Last week, Steve and I made a quick little jaunt to Bloomington, Indiana to visit with inspiring photographers Jeff and Michelle Richardson.  Jeff and Michelle graciously shared their time and expertise with us as we prepare for the next developmental step for our business. While we were there, they helped us enjoy the lush 70s temperatures and gave us some recommendations to see in their lovely state.

We flew to Indiana on Monday on American Airlines – in coach, thank you very much.  But as we were flying the friendly skies we remembered about a session back in July with Celebrated Living magazine’s editor Janet Thomas. It was time for Janet to have new photos done for her editor’s page of the magazine and she wanted something a little more relaxed and true to her and she thought of us. Celebrated Living is the magazine for American’s First Class fliers so as we departed the airplane, we snuck a copy off.

As these are scans of the magazine pages – the photo doesn’t look as great here but you can see it on the CL website here.  If you get to ride First Class anytime soon look for Janet’s pic and our itty bitty photo credit hiding near the seam in the bottom right corner.  We took a variety of photos so Janet could change her look based on the season.

Janet is actually greatly responsible for Carpe Vita Photography being even alive today, because back in 1994, she introduced Steve and I to one another.  This is a photo Janet’s husband Steve took of that fateful night.  I sailed regularly with Janet and her Steve on their boat – second from the left – and our Steve sailed with other friends on the red boat.

We probably passed one another many times on the docks during racing season but because we raced in different fleets, we never really met.  But this night July 23, 1994 when we were supposed to race, there was no wind so a raft-up came about and the rest is history. We celebrated our 15 year Introversary this July.

Now the little surprise that came our way yesterday – Carpe Vita was named Best Photography for the Northern Region by Texas Meetings & Events Magazine this week at an awards gala in Austin, Texas.  For more details, here’s the link.  We were honored to be nominated and blown away that we were selected.  We love photographing all the work and thought that goes into meetings and events.  As we don’t tend to do the print on location event photography, we are available to showcase what all the vendors and planners spent all of their genius on creating for their clients.  It is amazing to be recognized and wow, would you look at the other peeps who won!

Best Caterer: Creative Cuisine (go Geni and the rest of the amazing gang)
Best Conference/Convention/Exhibition Center: Plano Centre
Best Entertainment: Lone Star Murder Mysteries by Lagniappe Productions
Best Florist: Macaux Florals (we photographed their amazing florals earlier this year at the Johnson-Long Wedding)
Best Destination Management Organization: Plano Convention & Visitors Bureau
Best Golf Resort/Country Club: Cowboys Golf Club
Best Holiday Event/Party Venue: City Club of Fort Worth
Best Hotel with Meeting Space: Gaylord Texan Hotel and Convention Center (we love our neighbors)
Best Green Meetings/Event Venue – Garrett Creek Ranch Conference Center
Best Unique Venue: Circle R Ranch
Best Rental Service (tents, tables, linens): Ducky-Bob’s Event Specialist
Best Teambuilding Facility/Organizer: Rockin’ C Ranch
Best Transportation – Premiere Transportation Services
Best Photography – your’s truly Carpe Vita Photography
Best New Venue – Union Station (which we had the honor of doing promotional photography for earlier this year – which reminds me I never did a blog entry for…)

One of Carpe Vita Photography owner’s Kim and Steve Cooley’s favorite nights of each year is the Hotel ZaZa New Year’s Eve Party.  We get to party with a great group of people who are really enjoying themselves.  This year’s theme was Mystique ‘09 based on a Venetian masked ball and the mastermind behind the evening, Noel Rodriguez made sure it was a wonderful celebration for all in attendance.

We were really impressed with how many guests went all out complete with custom masks.

At midnight, champagne was served and guest rang in the beginning of 2009 with hugs, kisses and dancing.

Some guests are more creative than others.  For the gentleman in the sunglasses, he had a little extra to share that we unfortunately can’t put online.  But if he is interested in purchasing the original file, please contact Carpe Vita Photography at 214.245.4606 or 817.410.9975.

Carpe Vita Photography concentrates their efforts on documenting awesome weddings, events & parties that have style and creative people.  Please let us know how Carpe Vita Photography’s artists can help you document your next special event and Seize Life in 2009!

Here’s a slideshow!

To see all the photos (there are a lot) from New Year’s Eve, click here and you will be taken to our online lab Pictage.  Enjoy reliving the evening’s fun.

Kim and Steve Cooley are back in the saddle again after a whirlwind last week and a few days.

We photographed Kacey and Chad’s casual engagement session at the Chad’s family condo at Hotel ZaZa early on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve – photos to come on this later today.

Then we were back at Hotel ZaZa to ring in the New Year later that night – photos of the event are available now for viewing.

We spent the first day of 2009 (Thursday) backing up photos and packing for a photography seminar trip to Las Vegas to attend the annual Senior Portrait Artist conference.

Friday January 2nd, we flew to Las Vegas after a little difficulty with an aircraft mechanical but we arrived safely in time to head to bed.

Saturday January 3rd, Steve took a pre-event sales class with photographer Cheryl Ridgeway and Kim had a blast photographing senior spa models at the Neon Museum and Red Rock Canyon in a photography class with the extra-ordinary talented photographers Bob and Krista Ashmun ofMichigan.  We’ll be posting photos from these outings soon.

Sunday January 4th was a full day of classes with us meeting more great photographers.

Monday January 5th had us in a half day of classes and a half day of shooting around the amazingly beautiful Red Rock Resort.  In my opinion, it was the most visually dynamic place spa has had host their conferences yet.  There were so many great nooks and interior elements that inspired great creativity.  You’ll definitely be seeing more photos from these fun sessions.

Tuesday January 6th was back into the classroom setting, Steve and I took a quick trip out to show him Red Rock Canyon and the day ended with the spa Fashion Show.  We’ll be showing off photos from this fun aspect too.

Wednesday January 7th was the final day of the conference and we traveled home.  When we got home that evening, we learned via voicemail that Steve had been named the 2008 Event Professional of the Year by the Dallas National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) at the awards banquet held that evening at the newly opened Union Station.  Way to go Steve for being such an integral part of the2008 NACE team!

Thursday (yesterday) began catchup mode because while we were away some of the computer work we had hoped would get done in the hotel room didn’t due to incredibly slow internet speeds.  And now it is time for a blogging marathon.

Once again Carpe Vita Photography will be seeing the change from one year to the next ring in at the party capital of Dallas  – Hotel ZaZa.   As soon as we possibly can, we’ll have party pics up for you to see!  But you can go ahead and register to be notified as soon as the photos are available for viewing - click here and add your email address.

Happy New Year from Kim and Steve Cooley of Carpe Vita Photography.  We are hoping 2009 will surprise us all by being a year better than anyone expects.  Best wishes and Peace to all!

During our holiday travels, we heard the news that Eartha Kitt had passed away on Christmas Day.  What a day to make an entrance into heaven and if anyone could do it, it would be Ms. Eartha Kitt.  Kim Cooley of Carpe Vita Photography was blessed to see Ms. Kitt perform on her 80th birthday in Los Angeles, CA in January 2007.  Ms. Kitt participated in the Diva Bling party held by The Special Event which is an annual gathering of wedding and event coordinators.  Ms. Kitt was the piece ‘d resistance for the evening engineered by event designer extraordinaire Charles Banfield.

For some of the photos found on Google, click here to you can see how hot she really was.

Here’s a little slideshow of her perform.  Lucky Kim was right behind one of Ms. Kitt’s off stage conquests.

She will be missed but not forgotten by those of us who got to see her in action.