Bokeh

Portrait Session for Kansas City Buisness Owner

August 07, 2017

We were fortunate to shoot with Marlene Ollier a Local Kansas City Buisness owner. Aesthetician and Owner of The Clearest Hydrafacial Skin Care, Marlene called us after being gifted a Portrait session for her birthday.

We consulted with Marlene and determined that she was interested in shooting in Historical Dearborn Missouri's downtown.

The client Marlene Ollier and Photographer Kimberly Pimentel owner of Kansas City Buisness PimentelPortfolio LLC

After we knew the location. We scouted the area. This step of location scouting is a imperative step in your session workflow. It allows your creative team to develop a pathway of creating.

Below is a image of the Hotel in Dearborn MO. That remains a iconic landmark in this small town with history that dates back to the Civil War.

The owner of the above Hotel and a city matron of the area both came up to us during the shoot. We chatted about history and Due to our researching the area and knowing some town facts, they shared more knowledge and we were invited to shoot thier again.

This step of researching and communication, is imperative as a professional photographer to let people in the area know who you are and what you are doing. Remain within the public areas of a location. Stay on public sidewalks and be respectful of the area.

Client Marlene Ollier And Lighting assistant Roxane Henrici enjoy a giggle before the shoot.

We all enjoyed our journey back in time in this quaint Missouri City. I encourage you to read of this city and learn about it's history. And thank you Dearborn Missouri for allowing us to capture another moment in your cities history.

Pimentel Portfolio LLC is a Portrait Photography Buisness located in Kansas City Missouri. We can be contacted at (913)687-1464. Our work can be viewed at our website www.pimentelportfolio.com

Cheers!!!

Self Portrait

March 11, 2017

Rarely do I get in front of the Lens.

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

March 06, 2017

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

Current work can be seen at :

http://pimentelportfolio.com

email at:

Kimberly@Kimberlypimentel.com

To set up your Portrait session

Finding Peace with your Creativity

February 24, 2017 in Photographer, Kansas City Photographer, Kansas City, Portraits

Have you ever heard someone say I wish I could tell my 15 year old self what a incredible journey my life would lead me too? I guess we have all struggled and felt pain within ourselves as we built identies, with our Art. And each day I remind myself to find peace in my creativity. And finding peace with your Creativity will allow your art to grow.

Postcards from Amsterdam turned into a Mobile in my Art space

But what is finding peace within your Creativity? And how does one filter out all the other messages that cloud the reception of the creative mind? These messages that I talk of are the ones that hold most Artist back from obtaining a satisfying life in which they utilize thier art to create income.

Postcard from the Van Goth museum that now floats from a modern wire Mobile I filled with cards from my trip to Amsterdam

I find it amazing that some of the most successful people I admire have spent the least amount of time in College classes. Why is this? Is it because college has no courses aimed at Creativity awareness?

The Masters in the Rjiks Museum image by Kimberly Pimentel.

So perhaps these entrupaneurs that I admire have learned the lesson of creativity awareness on their own. I found for myself personally the most rewarding time spent in Collegeite courses was when I was studying with a agenda. And that agenda was to allow myself to learn to create. Allow yourself to create is a big statement it's vague and encompasses a inner chain of thought.

Rooftop 360 degree Bistro in Amsterdam image by Kimberly Pimentel

Is it a day where the sun gently warms your arms is it when a sparrow lands next to you and you find comfort in the sound of its wings message? I think it's something different for everyone. Some people just haven't allowed themselves to find peace inside their heads yet. They struggle with the constraints of life, job, Relationships and all things material.

Creatives must learn to engage freedom of thought to best utilize the combined strength of Art into entrepreneurship.

Breakfast before Museums Daam Square Amsterdam

I am learning to let myself find peace within my Art. What I learned by this is just about everything out there in life reflects peace as long as I allow it to remind me of the inherit message. And through this my Art has flourished and grows daily.

As I was falling asleep my wife said to me " you know they say in space there is no time." I responded sleepily what do you mean? She relied " people who space travel say the concept of time is a earthly conception." I thought for a bit and then fell gently to sleep next to her knowing that all was well with the world and that in space time did not exist and I love that and I love the way she calms my head. Finding peace is allowing it to find you.

Find peace

cheers

I am a Kansas City Portrait Photographer my name is Kimberly Pimentel and I create contemporary Portraits that capture a moment and create a lifetime piece of Art.

My website is at

http://pimentelportfolio.com/

It's not about the Gear

February 23, 2017 in Kansas City Photographer, Photographer

When inquisitors approach me with questions about photography I'm always happy to answer their questions. But more often then not I will answer "it's not about the gear".

My trio of current go to lenses posing in afternoon California soft light. Image taken with a IPhone 6+http://pimentelportfolio.com/ — My trio of current go to lenses posing in afternoon California soft light. Image taken with a IPhone 6+
http://pimentelportfolio.com/

It's not about the gear. It's so much More then the gear. I have this image that to this day when I look at it reminds me of this statement. I took the image while living in New Mexico, attending UNM. The concept of the image was to go outside of the bounds of camera equipment. We spent the days using cameras made from paint cans and Holga cameras. ( Holga cameras are actually Japanese toy plastic cameras that actually shoot film but have light leaks in the body that create beautiful eerie images). If you've never used one before and are interested in Photography do yourself a favor and spend the $20 to get a Holga and $20 for b&w 120 film and start here.

The reason I beg you to do this is so you will learn the simplest lesson about photography. And that is "it's not about the gear". It doesn't matter what camera you have the brand the lens when you are wanting to truly learn about the art of images. The art is seeing, looking and connecting to a aspect a visual glimpse, and teaching your mind to relay to your eye to capture it and compose it.

My Holga images that I took that day in New Mexico I developed the film by hand. I scanned the large digital 120 film formats on my Epson scanner and printed 11x16 prints. And the one print that captures my mind everytime I look at it isn't in crisp focus, it's not accurately exposed (it's actually double exposed due to the nature of the Holga). This image is far from perfect. But to me a Photographer who practices the art of Photography it's perfect. It's beyond perfect it's F'ing ART!! And I love it's shortcomings because it taught me to look deeper.

So ask me anything you want about Photography, but if you really want to know about cameras and ask me what type to get I will suggest a Holga!

Cheers

Shoot more talk less!

My name is Kimberly Pimentel and I am a Kansas City Photographer.

My website is

http://pimentelportfolio.com/

Altitude Attitude

February 22, 2017 in Photographer, Blog, Kansas City Photographer, Kansas City, Portraits

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.

"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?

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.

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

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 .

Creating a Unique Photographic Style

February 01, 2017

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

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.

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

January 22, 2017

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.

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.

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.

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

January 02, 2017

My shoot with Roxane Carmen Petra Henrici.

Kansas City Photographer Kimberly Pimentel

Former Ballerina and Flamenco dancer poses on a Sunday afternoon

September 06, 2016

Roxane Petra Carmen Henrici is the daughter of German born parents, Bernd and Inge. She has lived and loved dance her whole life. She tells me, as a child her first experience in the arts was a class in gymnastics and she excelled in this.

But, it was Ballet that captured her soul. When you read her dance resume you wonder what can drive a young person to be so captured, so driven by an art form. She danced in The Houston Opera for a season. Telling me that the stage was always a place of safety and expressionism for her.

On this quiet Sunday afternoon her only audience was her rescue dog Uma. Roxane has a stage presence that can give you chills. She is so fluid and expressive in her movements.

Her dance schooling continued at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Her parents' hard blue collar ethics enabled her to attend this arts High School. They knew that their daughter was an Artist and needed to be in this type of environment to develop her skills.

Roxane has told me being so young and away from family was hard, but a growth experience. While attending arts school she missed out on family trips back to Europe and many occasions and celebrations.

After highschool Roxane studied dance at the University of New Mexico earning a scholarship in Flamenco.

"A Dame and her dog"- image by http://kimberlypimentel.com — "A Dame and her dog"- image by http://kimberlypimentel.com

On this Sunday afternoon I captured this portrait of Roxane ballerina flamenco dancer and artist. Always a dancer always a performer. Life is her stage and we are all her audience. Bravo Roxane bravo!

Images by Kimberly Pimentel a Kansas City Photography

http://kimberlypimentel.com

Achieving Different looks in one Portrait session

September 01, 2016

I am a Kansas City Photographer Contact me at:

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

If your session is limited on time and the model has one set of wardrobe, you can still achieve different looks. To do this try the following: Have your client use different accessories, such as sunglasses or jewelry.

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

Another way to achieve a different look is to use a different angle to shoot from. Though this may seem simple, most people forget to do this. The same pose can look completely different from a another angle; lighting and reflection can change the mood.

http://kimberlypimentel.com/

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

August 30, 2016

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/

Bicycles of Amsterdam

August 09, 2016

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

August 08, 2016

The Reds of Amsterdam

This city will capture your heart with all its visual beauty

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

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

How We Did the Shoot

July 05, 2016

To see the set up as a Photographer it's Important to Remember the Process so that I can Improve, Replicate and Teach others. Because as I improve and share I also learn more. Our wardrobe we secured from our collection we have gathered from second shops.

Makeup was done by Roxane Henrici. Using the following :Tartelette in bloom 2 eyeshadow palette, Estee lauder doublewear foundation, Clinique blush, Estee lauder doublewear eyeliner, and Lancome mascara.

Model Credit : Roxane Henrici

We did this series using a light bounce, gold side up and a Hensel Octogon, I metered with a Sekonic 478D and shot standing on a ladder- we used the Canon L series 70-200 and 50mm