The Keller Family | Grand Rapids Lifestyle Photographer

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

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

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!!

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

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

  1. Travel to Europe and visit Italy, France, Greece, Ireland
  2. Interview someone I admire
  3. Run a half-marathon
  4. Sing on stage to overcome my fear
  5. Get certified to become a Yoga Instructor
  6. Take a Sister Trip somewhere fabulous
  7. Try a new local restaurant once a month for a year
  8. Trace my Genealogy on the Carter side
  9. Take a Belly Dancing Class
  10. Throw a Fabulous Dinner Party
  11. Join a local mom’s group and actually participate
  12. Learn to knit
  13. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
  14. Organize a Food Drive with the kids
  15. Start a journal and write in it once a week
  16. Blog every day for a month
  17. Take a road trip out west with Drew and take lots of photos for myself
  18. Get my work Published September 2010
  19. Host a Cocktail Party and show local art
  20. Learn how to play guitar
  21. Visit Trena in Texas and see the Alamo
  22. Go to North Carolina and see my old friends
  23. Organize my personal photos
  24. Go to a luxury spa and get the works!
  25. Take a painting class
  26. Study Art History
  27. Go backpacking with Drew
  28. Go on a picnic with the family
  29. Lose 10-15 lbs.
  30. Learn how to Ballroom Dance
  31. Finish the Basement
  32. Send a random gift to a friend
  33. Become more fluent in Spanish
  34. Shoot a wedding in Mexico
  35. Buy an Orchid
  36. Organize my recycling & composting
  37. Write a book
  38. Go on a date to the Art Museum with Drew
  39. Pick Blueberries with the kids
  40. watch the sunrise somewhere peaceful
  41. Go on a date with Drew on a row boat
  42. Create a living will
  43. Write 4 handwritten letters a year to my friends using beautiful stationary
  44. Invest in some new gear (100mm macro, 35mm, 50 1.2, 85 1.2, 5D Mark II)
  45. New Family Pictures
  46. Grow my hair to the middle of my back
  47. Get my teeth whitened
  48. Get Lasik
  49. Take Drew to a MSU football game
  50. Have an Audrey Hepburn movie marathon with Shawn
  51. Volunteer at my Church
  52. Send postcards to my friends
  53. Sleep under the stars
  54. Go horseback riding
  55. Go skinny dipping
  56. Take the kids to the farmers market in GR and in Holland
  57. Write a letter to each of my kids for them to open when they move away from home
  58. Sing Karaoke
  59. Create a landscaping plan for the front yard and get it done
  60. Ride my bike 5 miles every day for a week
  61. Take the kids to the library once a month every year
  62. Donate my photography services to a charity
  63. Redecorate my bedroom
  64. Go on a wine tasting tour in Traverse City
  65. Add more $$ to my Kiva.org account
  66. Attend a Photography Workshop by one of my fave photogs
  67. Get The Pioneer Woman Cooks and make a 30 day meal plan based on her recipes
  68. Attend WPPI
  69. Sort through all of the old clothes in the basement September 2010
  70. Drywall & Organize the Garage
  71. Make a Creme Brulee at home
  72. Learn how to play Tennis
  73. Redo our Bathroom
  74. Tile the Kitchen Floor
  75. Answer the “50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind”
  76. Go snowboarding with Drew
  77. Organize my closet
  78. Create a Client Welcome Booklet
  79. Give blood twice per year
  80. Start at least one of my personal photography projects
  81. Do a random act of kindness for a complete stranger
  82. Take the family to a paint your own pottery store
  83. Go mountain biking with Drew
  84. Master custom white balance
  85. Go to Las Vegas!!!
  86. Take a cooking class with Drew
  87. Go to Ikea
  88. Organize my Office
  89. Get a nice point and shoot camera
  90. Take a mother/daughter community ed class with Madyson
  91. Create a weekly chore schedule and stick to it
  92. Go to Great Wolf Lodge with the kids
  93. Shoot a wedding in Hawaii
  94. Send a post card to Post Secret
  95. Spend the day with Grandma Rutherford
  96. Buy a pair of Frye Boots
  97. Have Family Fun Night once a week
  98. Repaint the white trim all around the house
  99. Refinish the wood floors in the house
  100. Fly kites on the beach with the kids
  101. Take a creative writing class

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