Kathy Ziegler Art & Photography Blog

Animal art makes a terrific gift!

2009-12-20T16:24:00.006-06:00

This sweetie is Dexter, owned by a small animal vet in Portland Oregon. She plans to give it to her husband for Christmas since he is ga-ga over his perfect lab with the perfect smile, wrinkled cheeks & all =)
Animal art has been a part of my business since 1998 & pencil is one of my very favorite mediums to work in. It's kind of like B&W photos, the character of the subject comes out so well when color doesn't distract you. Giving a gift certificate for art to someone with a special pet is a great way to let them be involved in the photo shoot & choosing which picture most embodies their baby. And surprising someone with a gift like this usually brings tears to their eyes. Please call me to do one, or two, or three for you=))

The Ray Family

2009-12-15T20:04:00.005-06:00

Taking pictures for Fawn & Jeff & their boys was such a treat. We took a nice walk across Two Rivers bridge just as the light was leaving us but we still ended up with some fun & interesting pictures. You may recognize Jeff as our morning weatherman on CBS & The Weather Channel. Fawn is a fantastic chiropractor & owner of Ray Chiropractic.

I asked Ian to act like he was holding up the bridge & just got this one image before he ran off to do something else, got it pretty close=P

Love this one of Fawn & Joe.....

What an ending for us...

Jessica & Robert at Country Music Hall of Fame

2009-12-06T20:10:00.005-06:00

Jessica is the sister of one of my past brides from San Diego! Jessica & Robert moved here shortly after we did in 2008 so it was so thrilling to have her family choose me once again to do the honor of capturing their wedding. We had such fun taking a shooting stroll around downtown before the evening ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame (they really wanted to show their families the real deal of Nashville)

Rob is such a hambone & I was duly warned.....

So many places to play!!!!

Square tables along with some rounds made for an interesting & beautiful arrangement around the gorgeous wood floor at CMHF.

My handy dandy video light helped create some pretty ambient light in the VERY dark ceremony. Thank goodness for pro cameras that have low noise & Hi ISOs that seem to create light where none exists too.

Getting a picture of everyone after the ceremony was going to be difficult but we spotted a ladder in the guitar room so did a repeat of one of our last wedding's fun shots. Everyone seems to get a little crazy when you direct them to, I love that!! Thanks to Brent Cantrell of Cosmo Creations DJ for helping with that.

Mt Juliet Animal Shelter Calendar

2009-12-03T09:38:00.005-06:00

I'm pleased to announce that the calendars for the Mt Juliet Animal Shelter are now available. For a $20 donation to the MJAS Benefit Fund you can look at 12 of the wonderful pets that found forever homes this year. This was a bigger project than I anticipated, photographing 6 dogs & 6 cats (in their homes) & creating ads for the monthly sponsors, but considering the large amount of funds it will generate for the shelter I was happy to do it. Animals are my greatest joy!

Cami & Cam tie the knot

2009-10-14T15:46:00.011-05:00

This is the Gramma of the groom & what an adorable, class act she is. The family have been my friends for over 20 years!! Ila is always decked out but on the wedding day she was in the truest sense of the word sportin' her Vans=)

They went all beachy, casual with Tommy Bahama attire... Cam is a helicopter pilot which may have inspired this action shot...??? Cathe, mother of the groom, looking soooooo wonderful. That's where Cam got his piercing blue eyes.

And then Cami appears & what a vision she was. All the guys yelling what a lucky guy Cam is....

I could go for some this this sunshine around Nashville right about now!!! The sisters made for great eye candy & loved to let me play with them for their pictures.

Cami is just gorgeous!!! She's a Julianne Hough look-alike=)

Such wonderful friends giving sincere, heartfelt toasts always makes me glad I met my couples & their friends & families.

I love this one looking back at her mom who is obviously very close to her....

Lindsay & Luke's Nashville wedding

2009-12-01T09:30:00.006-06:00

It was probably the coldest Saturday in October for Lindsay & Luke's wedding but this game wedding party & family took it all in stride as we found sheltered areas to shoot in where possible. The wedding took place at the beautiful 100+ year old Assumption Catholic Church & The University Club at Vanderbilt. Lindsay is such a classic beauty, I have such a hard time choosing just a few pix to show her off...

This is just inside the shelter of the "getting ready building" with the door open for beautiful natural light.

Brrrrrrr, I'm cold just remembering that day

The Bishop performed their ceremony, what an honor!!!

Flowers from Fall Wedding

2009-11-20T13:25:00.004-06:00

The Bellevue Florist did a gorgeous job on Lindsay & Luke's Oct wedding, more pix to follow as I catch up!! Here are a few pix to entice you to check them out if you are planning a wedding.

Haley & Jack

2009-11-05T08:48:00.006-06:00

Haley is one fantastic kid, not to mention hot little horsewoman! She & her partner, Jack, are the perfect pair. I sure love taking pix of kids with their animals, heck, adults too, there is such a positive energy to capture.

MY favorites......

This one makes me think of, "Silly wabbit.. " for some reason...

Shelter Volunteers get some of my own volunteering

2009-10-07T16:00:00.005-05:00

You may be aware that I donate a good deal of time to the Mt Juliet Animal Shelter, taking the "kids" pix so people are inspired to come in to adopt them. I recently offered to take pix of some of the other volunteers animals too. The volunteers do soooooo much for the shelter & contribute greatly to its success. And the Mt Juliet Shelter has a fantastic adoption rate! Go online & check them out & see if you can find a place in your heart & home to give one a forever home. These guys are already happily in good families but there are lots more like them. Teddy, the blonde below, came from the Shelter... Trish adopted him the first day he arrived=)

This is one of Mary's sweet kitties... she has four

Judy's little Macie...

Dawn's four kids....

And I had to throw the latest one of my Cooper in=P Man, I love that dog!!

Beach Lifestyle

2009-10-01T20:19:00.007-05:00

I guess moving from San Diego isn't keeping me from photographing my past brides & grooms families too much. I seem to be able to slide in a couple of reunions each time I go back to photograph a wedding & that makes me so happy=) Robin & Jim were married back in July of 2004 & look at the gorgeous children they have made together!!

I love these father & son moments....

Is Allie the cutest thing, or what?!

Gettin' naked was a natural=P They were all wet anyway!

The end of another glorious day & Robin was feelin' it....

Holly's animals

2009-09-30T10:57:00.008-05:00

What fun to go see Holly's new barn & photograph all her sweet animals, all with such individual personalities.. Couldn't resist the last bit of light on her barn & the glimmer it put in Wyatt's eye.

Some yoga stretches for Gracie, look at the happy closed eye as she accommodates & relaxes.

Sadie after hard day of play...

Bones was boney when he found Holly but sure isn't now!!

A couple of so many shots we took of the horses, I'm going to do a drawing & will combine a couple of images that work well together. Not these since the lighting is different but I loved Grace's soft look here.

Farrier came & the light was so dramatic & created such a story.

Loved the lighting.....

Pink is for Girls

2009-09-17T20:09:00.004-05:00

A family reunion at Torch Lake in Michigan gave me the opportunity to catch nieces & cousins playing with my new "favorite for the moment prop" - hula hoops.....

The gorgeous evening light was irresistable....what a pretty scene.....

Claire ...... and parents

2009-09-16T15:06:00.008-05:00

What an absolutely adorable family the Schroeders are!!! This is the 2nd time I've gotten to photograph Claire & it's just so much fun to capture so many moods & expressions of children as you follow them around, and that's about all you can do! I'm really enjoying this family & toddler stuff=)

A hoola hoop & a dandelion keep her still for a few shots....

Lindsay & Luke's engagements

2009-09-16T14:48:00.002-05:00

Lindsay & Luke will tie the knot on Oct 17th in Nashville. I can't say enough good things about them, they are such a sweet couple with super parents - we are sure to have a great time on their wedding day.Lindsay could be a model, don't you think?

Our favorite pic, The Feet. Lindsay says this is totally them!

Joan & Ryan's gorgeous day

2009-09-08T13:14:00.012-05:00

Joan had something happen on her wedding day that I hope will never happen to you ---- she got the flu!!! She was at the emergency room the night before & didn't want Ryan to know, & honestly, the way she cowgirled up, I had now idea she was ill until later at the reception. It is amazing what adrenalin can do for you!! Joan had a couple of "bridesmen" as well as her beautiful bridesmaids....

Her flowers & bridesmaids dresses made the otherwise gray, overcast day pop with color. The unique thing she added to the bouquets were different vintage looking hankies. Frankie at Hartworks Floral created these stunning bouquets.

Anticipation.....

Soooooo Joan!

Humphrey's by the Bay at Half Moon Inn is always a beautiful spot & so much fun for guests to celebrate by the water & under the stars when the sun sets.

Look at this adorable cake topper!! This is about salsa dancing, supposedly=P Cool wine stopper favors....

Love the groomsmen in the background=)))))

Again, sooooo Joan.

Albums display on my site!!!

2009-02-18T16:09:00.003-06:00

Yeah! I finally have a very cool way to show some album designs on my site! Check this out - http://www.ktziegler.com/albums2.shtml. A huge hug to Chung Chan of Modern Album Designs for the great job he does every time I need help designing albums, & for putting this together for me to show how the stories unfold.

Hotel Del for Jeg & George's wedding

2009-02-16T20:38:00.008-06:00

Having a wedding at Hotel Del Coronado is always something special, but there's definitely something extra special to have the one that's in the Crown Room when there are multiple weddings around the hotel that day! Congratulations Jeg & George! You made it such a nice day with your great planner, Joan Whalen.

Katie & John at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

2009-03-26T14:26:00.008-05:00

Having pockets in her gown personifies Katie! What a pleasure it was to photograph such an easy-going bride & all her friends & family that embodied those same great qualities. Carol Jensen coordinated in her usual ease with Rob, her adorable, fun assistant.

A prettier setting than the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe is hard to find......

Animal Portraits Postcard

2009-02-19T13:50:00.004-06:00

Pursuing the other end of my business is also really important since animals are so dear to me. This is a postcard I just designed to further that cause. I plan to ask all the vets & other animal related places I visit if they wouldn't mind displaying them for me. The new Mt Juliet shelter will be the beneficiary of some of my donated time for sure.

Pearl

2009-03-04T14:10:00.002-06:00

My latest completed drawing for Bob. I think I've done about 5 other portraits for him of his "children", past & present. I work in pastels & graphite pencil & used to do tons of commissioned artwork until the weddings took over. I think I shall get back to some of this type of work as it can be so rewarding too.

2009-03-25T15:09:00.005-05:00

Here's a piece I just finished & shipped off to it's owner. His name is Blackhawk & he lives in Del Mar, CA. I happen to be helping haul horses out of the danger of the San Diego fires before we moved & he was one of them. He was such a gorgeous Arabian that I told the owner I would LOVE to draw him, & Sheila decided she'd like that too! This is a good opportunity to show how close the fires came to us in San Diego the year before we moved. It was the 2nd time in 4 years that what seemed like all of San Diego was on fire, maybe even all of SoCal! This was Mt Miguel, the hills we rode in just East of us.
This is a gorgeous pic of downtown San Diego that I cannot take credit for. The fires were everywhere!!

Need a new head shot?

2009-03-08T12:02:00.010-05:00

I had the pleasure of taking some headshots for super sweet & beautiful bridal consultant, Latrice, from Bridal Opulence. Be sure to give her a call if you need help with your wedding or event.

Volunteering for the Mt Juliet Shelter

2009-04-25T15:41:00.005-05:00

Well, as I said I was going to do, I started volunteering at the Mt Juliet Animal Shelter last Sunday. I cleaned cat enclosures & then took some pix of the sweet dogs up for adoption. Go see Gizmo, this first one, I'm partial to him since I know firsthand how loveable pit mixes can be.

Julie & Derek's Wedding

2009-07-21T13:06:00.008-05:00

There was so much emotion at this adorable couple's wedding, so many tears & so much laughter, check out the funny family dance at the end...

How very hard it is to choose which pix to post here...I always want to tell the story of the day & so many pix need the two on each side of it to tell it all. Guess that's what albums & slideshows are all about though... Here is a sample of what I'm talking about & this isn't the half of it!

Here's their funny alligator dance where they all end up on the floor smashing the gator, too cute!

Yiks! I'm so behind on blogging......

2009-08-24T17:04:00.007-05:00

I can't help it, I just don't get around to blogging because there is sooooo much more fun stuff (& work) to do!!! Until I can get some of the last shoots up, here are a couple of puppies to share with you. This is Marley, a friend's dog that came to visit & play with Cooper & Angus, mostly Coop.
This is Angus, our little one-eyed weiner =P AKA, hot water bottle....