today I get to shoot newborns...

...and I am so so so excited about it!

...like extremely excited about it, lol!!

Can't wait to get to work :)

Fix-It-Friday

You know, in the midst of trying to start the new year off right, I've been so busy playing catch-up from last year.  Seems a bit paradoxical, right?  Until I got this email in my inbox today saying...it's Fix-It-Friday in the I Heart Faces Community.  Fix-It-Friday?!  Oh yeah...I had completely forgotten about Fix-It-Friday's!!  So I decided to take a little time out of my morning & join in the challenge.  (I have learned SO much from participating in these...I think they're a wonderful idea!!)

So...here's the image we were given from Andrea Riley.  Thanks so much Andrea for letting us use your image!!

SOOC:

1st Edit {Color}

What I did:  First I changed the look of the photo by changing the angle & adjusting the scale. Next, I adjusted the levels a bit (upped the blacks) just to remove a bit of the hazy sooc look.  I cloned stamped a few small spots on her face & neck.  Then I added a very light peach overlay @ 24% just to warm & lighten her a little.  I then added a warming photo filter to bring out the lovely peachy tones in her skin & hair. I adjusted the curves to where I wanted the hi-lights & shadows to be, brightened it a little more, & then brightened her teeth & eyes.  Last, I added a little more blur to the edges of the photo to bring back more of a nostalgic look (average & gaussian blur completely off the face).  Used MCP's web sizing & sharpening actions to finish it off.  

2nd Edit {BW}

What I did:  I stared with the color edited image above.  First, I took the saturation out of it.  Then to create a little more depth in the photo,  I did a Screen layer & Multiply layer both @ 100% opacity & inverted.    To lighten parts of the photo, I used my brush & swept over different parts of her face, hair & the grass (brush @ 11% opacity).  Then I did the same on the Multiply layer for the places I wanted darker...like the edges & shadows in her hair.  Used MCP Actions for web sizing & sharpening again.  

Feel free to leave any tips or suggestions for making my edits even better.  I love trying to improve, so I'm all ears!! 

To download the image & join in the fun, go here.

Happy Friday folks!! 

Another shot...

...@ winning a Canon 5D Mk II!!

This time it's being offered over @ MCP Actions.  I LOVE MCP Actions & the wealth of knowledge offered on their site.  Here's the link to click if your interested in signing up for your shot to win:

MCP Canon Giveaway

Good Luck!

By the Book...

...it's the theme for this weeks photo challenge over at I Heart Faces.  And I knew just the picture I wanted to enter.  It's from a senior portrait session I did last fall...and my sweet senior loved to write.  So naturally, we took a pic with her writing notebook.  There are several that I loved from this session, but this is my fave.  For more fun entries, hop on over here!  

Give-away at My Four Hens Photography!!!

Oh, my!! Over on My Four Hens Photography, Sarah Cornish (owner & photographer) is graciously helping one special photographer out by giving away a FREE Canon 5D Mark II AND 2 hours of online mentoring!



Can you imagine winning this prize?  Literally, my insides are screaming...."random number drawer thingy...PICK ME!!!!!"

So, I thought I'd share the info with those who might be interested in trying for a chance to win.  Go check it out here & make sure to leave her some love for her generosity!  

Faithful Provision...

Last night I spent some time with my sister-in-law & another friend, and during the course of our time together our conversation turned to insurance, house payments, & all the fun other day to day expenses of life.  It got me thinking about how great God's provision has been for us over the last few years, 2011 especially.  So this morning I was thinking further on the subject (SCARY when I talk about thinking, I know)... and I was reminded of just how gracious He has been to us.  Even in the midst of quitting a full-time job in order to be around more, we have not "suffered" in the least.  My shopping habits have suffered greatly, lol, but in the reality of needs vs. wants...we've not suffered at all.  Every need that we've had has been met...and even a lot of our wants. 

How kind You have been to us Father, and for that kindness, we are extremely humbled & grateful.

10 You make springs gush forth in the valleys;

they flow between the hills;

11 they give drink to every beast of the field;

the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

12 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;

they sing among the branches.

13 From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.

14 You cause the grass to grow for the livestock 

and plants for man to cultivate,

that he may bring forth food from the earth

15 and wine to gladden the heart of man, 

oil to make his face shine

and bread to strengthen man's heart.

31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

may the Lord rejoice in His works,

32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,

who touches the mountains and they smoke!

33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; 

I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to Him, 

for I rejoice in the Lord.    

from Psalm 104  

It's time...

Can you believe we still have our Christmas stuff up in the house?  Yes, we're those people.  I think the Christmas season is so special to us and seems to go by so very fast...therefore we try to stretttccchhhhhh it out for as long as we can.  (Yes, I am fairly analytical in case you didn't know) But today I woke up & thought...it's time.  I can't take the decor anymore.  I need something new & fresh in our home NOW.

Browsing through Pintrest probably helped with this sudden inspiration.  I've been ready to redo somethings in our home anyway, so we'll see what I can come up with.  For now, I thought I'd reveal some of my inspirations...and they're Valentine's Day related ;)  Must be something about pink.  Are you itching for anything new in your house?

Source: marthastewart.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: scrapbooksetc.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: notonthehighstreet.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: sydddthekiddd.tumblr.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: stylemepretty.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Best Face 2011

Well, I can't take it any longer.  I've made my decision since this mornings earlier post.  So I'm going to go ahead & link up with the Best Face of 2011 challenge @ I Heart Faces.  And here she is... my best face from 2011.  

I picked this photo of Amy as my best from 2011 because each time I look at it I feel satisfied.  This picture captured exactly what I saw in Amy at that exact moment.  I am pleased with the exposure, the composition, the back lighting, the sharpness of her face...all of it.  It's complete.  So for me...this is my best face photo from 2011.  

Go on over to I Heart Faces to see more amazing entries from 2011.  I promise, you'll be inspired!! 

 

Hmmm... figuring out the best face 2011

I Heart Faces has started up their weekly photo challenges again & I thought I would enter another.  I love doing this!  It's so inspiring to see the work & talent of other folks around the world.  I mean, really...some of the work entered is AMAZING.  I just hope that one day my images will have the power to stop people in their tracks like some of these folks can.

This week's theme is best photo of 2011.  You're supposed to submit your favorite "face" photo that you took in 2011.   I'm having a hard time deciding which is my most favorite.  It's SO hard!!  Here are the one's I'm choosing from.  Come back later today to see which one I decide to enter ;)  

Taylor:

Ashten:

Braden:

Andy & Drew:

Kail: 

Lowell & Jordan:

Katherine: 

Martha: 

McKenzie:

Noah:

Mayci:

Micah & Mayci:

William & Kristen:

Lucy:

 Amy: 

 Or my sweet niece, Kenna:

I think I've narrowed it down to my top 3...now just to figure out the #1.  

Tuesday Tips & Pics - on Thursday

Well friends, the Christmas rush is over & the New Year has finally begun.  Things will slow down here for a bit as the colder months are upon us.  I'll use this time to do a little catching up on personal photos, things around the house, some reading, special projects, & some plain ol' soul searching.  I love new beginnings & the new year.  It's like it gives opportunity for a fresh start, every single year.  For me...this is the start of my 2nd year being at home full-time.  I am so so so thankful for that time.  I realize that not everyone is afforded such an opportunity, so from the bottom of my heart, Thank you Lord...I am truly grateful!  

With the new year, comes the opportunity for me to strive to hone my photography skills.  I enjoy taking photos themselves, but for me the true joy comes in the editing process.  I LOVE taking a photo & trying to make it what I "see" in my head.  Some people view it differently ... some feel that too much editing looses the truth of the photo.  And I could understand this point of view b/c it changes what was originally captured.  But I also think that the truth of the photo is in the mind of the one who captured it.  What is their purpose behind capturing this image, what is the point-of-view they're trying to expose?  So, I thought it might be fun to show some before & after pictures.  In doing this, I thought it might encourage you to think on the editing process & what it means to you.  By showing the pictures below, I'm not asking the question, "Which is better?"  I'm asking, "Do you experience the difference?"  I'm trying to set a different mood in the edited photo.  The first, SOOC (straight out of camera) displays exactly what I saw.  The second, my edited images, that express how I "felt" or what I "wanted to see" at the time.  They're a little less harsh, a little more dreamy.    See if you can detect the difference.   I would love your thoughts.

Here are the images.  Keep in mind they're not perfect...they were shot in a moving car, through the windows.

 Thoughts anyone?  I'm linking this up to Tuesday Tips & Pics - on Thursday, lol.   Excited to join in the fun!!

Little Noah

Yesterday I finished up this little boy's photo session from right before Christmas.  I ended up taking a break over Christmas, so when I finally got back in front of my computer screen to put his album together - it felt soooo good!!  I thought I'd share some of my favorites from his session.  His parents, plus his aunt & uncle came along, so we snagged a few of them as well.  Enjoy :)

Isn't that the sweetest face?!

Noah with Mom & Dad.

With aunt Mary & uncle Nick...and then...he fell asleep in the chair ;) 

Sleepy baby. 

Probably my two favorites.  

Mary & Nick || Mom & Dad

And finally..Merry Christmas everyone!