Utah Fun

We are going out of town once again...so I have been working a TON trying to get all of my Utah pictures finished! Here you go...

A few more samples...

I know. I know. I shouldn't post just one picture of each family...but when I get pictures out of the camera I have a few favorites...and I want to get started on them right away! Here are two more shoots that should be up in the next few weeks. The first is one girl of a set of twins...trying to chase around two two-year-olds was quite the task, but I think we ended up with some adorable shots!

And then I just did a cute family today...thankfully the rain stopped when we took pictures and waited until we were done.

Feast or Famine

We are finally back home! I love trips...it's mostly the traveling part I don't like and thankfully Preston was pretty good for me on the plane ride home. Also lucky for me, I had a patient neighbor who didn't care if Preston was all over the place! And he was.

We had a jam packed trip, full of friends, family...and lots of pictures! So here is a small look at several of the families and kiddos I got to work with.









This last one...I didn't do a wedding...just took pictures of my sister-in-law's amazing cake!



Keep an eye out...there will be more soon!!

Thanks to all I was able to work with out in Utah! I had fun and you are all such good looking folks :)

Salt Lake City!

I am going to be in the Salt Lake and Provo areas next week. If anyone is interested in a session let me know! E-mail me or leave a comment.

More Secrets

I've been receiving a few questions in my comment section so I figure I should probably answer some of them! I learned most everything I know about Photoshop from other people's blogs so why not share the knowledge?

Q: How did you make your header?
A: Actually, it was pretty simple...way easier than I thought!I found a tutorial from a scrapbook website. Here is the tutorial I followed. CLICK HERE.

Q: What filters do you use?
A: On my camera the only filter I use currently is a skylight filter, mainly to protect my lens. In Photoshop I use a lot of different things...each photo is so different and I end up doing several random things to get the look I want. Sometimes I know the look I want I just can't figure out how to get it and that's when Google comes in handy :) One of the most useful things I have learned is how to use layers, blending modes, and layer masks. Here is an example using gradient mapping and blending modes. (Click on pictures to enlarge)

1. Open file. Choose the gradient map button in CS4 OR choose Layers>duplicate layer and hit Okay. Then go to Image>Adjustments> Gradient Map...

2. Choose one of the preset gradients or create your own by double clicking the little house shaped arrows at the end of the colored bar (two green arrows are pointing to them...) and choose your own colors. Generally you want the darker color to be on the left. You can also click anywhere in the middle of the gradient bar and add as many other colors as you want. Your picture should change as you choose your colors. Click okay when finished.

3. Then go to the blending modes.

4. I usually use "soft light" or "overlay" but you can play around with all of them and see which one you like best. If it is too much, to the right of the blending mode menu you can change the opacity of that layer, or the fill, and it will tone it down.

And VOILA! Subtle, but big difference...to me anyway.

Was that confusing? Let me know if anyone needs clarifying. When you start learning all your options in Photoshop it seems they are endless! *This can also be done in Photoshop Elements.

Q: Where is your favorite spot to take pictures?
A: I love old Folsom. You have old buildings plus the river...beautiful bridges. It's awesome. I would also LOVE to shoot a family (like with a camera...not a gun) in down town Auburn, Empire Mine in Grass Valley, and in an orchard or vinyard (perhaps Apple Hill...) If anyone is interested and doesn't mind a teensy drive...

Q: Did you take photography classes or did you just learn it all on your own?
A: I took film photography in high school and then I took another class in college. Having a basic understanding of light, aperature, shutter speed, ISO, etc. has been VERY useful. Most of the post production work (i.e. photoshop) I learned on my own and also from a very talented photographer I know...I'm glad she's willing to share some info!!

Down Town Auburn

I took a class through Placer County adult education today...it was a photo shoot through down town Auburn...which is a beautiful little mining town in the foothills. I wouldn't mind living there! My assigned color to shoot for the first part of the day was red...it was amazing how much more I saw and noticed when I had an assignment. So I took a bunch of random pictures of red objects...and a few other things I found interesting. I am pretty excited to work on these...so here are a few from the day!

Our Fun Friends

My handsome husband snapped most of these shots...isn't he talented? Oh, he is.
And these are our friends. They're great. We like them.

And of course...another handsome man.

Some Re-Edits

As I have been learning more and more and am currently working on a new site I've been re-editing a lot of older pictures. So I thought I would post some of them... It's been pretty rainy lately, a great blessing for California...but not so much for photographing...but that's ok.

I'm not going to post before and afters...that's just too much effort...I've got laundry and lots of mom things to do! So if you feel like looking through the old posts, you'll find them all there...only if you're super bored...

AND if you see one that is yours and you want it. Let me know. I'll e-mail it to you.

Happy February

I know...It's been awhile since I've posted anything...I'm working on it! I am actually working on getting a website up at some point in the near future. So...I've been trying to get all my photos together and re-edit some of the older ones. Pretty exciting...I might just feel like a real photographer :) I have a few fun things lined up in the next couple months so I'm excited to started shooting and posting!

Thanks to all who keep coming to browse and leave comments...you really do help me to keep going! I hope you're all having a good February...and spring is just around the corner (when I was a kid I used to go looking around every corner when people said that...haha...) I'm excited for green grass and flowers!

Bug Collector

Yesterday Preston and I discovered our side yard is full of flowery weeds...which are covered in ladybugs!! How does he know he likes bugs? Boys must seriously be born knowing they like dirt, bugs, fire, toys...etc. etc. He had fun until he started trying to whack the poor bugs with a stick. Then mom put an end to his fun.

And yes, one more.

Here we go. One more of Tim and Jami! I know those of us who know them, and even many who don't, have no problem looking at their lovely faces again and again :)
ALSO...I've included a lovely watermark...one step closer to looking like I know what I'm doing!