Earth Day | 2016

Let's be aware of what we're growing. On this day, Earth Day, let's begin to choose our steps carefully. Let's be present. Whether it's with recycling, with waste, or with starting a garden.
   
Sow a seed—any seed. Just plant something. One teeny, tiny seed will change your life and in turn, will change the life of our planet. Don't think about the reasons why not. One tiny seed makes you feel like you are a part of something big—that you are a part of helping Mother Earth grow. Choose to strengthen this beautiful planet, not weaken her. 
   
Sow a seed like this six year old, like this thirteen year old. These two boys live very different lives, in two very different countries. One is a six year old boy living in a big city in the United States and the other is a 13 year old boy, living deep in the countryside of Haiti. They are both gardeners. And these are their seedlings.
   
We are all gardeners. And we get to decide what we grow. How incredible is that?! 
   
What will you grow today?
   
More from this six year old gardener on this blog and in the latest Family Fun magazine "A Boy and his Garden."

A Boy and His Garden

"I put seeds in the soil. And then we get babies. Not like a baby in your belly but a baby flower." -Oliver, Age 6, on gardening 

Check out the April issue of the always amazing FamilyFun Magazine. "A Boy and his Garden" was written beautifully by Catherine Newman — who takes you in to the little green world of a six year old boy, Ollie. All the gardening was done by my son, Oliver. I had the easy part, the taking pictures part. 

Inspiration.

I'm not sure if I’m tired this morning because of the margaritas from Rosa Mexicana and Committee Boston last night and wine from the amazing McBride Sisters at the AdClub Women’s event yesterday OR if my exhaustion comes from the amazing female speakers whose inspirational words flooded my mind and heart yesterday at the Women’s Leadership Forum.

I’m still trying to process it all — from the young mountain climber Sasha DiGiulian, who climbed even though the dudes climbing next to her told her ’This is no place for a girl.’ (talk about climbing mountains!) to Reshma Saujani who began the non-profit and movement, Girls Who Code, striving to get more girls into STEM fields. From Kelli Carlin, daughter of George Carlin, telling us that if you don’t have your own truth, you don’t have your own power, to a local mother and nurse, Christine McSherry who not only saved her son, she saved thousands of other children who were dying from rare diseases in this country by never giving up. Unbelievable!! You’re tired just reading this right?!

And that was just who was on stage. There were 1200 amazing women in the room!! (And a small handful of brave men.) Not only was I lucky enough to hear these incredibly inspiring stories from the speakers, I got to spend the day connecting with amazing women right here in Boston: Amy Flanagan, Andrea Becker, DeMane Davis, Jane Hirschi, Rachel Houk-Seeger, Carol Lee Kelleher, Sue Kingsbury, Molly Scannell, Kathy Kiely, Ellen Lacey, Noreen Moross, Margie Sullivan, Julie Paquette, Michelle Coughlin, Kathleen Schiffman, Margaux Stunzi, Julianna Akuamoah and so, so many more. What a day!

I felt so lucky to be in that room and to have played a small part of the event by filming and photographing some of these incredible women. With my ad in the WLF program reading “Inspiration is contagious. Congratulations, you’re a carrier.” I was trying to speak to each individual person at the event, but I’m also speaking to you now. We are all carriers of inspiration. Small or big. Think about that for a little while. And I hope it makes you tired, too.

[ View the videos here: http://vimeo.com/kimlowe/videos ]

NEW WORK: Unfiltered

Sometimes the trickiest part of a shoot for me, as a director or as a photographer, is actually just picking up the camera. THIS was one of those shoots.

On this day, there were so many moments I didn't want to be shooting — I wanted to put the camera down and just start talking with the amazing women I was shooting. I was moved and inspired by them repeatedly. It took all my energy to lift my camera and do my job.

Here's just one of many videos:
http://vimeo.com/154069780

To see five other videos from this shoot and be inspired yourself, click here: http://vimeo.com/kimlowe

Happy 2016!

Hope you started your NEW YEAR off with love and laughter — if not, then let this video help! HAPPY 2016! 

[ Cats VS. Dogs ]

Happy Summer!

Where did Spring go? I will have a lot more to post from my Haiti trip, a few awesome shoots, some new motion work and new promos. But for now, I'm off to backpack in the Grand Tetons. If I never post again you'll know I got too close to some bear cubs and got eaten by Mama Bear. Hope this photo sums up what you hope to accomplish this weekend.Have a great 4th of July! 

Happy Spring!

In honor of Earth Day today, we're announcing our 2nd annual seedling sale-fundraiser to raise money for nature + gardening programs at our Boston public school. Please save the date! Purchase your tomatoes, basil, cucumbers and flowers from us. Organized by really amazing second graders and "kinder-gardeners" of Philbrick Elementary. We have over 300 seedlings already started — phew! 

More info to come later. 

    

Yay! Spring!

Take a HAPPY break on this first day of Spring and enjoy these “GARDENING TIPS FROM A 3 YEAR OLD."
http://vimeo.com/channels/gardeningwithkids 
   
As I watched my youngest son decapitate the dahlias in my garden with a tennis racquet, it occurred to me: this kid just sees the world differently than me. To him a pumpkin is a soccer ball. Freshly picked tomatoes deserve applause and celebratory dances. And it’s okay to fill your pockets with worms to give them a better home in a nicer part of the garden. So I decided to style, shoot and edit a video series of my 3 year old son trashing and celebrating my garden. All I had to do was grow this beautiful space, a little hidden oasis on a busy Boston street, and then let Ollie tear into it.
   
Be sure to take a look. And if you need any content shot, edited or both — give me a shout. If you need someone to spit on your weeds, mow your pool or relocate your worms, please call my son.

   

HAPPY Spring!

Bubble-week!

In honor of 'bubble-week' I share a sneak peek of my new bubble video en route to be finished next month. And new bubbles promos heading out the door to boot. 

Take a happy break. 

Visit http://vimeo.com/87726523 

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I feel very lucky to have played a small role in a big event this week. 
   
The AdClub had their annual Women's Leadership Forum. A few weeks ago, they approached me about using my photography for their banners, programs, books and more. Of course I said 'Of course!' Their theme this year was "What do you want to be when you grow up?" And they needed photographs of girls to work alongside quotes and answers to this question. Well I have shot some incredible girls in the past ten years and I was happy to share those beautiful, happy faces with the AdClub for their event. 
   
What I didn't realize was how amazing they would make my work look. Big, bright banners rose up over my head as I entered the venue. Photographs flickered on big screens. A book met me on my chair filled with smart, funny quotes and beautiful photographs. For a second, I didn't even realize they were MY photographs. 
   
I was honored that they used my photography. I was even more honored to be in a room filled with 700+ great women (especially at a table with two of my favorite women) and be in the audience listening to and absorbing messages from leaders that I've admired for a long time. 
   
When you get a chance, not IF, but when you get a chance, watch the video on the AdClub website. You will be inspired by the amazing speakers. Listen to Azure Antoinette's poem — not once, but twice, so you don't miss anything. And you will be moved by my friend Chris Edward's remarkable story. You'll want to give him a standing ovation right there in your living room.   
   
http://adclub.org