A Truth Be Shown Photography bio picture

I’m a sucker for love.

I am crazy in love with love. I can't get enough. Everyday the love stories of the people around us are unfolding, and I'm the luckiest girl in the world be able to tell these stories with my camera.

My name is Gina Kieffer and I am the owner and lead photographer of A Truth Be Shown Photography, winner of the 2009 MN Professional Photographers' Association Wedding Photographer of the Year Award, Haga Wedding Award, Fuji Masterpiece Award, Northern Light PPA Wedding Award, and WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award.

Did winning these awards make me feel like a bazillion bucks - of course! It rocked! I'm not above having an ego that likes to be fed. But they're no where near as meaningful as a phone call from a newlywed in tears, telling me that she loves her photographs, that the emotion of the day was captured just how she remembered it - with love, joy, excitement and tears.

I have to admit, I cry too - during the wedding, at the reception, when I'm enhancing the images, when I'm creating the slide show. Did I mention I'm a sucker for love? I keep Kleenex in my camera bag and next to my computer because in order to be able to tell their story, I need to be able to feel it, to truly care. I need to be right there in the moment with them, even if my cry-face is a nightmare to behold.

So why me? Out of hundreds of photographers, why trust your story to me? If you're reading this, you must have felt something when viewing my work that made you want to know more. You've felt a connection to the style, emotion, and energy of my photographs, and now you want to know if I'm the kind of person you could spend your wedding day with.

I could list a bunch of character attributes, like I'm hilarious, charming, sassy, fabulous and have great abs, and all of these could be true (except the last one), but I prefer to give you a few random facts about myself and you can come to your own conclusions.

I keep a tape measure in my purse because you never know when you'll need it. And children are surprisingly amused by determining the circumference of their heads.

I have nine siblings. It's given me all the practice and patience I need for wrangling unruly bridal party members during formal portraits.

I have a garage full of power tools and I know how to use them. The nail gun set is the gem in my collection.

I've embarrassed myself in public more than once by unconsciously singing out loud with my iPod.

My husband and I have an old yellow lab who runs in his sleep, loses his mind during thunderstorms, licks the carpet bald, drools and sheds like mad, but still manages to be the sweetest old man ever. My heart breaks every time I think about having to let him go.

Meeting my husband changed my life. My favorite place in the world is wherever he is.

If you're still reading, there's someone in your life that makes you feel the same way, full of giddiness and mushy sentiments. I would love to meet you both, hear how your love story began, and be part of your next chapter.

Now go kiss your honey; you know you want to.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

It’s Boudoir, Baby, and It’s Hot!

Posted in Boudoir

Forget traditional bride-to-groom wedding gifts. Forget traditional bachelorette parties. You can even forget your clothes for this sexy new wedding trend – it’s boudoir, baby, and it’s hot.

Contemporary boudoir isn’t about sex; it’s about feeling sexy — regardless of shape, size or age. Because for every woman out there, there’s someone who thinks she’s the hottest babe who ever walked the planet.

Boudoir sessions aren’t about being naked, either, so there’s no need to freak about being photographed in your birthday suit. You can splurge on a gorgeous new bra and panty set or you can play it simple with a white tank top and boy shorts. You can even raid your man’s closet and liberate a button-up shirt, a tie and his favorite T-shirt. Take it up a notch with stockings, garters, crazy-high heels, and knock-out jewelry.

If you’re still feeling nervous, bring a girlfriend along. Better yet, bring all your girlfriends along for a new twist on the traditional bachelorette party. You can start your party with professional hair & make-up and end it with gorgeous images for you and your friends.

But don’t get me wrong. Boudoir isn’t just for brides and bridesmaids. It’s for new moms. It’s for moms whose children are finally out of the house. It’s for single women, divorced women, and women who’ve been married for decades. Simply put, it’s for any woman who wants to feel beautiful in her own skin. And what woman doesn’t want that?