What is in a Name
What's in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.
Hi There! Thank you for visiting WaukAWay Photography! I am happy you’re here! My name is Kristy Wempe Bellinger, I am a Native Douglas County Kansan, A Wildcat, A Mother, A Wife, An Agriculture Enthusiast, a lifelong 4-Her, a bit of a wild child, and a farm girl. Most who know me, have given me the nickname of “Paparazzi” because I am always snapping photos everywhere I go!
Starting at a young age, I began my love affair with photography. I was 8 years old, and was a member of the Lone Star 4H Club, and was enrolled in photography. My mother let me use her Canon film camera, and large lens, and I just began shooting everywhere I went. I was hooked. This sparked my fire and interest in the art of photography and design, ultimately leading to my college major – Agriculture Journalism and animal science. A farm girl has to have it specific!
Fast forward to present time, and I am still in love with photography. With my journalism background, I desire and strive to document the moment. Stop time. Freeze the memory. I enjoy being able to work with families & children, and special events, and be able to capture each personality in a fun and unique way. With my farm girl and 4-H background, I also have a love to photography the unique life of Agriculture: livestock shows, farms, livestock, farming, all of it. But, don’t just pigeonhole me there, I am always up for a challenge, & enjoy the opportunity to use my creativity to get that perfect shot.
So, you might be wondering, what is with this name? WaukAWay, pronounced "Walk A Way." That seems like a terrible name for starting out, right? Like, walk away from me. Wait! Please don’t! I promise, there is a great story to the name!
As I was starting my business, I was trying to conceptualize the perfect name. Something that encompasses everything that is me and what is important. To start, I had to get to the basics, ‘What are my core passions?’ The list was pretty easy, Faith, Family, Friends, and Agriculture. When I started dabbling in portrait photography in 2012, I took my stepdaughters pictures at my grandfather’s farm, The Farm’s name was WaukAWay. In the late 50s early 60s my grandfather, Doc, purchased a farm, bordering the Wakarusa River south of Lawrence. In this moment in time, Lawrence was a small town, and the farm was quite the drive from the center of town. When the farm was on the market, for one reason or another, it did not grab much attention from potential buyers, and seemingly most potential owners, would just "walk a way." Except Doc, he knew the true beauty and worth of this land, and it wasn’t long before it became the Wempe Family Homestead, the epicenter for all Wempe Family Gatherings when I grew up. Since the property borders the Wakarusa River, Doc & his family named the farm, with a nod to the river, and a nod to the legend: Wauk A Way.
Wauk A Way Photography couldn’t be a more perfect fit for a name for my business. My grandfather’s farm has always been a place of love, family, and for me: peace and serenity, all of my passions, and truly my favorite place on earth. And Just as Doc took a chance on this property, I took a chance on me and my talents. I really don't know of a better choice.
Thank you for joining me on this journey, I am looking forward to one heck of a ride.
Love and blessings,
Kris
