A Peek into the Home Office... — Kara Kamienski Photography

A little over two years ago, my husband and I decided to take a class at our church- you know, the Dave Ramsey one. For the record, I SUCK at all things budgeting. I want to buy all the things. My husband, however, is a frugal man. And a budgeting man. And a money man. So…..you can imagine how fun that is at our house:). ha! Needless to say- while in the midst of this class, it became very clear to us what was essential and what was non-essential (oh how those words have different meaning now…thanks Covid). But- one thing that was non-essential for sure was the GORGEOUS building we owned in downtown Washington. We’d purchased it a few years before, renovated it, rented the bottom to an amazing hair salon, and then had over 1200 square feet of finished space upstairs for us- with a client meeting space, a huge classroom/meeting room with a projector and screen, a private office, a kitchen, huge storage closets, even a bathroom and shower!, and a whole separate room for my kids to hang out in while I was up there working. It was honestly a dream come true. I didn’t shoot there (I’m an on-location photographer)- but I worked there. At the time we bought it and renovated it- I had a full-time girl working in the studio with me. I taught workshops and classes in my classroom area. It was definitely the perfect space.

But…my girl moved away. And the local park district asked if I’d partner with them to teach these classes with them and using their facilities! And…and…and… and it just became clear that the space wasn’t needed. So, with heavy hearts, we sold it. It’s still adorable and I still love it- but it was definitely a chapter in this business that was ready to move on.

We built our house here about the same time we sold the building. While building, we built into the plans a small room on the first floor for my mother-in-law. My husband is a California boy (we met in college)- and all of his family still lives there! So his mom comes to visit us a few times a year and stays for 10 or so days when she does. It turned out that me needing an office space to edit and organize was a priority, and with our basement still loaded down with moving stuff (not anymore…thanks quarantine!)- we decided to convert this once-mother-in-law room to a home office! So the design work began. Thanks to this stay-at-home order- we finished it up and I finally stopped to take just a few pics of it.

Remember that whole bit about my husband being frugal? yep. still is. So we did a lot of the work in here ourselves- or I bought things used- or most of the time, just reused random things I had places in storage! And I love it. It’s very me. It’s definitely a place I like to come to sit down and edit- or just plan for the business!

My favorite things in here? I am obsessed with these shelves. My good friend (and fellow photog) Kendra came up with these bad boys and I’m OBSESSED. Like we’re putting them all over our newly done basement obsessed. But they’re SO easy and SO cute. Literally some plumbing hardware from Menards that prices out to like $1.39 per shelf or something ridiculously cheap like that. And some boards that I stained. And I love them! I LOVE the quote grid. I am obsessed with quotes. My poor daughter. I send her at least one, if not ten, a day that I love. They inspire me to no end. So I keep them right in front of my face. I love quotes so much that a few years ago (back in the old studio days!)- my team surprised me on my birthday with a wall of quotes in my office! Most of these up on this grid today are some of my favorites from that wall! I love the old canvases and pics of my kids. They were canvases that once hung on living room walls- but have since been replaced- so they have a home in here. I love the little pieces here and there that all played a part in my business. I love the camera prints that were gifted to me by one of my best friends. It all has meaning and I love it:)

Yes, yes. I am obsessive compulsive about organization. Like.cannot.function.if.things.aren’t.clean. It’s a problem. So- no, I didn’t clean this space before I shot it. It always looks like this. My whole house does. It’s just who I am. It’s NOT who my parents or sister are. I have no idea where I got this weird gene. My daughter has it too. My son. yeah, not so much!

Typically we’d have another 27 inch Mac screen in here too for me to double duty edit:) But it’s been taken up to my daughter’s room for e-learning and her zoom calls with teachers. This computer is used by my son for 2 hours each morning for his e-learning. And I’ve given them each a basket for their school supplies on the shelf. Currently- it’s not just my office, it’s also our e-learning hub. Things will get REAL interesting if next year come school time we’re not back in schools yet. Two of them e-learning, me teaching, and my office? haha. Please God save us from that:)

Nothing overly special about this space- except for it’s exactly perfect for me. I always love seeing the backend of how people work. Especially people in industries like this where you see them out and about with cameras- but often forget how much work goes on behind the scenes! I just wanted to share a little of what it looks like behind the scenes at KKP:)

These prints are so special:) One of my best friends saw them at Hobby Lobby and decided to buy them for me! We built these awesome frames (it’s my favorite project ever) and hung them! I love that they were a gift!

The current e-learning organizing tubs. Such weird times we’re living in right now.