Welcome to the HK Blog!

The last couple weeks we’ve been shooting the beautiful creations made for the Fall 2014 Catalog. It should be ready to go by about July and you’re going to love it!

The process before the clothing ever gets shipped to me to shoot is just as much fun {work} as I have the privilege of doing. A lot of work goes into all this, but it’s worth every single second to see happy children and mamas around the nation enjoying Hannah Kate! {Made in the USA!}

Unlike other company childrens’ clothing shoots, things around here don’t include assistants, make-up artists, hair dressers, stage production, sight designers, fancy equipment, artificial lights, specially picked locations and lots of moms!  It’s kinda a small, one ring circus that is more like a mom or two hiking and playing with their kids, one old camera, a scratched up lens, and a car (or behind a tree) for a dressing room!

Kids brush their own hair (okay, so that might be obvious in some shots!), little girls dab on their own lip gloss, little boys kick off their shoes and sometimes lick their faces clean from lunch. Nothing is anywhere near professional. Sometimes we wonder if we even reach amateur. It’s natural, and it’s real life. That’s kinda the way we roll.

(Kids come as they are for the shoot.)

Shooting sessions are typically just stopping on the side of the road – asking a restaurant manager if we can shoot on his back patio during slow hours.

Sometimes it’s between school carpool pickups in a wheat field. Sometimes it’s in our front dining room with window light. Sometimes the day passes, life gets so busy just being a mom, and we rush out as the sun is seriously almost too low to shoot!

HK shoots are more just apart of our life, not something we set up as an event. They are smushed somewhere between lunch and nap time, or supper time and homework.

In a way the shoots have taken our small little town into a story without them even knowing it. . . Kinda a story that has proved to me that kindness really isn’t overrated. It’s alive and it’s part of the HK story. I don’t think it was in the plan. But as you know, sometimes the things unplanned are the best. It’s the same way I ended up shooting for HK to begin with; providential.

For starters there is sweet Rosella. She has the most charming farm and from the minute I knocked on her door to ask to shoot there, has welcomed the children back with a smile and hug ever since. She went from a complete stranger to what seems like a great aunt you want to go visit because you know she thinks the world of you no matter what you could do. This past shoot she gave us a tour of her spring garden and offered us some of her produce.

Then there is the nice doctor and his wife who have two old abandoned homes on their 40 acres who have said, “Anytime and here’s the gate code…” Really, I think they’ve little idea that their beautiful place now holds years of memories for the children and for me. Somedays we just don’t want to leave. If we could name their place I think we’d call it, “HannahKate Farm.”

(I love old houses with all their character!)

I can’t forget the owner of the local winery whose side patio has lighting and rustic siding to die for! — He has never kicked us out and if he is around, waves at the kids as they pose against the old barn walls.

(The winery barns and patio.)

There’s the lady who owns a little place called “Faithville.” It’s a row of old homes and a chapel she has restored and turned into little boutiques. She’s been more than happy to let the little ones run around there for a shoot. The name of her place is kinda special since HK began on a whole-lot-a faith to begin with.

There are the park rangers who have stared at us as we hike through trails with laundry baskets of carefully folded clothing… informing us about poison oak and what it looks like and how to avoid it. (we weren’t so lucky to avoid it anyway, but did find a little baking soda paste took care of it nicely!) They have never once interfered with our shoots and always keeping the parks clean and perfect for children.

(The parks are worth the hike.)

Oh, and what about the little local rodeo owner who said, “Why sure you can use the horse stalls! Feel free to walk around and shoot where ever you’d like…” What a treat to shoot there as the horses peaked out of their stalls looking on in amusement!

Near the top and most amazing are the moms in this little town who have brought their little boys or girls, even during nap hours if need be, to be in a HK shoot. No strings attached and always bring plenty of snack-y foods not only for their children but my own! You women rock! And your kids are adorable. I’m hoping one day I’m that “great aunt” they come to visit. Maybe I will even plant a garden.

(Yea for moms!)

Then there are my own children. Of course being their mom, I should be allowed to be biased. But to say that I am being that here, really would knock at all these kids have done. I am pretty sure I couldn’t put it into words…

Truth is, as simplistic as we might keep all this, changing outfits 400 or more times in the off season (that means summer clothes in cold weather and winter clothes in the summer!) isn’t always easy, even if we do let them roam around some cool places as we shoot. They’ve helped out with ironing the outfits, hanging the clothes, carrying arm loads of things, walking long distances, doing the dishes as I download pictures, created props, smiled when they didn’t feel like it and have willingly come along for the ride in all this.

It takes patience. Diligence. Good attitudes. Sweet hearts. Work. Laughter. Love for each other. Respect for me. And a love for life. They have those things, and I’m pretty sure I learn from them more then they learn from me.

Our dream has always been to let kids be kids! HK clothes allow for that, whether it be dressing up for a party, Easter Sunday, or running outdoors to play with friends and family.

That’s what HK clothing is all about anyway: loving every minute of our childrens’ childhood. The little things like messy ponytails, or bare feet, laughing at the silliest of jokes, brother sister love in those seconds of the day you needed to know love still existed in this world…

Those moments they are out playing and make nature apart of their make-believe (don’t you just love the t-shirts with all the fun, real to life loves of our kids?).

{Okay, and admittedly allows us moms to let our creative juices flow too!}

We hope that when you see HK pictures and clothing you fall in love not only with the beautiful designs, fabric and quality but the joy that comes from these years with your little ones, that honestly, just goes by way too fast.

Here’s a tiny little peek into a HK shoot. We hope you enjoy and have plenty of HK memories that you and your children won’t forget. Behind the Scenes with Hannah Kate ~ click here for video. (video credit goes to a great kid who wore HK until he out grew it all.)

Until next time,

Alyssa for Hannah Kate