Fulfilled

it is something to be a part of day
where each moment is full, savored and experienced.
I watched Candis and Drew float through their day with contagious smiles that never tired, never succumbed to stress of the zillion details that can riddle a wedding. They invited us into their world and their hearts and by the end we were floating too.
God Bless you both and thank you for the privilege of being your friends.

C

The cobbler's kids …

You know the saying, 'the cobbler's kids who had no shoes.' That's Chris and me (It's me … Tricia Keels writing). We photograph for a living but only have a handful of photos of the two of us together.

We met in a Starbucks (yes, it happens) on October 16, 2000 and were engaged four months later, hardly enough time to compile 'couple photos' for a wedding slide show. We were married on September 8, 2001 and we're off to Italy the next day. We took two photos of everything we saw, one with Chris and then one with me.

Next came our children. And who has time to photograph themselves when two little miracles are running around with the longest eyelashes you have ever seen.

This photo was taken by a guest at the last wedding we shot. It was fun to have someone turn their camera on us to snap our smiles. She was nice enough to send it to us and I am posting it here as proof that Chris and I are indeed in the same place at the same time in front of a lens … not behind it. Thank you to Jill Bolognone for your generosity in shooting it and sending it to us. (Could you please send us a release form so we can have it printed …. Hee hee.)

We began discussing our lack of photos the other day and decided to take more of those self-portraits. You know, the ones where you hold the camera out with the lens toward you, put your heads close together, hit the button and hope you are both in the frame. As we began trying it out, we realized our cameras weigh about one million pounds. And holding them out like that with one arm proved a bit challenging. I think its time to get a point and shoot.

all clear

at last the email and website are restored.

anyone who wants me can reach me at chris@keelsphotography.com
two things I learned,
1. the world in fact does not end when I can't have access or be accessed by email.
2. once lesson one is completely embraced you sleep a lot better.

so here are a few glimpses of the amazing light of Santa Fe

technical difficulties

well for the last 36 hours my website and email have been down. It has been a long road of communication
and confusion. Hosting companies and domiain registration blues, blah blah, who knew that one little niggle can throw the whole
thing out of wack. The upside is that I will know intimately what the inner working are that keep website and email a float.
Downside is that the light at the end of the tunnel is flickering and there isn't a determinate timeline, "but with God all things are possible". So if by some chance-you check this blog to see what's up and need to contact please call, 614 487 8035 or email at
cakeels@yahoo.com. I look forward to signaling the all clear, until then please say a prayer.

Coming Home

hello all,

hard to believe that this time last week I was under a canopy of blue sky in Santa Fe.
I've come home to a snow storm and 18" of the white stuff. This image was the first taken when I got back;
my son Atticus sleeps deep like is mother and for all my attempts, it was nothing doing bringing him out of slumber.
What you can't see are the two card he made for me under his pillow.
I'm a blessed man.

c

Santa Fe

Hello all, once again my sincere apologies for the lack of update on this blog.
For those who check this from time to time thank you for coming back and for those who are visiting for the first time welcome. It has been an exciting week for me; I’ve been in Santa Fe, NM taking the photography workshop “art & commerce” under the world famous advertising & documentary photographer Douglas Menuez. www.menuez.com. The experience has been nothing short of amazing and I believe life changing. The curriculum, the scenery and of course the amazing people I have met will long be laced into my soul. The workshops wraps in 2 days and already there are pangs of sadness but excitement to live out what I have learned here and create from the wash of inspiration from this wonderful experience. I have many new images and thoughts to share so stay tuned, the love will be spread in the coming days.

God Bless

Chris

Soul Man

I want to introduce my good friend Jon Tillar.
He just recently finished producing his first album and it is in
the final stages of completion. It’s particularly exciting to me because
I am, after his wife and mom, his biggest fan, though I would suspect many would say that. Jon is such a true friend to so many people and to know him is a privilege.
Having said that Jon is one if the most humble people I've ever met - Jon could cure cancer and you would have to hear about it from someone else. This is not from false humility but because it is simple beyond him to be any other way. At his core he is a lover of God and all his creation and that’s what reflects in his music. I’m thrilled to say that a song from the album graces our website as I write this. It’s titled Ray and it is in my opinion one of the most beautiful songs that I’ve heard. Jon’s lovely wife Chrissy accompanies on this track and their voices together make one voice that heals your spirit. So here’s to you soul man, thank you for following you heart and making this music, the world is better place for it.

If you have thoughts to share about the music or would want more information when the Cd will be released and where to get it please feel free to post.

God Bless

ck

In motion

It looks as if another blog draught has crept in,
my apologies for those who frequent here.
In the month and ½ of cyberspace silence I’ve been to
Houston TX for a commercial shoot, Tricia safely
returned from her writers workshop in Tuscany, where she found plenty of soul food
for her writing as well as amazing local fare for her belly.. Oh yeah, we've moved to a
wonderful house in Bexley, OH,( how do you like that for motion).
The boys love it and though change is, well change, it’s beginning
to feel like home. So lots going on and lots a great images of
our wonderful clients to share so stay tuned. To start here’s
Catherine and Jeff. You may have seen their engagement session
on this blog under “lost and found. ” Well the circle is complete and so are they.

Thank you so much Cathy and Jeff for your complete graciousness, love and beauty together.

God Bless

sons

For the last ten days the boys and I have been on our own without Tricia.
She is currently in Tuscany Italy on an working organic farm attending a writers workshop that's running there.
For Tricia this is the perfect vacation.
We all have missed her terribly but take much comfort knowing what a fantastic time she's having.
Maybe she'll grace this blog with some highlights and insights from her trip, let's hope;
Tricia's a bit blog shy. Anyways, this has been a sweet time with my sons. They continue to amaze me
with sweet wonder and sheer will. Their mother makes it all look so easy in the day to day and I have
new respect and appreciattion for all that she does for us. Here are some images of the lads
for you my globe trotting wife, check out Atticus George Keels the one man band!

Yes

I want very much to do this story justice so please bear with me if this goes on. About 2 month ago my good friend Drew approached with an idea. He wanted to know if I would be willing to photograph he and his lady Candis in what would be a pre-engagement session . He was actually taking me up on a suggestion that I had made to Candis a month earlier about photographing the two of them. The background was I had observed them one day in our church (we all go the same church) full of obvious love and adoration for one another; it was completely compelling and truly beautiful. So Drew was looking to make the shoot happen but with a twist, he was going to ask Candis to marry him at some point during the session. Background on Candis, not only do we go to church together but Candis also works at our studio as the best graphic designer in the city IMO not to mention Tricia and I both love her silly. Everyday coming to the studio was challenging because this was to be a complete surprise for her. Long story short it was a surprise; Drew planned well and managed to keep is head though is heart was about to blow up and Candis said yes again and again.
So what began with dancing turned to tears of joy and then dancing again!

Thank you Drew and Candis for allowing me the complete privilege of being apart of your engagement, it meant so much to be there.
God Bless you both… it seems that he has.