Top 10 Lenses

Kansas City Business Owner Media Portrait

Portrait of Kansas City Business Owner Dawn Hupp.  Anytime we do a Portrait for someone we learn about them, and we learn from them.  Dawn is a millennial entrepreneur who owns Houndstooth Planning Company in Kansas City.  

Image done by Kimberly Pimentel owner of Pimentel Portfolio LLC, for Dawn Hupp Kansas City Buisness owner . 

Image done by Kimberly Pimentel owner of Pimentel Portfolio LLC, for Dawn Hupp Kansas City Buisness owner . 

As we culled through her portrait gallery, we chatted about images and being women  business owners.  She asked me what my opinion was on the above image being a sureshot Media Portrait.  I told her I loved the image but I saw the ones where she was looking straight at camera as being more approachable and powerful .  She thought about that for a moment and said

'Yeah, but I'm a millinial and we do things differently.'

As business owners it's essential that we do whats good for the process not just the moment.  Be yourself and trust your decisions.  And trust that gut instinct that you have to value yourself and place a high value on your self worth and what you do.   

   When your ready to let us create a powerful media for your platform we are ready! 

Pimentel Portfolio LLC, is a Kansas City  based portrait Photographer Buisness. Contact us at (913) 687-1464

Kansas City Photographer on Entrepreneurship.

    Do what you love in life, and you'll love your life. Entrepreneurs often walk to the best of a different drum.  They live life facing challenges of career moves and often self doubt thier creative skills.

     People will doubt your ideals and question your paths at times. I still cringe when I think of someone telling me  " yeah someday that might be a business for you!", or things like " I've seen you do way better". Comments like these and self doubt can lead some entrepreneurs to kick their dreams to the wayside.  

    But at the end of my day running my Photography Portrait business I know two  definitive things:  

   1. It's my dream  

   2. It's what I love to do

and what it all boils down to in life is "what you create is a biproduct of who you are and your love to create. "

I feel lucky everyday to do what I do.  I meet interesting people learn about them and capture their energy in a portrait session. I couldn't ask for a better medium for my creative inner nature.

Pimentel Portfolio Studio creating a Look for a client.

Pimentel Portfolio Studio creating a Look for a client.

We all walk through our lives placing markers on events that are meaningful to us.  Journeys we've been on good and trying. We all look back on memories. The thoughts we carry with us become postcards of the mind. 

When your lucky enough to be doing a Profession that you love, you soon realize how the pieces of the puzzle fit so well. When  your engaged in tasks that allow you to create and be in your element the workflow is rewarding instead of daunting.

Tether shooting a session for Male Model Jacoby of Kansas City.

Tether shooting a session for Male Model Jacoby of Kansas City.

Life does move so fast it's a challenge  to keep up the pace at times. But, I have realized that if you are involved in a career that you Love you will Love your Career.

     Nothing's ever perfect and it all takes work and commitment to the goal. But, heres my list of three pivotal steps, to increasing your life happiness ratio.

   First, find what you love to do. Really think about this. Some of us take decades to find this key. Try on many hats and explore.

  Build a a footpath to your goal. look at others journeys. Learn and research your ideals. Educate yourself as much as possible. The most beautiful of bridges have crumbled when the dreamer forgot to see the river nearby and how it flooded occasionally.

Surround yourself with a Army of associates, family and creatives. You need have to have sounding boards for your visions, in all facets. From the accountant, the banker, the lawyer the spouse the best friend all will become your extension into your new world, and all are necessary.

Entrepreneurs face difficulties daily when starting new ventures. I have made mistakes on my path, have doubted my art, my self. But defeating attitudes breed defeated ideals. I choose these days to wake up each morning and think of ideals and plans to make Pimentel Portfolio bigger and better.  For now it's my creative niche but someday I would love to help others pursue their dreams. Everyone deserves to see a dream come true. For me right now this path is a dream. I can't wait to see where it leads me.

Self Portrait

Rarely do I get in front of the Lens.

The Photographer poses. To understand the method experience all aspects of the Art.

The Photographer poses. To understand the method experience all aspects of the Art.

Today I was setting up Lighting and set for model Amber Botros of Kansas City.

When my assistant Roxane Henrici offered to take my image in my set-up. I hesitated then agreed.  It's a good experience as a Photographer to do this, to let your guard down and see what it's all about. It's not a Easy thing to do at all, but with the right direction and the right support and expertise it's 

a Pretty cool experience. And when you see your  portrait and you know it captured you, in your element it rocks.  So, don't be afraid, go to a pro who knows how to capture you in your light. The right team can be amazing and I love my team of creatives. Thank you. 

I am Kimberly Pimentel and I am a Kansas City Photographer.

Imagine, look, live

Kansas City Photographer

We are Pimentel Portfolio and we specialize in Contemporary Portraits.

We are a unique duo of a Photographer and a Artistic Visionary. 

Kimberly Pimentel and Roxi Henrici of Pimentel Portfolio 

Kimberly Pimentel and Roxi Henrici of Pimentel Portfolio 

 Current  work can be seen at :

http://pimentelportfolio.com

contact us at (913) 687-1464 

email at: 

Kimberly@Kimberlypimentel.com

To set up your Portrait session 

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Altitude Attitude

One of the best ways to maintain and gear up my creativity is to expeience new things visually. Travel encompasses all the senses. Which in turn resparks my creative process.

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"What do you remember the most from Germany ?" She asked 

"that coocoo bird ever morning at Cousin Iris's house "  every morning this solitary bird would beckon me to arise shake off my jetlag and go out and experience the Countryside. 

What will I experience next? What will I take back with me? A sight? A sound? A taste? A feeling? 

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I love travel the flying the adrenaline the arriving to a new place. All the travel I have been fortunate to experience engages my mind and allows me to spark my creativity.

A quiet moment on a Palm Springs evening.

A quiet moment on a Palm Springs evening.

Discussing a upcoming shoot with my Creative director in the desert air last evening.  Allowing  our minds to engage  in some free thought ideals for our  client. We scramble down a few notes to the makeup artist. 

Then shoot the client a email engaging her ideals and letting her know we are constantly creating images for her shoot already in our creative process time. 

Every part of the creative process is gift to me I can engage a part of my mind and spirit and then transpire a image of that moment to my subject.

"Cool wind in my hair Warm  smell of a colitas rising up through the air " Hotel California The Eagles. 

A flowered vine on a wall in Palm Springs California 

A flowered vine on a wall in Palm Springs California 

As we exited the small plane into the turmac of the Palm Springs airport a stewardess said to us. " you were really having a great time I wanted to join you". 

We had been engaging in a creative moment a game we had made out of pantomime and word description where we each took a turn at describing her boring escape and safety spiel into a show.  You know life is short and every second I am humbled enough to laugh and enjoy it. 

Cheers!

I am a Kansas City Photographer, my name is Kimberly Pimentel 

and my website is  http://pimentelportfolio.com/

 and I am ready to create a magnificient portrait for you .

He had that Johnny Depp coolness

This guy pulls up to his shoot in his brand new BMW convertible. With a killer smile and I jus knew it was gonna be a cool cat kinda shoot.

Kelley Kemble Kansas City Model

Kelley Kemble Kansas City Model

We got him under the lights and I captured this look from him. It was like Lou Diamond Phillips and Johnny Depp posed for me in one day! 

Kimberly Pimentel Photographer 

Chandra Cheyenne Makeup 

Roxane Henrici  Creative Assisstant 

Creating a Unique Photographic Style

There are  many Photographers on today's Social media sites, as we all know. And just about everybody has a Aunt, cousin or neighbor who "shoots images".  I personally love that so many people are enjoying photography as a hobby. With so many in the market one must stand out to be seen.

Photographer Kimberly Pimentel, Model Mikaela Carson, Makeup Chandra Cheyenne, Artistic Direction Roxane Henrici 

Photographer Kimberly Pimentel, Model Mikaela Carson, Makeup Chandra Cheyenne, Artistic Direction Roxane Henrici 

In order to stand out with your portraiture in today's market you must have unique appeal. It takes much work to create a style that is not the mainstream. It's harder to fit the mainstream when your images are different and your style is unique. But to creatives there's is a big aestethic victory and satisfaction of knowing your "style" is unique.

Im by no means a expert in developing a style of images but I do know what I like  visually and what I have done  to tap into my creative flow and it may or may not work for you. But hey! It's worth a shot and if you grow to love Photography and creating as much as I do and start to see your creative self flourish then it was worth it to me to tell you these STEPS  I took to start allowing myself to DEVELOP A UNIQUE PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE.   

1. Get acquainted with the Photographic community. Join a shoot  club. Get to know other photographers. It's helpful to have others as sounding  boards for the questions you may have about anything from lighting to copyright. And joining these groups where others are also developing as creatives helps you learn technique and perhaps question your own techniques. 

2.  CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO BE DIFFERENT.  That being said here's the kicker to the first item- learn to live out of the popular bubble. And here's why.  We all learn in patterns we learn to draw within the line,  cut a straight line ect ect. Challenge yourself to be different allow your inner weirdness to be boss.   Creatives think differently. We see things differently and it's ok to  BE DIFFERENT. It's ok to not have everyone love your images or even Like them.  For many years I leaned to hide my creative self afraid that when others would see my unique point of view I'd I'd .... what be less popular. Who cares? Be YOU. When you learn to embrace your unique eye you'll love the results and things will start to change. 

3. Enjoy and surround yourself with the Arts.  What do I mean by this go see a ballet ? Maybe, not your thing go listen to a symphony, umm read a classic. Go to the local museum. Just be in the Arts. When I found myself struggling to define personal style I hopped into a University Class at UNM in New Mexico where I was living at the time.   I went back to the basics building cameras out of paint cans, spending days in the darkroom. Through it all did I learn more about my style of photography? No,  but I had a professor who challenged me and didn't tell me "hey your images are great" instead he told me you need to pick up a canvas and paint,  your a painter inside." I scoffed no way. I'm a lefthander who scribbles illegibly. I can't paint. But years later I did just what he had told me.   I picked up canvas and paints and you know what happened? I set aside my camera and I painted. Furiously I threw paint everywhere. Thinking I'll show him! I'm no painter. But what happened is I discovered that I do love to paint. Why? because I have no preconceived issues in what I should be as a Painter. Instead I was just a ceator. I learned to let my style not over define me but I learned to jus let creativity be. So surround yourself with the arts, write prose, paint, learn flamenco dance do something to engage your creative Brain. 

So get out there and meet people engage in ideals. Learn to enjoy your creative self and not take it to personally when others do or don't enjoy your aesthetics. And enjoy doing things that will engage your brain.  Your art will prosper as you develop a unique aesthetic. 

 

 

 

Creative teams enhance your photo shoots.

There are many components that make a sucsessful Studio Shoot.  The equipment, the Lighting all the technical elements.  But to take your images to the next level you must have a creative team.

Makeup Artistry touches being added by Chandra Cheyenne 

Makeup Artistry touches being added by Chandra Cheyenne 

It's important on many levels that your creative team be able to communicate effectively.  Makeup artist, Model, wardrobe and Artistic directors all have input. As creatives the struggle to bring to fruition ideals and concepts can seem daunting, but with a creative team you can let artistic ideals drive the momentum of your shoot.

 

Model Mikaela Carson, Miss Northwest 2016 is also a creator of amazing Headpieces as displayed.

Model Mikaela Carson, Miss Northwest 2016 is also a creator of amazing Headpieces as displayed.

I am  Kimberly Pimentel I am a Kansas City Photographer That loves to create beautiful images of people.  My current work can be seen at: 

http://pimentelportfolio.com/

Top 3 Things that go into a Portrait shoot by Kansas City Photographer Kimberly Pimentel

Clients ask me what's your concept for my shoot. This to a creative can be a loaded question.  First, it's my job as a professional to deliver what you request. But, what if you don't know what it is that you are looking for in a Portrait, it's my job as a creative to bring my creatvity to the table and give you a image that is unique to my eye. And pleasing to you.

Many things go into making your shoot a success. Pre-planning is cruicial and we consider concept as major factor.

1. Concept comes to me through many variables, I like to use vision palletes of color, sketches patterns anything that to me triggers that "look" I want for your portrait.  I find ideals in movies, music, actors, magazines books really anything that catches my eye.  

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My vision book includes ads from fashion magazines  that have caught my eye - combined with your color pallete info to be used for makeup. And costume planning and any notes about you.  Concept planning is a way to strength the end product of your look.

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2. The next thing wardrobe and hair and makeup.  When a vision leads us to a look we start thinking of you and transforming or enhancing your best features.   My creative assistant and I hunt down wardrobe at a variety of outlets including thrift, rental or your own closet. These costumes may change.   I'll ask you to bring 3 looks of your own.  Hair and makeup join in here to stlyize your look.  We love to get creative at a shoot and create the usual into the unusual.

3. Then comes the Mechanics of it all. The nuts and bolts so to speak of your shoot.  This can include lighting equipment, light meters, hand painted canvas backgrounds, camera and lenses computer to tether your shoot. 

And  then, when everything works just right we nail it!  We create for you a look that is unique and yours.  

Of course there are many, many other details that come into play when you choose to let a Professional Photographer create a portrait for you, we jus considered this a starting list of our top 3 Things that go into planning your Photoshoot.

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Contact:

Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photographer  at (913) 687-1464.  to set up your preliminary consult then we'll get to work creating for you.

 

First photo shoot of the year

My shoot with Roxane Carmen Petra Henrici. 

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Kansas City Photographer Kimberly Pimentel

1-1-17

2016 was a great year for me. I'm kind of sad to see it leave.  I married my soulmate. I traveled to Europe photographing in Germany and  Holland. And I allowed myself to grow as a Photgrapher. Hiiiii- Hooooooo!

 

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First session of 2017 

Fashion Photography Behind the Scenes Peek

I'm a Kansas City Photographer and can be contacted at:

http://kimberlypimentel.com

Assistant doing a light reading on a model

Assistant doing a light reading on a model

A lot of coordinating goes into one image. These behind the scene images to me share the concept of the shoot with the technical and artistic aspects.

 

 

Creating Moods in your locations for your Photoshoot by http://kimberlypimentel.com/

I am a Kansas City Phorographer contact me at 

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

After you have decided where to shoot and who your subject will be then you must start your vision to create.  As a creative this can be a difficult thing to explain. For me the creating comes before a shoot. I will plan my images and how I want my final product to look but the real creating is a teamwork of model and photographer and light and mood.

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

How do we enable a creative mood on set? This can be a challange. As we all become absorbed with lighting, lenses and wardrobe. Sometimes the place we shoot becomes our mood. As in the above image Kansas City's West Bottoms. The Mood becomes almost a challange in the shooting. So how to stay focused and let mood become creative try these three tips on your next shoot. To create a artistic mood.

1.  Plan ahead and have your game plan and vision available for your model and. Assistants. You'll find that pre-planning frees up your creative mind space.  

2. Challange yourself to create images that are out of your comfort zone. This will surprise you and you'll find new ways to create.  

3. Trust your creative inner voice. It is never wrong. Learn to listen to it and you'll find your images and your creative Mood inspiring those you work with. 

Creating mood in your shoots is all about you. As a creative you must balance art technique and interpersonal skills.  No one becomes a expert at anything in one day. The expertise lies in realizing that everyday you shoot you develop and enable your creative side to flourish.

Get out there and Shoot! 

Cheers-  

Kimberly Pimentel. 

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Things to do before a Photoshoot. By http://kimberlypimentel.com/

It's important to prep before a shoot.  Here's my list of top 5 things to do before a shoot.

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

1.  Plan your location and time. Consider  weather, Time of day, and limitations to your shooting area.  We shot the above portrait in a Industrial area of Kansas City. Though quite trendy, it can be dangerous with trains, rust and dirt.

2.  Have your model bring several outfits so you have choices during final edits. 

3. Make sure your equipment batteries and memory are ready and backups are available.

4. Have some idea about what poses to consider for your model. This will help them to feel more at ease, if you have ideas on how to pose them. 

5. Prepare for the unexpected. Well what the heck does that mean? Exactly,  your client is expecting you to have all bases covered so you can be creative and make them an artistic image. Anybody can point a camera nowadays and shoot. But as a artist, to be comfortable and in the creative zone you must be relaxed and that can only occur if you are ready to go and have gone over your pre-shoot game prep.

Get out there and Shoot! 

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

Dance Day KC 2016 by http://kimberlypimentel.com/

Dance Day was held at KC Ballet on August 27, 2016. This is a annual  event that celebrates a multitude of dances from around the world. From early morning through late afternoon, free dance classes are offered in a variety of styles for the young and the mature.  Also available throughout the day, are free dance performances that inspire and ease the creative palette.

Dance is a great way to develop a mind-body connection, while having fun and getting fit. Honing ones artistry and exuding self expression, regardless of experience or dance know-how, are some of the benefits. 

The Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity is a spectacularly renovated architectural phenom that inspires creativity itself. It houses the amateur and professional dancers of Kansas City's premiere dance company. 

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

All images taken by Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photographer. 

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

Flamenco Class was instructed by Tamara Carson. 

A Schedule of classes was handed out that enabled the participants, young and old, experienced, or just having fun, to dance all day.   Classes were 45 minutes long and all were encouraged to let thier inner dancer shine.

An outside tent was set up with a lunch from Two Guys and a Grill.  The social hour provided a much needed refueling, while dancers of all experience munched and chatted about goals, dance, and issues that the Arts in general face. At one table a Dance Instructor from England sat next to a Collegiate Dancer and a trio of pre-high school enthusiasts and all talked about thier dance and love of the arts, and how limited funding is for this mind growing endeavor.

Dancers were instructed to look at themselves and be powerful!

Dance has been shown to improve cognitive function, balance, creativity, and fitness.  As dancers, young and old, gathered at studio doors, ideas and greetings were exchanged. The Arts were alive and generating kinships of creation at the Todd Bolender Center.

All images shot by Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photographer.  

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

 

Bicycles of Amsterdam

The Wheels of Amsterdam Everyday I was drawn to Photograph them- they were more then modes of transportation- they to me became the pulse of the city

All images by Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photographer.  

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

 

I would capture streams of images 

I would move fluidly with them clicking mechanical time 

All images by Kimberly Pimetel A Kansas City Photography http://kimberlypimentel.com/

All images by Kimberly Pimetel A Kansas City Photography 

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

I loved the bicycles of Amsterdam 

Amsterdam's Colors

The Reds of Amsterdam 

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This city will capture your heart with all its visual beauty 

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As a creator it was easy to become overwhelmed by all the visual stimulation - so as I captured images I would focus on a theme - this walk was color- Red

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I loved the Juxtoposition of all the bikes anchored to homes and bridges - the velocity of the city -Amsterdam 

Happy Fourth of July from http://kimberlypimentel.com/

It's easy to create when your model is so fluid and at ease in front of the lens. 

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This image was created by Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photographer. 

Book a session today at  

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

Top 5 Lenses to own- 70-200 Canon L Series 2.8

I am a Kansas City Photographer and can be found at http://kimberlypimentel.com/ 

The Canon 70-200 2.8 L series with IS- and it does not disappoint.  I have used this lens before as I have suggested always Rent first I did at Borrowlenses.com.  I rented a 70-200mm f4 with no stabilization and was not impressed the images lacked the crispness that I wanted.  

The canon 70-200 2.8 with IS had what I needed.  For me having smaller hands this is a big lens and heavy after a day of shooting you will feel this lens.  The IS is needed to provide that extra edge for your images.  This beauty of a lens provides incredible prime like images at 70mm and 200 mm.  The quality  is apparent with superb depth and accurate saturations not to mention a spot on focus  that can best be described as  tack sharp.  I would have to say that this lens is the BMW of camera lenses- Quality, Speed, Agility, Craftsmanship-you get what you pay for as the saying goes- and with this canon L Series piece I will be getting a lifetime of quality Portraiture.

Captured with a Canon L Series 70-200 EF 2.8 IS II

Captured with a Canon L Series 70-200 EF 2.8 IS II

Captured with a canon L Series 70-200 EF 2.8 IS II  

Captured with a canon L Series 70-200 EF 2.8 IS II

 

 

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

Lens purchases  for a Photographer are  definitely costly when one starts to consider the L Series of Canon glass.  I would suggest renting glass before buying so that hasty purchases are not made.  My first L series lens purchase was the 50mm 1.2, the second was my 70-200 mm 2.8 with IS stabilization.