kelly gallivan photography

HI! I'm back!

2011-07-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I know mine has been very memorable with lots of wonderful weddings and sessions!

I know that my blog has been abandoned for a while. I just wanted to let you all know that I will be back to blogging soon! I have some seriously exciting news to announce very soon and as soon as I do, it will be on here! To check out all of my recent work, please visit my website (http://www.kgphotographics.com/) or visit and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kellygallivanphotography).

Be back soon!

February and March

2011-04-11T18:08:00.000-07:00

The last few months have been busy to say the least. Don't get me wrong, despite the crazy New England weather, they have been great! I have had newborn sessions, maternity sessions, and March was FILLED with my Janie and Jack sessions. I love doing the JJ sessions because I get the opportunity to meet some wonderful families. That alone makes the 24 sessions in 3 days worth it (not to mention the hours upon hours of editing and finalizing that happens in between the sessions and the viewing). So, in a nut shell, besides a few sessions in March, my time was filled up with Janie and Jack. There are so many wonderful shots. However, this year, I did not ask people to sign model releases, so I can not show you the 30 adorable faces that I met:(

But, what I can show is some of my newborn sessions I have had in the past few months.

First, I will share baby Sean. The coolest thing about Sean Jr's. session is within 24 hours of me uploading the sneak peek onto Facebook, one of my fans who works at CT Parent Magazine saw a photo and asked if they could use it for an article that they were publishing (about sleep). So, within 3 weeks of Sean being born, he was a published model! I'm sorry, but I think that is just plain cool!

This photo was the one that was CT Parent Magaize. Perfect photo for a sleep article!

After Sean, I had sweet Caroline's session. I talked about her Mom's maternity session in a previous post and I had mentioned that I wanted to make something special for them. Well....apparently I still have to work on my sewing skills, which I really am doing in my free time :) Although I was not successful, Caroline's session certainly was. She definitely made us work for it though. Geez, at 4 days old, this sweet little girl did not sleep! But, we waited and we got the shots! During one of them, I looked at her Mom and she had tears in her eyes. Not that I like to make people cry, but I loved that! I love tears of joy and capturing these once in a lifetime memories.

Then came Miss Grace. She was such a sweetie. Her parents drove over an hour to come see me and WOW was it worth it! After telling their parents about a pose that I have always wanted to do, they were totally up for it! I love doing new things and I think we were very successful! My goal for every session is to give my families photos that they will treasure forever.

Getting the best of your photo session

2011-03-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

This is a post that I have been wanting to do for a while. This is not about any one session that I have had, but about several tips to make your session more successful. This blog is geared towards family and child portrait sessions, but can help with most other types of sessions.

PLANNING YOUR SESSION

1.LOCATION - When planning your session, I try to get an idea of what you are looking for. For instance, what kind of image do you want to portray? What kind of setting would you like - formal, studio, adventurous, urban, country, etc. ? I could go on, but you get the idea.

2.WHAT TO WEAR - This is a personal choice of yours. I will help you as much as I can. I do suggest not dressing "matchy matchy", but with complimenting colors and styles. Also, I do not suggest clothing with lots of busy patterns or outfits that you may look back on in 10 years and think..."hmmm, what was I thinking"?

3. TIME OF DAY - If you have a younger child, what time of the day is better for them? For on location sessions, it is better to do it early in the morning or later in the afternoon, right before sunset. If your child is a morning riser and is the happiest in the morning, then this is when we should do it. If your child is like my son who is grouchy in the morning, but is great in the afternoon, then that's the best time. Also, make sure your children are well fed before the session. Bring extra snacks with you, but I can not tell you how many times I've had to go through photos and remove orange fishy crumbs around mouths and sometimes, in their mouth (and it gets on their clothes too).

4. PREPPING YOUR MIND - Come to the session with an open mind and patience. Yes, sessions can be stressful, getting everyone ready and in a good mood can be tough. BUT, if you come to a session knowing that not every photo is going to have every person smiling every time (yes, I am repeating "every" a lot), you will be disappointed. A common phrase I hear is - "We have to do this quick, I don't know how long they are going to last!" Well, "plopping" a child down on the ground and say "smile" is not going to work. You are almost guaranteed tears. Especially with toddlers, they sense that you are frustrated and they will react to you. Not to mention, they are meeting this new person that is pointing this big black camera at them for the first time. What I try to do is let them get comfortable, with their surroundings, with their outfit (bibs are a good thing) and with me. If you have more than one child, I let them interact with each other (and they also make the best photos) and wait for the right moment to direct them to what I want them to do. It is my job to capture those precious moments that will help you remember them forever. If you have looked at my photos, you will see that I am not a "sit and smile" photographer. Although, having a few of those are wonderful, I also love to capture the expressions and emotions of everyone I photograph, whether it is in the studio or on location, I actually love the photos when they are not smiling the best. Of course, I will ask them to smile, but most of the time, I am really trying to get that genuine, one of a kind expression that only your child makes. These are the photos that I know will you will treasure forever.

5. BREAKS ARE GOOD - Sometimes, I will suggest a break. If a child is really upset or acting out, take a deep breath and let them step away from it all. If you are in the studio, there have been many times that I will let them watch tv or color for 5 or 10 minutes. Let them get over the tantrum and then resume. It works 95% of the time. If we are on location, take them for a short walk, let them sit down and relax, what ever will help them calm down. It is so much better to take 10 minutes out of the session then have 50 photos of blood shot eyes and tears streaming down their red faces.

6. SESSION IS DONE, now what? When I go through your photos, I try to give you as much of a variety as possible. If you only like the photos where your children is sitting still and smiling, that is fine. I also suggest getting some that have those other expressions. Also, I am a HUGE fan of wall art, like canvas gallery wraps and print wraps. These are types of prints that are easily mounted on the wall and frames are not required. What I love about them is how easy it is to expand the collection or move them around. Even starting with 1 larger one and growing the collection year after year will give you an amazing archival display that you will cherish through the years.

I hope this helps you plan your session. These are just a few tips that will help you achieve your goal. Of course, you know your child best and I will work with you to provide you with the best portraits I can. Every session is different and I look forward to each and every one of the them.

Cynthia and Eric and their Baby to Be

2011-02-09T20:03:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to photograph an amazing couple just weeks before their little one is due to arrive. Although my sister is friends with Cynthia's sister, we just met this weekend. I have so much admiration for Eric and Cynthia, with only meeting them for a few hours, I know that they are a strong and endearing couple. Their little one is going to hear an earful when she is born with the things this couple has gone through, including a house fire in December. I can not wait to hear the news of their baby girl arriving. In fact, I'm getting my sewing machine out and attempting to make something special for their newborn session. Stay tuned to see if I can actually do it!

Caleb

2011-02-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Caleb at just over a week old. He was such a sweet heart and I could have spent the whole day clicking away. At first, Caleb was not so sure if he wanted to participate so his parents stepped into the photo shoot and let me say...These were my favorite images of the whole session. The love that Ben and Rachelle share for each other and their sweet baby boy, honestly, almost brought me to tears. I even made a comment during the session that every time I asked Ben to look at me after looking at his gorgeous wife and beautiful son, he just gave me the sweetest grin. This family is so beautifully sweet, I am so excited to be capturing them for the next year.

I would love to upload the whole session, but here are a few of my favorites :)

Gavin

2011-02-01T07:13:00.000-08:00

I can definitely say that there is a baby boom for me in 2011! That is fine with me. I love my newborn sessions. I always say that is probably one of the times I love my job most. I get to play with tiny little newborns and help their parents capture this special time that really does not last too long.

I started this year with Gavin. I actually just finished he's brother, Brady's first year in September and I am so happy to be working with this family again. Gavin did so well during his session. We got him to sleep and then we went to town.

I am looking forward to his 3 month session. Hopefully, it will be in different weather!

Baby to be

2011-01-25T15:28:00.000-08:00

It's not a secret. I love maternity sessions. I truly believe that every woman is gorgeous when they are pregnant and I always feel so privileged to be able to capture this important period in a New Mom's life. I just say...Embrace the curves.

I recently had a maternity session with Autumn. She is so sweet and may I say, GORGEOUS! She was up for any suggestion that I gave her. I always consider it a compliment when people just meet me for there session and let me work. I can not wait until her baby girl arrives.

New Years Resolutions

2011-01-20T12:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am going to be honest. One of my main New Years resolutions was that I would blog more. However, with the New Year came a horrific cold that both my husband and I got. Now, I've had colds before, BUT this one took the cake! The good news was that my son did not get it. With both my husband and I being so sick and having a very hyper 4 year old running around not wanting to rest at all...well this is probably why Randy and I are finally feeling better (after 2 1/2 weeks). This past weekend was awesome. It consisted of a beautiful bride and groom and then a maternity session for a wonderful couple. Finally, I was feeling better and getting back to the grind. I have to say, not working for 2 1/2 weeks felt so weird to me.

Since I have not blogged yet this year, I thought what a better way to start off this year than blog about the first wedding of the year. Danielle is friends with a couple of my past brides. I've said it before, but I love it when I work with circles of friends.

Danielle and Brett's wedding was at the Simsbury Inn. It really is a gorgeous place. Here are a few photos of their wedding day. Oh, and how lucky were they...it actually did NOT snow that day!

I am in LOVE!!!!

2010-10-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Ok... so I know I have taken a two and a half month hiatus from my blog. It's not that I did not want to blog, it's just that I have not had a chance to blog. Busy, Hectic, and Satisifying, this is how I can describe my last few months. Like I said in the title of this blog, I am in LOVE!!! For many of you that know me, yes, I'm still in love with the man I married five years ago, but I have a new love. I'm in love with my life. It is not by all means perfect, but it is my life and my dream.

It is 4:00 in the afternoon. Yes, for once, I am writing one of these during the day. It actually feels a bit weird! I like to write these when I am sitting in a quiet place and I can really concentrate on my task at hand. For the past year, that has been after midnight, almost every single time. So, how is it that I am able to do this at 4:00 in the afternoon? Well......I'm sitting at my desk, listening to my music....at my new STUDIO!!! Right now, after a few very hectic weeks, full of sessions, weddings, moving, car accidents :( and in law visits, I am sitting by myself...peaceful.

I have been searching for a while for the right studio. My house isn't that big and my props and equipment were starting to fill rooms. Plus, having a husband that works from home and an almost 4 year old, it does make working quite difficult at times. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being home with my family. But, for me, I am a workaholic, and trying to differentiate family time and work time became harder to do. Plus, I really dreamed of having my own place that I could meet with clients and I can set up more detailed setups for newborn and baby sessions. Once I found my studio, I knew this was my second home! I just felt comfortable! Grant it, the night I got the keys (and a few days after), I was pretty in shock. I couldn't believe that I had just made one of the top 5 biggest decisions in my life. Wow, excited and OMG scary!!! Since then, I have calmed down and my life just feels right! I'm on Main St. in Old Wethersfield - in a Barn! How cool is that? I've always loved this street, and now I am part of it. Once again, I AM IN LOVE!!!

Ramon and Danielle {MARRIED}

2010-08-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

Recently, on what I call the best day of the year (yes, my birthday), I had the privilege to photograph Ramon and Danielle's wedding. I met them a few months ago and was so excited when they chose me. As previously mentioned in an earlier post, they met while in college and Westfield State, so that is where they had there engagement session. I always like going back to the beginning and capturing how far they've traveled.

They had such a fantastic wedding! Not only are Danielle and Ramon an adorably sweet couple, but their family and friends were a true testament to how awesome the couple is. Everybody was so enthusiastic and lively. I had such a great time at their wedding. Congratulations Ramon and Danielle! I hope you are having a great time on your honeymoon!

Nicole and MayLee

2010-07-31T22:13:00.000-07:00

Back in May, I was honored that Nicole asked me to photograph her maternity session. Out of all of the photographers in her area, she asked me to travel to Long Island, NY. Nicole and her husband, Matthew, are such a great couple. When you see two people that are so happy and so in love, you know their baby is going to be such a sweet and precious little thing.

The morning after MayLee was born, Nicole emailed me right away telling me. Literally, I think it was less than 10 hours after her birth! We made plans right away for MayLee's photo session. When I arrived in Long Island and saw this gorgeous little princess, I knew I was in for a treat. MayLee was such a great baby. She barely cried and never fused.

Here are some photos of Nicole's maternity photos and then some of MayLee. I decided to show some sort of "Before" and Afters".

Credit...where Credit is due.

2010-07-29T00:19:00.000-07:00

Starting a business can be so scary at times. There are great periods, and not so great periods. Most of the time, doing what I love, keeps me going. However, there are times when a little (or A LOT of) encouragement from some of my biggest supporters goes a long way. My husband is an amazing supporter, and he is an AWESOME person to have around for technical support. I will say, there have been many; let me repeat, many nights that I have whisked him out of bed at 3am to help me with something on the computer. He may huff and puff a little, but he knows me, the sooner I figure something out, the sooner I will get sleep. For me, more sleep means that I will be a lot happier the next day :). For example, I’ve been craving music lately while I work. So he set me up on Pandora tonight with some of my favorite chill music. Yes, I do love him. It is 2:35am and I am listening to Sarah MacLachlan and Enya. For some people, it would put them to sleep; for me, it keeps me going!

Two of my other amazing supporters are my father and his fiancé, Barbara. They are always telling me that I can do this. Barbara is always checking my facebook page to see what I am working on and my Dad “likes” almost every album I post (thanks Dad – always makes me feel good), and then when I talk to him, he is always telling me how great the photos are. It is these kinds of encouragement that keeps me going, and makes me want to grow, succeed, and dream.

Recently, Barbara asked me to fit a couple of her friend’s grandchildren in for sessions while they were back in CT. I had so much fun. I met two of Barbara’s good friends, and got to photograph two adorable little one’s and their families. Two really good days!

The first family I met was Jack’s family. They were visiting from FL. The whole family was so into the photos and 4^th of July! I love how their family was so united. They are such a nice family and Jack is such a happy little boy! I hope to see them again after they move back from FL this fall.

I love this photo. The fact that the dog is the ONLY one looking at the camera is great!

The second family is Abigail’s family. Let me just say, they were such troopers. They were visiting from Alaska. Yes...Alaska. And, guess what…remember that heat wave we had a couple of weeks ago. This is when we were scheduled to meet. So, in the 100+ degree weather, we were outside. It was a quick session, since their version of a heat wave consists of maybe 75 degree weather. So we wanted to make it fun, but fast for little Abigail. Here are a few of my favorites.

I think this one really shows this family's personality! Good times!

The Girls, three generations of them!

Again, I just want to say thank you to everyone who encourages me everyday to follow my dream. It really does mean the world to me.

Kristen and Patrick

2010-07-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, I met Sidney Chang of Sidney Chang Photography. She asked me to be her second shooter for a wedding she had scheduled. In this business, it is always a great opportunity to work with other photographers. Each and every photographer has their own style, but when you work with another one, it's a great way to learn from each other and continue to grow your own style.

I met Kristen and Patrick on their wedding day. They seem like such a lovely couple and had such a great group of family and friends. Here are a few photos from their day.

Audriana

2010-06-28T23:04:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had the chance to meet the Carl family. They are such a nice family. The youngest, Audriana was turning 1, so I met them for a birthday session. I had just purchased this adorable little chair, and I think this was a perfect time to debut it. I can't get over how precious Audriana is, she is such a beautiful little girl.

Danielle and Ramon~ E-Session!

2010-05-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

Today, I shot an engagement session with Danielle and Ramon. They decided that they wanted to go to the place where they met, COLLEGE! We met in Westfield, MA and took some gorgeous photos at Westfield State and Stanley Park. Danielle and Ramon were up for anything and I can not wait for their wedding on August 7th (which is the best day of the year...my birthday)!

Danielle and Ramon - you are an absolutely beautiful couple, and I can not wait to see you in a couple of months!

Alison and Kevin

2010-05-10T16:28:00.001-07:00

I met Alison and Kevin a little under a year ago when they started planning their wedding. They are such a great couple and so in love! After doing an engagement session for them last fall, I knew I was in for a treat when the wedding day arrived. Ali and Kevin picked such beautiful locations for their wedding. If you are looking for a Catholic Church in Enfield, CT - St. Adalberts is breathtaking! After the ceremony, we went to a friend of the family's private residence. Honestly, we never got past the covered bridge in the beginning of their driveway. I want to go back and see the rest of the place someday!! Last, but not least, they had their reception at the Riverview in Simsbury. This fairly new place is definitely gorgeous! Check out the photos and you will see how majestic their day was (and of course how gorgeous the couple is)!

Baby Catherine

2010-05-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Last Monday was a very hectic day. My cat, Mia, became a mommy for the first time. While this was not planned, we now have two cute little kitties. The same day, I met baby Catherine. She is such a sweet little girl. Grant it, she pretty much stayed awake for the 3 hours I was at her house. I did manage to get a few photos of her when she took her little "cat naps". Here are some photos!

Diya

2010-05-10T14:56:00.001-07:00

Diya's Mom called me after a bunny session I did with a coworker of hers. I am so happy she did. They are such a nice family! Diya also had her Grandparents there along with her parents. She is such a good baby with lots and lots of smiles. Here are a few photos from her session.

Nicole

2010-05-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

Last week, I traveled to Long Island and met Nicole and her family. They are such a wonderful family. I was so honored that they asked me to come to NY to shoot a maternity session. Nicole is so beautiful and she was really up for anything. Especially, since I think it was the hottest day I think we've had so far this spring. I am so excited to see them again when the baby is born. Nicole showed me this adorable petiskirt/tutu that she wants to use and I am already coming up with ideas on how to use it!

Here are some photos of Nicole and her family!

Just a little bragging...

2010-04-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this post is of my bragging a little. I am just so happy about my news!

We all have goals, and it is such an amazing feeling when one of them is reached. One of my goals is that I wanted to get some of my work published. Well...I am NOW PUBLISHED!!! Not only is one of my photos being published by Connecticut Parent Magazine, my photo is on the May COVER!!! I can't believe it! I now have the pdf file of the cover, so I wanted to share it with you!

Passion = Art

2010-04-12T20:34:00.000-07:00

I love what I do...photography is so diverse; one day I can be taking sweet portraits of a newborn, the next day a screaming 5 year old and then a couple newly engaged right after. The best thing about my job is, it never gets boring. Every session is completely different. I always tell my clients that I could bring the same exact studio set up to 5 different houses in a week, and each and every session would be completely different. I like capturing what my subjects are all about. I don't like posing and I very much dislike the "sit and smile" photos. As I am Mother of a three year old (and fiesty one at that), I know that if you ask your child to sit still for even one minute and to give us a smile, we will get the most awkward smile they can do.

For those of you that know me, last year, I decided to go back to school. I went to Art School 10 years ago, but I learned everything on film. I do miss film, but I love the new capabilities of digital. For my assignment due this week, I had to construct a photo, meaning anything I wanted to do, as long as it is not a random photo, it completes the assignment. All that said, I was in the mood to do something a bit different. . . I wanted to do a session with a subject that I've always wanted to capture...with the beauty of networking websites, I asked and I received! I wanted a ballerina! If you are an artist of any kind, you know that random images or ideas pop into your head all the time. Actually getting to be able to fulfill these dreams are amazing!!!! I originally had another idea for my session with a ballerina, but since the weather conditions that I tried to order up did not cooperate with me, I had to do something different. Phoebe was my ballerina, and I can not believe how graceful she is. At 15 years old, she possess so much beauty and maturity. I wanted a sunrise session, and although she was involved in ballet functions the day before, she worked with me early in the morning with so much graceful energy. Again, as I said before, I do not like to to do a lot of posing, so I asked Phoebe TO DANCE!

I absolutely loved doing this session. I've already thought up of what seems like hundreds of ideas for ballet portraits. Take a look at some of my favorites from Phoebe's session.

Happy Spring!

2010-04-03T18:54:00.001-07:00

All I can say is...WOW, these last few days have been gorgeous! My son has been running around non-stop and my husband is bricking the beginning of the hopefully new deck in my back yard. The last few weeks have been so much fun and so awesome. I traveled all over CT and MA with bunnies. These little guys are the cutest and sweetest things ever! I think my new slogan is going to be "have bunnies, will travel!" LOL! Between adorable kids and the cutest bunnies, I had so many gorgeous photos. Here are a few!

I know it's been a while

2010-03-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

This last month and a half has gone by so fast, and I haven't had the chance to update my blog. For the past two weeks, I've been at the children's store, Janie and Jack, photographing some absolutely adorable kids! Between the cute clothes and the sweet kids, it's definitely been a photographer's dream. Here are a few photos from JJ. I wish I could upload them all!

Brady is already 6 months!

2010-03-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

Wow...time really does fly! Brady's 6 month session was yesterday and he just keeps getting more handsome every time I see him. He was pretty much all smiles today, such a happy little boy! Here are a few and I can't wait for his 9 month session. We get to really go outside and have fun for that one!

Katia and Denis

2010-02-09T20:37:00.000-08:00

Things have been so hectic lately, I am so sorry this blog is so late. I definitely wanted to share some of these beautiful photos of this wonderful couple Randy an I photographed on 2.7.10!

Katia and Denis make a beautiful couple! Randy and I were so pleased that we were able to photograph their intimate wedding. Katia even braved the cold air and we were able to take some beautiful shots outside. She looks absolutely gorgeous! Who knew that it was less than 30 degrees outside!

Best of luck to the happy couple! Here are a few photos from their wedding.

Please Help Me!

2010-02-06T21:04:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, I photographed two gorgeous 3 month old twin girls. Isabella and Sophia were born prematurely, but they are doing beautifully now. Their mother, Dana, has been raising money for the March of Dimes, and I have decided to help her out!!! From now until April 1st, I am donating a portion of every photo session booked. You can schedule the session for a later date, just book the appointment before April 1st! Please help me raise money for this cause.

The March of Dimes is a wonderful organization that helps premature and sick babies that are unfortunately born everyday. Their work has saved so many babies lives. As a baby photographer, I find this organization to be so important.

So if you have thought about scheduling a session for any reason - baby, family, engagement, or senior photos, please think about booking the appointment know.

Please tell your friends about this special offer. If you book a session with me, you will also be helping this tremendous organization. If you have any questions, please email me at kellyg@kgphotographics.com or call me at 860-368-8011

Sweet Sweet Isla

2010-02-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Isla's 6 month session. You would think that i would get used to my babies growing so fast, but I don't. She is just such a precious baby. With her bluest of blue eyes and her chubby little legs (which I find the cutest thing), I could photograph her all day!

Winter Wonderland

2010-02-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

I really do not think this winter as been that bad so far. I can definitely remember others that New England got a lot more snow. We just missed a huge storm that rocked the East coast. Even though the cold winter keeps most of my clients from going outside, I do think it can make a beautiful background for photos. I had to share this one of Addison that I took recently.

Griffin

2010-01-26T20:23:00.000-08:00

The long awaited Griffin has finally arrived! Just a quick look at his parents, Shannon and Kevin, you can see that they are just beaming from ear to ear. He is just so adorable!

Griffin did great today! He was definitely a joy to photograph. Here are a few from our session today.

Kevin already has plans for Griffin! USF!!!

I love the hat!

My First Twins!

2010-01-25T21:54:00.000-08:00

Well, it sure has been a while since I have posted anything. The holidays just seemed to take over. I still haven't had a chance to take all of my decorations down. That's okay, I love Christmas time. Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I know that I am looking forward to 2010. So far, it has been pretty good!

I recently posted a request on my Facebook business page for someone with newborn twins. And in this small world, a good friend of mine from when I lived in South Florida had a friend, Dana, in CT that has twins. The funny part is, they live about 10 minutes away! Seriously, such a small world!

Well, I contacted Dana and we went to work right away at setting up a session for her gorgeous 3 month old twin daughters, Isabella and Sophia. What sweethearts they are! Isabella is such a sweet baby, I got to hold her for a little while and oh does she make me want to have a little girl of my own (although I will settle for photographing them for a while and I am always open to babysitting for them too). Sophia, another sweetheart, loves the camera. I was actually able to catch Sophia's first smile! This is one of the many reasons why I LOVE MY JOB!!!

Well, here are a few of the many gorgeous photos of them:)

Isabella hamming it up for the camera.

Look at Isabella's gorgeous eyes!

Sisters...This bond is forever.

Isn't Isabella gorgeous?

Sophia's first smile!

Love love love her face!

I just think Sophia is so precious.

Mommy and Daddy comforting the girls.

All I can say is...Aww!

Family full of love!

2009-12-14T22:14:00.001-08:00

Back in 2006, I shot Jen's wedding. We have been friends for many years. She has the sweetest daughter, Sammy, and now an adorable little baby boy, Landon. This is such a great family. I can't get over how wonderful Sammy is. She is such a big help to her mom. Jen got really lucky with her first child, and I think she will be as lucky with the second! Here are a few from the session today. I absolutely love the photos of Jen with her kids. I hope to photograph them again soon!

Peyton

2009-12-10T22:57:00.000-08:00

I am so happy that I got to photograph precious little Peyton. This was so special since I was the photographer for her parents wedding in July. Lindsay and Shane have such a beautiful and sweet little girl.

I had a lot fun with the family. When I get to photograph multiple events for people, I really try to get to know them. Tonight, I found out the Lindsay's grandmother lives in Sunapee, NH. Sunapee is one of my favorite places. I used to spend my summers there as a child and absolutely fall in love with it over and over again, every time I go back up there. It was really nice talking about it with someone else.

Lindsay and Shane, thank you once again for letting me share another special moment with you. It was great to see you guys again. Enjoy a peek at the photos.

Photos with a variation of movement and expressions make great collages. I think Peyton is beautiful in this.

Already the best of friends

Doesn't she look like a precious little doll?

Once again, I love baby's feet.

I think Peyton could be a Pampers model!

Three Magic Words

2009-12-06T18:24:00.000-08:00

MUSIC, SKITTLES, & DANCING!!!

These three things are what I discovered were the secret to this family. A client referred me to the O'Connell family and I'm so happy she did. These three darling kids are so precious and so expressive! I had so much fun with them today!

When I first got there, the two girls were not quite sure what to make of me. It wasn't until I asked them to start jumping and dancing on the bed that they decided I was okay! They had such a great time "breaking the rules"(I hope I didn't start a bad habit)! They were dancing and singing to all types of songs like "Dancing Queen" and the Glee soundtrack. I think they know more songs than I do. One thing is for sure, their little brother is going to have his hands full in a few years.

Here is a sneak peek of the photos, enjoy!

What a cutie!

Love Feet!

Taking a rest from jumping

Love this!

Practicing his singing

Sweet

Precious little faces

Best Friends forever

I love this! This is such a "I didn't do it" face

She was using this book as a camera.

Friends

2009-12-05T20:32:00.000-08:00

I love how word travels. I know Shannon, Shannon knows Kim, Kim knows Courtney, Courtney hires me for her baby girl, Kim gets a gift certificate for a newborn session and Shannon will have her newborn session as soon as her little one arrives. All I can say is, thank you Shannon for spreading the word. I think it's great when a group of friends hire me because they have an experience that they can share with each other. Every session is always different. It depends on the baby and what he/she wants to do.

Kim's daughter, Chloe, had her newborn session today. Like her "friend" Nola, she decided to stay awake for the most of the session. At only a few weeks apart, they already think a like. I think there are some great photos from the session.

Heartbreaker in the Making

2009-12-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

What a little cutie Brady is! Today was his three month session and he did great! He's still not sure about tummy time, but I think he's on his way. I can't wait for his six month session. I already have ideas jumping around in my head! Here are some of my favorite photos from today.

Nola

2009-11-08T19:41:00.000-08:00

Nola was such a trooper today! At only two weeks old, I decided to introduce her to a tutu...I think she liked it. We may have a little ballerina on our hand. And, I have to say, it was really fun making it. I think I may have a new hobby!

I can't believe that Nola stayed awake the whole time during our session. It was just amazing. I'm sure she slept well after I left. I think there are some great shots of her. Here is a peek at her photos.

Doesn't she look like a little porcelain doll in the first photo?

She really didn't give me a lot of crying photos, but I did get this one...

Look at how alert she is!

We thought she fell asleep but it was very short lived.

One of the first photos, again, a very short nap, but look at her little smile.

Miss Isla!

2009-10-24T13:08:00.000-07:00

Oh Miss Isla...she is such a sweet baby. I took her 3 month photos this morning and she definitely performed, just like she did for her newborn photos. Out of approximately 300 photos, she gave me a different expression almost every time. I really think she loved being in front of the camera. I had a hard time picking some of my favorites - if it was possible, I would probably post almost 300 photos, but I did narrow it down a bit. I can't wait to see her when she is 6 months, Kelly (her Mom) and I have already made some plans :)

Also, I do have some other photos to post from the past few weeks, I promise I will do them soon!

Day at the Park

2009-10-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

Today was my Photos at the Park day, and I could not have asked for a more beautiful day! I absolutely love fall! I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that booked their sessions with me. I had so much fun with all of you! Since I have so many photos, I will upload them soon. Stay tuned!

Joy

2009-09-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

It doesn't shock me that Little Miss Merritt surprised her parents a little early. At 10 days old, I could tell she is going to have a great personality. What a fantastic baby!! We definitely put her to work today, and I think she did a great job. As new parents, I also think that Christina and Brian were great. Very relaxed and very into the session. Hope you enjoy the following photos.

Little Girls, Big Toys

2009-09-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this months session for Addison was one for the books. Krystal is always so much fun and totally revved up to work on being as creative as we can be. Dan, I just want to say that we made sure that all of your "babies" were very well cared for. Dan was not home for this months session, however, we definitely showed how Addison is going to be a "daddy's girl".

First time

2009-09-22T09:24:00.001-07:00

It's always amazing when I get to be apart of a family outing. This was Ella and Amelia's first time at the beach. They were definitely into it. Amelia reminds me of myself when I was that little. She had no fear of the water, she was ready to dive right in. Ella was very excited to see the water, but she was all about exploring. Thanks Maureen and Chad for letting me experience this with you guys. I think you will be spending a lot of time at the beach next summer! Of course you can call me to come along...I'll take any excuse to spend a day at the beach AND to photograph those adorable girls of yours :)

Beginning of Fall

2009-09-19T20:50:00.000-07:00

The leaves haven't started to fully change yet, but being in such a gorgeous place made me feel like fall is right around the corner. I went to the Quabbin Resevoir today. Since I've never been there before, my first reaction to this place was...it is breathtaking! If you ever want to hike, go there!

This is the place that Amanda and Jim wanted to go to for their engagement session. After this session, I can't wait for their wedding day. They are so much fun AND up for anything. I think there are so many great shots, I couldn't just pick 3 or 4, so here are many more (yes I just rhymed, did not intend to do so).

Beautiful Day at the Beach

2009-09-14T14:23:00.001-07:00

After a few days of rain, I was so happy that I was able to photograph this family at the beach. This was a last minute appointment and I think it worked out great! Everyone was so into the photos, especially Jackie who I think is a future model! Elias, was not sure about me at first, but after a little while he actually came up to me all on his own. That's when I knew the kids were having fun! Here are a few photos from yesterday.

I'm back

2009-09-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I am back. I am sorry for my absence. The last month has been very hectic and while it can be very tiring, it is also very rewarding. I did go on vacation with my in-laws to my favorite place in the world, Sunapee, NH. We were very lucky to come across a beautiful rainbow. While I did not find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I did manage to capture this shot!

Ok, well back to my babies. I've had some wonderful shoots this last month. I want to share with you Brady, he is a very handsome newborn with wonderful parents. Here are a few shots from his session.

Just Beautiful

2009-08-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Day... beautiful couple... beautiful ceremony... beautiful setting. I could keep going. Fernanda and Chris are such a sweet couple, anyone who meets them can see these two were meant to be together. I had a great time photographing their wedding. As I said before, everything was beautiful.

Here is a sneak peek of their photos. I will have the rest uploaded on my site tomorrow. Enjoy!

As the bride explained, "Every marriage needs a little spice..." I LOVE the bouquet.

A little Peanut

2009-08-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

Today, I had another newborn session. I love seeing parents that are so enamored by their baby. You can see the love they have for their baby boy. Their son could barely take his eyes off his parents either. Here is a sneak peek...

Beautiful Family...

Go Huskies!!!

Can't you see the love?!?

Such a little peanut!

This photo just makes me laugh!

I had to take a photo of their dog. At three years old, this dog still acts like a puppy. What a love!

He's starting a little early, but already protesting nap time.

Sleeping sound...well, for a minute.

What a day

2009-07-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

I usually try to write about my sessions the same day that they took place. However, after having my dog get sprayed by a skunk and then proceeded to run through my house, time just got away from me. Well, now that my dog is shaved, and I have spent the day scrubbing my furniture, the smell is still there. I AM getting used to though. Luckily, I do not have any clients coming to my house in the next few days. If you are a client that is coming to my house in the next week, I will light every candle I can find for you!

Well, back to my session. Oh...do I love newborn sessions. And, oh do I love when parents let me take over the house. I went to this great home and had so many ideas. Thanks to the parents, I was able to bring many of them to life. I will definitely say that I left my mark on their house, but I can say that little Miss Isla left hers too. Miss Isla decided to "mark" every place that we put her. I just need to say thank you to her mom, Kelly (what a great name), for putting up with the laundry that I know she had to do after I left. I definitely think the images were worth it!

I am so looking forward to capturing Isla's first year. And Kelly, thank you so much for your call tonight. It always makes my day to hear how much my clients love their photos. I can't wait to see Isla when she is 3 months old!

Here is a preview of Miss Isla's images. I don't think I've metioned it...isn't Isla a beautiful name?

Girls are made of...sugar and spice and all things nice

2009-07-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Today, I started a new baby book. I'm so excited because this is the second one I am doing for this family. I still can't believe that Dylan is already 2. Well, Addison (I love that name), finally came earlier this month and oh do I have plans for her. Since she was already 2 weeks old, we decided to put her to work today. And, after a little fussing, she did great. Here is a little peek at her newborn session. Oh, and of course I had to add in a photo of Dylan.

Lindsay & Shane~A Wonderful Couple

2009-07-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

I had a great time this weekend photographing a wedding for this really awesome, fun couple. I was introduced to them through a friend of mine, so THANK YOU KATHY!!! Kathy also came with me to photograph the wedding. She did a great job! THANKS AGAIN KATHY!

Well...back to the couple, Lindsay and Shane. I could definitely see how much in love they were. Every time I picked up the camera, I saw Shane sneaking another peek at his beautiful bride. It's always so much fun to photograph weddings when the couple just wants to have fun. And their families wanted the same. What a fun group of people they were.

Here's a sneak peek of their day.

Kathy took this photo and I absolutely love it!

A Groom and his men...with beer. What else would you expect?

The photo below is to celebrate, not only their new marriage, but also a new baby. And oh yeah, Lindsay...I'm so jealous. I wish I looked that great when I was pregnant. Congrats again!

The bride with her brother.

I love this one. It seems like they are the only two people in the room. They are so in love.

I Love My Job!

2009-06-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful to be able to do what I do. This weekend, I met a wonderful family. The best thing about my job is that people allow me to share special moments that they may not even know are happening. Watching the bond between this beautiful little girl and her parents was, as always, such a wonderful thing to see.

A New Beginning

2009-06-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

Just like the babies I photograph, I am embarking on a new beginning!! I have been photographing weddings and portraits for about five years since my move back to New England, but it has always been as a side job. Well, after being a bartender, an account coordinator for an advertising and marketing company, a design coordinator for a denim design company, and most recently working for a sign business, I have decided that my calling is to follow my dream and strictly be a photographer.

Capturing moments that people do not even know are happening is when I am at my finest glory! A sneaky smile, and loving glance, or a little tiny hand wrapped around a parent's finger, these are the moments I LOVE to capture.

I am so excited and honestly scared to finally be able to do what I have always dreamed of. When I was thirteen, my parents took me to Jackson Hole, WY. This was the first time my father let me use his manual camera. I LOVE animals and we were watching a moose in the woods. I asked my father if I could take a picture. Being the animal lover that I am, I kept walking towards it (my mother was, of course, yelling at me for being too close), and I snapped my first real photo. To this day, I remember the excitement I had holding that camera for the first time! I still feel the same excitement now!

Many of my past and recent clients may be confused about the change of the company name Kelly Gallivan Photography. Kgphotographics has always meant Kelly Gallivan Photography. Even though I am married now, I am sticking to it!

I want to share with you some of my favorite photographs that I have taken through the years. Please be sure to check back and see my recent work.

Thanks for reading my introduction and I hope to talk to you soon!

Kelly