I was chatting with some good friends this morning about 'photo failure'. We as photographers get really down on ourselves sometimes. If color isn't right, if the shot isn't framed perfectly, if we happen to get a glimpse of some other work that is supremely amazing...we cringe and we beat ourselves up for it, and so we get down.

I hate feeling down. I decided a long time ago to not look at what other people are doing. I decided to focus on my own work and work hard at it, improve what it was I was seeing through my own lens and find who I am, and who I want to be.

The problem? I don't like a lot of the work I do, especially personal work. Oftentimes, to save money I shoot my personal work on off brand film. This usually means the color is kind of whacky and the grain is chunky chunk, or I have a local 1 hour lab process my film, so the photos aren't as clear or sharp as my client work.

So they sit.

They sit also because I am busy with all five of my jobs as Jothan likes to calculate them all for me.

Then today, the discussion with my friends got me thinking...and looking...for awful photos. You know what? It was hard to find some. I found photos I loved. Even in bad lighting and off film and horrible processing. I still think they are lovely, they are personal, they are my heart, and I love them. I love the way I see through the lens and these photos only make me want to capture more and more.

Hope you enjoy these today. They were taken for SassyScoops at Sammy's Cafe in Pleasant Grove I truly feel all of my work shot for SassyScoops is personal, and I love the opportunity it gives me to shoot products, food, and people in a new light. You will see that the film stock and color as well as processing are very different from my client work. It is almost night and day...and yet I still love. It is a messy kind of love, and artistic kind of love and I am going to embrace it forevermore.

Here is to more personal work shot in 2012, and more showing it on a regular basis.

Oh, and I miss summer. You?

I would love to meet you and photograph your newest addition in a similar way. These moments are all too fleeting. Let's capture them forever. Contact me: kimorlandini@gmail.com to set up your appointment.

View the entire session and order prints here .

When I was contacted by the creative mastermind behind Love Stitched last year, I was thrilled. After a few emails, it was decided that we were a good fit for one another, and so, I was given the task of photographing the fall line of beautiful one of a kind headbands and necklaces.

Brittany is a stunning lady inside and out. We hit it off instantly, spilling secrets, sharing life stories, we had so much in common. It was nice to find someone with whom I work so well with. As we discussed both of our visions for her pieces, we came to an awesome consensus and above is the fruit of that labor.

I am so excited and thankful to meet with Brittany again to discuss her spring line and photograph some of her newest creations.

Check out the Love Stitched Etsy Shop to snag up some of these delightful one of a kind, hand made pieces for yourself.

**Get geeky: All photos shot on either a Nikon N80 with a 50mm 1.4 lens at f4, or a Nikon F100 with a 28-70 mm lens at 50mm at f4 on Kodak Portra 400 Film. **

...and the winner is:

Commenter number 26:

Super congratulations to Cecily!

A few reminders:

• Story@Home is offering a Sweetheart Special. Everyone who registers by February 14th will be entered into a drawing. The winner will receive 2 tickets (one refund for her and a ticket for someone she loves).
• Anyone who registers for the conference by February 25 will receive a swag bag full of AMAZING goodies.

For more information and to sign up to attend the conference and hear me speak (yippee!) click the image below. Hope to see you all there.