HARDY KLAHOLD Photography

Moved

2009-04-15T15:29:00.002-06:00

I moved my blog to a new address. To read about my work and follow my blog go to:
http://blog.hardyklaholdphotography.com/
Thank you and see you at my new place.
Hardy Klahold

Sugar Castle

2008-12-22T21:22:00.002-07:00

Every time my friend Janusz from Elegant Bakery calls me in his store, I know I'm in for a big, sweet treat. This time Janusz surprised me with a huge castle made out of sugar... about 4 by 2 feed. Janusz worked for about 2 weeks on this show piece for a private Christmas party.

... a water feature in front of an inviting staircase, icicle hanging from golden roofs are making this masterpiece a perfect replica of an old european castle. Janusz swore that the entire masterpiece is a just a product of his phantasy... great Job

The best 5 years of my life

2008-12-19T11:41:00.003-07:00

Tammy - I love you. Your are my heart, my motivation, my best friend… my wife. You are home to me.

When we said YES to each other in front of our family and friends 5 years ago, I knew we would have a good life. You gave me more than that and I can't wait to start every day together with you.

We will have a great weekend downtown. I love you Tammy.

Timeline

2008-12-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

The camera is my tool at a wedding. You can compare the camera for the photographer, to the clock for the wedding coordinator on the wedding day.

Today I received this very nice Christmas card from a wedding coordinator I worked with this year. She complimented my work ethic and that I always follow the timeline - ...thank you so much! In my past job as a photojournalist, there was always a deadline to meet or a timeline to follow. That was the key. Doing a great job, shooting the best photos was key also, but it didn't matter if I didn't meet the deadline. This always meant someone else's photos were chosen. In the case of wedding photography, it means other vendors can't do their jobs right when I'm not ready in time with my job. Doing a good job and following the timelines are two things that go together easily for me.

...if you're trying to decide whether having the portraits and formal photos done before or after the ceremony, I'd like to share some of my experience with you:

Before the ceremony:

Your makeup and outfits are fresh. You can have a private moment together before everyone arrives and pulls you in multiple directions, and you can reduce the amount of time that guests wait after the ceremony before sitting down for dinner.

After the ceremony:

You may have to wait for all of your guests clear out before you can begin portraits, but you may care slightly less about the condition of your gown or tux and be willing to take a few more risks when it comes to creative portraits.

Whatever you choose, make sure that the flowers will be ready when and where your portraits will be taken.

Formal family photos

Make a list for the formal family photos. Group the people on the list. Inform them that they are on your formal photo list. Tell each person on the list where they have to be at what time. Hire a friend or a family member who knows both families to assist the photographer during the shoot. While the photographer takes the photos, the next group can be waiting. This will speed up the process of the formal photos and it gives me more time to shoot wonderful photos of you.

The time of day may also influence when you would do most of your portraits, especially if you plan to have an evening or sunset ceremony. If your guests will be heading directly to the reception site, consider how long they will be waiting for your arrival.

...a basic timeline should simply inform people of when they need to be where. Ultimately, hire professionals for your wedding day. They are experts at what they do. They've seen it all and they know what works and what doesn't work. They will make sure you and your guests have a great experience.

Wedding photography budget

2008-12-10T16:49:00.002-07:00

How much should wedding photography cost compared to the entire wedding budget? - Almost every bride has that one thing that she will consider the most important part of her wedding day, and will usually spend the most amount of money on it. What that one thing is, depends on the bride. As far as your wedding photography budget goes, it comes down to this one simple rule: Once the cake is cut, the guests are gone, and the dress is cleaned and preserved, all you really have left afterwards are your photos.

There is no real answer as to how much you should really be spending on your wedding photography. I have talked to brides after their wedding was over, who made the mistake of spending all their money on the wedding day festivities, locations, attire and decorations. They skimped on photography. They hired a photographer with poor equipment and insufficient wedding photography knowledge. Even worse, some asked a friend or a relative who had an expensive camera, thinking he must be good, to take their wedding photos. As a result, they received bad photos. All these brides that I've talked to regret their decision. All that money and effort spent on making everything perfect will never be remembered properly.

...picture this:

On your first anniversary you sit together with your family and close friends around the table. You open your wedding album and you all relive page by page your wedding day by looking at all the wonderful memories I created for you. You remember how you felt doing the first dance with your husband. You see the beautiful flowers, can almost taste the cake. This is what wedding photography should be all about and you can't put a price tag on this.

Harry Benson - one of my heros

2008-12-08T13:02:00.001-07:00

Harry Benson is a true icon in the world of photography. How many people can say they have photographed JFK, Eisenhower, Churchill, the Beatles, Demi Moore, MLK, countless top models and major world events?

Through Harry Benson's work as a celebrity, editorial and documentary photographer we have gained access to international figures and viewed historic moments in life.

Françoise Hardy and Oliver Hardy

2008-12-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

I have this little movie with my favorite wedding moments in 2008 on YouTube. I noticed that I'm in close company with movies from the french singer Françoise Hardy and the US actor Oliver Hardy. Everyone in the US knows who Oliver Hardy is, Françoise Hardy probably not so much.

Music is always a big part in my life. And I brought all the european music over, which my wife Tammy love to hear as well. Everyone who has visited my website noticed the french songs. I love the french music. Françoise Hardy is a French singer, actress and astrologer. Hardy is an iconic figure in fashion, music style and personality in the Francophile world. So I guess that name fits with what I'm doing... wedding photography.

I strongly believe that good Wedding photography sits on three poles: It is journalism, by in telling the story of two families coming together. It is of course portrait photography - and my favorite pole: fashion photography. All the colors, the dresses, the hairstyles, make up and the excitement. Every time when I shoot the bride getting dressed, it's like backstage at the Fashion Week in New York.

Wedding consultants marketing with my photos

2008-12-03T22:15:00.001-07:00

I’m very excited that even wedding consultants use my services for their marketing. You can see one of my photos on the current ad of the Association of Bridal Consultants in the magazine Wedding Sites & Services. Just today I received the proof of another ad in the Rocky Mountain Bride,that will show one of my photos from 2008.

I’m fortunate to work with some amazing wedding consultants here in Colorado and I'm proud that they like my work so much that they use it for their advertising.

*** Here is a little advice for brides who are planning their wedding right now. I can see all the excitement that planning a wedding can bring. I also understand that some of you are on a budget and try to get everything for the wedding in a financially reasonable manner. But who takes over on your wedding day, since you are the one who planned everything?
Don't consider the wedding consultant just another item on your budget list. They can actually help you to save money and time. They work with approved vendors and always know the best fit for you.
This allows you to be a guest at your own party and really enjoy your wedding. Many of the wedding consultants have a free first consultation. My advice is just give it a try.

Real moments

2008-12-01T16:52:00.011-07:00

Today I had a couple in my studio and we talked about their wedding next year. After I told them that I'm an in Germany trained photojournalist, the bride had some very interesting questions for me: "Why having a real photojournalist at my wedding? - What difference does it make? - Isn't it just another trend we all follow, until the next one comes around the corner?"

I would like to give this question back to all my former brides: Remember how you felt on your wedding day? - When people look back at their wedding photographs, they’d like to remember what they felt at the time, not just what they looked like, which will surely to be out of date 20 years later. What really matters, is the actual experience that I will document. This is what I'm trained to do: Telling the story and show the emotions. May be you remember his shy little squeeze of your hand during the receiving line, when you look at the photo that shows your smile back to him.

When real life goes out of style, we’re all in trouble. When is that ever going to go out of style? Real moments – you can’t fake them.”

All this also comes with my promise: I MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD!

Pottery

2008-11-30T13:00:00.002-07:00

Meet Jeffrey Goard. I met him in Bishop Hill in Illinois. Jeff is the Potter/Curator of the Bishop Hill Colony Pottery. I was lucky when I met him, because he was emptying out his kiln. It takes him 3 weeks to fill the kiln up. Every last week of the month he starts the kiln and his pieces will be in the heat for 15 hours. Jeffrey told me that during the summer he always has people waiting at the kiln; they help him to empty out the kiln and shop at the same time. Most of his pieces never see the store, because the people buy it from him right away. Needless to say, we took one of his beautiful bowls home to Colorado that was still warm from the kiln.

Birds nest in my suitcase

2008-11-26T22:15:00.001-07:00

Can anyone please come up with an idea to get rid of this mess? Every time I travel, my hotel room looks like an electrician on vacation. -- All the chargers and cables I have to bring with me are on the floor and it seems to be getting worse. It's like a birds nest. I need a charger for my cellphone, my laptop, my camera, my iPod, my wife's cellphone, my wife's iPod. Most of the time you are lucky if you find two outlets in your hotel room. I don't want to come up with this old phrase, but I have to: We fly to the moon, we have wireless everywhere, but we still need a different charger and a different cable for every electrical item that travels with us. When will someone come up with the idea of one charger with one cable... or may be wireless charging? Is this too much to ask for, or is there a cable lobby out there that fights my idea?

Home for Thanksgiving

2008-11-23T15:29:00.003-07:00

My wife Tammy and I are in Toulon/Illinois right now - home for Thanksgiving, for my wife at least. It's a great tradition even for me and being a German. I love Thanksgiving and the idea of having the family together at least once a year. We arrived on Saturday, a little earlier to catch up with the family and have a little downtime after a busy year.

Today we paid Fred J. Sams a visit. Sams is host an vintner at Indian Creek Vineyard Bed and Breakfast. The Vineyard is located on an old family farm, which has been in the family since 1836. Fred was born and raised on this farm. He started with the Vineyard in 1998. Over 8 acres are in grapes now. All are very tasty as we can say now after a good wine tasting. My favorite one is the Stark County Red - made from the Chambourcin garpe. Aromas of Cherries and black currants are the characteristics. That's what the paper says. To get the real taste, you have to come down here and taste it yourself.

Spring has come?

2008-11-19T19:57:00.004-07:00

Veronica, der Lenz ist da (Veronica, spring has come) was a very popular song in Germany in the 20s and it still is to the present. If a woman in Germany introduces herself with the name Veronica, you can be sure someone will start to sing this song. It's a "German thing" and you don't have to understand it. All the Veronicas in Germany don't think it's funny anymore so don't try. - Why do I tell you that? - Oh, I had this senior photo shoot last weekend at Denver City Park. It was a girl and guess what her name was... Veronica. So now you also know what song was in my head on my way to the shoot. - You are right, that song. The temperatures on Saturday were far away from spring. It was a sunny morning and it was very cold. It didn't even help to get warmer when I was introduced to Veronica's friend at the shooting - her name was Veronica as well. The shoot went great and the three of us had a lot of fun. Actually the two Veronicas liked the story about the German song, even though I refused to sing it to them.

Because we were right in the middle of the park, there was no place to change clothes. We had to improvise with my equipment. It worked as you can see.

It's all about memories

2008-11-17T17:21:00.002-07:00

Recently I was thinking, when did all this start?... me with the camera in my hand. It started when I was 13 years old. My best friend had a camera and of course I needed a camera myself. I was begging my parents to give me a camera for my birthday. Thinking back, that was a big gift to ask for. My parents raised 3 kids and money was an issue for them at that time. My dad was a police officer and my mom didn't have a job. Being a teenager, I didn't care. I wanted the camera so badly. I don't even know anymore what drove me more: that my friend had one, or that I already felt the photographer inside of me that wanted to come out. Honestly I think it was my friend's camera. On my 14th birthday, when I unwrapped the gift box I found a camera inside of it. I was proud and very happy. Of course I thanked my parents for this wonderful gift, but today I feel I didn't thank them enough. Growing up I soon realized what it meant to them to spend that much money for my birthday gift. I know now that there were 2 other kids who expected the same from them.
I called my Dad today to say thank you again to him and my mom for this wonderful gift on my 14th birthday. It changed my life. I honor this every time I push the shutter. So it is about memories, but not only the memories I capture when I shoot weddings, also my memories of how everything began.
Thank you, Mom and Dad!

Moments in 2008

2008-11-12T11:33:00.003-07:00

The end of the wedding season is always the start of reviewing all the photos I shot during the year. It was a great season. I met a lot of wonderful people. All the weddings were so much fun. I was honored to create a lot of many memories for my clients. Watch this little movie and see some of my memories I will carry with me from 2008.

Name change

2008-11-10T13:00:00.006-07:00

I started my business 4 years ago here in Colorado. Someone told me at that time I need to find a name. So I came up with pixelarts, which I thought was appropriate since I work 100 percent digital for almost 10 years now. Over the years I was'nt really happy with the name, also my business was growing. This month I decided to make the change to Hardy Klahold Photography. Below you can read my official media release:

pixelArts is now Hardy Klahold Photography

Hardy Klahold is changing his company’s name from pixelArts photography to Hardy Klahold Photography.
Morrison, Colorado (hardy klahold) November 10, 2008 -- 4 years ago Hardy Klahold launched his company pixelArts photography. His approach to wedding photography was as a storyteller that captures the right moments and creates wonderful memories that last a lifetime.
pixelArts photography, located at 16118 Mountain Bluebird Way, Morrison 80465, Colorado, is changing its name to Hardy Klahold Photography this coming fall
The studio first opened in Morrison in March 2004 and focused mainly on wedding photography. Over the years, Hardy Klahold was able to create with his unique style a brand that is well recognized by brides and leading wedding consultants throughout Colorado. In over 80 weddings Hardy Klahold has proven his 28 years of experience in photo journalism.
Hardy Klahold has over 28 years of experience in photography. Trained in Germany, he is an international award winning photojournalist. Hardy builds memories of love as he tells the story and captures the emotions in wedding photography.
After working for leading news agencies overseas, he moved to Colorado in 2003. He launched his company in 2004. Because of his recognizable style, owner Hardy Klahold decided it was time to change the studio's name to reflect that.
Klahold said in a press release,"It seemed obvious that I created a style that brides and leading wedding consultants recognize and like. This is why I decided to change the studio’s name to reflect that."
Hardy can be reached at hardy@hardyklaholdphotography.com.

Grandkids

2008-11-06T16:44:00.004-07:00

I love to take photos of kids. Sometimes they are so funny, it's hard for me to keep the camera straight. A good example was the photo shoot with Bailey, Elizabeth, and Carson. Her Grandma Charlene needed an update of their photos. Carson was the tough one during the shoot. It was hard to keep him in the picture, he constantly found something more interesting to look at.

Interview call

2008-11-05T10:02:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday I got a phone call from the local radio station in my hometown in Germany. They asked me what is going on in my area on the election day. The phone call came in the evening, the time difference is +8 hours, so my Interview was part of the morning show. It was quite an exciting experience that lasted about 10 minutes. Although I wasn't able to vote, because I'm not a citizen of the United State, I played my little part telling people somewhere outside of the United State what is going on in my neck of the woods.

Lindsey & Stanton

2008-10-12T19:54:00.004-06:00

Lindsey and Stanton got married at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. They had guests from all over the world at their wedding. I was proud to be their photographer. I covered Germany as a the part of the world where they had people from at their wedding. Thanks Lindsey and Stanton.

Big Greek wedding

2008-09-16T10:12:00.007-06:00

There are two pictures that come to my mind when I think of Greek and Greek weddings. First of all of course the unforgettable Alexis Zorbas and Anthony Quinn. The Sirtaki scene in the movie... I love it. The other picture is from the movie "My big fat Greek wedding". Since this movie I have a different understanding of Windex. Both pictures combined I found in Craig/Colorado at Peggy's and Chris's Greek wedding. They actually had little Windex bottles on the tables... and you probably guess what their first dance was.

Cammy & Daryl

2008-09-10T19:40:00.000-06:00

A wedding in the mountains is always something special for me. Daryl and Cammy had a wonderful wedding surrounded by a great view.

Heather & Todd

2008-09-02T19:25:00.001-06:00

Heather and Todd's wedding in Boulder was a blast for me and all the guests. The day started with a lot of rain. The ceremony had to be moved inside, but other than that, everyone had fun. Thank you Heather and Todd for having me as your photographer at your wedding

Rock the Canon

2008-08-27T11:00:00.012-06:00

I always liked music. My dad used to say: If you can whistle it, I like it. I'm the same way. I heart the canon in D Major by Johan Pachelbel the first time in Germany. It was used in a car commercial and I loved the song from the beginning. I had a hard time to find out what it is. You can imaging my surprise when I went to my first wedding in Colorado. There was the song ... and the next wedding there it was again. Now I found this one on YouTube. Certainly a new approach by this young, talented french musician named Mattrach. May be one day I have a bride who uses his version, when she walks down the aisle. I hope so... enjoy. If you are interested to get more information about this young musician, go to his website www.mattrach.com

Summernight in Indianapolis

2008-08-16T09:57:00.001-06:00

Jess and Chris got married at Jessica's parents house. A big tend covered 200 guests from the hot sun. It was a beautiful day for a very emotional wedding. Jessica's dad had tears in his eyes, when he gave his daughter to Chris. When Jessica saw the photos, this is what she wrote to me: "Heya Hardy!
First off, the pictures are incredible as I'm sure you're aware of by now. :)
I just got an email from grandma, and she said she can't stop crying, so that means you did good!!!" Thank you Jessica and Chris.

Jessica's senior photos

2008-08-13T22:43:00.002-06:00

I met Jessica the first time a few weeks ago. She came with Mariana and her mom (photos above) in my studio. Jessica's job was to coach her friend Mariana during her senior photo session. Jessica did a great job. Mariana is happy with her photos. On Monday Jessica and Mariana were back. This time the jobs changed: Mariana coached her friend Jessica. Both girls did a reat job. May be I should hire them back for my next senior photo session.