Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

May 27, 2010

I was recently talking to my best friend’s about the blogging world and attacks on bloggers from readers and commenters. I’ve definitely been on the receiving end of many a hate email and the occasional obnoxious and/or cruel comment. I tend to ignore them. Don’t get me wrong — they often hurt my heart — but I see very little good that comes from responding. Unless the comment is hilarious.

Anyway, my friend said that she reads another blog where the commenters were attacking the blogger and the blogger responded, “You only know the part of my life that I choose to share with you. You don’t know everything about me.”

In the photography world there have been some crazy debates going on lately — mainly about wedding photographers who make themselves appear to be much more successful via what they choose to share on their blog, than they actually are.

Appearing to be massively successful is very easy. I could show you our Amazon trip and not tell you that we won it. I could show you photos of us gallivanting around Europe and not tell you that it took us 2 years to save up for those short little three months. I could show you all the weddings we shoot and based on how busy we are you might assume that we wouldn’t have problems getting a mortgage or that I don’t have to psychotically budget out every inch of our lives just to ensure that we’ll continue to scrape by.

I’ll be honest. We watch every penny we spend — especially in the U.S. Bringing our third world country salary to a first world country is NOT budget friendly. And my stomach sometimes hurts when more than a few weeks go by without booking a wedding. I get nervous. So much so that I’m probably going to give myself an ulcer worrying. It’d probably be easy to share just enough and nothing more on this blog so that you didn’t know all that.

Anyway, that all brings me to my point. I haven’t been posting much while we’re in Tennessee because we haven’t been doing anything crazy out of the ordinary. Well, we did shoot some killer sessions, but I still don’t have a computer to be able to edit them. So in the mean time, I’m having a fabulous time hanging out with my bestie and her fiance, enjoying the small yet luxurious comforts of life in the U.S., such as eating food sent from the heavens at Panera and lounging around in air conditioned bliss laughing at silly movies. To anyone but us, it’s mundane.

And I want to write about the mundane on occasion. I can’t have people thinking my life is totally over the top amazing all the time. That’s a front I’d never be able to, and would never want to be able to keep up. My life is really amazing — in large part because the incredible is balanced out enough by the struggles/craziness/hard times, that I appreciate the good that much more.

Who knows, maybe I’d have more clients and make more money if people were under the impression that I’m some insanely exclusive photographer who only shoots bajillion dollar weddings. But starting a blog based on complete honesty is what got me this far, so I’m going to keep on keeping on.

Stream of consciousness — over. Thanks for listening

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13 Comments

The haters are losers! Fuck em! Only a loser would expect to know everything about you just from reading your blog and feel justified to publicly judge you accordingly. I like your blog, I like when you write about mundane things, photography, travelling, chile, your dog etc etc etc. If i didn't like it I wouldn't read. It's your blog, you can write about whatever the hell it is you feel like. Keep forgetting about the haters and keep remembering the people that like your blog. x

PS My favourite line from that dumb commenter is “look out for his hand coming at you” Paranoid stereotype much!

Comment by Kristy — May 28, 2010 @ 5:56 am

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WOW, I hadn't read those ridiculous anonymous comments you linked to. When Seba pulls back his iron fist to hit you…just remind him that you have a popular blog. He wouldn't want to give those commentors the satisfaction of being right!

I completely agree about the photographers flaunting on their blog thing. Luckily I haven't had enough down time to edit the pictures from our personal trips of 2009 So we're safe until then, haha!

To go along with your post: Kayley and I are taking a month long vacation next winter. We will spend a week in Spain, a week in Sicily, and two weeks in Kenya. EHHH, no big deal. Except that it is being paid for by a large collection of tips Kayley collected for well over a year. And yes, Kayley works two other jobs…how else are we going to pay off our debt FAST…and buy shanty ice cream?

Love you guys.

Comment by Kai Heeringa — May 28, 2010 @ 12:13 pm

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I think when you get nasty comments.. you know that you have finally made it big in the blogging world, if even that mean random stranger was taking the time to read though your blog. I too really enjoy your blog Kyle. Being open and honest is what is entertaining, no one wants to read a structured, safe, happy blog from someone who has a perfect life.

Comment by LanaRenee — May 28, 2010 @ 6:25 pm

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Always glad to listen to stream of consciousness. It's truly a mark of the genius, my friend! PS – love the 'mundane' life the US allows me to live at times!

Comment by Andrea Gonzalez — May 28, 2010 @ 8:03 pm

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This post really made me laugh. Honestly, just carry on ignoring the crazies. I love your blog, getting to know more about you and I find you really cool, refreshing and honest. And, it's your blog so you are allowed to write whatever the heck you want.

Comment by AnnaLondon — May 28, 2010 @ 10:22 pm

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Thanks Anna! That's what I say when the haters email me — if you don't like it, don't read it!

Comment by kyleracine — May 30, 2010 @ 3:29 am

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LOL, not so sure about the genius part Miss you!!!

Comment by kyleracine — May 30, 2010 @ 3:29 am

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Haha, Lana, that's how I'll try to think of it from now on…that the meanies are coming out because I've made it big But I'm glad you like the blog the way it is, I feel like I'm on the right path then!

Comment by kyleracine — May 30, 2010 @ 3:30 am

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There are a lot of street dogs in Chile…

Comment by kyleracine — May 30, 2010 @ 3:32 am

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Haha, does Shanty really eat those ice cream treats?! I would totally bring some back for Papi and Machasa if they wouldn't melt.

And HOLY AMAZING. Your trip sounds bananas. By next winter you mean as in December '10 and Jan '11? Man, I so wish that our wedding seasons weren't opposite because we would totally go meet up with you in Kenya. That's awesome that Kayley's saved up tips are enough to pay for a vacation!

Maybe Kayley should get a 3rd other job to pay for a trip to Chile…just saying…

Comment by kyleracine — May 30, 2010 @ 3:35 am

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Haha, Kristy, thanks for saying what I was too chicken to write! “Fuck em!”

Yeah that pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter

and yes, I am on the constant lookout for that day when Seba's “iron fist” as Kai says, is bound to start coming at me, LOL! Sometimes the comments are so ridiculous they're just hysterical!

Comment by kyleracine — May 30, 2010 @ 3:37 am

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I've been thinking about this post all day.

you have to keep writing how you write because it's you! And that's we all come here visit! Because we want to hang with kyle.

Comment by Deidre — May 30, 2010 @ 11:04 am

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Never change who you are Ms. Kyle!!! I love your genuineness and honesty. In the end THAT will bring you more work than anything else. XOXOXO

Comment by GlobalButterfly — June 1, 2010 @ 3:55 am

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