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I just finished teaching a Family Beach Photography photo session for The Palm Beach Photographic Center FotoFusion 2014. It was a wonderful opportunity to share with my students much of the information I have gleaned from thousands of hours photographing families at the beach.

Family Beach Photography

I thought about titling this blog: All Dressed Up With No Place To Go,  What Can Go Wrong, Will or Three Strikes And You Are Out.. At the location secured three weeks before the class, we had permission to photograph but had to pay for parking. It turned out the day of, we received free parking passes but were not allowed to photograph. My two families with their young children were incredibly patient as we moved to a second location. Since we were not going to be able to photograph at the beach, I figured we could create the same type of portraits, with similar lighting techniques and students could learn from the experience.

Family Beach Photography

After going through two very useful lighting setups, again we were asked to leave the location. The gate was going to be locked and we needed to be on the other side of it. No worries, next to that site was a place I thought I could finish up with more candid family photographs and give the students the final part of the workshop. Mom and Dad are in position, the background is good, the light is perfect. About to shoot, once again we are asked to leave. No worries. I resorted to begging. It worked with the promise of being quiet.

Family Beach Photography

The students appreciated the experience. Lesson learned, you can make plans but when reality takes over, go with the flow and do the best you can!!
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As an equine photographer and equestrian for over thirty years, I like bringing new approaches to photographing horses and riders. Typically, locations are at a stable, a pasture nearby, or at a horse show. Clothing may be jeans, jodhpurs or show clothes. Thinking outside the box I look for alternatives for locations and clothing.

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Last fall, I purchased Sarco, a four year old Irish Sport Horse/Belgium Warm blood by Darco. I thought long and hard about what photographs I would like to make of him. One of my hobbies is International Ballroom Dancing. Dancing and riding have so much in common. You have a partnership. You need balance, rhythm, timing and precision. You can’t worry about the last step you took or you will miss your next step. You may have a course to complete at a horse show, or a quickstep routine for a competition. Every time I ride I am looking to be one with my horse. Moving across the ground, rising and falling I feel our energy. I had my photo assistant make my dreams a reality. Wearing one of my ballroom gowns I climbed aboard Sarco and went for a ride.

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Equestrian Photography

Next time you decide to schedule a portrait session for your horse, let’s brainstorm and come up with what best represents the relationship you and your horse have.

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Equestrian Photography

Most of all, have fun!!
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With spring upon us, my studio in Palm Beach, Florida relocates to The Hamptons in New York for the summer. There are always a few weeks where travel elsewhere is possible. This year my trip started in Los Angeles. It was marked with the special occasion of my older son’s twenty-fifth birthday. He accepted a new job in February 2013 and relocated from Santa Barbara. Less familiar with LA, I was looking forward to seeing his new apartment, where he worked and the neighborhood he lived in.

After a walk up the mountain behind his apartment, our first stop was to The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. I have always wanted to see it. It houses European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and European and American photographs.

Deborah Kalas Photography Travels West
J. Paul Getty Museum

The museum has beautiful gardens. With mountain side viewpoints of Los Angeles, I was able to see in the distance where my son’s new job is, a magnificent modern structure “Downtown”. Wandering around the outside of the building was as interesting as the artwork.

From Los Angeles, Jan, his girlfriend Allie and I traveled to Santa Barbara for the weekend. We took a horse trip high into the mountains in Goleta and could see the ocean from the highest point. We went to a lovely French restaurant off the beaten path for his birthday dinner. Of course the occasion had to be marked with a portrait of Jan and Allie. Sunday we went to the art fair held regularly along Cabrillo Boulevard. Over two hundred artists show their wares.

Deborah Kalas Photography Travels West
Jan and Allie

When the weekend was over we returned to Los Angeles. On Monday I spent the day food shopping to make the traditional meatloaf farewell dinner. I flew back to Florida to wrap up business, delivery equestrian portraits to dressage clients and drive north to East Hampton.

Along the way, I came across a mustard field full of horses. With “My kingdom for a horse” as my mantra, I had to stop.

Deborah Kalas Photography heads North
Virginia

The studio in Palm Beach had started in 2000 when I took my champion jumper to the Winter Equestrian Festival to compete. After winning circuit champion in 2007 he is now retired and lives on a beautiful giant farm with endless pastures in Virginia. I stop and see him going to and from Florida. These days, he has found a pasture buddy. They equally torment each other for entertainment. Adam, the dark brown horse, looks strong, feisty and full of himself for a thirty year old. He gets an entire bag of carrots and some apples too!!

Deborah Kalas Photography Travels To Virginia
Adam

The final leg back to East Hampton I see a tranquil horse in a giant field of wheat. I contemplate times past with a quiet peacefulness and feel thankful for all of my adventures.

Deborah Kalas Photography Travels Through Maryland
Maryland