Our work with families

The final hints of fall have arrived in Chico, which also brings the end of another season of photography.This last month, we finished our 2013 wedding season and also worked with some sweet, sweet families. While the majority of our work is weddings, we always look forward to photographing families -- families that become great friends to us.

Thank you to all our families who let us into your lives. We are incredibly blessed and are lives are definitely richer because of you. Much Love, K and K and P

And, if there is anyone who wants some last minute family photos, please let us know. We would love to make something work for you in the next week or so.

Ian and Ashley and their cute boys always bring joy to our family. So thankful for them!

Yancey and Leah have worked with us for over three years. So blessed to know them.

Ryan and Megan and their cute boys are such a blessing to us. Sweet friends who will be a part of our lives forever.

These people are family to us; always opening up their home and lives to Kenny and Parker and I. We don't know what we would do without them.

We are always so grateful to work with this family. Over the years, we have photographed two of their weddings, and just feel so blessed by all of them.

And I am just starting to work on this sweet little family's photos. Thank you Anders and Ashley for all of your kindness and generosity. We love you guys.

personalized fine art

We believe that stunning photographs should turn into beautiful pieces of art that hang in your home.For us, we have fallen in love with fine art pieces;  and we are inviting you to do the same.

Don't let your photos simply sit on your computer. Don't just tuck them away in an album. Tell your story on the walls of your home in a perfect way.

We would love to help you create a one of a kind piece of art with your wedding or engagement photos. Please email us today for more details...

Fridays are for Fun

I feel like I was just writing my blog post last Friday, but once again, another week has come and gone.

Enjoyed a pre-thanksgiving feast last night with great friends. The only thing missing was green bean casserole. Yes, I just said that. No judging.

Loved waking up to the sound of rain on Tuesday. It made me nostalgic for Portland. Although having the sun shine two days later, is much better than waiting until next May.

Bought Parker a sweater. He loves fashion.

Took our family photos on Sunday, thanks to the help of sweet friends. Parker rocked his new sweater.

Went to Starbucks this week. Indulged in their buy one get one holiday drinks. It was a great idea.

Spent quality time with friends and laughed a lot. There's nothing better.

Finished editing the last of this year's wedding season. Can't believe we made it. 2014 here we come.

And yes, we watched our first Hallmark Christmas movie of the season... Not sure that this qualifies us as cool anymore, but I sure loved it.

Have a great weekend everyone. I'd suggest a sappy Hallmark Movie to put you in the Holiday spirit ;) Much Love Friends, K and K and P

And because he's the cutest...

A California Ranch Wedding: Cody and Katie

Cody and KatieNovember 9th, 2013 Shaffer Ranch, California "I won't give up on us, even if the skies get rough. I'm giving you all my love..." Jason Mraz Cody and Katie, it seems you are friends with everyone, you are those kind of people. Thank you for your generosity and giving us the chance to be a part of your emotional, beautiful story.

Katie, you stop this. You are stunning.

Because this is totally them...

Fridays are for fun

Oh Friday. I am so glad you are here. It's nice to look back on the week and find some of the little things that made up our crazy life:

Got excited about a free rental from Red Box. Yes people, it's the little things...

Went on a run two mornings in a row and saw the sun rise each time. Puts life in perspective.

Trying to be more grateful. Kenny says I see the glass half empty -- I beg to differ, that I am simply a realist.

Tried to keep the texts to my sister minimal this week. That didn't work.  Dear sister, please move back to Chico.

Visited with a great friend. We laughed and cried. It was the best.

Kenny got a haircut. He's seriously handsome.

Parker is now walking, with the help of a box that he pushes everywhere around the house. He is such an athlete ;)

Decided that a trip to Williams and Sonoma must happen soon. I sure hope they don't run out of stuffing...  It's the best.

Went to Target twice this week.

Only bought gummy bears once.

And as life has been swirling around us, we have felt both deep sadness and great hope. At the end of the day we have to believe that this is not it. We live for something bigger and more beautiful than our own story. "Don't shine so that others can see you, shine so that through you, others can see Him." CS Lewis

our livestream event is now online

Kenny and I were so energized yesterday -- thank you to the many entrepreneurs and photographers who joined us as we streamed live from our office, sharing some of the thoughts on our journey and what we have learned along the way.

And because we heard from some of you who couldn't join us, but wanted to listen in, we have published yesterday's recording. You can view the recording here.

And again, we want to thank you so much for joining us yesterday or maybe now, as you watch this.  It is an honor to know many of you and learn from one another. Please keep in touch. We love hearing from you! Much Love, K and K

janee

This is one of those posts that I never dream of writing. Six days ago, our beautiful friend sat with us in our home. She babysat Parker earlier that evening. And the last text we exchanged, we said, "see you soon." 

There is brevity to life like I've never known.

Our sweet friend Janee, passed away this week. She was struck by a car while riding her bike, and in an instant so many lives changed.

But our lives were changed long before Friday, our lives were changed because of the life that Janee lived. Our lives were changed because she chose to love us all. To love Jesus more than anything, and make sure that her moments mattered.

Janee, you are beautiful. Your kindness marked you. You always found ways to serve others.  You never complained, no matter what was in front of you. You listened. You encouraged. You showed compassion. You didn't want to be the center of attention, instead you found those that needed attention and loved them well. You made people feel like family. You made your family feel like heroes. Janee, you had joy that changed the world.

Thank you for loving Kenny and I. And loving Parker. Thank you for all of your thoughtfulness and the intentional ways that you encouraged us. Thank you for being our friend and spending more time with us, than we ever deserved.

Today, life is different. This accident has shocked a community. We are grieving a great loss on this side of heaven.

But in the midst of this tragedy, I know, with all my heart, that there is also great hope. Janee is whole, she is in heaven with our God. And her life continues to make a difference.

Life is precious. Our days are numbered. Janee taught us so much in the short time she had. She lived a story much bigger than herself. Janee pointed people to Jesus. She loved well. This is a great gift that lives on through her beautiful life.

We love you so much Janee. We are so grateful for the chance to to know you, to call you friend. What an honor. And like we said on Wednesday night, see you soon sister. Until then, you will be greatly missed.

"Hope is the anchor of my soul." Hebrews 6:19 This photo was taken last week. We will treasure it forever. 

A memorial service for Janee will be at 6pm, this evening, Tuesday the 5th at Neighborhood Church in Chico.

Emily's sweet Family

Noah, Emily and MollyChico, California October 2013 "A happy family, is a home."  - Authour unknown The other day, we had the opportunity to do a little session for this sweet family. I should tell you that Emily is a photographer here in Chico, and super talented. I am so blessed to know her, be encouraged by her and to capture her beautiful family.

The view today

So much of me wants to see what lies in front of me. And I don't just mean for today, I want to know what tomorrow and next week will hold, next month and next year.  If I am being really honest, I waste many moments, worrying about tomorrow.

I know I shouldn't live this way. I am called to live in today; the mundane, the exciting, the painful, whatever that might be. I can plan and prepare for tomorrow, but I can't control it. Even when I think that I want to see the entire road right now, I realize it is God's grace, that I can't. So I am learning:

Be fully present today. Live in these moments. Trust God. He is good.

I wish I wouldn't waste my time trying to see the entire path, when what I can see today, is beautiful enough.

A Patrick Ranch Engagement: Miles and Kristen

Miles and KristenSummer 2013 Patrick Ranch Engagement Photos "True love is friendship set on fire." -Laura Hendricks When you meet two people as loving and kind and funny as Miles and Kristen, you will find your life is blessed.

love and lavender feature

We are catching up on the last few months, and thought it would be fun to share some of the publications that we love, and places where our couple's have been featured.Love and Lavender is a resource for wedding inspiration all over the world. Ellen, the editor of Love and Lavender, keeps things simple and showcases so many sweet weddings.

And we were thrilled to share Austin and Emily's July wedding with them.  It is an honor to partner with others in this industry and we are so grateful to work with people like Austin and Emily. Your wedding day continues to inspire.

You can see more of their Long Creek Winery Wedding here.

let's get together

We know that sometimes you just have to do it. You have to throw away fear and doubt, take more risks, and walk towards your dreams.

For months now, we have been dreaming of connecting with more of you; photographers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers. On November 12th at 10:30am we will be broadcasting live from our office to answer many of your questions.

Questions about photography (About the technical side, the creative side, anything you want to ask) Questions about running a business (the financial side, creating systems that work, how to build a business) Questions about working with your spouse Questions about finding a balance in work and life The questions are up to you...

We can't promise that we know all the answers, but we can promise to be honest. To share real life stories, failures and triumphs. To engage in candid conversations about being a business owner. Our goal is  for each of us to walk away encouraged and inspired.

The nitty gritty details: The live broadcast will happen on Tuesday, November 12th 10:30 - 11:30 am PST Meet us in your office, or home; anywhere with a computer, internet and of course a good cup of coffee :) Please email your questions beforehand to kimberly@kstonephoto.com There will also be a live chat room during the broadcast where you can interact with us and each other. Our Livestream Event will be located HERE

We cannot wait! We really believe that together, we can make a big difference in this world and in our industries.  "no one has ever become poor by giving..." -Anne Frank

See you soon friends! K and K

Cannon Beach Portraits: Sophie

SophieClass of 2014 Cannon Beach, Oregon "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt Sophie is a leader, full of joy and passion. We are so grateful for the chance to know her.

a gale vineyards wedding: Keaton and Ashton

Keaton and AshtonSeptember 21, 2013 Gale Vineyards, California "Love is walking in the rain together" -author unknown Keaton and Ashton are generous, thoughtful and incredibly talented. They are the kind of people who make a stormy wedding day beautiful, simply because of who they are.

Ashton, you are beautiful.

Because of the rain, these two had their first look indoors.

And then we got some beautiful moments of light without a drop of rain...

The reception was held under a tent with stunning details...

fridays are for fun

Well here we are, it's already Friday, which means it's time for us to share some of the highlights from our week:

We are finding that most of our days begin long before the sun comes up. This is only because Parker loves the  five o clock hour. If you know anything about me, you know that I am not a morning person. I didn't even know it was possible to function at this time of day ;)

Enjoyed seeing quite a few friends this week. With life being so crazy for us, I feel like all of our visits were long overdue. Feeling thankful.

I think it's safe to say, we are loving every moment of these gorgeous fall evenings here in Chico.

As some of you may have seen on Facebook, we found the biggest spider EVER last night . I would show you a picture, but I can't even stand to look at it. This is scary stuff, people.

It was a big week for Parker:  He started eating cereal and crawling. Goodbye old life. The adventures have officially begun :)

Shot a lovely family session last night. Which reminds me, we are booking fall portrait sessions -- please email us for details.

Went to the dentist this week and had no cavities. Bring on the candy corn... (In case my dentist  is reading this, don't worry, I always limit my intake to one bag per week ;) )

Dreaming about our next trip to Cannon Beach. We just got home last Thursday, and already miss our favorite place in the world.

And in case you missed, we shared some big announcements on the blog this week. (see posts below) #kstonenews

Well, have a great weekend friends! We might get really crazy and carve a pumpkin :) K and K and P

This picture courtesy of our iPhone  

join us

As most of you know, we love adoption! We are so thankful for the many organizations that support orphans and birth parents, and provide resources for families looking to adopt. Adoption is beautiful and life changing.

For anyone who has ever invested in our work, we want you to know that you were a part of a bigger story. Because of you, we were able to adopt our son, Parker. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Thank you so much.

For our future clients, we want you to know that 5 percent of every dollar you spend, will go towards adoption and orphan ministries. We are very excited about this!

So will you join us? Join us in loving orphans around the world. Join us as we give to something bigger than ourselves. We can't wait to see what happens! K and K and P

A new season

Since the day we started, Kenny and I have always photographed weddings together. However, many of you know that for the last eight years, Kenny has also worked full time in ministry. Last month, things changed for us when Kenny knew it was time to step out of his position.

Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort and stability. He calls us to take great risks. He is always asking us to do something bigger than ourselves. And deep down, we know we were made for this.

So here we are today: After months of praying, discerning, and talking to others, Kenny and I begin a new chapter of our life. We will work full time, as photographers. We will plan together, dream together, succeed together and at times fail together. We will spend more time pouring into our clients and creating beautiful photographs. We will spend more time with Parker. We will spend more time doing what we feel called to do. It is exciting and terrifying.

So, as we take this risk, we realize that no matter how hard we work, we are not in control. It's a vulnerable place to be, but the best place to be. Ultimately, we are praying that God takes our dreams and our hard work, and ignites this business to do great things.

Feel free to join us. Like we always say, your support means the world to us, especially in this new season. Much Love Friends, K and K and P

"A ship in the port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." -Grace Hopper

the first time ever

The last six months have been full of changes for us. Lots of change.And this week, we are announcing some exciting new things with the business! As for today, for the first time ever, we are offering a gift to our future couples. For the next month, we will be offering 800.00 off of any wedding package, if your wedding falls on a Friday or Sunday. As we move into this new season, we covet the chance to work with many of you and we are always SO grateful for your referrals. Happy Fall friends! So blessed to do what we love! K and K

California Wedding Photographer

This wedding season has been incredible. Each couple has surprised and inspired us. They have given us an opportunity to do something that we love.And so, we  want you to know that we are grateful for you. Our business is built on people; on your referrals and loyalty and trust. Which makes all of you a gift to us. We can only hope to echo your generosity for all the years to come.

"We make a living by what we get, but make a life by what we give." -Winston Churchill

My Summer

Summer has ended. And with that, I realize just how much happened. It was definitely one of those seasons that I felt deeply -- about so many things:

Complete love and awe for Parker. Every day I look at him and cannot believe he is our son. What an undeserved gift. Deep gratitude and pain for Parker's birthparents. Gratitude for their selfless decision that changed our lives; giving us parenthood in a matter of moments. At the same time, there are days when I hurt for them because I just can't imagine how they feel. It's hard to process sometimes. Great grief over losing someone that I love. In May, my Grandpa held Parker for the first and last time. It was a beautiful moment, but so hard to say goodbye to the person who influenced me to laugh more and ALWAYS be generous. I still miss him everyday. Sweet laughter because of my family and friends. Parker just beams with joy. Kenny is the best. And we've had some of the greatest laughs with family and friends this summer. Bittersweet sadness the day my sister moved. Kenny and I have said a lot of goodbyes to friends and family over the years, but this was the hardest. Sometimes you just don't realize how close you are to someone until they move away. Blessed to have a sister like her. Heartache over ministry.  Ministry has been difficult. The kind of season where you wrestle with God over so many questions. And at the same time, you hold onto God with all you have, because you know He is faithful. Incredible joy because I get to do what I love This summer, we have worked with the best people: People who become friends; who influence us, encourage us, and broaden our perspective. We are so grateful for these people who become a part of our lives. Marvelous hope for the future.  I've come to realize that this life is just an opportunity to let God live out His dreams and His heart through us. At the end of the day, we hope our life will be bigger than ourselves.

So we bid the summer goodbye, knowing it changed us, for the better. Thanks for being a part of our crazy adventures that we call life with us. Much Love, K and K and P

We ended our summer in Napa, shooting a beautiful wedding. Here's a snapshot of our afternoon before the wedding. Love us some family time!