Luke

I took some pictures of my friends 3 month old the other day, and I thought they turned out so cute! Here are some of my favorite! We had such a hard time getting him to smile, so there were not too many smiles, but the ones we got sure were great!! Here is a quick peek! Some of them are the same pic, just black and white or color.

Blurb book contest-I heart faces!

So I am by no means at all a professional, but I do occasionally get paid for my pictures. So, following the rules, I will be entering this picture in with the pros! I am not expecting to win, but I just like entering and getting some feedback on my pics!

It was so hard to choose this week, but I finally decided on this one.

This picture was taken about a month ago. I don't remember why I had my camera with me when I went to get Sydney up from her nap, but I did. I don't remember why she was crying either, but I loved her face and the little tear stuck on her cheek! She is such a doll, even when she is crying! This became one of my favorite pictures! I couldn't decide between color and black and white, but I must be in a black and white phase, because it just looked better to me!!

So head on over to I heart faces to see some awesome pictures!! Or, click on the button!

"I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb Book photo contest. I am granting I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites."

Laughter over at I heart faces!

Thanks to all those that left comments for feedback friday! I appreciate the help!

Now for this weeks I heart faces pictures. This week the theme is laughter, and I could think of too many laughing pictures! It was hard to choose, but in the end I chose these!

This first one is of Sydney playing outside on Brevan's 4wheeler. She turned to laugh at something Madi was doing, and I thought she looked so darn cute!! So here is my child entry!

The next one is of my aunt and uncles family! We were doing family pics for my grandma and grandpa's 50th anniversary. They were sitting and standing when all of a sudden my uncle started to lean backward and fall. It was like dominos as everyone tumbled over except the 2 on the end! It was hilarious! I love the expression on Shea's(far right), as his wife grabs on to him to try and stop herself. And Mac (middle), as he is watching his daughter lay flat on the ground as Laurie (far left) is watching her doubled over in laughter! The rest of the shoot they couldn't stop laughing! We had a great time that day! So, here is my adult entry!

I love these contests; they make you focus on more than just a smile or serious face. It helps you recognize how wonderful each different face is and all the expressions that go with it! So, I have a great time entering and focusing on different things each week! These contests are for everyone, and it is fun to see each entry! So head on over there by clicking on the link or the button!

Constructive feedback Friday!

This week over at I heart faces, it is constructive feedback friday! I was hoping I could get in on this, because I always need a little help. I'm really just starting to realize all that my photo elements can do, and I am excited to learn new things too! So hopefully this will help me out a little bit! Any of my regular readers, don't get upset when people start tearing my picture down! haha...

Here is the original photo. I love this picture of Madisyn, I just don't love how bright it is in the face on the one side, and so dark on the other. I want to be able to pop the eyes, and make the skin tone a little more even. Is there a way to do that? I'm sure this is probably one of the easiest fixes, but I don't know it, so any help would be great. Any other suggestions too!
The exposure is 1/250
ISO 200
Shutter 1/256
Aperature f/7.0
no flash
focal length 76 mm
I use a canon xsi, with a 70-300 mm lens. I have just begun trying to decide which new lens to get that would be better for portraiture. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I have been thinking about the canon 50 mm 1.4 lens. If you have any feedback on that, feel free to include it.
I guess I could have used a fill flash, but I've been trying to not always use it.
Here is my fix. But now I have a highlight right under the eye. All I did on this was dodge a little on the right side of the pic, brightened the eye, and then did a gaussian blur and vignette around the edges, feathering the edges of those. I like it better, but it is still to bright for me. Thanks for any tips, feedback, etc. I appreciate them all and won't be offended for feeling stupid about knowing how easy this fix is.... just kidding! Thanks for all the advice!
Okay, I'm supposed to put the special button for contructive feedback friday on here, but I can't find the info to have it a button, so I will just post the picture, and here is the link to see more entries! I heart faces
Go check it out!

Week 17 at I heart faces!

Over at I heart faces this week, it is a hat theme! I knew instantly what photo I wanted to enter for the adults, but I've had a hard time choosing with the kids!
But, here it is.... This is Sydney when she was about 9 months old! I love this picture of her! She has the biggest cheese, and that one little tooth! I think I put too much of a blur on it, but I still love her face!

This photo for the adults is of my older brother, Jarad! He has downs syndrome and is 31 years old. He is such an example to me. He is the kindest, sweetest, cutest guy I know! We all love him dearly and can't imagine what our lives would be like without him in it. He loves his cowboy hat and his guitar. He sits and plays along and sings and he listens to his favorite singer in the world, Elvis Presley! Jarad loves to sing and do the hip movements as he watches or listens! It is so cute! Anyways, he wanted to have some pictures done a few months ago for my grandma and grandpa! So we went out and took them. I love this picture because it shows his true nature; kind, soft and cuddly, and ever so sweet!
I'd love some feedback on these pictures so that I can improve. I can't decide on the vignette, any suggestions to make this picture better would be awesome!
Head on over to I heart faces to see some more great pictures!! There are some really cute ones! Or just click on the button below.