Journey to Cuba with John Greengo and me!

We've been working on this special plan for months. Today John Greengo and I are thrilled to announce an opportunity of a lifetime. We invite 12 travelers to join us on a People to People Cultural Exchange to the beautiful country and culture of Cuba!

For those of us here in the USA this has not been possible until 2011 when the laws were changed and now under special guidelines it’s 100% legal. We’ll be traveling under a license from the US government for “People to People Cultural Exchanges.” We've created a tailor made schedule where we'll meet and interact with individual Cubans and a variety of community groups. These encounters will undoubtedly make for special memories and intimate photographic moments.

The best time is now!
As the door to Cuba has now squeaked open just a little bit, it's the perfect time to see and experience its distinctive culture, history, music, dance, art, architecture and cuisine. It's possible that this opportunity won't last long if the people-to-people diplomacy licenses are repealed. But it's also possible that travel from the USA might become more open in the future. If so, the ability to experience Cuba's traditional culture and mystique may disappear at an accelerated rate.

This trip is open to all, no matter where you hail from and no matter what your interest in photography is. We will be focusing on meeting people and experiencing the culture, good times and learning experiences are sure to be had by all.

Why travel with John & me?
John and I have followed different paths exploring the world with our cameras and have now joined forces for this one-of-a-kind trip. With a checklist of over 60 countries visited and 50 years of combined photography experience, we're both seasoned and savvy travelers, thrilled about the opportunity to co-lead this Cuban adventure for you. Once in Cuba we're teaming up with local guides and experienced photography guides from Cuba Cultural Travel who specialize in connecting travelers with locals for an intimate experience. Bringing Americans to Cuba since 1999, CCT's relationships in Cuba with people in the world of art, dance, education, medicine and music will provide us with a privileged access that few can hope to achieve on their own.

Important Trip Details

• April 16-23, 2014: Depart and return to Miami FL, USA
• Small group size of max 12 travelers + guides
• Airfare from Miami to Havana + 8 nights in hotels + many meals included
• Deposit of $1,000 secures your spot, first come first serve
• $4,495 Double occupancy (Need a roommate, let us know)
• $4,795 Single occupancy

Are you saying to yourself, "I'm in?!" Check out the itinerary here and request a reservation form from john@johngreengo.com

We look forward to seeing who the 12 travelers in this journey to Cuba will be. Will it be YOU?!

2012.01.10 & .11 Daily Retrospective

2012.01.10 Retrospective. Floating village near Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

2012.01.11 Retrospective. Ritual pre-funeral head shave. Varanasi, India.

Humbled by Lighten Up and Shoot

I am sincerely humbled by Andy & Mikey of Lighten Up & Shoot's blog post today - see here. Ok, let's be honest - I am jumping up and down excited with glee too! It was watching Mikey & Andy's videos that inspired Susan Roderick and I to make our own. To think that a month ago Susan and I had never made a video in our lives, and now we're on Lighten Up & Shoot's blog - it's kind of unreal!  I couldn't have summed up what Susan and I are creating with our behind the LIVE community better than Andy:

"Their plan, bring to the world what happens when the creativeLive camera's are off! They get in a little further, more personal, more real and more...well fun! I really love the idea they have for so many reasons! I mean think about it people, they are in a position where they get to not only meet but interact with the best photographers/teachers on this planet! Instead of them being all selfish and keeping it to themselves, they share with the world! Now that's brilliant!" 

We have been blessed to be volunteer chat hosts at the coolest creative school EVER - creativeLIVE. As Andy says, we want to share our experiences with YOU - because that's what it's all about. When everyone shares, everyone wins. There are no losers in the creativeLIVE philosophy. Right? creativeLIVE co-founder Chase Jarvis is an open book with his blog and Chase Jarvis Live. I love the concept.


No time like the present to sign up for Lighten Up and Shoot's creativeLIVE workshop - July 29-31. It's FREE - and that's downright amazing. No doubt they will take us all on a wild ride, gringos-who-also-said-adios-to-the-Man-and-live-in-Columbia style!

In the meantime, Lighten Up and Shoot are touring the world teaching workshops - check out the schedule here. But the beauty of Mikey & Andy is that they bring FREE photography education to each and every one of you in the comfort of your own home. They have hilarious and yet incredibly educational videos on YouTube with hours of content about not just lighting, but so much more. I dig their style, and that's an understatement! Kindred spirits? Creo que si!

Check these gringos out on www.lightenupandshoot.com! Subscribe to their YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/mikeyorange?blend=2&ob=1!

Gabe the Babe at 4 months - tummy time!

You may remember Gabe the Babe from his newborn portraits (here). Kids these days... they grow up so quickly! I had a blast photographing Gabriel once again for his 4 month photo shoot - the kid is a pro - a bona fide Gerber baby. 'You want me in a basket? Sure thing!' 'You want me doing tummy time? Anytime!' 'Mom and Dad walking with me? Good times!' Whatever we asked, whichever hat we adorned him with, he just chuckled and gave us that adorable smile (and of course the occasional spit up - but that comes with the territory!). ; ) In the blink of an eye he'll be crawling and walking. Let's do this again soon Gabe!

creativeLIVE karma

Hi, my name is Kenna and I am a creativeLIVE addict. If founder Craig Swanson at creativeLIVE says jump, I say "how high"? Perhaps I wouldn't jump off a bridge if Craig suggested it, but these days I find myself willing to do most anything for creativeLIVE. Name my first baby boy Craig Chase Klosterman?? hmmm - not sure about that one either...

I ask myself, why am I such a groupie that I preach and tweet, tweet and preach about creativeLIVE all day long? Well, because my life is all about the interconnected cycle of giving, receiving, giving, receiving. That's kinda how the world works in my humble opinion. creativeLIVE karma - yes, that's it. As Craig says, I'm a true believer.

creativeLIVE gives me and the world free creative education, and we all receive it with gratitude, pass it on to others around us, make the world a better place using the tools we have learned. Try it on for size - pay it forward by turning friends and colleagues on to creativeLIVE, and see how it changes their lives like it has yours and mine. CL founders Chase Jarvis and Craig Swanson believe in the democratization of creative education - and they are walking the walk, not just talking the talk. My fellow partner-in-crime-chat-hostess Susan Roderick and I are stunned every single day with how much we have learned from our involvement in creativeLIVE over the past year - for free. Wow - were we ever in the right place at the right time to have become volunteer chat hosts at CL? Thank you Universe!

The list of upcoming FREE photography workshops in 2011 is not just impressive, it's downright crazy talk! Vincent Laforet and Jasmine Star are BOTH back in the CL house after stellar weekend workshops in 2010. And the workshop announcements have only just begun. Meanwhile - there are a ton of other exciting weekly classes in addition to these weekend workshops - can you say John Greengo? And I'm not just talking about classes on photography, but courses exploring many more avenues of the creative life. Plus, the archive of classes that can be purchased for ridiculously low prices is long and growing.

Here's a brief summary of what creativeLIVE has announced so far for the weekend workshop series:

March 4-6: HDDSLR - Moving from Still to Video with Vincent Laforet

Creative Live Promo from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.


March 18-20: Posing and Lighting with Bambi Cantrell



April 9-10: Building Your Wedding Photography Business with Jasmine Star



May 13-15: Food & Culture Photography with Penny De Los Santos



July 29-31: Street Photography with Mikey & Andy of Lighten Up and Shoot


But wait, there's bound to be much much more. Are you ready? I am!

Alright Craig - what do you have for us next? And what can WE (the interwebs) do in return for that juicy creativeLIVE sharing-of-goodness karma next? 

Jeremy Cowart wears his art on his sleeve

Jeremy Cowart, founder of the global Help-Portrait movement, says that he wears his heart on his sleeve. I say he wears his ART on his sleeve. Talk about courage. Talk about generosity. And talk about going in front of a LIVE worldwide audience to create your art in real time. And not just any ole art, but experimental portraits that are each unique and one of a kind - glitter, laser beams and all. Thank you Jeremy and I can't wait to see what you teach us today in Day 2 of your creativeLIVE workshop.

Melanie & Pat +2

I've had the pleasure of knowing mom-to-be Melanie practically her entire life. Younger sis to my dearest friend Adrienne, she's like my own lil' sister. We attended the same schools in LA and spent Christmas dinners at her family'shouse. Mel met Pat at Notre Dame, where they married a number of years later - a perfect match. Go Irish! I was incredibly touched when Mel asked if she could fly me to Boston to photograph her belly. Of course! Mel and Pat are expecting twins and I cannot wait to find out if they are boys or girls. Their dog Max joined in the fun. Thanks for a stunning shoot!

Are you a mom-to-be? Contact me at kennakphoto@gmail.com or 206 349 6747 to book a photo shoot in the comfort of your own home and/or at your favorite outdoor spot!

Post-processing Jasmine Star

During the Jasmine Star wedding photography course, the creativeLIVE Five students discussed Chase Jarvis' blog post about the concept that "It’s easier to be inspired than it is to create." Thanks to J*, I am more inspired than ever before in my journey of building my portrait and humanitarian photography business. The fact that I'm not pursuing wedding photography didn't matter as I soaked in all of J*'s lessons about not only being a photographer, but also being a savvy businesswoman. If you didn't know it already, J* is one smart lady. She talks the talk (twice as fast as most) and walks the walk (even in those high heels!). I've heard it before, but Jasmine reinforced that being a successful photographer is 20% photography and 80% business. (Of course one's definition of "success" is another matter entirely, but you know what I mean.) I've got some work to do.

Behind the scenes & off camera, Jasmine and her right hand JD are 100% the real deal. One example is that during every lunch break, Jasmine & JD would insist that the cast & crew go ahead of them in line for food. When motioning for them to go ahead of me, they both said, "no, you all have been here longer than us today." I noticed this over and over in many ways. J* & JD - you are so gracious, take nothing for granted and you truly live & breathe the Jasmine Star experience.

To bring all y'all on the internet backstage, here are more behind-the-scenes photos of my J* experience.

Now it's time for me to create, to post-process all of the mental images imprinted in my mind from our collective 5-days of intense learning. Starting with blogging again, I'm putting myself out there to the universe so that said universe can hold me accountable. Next - redefining my brand, which truly is a reflection of me. My three words are candid, compassionate and soulful. I'll approach not only my photography, but all of the divisions of my brand with these 3 words in mind. I'll be working on incorporating these into my website, blog, client interactions, promos, business cards, thank you notes - every single touch point with a client.

I had an aha moment yesterday when my friend Tanya told me that she & her husband cried looking at the photos I took of her and her horse. She said, "When I look at your portrait of me, I see my true self. I see me and how I feel about life. That is truly a gift." Honestly I was pretty blown away by that and it helped reinforce what I seek to create in my photographs, and that I can do this. Thank you Jasmine, JD and creativeLIVE.

Shout out to the creativeLIVE Five: Audrey Smit, Nate Perkes, Sachin Khona, Stephanie Miller, Victoria de Martigny, my fellow "voice of the internet" Susan Roderick, and our beautiful bride Laura Marchbanks.

Can't wait to see what masters photography course Craig & Chase of creativeLIVE come up with next!