Come celebrate life, savor sacred moments, and grow in love. 

THE JOURNAL

the JOURNAL

A few months ago I got an itch to travel. Something in my soul needed time away. I really wanted a change. I needed to see new things, smell new smells, and ultimately get a fresh perspective. I ask Niko to entertain the idea of taking a short birthday trip and to my delight, he […]

Our Trip to San Francisco

San_Francisco_IG_Kate_Mannella_Photography

3/13/20

Personal

I may be the face and name of this photography business but Kate Mannella Photography has always been a team. There is no way I could run this monster without my husband and because it’s Valentine’s Day, it seemed like the perfect time to share the impact Niko has on what we do.   Five […]

The Secret Sauce of Kate Mannella Photography

2/13/20

Personal

I often get asked for advice about how to keep a marriage healthy. I meet a lot of newly engaged couples, and I’m always delighted when that question is asked. It’s so encouraging when a couple is proactive about building a strong marriage before their wedding day. Niko and I have only been married for […]

10 Hard Lessons I Learned About Maintaining a Healthy Marriage

4/19/19

Personal

I’m restless. Eyes open. Heart Fluttering. Brain moving a mile a minute. This is my normal. I’m a thinker, a dreamer, and a planner. While my husband surrenders to dreamland, I lay beside him dreaming awake. It’s just what I do. Last May I wrote a blog post called Waiting Well. In the post I […]

Waiting Well: Part Two

1/26/18

Personal

I love reading, but I’ve never had a reading goal until 2017. I thought I’d start out slowly, giving myself an attainable goal. I hoped to read 15 books last year. It was surprisingly easy. I didn’t make reading a priority. I just read when I wanted to. If you love reading and are looking […]

My Five Favorite Books of 2017

1/04/18

Personal

“Does the New Year mean anything to you?” Niko called to me from the kitchen while I watched the news in the living room. “What do you mean?” I asked in a less than pleasant tone. I knew what he meant. For the past couple days I was showing symptoms of growing frustration and he […]

My 2018 Word of the Year

1/01/18

Personal

I fell in love with my husband during our first date as an official dating couple. I know what you’re going to say… “That’s too early to fall in love with someone,” but since we are approaching the anniversary of that day, let me tell you how it went down.

The Night I Knew I Met My Future Husband

5/15/17

Personal

As I write this, I’m sitting in bed with a sleepy husband dozing beside me. I know I should be sleeping too but, as a creative and an internal processor, you just can’t predict when the call to write is going to sneak up on you. I’ve learned by now when you feel the urge to write, you don’t ask questions. You stop whatever you’re doing and write.

Waiting Well

5/10/17

Personal