostly-closed blinds. I see creativity. When I settle in for the evenings, I peak out and see the moon winking down on all the city. I see creativity. When I stare into the blue eyes of both my babies and see the wonder and excitement about everything that life will hold. I see creativity. When I scroll through bloglovin and see the many faces and pictures of blog posts that I read – of people I know and don’t know. I see creativity.
I would say the first passion in creativity that I had was music. Piano playing and voice. I wanted to be Barbara Mandrell – and thank goodness I’m not. I did sing on the stage at the Strawberry Festival – but that was a lifetime ago.
The next was photography. I took pictures of everywhere and everything and everyone in high school. That’s why I was class historian and presented a scrapbook of our class to the school upon our graduation ceremony.
The next was cooking. I seriously had cooked and grocery shopped as long as I could remember, but not until college did I love doing it for other people.
I didn’t come to love writing until seminary. In high school I was definitely NOT encouraged in my writing ability – and therefore never though I could write. And even now, sometimes discouragement sets in, sometimes I remember that I helped create a curriculum and wrote for it the first year – and I remember that we all have a writing style.
Here are the ways I engage in creativity today:
Photography: here is a goal (thinking through my place in life) – I want to continue to take photos and learn and save and do shoots – for the end goal of not only capturing moments and people – but starting a small business when the boys start school. I don’t have the time to do a small business now, but I can learn all I can for the next 3 years.
Snail Mail: lettering, art, and notecard making is an outlet of creativity. I love it. And it brightens mailboxes on other street corners.
Cooking: I still love to cook, plate, and photograph food. It is something I have to do, but MOST days it is also something I like to do. I love introducing my men to new foods. I love making yumminess for other families as a blessing.
Writing: I still do write. Maybe I don’t get paid – but I write devotionally. I would like to get better at food writing. I think all of writing is gift and practice. My brother is a great writer. I know many other great writers – and they all have a style that is all their own. Embrace it!
How do you engage in creativity – no matter the life you lead or the time restraints you have?
