Finally posting for Marjie!

So, this week has been crazy!  My computer has finally died... that being said, I had to borrow my mothers laptop later in the week so that I could even work on some of these pics!  So, I am really sorry for taking so long!  Here are a few of the shots that I have been able to finish, and a few more that I haven't touched yet!  I had a lot of fun with the girls, they kept me on my feet the whole time!  They wanted to pose all over the place and they each had their own fun personalities!

Candid at I heart Faces

This is a fun week over at I heart Faces! Everyone should head over there and check out the fun entries! 

I took some pictures for my mom's friend this week.  This picture just made me laugh!  I loved it when I saw it.  The little girl is only a year old, and her mom was trying to get her to stand for a picture.  She had her apple in one hand (she wouldn't let go of it the whole photo shoot), and was trying to tell her mom she wasn't happy about this situation!  It was hilarious!  We had a good time, and here is my picture for candid week!

Head on over and check out the other great entries!

I heart Faces- Contemplative

This week at I Heart Faces, the challenge is Contemplative.  At first I was thinking I really didn't have anything that fit this category, but then I came across this photo of Madisyn after we got through taking some pics yesterday!  Whoa, that was a long sentance. I love the look in her eyes and the way the wind is blowing her hair. I love the soft colors and the way the purple accents her eyes!  And this outift, is seriously my new favorite of hers!  Anyways, here is a contemplative look through Madisyn's eyes, I really do wonder what she was thinking about.

 

Collage of Brevan's First Day of School!

I finally finished this collage of Brevan's First day of school.  If only I would do everything this fast and not procrastinate, things might get done!  He had a fun day, and I think it will be good for him to have something else to do besides stay home with me and the girls! 

Head on over to I heart Faces to see some other great collages!

Back to School at I heart faces!

I had to wait until today to take Brevan's back to school pics, and then we only had a few minutes since Madi was up sick the night before!  So we were rushed, but I love this pic of Brevan and his cute little smirk! 

So here is Brevan on his first day of preschool!  Head on over to I heart Faces to see some other fun entries!

Fix it Friday!

This is such a cute picture!  I can't believe how long his eyelashes are... how unfair is that!  Just kidding!  I was working on this picture and I was thinking about all that I have learned just from this website, I heart Faces.  Maybe not all that I have learned is right from them, but they have connected me with other sites that have helped me learn!  I appreciate that and am thankful for it!  Here is the original!  Isn't he adorable!

here are my fixes.  I mainly played with levels, hue and saturation, did a levels vignette, and did a screen layer.  Then for the black and white I did a gradiant map, did a screen layer, and a soft light layer, and then added a chocolate layer.  Then on the some color one, I used Coffeeshops Chocolate BW and lowered the black and white layer!

And that's all folks!  I had fun with this one!

Before and After at I heart Faces

This challenge has been kind of fun!  I started looking at all my old pictures and had a great time critiquing my photos!  I made all the same beginner errors, and sometimes still do, that most beginners do.  I used a flash all the time, centered the pictures, took shots from awkward angles, didn't get close enough, etc. etc.!!  I know I am by no means a professional yet, and my journey has been slow, but... I do believe I am getting better.   And, not only at taking the pictures, but at editing the pictures!  Although I made some dreadful errors in that category too, I won't get into that though!  Needless to say, I have improved, and I am grateful to I heart faces for the fun challenges and techniques that make me focus on things I might not think of!  I have had a great time participating, even when you don't win.  I hope I can keep improving and getting to a point that I will be happy with!

So... I really started becoming involved in photography in college, 2001-2002.  But... I didn't really do anything to get better at it.  I took our family pics every once in a while, and sometimes for others.  I did a few engagement pics for friends and family, and I took some of my kids.  But... I didn't really get all gungho about it until Madisyn was born.  I had finally gotten a SLR camera and we had just moved into our own house.  We have the wood floors and wide open windows in the kitchen.  I started noticing the natural light more and even though I still shot in auto, I could tell a difference in my shots even then!  I was still using flash, but then finally started moving away from that.  Then, I got some studio lights so that I could do some pics in the house too.  I thought I was doing so well, but I still had a lot to improve on, and I am grateful for that.  This year I added a couple new lens's, and I have seen a ton of improvement in that too!  Now, I hope to start working towards always shooting in manual... that is my goal for the rest of the year, but it is something I am scared to take on for the fear of not getting great shots!  I guess I will have to learn sometime though! So... here are my before pics.

Still using the flash....

Just got lucky with this shot.

Can I leave any more clutter around?

What is up with the editing?  Didn't realize yet what could be done.

Love these two pics, just need to work on the lighting and making the eyes more the focus.

Learning to shoot with lights... still have a ways to go!

But... here are my after pics shot this month!

Love this pic of Raigan... I think I need to tone the skin softening down now that I see it on here.

These two were pretty much straight out of the camera... just a levels boost and contrast.

I am a long ways from becoming a professional, but I feel that my shots have improved quite a bit.  I hope that I can keep improving and working towards always making my shots something I will appreciate and love 10 years down the road!