Food Blogger Kit Graham from The Kittchen II Paris Blogger Photographer, Katie Donnelly Photography
Paris seems to be a city of inspiration for so many creatives... lucky as I am, I get to meet a ton of them who come through. Usually a quick portrait session with a side of coffee is my go to way to get to know them so we can create beautiful portraits together that are relaxed and natural. It’s one of the things that is super important to me, you have to be able to see a little peek into my subjects soul. If you don’t have that, why take the portrait?
At least, that’s my view as an artist.
I think that I simply love people, and photography is my way of expressing it. It’s why I’m not a fashion photographer or a landscape photographer, to be honest, I forget about everything other than the people. To me, everything in life is measured on how it makes humans feel.
Doesn’t this make you want some of that steaming hot cocoa!? Mmmmmm, so good!
Music, art, how peonies smell when they first bloom, your favorite shampoo, herbal tea.. it’s worth is simply how you feel about it. If peonies make you gloriously happy, then pay the few extra bucks to buy a bouquet out of season. That’s my opinion at least.
That’s how I give worth to photography and portraiture in general. Do you look at a portrait and have it transport you back to your favorite vacation? What about that memory of your grandma laughing? Does seeing your great grandparents wedding portrait give you a feeling of family and a sense of legacy?
Whatever art does to you, I hope my art makes you feel like you get to know the people in them. That they give you some of their joy for whatever they’re doing in the portrait.
Per usual, my meeting with Kit of The Kittchen was serendipitous and came together fully at the last minute. I feel like that’s my life tag line (haha). A Maine native, and now living and working in Chicago, we found we had a lot in common.. Funny story, I told my dad about her parent’s BNB in the same town in Maine where we vacation and now our dads have connected. Small world, eh?
In pure Katie form, we took a pit stop at a cafe (Judy Café to be exact!) during her photo session (I mean, it was totally normal, her blog is about food!) and had delicious hot chocolates!! We chatted and just enjoyed walking around in a very misty Paris. If you’re interested in her, head over to her blog. Before we met, she sent it over to me as these portraits are for her blog and social media, and right away I thought, “I need to meet this woman!!”. Don’t you love how that works out sometimes?
Love this shot.. A true Paris experience and being pulled in by the beauty of it all..