Feel Good...

I'm thinking of going with a new slogan..."If you look good...you feel good...you know Kathy Carlisle"! Actually, when I read this sign it was more like the loud scene with Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire....YOU KNOW!!! We are "2-sleeps" (kid's method of counting) away from going home to Alaska to see family and you would think it is Christmas coming around here. It is just what the doctor ordered around here...to see my HUGE family and "just be" together. I will hopefully have time to reflect on my blog while I am up there.

Wonder Twins

Wonder Twins activate....in the form of....SHATHY! Thanks for the fun shoot Willow. I think that we are almost ready to take this show on the road.

Jet Li inspired

Shannon and I were jumping all weekend and all the while I felt like an elephant in the shots. I felt like I was getting 1 cm off the ground and landed so hard that I shoot my inners! We were trying to accomplish some kind of Jet Li look in an alley. Really we just got off track while we were trying to find coffee on the ride home. We were doing all this across from the performing arts building in Olympia and we had quite a crowd built up. Looking back, I don't think the dancers that were watching were laughing because they were having fun with us....they were laughing at us!



Shannon was so impressive that she attracted a super hero...I think all I attracted was a hernia! I'm guessing that I have to find my inner-supermodel before I can attract the heroes of the world, and I think I captured the moment that brought Superman down to Earth!

"Fred does Seattle"

Meet Fred Eagan (fredegan.com)...he's genuine, cutting edge, and did I mention he's a killer photographer! Shannon met him at WPPI and he got a hold of her when he was in Seattle. We were so happy to coordinate our trip with a visit with him...really we just wanted to have one of his hip shirts. We loved his t-shirt slogan, but I couldn't remember what they said (first saw Shyla wearing one) and I knew he was from Dallas...so I thought they said something like, "Fred does Dallas". It's really a genius slogan promoting his wedding photography. I think we had the whole restaurant staring and a few asked who this "Fred" guy was...so I would say that the shirts are working! Talk about perfect product placement! He was a blast to hang out with and it was fun to get to know him. Shyla (middle) is an AMAZING person that completely wow-ed me with her beautiful personality, huge heart, and brilliant spirit. She was a blast to hang out with and she inspired me just being around her. You have to check her out...shylaphotography.com
Fred was in the bathroom when we took these...again with the product placement!
This little piggy....hangin' with Shathy!

Once again, a Rockin' Seattle trip to put under our belts.

Inspire...

to influence or impel
divine influence
to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence.
To say the least, I am inspired! Shannon and I went to Seattle this weekend to meet up with Mind Castle Studios and chat about future projects together (many are top secret:) and to get to know each other. What I expected was to meet the amazing talent behind these young minds, what I didn't expect was to totally inhale inspiration (can you do that) to say the least. Their passion is a match to my own, their ideas are endless and they are fearless. You will see more of these guys in the future and they will blow your mind. (http://www.mindcastlestudios.com/)

Next on the list was to visit Lava Girl (my daughter thinks it's really her) herself...Willow. (http://willowsphotography.blogspot.com/) She summed up our visit with her in perfect words, when she looked at us with concern on her face, after an hour of shooting around her new studio, and said, "Guys, my cup runeth over right now!" She is always a breathe of fresh air with passion pouring from her soul and an energy force that is contagious! We got some REALLY fun shots from the day that I will post as I proof them and link to others blogs as they post theirs. I want to also thank my friend Kenz for showing up and shooting (for the first time ever) and adding a smashing dynamic to the day. I am honored that I have inspired her to pick up a camera. And I am lucky that I get to share my passion with another close friend and watch the growth process as she views the world differently, even for a moment. I know she is going to be amazing because she a very talented person and she has a drive in her to concuer the world, helping one person at a time. I plan on helping her in every way possible to get great at photography so she can document all the amazing things she is going to do for those in need all over the world. Speaking of talented, Ms. Inspiration (witha capitol 'I')....here she is...Shannon Sewell of "Shathy"
I don't even know what else to say about her that I haven't already. We had such an intense couple days traveling around meeting incredible photographers and passing energy back and forth that will feed our souls for months to come. She is another person that continues to "rock my soul" and I am honored to receive her inspiration. Thanks for another great roadtrip on our path to greatness!! You inspire me. P.S. Is that a smokin' hot picture of her, or what? I have a lot more fun ones to come from the trip. Plenty to blog for days.

Shattered Lives

As many of you know I have the honor of taking pictures for a book that a friend of mine (Heidi Yewman) is writing (http://www.toomanygundeaths.com/manuscript.html). We went up to Seattle together two weeks ago and it was the most amazing trip to experience. We talked, we cried, we interviewed, we cried some more, and we had the opportunity to meet two amazing people. I don't want to tell you their story as much as what I got from hearing their stories. John has a beautiful soul and he is a preacher. I felt like in telling about his horrific murder of his 2 year old granddaughter, that he was speaking directly to me through parts of the interview. He was speaking on forgiveness, moving on, seizing the day, and being thankful each moment of our lives for what we have. He is a preacher and he and his wife continue to be dedicated to helping others mend their hearts even though his still aches. His outlook on life is inspiring and his presence is admirable. I know I was meant to meet him and my heart aches for his lose.
Sandy's son was murdered in the Rave shooting is Seattle last year and her heart hasn't even begun to heal. It was the most heart wrenching interview that Heidi has been through thus far because of all the raw emotion and pain she is dealing with. I think in the one photo of her you can see the pain that goes along with losing a child, especially in a violent gun death. It was a pleasure to get to know her son for just a moment by going through his room and listening to him mom gloat about her pride and joy. I think that she is continuing to get to know him (a side she didn't see when he was alive) and that is probably the most painful part. I pray for her to find peace with it all and that she can continue to keep carrying on his spirit (they called him the Deacon) so that his story can help others. Thank you Heidi for bringing your vision into my life and for showing me what it means to dedicate yourself to a cause. Your passion on the subject is inspiring and you have already impacted so many lives out there, including mine.

Here Fishy Fishy!

Are you dying right now! I did this shoot because I had a collage from a Target ad on my "dream board" that I liked because of all the colors. There was a little boy in the ad that kind of looked like Jamie and he had goggles on with a fish in them. Jamison asked me if that was him in the picture and when I said no he literally asked me, "Mom, can I do dat?" How could I say no to that. So Jake and I went and got supplies and all the kids (neighbors too) helped to create this shoot. Now Tré and Jalena want to do a shoot for them as well. I hope Target ads don't get too crazy on me. This was so fun though and Jamie LOVES looking at the fish. What a great Father's Day project to embark on. Some Dads like to go to Home Depot or Bed Bath and Beyond (if they have time), but mine likes to help me with this kind of stuff!

Perfect Form

Just trying to see if we can upload videos and I thought I would start with my perfect form from bowling the other night. I can't wait to get more embarrassing footage of Jake and post on here. Jake shot the movie sideways and we can't figure out how to flip it, so just give it an old school tilt of the head to view it...it's a strike anyway you look at it!

This what happens...

...when you start spending WAY too much time with a friend and your kids start picking up on their traits. What if I wouldn't have had my little camera on a day like today. We wold have never caught these two amazing talents in their shining moments. Aren't they clever! Shannon is working on teaching her how to move her eyes rapidly back and forth like she can do and we are sure that it's going to land Jalena in a horror movie some day. See, you need friends with talents that you don't have around your kids so that they can reach their full potential.

Him...

This is all written while listening to the most beautiful song I heard the other night on "So you think you can dance" (Dancing by Elisa)....
I haven't even listened to all the words of the song to know what it is truly about, but I just know every time the line comes up about "I put my arms around you..." it gives me a rush of passion, so I chose to write about the person that I am most passionate about in this world.
Jake is the most amazing man on this earth and I strive to be more like him everyday. He is my mentor, my idol, my spiritual partner, and the one person in this world that helped me to find "me". No matter what I say, feel, or even look like, he just sees me...for me. He loves me...for me. It's not the books, other photographers or the classes that taught me to see people for who they are on the inside...it was my hubby. He has rocked my soul in every way and I am passionatley alive because of the air that I breathe that surrounds him.
These pictures are of the other week when Jake planned our whole night and it was the most amazing night ever and we didn't even leave our backyard. We camped the night away with smores, a movie, and snuggles that will last forever. "All I want to do is to rock your soul"...as much as you have rocked mine. You are our everything Jake and I wanted to tell you that before Father's day because we don't need a designated day to tell you that you are amazing.

Everyday Moments

Ever since I got my new camera I have been able to whip it out at the drop of a hat and capture the moments that make up my happiest thoughts. I love going to the movies as a family. We saw Surf's Up the other night and the kids loved it.

This is one of those moments that might have escaped my memory. I remember Jake showing the other two the basics of bowling at some point but now this picture helps me remember the emotions and smells behind the memories stored in my head that were never captured. I can smell the bowling alley (Big Al's), I can hear the excitement from the other kids in the background, and I can feel the my heart overflowing with proud emotions...all from this moment that was almost passed by.

Thank goodness I have my camera to catch these moments as well (the score). One might have forgotten getting "his" butt kicked on a certain night if there wasn't documentation!

The year was 2007 -the shoe sizes:
Jake - 16
Kathy - 9
Tré - 2
Jalena - 1
Jamison - 10

Our life is brilliant!

Forgotten Images

I took these pictures back in February when I was teaching a young photographer how easy it was to get a great photo and I don't recall actually getting one myself. I was looking through them in amazement of the amount of growth that continues to occur monthly with me and my style and the technical side of things. I didn't really see anything that made me proud of this shoot when I glanced through as a whole. Then I ran into these three images.... Although, I don't think they are amazing in the photography department, I can't believe that I almost passed them by forever. When I put her to bed tonight (before I looked through these pics), I told her that "she is an amazing little girl". She gave me the same giggly little look that is in the B&W one below. When I stumbled across the photo that replicated her proud and very shy look, I got goose bumps a little. She looks so young in these shots and this was also when she really began to get a grasp for this whole "posing thing". The middle one of her eyes is straight out of camera and her eyes just caught the sun just right. I'm glad I stumbled upon these and I'm glad to share. k

Last Couple

These were some stragglers that we took after the shoot was done. The kids were having a blast with the box from our patio furniture. You just gotta love summer, just for these moments!

More...

Here are a few more that I thought I could spare to show since I have plenty for the site. I know, I know you are all waiting for the site! Well. just wait longer!!! I am working on it and it takes forever to get all the components together .


Mr. Noisy gets the award to TOTALLY getting into character. I think he even beat the other Mr. Noisy for the role.

This is truely how Tré is happiest...having his brother and sister in his arms. They couldn't have asked for a better Big Bro.