Kara Frans Photography bio picture
  • Welcome

    I was born in Chicago, raised in Arizona and it was there that I started noticing "moments". Little slices of time I wanted to keep for myself. Like everyone, I had a camera when I was younger but it wasn't until freshmen year of college that I found photography. My formal training started when I needed a few extra credits and by the time I graduated, I had taken every photography class offered at U of A, even staying on an extra year to do a work study class with the illustrious Ken Shorr. I loved being able to create with my camera. Capturing those slices in time and able to re-live them whenever I came out of the darkroom. For me, it was the process, too. The process of finding out about the subjects I was photographing. Their story and their lives. I wanted to remember their faces, exactly as it was when the shutter was clicked.

    Over 8 years ago, a friend asked me to photograph her wedding and of course, I couldn't say no. A business was born and I've been so lucky and privileged to be able to photograph for the people I meet. I tell their story - whether it be their wedding, a family portrait or capturing moments with their children. I want their story to be around for their granddaughters and grandsons, a little slice in time.

    My clients are just like me: down to earth, fun and can really laugh. This is the best job in the world and I can't wait to share it with you. Thank you for looking at my site - enjoy!

  • The Spill Family | Family Sessions

    This awesome family won a gift certificate from me at a Peachhead event earlier this spring.  We took full advantage of the beautiful weather we starting having last week and went out to a local park for some fun shots of their beautiful daughter, T.   We had so much fun wandering around the park and T. was such a great sport in having her picture taken a million times.  Thank you for such a fun session!

    Asifa and Bobby | Engagement Party

    I had the pleasure of photographing this fantastic couple’s engagement party back in July.  (If you’ve seen my blog recently, you’ll notice I’ve been slightly absent since June from my blog until this week)  But the wait is over!

    I have known Asifa’s family for almost 5 years now – I actually think of them as family, since Asifa’s mom, Mumtaz, runs a wonderful daycare and took such amazing care of my daughter since her birth until she started preschool last summer.  My daughter LOVES it there and some of her first words were anda (eggs) and roti (indian bread).  I wil be forever grateful to this family for taking such good care of Ava – thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    This party was at the fantastic Dayra Restaurant at South Coast Plaza with lots of amazing food, dancing, cake cutting and a beautiful ring exchange.  Thank you so much for having me be a part of your special night!

    Fall 2009 Mini-Sessions!

    Woo hoo!  It’s that time of year again – time for holiday photos and fabulous family images.  For those of you that haven’t seen some of my wonderful families, please check the archives in this blog last October, November and December for some great images!

    I have four dates this season dedicated to just mini-sessions and they will fill up fast!   Please call or send an email to book your appointment…

    Sunday, October 18th

    Sunday, November 1st

    Saturday, November 14th

    Saturday, December 5th

    Here’s the details:

    Welcome to the world Baby H.

    I’ve been so fortunate to photograph for the wonderful Keller family for the last few years.  Their twin daughters are just a few weeks older than my own and I just love seeing them each time I get back to Phoenix.  The family has recently added a new member, a beautiful baby boy that is so cute and cuddly, I just want to squeeze him (in a good way)…

    We had a such a great session with the girls and their baby brother – I’m really looking forward to watching him grow!

    His awesome dad competed in the IronMan Competition last fall and I think the entire family is hoping this little guy will follow in daddy’s footsteps…

    The Stephens Family

    This was such a fabulous session for us – perfect weather and a beautiful park here in Los Angeles, with a willing 3 year old – it doesn’t get any better than that!  I met Lei right around the time her daughter was born and honestly, I can’t even believe K.  just turned 3!  She is so much fun with a ton of energy and we still managed to capture some quiet moments while on our search for ants.  Thank you Lei and Charlie for such a fun session!

    The Johnson Family

    I’m proud to say I’ve known this family for ages – it was my days working at USA Networks that put Gloria and myself together.  We had so much fun on the road back then – traveling from town to town and who can forget our activities?  White water rafting, golf, hot-air ballooning and running around Yellowstone.  LOVED IT!  Meanwhile, fast forward many years and I’m thrilled to be able to photograph for them.  It was actually a nice warm day on the beach – the perfect weather for chasing their adorable daughter, F. She just turned two and here are some amazing images of that morning.  Thank you so much, Gloria and Scott, for such a wonderful session!

    Get a free “get to know you” session…

    Wow!  I can’t believe it’s been ages since I’ve last posted.  We’ve been through Christmas, New Years and now with So Cal’s 85 degree weather, I think the holidays are LONG gone.  That said, we are now into wedding season – my favorite!!  So, that why I’m offering a FREE “Get to Know You” or otherwise known as engagement session if a couple books me for their wedding by the end of the month!! WOO HOO!!  Images from the gorgeous Carly and Matt’s engagement session coming up in just a bit…Stay tuned!

    The wonderful Moss Family

    I’ve known this wonderful family since our daughters were just a few months old.  We met through the Culver City MOMS Club and became instant friends.   Rosa is so down to earth and just fabulous to be around, that I look forward to our weekly playdates and hope that one day soon, when the girls are off to school, we can just sit down and hang out without the constant chaos around us :)   I’ve photographed for this family for a few years now and I can honestly say I love these girls like my own.  Thank you Rosa and Aaron for allowing me to watch your beautiful children grow up through my lens – I love you all so much!

    The fabulous Burns Family

    My husband and I met Sabrina and Scott many years ago, pre-kids when a mutual friend (thank you, Christa!) introduced us.  She said we have so much in common especially living a mile apart in this metropolis.  It wasn’t until both Sabrina and I were pregnant that we finally started emailing, then with the birth of our daughters, we finally started to get the babies (and ourselves for well-needed Coffee Bean) together every chance we got.  Fast forward a few years and I am honored to call Sabrina one of my best friends.  We are like two peas in a pod (except she is the fashionable pea) and I love having her and family in our life.   Photographing for them is always so much fun and their daughter always makes me smile.   My hope is that both of our daughters will continue to let me photograph them well into their teen years but I have a feeling that they might start to run from the camera about age 9. Enjoy your images and thank you three for being such a big part of my life.  I love you all!

    My best sister

    I think my sister is my number one fan, with maybe the exception of Meredith :)   She is always unconditionally supportive and really keeps me going.  She is a great go-go gal for marketing, PR and just about everything else.  I can’t wait to return the favor one day although I’m still trying to figure out how to do that – short of taking pictures of her family.  In 50 years, when we get to the old-age home, I’ll let her be my room-mate.

    She won’t let me photograph a “proper” session – just a few snapshots of the kids so I took my niece and nephew to Kenneth Hahn Park here in Los Angeles and we came home with these wonderful images.  Too bad it gets dark so early these days – I would have stayed as long as I could as the light was beautiful and M’s dress was the perfect contrast to the grass and the forest, but I think it would have been dark by then.  And, R. was starting to melt down as you can see from the last image, but M. could have kept smiling forever.  Thank you, Vicki, for everything you have done for me.  I’m looking forward to our next adventure – I love you!