Arkansas Wedding Photographer - Kate Crafton

Little Rock Engagement Session

kate — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:17:07 +0000

It’s always a HUGE compliment when another photographer refers clients over (especially when they’re family members) because they trust my art. Collin & Whitney have a laid back, romantic-embrace type of love that I just adore and I had a great time wandering around Little Rock, Arkansas with them! Only a few more weeks to go until their big day!

Memphis Engagement Session

kate — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 17:21:30 +0000

I met Sarah to talk about her wedding a few days before we moved and hit it off with her right away. She and Brent were open to whatever I asked and I adored their laid-back and silly interactions with each other. We shot two mini sessions, one in Memphis and one in Nashville, to make up one complete engagement session. There was so much laughter between these two…love them! S & B: I can’t wait to tag along with you on your big day!
(And, add to that, I get to work with the ladies at Southern Event Planners again…who are FABULOUS)

Northwest Arkansas Wedding Photography

kate — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:05:50 +0000

I adore these two. Unfortunately I was booked for Britta & Gunner’s wedding date but we were able to go out and shoot a mini engagement session for their save the dates. I referred them on to Becky & Jonathan of Jonathan Edward Photography who are fabulous (if you haven’t visited their site, you should go now!). B & G, I had so much fun with you and thank you for humoring me and walking around the river bed in those heels!

Being Transparent (Family Friday)

kate — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:22:21 +0000

Dear 16-year-old Kate,
I know it’s been a while since we talked last but I wish I could tell you this at 16 and TRULY have you understand it.
You need to be transparent.
I tell you this because at 16 you’re completely closed off. You don’t hug people, you don’t share much about what’s happening in your life and no one has any idea what is happening and how you’re actually feeling. You’re an extrovert and you long for a deeper connection with everyone but you don’t know it yet. When you’re 32 you’ll post this picture on Instagram:

It’s you, crying after a surgery that will prevent you and your husband from having any more kids. You cried ALL day. Even the guy at Hardees told you “I hope your day gets better”, when you bolted on your healthy eating habits and picked up a cheeseburger and shake. And for better or worse, you wanted to record what that day was like because that’s what you do for a living. You document life. This hit you hard. At first you were happy with 3 kids and thought you were done. It was not a decision that came lightly. And then you and your husband wanted TLC to have a sibling close in age and after a pregnancy scare you realized how much you wanted another child. What you didn’t want was your world to stop. HG will hit you hard with both of your pregnancies and you know that you can’t do it again. Your main goal was to try and stay hydrated so you can stay out of the hospital. And you’ll decide to be transparent with talking about it and tell clients that you have to refer them to someone else because you can’t work. Some of them will say that you don’t care about their child’s session or that you’re whining (yep, truth, they will say this) but they have no idea what it’s like to not be able to move. But with that transparency comes great stories. Friends who see that you’re struggling and bring meals to your family. Friends who take your children overnight so you can hug the toilet in peace and not worry about terrifying them with how sick you are for one night. They are amazing and if you try to hide it you won’t receive the support you need. And then, a few years later when you post this picture, people will email and message you from all over the country and tell you THEIR stories. They’ll sympathize with you. Encourage you. Pray for you. People you’ve never even met will tell you things they’ve never told anyone else and THAT is connection. The same thing happened years ago when you shared marriage struggles, PPD struggles and everything else that you questioned if you should put out there. People will come to you asking to help and sharing their stories. It will fill you up and make you realize that, even though there are folks who don’t agree with your no-filter life, there is so much joy to be found in TRULY knowing what is in someone else’s heart. Being transparent means you share the good AND bad. Showing your flaws will make you become a better CrossFit coach. A better wife. A better parent.

So here’s my point, you closed-off little vagabond. There will always be people who think being open is a flaw (you are one of them at 16) but in your future it will be your world. You will thrive on how you can connect with others. Just wait, stubborn one, you will open your heart and it will be marvelous.

Fayetteville Arkansas Wedding Photography

kate — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:16:59 +0000

Chad & Maggie decided to put aside a formal wedding in exchange for a simple yet beautiful ceremony with only their closest friends and family in attendance. A handful of people gathered on the campus of University Of Arkansas to watch them exchange vows and laugh together. And with only two hours of shooting, it was easily the most laid back wedding I’ve ever shot. The best part? A full hour for us to wander around campus and shoot the two of them together. Bliss! Get ready for a super-sized post of this northwest Arkansas wedding.
Side note: We’ll be having a Black Friday promo so 2013 & 2014 brides keep an eye on our Facebook page if you want to snag your date and score a little something extra! One day only!

The Birthday Project – Help!

kate — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:06:44 +0000

I need your help super sleuths. Right before my birthday I’m going to be doing 33 acts of kindness, which is part of The Birthday Project (started by my dear friend, Robyn). ONE of those acts is something I need your help on, so I have to start searching early. A few years ago Randy purchased an antique camera and inside we found film that hadn’t been developed. What we unearthed, when we got them developed this week, were some great family photos from years past. If I was the former owner of this camera I would want these family memories. So who is an amazing researcher and can help me locate this family, or their children, so I can deliver their images back to them?

What I can tell from the images:
~The car they’re standing next to in the picture is an Oldsmobile with (maybe Maryland, too grainy to make out) license plate # BZ-9777
~In one of the images you can see the New Jersey Steel Pier sign in the background
~And the house number is 39.
Updates:
~Looks like a lot of folks are saying that one of the vacation pictures looks like Hearst Castle in California
~The car is possibly 1964 Jet Star 88 or a 64/65 Cutlass F85.
~From a license plate historian/collector: “There’s no question that’s a 1968 expiration Maryland license plate. The state name is at the bottom of the plate, and the top reads “EXP-3-31-68″. That’s the expiration date. This plate was valid for 13 months, from March 1, 1967 to March 31, 1968. Based on the clothing the people are wearing, I’d say the photos that include the car have to be from the summer of 1967″
~In the background of the Steel Pier picture there is a sign for Aquarama, which was also owned by the Hamids. It was demolished in Philly in 1969.
~The Brownie camera that the film was with was only produced from 1960-1967

I know it’s not a lot to work with but if you had some images that you’ve never seen of your parents/grandparents…wouldn’t you want them back? Here’s just a few from the roll. Share this post with your friends/neighbors, especially if you’re in the New England area (where it looks like a good number of images were taken, the rest look like vacation pictures in a warmer climate) and help me find them!

You can also email me at katecrafton(at)gmail.com if you don’t want to post in the comment section below. I lost a camera that had pictures of my babes years ago (and never recovered it) so this is near and dear to my heart. Thank you SO MUCH!
Update: Here’s a close up of the plate for those that have emailed me to ask. Grainy, but probably our best clue.

Starbucks and Bacon – Nashville Wedding

kate — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:14:50 +0000

I met Laurie when our babes were barely a year old. She a was fun, sassy, brave and honest friend who would be there immediately if I ever needed help. I can’t tell you how many times she would drive straight from work and watch my kids so I could network at photographer meetings or have a date with my husband. When she found the man of her dreams I offered to shoot the wedding (I do this with all of my friends) and she refused and wanted me to stand with her and be a bridesmaid. This was a serious thrill for me because I’ve always shot weddings for my friends and never been able to watch from the alter. The first thing I did was send Laurie a list of the photographers in the area that I knew well and trusted. She ended up choosing Jim & Ilde Cook (which, if you’re in Nashville you should check them out!!!!) who are fabulous photographers so I was able to relax and know my friend was in good hands. If you want to see more of their wedding images, check out Jim & Ilde’s Facebook page but here are a few (and note, FEW…I really enjoyed the day without shooting too much!) behind the scenes images of my time hanging out with the beautiful bride.

Love you so much Laurie. Sam is a lucky man.

Happy Holidays!

kate — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:00:39 +0000

As of today EVERY order has gone out in the mail so within the week all clients waiting for their packages will have a little holiday cheer in their mailbox! Thank you to everyone who has made this year truly amazing for us. I realize scheduling during the move was insane for you (and us) but I wanted you all to know how thankful we are for you. I never could have imagined that I would have such a fulfilling job when I started years ago…and have been able to create these friendships with your families. I’ll be spending the next few months relaxing, finally finding time to finish decorating our new home and drinking in family time with my loves. So from our house to yours, happy holidays. I hope it’s filled with laughter, kisses and a little magic.

Rainy day wedding

kate — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:13:40 +0000

I know clients want to have an amazing, sun-soaked wedding day. 70 degrees, clear sky and Pinterest-y perfection. Let me tell you, it doesn’t matter and you can have beautiful images in any weather. Kristen’s day took place in a dimly lit church & reception hall and it rained the entire day. Downpoured. Her brother in law had to run out that morning to grab rain boots for her. In the few minutes that we had without monsoon weather we ran outside for a few shots under the umbrellas. Check out the joy on the faces of Kristen and Todd in EVERY SINGLE PICTURE. I hope other couples take note that it’s not “perfect” conditions that make your wedding day…it’s the love that you find in each other. KG & TG, thanks so much for flying me up to Milwaukee for your big day. Love you guys!

New York Wedding Photography

kate — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:06:48 +0000

I was honored to join Amanda and Brad in their gorgeous, black tie wedding this past weekend in Rye, NY. I loved having the opportunity to dive back in to classic portraiture to really capture who they were as a couple. Here are a just a few teasers from their big day!