Branding Session on the Tulip Farm

Sometimes I need to embrace the inner soul of my Grandmother’s Generation and;

Love Life like Betty White

Dream like Doris Day

Dress like Jackie Onassis

Laugh like Lucille Ball

Sing like Julie Andrews

Dance like Debbie Reynolds

Perform like Audrey Hepburn

Forgive like June Carter

Take my Tea like Queen Elizabeth

Tell a Story like Rosalie Turano (My Great Aunt)

and Then;

Toss out my Bra like Edith Georgia Caron Allen Bolles (My Grandmother).

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Hello! If you don’t know me yet I’m Karrie Tardiff Knowles. I have been a Professional Photographer for twelve years, am a PPA Member, and have studied Fine Art, Graphic Art, and English at the University of Connecticut. I have also been training other photographers for about five years now. Below is a session I had with one of my students an amazing photographer Brittney. When I called her up with my vision she was totally on board and knew exactly what I wanted. She did a fantastic job with the romantic tulip session I had in mind. Check out her review of my teachings and her website below as her work is fabulous!

Photos of me below by Brittlee Photography

Meet Brittney Michon a talented and amazing photographer out of Connecticut. What I’ve always loved about Brittney’s style is that she is very much documentary. She can naturally capture a moment in time as it happens without staging or forcing it, she is extremely talented with unique compositions and styling, she makes a session super fun and delightful, and she can also totally rock a black and white!

I love love the photo she took of me above holding my hat and turning to the side laughing. She was able to capture my natural expression while making me look slimmer, always a plus, by using angles in her composition. And how fun are the detail shots with the boots, umbrella, and sunglasses?!

Thanks Britt!

Photos of Brittney below by Sweet Dreams Photography

“I can not say enough about how much Karrie has helped me grow as a photographer. I started taking my photography more seriously a little over five years ago. Karrie took me under her wing and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and just go for it. Not only was she extremely encouraging but she is also very knowledgeable about what it takes to be a professional photographer. She helped me learn about lighting, camera settings, posing, marketing, software and so much more! She was so patient with me as I asked her a million questions and always took the time to help me review my sessions and build my confidence. She is an amazing teacher who teaches with the view of community over competition; which lends to a comfortable setting as a student. I highly recommend her courses; you are guaranteed to grow, whether your an amateur or a professional looking to gain more knowledge.”

 ~Brittney Michon, Brittlee Photography, CT

https://www.brittleephotography.online/

How kind and thoughtful were Britt’s words! I really do believe in Community over Competition. If you’d like to learn how to shoot on manual and improve your photography like Brittney did and learn from my most influential mentor and Celebrity Photographer Heidi Hope feel free to check out her educational courses over at https://www.heidihopelearning.com/?ref=c71aa9 as I am now an affiliate of Heidi Hope Learning.

Happy Photographing!

Karrie

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Tulips by Brittlee Photography

Nautical Family Session

Sweet Summer Storytelling Sessions

Sweet & Simple Myrtle Beach Retirement Session

Session Information

Sweet Stories: Saying Goodbye.

Over the past four months I was blessed with having all three of my grown boys at home, even my oldest son whose twenty-five and has spent the last seven years traveling the world.

Below are a couple conversations we had about his next adventure.

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Six Months Ago

Ronnie:  I think I will stay in Croatia for a while.

Me:  Croatia!  Where is Croatia?  I have never heard of it.  It sounds like a communist country?  Is it in Russia?  You don’t want to go to Russia, it’s not safe.

Ronnie:  Mom, it’s not in Russia and it’s not a communist country.  It’s a beautiful oceanfront tourist destination in Europe.  Besides, I lived in China for three months, remember my hostel in Beijing?

Me:  That may be so, but you were under the care of a University in China.  Who do you know in Croatia? What are you going to do there? It sounds sketchy.

Sam:  Mom, you think everything sounds sketchy…

Me:  Everything IS sketchy.

Fast forward to two weeks ago.

Ronnie:  I have my ticket to Croatia. After I spend a few weeks there I’m going to Estonia.

Me:   Astonia!  Where is Astonia? It sounds like a make believe land in a movie.  I can’t even find it on a map.

Ronnie:  Look, it’s right here.

Me:  Oh Estonia… I thought you said Astonia.

Cedrone:  I thought he said Astonia too.

Ronnie:  I said Estonia (sounds like Astonia).

Me:  Whatever.  Let me see that map.  Ooohh it looks cold.

Ronnie:  It is cold.

Me:  I just thought I’d point that out in case you didn’t know.

Ronnie:  I do know.

Me:  Who do you know in “E” stonia?  What are you going to do there.

Ronnie:  I’m going to register my online business.

Me:  What? You’re a drifter who’s going to let you register a business with no residential address?  I’ve never heard of such a thing.  What’s it in for them?  How much money do they want?  How long do you have to live there?

Ronnie:  Mom, it’s really a thing.  Estonia is the first country to offer programs for online entrepreneurs to register their business with no legal residency.  Look, I can register as a Digital Nomad.

Me:  Let me see that.  Wow.  “Digital Nomad” does sound better than drifter.

Ronnie:  Thanks a lot.

Me:  Just sayin…

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Being a Mother is the hardest job in the world because it means the inevitable, saying goodbye. 

As I pulled away from dropping him off at JFK for his flight to Croatia I got a little teary.  But I was proud of the fact that he knows what he wants and how to go get it.  I also felt like I must have had something to do with his adventurous spirit and resourceful attitude.

Being a mother also means saying and hearing things you never thought you’d say and hear, like “hostel in Beijing,” “I think I’ll stay in Croatia,” “I’m registering as a Digital Nomad in Estonia.” Or “Where is Croatia?” “Where is Estonia,” “You’re a drifter.”  It also means putting aside your often misguided preconceived notions and keeping an open mind while allowing your children to think outside of the box.

I think you can officially say you have succeeded at your job as a mother when you have raised an independent individual who can function on their own among society and is ready to take on the world.  I also think you’ve succeeded when your child is respectful enough to answer berating parental questions even though they’re grown and don’t actually have to.  

My Son the Digital Nomad

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See More of my year with the boys and Sweet Stories

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To my three sons;

Follow Adventure wherever it leads.

For happiness is what your heart needs.

Climb a mountain as high as can be.

Jump in the water and swim out to sea.

Ride a race car around the track.

Have so much fun you may never come back.

Fly in a plane across the sky.

Watch out the window as the world passes by.

In a train and across the valley.

Through a city and down an alley.

Around the world and back.

I hope you didn’t forget your lunch sack.

I sure do wish you had lots of laughs.

Please send many photographs!

Adventure awaits but don’t forget me.

I’m your biggest fan wait and see.

Love Mom.

#mythreesons

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Some Great Parenting Books.

My personal parenting belief is that a child should be allowed to express their individuality and assert their independence.  I have started my own parenting book but in the meantime I love these ones below.

Sweet Backyard Wedding

Sunset Backyard Maternity Session

2020 SPECIAL:  Maternity Sessions are Free when you book your Newborn Storytelling or Garden Glamour Session.

Book Your Newborn Session

Winter Lifestyle Session

Children

Children

Superman Themed Newborn Session

Check out this SUPER BABY themed Session in the park.  I love it so much when parents bring their own artistic visions to the shoot.  This Mom knew when she called me a month before baby was due that she wanted a Superman Theme for her portraits and I think we did a great job pulling it off together.  Of course we had to add a formal vintage segment into the session since we were at such a gorgeous park on a beautiful day.  Big and Little Sisters added their own fun loving flare to the day as well.

Do you have a special theme in mind for your next session?

We can plan and design it together! CONTACT

 

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

 

 

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Photographer

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Photographer

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

Newborn Portrait Session

 

Photography is a real living time machine, your own personal journey into the past.  A photograph is evidence that time existed, life was lived, places were traveled, people were met, laughs were had, and adventures were experienced.  A photo album is your own story, science fiction novel, or comic book.

I had so much fun being creative while transforming this sleepy super shot below into a comic strip.  I had this idea when I wrote the above poem two years ago.  This past Summer I was able to bring it to life and this little guy now has his own comic book page.

Whats your story?  What book would you like create your own page out of?  What movie would you like to star in?  What places have you traveled?  Who have you met?  What have you laughed about?  These are all things we incorporate into our daily lives when we choose what to wear, what to eat, where to go, how to decorate.  Why not design your next photo session using your own dreams?

For more fun with creative composites visit my blog post at Newborn Portraiture