Kerri Banyas Photography

Jonté | Grand Rapids Senior Portrait Photographer | Urban Couture

Kerri Banyas — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:06:15 +0000

Jonté was a dream to work with…he’s such a natural in front of the camera, plus he’s adorable and he had some fabulous outfits….gotta love a guy with fashion sense! I didn’t want to stop hangin’ with my new buddies, in fact his mom and I even chatted it up for quite a while after he was done…maybe she should be one of my new BFF’s By the way, have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my seniors this year??? Seriously people, the class of 2011 is A-MAZ-ING and I am so happy to be able to work with such fabulous people! Who has 2 thumbs and has THE best job EVER??? THIS girl! Ok, I’ll turn down the cheese level for now, but only if you check out a few of my faves:

xoxo

Skye & Jeremy :: Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

Kerri Banyas — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:20:56 +0000

Skye is one of my favorite girls…she is a sassy little Canadian with a heart of gold and Jeremy is a total cutie pie that completely adores her….what more could I ask for??!!! Skye and Jeremy planned a small affair with a few close friends to witness the day (and of course lil’ ol’ me) and everything was perfect….I would LOVE to do more weddings like this! So if you are planning one….hit me up

Here are my faves of the day:

Tifani | America’s Next Top Model

Kerri Banyas — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:15:31 +0000

I LOVE when fabulous things happen to fabulous people! Tifani is an amazing girl, and an equally amazing model (she totally rocked our last photoshoot! ) so naturally I was jumping up and down when she told me she made it to the the second round of ANTM casting….holy moly…this is pretty amazing especially since she auditioned on a whim! So to celebrate, we did a little photoshoot….I just LOVE what we came up with! She’ll be heading to New York City very soon so keep your fingers crossed….I know she has wonderful things in store for her!

this

Carly | Class of 2011 Grand Rapids Senior Portraits | Urban Couture

Kerri Banyas — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 05:07:57 +0000

I am so blessed to be able to hang out with the most wonderful people and Carly is certainly no exception…she is fab-u-lous! The girl has some major style, adorable hair (i wish I could rock bangs just like hers!) and seriously killer blue eyes….plus we share an undying LOVE for COFFEE!!! Does it get any better than that?!!

Check out my faves from our shoot…. she rocked it!

love this red dress….amazing!Can you say GORGEOUS!!!I need to go shopping with this girl…I wanted to borrow ALL of her clothes!

Koly | Class of 2011 Grand Rapids Senior Portraits | Urban Couture

Kerri Banyas — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:10:09 +0000

Koly is one of the most amazing teenagers I have ever met…she is so confident, socially responsible, extremely fun and very aware of how to make the world a better place. We had a lot in common too…like our obsession for Eat, Pray, Love & Urban Outiftters… I love knowing how many amazingly strong young women are taking the world by storm right now….its makes my heart beam with gladness! She rocked her session with her funky personality and that gorgeous curly hair….I was in photographer heaven! Check out my faves:

look at her gorgeous eyes!Koly wanted to wear this whistle from Falling Whistles, a campaign that is very close to her heart geared toward bringing peace to the Congo….such an amazing story! Go check it out This girl is model material! Breaking out her fun personality…Koly….you are the change I want to see in this world thanks so much for hangin’ with me girl! xoxo

The Keller Family | Grand Rapids Lifestyle Photographer

Kerri Banyas — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 04:29:12 +0000

The Kellers are such an adorable family and when an adorable family asks me to take their pictures…I JUMP at the chance! Darci also happens to be one of my friends from college…we braved Psychology courses and Peer Ed Internships together and somehow we made it out alive (: Its so fun to see how our lives have changed from research papers and study groups to breastfeeding and baby wearing….

here are a bunch of my faves…

Leah & Kenny I Engaged

Kerri Banyas — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:10:15 +0000

I come from a HUGE family….and they all happen to be hotties (yeah, I went there! )…its genetic…we just can’t help it.

Naturally I was super excited when one of my most favorite cutie pie cousins was planning her wedding and asked lil’ ol’ me to capture their big day….Leah and I used to climb apple trees together, hang out on the railroad tracks next to grandma’s house, play on the tire swing and giggle late into the night at our “grandma pajama” parties….and she was even in my wedding. I am so excited that she found such an amazing guy to spend her life with! Kenny is perfect for her…and of course it helps that he is a hottie too (; I had so much fun shooting their engagement session and I can’t wait for their wedding in only a few weeks!

Here’s a sneak peek of some of my faves

Bregan :: Sweet 16 :: Urban Couture

Kerri Banyas — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 05:16:13 +0000

Every summer for the last 3 years my niece Bregan volunteers to come hang with me and help babysit my little rascals (she’s young so the poor thing just doesn’t know any better) and since she’s also inherited a love for photography, I teach her how I do what I do. Seriously…anyone who helps me to maintain my sanity and listens to me ramble for hours on end about nothing is an angel in MY book and they can have almost anything!

I have been taking pictures of Bregan since I was in college and I would make her and her siblings model for my Intro to Black and White Photography class projects (I can almost smell the darkroom now…mmmmm) Its been fabulous watching her grow into such a smart, independent and beautiful young woman…I just can’t believe she is already 16!!! I can’t wait to see what is in store for her…

Here are some of my faves from her Sweet 16 Session (:

My Fancy Schmancy New Brand!!

Kerri Banyas — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:13:39 +0000

I am so excited to FINALLY show you all what I have had in the works for months now….my new brand!! I LOVE it! I have been working with Ryan from Second Street Creative to come up with a brand that is truly ME and he ROCKED it! I also decided to change my business name from Taylor Grey Photography (I will miss you *sniff*) to Kerri Banyas Photography…I felt it was time to create a brand that revolved around myself and one that wasn’t as confusing for my potential clients. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to explain that my name is not Taylor and yes I am the owner. Taylor Grey was a name that I came up with for about 4 years ago by smooshing my 2 kids middle names together…I loved the way it sounded and what it stood for…but now I just felt it was time for a change….

What we went with was very simple and clean and fun…did I mention I LOVE it!

Here’s my brand board…aren’t the colors FAB-U-LOUS!!

Here’s my fab new Business Cards:

and my Amazing new website:

so make sure to set your bookmarks to www.kerribanyas.com and keep checking back for more fab-u-losity! Aren’t new beginnings fun??!!!

xoxo

My 101 in 1001

Kerri Banyas — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 21:00:52 +0000

I keep stumbling on these 101 in 1001 lists and I have finally decided to make my own and put it out there for all of you to see…maybe this way I’ll get some of it done Basically it’s 101 things that I would like to accomplish in 1001 days….I can’t wait to get this started!

End Date April 14, 2013

Travel to Europe and visit Italy, France, Greece, Ireland
Interview someone I admire
Run a half-marathon
Sing on stage to overcome my fear
Get certified to become a Yoga Instructor
Take a Sister Trip somewhere fabulous
Try a new local restaurant once a month for a year
Trace my Genealogy on the Carter side
Take a Belly Dancing Class
Throw a Fabulous Dinner Party
Join a local mom’s group and actually participate
Learn to knit
Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
Organize a Food Drive with the kids
Start a journal and write in it once a week
Blog every day for a month
Take a road trip out west with Drew and take lots of photos for myself
Get my work Published
Host a Cocktail Party and show local art
Learn how to play guitar
Visit Trena in Texas and see the Alamo
Go to North Carolina and see my old friends
Organize my personal photos
Go to a luxury spa and get the works!
Take a painting class
Study Art History
Go backpacking with Drew
Go on a picnic with the family
Lose 10-15 lbs.
Learn how to Ballroom Dance
Finish the Basement
Send a random gift to a friend
Become more fluent in Spanish
Shoot a wedding in Mexico
Buy an Orchid
Organize my recycling & composting
Write a book
Go on a date to the Art Museum with Drew
Pick Blueberries with the kids
watch the sunrise somewhere peaceful
Go on a date with Drew on a row boat
Create a living will
Write 4 handwritten letters a year to my friends using beautiful stationary
Invest in some new gear (100mm macro, 35mm, 50 1.2, 85 1.2, 5D Mark II)
New Family Pictures
Grow my hair to the middle of my back
Get my teeth whitened
Get Lasik
Take Drew to a MSU football game
Have an Audrey Hepburn movie marathon with Shawn
Volunteer at my Church
Send postcards to my friends
Sleep under the stars
Go horseback riding
Go skinny dipping
Take the kids to the farmers market in GR and in Holland
Write a letter to each of my kids for them to open when they move away from home
Sing Karaoke
Create a landscaping plan for the front yard and get it done
Ride my bike 5 miles every day for a week
Take the kids to the library once a month every year
Donate my photography services to a charity
Redecorate my bedroom
Go on a wine tasting tour in Traverse City
Add more $$ to my Kiva.org account
Attend a Photography Workshop by one of my fave photogs
Get The Pioneer Woman Cooks and make a 30 day meal plan based on her recipes
Attend WPPI
Sort through all of the old clothes in the basement
Drywall & Organize the Garage
Make a Creme Brulee at home
Learn how to play Tennis
Redo our Bathroom
Tile the Kitchen Floor
Answer the “50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind”
Go snowboarding with Drew
Organize my closet
Create a Client Welcome Booklet
Give blood twice per year
Start at least one of my personal photography projects
Do a random act of kindness for a complete stranger
Take the family to a paint your own pottery store
Go mountain biking with Drew
Master custom white balance
Go to Las Vegas!!!
Take a cooking class with Drew
Go to Ikea
Organize my Office
Get a nice point and shoot camera
Take a mother/daughter community ed class with Madyson
Create a weekly chore schedule and stick to it
Go to Great Wolf Lodge with the kids
Shoot a wedding in Hawaii
Send a post card to Post Secret
Spend the day with Grandma Rutherford
Buy a pair of Frye Boots
Have Family Fun Night once a week
Repaint the white trim all around the house
Refinish the wood floors in the house
Fly kites on the beach with the kids
Take a creative writing class