Karri's updated bio including childhood photos!

Okay. I've debated. And debated about showing these potentially embarrassing childhood photos below out into the world wide web, but with strong encouragement from my creative team at Karri Brantley Photography, I have decided to share them now. *gulp*

So, I've recently been 'interviewed' for an updated ABOUT KARRI section on my website and when asked how long I have been taken photographs, I talked about my mom and how she always had a camera documenting every inch of my growing years, to include photos that are still in her diary of motherhood. When asked if I had any examples of these photo's, I simply looked down at the ground and quietly said {embarrassingly} yes. And then about 10 seconds later, I then followed it with a "and I know exactly where they are!" Bummer, did I really just say that out of my mouth?!? Well, that, my friends, is how you've been prompted to this wonderful inside look into my childhood and my love of photography! Enjoy.

Here is a sample of the ABOUT KARRI section on our website:

The fastest way to get to know Karri Brantley Photography is to read the interview with Karri below:

How long have you been taking photographs?
I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was able to walk.  Growing up, my mom was constantly taking pictures of my brother and me on family vacations, making us dress up in "cowboy outfits" in the random hills of South Dakota when I was around 9, sitting on a wooden fence as if it were 1855 {sorry don't have this one yet!}. Or my personal favorite is when my mom posed me like Farah Fawcett {ya know with the gorgeous long blond hair, over the shoulder turn pose}, so she could take photos of the perfect sunset over Lake Michigan.

 
My Mom has countless albums so full of photos you can practically see how I grew centimeter by centimeter. If you wanted to see what my room looked like when I was 13, while laying on my bed {okay, well now that I see this photo, it was not on my bed, but in our living room- Oops!} wearing my bright blue converse high tops reading a BOP teen-beat magazine with Kirk Cameron on the front, I can show you.

I remember looking at these photo albums for hours growing up, studying them, focusing on every detail.

I took my first photography class in high school.  While many other girls were shopping at the mall and combing their hair into the perfect side ponytail, my perfume of choice was eau de darkroom developer.

As my college years approached, I found myself drawn towards acting and directing and eventually came to create a successful traveling national touring theatre company for children, all the while with camera in hand, documenting every last colorful, glorious, juicy and meaningful detail.

It was then that I finally realized and agreed with what my friends and family kept repeating over the years:  I have a real knack for this picture-taking thing! All the albums I flipped through, all the time in the high school darkrooms, creating and organizing live moving moments (which is how I’ve always looked at theatre) really lead me to where I am today. Karri Brantley, have camera, will travel.

How are you different from other photographers?
As a professional photojournalist, I have been trained to capture those small, special moments that last for only a split second. I tend toward a documentary style with a mixture of artistic portraiture. I love laughing and joking while on shoots, this and my extensive theatre background helps my clients relax and forget they are in front of a camera, it is in this space where truly beautiful images are found.

What is your specialty?
While I specialize in lifestyle portraits, dynamic professional headshots, weddings, and special events.....I really enjoy natural light photography. I welcome the opportunity to capture any special moment of your life so that you and your family can dangle your feet off the sofa while smiling at the times chronicled in front of you. I would dearly love to help create those moments for you. 

Be it dynamic professional headshots, weddings, family portraits or a secret shot of your dog’s penchant for chewing up sofa cushions, I welcome the opportunity to capture that for you.  If you can think of the image, I will work with you to create exactly what you want and show you new creative angles as well.

Where can I find samples of your work?
I have a gallery of images that you can find here. A great way to stay in touch is by “liking” me on Facebook. It’s free, and I’ll keep you up-to-date on all my special offers and events. Just click here and you’re all set!

What if I want to work one-on-one with you, can I call you?
Yes, of course! You can easily contact Karri Brantley Photography by email at karri@karribrantleyphotography.com OR by phone (828) 808-4106 and we’ll be happy to talk with you. We would be honored to be the ones to help you create the perfect images to suit your needs.

NEW BUSINESS CARDS bring tale of honest people on this planet!

Here is a sample of one side of my newer business cards. This experience of gaining my new business cards comes with a very funny, yet, sweet story of how honest human's really are!

I designed and ordered my business cards through a very reputable company called MOO. They are based out of Europe and have all sorts of wonderful products to showcase personal business'. I have used them countless times before and when I decided to design my latest photography business cards, I looked no further than to MOO. I went through the entire process of designing my 'perfect business card', which took longer than I wanted, as I carefully choose which photos to showcase on the back of my business cards. I finalized my purchase and anxiously awaited their arrival.

Well, about one week later, I get my beautiful cards in the mail, opened them and saw on the right hand side of the package, there were about 50 perfectly awesome NEW business cards....not paying particular attention to the rest of the order. I quickly placed them in my purse and have been distributing them like candy around town to friends and potential clients. A couple of days later, I get a very sweet email from another photographer all the way in New Jersey, named Andi from Sona Bella Photography. Apparently, she ordered from MOO as well, but received my business cards instead of her own. She wanted to let me know in case I wanted them and she was happy to mail them to me as soon as possible. HOW COOL IS THAT?!? She could have easily thrown them away, but in a sweet gesture she took the time to contact me, as she knew I could use the extra 200 cards. I quickly paypal'd her the funds for shipping and received my extra cards in just a few days. Plus, we exchanged several emails over the course of our connection, and now have a new photography friend in New Jersey. We're even, Facebook Friends! HA!!!! Fantastic how the universe works. Thank you Andi!

So, this story is not yet over. Here's the cap. A couple of days ago, I needed to replenish my business card stash and proceeded to open the left hand side of my original package from MOO, to find.....{*GASP*} Sona Bella Photography's business cards! HI-LAR-IOUS!!!! I quickly jumped on my email and composed a message to Andi letting her know that I have HER business cards now too! So, I of course, returned the favor and sent them to her the next day. Funny how the circle of our connection was brought together by a simple mistake, which later turned out to be a funny blog entry for my random Wednesday afternoon.

Karri Brantley Photography notes getting the BEST out of your wedding dress!

You've got the ring, CONGRATULATIONS, now how are you going to look your very best on your wedding day?!?

Your dress took you hours to find and typically only gets worn the day of your wedding, so why not have the excuse to get all dolled up before then and get some fabulous Bridal Portraits! Not only will it ease the pressure on your wedding day, but you'll have the relaxed atmosphere and time to get that perfect photo of you looking the way you've always dreamed in your marvelous dress.

There is so much to decide with planning a wedding, but we at Karri Brantley Photography would LOVE to give you some great advice as to how and what to do once you get that new wedding dress.

More and more brides are choosing to have their Bridal Portraits done before the wedding either at a premier location like the Arboretum or Botanical Gardens or on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We are happy to suggest our favorite make-up artist, hair goddess and amazing florist in the Asheville area prior to your shoot.

To find out more information, please contact us here.

A man and his Elvis guitar!

Here is a story to blow your TOP off! Sit down relax and read about this true story of a man and his Elvis guitar.......

This is Mike {below}. And his official and totally legit Elvis guitar. He's had this guitar since 1975 when Elvis Presley personally gave it to him. Yes, you read that right. Mr. Elvis Presley! OMG! Here's the story as to how he got this guitar, as I understand from Mike himself.

Mike got front row tickets to Elvis' concert in Asheville with his then girlfriend, Debbie {his wife now}. During the concert he noticed Elvis looking at him a couple of times, but thought nothing of it. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, towards the end of the concert, Elvis leaned towards Mike, took off his guitar, handed it to Mike and said 'here keep this, you're going to need this someday!" Um *gulp* and *gasp* from Mike's bright eyes and speechless face. So, needless to say, he sat the rest of the concert holding onto the guitar, with feet wrapped around it {there's an example below}. To this day, this is the only guitar that Elvis ever gave a patron in the audience and it is the only guitar that doesn't complete the entire collection at Graceland in Memphis. 

As it turns out, Mike is actually an Elvis impersonator occasionally for parties and special events around the states! Ironic, don't you think?!?

So, for Father's Day, Mike's kids bought him a photo session with little ole me to photograph him and his Elvis guitar all these years later. What a HUGE honor. I mean, this is a hunka, a hunka, burnin' guitar y'all!!!!

 

Show the world your STAR QUALITY with a performing arts HEADSHOT!

What does it take to get a GREAT acting job?

Well, an incredible amount of talent and hard work, of course. And a whole lotta luck.

Oh-- and one more thing: A GREAT HEADSHOT!!!

A great headshot conveys who you are. When you send it out, it should work like your own private entourage - making the connections that get you in front of people who can help your career. A good headshot works for you, to get you work.

Karri Brantley Photography creates highly effective images that will communicate the amazing gifts that you have to offer. What's more, we get your approval every step of the way, so we can be sure you absolutely love the image we've created.

And we don't approach this as just another photograph. Because Karri has an an extensive background in the performing arts as a talented actor, producer, and director, she knows what professionals are looking for in a headshot and she uses that knowledge to get the best out of your photo session. She is skilled to help her clients relax and forget they are in front of a camera, it is in this space where truly beautiful and authentic images are created!

The bottom line is that an agent or director expects you to invest your time, your energy - even your soul - in an acting role. Wither it be for a local community theatre company, children's theatre, regional theatre, touring theatre, off-Broadway or the big leagues in NYC!!! Think about it: if your headshot gets you a meeting that leads to you getting an important role, wouldn't the investment be worth it?

Please contact us here for more information!

Karri Brantley Photography askes you to make a GIFT of the Present for the Future- Do a Lifestyle Family Photo Shoot!

When you look through your family's photo album, do you see photos that really capture how you family was at that time? Do you think your children-and your grandchildren- and great grandchildren- will get how close your family was, and what made it special?

Lifestyle Family Photos are a way to capture the present moment, so that years from now you {or future generations} will be able to see a special time as if they had been there!

There are two types of Lifestyle Family Photos:

1) Lifestyle Sessions: with weddings, family reunions, holidays- it's easy to record special events. BUT, what about the fun and joy of your family on a typical day at home? This is an opportunity to capture these important moments with a Lifestyle Session.

When they grow up, there's nothing a child or grandchild wants to know more than "What was I like as a baby?" or "What were Mom and Dad like when I was a kid?" or "What did my family love to do together?"

Don't you want these questions to have answers? Whatever happens in the future, your family will have them with a Lifestyle Session!

2) Group Family Photos: Of course, every generation wants to capture the family in one photo, with everyone looking their best. And every once in a while it's great to capture Mom, Dad, and kids at a stage in their lives. Get this formal session with Group Family Photos.

Is everyone home from college? Are you hosting a family reunion? Do you think time is slipping by for you to get that 4-generation photo? Get a group shot. We're experts at managing crowds, and we can advise you on settings and appeal, so that you get a photo of you and your present and future family will treasure for years!


To find out more about either of these options, please contact us here!

Girls On The Run 5K event in Biltmore Park

These very courageous and dedicated girls ran their first 5K at Biltmore Park last weekend and rocked it!!!!

I was hired to photograph the event and document every aspect of it, from the girls getting their 'game faces on' to group shots of the participating schools/ teams, to the coaches who inspired them, to the local stars from WLOS Channel 13 news and multiple local radio stations, to the sponsors and volunteers who support this amazing organization, to the beginning of the race all the way to the tearful end {whew, that is a mouth full!}.

Speaking of tears, I welled up quite a bit looking through my camera's view finder, as I saw, up close and personal the overwhelming emotions I felt from many of the girls who emulated so much pride and a grand sense of accomplishment! I was touched by the WNC local communities "it takes a village" type support and couldn't believe how amazing the turn out really was. I hear it continues to grow exponentially every year! Keep up the great work everyone.

Thank you to all who participated in this event and for allowing me to be able to document this very inspiring day!!!