I am super excited to finally show off my brand new website….I’m pretty much in love with it. ok, I’m insanely in love with it! It makes me happy.

Isn’t it pretty?

Kyle and I met almost 4 years ago when I photographed her brother Chris’ wedding at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City….I seriously fell in love with their family and how much fun they have together! At the time, Kyle and Joe were still dating after meeting through a mutual friend in college and she was just beginning her long road to become a fabulous veterinarian at MSU (Go Spartans!) I immediately could tell this girl was quite the catch, and Joe adored her to pieces.

The next year, Kyle sent her wonderful BFF Val my way and I was lucky enough to be able to capture Val & Dan’s amazing wedding at the Kent Country Club. I am still drooling over Val’s dad’s classic cars, and Dan’s family and friends who came over from Australia are still on my top 10 list of awesome people I’ve met in my lifetime!

Then early last year, Kyle let me know that she and Joe were engaged and that they wanted me to capture their day too!!! I was sooooo excited….I just LOVE working with such fabulous people and Kyle and Joe are pretty much at the top of my list!

Kyle and Joe were married at the top of a cliff with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan at The Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor, MI. I LOVE shooting there…it has to be hands down, my fave venue for weddings. Barb and the staff make sure each wedding runs like a well oiled machine….and everywhere you turn on the resort is like a postcard…LOVE!

I headed up the day before their wedding to cover the rehearsal dinner too…such a fun way to get some relaxed pictures with your most special guests…

Here’s Kyle and her AMAZING sister (she totally rocked as the Maid of Honor!)

and the fabulous family (hi there Chris & Julie!!!)

After dinner everyone headed to the beach for a sunset campfire and s’mores… What a perfect end to the night (; The next day it was supposed to rain for their wedding…. but instead they had nothing but gorgeous blue skies and lots of sunshine….I think someone called in a favor to get weather like this…Kyle and her girls were tucked away in their condo overlooking the water to relax and prepare for the big day…

While the girls got ready the guys enjoyed some golf…which meant I got to drive a golf cart (: I only almost crashed 3 times…heheher dress was stunning!

and it looked even more amazing on her….

Isn’t Kyle such a beautiful bride!!

By the way, Did I mention Joe survived a plane crash this year just to be able to spend the rest of his life with Kyle….now that’s LOVE! Joe…you clean up pretty good…I can see why Kyle is totally smitten by you

What a proud papa!

Bling Bling…I am LOVIN’ my new 100mm 2.8 Macro lens for ring shots

the sun came out in full force….but I used it to my advantage and caught some beautiful light….On their way down the hill on the chair lift….as husband & wifey awwwweeee!

The reception at the Mountain Flowers Lodge at the resort was gorgeous! Aren’t these placecards and table markers by Syd Design fabulous! I LOVE how each table was named after a classic car (:

at the end of the night we snuck out for a few more shots on the beach as the sun sunk behind the water….I LOVE the soft light in the evening…

work it! it was such a gorgeous night on Lake Michigan for a stroll….Kyle & Joe…I had such a blast at your wedding and I am truly so happy for you both! Congratulations on your new life together in L.A.!

We are a crazy bunch!

This is what we decided to do on Mother’s Day…..

Gotta LOVE the Tulip Festival!

The kids dragged me onto the Ferris Wheel….gotta admit I was a bit freaked out about them falling out! My hands are sweating thinking about it! Drew stayed on the ground with Eden…she was in a mood….it was a good thing cause cranky toddlers and Ferris Wheels don’t mix….

Madyson was so excited to see how tiny the whole carnival looked….

notice how I made them keep both hands secure….sometimes I am a freak its hard to take a self portrait on a moving Ferris Wheel with the wind blowing and kids trying to get too close to the edge….but somehow I managedthen we got silly….I love my little goof balls!and when we got down Eden was still in a mood….maybe it had something to do with her smearing tons of hand soap in her eyes before we left…. I wish we had more pics of the very yummy Elephant Ear I ate too….it was covered in Bavarian Cream & Chocolate and it was heaven! Totally worth every single calorie

I am so excited for Summer now! Bring on the Carnivals & Festivals!

This contest is open to all Class of 2012 Students within 40 miles of the Grand Rapids Area

Here’s what you get:

* A Fabulous Stylized Promo Shoot complete with Professional Hair & Make Up

* Free RockStar Senior Portrait Session

* Free BFF or Rock the Dress Session with up to 5 of your friends

*One Year of Major Fabulousness & Tons of New Facebook Profile Pics

*The Most Fabulous Seniors Pictures Around & The Ultimate Bragging Rights

PLUS your pretty face will be plastered all over Urban Couture Seniors goodies!

Here’s how to enter:

1. Go to the Urban Couture Seniors Facebook Fan Page and “Like” us to be eligible to win

2. Leave a Comment  about why you LOVE Urban Couture Seniors either on this blog post or on the Urban Couture Seniors Facebook Fan Page

3. Then “Share” the contest post with your friends on facebook

****Make sure you do all 3 steps or you will not be eligible for the contest****

I will pick the top 5 by March 15th, 2011 and then we’ll let the public vote on Facebook to see who will be the

FACE of URBAN COUTURE!!!

Good Luck!

My bff & partner in crime Kelly B and I are prepping for our SOLD OUT Foto Mamas Workshop tomorrow and we’ve had such a great response…so we decided to open up another date….

Feb 6, 2011

In case you missed all the details last time about what it means to be a fotomama….here’s all the info you need:

This is perfect for mamas who want to take fab pics of their kids!

Don’t worry if you feel illiterate when you stare at your fancy digital camera with all the crazy buttons…this workshop is perfect for you!! Its made for beginners who want to learn the basics of their camera settings, lighting, and a few secrets that’ll turn boring snapshots into something amazing.

Want in on the fun??? Here’s the skinny:

(Registration is now open)

Sunday, Feb 6th, 2011

11am-3pm

What to bring:

• your pretty little self
• your digital SLR Camera and any lenses you have
• your instruction manual (just in case)
• memory cards & fully charged camera battery

What you’ll get:

• 4 hours with me and kelly in our fabulous downtown studio loft
• hands-on instruction (complete with child models) to give you the skills to rock your camera with your family
• smokin’ headshots for your facebook profile (all your friends will be so jealous!)
• a yummy fancy pants lunch with time to chat with lots of other awesome foto~mamas
• lots of laughter & fabulous fun!
• plus a few more fun surprises (you are gonna LOVE what we have in store!)

$250 (must be paid in full to reserve your space)

Spaces are very limited so that we can give you the very best experience possible, and so we have time for lots of Q&A

To reserve your spot, simply email me at info@kerribanyas.com (we kindly accept checks, or credit cards via paypal)

Can’t wait to see you there!!!

This pillow made my soul sing, my heart skip a beat and all at once my future highly organized life flashed before my eyes….

….the life where my house is perfectly decorated and as if it belonged in a Pottery Barn catalog with sprinkles of Anthropolgie accents & Urban Outfitters details appearing here and there, and where my kids play quietly around me while I admire my crisp and clean white couch that has absolutely no sticky fingerprints covering the cushions. Ahhhhh…..that would be the life for me….

Just look at this glorious life-changing pillow:

I KNOW RIGHT…..NOW YOU LOVE IT TOO! Quite often my obsessions are contagious (: I am not surprised.

Somehow the fact that I do not even (or maybe will not ever) own this $78 pillow really hasn’t phased me…..its the idea of the pillow that I love, and all the things that it implies.

Do you think the pillow factory intended on changing lives while they were churning out these beautiful things by the thousands?? I assure you they know EXACTLY what they are doing….you see its a slippery slope and I have completely fallen victim to their marketing genius.

The pillow leads to the new white couch…(this one may be a little tooo white…)

which leads to the fabulous orange patterned curtains that I simply MUST have,

and maybe I will add an orange chair

or maybe a turquoise one…

which makes me want to repaint my entire living room a lovely new shade of gray or maybe a very light yellow…and then of course, I’d have to refinish my hardwood floors, and then I would HAVE to buy the custom artwork that I’ve been eyeing on Etsy ….

which will be displayed next to the shelves that I will have to build that I will fill with ikea vases

and my vintage camera collection that I just started

All of this will lead to my new very stylish & organized room which will spill over into the rest of my house and then into my ENTIRE LIFE!!!

In the end, my kids will behave better, the homeless will be fed, every lonely child will get a puppy, everything will magically become AMAZING & all will be right with the world…..and it started because of this pillow!!!!!!!!

Now….all I have to do is get my hubby on board….

Do you think a steak dinner would help???

Here are my faves from Jorge’s Session:

What a cutie pie! I think my aunt is going to have to fight all the girls off with a stick once he is in college!Jorge…have you ever thought of modeling? You totally should!I HAD to squeeze that last little bit of sun out of the day….I just LOVE that golden light! Stay tuned for Olivia’s session…

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 (:

Enjoy!

My Name is: Jordan B.

Fave Ice Cream: Chunky Monkey

Biggest Celebrity Crush: Robert Pattinson

My Dream Job: Pediatric Oncologist (this girl has some seriously awesome goals!)

Fave Website: Myspace

My Dream Car: Yellow Mustang Convertible

If I could travel anywhere it would be: Paris, France &  California

My biggest accomplishment: My 3.75 GPA

Song that’s currently stuck in my head: Tik Tok by Ke$ha

I love to spend my  free time: Running & Hanging out with friends

2 things I cannot live without: Make-up and my cell phone

15 years from now I see myself as: Rich with a big yellow house and helping to find the cure for cancer

One question I would ask Lady Gaga if we were stuck in an elevator together: If I could be in one of her videos  :)

Book your session before April 15 and save 15% off the session fee!