Form submitted successfully, thank you.

Error submitting form, please try again.

Kimberlee West Photo Blog bio picture

Welcome to my Blog!

Thanks for stopping by!  This blog is currently under construction... it will be updated soon!  

xoxo, Kimberlee

Coming Soon: Paris photos!

As you probably already know, I spent about a month in Europe this past spring - and I loved every moment of my time in PARIS!!! Yes, I fell in love. Head-over-heels, hopelessly in love with the city of light. I am just now finally getting the chance to go through my ‘fun’ photos of the trip, and I’m falling in love all over again with how beautiful this city is! I’ll be posting a ton of Paris images soon, but for now, here’s just one of my favorites…
paris-tree-blog

July 1, 2009 - 7:40 pm haley lamb - oh yeah!! can't wait for this one!

Hahaha - I love this photo!

I think this picture will forever make me laugh. Last week I posted a few pages from the mini album I made describing my day w/ my nephew, and one of the pages is about how much he loves my camera bag. Well, this weekend when I was up visiting my family… sure enough - he wanted me to carry him around in my red camera bag again! (I asked my mom to snap a photo for the proof). Ah, I just LOVE my nephew! :)
bubba-camera-bag-blog
This is probably my all-time favorite photo of me and this little guy. Such fun memories of this stage - I am constantly amazed at how quickly he’s growing up!

June 30, 2009 - 6:07 pm Rachel - So Sweet! He is adorable! And so is that bag!! where did you get it?

June 30, 2009 - 7:16 pm Claudia - OMG!! I love this picture ;) you look beautiful & he is handsome ......

July 1, 2009 - 4:37 am Magdalena - Priceless picture.. but you must share where you got that hot red camera bag! I'm in absolute love and wont stop until i find :)

July 1, 2009 - 10:32 am Yuliana - Wow this is super cute! Your mom does a good job at taking pictures.

Looking back…

So… here’s another ‘get personal’ type of post. As I’ve alluded to in the past here on the blog, a few years ago I was in the midst of a really horrible situation. Long story short: I was in a relationship that was pretty emotionally/verbally-abusive. I am so thankful that God pulled me out of it - and that I am now a much stronger person for having gone through it all. The past few weeks, I’ve been taking on a personal project here and there, where I’ve begun to write a book about all that I went through, and the process of my heart through healing. I’ve been looking through old journals, and I’ve also come across some encouraging notes that my friends and wonderful family wrote to me through it all. So I just wanted to say: thank you. To all of you who emailed, called, wrote a note, and to those of you who prayed for me through all the ‘mess’ I went through 2 years ago. I wouldn’t have been able to make it to where I am, wouldn’t be the person I am today, without your love and encouragement. Here are 2 notes I found that really impacted me… the first is from my cousin - she wrote out all of these verses, and her letter came in the mail at just the right time, when I needed to read that encouragement. The second is a note from my dad - it came with flowers that he had delivered to my work about a year and a half ago. It was after a really tough day, and when the flowers arrived with this simple one-line note expressing the love of a father to his daughter, I think all of the girls in the office had to hold back tears. :)
encouragement
Go encourage someone today. With a simple note, a few encouraging words, or a phone call. You have no idea how much these seemingly small/simple things might impact someone! Have a wonderful Tuesday, everyone!

June 30, 2009 - 12:08 pm becky - im not gonna lie; i got a little teary-eyed. Love you for who you are Kimee!

June 30, 2009 - 12:45 pm haley lamb - very well said :)

July 1, 2009 - 10:38 am Yuliana - I'm glad that you got out safe. I was too in a relastionship like that until he tryed choking me infront of my daughter who was 3 at the time. I lft him and never turned back. Now thank God I have full custody of my daughter and a protective order:)

July 1, 2009 - 11:36 am Momma - Oh honey.....thank you for sharing your heart. You know we love you and are thankful to the Lord for all He has done in you and through you during the most difficult time of your life. We have watched you struggle, cry, question, laugh and come through more beautiful than ever. You have truly turned ashes into beauty......for His glory. I love you. Momma

July 2, 2009 - 5:40 pm Marissa - I didn't hold back. I cried. In fact, I have tears welling up right now.

Father’s Day Photo Shoot | Becky & Riley

Now that Father’s Day has passed, I’m finally able to post a few shoots that were surprise gifts for the daddies! :) Here’s one session with Becky & Riley… and as a surprise for Marky, Becky designed a super-cute album for him! (Click here to see a photo of Marky opening his gift on Father’s Day!) :) I had a lot of fun on this shoot. (And, PS, aren’t these gals just SOOO adorable?!)
bec-3
brp_018
brp_049
brp_0421
blog-2
brp_099-2
brp_063-2
brp_054
brp_056-2
brp_066-2
brp_033-2
bec-1
As you all know, Becky is my wonderful assistant, and she is learning so quickly! She absolutely has a natural eye for taking beautiful photographs, and I can’t WAIT to get her shooting for me. In about one more month, Becky will be taking on all of my ‘mini shoots’ for clients. Mini shoots are available only on certain days, and they are offered at a considerable discount to my regular portrait session packages. If you’re interested in booking a minis-shoot with Becky (OR a full session with me), shoot us an email & we’ll get back to you with all of the details! info@kimberleewest.com

June 28, 2009 - 9:09 am becky - Man, that kid is CUTE!

June 29, 2009 - 2:12 pm Kare - Kimee, is it my imagination or did you recently change the way you post process? I'm still afraid of photoshop but I guess I'm going to have to take the plunge one of these days. Beautiful pictures, as always.

A day with my nephew…

I just created a mini photo album for my sister & brother-in-law… documenting my day with my little nephew from a few weeks ago. I love babysitting this little guy! Here are a few pages from the album:
day-w-tia-1
day-w-tia-2

June 25, 2009 - 6:18 pm courtney d. - Awww, I love this Kimee! You're just too creative and cute! I always love looking at everything you create! You're such an inspiration! :)

June 30, 2009 - 8:59 pm Marissa - So darn adorable. He totally looks like a little man. Next week he will be off to college. Time is gonna fly by, your fam is so lucky they have you to document so much of this precious time.

June 30, 2009 - 12:55 pm Hahaha - I love this photo! | Kimberlee West Photo Blog - [...] think this picture will forever make me laugh. Last week I posted a few pages from the mini album I made describing my day w/ my nephew, and one of the pages is about how much he loves my camera [...]

Congratulations, Jon & Krista!

This past weekend, my cousin Krista was married to the man who will love her and cherish her for the rest of their lives. Listening to them read their personal vows they had written for each other brought a huge smile to my face, as I know that their words were more than just part of a ceremony. These words are a testament to the One who brought them together; a commitment and a covenant that promised their love to each other. It was absolutely beautiful. Although I didn’t shoot their wedding, I did have the opportunity to take some engagement photos for them last month in La Jolla. Here are a few shots. Congratulations, you guys! xoxo, Kimee

Jon & Krista from Kimberlee West on Vimeo.

jk-e_034-2
jk-e_053-2
jk-e_085
jk-e_112
jk-e_125

June 23, 2009 - 11:33 am Christine (Artemis Clover Photo) - oooh i like the last one with the jeans and sun flare!! pretty textures!

June 23, 2009 - 11:34 am Jennifer Le - AWESOME! Beautiful pics and video. Vimeo's cool! Blessings to them and to you. Have a great day!

June 24, 2009 - 8:38 am Sarah Tolson - Hi Kimberlee... I grew up with Krista B.!! :) I have followed your blog for a little bit, and when I saw this post.. I was so suprised at what a small world it is. Next time you are down in SD.. email and we can get together and see who else we might know collectively! :) BTW.. Awesome shots of the 2 of them...

June 24, 2009 - 9:52 am Amanda - beautiful pictures!!

Father’s Day!

I had such a great day yesterday, hanging out with my wonderful family!!! The day started out with a nice breakfast w/ grandpa… here’s a shot of all the boys of the fam:
fd_001-2
fd_008
After breakfast, we all headed over to the San Diego Zoo for some fun!
zoo-1
fd_016
fd_018-2
fd_019
fd_021
fd_022
(Totally got distracted by the goat eating my bag… & didn’t realize my nephew was sticking his fingers in his mouth after petting the goats… sorry, sis!) :)
fd_023-2
What a tired little guy! Such a full day - it took about 2 minutes for him to fall asleep on grandpa’s shoulder. So cute!!!
sleepy
Happy Fathers Day, dad! I love you so much, and I am just so very thankful to have you for a father… someone to look up to, someone who loves his wife, kids, and grandson with an incredible love. Love you!

On another note… I just have to share about this wonderful photographer (& friend), miss Jackie Wonders! I surprised my parents on Saturday morning with a family photo session, and so the entire fam met up with Jackie in this beautiful field for some photos! We had a great time, and although it was strange being in FRONT of the lens instead of BEHIND it, I know that Jackie did an awesome job, and I am so thankful that she agreed to the challenge of capturing some images of my family. Thank you, Jackie!!!
wf_022-2
wf_026
wf_024
Here’s one shot I snagged from Jackie’s blog… can’t wait to see the rest! :)
west-fam1-for-blog (Here’s the whole gang… grandma, mom & dad, sis, nephew, bro-in-law, and me w/ my little brother! I love my family!!!)

June 22, 2009 - 4:03 pm Cathy Empey - What a great family photo! You all look like a lot of fun!

June 22, 2009 - 5:48 pm joslyn - omg-your family is so beautiful. and i love how you made (just a guess b/c i would do the same) your brother transport you....hahaha! lovely picture-total framer!

June 22, 2009 - 9:07 pm haley lamb - aw, what a treasure! can't wait to see the rest :)

June 24, 2009 - 6:10 pm Amanda - you never told me that your brother is smokin hot...

Where I’m headed…

chicago
I’m sitting at the airport, waiting to board my plane to Chicago! As you probably already know, I’m one-half of the “Boudoir Diva” duo… so we’re traveling to speak at the Chicago Professional Photographer Association’s June meeting! Click here for more info!

Newport Kids Portraits | Behind-The-Scenes

I just have to say that I love my intern/assistant, Becky! She came along with us for the Newport beach photo shoot yesterday, and it was so great to have her grab some ‘behind the scenes’ photos! Thanks, Bec, for taking these shots!!! :)
series_1-blog
series_2-blog
series_4-blog
series_3
becky-testimonial-blog

June 25, 2009 - 8:36 pm Alex Rodriguez - Cool behind the scenes shots and the actual images are sweet!

Newport Beach family photographer | [I love my job!!!]

office
I mean… SERIOUSLY. Can it get any better than this? There are some days when I have to pinch myself, to make sure I’m not just dreaming. Since being a photographer had been nothing but a ’silly dream’ for a long time, it’s days like today when I have to stop and look around - and take a breath - and pinch myself - and REMIND myself that I’m finally living my dream!!! Ahhh, I just love this job. This morning I met up with these 3 wonderful gals down at Newport Beach for a kid’s photography session. (I just love shooting in the Newport area!) You may remember a session from last year with the “G” family… well, the G fam is back in Newport again for the summer, and they have several families heading out from TX to Cali to spend some time at their awesome beach house. And I am the lucky gal who gets to photograph a few of these families! I just loved the session this morning - it was SOOO much fun! I’ll be posting more pictures from the session soon!
newport-beach-photographer
kw_238

June 12, 2009 - 6:20 pm Marissa - I love it. The water looks so blue, almost like the Caribbean. Gorgeous.

June 15, 2009 - 3:22 pm Katherine Bowman - What a great photo! So cute!