Lifestyle – KiKi Creates Blog

{Catherine&Ryan | Wedding at Custer State Park | KiKi…

April 17, 2018

I wish I could post photos from this wedding everyday. The ease and beauty in which Catherine and Ryan put on their South Dakota Mountain wedding was gorgeous. Even with rain almost the entire day of the wedding, we managed to adventure and photograph in some amazing spots.
I also love the adorable touches they had the day of. Their grandfather marrying them and their other grandfather, that had passed, recorded a message and blessing that they played before dinner. Catherine wore a two piece lace dress that her mother softly helped her button, while Ryan was dressed in a tux that his Father helped him straighten up. Only their family stood by their side as they were married. Catherine’s Sisters and Ryan’s Brother and Father. Where they were married, Ryan built a buffalo made of steel. And let’s just say he added an extra part to the “male” buffalo that was asked to be removed prior to the wedding day. That is only a testament to what a goofy and fun guy Ryan is. And how beautifully Catherine’s sweetness and wit compliments him.
Beyond that, Catherine and Ryan (and all of their friends and family) know how to party! I can easily say of all the couples I have photographed over 9 years, Catherine and Ryan were on the dance floor more than any other couple. And they looked damn good doing it. Twirling and dipping and at one point playing spin the bottle to who would dance next. At times they were dancing with cowboy hats on, whiskey in hand and a lit cigar in their mouth. And I am not just talking about Ryan, Catherine was doing it too. They’re just a bad ass, good looking couple. And I am pretty stoked to be the one to capture their outdoor, wooded, super fun wedding! Check out the amazingness of Catherine and Ryan below!
Enjoy! KiKi
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Venue: State Game Lodge in Custer State Park

Photographer: Kara Lamm, Kiki Creates

Dress: Gown Boutique of Charleston

Makeup and hair: Melissa Dykman, Love & Beauty Maui

Florist: Roots Wedding Florals

Cake: Bakehouse

Band: Peewee Moore

DJ: JD Productions

Caterer: State Game Lodge

Officiant: Tom Bullock, Groom’s Grandfather

best of 2017

A Look Back on a Wedding & Lifestyle Photographers…

January 11, 2018

Screen Shot 2018-01-11 at 8.54.26 AM 2017, I feel like you were a blip in the radar because you went by so, so fast. But when laying out all I’ve done over the past 12 months, I’m amazed at all that has happened. Every year I think I need to push myself more, do more, create something new. But this year, although emotional and stressful. And at times, overwhelming. This year, I feel accomplished and satisfied and ready for more.
I began the year in Italy and after seeing some amazing places, I made the decision to add a location in my favorite tiny town, Crested Butte. I photographed 49 wedding, 36 engagements/portraits, and 59 photo booths. My busiest year by far brought on a second location, moving to Colorado, my thirtieth birthday, six very exciting awards for my photography and announcements that I am going to be an aunt for the first time x2!
Throughout the year we smiled, laughed, danced, photographed in the mountains, several beaches, under a waterfall and during a hurricane. Under the stars, the moon, at sunrise and sunset. During a snow storm, -1 degree weather and 101 degree weather. Traveled to Italy, Greece, Wyoming, South Dakota, Texas, Colorado, Maine, the Carolinas, and the Keys. Met tons of people and their adorable doggies. I had the opportunity to photograph firsts for a lot of couples. They opened up their homes, hearts and most intimate moments to me and I could not feel more grateful for their trust and love along the way.
It’s hard every year to narrow down a small group of images that are my “favorites”. Most of these are moments I couldn’t get out of my head throughout the year. Moments that made me feel secure in what I’m doing and moments that pushed me to become better at something I’ve been at for almost 8 years now. I can never seem to put together words that describe how amazing I think this life is. A life that I’ve built, but not alone. To everyone that has put their hand in helping me and my company, I am forever thankful. This has been another year where I wonder what would I do without photography. Where would I be? I’m hoping I’ll never have to face that. Because I truly love what I do and couldn’t imagine life without it. I hope your 2017 was prosperous and made you think about what in life makes you happy. And I hope in 2018, you go get that happiness. Cheers!
Love, KiKi

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Fin.

2016 in Review

A Look Back on a Lifestyle & Wedding Photographers…

January 10, 2017March 28, 2019

Every year, when I get together all of my favorite photographs, I am amazed at the things I get to see and learn with each couple and image I make. The intimate moments that include some of their closest family and friends. The cultural interpretations of how each person shows their love and gratitude towards each other. And the moments that will be looked back on with people that are not even in this world yet, but still so much apart of the story.
Photography has the power to create and bring memories to life for other to cherish, even if not there. So to have over 45 weddings, 35 portraits, and 68 photo booth’s booked in 2016 all with little ‘ol KiKi, makes me feel very special and very grateful to all of the wonderful people who trusted me to capture these moments.
8 out of 10 months were on the road from The Keys, Georgia, North Eleuthera, Bahamas, Colorado, Washington, South Dakota, Tennessee, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, Maine, North Carolina, and of course Sunny Florida. I am just blown away sometimes at how magical each year is. And am super excited for all the new things happening in 2017.
Enjoy! 972987957_04ca86414c53281e
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Destination Wedding Photographer

{Baby Nora | Newborn Session in Neptune Beach, Florida…

December 21, 2016

Oh sweet Baby Nora. All of my newborn sessions this year were with girls. Which is an awesome change because I always have years with only boys! I usually photograph around a dozen newborn sessions a year. And they are almost always with clients I have photographed before hand that trust and understand how I work. That is important to me because there is sometimes a lot of stress and definitely tons of time put into newborn sessions. So having a built relationship there with the Mother and Father is pretty huge. Especially because I showed up to this session, immediately started scanning their room and home for places to shoot. And once I found one, was slightly landscaping and moving around pine needles on the side of their home for 10 minutes to create this first photo. But, they knew what they were getting into. For their other child, I had them meet me at sunrise and put him in a baby hammock on the beach.
I get weird at shoots sometimes, I can’t help it. The creativity flows so perfectly if you just do what is in your head and not worry about what others think. And my clients have always loved it.
Newborn session, to me, carry a lot of nostalgia. The first “photo Job” I had before my business, was running a newborn studio in a maternity ward photographing 1-2 day old babies. It taught me a lot about patience and flexibility in photographing people and babies (who run the shoot). Because these sessions are so close to my heart and remind me of where I started, I tend to put a lot of time into them. The basket Nora is sleeping in is made of real flowers and greenery (that I foraged) and took me roughly 2 hours to create. Even though a good majority of my business is photographing weddings, these newborn sessions once a month are great to spark creativity. They give me time to create in a new way, while also incorporating what I already know.
So here is Baby Nora (and her awesome family). My last newborn session of 2016.
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Destination Wedding Photographer

{Jessica & Hannes’ Wedding at Casa Marina | KiKi…

November 22, 2016

Most people complain about how rough Monday’s can be. Not if you are with these two on their sweet Monday Wedding. Hannes is originally from Germany, so most of the wedding was in Jacksonville beach for the first time. It brought together a fun filled group of people to celebrate the Herr and Frau.
When I first met with Hannes and Jessica I could instantly tell that they were an adorable duo. Jessica is an incredibly sweet and thoughtful person that you can’t help but want to hug all the time. Hannes was constantly glimpsing over at her throughout the day, never taking his eyes off of his fiancé and then wife. And it made me so happy to see how he cared for her so much. They celebrated with a perfectly blue sky and windy day. Followed by running on the beach with their bridal party, getting their toes wet on the beach, twirling under the full moon, and maybe a few shots of Jägermeister (wait until you see Jessica’s reaction to that below :)).
It was such a breath of fresh air to get out of Monday emails and spend it running around Casa Marina with these two. Check out their lovely wedding day below!
Enjoy!
KiKi
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Bahama Wedding

{Elizabeth & David’s Wedding in The Abacos | KiKi…

October 7, 2016

With a Hurricane warning flashing on the TV screen in Florida as I type this, I’ve decided to post a wedding that encompasses the exact opposite of the weather outside. Sun, Blue Skies, and a gorgeous beach. Elizabeth and David’s sunny Abacos Wedding was filled with tons of amazing surprises and moments. Including an underwater session, an emotional Chinese tea ceremony right before the traditional Chinese wedding games, two tiny doggie escorts, an absolutely stunning sunset, and to top it off, a private firework show on their own beach they grew up on.
It was a stunning way to get married and I feel so happy to be able to capture all of these loving moments. Check out this fun and colorful wedding below.
KiKi
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