Tonia is my graphic designer and she's awesome enough to share some images that inspire her with the readers of my newsletter.

Here are some of the images she shared with me this month. Maybe you will find inspiration from them too!!!

My good friend and barber extraordinaire is fundraising for two very important people in her life. I'm helping her out by spreading the word.  If you're in the market for an amazing barber, Jess is the girl to go to!

"To my customers and friends,

As we all know, 2009 was a difficult year for many of us.  I started the year out with a broken leg.  Looking back at my emails, I remembered how much support I had from not only my family, but all of you.  Many of you waited months to get a haircut and others that went to see Lindsay gave a little extra to help me out.  Some of you even brought me groceries and movies to make me feel better! Thank you all for being so amazing!

So, this year, I've decided that I want to give a portion of my sales to two people that need some support.  My dad, Richard Stern, who is fighting diabetes and kidney failure and a dear friend of mine, Lisa Nienow, who is fighting cancer.

Ten years ago my dad was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  A few years later he suffered a massive heart attack and underwent two open heart surgeries within months of each other only to find out he had conjestive heart failure.  Last year his kidneys failed and he is now on dialysis every 4 hours of everyday along with oxygen 24 hours a day. In October, he lost all circulation in his right leg from the knee down and the doctors had no choice but to amputate his leg.  After 2 months of recovery and therapy, he was admitted to St Lukes to undergo femoropopliteal (leg artery) bypass surgery on his other leg to save it from amputation. The surgery was extremely risky, but I am happy to say he made it through. Because the surgery was a success, my dad will keep his leg and only have to have his toe amputated.  He is only 55 years old.

I met Lisa Nienow this past summer while dating her stepson Keith.  Lisa was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer 2 years ago.  Since her diagnosis, she has been hospitalized more times in 2 years then I may ever in my lifetime.  During the first year, she underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy to later find out that the cancer had spread.  The areas around her kidneys and bladder have been effected by this deadly disease and Lisa has had many surgeries to try to save her kidneys. With the surgeries, came infections resulting in fevers over 100 degrees, putting Lisa back in the hospital.  She just went through another 12 weeks of chemo but the doctors have decided to extend it.  Lisa is 50 years old.

This not only effects my dad and Lisa both physically and emotionally, but also financially.  My mom  and Lisa's husband Bob, have been struggling to keep it all together.  I've noticed that every time one of them is admitted to the hospital, the other has to take off work. This makes it difficult to keep up with all the deductibles and co-pays that keep rolling in.

So, for the month of January and February, 50% of all my Lock Stock & Barrel product sales and 50% of all my tips will go to help out my dad and Lisa. I'm also including a steamed towel for the face or neck with your cut and giving black leather travel bags to the first 25 people that purchase product.  My goal is to raise $1000 and I am happy to say that this week already put a nice dent in that total!  Not only will you get a great haircut to look good and feel good, but you'll also be helping someone else out!  It's a win-win! Hope to see you soon!

Thank you again for all your support!   "

Best Always,
Jess @ Moda

262.689.3411 mobile
414.291.3900 x225 work

Whew! What a busy week!

Today I am driving up to Sheboygan to drop off my photograph which was accepted into the "Eight Counties Exhibition" at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.

Over 1550 works were submitted for consideration into the exhibit!

This is the photograph that was accepted:

If anyone is interested, the Opening Celebration will be Sunday, January 24th from 11am-3:00pm. The event is free and open to the public. The exhibit runs January 24-March 21. Visit www.jmkac.org or call 920.458.6144 for more information.

A few weeks ago I did some photography for Violetville Vintage. Voletville Vintage is every fashionista's best source for shopping high-fashion, high-style vintage clothing online. From 20's flapper dresses, 30's evening gowns and 40's pin-up separates to 1950's party wear, 60's mod and op-art fashion, 70's bohemian, and 80's designer glamour.

This video features previously unreleased audio by Kings Go Forth.

You know what's fun? Taking pictures like this in my studio:

The weather outside might be frightful, but inside the creativity is flowing....

There are only a few spots left in the "I Kind of Get It" photography class on January 23rd!

If you are still planning on signing up please visit my class blog at www.jkaminskiphoto.blogspot.com to download a registration form.

The word character comes from the Greek, meaning "to make a mark." Your character is your mark on the world. To have strength of character, you:
1) Do the right thing. Do the right thing regardless of the consequences. Do the right thing regardless of temptation to do otherwise. Do the right thing even if you are ill, if it is inconvenient, if no one is looking, if it costs money, if it costs friendships, if no one understands.
2) Follow your passion. Follow your passion if people disapprove. Follow your passion if it doesn't make you wealthy. Follow your passion if you are ill, if it is inconvenient, if it costs money, if it costs friendships, if no one understands.

(I randomly found this on the internet, and thought I'd share it here. Enjoy)

So I've been photographing some restaurants for Milwaukee Magazine. One of my assignments was for Mr Wok, a restaurant who has been getting a following for their pan-Asian cuisine. I don't know if I have ever really mentioned this before, but I love food, and love to eat. And subsequently, enjoy photographing food.

Anyways, the review is in the current issue of Milwaukee Magazine, and upon reading the review, I came to fall in love with Ann's writing. It's clear that she loves food just as much as I do! Which you would hope for in a food writer, but I don't know that it's always the case.

Here are some of my favorite excerpts:

"It's billed as an appetizer, but it could be anything, including the best thing you've eaten in weeks."

"The tender, meaty thighs of boneless chicken absorb the citrusy flavor of lemongrass. The coconut milk sauce makes a smooth, gingery base that transitions beautifully into the grains of glutinous rice" Ok, seriously? Was that line not pure poetry?

When I arrived at the restaurant, I found it to be pretty minimal in it's decorating and wondered how I would photograph the food. After speaking with Mr Wok himself, he went into the back and returned with a stack of beautiful silk placemats and chopstick sets in an array of colors. Using the different placemats, natural light, and the bamboo shade in the window as a gobo, I was happy with my results.

You know what a great gift is? Empowering yourself by learning how to use your camera. Or give the gift of knowledge to someone else!

Don't forget that you can save $10 by signing up for a class before January 1st!

For a complete listing of classes, please visit http://jkaminskiphoto.blogspot.com

So, somehow Dave and Rachel and I managed to schedule an engagement session on the last beautiful and somewhat warm day this year (This was the weekend after Thanksgiving). The lighting was amazing, and Dave and Rachel were great to work with. We had fun reviewing the images in my studio last night, and I thought I'd share some of our favorites with all of you!