Kathy Martin Photography

Becky & Jared

2011-08-15T17:29:00.005-04:00

August 6, 2011

Ceremony - Cleona Campmeeting

Reception - Becky's family farm

Catering - Dolly Martin

Flowers - Linda Bomberger

Cake - Cheryl Maulfair

DJ - The Shuey's

Ayla & Tim

2011-06-24T18:06:00.006-04:00

Ceremony & Reception - The Settlers Inn

Cake & Catering - The Settlers Inn

Flowers - Michael O'Neill/House of Flowers

Band - Erin McClelland Band

Krista & Chris

2011-06-16T15:14:00.002-04:00

June 12, 2011

Ceremony: Shippensburg University, Old Main

Reception: Shippensburg University, Conference Center

Cake: Fancy Cake Shop

Flowers: Brian Fritz

Catering: Chartwells

DJ: Phantom Shadow

Videographer: Matt Baker

Eye candy!

2011-01-24T11:20:00.004-05:00

Brrrr! Baby it's cold outside. How about a little eye candy to warm you up? Take a peek at the "albums and more" section under my favorite links to see a few images of Emmalee and Jason's beautiful flush mount wedding album.

Melissa & Josh

2010-11-24T14:40:00.009-05:00

November 13, 2010

Ceremony: St. Stephen's Episcopal

Reception: Holiday Inn Harrisburg East

Cake: Carol Carson

Flowers: Hammaker's Flowers

DJ: Celebrations

Megan & Rich

2010-11-02T15:27:00.008-04:00

10-30-10

Ceremony and reception: Appleford Estate

Catering: Perfect Settings

Flowers: Marcus Hook Florist

Cake: Master's Bakery

Band: Ken Battista Band

Laura & Matt

2010-10-18T09:15:00.009-04:00

10.09.10

Ceremony: Our Lady of the Snows

Reception: Lackawanna Station Hotel

Flowers: William Edward Florist

Cake: Jentastic Sweets

DJ: EJ the DJ

Patty & Brian

2010-10-06T09:50:00.005-04:00

September 25, 2010

Ceremony & reception: Tedd's on the Hill

Flowers: Country Flowers

DJ: Cherry Bomb Entertainment

Erin and Joel

2010-09-10T09:53:00.005-04:00

September 4, 2010

Ceremony & Reception: The Carlisle Ribbon Mill

Cake: Fancy Cakes

Catering: Schaffer's Catering

DJ: Sound Waves

AG|WPJA news!

2010-09-10T09:42:00.002-04:00

A happy end to a great week! I received an e-mail yesterday that the quarter 2 contest results were in from the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (AG|WPJA). A lovely ring detail from Becca and Josh's July wedding was awarded 17th place in the "Ring Details" category. It is worth it to take a few minutes to browse through all of the winning images in each category. There is some amazing talent out there!

Flashes of Hope | 2010

2010-08-16T14:19:00.005-04:00

I had the honor again this year to visit Camp-Can-Do in Mt. Gretna and participate in a Flashes of Hope photo shoot. From the Flashes of Hope website:

Flashes of Hope is a nonprofit organization that changes the way children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses see themselves through the gift of photography and raises money for pediatric cancer research.

I photographed 13 campers this year. For the second year in a row, it was a very hot and humid morning. A BIG thank you to our camp coordinator and volunteers for making it all possible!

Becca & Josh

2010-07-19T10:36:00.005-04:00

July 18, 2010

Venue & catering: The Valley Green Inn

Flowers: Friend of the couple

Live music: Bob Sima

DJ: John Chadne

Kooper - 9 month session

2010-07-19T10:28:00.002-04:00

Brad and Angelina braved the heat last week and brought their delightful little boy, Kooper, for a visit. He is 9 months old and just the sweetest, happiest baby!

Baby Finn

2010-07-06T15:15:00.002-04:00

Just shy of one month old!

Elizabeth & Eric

2010-06-24T16:25:00.006-04:00

June 13, 2010

Ceremony: Lebanon Valley Bible Church

Reception: Bride's family farm

Flowers: Touch of Creation

Catering: Country Home Catering

Cake: Erica Bachman & Coldstone Creamery

Lindsey & Brendan

2010-06-24T16:11:00.007-04:00

June 12, 2010

Ceremony: St. Joseph's

Reception: Mulberry Art Studios

Flowers: Flowers by Heather Ann

Catering: Chef Jeff's Catering

Cake & cupcakes: Sugar Petals

DJ: T-minus

Kandice & Zach

2010-06-04T17:18:00.007-04:00

Ceremony & Reception: Box Hill at Regents Glen

Flowers: The Strawberry Shop

Cake: Providence Divine Cakes and Pastries

Cupcakes: Just Cupcakes

DJ: Jay King, Jaybird Entertainment

Pianist: Greg Maroney

(watch their slide show in hi-res if you can!)

Parker is 1!

2010-05-24T16:32:00.003-04:00

Happy birthday Parker! I can't believe you're one already. Where does the time go? For your birth session last year I remember making a mad dash through the hospital parking lot in the rain and barely making it upstairs in time. Whew!

Meggan and John

2010-05-03T15:08:00.005-04:00

Meggan and John: May 1, 2010

Ceremony: Prince of Peace Church

Reception: Harmony Hall

Cake: About Weddings

Flowers: Pamela's Flowers

Entertainment: B & B Light & Sound

Videography: Deswert Productions

Pup-E-Palooza Studio Special - Central Pa. Pet Photographer

2010-04-26T09:50:00.003-04:00

Thank you to the brave souls who came out in the drizzle for Pup-E-Palooza yesterday! The dogs and I appreciate it. :-) I know the weather kept people indoors yesterday, so I am sharing the P.E.P. special for those who couldn't make it out on Sunday.

Call (717.475.8433) or e-mail (kathy@kathymartinphotography.com) the studio before this Saturday, May 1, to reserve your Pet Portrait Session and receive an extra $100 studio credit! Reserve your session before May 1, we'll schedule it for a future date and take advantage of the extra studio credit!

Pup-E-Palooza 2010!

2010-04-21T11:15:00.002-04:00

Please join me Sunday, April 25, 2010 from 12 - 4 pm, rain or shine at Elizabethtown College's Brinser Field for Pup-E-Palooza 2010! You can find directions and more information by clicking HERE to go the the K9 Club's website.

This year proceeds from Pup-E-Palooza benefit: Castaway Critters, Homeward Bound Animal Rescue, and GoldHeart Golden Retriever Rescue. The event includes pet friendly vendors (moi!), live music, food, raffles, games, and much more!

It's a great afternoon out with your two and four legged loved ones. I will be donating a studio Pet Portrait Session as a raffle prize this year and am offering a Pup-E-Palooza Studio Portrait Special for the first time this year!

If you can't make it to Pup-E-Palooza but would like information on the Portrait Special you can get more information and updates by (1) calling the studio @ 717-475-8433, (2) becoming a Facebook Fan to follow our updates or (3) check back to the blog next week!

Hope to see you Sunday!

KMP on FB!

2010-03-16T12:41:00.002-04:00

I'm happy to share that Kathy Martin Photography is now "officially" on Facebook! Visit my "Fan Box" to your right to follow the studio on Facebook. Thank you!

Baby Lukas

2010-03-04T18:38:00.004-05:00

Welcome baby Lukas! Did I mention that I love babies? Lukas and his mom and grandma stopped by the studio this afternoon for his newborn session. Although he is two weeks old, he was born a bit early and his actual due date was only yesterday! And yes, his hair is really that red. :-)

Clients often ask, "When is a good time to photograph my newborn?"

Babies lose that scrunchy, newborn look so quickly! Soon after they are born is good time. My studio is private and warm. Newborn sessions are done at the baby's pace. We take breaks as needed for baby or for mom!

Allison & Matt

2009-12-03T11:59:00.003-05:00

11.28.09

Ceremony - Sacred Heart Basilica

Reception - Wyndham Gettysburg

Flowers - A Little Bit of Love

Cake - Karen Rodkey

Entertainment - Jack Goodman Orchestras

Slide show - here!

Lexi, our new addition!

2009-11-30T20:29:00.002-05:00

I can't help but share a personal post about our new addition! We adopted Lexi yesterday from Homeward Bound Animal Rescue. We thought about adding another dog to our family for quite a while and my husband actually spotted Lexi on HBAR's website. We completed our adoption application and got to visit Lexi in her foster home after we were approved. Her foster parents did a great job with her because she is a sweetheart! Our best guess is that she is a Papillon-Dachshund mix??? But who knows for sure! She is about 4 months old, weighs 5 whole pounds and is fitting in well with the rest of our critters. We love her!

Kate & Steve

2009-11-19T08:05:00.003-05:00

11.14.09

Ceremony & Reception: Riverdale Manor; Lancaster, Pa.

Flowers: Petals and Beans

Music: Occasions Disc Jockeys

Slide show: click HERE!

Herbie

2009-11-14T11:27:00.002-05:00

Look who came by the studio for a visit this morning...Herbie! Herbie is 10 1/2 months of puppy energy wrapped up in an adorable boxer/beagle mix. Enjoy your sneak peek!

Jamie & Daniel

2009-10-13T19:30:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Jamie and Daniel who were married 10.10.09 at the gorgeous Box Hill Mansion in York! Jamie and Dan are wonderful and Box Hill is just colorful, inside and out. They have amazing gardens and the view from the ceremony site is incredible! Click here to share in more of Jamie and Dan's lovely, elegant wedding!

Jennifer & Michael

2009-09-28T19:39:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Jen & Mike who were married September 26 at the Loch Nairn Golf Club in Avondale, Pa! I seem to be having a run lately of clients who decide to see each other before their ceremony...and it turned out to be a very good decision on Saturday! There were a few sprinkles during their outdoor ceremony but literally the minute everyone was tucked inside to enjoy the cocktail hour the sky let loose and it poured. I love it when a plan comes together! Click HERE to share in more of the fun!

Emmalee & Jason

2009-09-22T13:54:00.003-04:00

If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady,
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?

"If I Were a Carpenter"...Johnny Cash

Congratulations to Emmalee and Jason who were married September 19 at Friedman Farms in Dallas, Pa! Among the many delightful things at their wedding, I must mention that I looooved the song they chose for their first dance. Yeah, Johnny Cash! Emmalee shared with me that Jason used to work in construction and he would sing that song to her when they were dating. Awww. :-) Emmalee and Jason also decided to see each other before their ceremony so we arranged their "first look" at the coolest little spot: Sweet Valley Cottages. Chick here to share in their first look and for a few more of my favorites from their big day!

Rebecca & Henoch

2009-09-08T20:21:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Rebecca and Henoch who were married September 6 at the beautiful Burnside Plantation in Bethlehem, Pa! I love historic properties and Burnside certainly fits the bill:

Burnside Plantation was an integral part of the Moravian farming system and the homestead of James Burnside, a Moravian missionary and county representative. Situated in a park just one-half mile from downtown Bethlehem, along the Monocacy Creek, the historic site retains its 18th and 19th-century farmhouse and summer kitchen.

Rebecca and Henoch were able to use the farm house porch for their badeken and the summer kitchen as their yichud room. Their ceremony was held at the top of the plantation's apple orchard. Click HERE for some more of my favorites from their day!

Janine & Ryan

2009-08-24T22:52:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to Janine and Ryan who were married August 22 at The French Manor in South Sterling, Pa! Against all predictions, we had a hot, humid but dry day! Janine and Ryan decided to see each other before their ceremony so we had their "surprise" first look in front of the manor. You can see it HERE in their slide show...along with much more from their gorgeous wedding!

Flashes of Hope 2009

2009-08-11T20:25:00.002-04:00

I had the absolute honor earlier this week to visit Camp-Can-Do and participate in a Flashes of Hope photo shoot. From the Flashes of Hope website:

Flashes of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating uplifting portraits of children fighting cancer and other life threatening illnesses.

It was a very hot morning and a great joy to meet the kids! This is one instance where I really hope that the portraits speak for themselves. (Which means I'm keeping my typing short and sweet!)

Bethany & Jim

2009-07-13T16:03:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Bethany and Jim who were married July 11! They held their ceremony at Our Lady of the Visitation in Shippensburg and then it was off to The Orchards in Chambersburg for their fun filled reception. And did I mention how much Grandma LOVED to dance!?! Bethany was a bridesmaid in Tamara and Mark's wedding so it was great to see her again for her wedding day. More from Bethany & Jim's big day HERE. :-)

Ozzy's 7th birthday!

2009-07-07T11:01:00.003-04:00

Happy birthday to our beloved fur baby Ozzy who turned 7 on July 4th! As usual, he enjoyed his yummy birthday pupcake and s'more from the Doggie Delights Bakery and Boutique. The last picture cracks me up! The chickens (Olive in the photo) are noticing that Ozzy is eating his birthday snack and are honing in to see if they can scarf any crumbs. Silly birds!

Amanda & Josh

2009-07-06T17:43:00.004-04:00

What did you do for the Fourth of July? I spent the day photographing Amanda and Josh's most amazing wedding at Masland Mansion in King's Gap State Park. What an amazing venue! And very convenient that the "getting ready" rooms were right next door to each other as well. Amanda and Josh didn't see each other before the ceremony...but they did decide to do a little "reach" between the doors! Josh's grandmother officiated at their breezy ceremony which had everyone (yours truly included!) reaching for the tissues. It was hard to narrow them down, but there are a few more of my favorites here!

Colleen & Jeff

2009-06-29T15:48:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Colleen & Jeff who were married June 27 at Harmony Hall! It was just about a perfect summer evening for an outdoor wedding ceremony. Colleen and Jeff surprised each other with the inscriptions they had engraved inside their wedding bands. I love the look on their faces as they read them for the first time! Jeff is a pilot and he and several of his pilot friends serenaded Colleen at the reception...a-la Top Gun...with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling"! Classic! And because I just can't help myself...a slide show with more of my favorites is HERE!

Casey

2009-06-25T15:06:00.002-04:00

A big "thank you" to Casey and her humans, Johnna and Deb, who came by the studio on a sunny, warm afternoon recently for her pet session! What a sweet girl! Casey was (well, actually her mom was) the recipient of one of my pet portrait sessions that I donated during Woofstock last year. Being an adopted girl herself, Casey is very supportive of the cause! I give Casey's session two paws up!

Caitie & Andy

2009-06-21T15:51:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Caitie and Andy who were married on June 20 at Felicita Resort in Harrisburg! Oh what a day! From pouring rain to parting skies and rainbows over the Italian Gardens at Felicita. The reception moved indoors to the Garden Room and the Colgan Hirsh Band kept everyone dancing. Have a wonderful time and enjoy your Rhine River cruise!

More favorites = click HERE!

The Knot Fall/Winter 2009!

2009-06-12T17:13:00.004-04:00

If you happen to be in your favorite bookstore pick up a copy of The Knot: Pennsylvania Fall/Winter 2009 issue! The Knot interviewed me a few months ago for their article on page 28, "7 don't miss photo ops". The "swinging" image at the bottom of the page is one of my favorites from Kara & Ben's wedding. :-)

Sarah & Bentz

2009-06-07T18:43:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Sarah and Bentz who were married June 6 at Riverdale Manor in Lancaster. The week of rain gave way to a gorgeous June Saturday! I loooove Riverdale's new Pavilion. And did I mention that the already wonderful day was topped off by an AWESOME fireworks display!?!? Too cool. Have a fabulous time in Malta for your honeymoon! My favorites = click HERE!

Megan & Chris

2009-06-01T12:14:00.008-04:00

Congratulations to Megan and Chris who were married May 29! They held their ceremony at the Shiremanstown UMC and their reception at the Susquehanna Club in New Cumberland. Megan picked beautiful, bright colors, tangerine and watermelon, for her theme. Stunning! After the ceremony we stopped by one of Megan & Chris's favorite places in New Cumberland, Coakleys, where they gave a "shout out" to the newleyweds on the sign out front! The party continued at the reception where everyone had to make room on the dance floor for Chris's mad dancing skillz! Have an awesome time in Jamaica! Click HERE to see a few more... :-)

Vanessa & BJ

2009-05-24T20:30:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to Vanessa and BJ who were married May 23 in Harrisburg! They held their ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda and their elegant reception at the Hilton Harrisburg. The lovely Jonnaysa Kirkham of Planned Perfection coordinated the event and made Vanessa and BJ's day run very smoothly. The affection that BJ and Vanessa have for each other is contagious! Click HERE to see Vanessa & BJ's slide show with more of my favorite images!

Class of 2010!

2009-05-22T13:13:00.000-04:00

THREE DAYS LEFT! DON'T MISS OUT!

Be YOU. It's YOUR year!

Start planning for your senior portrait session NOW!

Book your senior session by May 25 and receive some
delicious FREEBIES!!!

Receive 24 FREE wallets and FREE Facebook photos!

Call the Duncannon studio 717-475-8433
OR
e-mail kathy@kathymartinphotography.com for ALL the info!

Parker's Newborn Session

2009-05-22T13:02:00.004-04:00

Parker and his mom came by the studio for a visit yesterday. He is two weeks old and boy how he has grown since he was born! A few more here. :-)

Stephanie & Antoine

2009-05-18T10:38:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Steph and Antoine who were married May 16! They had their ceremony at the historic Coleman Chapel in Lititz and their reception at Acorn Farms in Mount Joy. I have known Stephanie since she was a little girl and can't believe the beautiful young woman she has grown into! She and Antoine are great together. Have a lovely honeymoon cruise! Click HERE for a slide show with more of my favorites!

Parker's birth story

2009-05-08T20:38:00.002-04:00

I had the absolute honor of joining Beth and her family in the delivery room Thursday for Parker's birth... click for Parker's Birth Story.

Kristin & Scott

2009-04-20T11:10:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Kristin & Scott who were married Saturday, April 18 in Mechanicsburg! They had their ceremony at St. Katherine Drexel Church and their reception at the Holiday Inn West. What a beautiful spring day too. Kristin & Scott's families and friends are great people and great fun! Once again, I found myself tearing up when Kristin danced with her Dad to Jimmy Buffet's "Little Miss Magic". So I had my tissues ready...just in case of course...when Scott and his Mom took to the dance floor and danced to... the Pennsylvania Polka!!! ;-) Have an awesome time in St. Lucia! **Click HERE to see a slide show with more of my favorites!

Fun Bump!

2009-02-23T15:34:00.008-05:00

I spent a lovely Saturday morning with Beth and Rick and their soon-to-be baby boy! It's been a joy to follow their growing family and I can't wait to do this baby's birth session in...hmmmm. Late April? Early May? We'll have to wait a bit and see when he decides to make his appearance! Birth sessions are amazing. There just isn't much more to say about them. Click here for a few favorites from Beth & Rick's last bundle of joy.

Tamara & Mark

2008-12-22T14:26:00.013-05:00

Congratulations to Gracie the bulldog's mom and dad, Tamara & Mark, who were married Friday, December 19 at the beautiful Riverdale Manor in Lancaster! Tamara and I met a couple years ago at Woofstock. She and her sister stopped by my booth and we bonded over dogs and weddings! So I was thrilled to get a call last year when Tamara got engaged and extra excited to learn that their bulldog, Gracie, would be "flower girl".

The weather was wintry outside and inside too. Inside? Tamara's decorator actually made it snow inside the tent when they kissed and were pronounced husband and wife. Way cool if I do say so myself.

Click HERE for a slide show with more of my favorite images from Tamara & Mark's wedding at Riverdale Manor!

Jennifer & Guy

2008-10-27T20:32:00.010-04:00

Congratulations to Jennifer & Guy who were married on a very wet Saturday, October 25! They held their ceremony and reception at the very cool Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore, Pa. Did I mention that it rained? A lot? Kudos to the bride and groom, they took it all in stride and had an excellent event nonetheless! And I know I wasn't the only one with wet eyes when Jen and her Dad danced to John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders". Later on I overheard a guest commenting that "you know it's bad when the photographer is crying, too". Bad only in a very good way! Enjoy your sneak peek and have a great time in Hawaii!

Click HERE to see Jen & Guy's slide show with more of my favorite images from their big day!

Lucy - 8 months

2008-10-21T15:25:00.004-04:00

I can't believe Lucy is 8 months old! I've been a fan since before she was born. :-) This was the first time though that Daddy came along. Yeah! It was a beautiful fall day for some outside shots too. Thanks guys!

Boomer!

2008-10-17T19:45:00.003-04:00

Boom-chick-a-boom! Boomer, his mom and aunt came by this afternoon for his portrait session. Don't let this little guy fool you! There's a lot of dog in that little body! We had a great time around the studio. Thanks Boomer!

Angelina & Brad

2008-10-13T17:24:00.007-04:00

Congratulations to Angelina and Brad who were married October 11 in Altoona! I have to laugh because this post could also be titled "Hi, my name is Kathy and I love dogs, tattoos and beautiful churches!" And, as you can see, their wedding had all of the above. :-) Mt. Carmel is a beautiful church and the Ramada Inn's Tropical Courtyard was a great little oasis for the reception. We also had two very special (and furry!) guests after the ceremony, Lake and Brimstone, Angie and Brad's Brittany Spaniels. The bride wore paw prints! Enjoy your sneak peek and have a great time in Hawaii!

Click HERE to see a slide show with more of my favorites!

Nicole & Brian

2008-10-05T21:51:00.007-04:00

Congratulations to Nicole and Brian who were married October 4 in Hanover! I grew up in Hanover and, as always, it was great to go "home" again. Their ceremony was at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and the reception as at Neiderer's Banquet Hall. I used to swim there when I was younger too. Anyway, enough reminiscing from me... back to the lovely couple! Nicole and Brian are awesome and big Penn State fans to boot. They had an extra special day because the Blue & White won! Have a great time on your cruise!

Click HERE for a slide show with more of my favorites from Nicole & Brian's wedding day!

Alissa & Paul

2008-09-22T11:48:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Alissa and Paul who were married September 20 in Lancaster! I was super excited to be a part of their event because they held their ceremony and reception at the same place we had ours back in 2002...the absolutely beautiful and amazing Mulberry Art Studios! From Alissa's blue 4-inch heels to the rubber-bouncy-balls name "cards", I just loved the details at this wedding. And did I mention that the reception rocked...literally. The Philly based band Animal House got the party started and kept it going! Serious, serious fun!

Click HERE to see a slide show with more of my favorite images!

Woofstock 2008

2008-09-19T16:00:00.009-04:00

Be sure to come out Sunday, September 28 between 11 am and 5 pm and stop by the Kathy Martin Photography booth at the 2008 Woofstock event! We have an absolute blast every year and it's so great to see old friends and meet some new ones... of the two and four legged variety of course! Woofstock is held rain or shine at Riverfront Park in Harrisburg and admission is free. All proceeds from the event benefit the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance Spay/Neuter Fund (CPAA). Hope to see you there!

Pay it Forward update... The Roadside Families Project

2008-09-19T16:00:00.008-04:00

Catch up by checking out my post on the "Pay it Forward" session we had done HERE and the session where I "Payed it Forward" to the Smith family HERE. The "Pay it Forward" sessions have given birth to a brand spanking new blog, "The Roadside Families Project"! We are family #23. The blog will be a vehicle for all of the photographers involved to post images of the families they "payed it forward" to. Whew! That was a mouthful. I think you get the picture. Get it? Get "the picture"??? OK, I'll stop now. :-)

Kara & Ben

2008-09-14T16:48:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Kara and Ben! They were married September 13 at Ben's family home in Ebensburg, Pa. The drizzly weather didn't stop their sweet ceremony in a wooded clearing behind the house. And as you can see, Kara rocked her vintage look! Love, love, love it. Awesome reception too. You know the party is starting when the song for the father-daughter dance is "Freebird"! Kara, Ben and their families are great and I so appreciate being a part of their day.

Click HERE to see a slide show with more of my favorite images from their wedding day!

Rachel & Ryan

2008-09-02T11:54:00.005-04:00

Happy wedding day to Rachel and Ryan! They were married Monday (Labor Day!), September 1 in Shamokin Dam, Pa. at the beautiful and scenic Tedd's on the Hill. A couple after my own heart... they had a very yummy all chocolate wedding cake and everyone toasted the new couple with chocolate milk served in champagne glasses. Mmmmm. Enjoy your sneak peek and have wonderful time in Glacier National Park!

A little something different with a few more of my favorite images from Rachel & Ryan's wedding at Tedd's on the Hill ... I designed a 30 page (8" x 8") sample album and put the album spreads into a slideshow. Click HERE to view the sample album!

I Payed It Forward!

2008-08-29T15:00:00.004-04:00

I got together with the wonderful Smith family to return the "Pay it Forward" photo shoot that my family had with the Cooper's in early August. These are a couple of my favorite images from the session. It was my wish that the Smith's be comfortable and be "who they are". I really didn't give any instructions before the session as to what to wear, etc. During the session I gave very general direction as to where we would be going, where to stand, etc. but really wanted them to "gather round" as they were comfortable as a family. I think it worked! Creatively, for me, I used my lensbaby, which I had been itching to do more with. Beth is the photographer of the group and now she will "pay it forward" to another photographer's family. Can't wait to see that session, Beth! Thanks so much for being a part of it!

Coming soon...

2008-08-21T14:44:00.003-04:00

I "Pay-ed it Forward"! Stay tuned to see some of my favorites from our session...

Gallery Show

2008-08-21T14:28:00.003-04:00

Gallery show update! Some of my favorite wedding images will be hanging for the fall semester at Harrisburg Area Community College's Wildwood Conference Center. Their gallery is on the lobby level. Stop by if you are in the area!

Pay it Forward...

2008-08-02T21:12:00.002-04:00

What's this you ask? Stay tuned to find out!

And here we go! We had the absolute honor of having our very nontraditional (alternative!) family portrait taken by the amazing John Michael Cooper and his wife Dalisa of AltF Photography.

From their home base in Las Vegas, NV, JMC and Dalisa are traveling across the country on their "VeryAltF" workshop tour. Along the way, they are working on their "Roadside Family Portraits - the Pay it Forward" project. We were one of the lucky families selected as part of their Lancaster tour stop. You can see many more portraits on their BLOG.

JMC's idea was to have a common theme for each of the shoots across the country...literally portraits off the side of the road, harsher lighting, come as you are, dress as you usually are (no matching necessary!), bring an item that speaks as to who you are, everyone must be connected/touching somehow, smile or not...hmmm I think you get the idea!

I'll admit that I much prefer being behind the camera rather than in front of it. How many photographers have little or no photos of themselves? Much less a family portrait? That's where the "pay it forward" part comes in and I'm thrilled to be a part of it! By having my family photographed, within a month I will photograph another photographer's family portrait for free...then within a month they will photograph another photographer's family portrait for free and so on and so on! Pay It Forward!

I'm still looking for my "Pay it Forward" subjects! If you are a photographer in the Harrisburg area (or are willing to come to the area!), send me an e-mail at kathy@kathymartinphotography.com and let me know: if you are interested, who is in your family, when was your last family portrait and why you would like to have your portrait done!

Happy birthday...

2008-07-04T15:19:00.004-04:00

... to our much loved dog, Ozzy! He is six years old this year. We aren't sure of the exact day he was born, we adopted him when he was about 8 weeks old, so it is sometime around this time and the 4th is easy to remember! Daniel is holding Ozzy's Carob & Cream Filled Pup-E-Clair from "Doggie Delights Bakery & Boutique". We went to their Linglestown Road location and it smells like a bakery when you walk inside! Mmmmmm, so yummy. Ozzy will sit and stay and be a very good, alert boy for a cookie..or any other morsel of food for that matter. And I love how he has to stick his whole snout in the grass to make sure he didn't leave any crumbs behind. Happy tails and happy 4th of July too!

AGWPJA news for June!

2008-06-13T09:53:00.003-04:00

The results are in for the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association's (AGWPJA) 2008 Quarter 1 Contest. The image above, from Janet & Paul's intimate February wedding, earned me a 5th place finish in the ceremony category. The top 20 images in each category are recognized. This is the highest I've ever placed and I'm very happy and very humbled. Click here for a direct link to my image and please browse through the other winning images and categories. There are some amazing moments!

Athena & Gary

2008-06-09T17:03:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Athena & Gary who were married on a very hot June 7 in Harrisburg! Athena and Gary decided to see each other before their ceremony and it worked out very well. We went to Italian Lake and Gary waited, back turned, as Athena strolled down the path toward him. I love the look on his face as he turned and got his first glimpse of his beautiful bride-to-be!!! I hope you have a wonderful time on your cruise! Click below to see a slide show with more of my favorite images from Athena & Gary's big day!

Elijah

2008-05-29T09:55:00.004-04:00

I spent a lovely morning recently with Elijah and Becky, his human "mom", exploring his favorite park. What a sweet guy! He is a seven year old Lowchen. Yes, I admit it...I had to "google" "Lowchen"! They are described as "small, bright, lively dogs" and indeed he is. Elijah and his mom were the winners of the raffle for the "Kathy Martin Photography Pet Portrait Session" during April's Pup-E-Palooza event. Enjoy your sneak peek!

Laura & Jared

2008-05-27T11:27:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to Laura and Jared who were married May 24, 2008 in Scotland! Scotland, Pa that is! They were blessed with lovely weather for their wedding day and it is obvious spending time with them that they are blessed to have each other. And beautiful too ... inside and out! Congrats again you two!

Click below to view a slide show with more of my favorites from their big day!

M.'s Boudoir Session

2008-05-15T10:09:00.004-04:00

Is she beautiful or what?!? M. joined me in the studio for a very fun boudoir session. I know I had a blast and I think she did too. As you can see, names have been "abbreviated" to protect the innocent! Well, at least to help keep the surprise. :-) Thank you for giving me the "OK" to share a sneak peek of your session!

Stephanie & Rob

2008-05-05T13:37:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to Stephanie and Rob who were married May 3 in Butler, Pa.! They held their reception at the historic Cornerstone Commons in downtown Butler. Stephanie and Rob are so sweet together. Unfortunately the rain derailed our plans for any outdoor fun but I think we did really well anyway! Hopefully the sunshine will follow you to Mexico for your honeymoon! Have a great time!

Click below to see a slide show with more images from Stephanie & Rob's big day:

Leah's senior session

2008-04-22T13:41:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Leah's senior session a few days ago. It's so nice to have warmer weather too! We were able to venture outside after doing some images in the studio. Leah is a great athlete and definitely wanted a casual feel for her session. Enjoy!

Don't forget: Pup-e-Palooza this Sunday!

2008-04-22T11:01:00.001-04:00

Sunday, April 27 from 12 pm - 4 pm at Elizabethtown College. Yes, it's that time again, Pup-e-Palooza! Pup-e-Palooza is a great, free event sponsored by the K9 Club of Elizabethtown College and held at the college's Brinser Athletic Field. Come out and meet some adoptable pets (and me!) and enjoy activities and music throughout the day. Proceeds benefit A Tail to Tell, Furry Friends Network, and The Dog's Den. Hope to see you there!

Baby Luciana

2008-03-25T12:54:00.004-04:00

Stinkin' cute. Probably don't need to say more than that!

Remember Claire's maternity session from January? She went into labor the day after her session and this little cutie is the result! Luciana is almost 8 weeks old. And stinkin' cute. :-) Her hobbies are trying out different hair do's, stylin' hats and checking out her toes!

Meet & Greets!

2008-03-19T10:10:00.006-04:00

Mark your calendars - there are two upcoming "Meet & Greet" dates! No appointments needed, stop in at your leisure to say "hello" and enjoy everything going on around us.

First date: Saturday, March 29 at my Duncannon studio. My little "open house" will coincide with the Penn Township Parks and Recreation Department's ... well let's call it a community day! The Parks and Rec folks will be hosting lots of things that day: a chicken BBQ, and yard/craft and plant sales among them. Click HERE for directions. I will be in the studio between 9 am and 12:30 pm that day and would love to see you!

Second date: Sunday, April 27 from 12 pm - 4 pm at Elizabethtown College. Yes, it's that time again, Pup-e-Palooza! Pup-e-Palooza is a great, free event sponsored by the K9 Club of Elizabethtown College and held at the college's Brinser Athletic Field. Come out and meet some adoptable pets (and me!) and enjoy activities and music throughout the day. Proceeds benefit A Tail to Tell, Furry Friends Network, and The Dog's Den. Hope to see you there!

(AG)WPJA news for February!

2008-02-27T17:18:00.003-05:00

Got some great news today! I found out that one of my images from Tara & Jesse's wedding placed in the latest contest for the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association. The contest recognizes the top 20 images in each category; my image placed 18th in the "Ceremony" category. A direct link to the contest and image can be found HERE. This photograph was taken just before the ceremony was to begin. The bridesmaids are waiting inside Jesse's family's 200 year old farm house. In addition to the "moment" of the girls peeking at what's happening outside, I love the composition and graphic qualities of the farmhouse itself. Thank you again Tara & Jesse!

Jennie's senior session

2008-02-19T15:14:00.005-05:00

Haven't had your senior pictures done yet? As you can see, it's not too late. Jennie is a beautiful girl, inside and out! Here are a few of my favorites from our in studio session. I had a blast shooting it in the studio (and I think Jennie did too!). I'm finding that I'm really loving shooting in the studio and I'm so happy to have that as an option for my clients!

Caiden, 18 months

2008-02-13T20:11:00.003-05:00

Caiden and his mom visited the studio this week for his 18 month session. Such a cutie! I've been photographing Caiden ever since his birth. Literally, his birth session! Click here for a slide show with some images from his birth session. He was FULL of energy the day of our shoot and so much fun. Thanks guys!

Janet & Paul

2008-02-02T16:30:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Janet and Paul who decided to make Groundhog Day their wedding day in Harrisburg! They held a lovely, intimate ceremony in front of about a dozen of their closest family members and friends. Thank you both for inviting me to share in your special day. Have a wonderful time in Aspen!

Claire + Bump =

2008-02-01T16:13:00.001-05:00

...one awesome session! Usually I like to do maternity sessions somewhere around the seven month mark but Claire's session goes to show you that there is really no wrong time. She and her husband Mike are due with their first, a baby girl, on February 6. That's right, ONE week away.

She was an absolute trooper as we headed out for her session on a sunny but cold day. Can't ask for much more than that in January now can you? And she rocked those high heels too!

Claire, my dear, thank you! This was so much fun and I can't wait to photograph your newborn. Blog readers, stay tuned for Claire and Mike's newborn photo shoot ... coming soon!

***UPDATE!!!*** Claire went into labor the DAY AFTER our session. Luciana Claire, 7 lbs. 12 oz., was born at 1:30 am Groundhog Day! Congratulations Claire and Mike! I can't wait to photograph your new little one!

More blast from the past...

2008-01-28T11:36:00.000-05:00

Just a moment while I wipe away the tears from LAUGHING so hard that I'm crying. Another blog post that I just have to share. The List of the Day sums it all up: "Total frickin' awesomeness from Olan Mills, Sears and other fine portrait studios." The author's comments are just as funny as the images themselves. Now I really need to dig out some of my old photos because that could have been me in just about any of their examples. OK, so who wants their image inside a brandy glass???

U2-3D Baby!!!

2008-01-25T21:17:00.001-05:00

Any other U2 fans out there? Well I guess at least once on the blog I will have to let loose with a post for my favorite band! Last night we headed to the Whitaker Center for a double dose of U2 mania. Vertigo//USA, an awesome U2 tribute band out of Chicago, performed in the Sunoco Performance Theater before the premiere showing of the 3-D Imax movie, U2-3D.

Vertigo//USA has a really great sound. Their covers were pretty much spot on and an excellent imitation/interpretation of the actual band. I grabbed a few snapshots with my small digital point and shoot sans flash. So please excuse the small digital P & S sans flash look but enjoy the pictures!

If you've never had the opportunity to enjoy the near religious experience that is a U2 concert ... well all I can say is just go and see the movie! We saw U2 in Philadelphia on their 2005 Vertigo tour. Best.Concert. Ever! U2-3D was filmed during that tour and it's the next best thing to being there! Plus, we look really cool in the 3D glasses. OK, well maybe not. ;-)

Yes, the last photo is dear hubby (who ALWAYS smiles when he sees a camera pointed in his direction), myself (just about the worst self portrait I've ever taken), and dear son (whose mother tortured him by making him get his picture taken). Fun, fun, fun!

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T20:25:00.000-05:00

Wow, if you are like me, you might say this every year...but this past year has just flown by! It wouldn't have been the year it was without all of my wonderful clients. A HUGE thank you to you all. I am super excited for 2008!

Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy New Year!

(AG)WPJA news!

2007-12-21T15:58:00.000-05:00

This was wonderful news and an early Christmas present for me! The results are in for the 2007 third quarter contest for the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalist Association. The image above, from Tara and Jesse's September wedding, placed seventh in the "Ring Details" category. The direct link to the contest image on the (AG)WPJA site is HERE.

The top 20 images in each category are recognized with the top ten garnering an invitation to join the (AG)WPJA. The judge's comments for my image: "Another good use of your surroundings when photographing the rings. The image wash, muted colors and sharp vertical crop all come together to complete this image." Thank you Tara and Jesse!

Thank you...

2007-12-02T20:17:00.000-05:00

...to everyone who came out for the open house today! It was great to see old friends and meet some new ones too. Mother Nature actually held off on the ice and rain a bit which I was very thankful for. And because I had several requests for the recipe for the very yummy (and very easy!) cheese ball ... here you go!

Cheese Ball

2 8 oz. packages cream cheese
2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped celery

Place cheeses in a large mixing bowl. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature until cream cheese has softened. Add celery and mix very well until completely blended. Form into a ball and refrigerate. Roll in chopped nuts before serving.

Enjoy.

Open House this Sunday!

2007-11-29T15:32:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that I would love to see you at the Open House for my new Studio this Sunday, December 2, from 1 pm - 4 pm! Stop by and enjoy some light refreshments. Everyone is welcome, feel free to bring family and friends. Click HERE for more information and directions to the studio.

The images above show you the outside of the building. It was built in 1929 as the schoolhouse for the area. These photographs were taken in September, things aren't quite as green now! Now that the leaves have fallen there is an even better view of the Susquehanna River. Hope to see you Sunday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

I wanted to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. I've been more than blessed this year. The cold front was moving through as we drove home from my parent's house late this afternoon. It was that magic "golden light" through the clouds! These images were taken in the span of about 5 minutes, looking over my front and back yards and with my little digital point and shoot camera. Blessings everyone!

Open House

2007-11-15T11:00:00.000-05:00

On the heels of The *BIG* Announcement, I will be hosting an Open House at the new Studio on Sunday, December 2, 2007 from 1 - 4 pm!

Directions and more information can be found by clicking HERE.

Bring a friend, stop by, say "hi" and enjoy some light refreshments!

The BIG announcement!

2007-11-15T10:40:00.000-05:00

Well, I just couldn't wait any longer. To keep it short and sweet... I have a new studio!

A little background information first. I do most of my work "on location". Obviously with weddings! My home office (OK, my desk) was workplace central. And I was woefully outgrowing it! For several months I had been quietly looking at commercial rental spaces. Not an easy or quick process to find a space that had what I wanted.

Fast forward to late August when a space became available that was just right! After approval from the local powers-that-be, we started to move in in September. Getting everything ready for public consumption truly took a whole lot longer than I thought. But I'm extremely happy with the results!

The building I'm in was built in 1929 as the school house for the area. It's got a really cool atmosphere, chalkboards and all! It's filled with natural light and is a great space to meet with clients. Although I'll definitely continue to do on location work, there is plenty of room to do some "in studio" sessions as well. Yeah!!!

Blast from the past

2007-11-11T19:57:00.000-05:00

This may not fall under the "exciting announcements" category, but I just couldn't resist sharing this blog posting. Sometimes you just need something to tickle your funny bone ... and this did it for me! Especially for those of you who are old enough to remember 1977!

Click to visit a few choice pages (and the poster's comments) from the 1977 JCPenney Catalog. Ah yes, I was a stylin' 10 year old. Now I have to go dig up some pictures!

New additions!

2007-11-08T13:56:00.000-05:00

I guess this counts as exciting announcement #2. :-) Say "hi" to the newest additions to our family! We adopted Max and Meesha last month when they were 8 weeks old. Can you say "stinkin' cute"??? They are brother and sister. Max, aka PorkChop, is the little orange guy and Meesha, aka Miss Naughtypants, is a dilute tortoiseshell color. Ozzy, their canine big brother, isn't quite sure what to make of his new brother and sister yet!

New website!

2007-10-28T17:57:00.000-04:00

This is the first of some exciting announcements that will be coming over the next couple of weeks! The "wedding" side of Kathy Martin Photography officially has its own home - www.kathymartinweddings.com. Stay tuned!

Amber & Barry

2007-10-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Amber and Barry who were married Thursday, October 18 in Dillsburg! Amber and Barry commissioned me for their very intimate ceremony where they exchanged their vows in front of their immediate families. I know you two had a very early wake up call this morning to catch your flight! Have an awesome time in Las Vegas!

WPJA & Brides magazine!

2007-10-12T13:58:00.000-04:00

The results are in for the first ever Brides/WPJA photography contest! From the Brides magazine website:

"Inspired by the pictures our editors have been seeing—images that remind us how poignant and precious (and funny!) every wedding is—Brides asked members of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) to enter their work in our first-ever photo contest.

Pictures were divided up into 10 categories, and after poring over hundreds of submissions, we chose the work in each category that best captured the magic and memories of this day of days.

From hipster groomsmen to precious little attendants, these photographers were able to capture the unique feeling of these couple's wedding days with an especially artistic eye."

I was shocked and thrilled to learn that my image from America & Lin's wedding won 9th place in the "Getting Ready" category! This image is one of my favorite "getting ready" images. The direct link to the image can be found HERE. You can find the full article and all of the featured first place images in the Nov/Dec issue of Brides magazine!

Erica & Ryan

2007-10-01T15:13:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Erica and Ryan who were married Saturday, September 29 in Hanover! After the ceremony we were off to Elicker's Grove Park in Spring Grove for a pig roast. And it was the perfect fall day for it! Erica, Ryan and their families were very warm and welcoming. Have a wonderful time in Hawaii on your honeymoon!

Tara & Jesse

2007-09-09T15:25:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Tara and Jesse who were married September 8, 2007 in Annville! They held their ceremony and reception on Jesse's family's amazing farm. As you can see from the last image, we had a little company for some of the photographs we took after their ceremony! A little company that was very interested in doing a little nibbling. Jesse and Tara are beautiful people, inside and out. Those smiles are contagious! They are also on their way to becoming pediatricians and are taking a much deserved honeymoon to ... I don't know where! Jesse planned it as a total surprise for Tara, and everyone else.

Ozzy for President!

2007-09-09T15:16:00.000-04:00

Well maybe not for president, but please vote for our dog Ozzy to be part of the Patriot News "Best Buddy" pet calendar! Round one of voting has begun and will continue until September 21. Votes are $1 each and proceeds will benefit the Patriot News Newspapers in Education Program. The top 12 pet photos, as voted by Patriot-News readers, will be featured in the 2008 Best Buddy Pet Calendar. Ozzy is #8, click HERE to go to his page. Thank you!

Kristin & Mike

2007-08-19T18:46:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Kristen & Mike who were married Saturday, August 18 in a small country church near Cook Forest State Park! They held their reception at the Clarion River Lodge, a rustic resort and spa overlooking the Clarion River. I had never been to this area before and it is beautiful. It must be gorgeous in the fall when the leaves change! Kristen and Mike are just a really cool, laid back couple and you could see that everyone was having a great time. And yes, I'm a bit envious of where they are going on their honeymoon. Have a wonderful time in Tahiti!

Jessica & Joel

2007-08-13T11:39:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Jessica and Joel who were married August 11 in State College! They held their reception at the historic Nittany Lion Inn. And what a fun reception it was! I laughed. I cried. I laughed so hard that I cried! It's obvious that Jessica & Joel are blessed with a great group of family and friends. I hope you guys have an awesome honeymoon in Bermuda!

Mark your calendars...

2007-08-06T12:26:00.000-04:00

... for Sunday, September 23 and Woofstock 2007! We had a great time at Woofstock 2006 and this year I'm pleased to be an official sponsor for a "Groovy Day of Peace, Love, Music, Fun and DROOL!" From 11 am to 5 pm that day, come down to Kunkel Plaza, Harrisburg riverfront, say hello and support a great cause. Bring a blanket, bring your dog! Did I mention that I love dogs?

Woofstock is FREE and supports the Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance (CPAA) and their "De-Sex in the City" program which offers free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries to those in need. Attractions include bands and acoustic performers, artists, many "pet friendly" vendors, food and rescue groups. The event kicks off with the Grateful Dog Walk at 10 am. Hope to see you there!