Mom Tried It

Daydream Believer

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:42:00 +0000

If you don’t have that song going through your head right now then you are officially too young. ;)

I took this photo of Charley this past week as she was just laying in the grass in our front yard. I got my camera out to take photos of my yucca in bloom. I just couldn’t resist capturing this. She didn’t even know I was there. She was just off in another world.

So I am sharing it for my sweet shot of the week.

Taken with Canon 7D, 55-250 IS lens at focal length of 70mm. Aperture: f/10 Shutter Speed: 1/100, ISO: 640. She was about 7 feet from me. It was about 7:30pm.

I have been in a big black and white mood lately. So just a warning. *wink*

Here is the SOOC (straight out of the camera shot) only resized and a watermark added. No editing done.

Yes, my little girl has pink streaks in her hair. Mommy dyed it with Kool Aid. We all just love it. Definitely fits her and shows her style.

P52: Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:58:00 +0000

I have lots of favorites. So I had no idea what to do this week. With three children you can’t exactly have a favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I have a special connection with each one that is so different and special, but no one is my favorite. Unless they are throwing a tantrum, then that child is my least favorite at that moment. ;) Yea, I said it. Ha Ha!

Here is a picture I took of my son with his two favorite swords. He was more than happy to show me what was his favorite. I even got a cool pose to go with the shot. What more could a mom photographer want.

Shot with my Canon 7D and my 55-250 lens. Aperture: f/5.6, shutter speed: 1/160, ISO: 640. Taken at 7:15 pm in my front yard as the sun was starting to set.

I got a suggestion to start sharing more before images. So here is my SOOC (watermark added, of course).

Join in the project 52 fun over at Kent Weakley’s site. He is totally awesome and you should check him out.

SHOOT.EDIT.SUBMIT. 05.25.12.

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:01:00 +0000

This week marks the one year anniversary of SHOOT.EDIT.SUBMIT. Misty started it and I came along a little later as a partner. Each week so many people share beautiful photos. It is a lot of fun to watch people grow and develop their style. I love seeing the same people each week and new faces.

We have an announcement this week. My co-host, Misty, is taking a break from blogging. So I will be hosting this contest by myself. I really wish Misty good luck and I pray for her. In case you didn’t know Misty is expecting baby #2 to go along with her toddler daughter. :) Fun and exciting times for her!

I hope you continue to join in (especially if you were joining in from Misty’s site). I love seeing your photos. Honestly, you inspire me every single week!

Now here are last week's winners!

Photo by Ansku

Oooh! Perfect photo to hang in your kitchen. Such vibrant colors! {Misty}

David R Wetzel Photography

The lighting and the lines and forms this image holds are just wonderful. {Kim}

Mrs Southern Bride

Such a gorgeous array of colors. Love the silhouette. in the foreground. Such serenity. {Misty}

Nature Photos by Mimi

Oh, if I had a transporter I would go here in a heartbeat. What a wonderful capture of an entire scene and it creates a mood so well. {Kim}

Congratulations, winners! Grab your button!

And this week's #1 winner is:

Pieces of Contentment

Wowza! Absolutely incredible. Perfect colors. Perfect lighting. Perfect composition. Well done! {Misty}

Congratulations on being chosen as this week's #1 photo. Grab your button! You will be in the running to win a fabulous prize at the end of the month.

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It is time for this week’s photos. Next week I will have a new button for you to grab.

Here is info about the contest:

1. Photos can be anything, there is never a theme. Even though the name is shoot, edit, submit you do not have to edit the photo. It can be SOOC (straight out of the camera). No theme, no real rules for type of photos.

2. Photo must be taken in the past week - I want you to get out with your camera!'

3. Only one entry per person, please.

4. "Shoot. Edit. Submit." button or a link back to this contest must be on your post in order for it to qualify.

5. Link only to your blog post not your main blog URL. That makes it so much easier for everyone to find your photo.

(If you submit a photo you are granting me permission to copy and paste it onto our blogs if you win.)

Online Photoshop Workshop Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:31:00 +0000

I am sure you all know about the Photoshop Workshop I announced recently. I have a workshop scheduled for May, June, and July. I also plan on offering more after that. I am really excited about sharing information I have learned about Photoshop along with an easy to follow workflow.

While there are workshops out there for hundreds of dollars, I wanted to offer one at an affordable price. I also know that at $75 it isn’t in everyone’s budget, either. So I will offer a free seat each month. Just enter below.

Click to find out more about the Photoshop Workshop including dates and times.

Below is an embedded Rafflecopter grid. You may have to visit the page directly if viewing in a reader or by email. Please click over and enter. I would love to see you win and see you at a workshop.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo Feedback: Week 15

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Is it really week 15 of this? I know a lot of people are not really joining in. I was hoping by this time more people would be. I know there are forums (most cost money) and communities that have places for critiquing, but I thought right here on the blogs would encourage people to join in more. Not only are people not linking up a photo, but they are not leaving feedback. :( The participation is low right now and I have no idea what I plan on doing about it or with this critiquing link up.

But enough of that. On with the show! :P I am such a dork. I know I am, so that makes it okay. Right?

I took this photo yesterday in my neighbors yard. We were chatting while my kids were playing with her grandkids. I had my camera with me and asked if I could take some shots of her lovely flowers. I will share more of them soon, but here is this one for right now.

Shot with my Canon 7D, Canon 50mm 1.8 lens. I had my macro attachments +1 and +2 on together. Aperture: f/4.5, Shutter Speed: 1/1000, ISO: 250. It was very bright at 2pm and the flowers were under the shade of a tree.

You can see the dappled light shining on the blossoms. Normally I hate dappled light, but I think it made this look more interesting.

Here are the guidelines for Photo Feedback:

The photo you submit must be your own.
The photo can be new or old, edited or SOOC, never a theme to adhere to.
When leaving feedback be sure to say something you like about the photo along with something you would suggest to improve the photo.
If you join in, please visit a couple of other participants too. They want feedback just like you do.
Please link back in your post with text or grab the button.
If you are going to have more than one photo in your blog post, please specify which photo you want critiqued.

The link up is live from Mondays (12:01 am) through Fridays (11:59 pm) CST. So you have lots of time to join us.

*The code for the blog hop is at the very bottom. This is a Blog Hop! That means the link up will show up in your blog too and your readers can join in without having to leave your page.

I am really looking forward to reading your feedback. Thank you for helping me get better. I am learning so much from you!

P52: Mothers

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

I haven’t done a Project 52 in a while. It always landed on the same day as SHOOT.EDIT.SUBMIT. so I was doing two posts in one day. Let’s face it, I can’t work at that level. You guys know my blogging habits better than that. ;)

Now that it is on Saturday, I am going to try to do it more often. So I am picking right back up with this week’s theme of Mothers.

This is my friend and her son. Aren’t they just so cute. She wasn’t too happy about the camera being aimed at her, but I think she is gorgeous.

Taken with my Canon 7D and 50mm 1.8 lens. Aperture: f/3.5, shutter speed:1/200 ISO:160 Very bright day at 2pm under the shade.

SHOOT.EDIT.SUBMIT. 05.18.12.

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Where oh where has Spring gone? I think it is still Spring and judging by everyone’s photos it still is in most places. But my kids are out of school this next week. Then Summer has started. I don’t care what the calendar says, Summer has started when school ends.
Here are the winner’s from last week…

Snippets form Springdale

I love how the light makes the petals glow. It almost looks like it is glowing from the inside. Fantastic. {Kim}

Light Impressions

Incredible DOF and such gorgeous details captured. {Misty}

Pieces of Contentment

You know I am a sucker for a bug. I really love the detail captured here. {Kim}

Marit

I love the contrasting colors and the composition. Well done. {Misty}

Congratulations to this week’s Top 5! Grab your button.

And this week’s winner is…

Jenny Rain Photography

Wow, just wow. She said views like this inspire her, well photos like this inspire me. Wonderfully done!! {Kim}
Congrats Jenny and grab your button.

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Well, it's time for you to submit your entries! Be sure to grab the button below to include on your post.
1. Photo must be taken this week.(Sat - Fri)
2. Only one entry per person.
3. "Shoot. Edit. Submit." button or a link back to this contest must be on your post in order for it to qualify.
4. Link only to your blog post not your main blog url.
(If you submit a photo you are granting us permission to copy and paste it onto our blogs if you win.)

Edit Me Challenge #20

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:16:00 +0000

Well I am joining in the Edit Me Challenge again. It is fun to play around with another person’s photo. You don’t have preconceived ideas about how it was supposed to look when you were taking it. You just get to see it and change it however you want.

I never think of it as a “fix this photo” or anything like that. Just put your twist or style to someone’s photo. You are only limited by your imagination.

You should really join in and have fun. Another reason you should join in is because I am giving away a seat to my workshop to one of the participants! I know you are excited, don’t try to hide it.

Here is the original photo shared over at Edit Me Challenge.

Here is my edit.

What I did:

Opened it with Adobe Camera Raw
Darkened shadows to –35
Darkened highlights to –27
Adjusted the temp to warm it up
Recovered some highlights

In Photoshop:

Cloned out the background to make it really smooth
Clone part of the bench leg to make it have a straight leg
Dodged and burned here and there
Added a texture in softlight blend mode at 22% opacity with layer mask over cat at 45% brush opacity.
Converted to black and white
Bumped the contrast up a tad
Added a duplicate layer in multiply blend mode to make the custom vignette. You can find out how to do a custom vignette here.
Sharpened/optimized and saved for web.

So the original photographer may hate it, but it is what I did as I felt it. Looking at it now I would like to re-edit it, but I think that about every single one of my shots. I am never ever completely happy. Are you like that too?

How to Add Lens Flare to Your Photos with Photoshop

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:26:00 +0000

Do you love how cool a lens flare looks in a photo? It is very hard to capture in camera, though. It can be done, but sometimes it is too much or not right, or you have to invest in a certain filter to do it how you want it.

Many people in photography will totally disagree with me here, but right now I prefer to add it in post processing. Oh the photography purists are freaking out (well stop reading here then). If a lens flare is done incorrectly in camera it could ruin a perfectly good shot. So here is how to add a lens flare in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements without buying anyone’s actions or overlays.

Here is my photo. I would like to show you how to add a lens flare to it.

Now to add the lens flare you simply open your photo in Photoshop or PSE (Photoshop Elements). You ALWAYS want to do this in a duplicate layer. So press CTRL+J (COMMAND+J for Macs) to create a new layer. On your top menu bar click on “Filter”. Then click on “Render”. Now click on “Lens Flare”. It is that easy!

A window will now pop up that looks like this…

Simply drag the tiny little cursor to where you want the lens flare to be on your photo. Now select the type of flare you want and then adjust the brightness. After you have made your choice hit OK. You are set. If you decide it is a little too much you can just adjust the layer opacity in your layers panel (another benefit of doing it in a separate layer and not straight on the photo).

Want to see the differences in the types of lens flare? Here you go! Play around with the brightness levels to get your desired result.

This is the “50-300mm Zoom” at 100% brightness.

This is the “35mm Prime” at 100% brightness.

This is the “105mm Prime” at 100% brightness.

This is the “Movie Prime” at 100% brightness. It may be hard to see in this image, but it adds little light streaks as well.

So now you have a super easy way to add lens flare that is completely controllable (not that I have control issues or anything). If you have any questions about this, please feel free to email me at momtriedit@gmail.com. If you enjoyed this tutorial you may be interested in my workshop. I do go through this in the workshop along with so many other things for Photoshop and PSE. You can find more information here about my Photoshop and PSE Workshop.

Joining in over at Jaymi’s blog for Tips and Pics. :)

Photo Feedback: Week 14

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a great weekend. My weekend was full of stuff. I haven’t been shooting as much as I would like lately (for me shooting, that is). So I busted out a photo from the archives and edited it really quickly.

I took this one last October and kept it hoping to get around to editing it. Well here we are in the middle of May and I finally am. I know you are the same way (please tell me you are). ;)

Shot with my Canon 7D and 50mm 1.8 lens. My macro attachments were added on. I had my +2 attachment on. Aperture: f/7.1 (doesn’t really matter with the macro attachments, as you can see), Shutter speed: 1/160, ISO: 100

Here are the guidelines for Photo Feedback:

The photo you submit must be your own.
The photo can be new or old, edited or SOOC, never a theme to adhere to.
When leaving feedback be sure to say something you like about the photo along with something you would suggest to improve the photo.
If you join in, please visit a couple of other participants too. They want feedback just like you do.
Please link back in your post with text or grab the button.
If you are going to have more than one photo in your blog post, please specify which photo you want critiqued.

The link up is live from Mondays (12:01 am) through Fridays (11:59 pm) CST. So you have lots of time to join us.

*The code for the blog hop is at the very bottom. This is a Blog Hop! That means the link up will show up in your blog too and your readers can join in without having to leave your page.

I am really looking forward to reading your feedback. Thank you for helping me get better. I am learning so much from you!

SHOOT.EDIT.SUBMIT. 05.11.12.

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a great weekend and lots of fun. I can’t wait to see the things you have been shooting this week! Here are the winner’s from last week’s submissions.

Photo by Ansku

The lighting is spot on perfect in this photo drawing your eye to the subject. Gorgeous! {Misty}

Pieces of Contentment

The detail on this shot blew me away. So soft and delicate, yet still so crisp and sharp. {Kim}

The Greatest of These is Love

Such beautiful clarity and amazing capture of the beautiful details. {Misty}

Snippets from Springdale

Simply wonderful! Look at how it is glowing. {Kim}

Congratulations, winners! Grab your button!

And this week's #1 winner is:

Mimin Luontokuvia

This photo just popped out at me when I opened the link. Amazing details and incredible capture of light and color. {Misty}

Congratulations on being chosen as this week's #1 photo. Grab your button! You will be in the running to win a fabulous prize at the end of the month.

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Well, it's time for you to submit your entries! Be sure to grab the button below to include on your post.

1. Photo must be taken this week.(Sat - Fri)

2. Only one entry per person.

3. "Shoot. Edit. Submit." button or a link back to this contest must be on your post in order for it to qualify.

4. Link only to your blog post not your main blog url.

(If you submit a photo you are granting us permission to copy and paste it onto our blogs if you win.)

Edit Me Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:40:00 +0000

It has been forever since I have joined in the Edit Me Challenge. I always mean to and then something happens. So here I am, woohoo!

Here is the original I downloaded to participate.

Here are my edits.

I am submitting the color version for the challenge. Here are my steps.

I did a very slight crop
I removed the tree from the background using the clone tool
I sharpened the image
I did an exposure adjustment and a brightness adjustment
I did an additional layer in multiply blend mode and layer masked it only on the dress at 50%
I dodged and burned
I did a levels adjustment to add contrast
For the black and white edit I converted to black and white and then added a peach colored layer at 20% opacity to warm it up

Head over to Edit Me Challenge and download the photo and put your spin on it. It is pretty fun.

Hey Girl!

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:43:00 +0000

This month’s theme for the I Heart Faces challenge is “Hey Girl!” SO I just had to share this shot of my niece that I took. You may have seen in my Project 52 post, but I knew I wanted to link up this photo of her.

Shot with my Canon 7D and 50mm 1.8 lens. Aperture f/2.5, shutter speed 1/250, ISO 100, spot metering (metered to skin). Taken at about 6:30 pm on a sunny evening in the shade.

How to Process Photos for the Internet

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

I share a lot of images on my site. I want my photos to look decent for the internet, but I had trouble with my photos keeping consistency as I was loading them in my posts (either from LiveWriter or the blog dashboard). I researched and found a few tutorials. Of course I found many that had crazy long ways of doing things. Most tutorials just linked to actions. Please can someone just teach you how to do something without trying to sell an action?!

So here you go. How to make your photos ready and optimized for the internet.

Start with your photo. Edit it all the way through and save. Now you want to process for the internet and save for the internet. This needs to be different because the internet will adjust some of your saturation and sharpness.

Adjust the Size of Your Photo

Go to the Image tab at the top of your screen and click. Then go down until you see Image Size and click. You can also just press CTRL+ALT+I at the same time (COMMAND+OPTION+I for Macs).

This screen will appear. You can adjust your pixels, but I like to stick with measurement I know readily in my head. So I adjust the inches. I like to make my photos 4x6. At this point you can choose your resolution or ppi (pixels per inch). For print you want your photos at 300 ppi. Your image is probably already at 240 ppi by default. For the internet you can change it to 72 or 100 ppi.

I like to keep mine at 240 because I don’t want mine to look pixely. But that is totally up to you. Choosing 240 ppi also makes your image larger in size so it takes a little longer to download.

*Be sure to keep proportion constraints on. You don’t want to mess up the photo.

Adjusting Your Color Saturation for Web

You will want to adjust your color saturation for the web, too. Have you ever noticed your images look drained or muted sometimes on the internet? This will prevent that.

You can look to your right side of the screen at your adjustments panel. If you hover your mouse over them you will see the name for each one, but the HUE/SATURATION adjustment layer is on the second row and is the second icon. You can also access this adjustment layer by clicking on the circle that is half black and half white located under your layers panel at the bottom of the screen. You Simply click that icon and a list pops up. Select the HUE/SATURATION.

Now a new layer will appear and you will see this in your adjustments panel. Simply slide the “Saturation” bar over until you reach +8. No need to adjust anything else here.

Watermark your Photo

In this day and age with Pinterest, facebook, and twitter you want to make sure you watermark your image. Many people do not do this and that it totally fine. I don’t know about you, but I put a lot of effort into taking and editing my photos. While a watermark won’t stop people from “stealing” images, it is a deterrent. I like to watermark my photos so people know where they came from. Since I worked hard and put effort into my photos I should get the credit. That is just how I feel, though. Your photo, your blog, your call. ;) You can find my tutorial on how to add a watermark or my tutorial on how to make a watermark.

Flatten or Merge Your Layers

At this point you will want to flatten or merge your layers. Since all of your layers are visible and you didn’t unclick any to hide them, you can just press CTRL+SHIFT+E (COMMAND+SHIFT+E for Macs).

Sharpening Your Image

You want your photo to be nice and sharp for the web. The easiest way and my favorite is to do a unsharp mask. Did your eyes just glaze over? It’s okay. you know I am going to walk you through it step by step. ;)

Go to Filter, then Sharpen, then Unsharp Mask. Yes, it is that easy.

Now enter these settings: Amount: 50%, Radius: 4.3 pixels, Threshold: 7 levels. The click OK. You are sharpened!

Saving for Internet and Devices

Now this is easy, too. Just follow the steps and decide what you want to share.

Go to File, then go to Save for Web & Devices or press ALT+SHIFT+CTRL+S (OPTION+SHIFT+COMMAND+S for Macs).

A screen will pop up like this. Make sure are clicked on Optimized and Convert to sRGB (there are red asterisks there in the above photo).

You will see I have an arrow pointing to Metadata. You can click this and a drop down menu appears. You can choose what information you want to share about your image. You can have all of it, just the copyright information (assuming you have that set in your camera), or just your contact information (if you have that set as well). All of this is totally up to you.

Under Image Size this is where you can change the image more to suit your blog better. Some blogs can only handle 400-600 pixels wide. I would stay within this range unless you know your blog is capable of going higher.

Now click Save. Another screen will come up asking you what file anme and where you want to save it.

Now you are done and ready to upload to the internet!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. I cover this and much, much more in my workshop, too.

Linking up to Jaymi’s blog for Tips and Pics.

Photo Feedback: Week 13

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:07:00 +0000

I don’t know about you but my weekend went by in a whirlwind. Time for another edition of photo feedback. I will share about this again. I think that bloggers are wonderfully supportive, but to get better with your photography you need honest feedback. Something better than “Nice shot.” I don’t think you should have to pay to get your photo critiqued, either (have you seen that site?)

I honestly believe that critiquing others’ photography helps you. Yep, you read that right. Looking at others’ work and seeing things about it like what you like and what you don’t trains your eye. So when you are behind your lens you will see those same things. You will also hear critiques of your images in your head as you line up a shot or edit it. It is very, very helpful. So I encourage you to join in. We don’t bite, I promise. ;)

I thought this week I would share my SOOC (straight out of the camera) and my edited shot.

I took this shot while waiting for a client this weekend at the park. I got there early to scout out spots. It was 2 pm and over 90 degrees. I knew I was going to have to work fast for a photo session with three young boys. I noticed this grill and it reminded me of the grills at the park when I was little. It just epitomized summer to me. So I had to take a shot of it.

SOOC

Edited (took a little less than 5 minutes)

Shot with my Canon 7D and my 50mm 1.8 lens. Aperture: f/2.5, Shutter speed: 1/800, ISO: 160.

Here are the guidelines for Photo Feedback:

The photo you submit must be your own.
The photo can be new or old, edited or SOOC, never a theme to adhere to.
When leaving feedback be sure to say something you like about the photo along with something you would suggest to improve the photo.
If you join in, please visit a couple of other participants too. They want feedback just like you do.
Please link back in your post with text or grab the button.
If you are going to have more than one photo in your blog post, please specify which photo you want critiqued.

The link up is live from Mondays (12:01 am) through Fridays (11:59 pm) CST. So you have lots of time to join us.

*The code for the blog hop is at the very bottom. This is a Blog Hop! That means the link up will show up in your blog too and your readers can join in without having to leave your page.

I am really looking forward to reading your feedback. Thank you for helping me get better. I am learning so much from you!

SHOOT.EDIT.SUBMIT. 05.04.12.

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Are you guys ready to rock May? I am so excited to see the photos that you share this week. I know I say this,but every week you inspire me to grab my camera and take some shots. So now to check out this week's winners!

Everyday Introspection

I know most of you may not like snakes (I like them), but even if you don't you have to admit that this is a cool photo. The composition is great! {Kim}

Pieces of Contentment

Crazy insane macro! Such amazing detail and great color! {Misty}

Serenity You

I really love the perspective of this shot. It looks like it should be on the wall of a little boutique. {Kim}

Homesick Photographs & Memories

I love the busyness of the flowers and the contrasting colors are so eye catching! {Misty}

Congratulations, winners! Grab your button!

And this week's #1 winner is:

Blog for Photos

Ah, HDR shots...I simply adore them. This is just so beautiful. I love the composition, the colors, and the clarity. Amazing! {Kim}

Congratulations on being chosen as this week's #1 photo. Grab your button! You will be in the running to win a fabulous prize at the end of the month.

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Well, it's time for you to submit your entries! Be sure to grab the button below to include on your post.

1. Photo must be taken this week.(Sat - Fri)

2. Only one entry per person.

3. "Shoot. Edit. Submit." button or a link back to this contest must be on your post in order for it to qualify.

4. Link only to your blog post not your main blog url.

(If you submit a photo you are granting us permission to copy and paste it onto our blogs if you win.)

April Overall Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:44:00 +0000

With 64.86% of the votes...

Seeing Beauty by Amanda

Congratulations, Amanda! Your photo was voted Favorite Photo of the Month of April! Your photo will be featured on the side bar of both blogs the entire month of May as a free ad spot for your blog. Plus you have won your choice of a texture bundle from Kristy at Life-n-Reflection! I will be contacting you and Kristy soon so you can claim your prize. Congratulations on the much deserved win!

If you would like to grab a button for bragging rights, you will find it below.

Online Workshop for Photoshop and PSE

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:21:00 +0000

Have you ever spent hours on Photoshop or PSE (Photoshop Elements) trying different actions hoping for a specific result? You run an action, then adjust levels hoping to tweak it how you want it to look and still it isn't quite what you were wanting. It is like throwing darts blindfolded hoping to hit a bulls eye.

Have you ever thought of taking a workshop or mentoring session, but got floored by the amount they charged? Some of those prices are "new lens" prices! Yes, I gauge things by the cost of photography equipment. I know I need help. ;)

Books don't quite do it because you are too busy reading, then looking up at your screen. Not to mention they are usually written by an expert that doesn't use any terminology you are familiar with. Online tutorials and videos are great, but you only get sections of the process.

So how are you supposed to learn Photoshop?

Well, I would like to suggest you spend some time with me. :) I am doing online workshops that will help you understand Photoshop (and Photoshop Elements) in simple terms. That is how I have to learn it and process it, simply.

What You Get

If you decide to take my workshop you will simply purchase it below by selecting the date you would like. I will email you within 24 hours to confirm your registration and thank you for joining me. Then the day before the workshop I will email you a reminder (because it is easy to forget things sometimes, I know that). A few minutes before the workshop begins you will be emailed a link to join me.

During the workshop you will see my screen as I go through editing steps. You will get to watch everything step by step. You will also hear me talk (oh poor you) as I explain things. You can type in any questions you would like and I will answer them. The workshop is guaranteed to be 2 hours. It will likely go longer depending on questions asked, but I know not everyone has hours and hours of free time.

What is Covered

The idea behind this workshop is for you to learn the basics so you can edit your photo they way you want to. No more crossing your fingers and hoping an action does it for you.

How to sharpen your images
How to use Dodge and Burn to make your photos pop
How to add custom contrast
How to brighten and adjust exposure
How to use layers to make your images the best they can be
How to convert to black and white
How to add textures and manipulate the effects
How to adjust skin tone
How to optimize for internet
Plus much more

In other words you are learning steps on how to accomplish a specific task, but also how to put it all together into a workflow for editing images.

See how to go from this

to this.

Or even a more subtle edit like this...

What to Expect

Do expect to have fun and shed some light on editing and taking photos. Do expect to take LOTS of notes (I recommend engaging in the workshop alone, not trying to open Photoshop and do things right then. You want to take notes for future reference). Don't expect to have award winning photos after taking the class, though. Getting photos right in camera is always the most important thing. You just want to accent the photos with the right editing.

What it Costs

That is what you really want to know, then you will scroll up and see what all is covered. ;) I believe that photography is expensive enough. Workshops do not need to cost hundreds of dollars. I want to make sure prices are fair, because you are also investing your time. Workshops are only $75. This covers the costs of running the workshop and taxes and still allows me to put some money aside to help pay for the work I do with foster children portraits and allows me to offer them more.

Sign Up!

Saturday - May 26, 2012 starting at 8:00 pm CST

Saturday - June 16, 2012 starting at 8:00pm CST

Saturday - July 14, 2012 starting at 7:00pm CST

Camera Envy

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Recently Darren Rowse (of ProBlogger fame) the genius behind Digital Photography School wrote a post about camera envy. With the release of all of these big name, and BIG money, models like Canon 5D MarkIII and Nikon D800 who doesn’t look at their equipment and start thinking what if?

You read blogs and people talk about studios, backdrops, and lighting equipment. Insert more camera envy, but this time it is camera equipment envy I guess.

Did you know that you that there is camera equipment rental and studio rental? Many websites offer rental services for camera equipment, including cameras, lenses, lighting, and backdrops. So it doesn’t matter where you live. What a great way to try out something before you make a major investment in that purchase.

Have you ever rented equipment or studio space? I haven’t yet. I would love to hear your feedback.

How To Make A Flash Diffuser

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:48:00 +0000

I have been meaning to share this for a while now. I made one of these for myself last year. I love how it performs, too. Are flash diffusers expensive? No, not really. But photography is a market in which almost everything is expensive, so if you can save in one area I say go for it.

There are diffusers and attachments all over the market. You can get them for $10 and even up to $100 or more. For a flash diffuser?!

Well I have an option that will cost you $2 at the most. If you already have an empty container that will work, then this will be free. :)

What you will need

Large rubbing alcohol bottle. My bottle is 32 oz.
Grab your sturdiest pair of scissors or gardening shears.
Permanent marker
I also used a steak knife (not pictured)

How to Make the Flash Diffuser

Empty your container and clean it out thoroughly. Remove any labels and let dry.

Cut off the top of the bottle where the cap screws on. I used a steak knife for this. Be VERY careful.

Line up your flash to the bottle and trace with a marker.

After you have traced it may look sloppy, but don’t worry you will cut that off. I traced a little tighter than my flash because I knew I would be cutting off all of the marker lines.

Cut along the lines of your marker. Once again, be VERY careful. It doesn’t save you money if you have to go to the E.R. ;) I extended my lines about 1/4 of an inch out along the top and the bottom (the longest edges of the rectangle).

Now slip your new flash diffuser on your flash. If you need to trim a little off, go for it. But you do not want it too loose or it will slide down and cover your entire flash.

The Difference in Diffused Light

Here is my flash engaging. As you can see the surface area of the bottle gives the flash a lot of space to illuminate. A smaller bottle will control the light differently. At this price you can easily experiment with smaller bottles, too.

So you might be wondering how this will really effect your photos?

Do you use your flash as a bounce light (aim it at a wall or ceiling to reflect off of)? That is a great option. But what if the wall is bright red? What if it is a crowded room and bouncing your flash means bouncing it right into their eyes? A flash diffuser gives you more options.

Take a look at one example of the difference it can make.

This photo was taken after dark in my living room. I used my speedlight as a bounce flash off of the ceiling since I didn’t want a harsh light aimed at him. See the shadows it created on his face?

This photo was taken a couple of seconds later after I placed my flash diffuser on my speedlight. See how the harsh shadows disappeared on his face, but still illuminated the area?

Please don’t pay attention to the red lips. We were sick and many, many popsicles were eaten. :)

So now I encourage you to try it. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at momtriedit@gmail.com. Linking up to Jaymi’s blog for Tips and Pics.

Photo Feedback: Week 12

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:20:00 +0000

I feel like this year is flying by, but the days are dragging slowly. Once again I have been very occupied with a sick child. I had to take Little Lady into the ER because her fever was high and nothing was bringing it down. Her lymph nodes were so swollen under her jawline that they didn’t believe me and requested her immunization records to see if she had the mumps vaccination.

So in other words I am digging into the archives for a photo. I always state that you can enter any photo you want, new or old, SOOC or edited. So here is a photo I just edited a few minutes ago. I had it sitting in my “to be edited” file. You know you have one of those too, admit it. ;)

Taken with my Canon 7D, Canon 28-135 lens focused at 42mm. This shot is actually an HDR so I can tell you that I set my camera in aperture priority mode and the setting was at f/14. ISO at 200. The shutter speed varied from the three images combined to take this. Tonemapped 3 images exposed at –2, 0, +2 in Photomatix.

Here are the guidelines for Photo Feedback:

The photo you submit must be your own.
The photo can be new or old, edited or SOOC, never a theme to adhere to.
When leaving feedback be sure to say something you like about the photo along with something you would suggest to improve the photo.
If you join in, please visit a couple of other participants too. They want feedback just like you do.
Please link back in your post with text or grab the button.
If you are going to have more than one photo in your blog post, please specify which photo you want critiqued.

The link up is live from Mondays (12:01 am) through Fridays (11:59 pm) CST. So you have lots of time to join us.

*The code for the blog hop is at the very bottom. This is a Blog Hop! That means the link up will show up in your blog too and your readers can join in without having to leave your page.

I am really looking forward to reading your feedback. Thank you for helping me get better. I am learning so much from you!

SHOOT.EDIT.SUBMIT. 04.27.12.

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:00:00 +0000

This is the last week of April. Holy cow! I am really excited to see more people joining in and sharing their photos. You guys are really stepping it up. I love seeing all of the flowers, too.

Awesomeville

Gorgeous contrasting colors and details. {Misty}

Picking Poppies

I love the light surrounding the petals. The clarity is amazing. {Kim}

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out

I love the composition of this one. Great lighting and shadows. {Misty}

Fundamentally Flawless

Oh this is pure loveliness. You can see the veins in the petals. I love the composition, too. {Kim}

Congratulations, winners! Grab your button!

And this week's #1 winner is:

Homesick Photographs & Memories

The details of this butterfly are incredible! Beautiful shot. {Misty}

Congratulations on being chosen as this week's #1 photo. Grab your button! You will be in the running to win a fabulous prize at the end of the month.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, it's time for you to submit your entries! Be sure to grab the button below to include on your post.

1. Photo must be taken this week.(Sat - Fri)

2. Only one entry per person.

3. "Shoot. Edit. Submit." button or a link back to this contest must be on your post in order for it to qualify.

4. Link only to your blog post not your main blog url.

(If you submit a photo you are granting us permission to copy and paste it onto our blogs if you win.)

Pompidoo Camera Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:55:00 +0000

The name is making you wonder, huh? I have been meaning to write about the lovely thing for a couple of months now. Every time I try to something happens. But not now. Meet Pompidoo!

Oh, isn’t she lovely? {imagine that song playing in the background} I actually won this beautiful camera bag from a giveaway on Paperie Boutique. I couldn’t be happier with it, either.

The attention to detail is shocking. The stitching is absolutely perfect, the accents are cohesive throughout. There is absolutely no doubt that a photographer designed these (oh, a fashion photographer, no less). I know I have drooled over other camera bags on here, but this one is LEATHER. That’s right. The Epiphanie and Kelly Moore bags we all think are cute and are hundreds of dollars are not leather. Who knew (I didn’t)?

This bag is their Cologne model (named after the German city). I love how stylish it is, even though I am not very stylish. There is amazing attention to detail. There are front pockets that create gorgeous symmetry.

The backside has another pocket. The bottom is protected with studs.

Don’t be fooled by the looks in these shots. This bag is good size. Here, take a look at it full of my stuff. {Taken with my phone so sorry about the quality}. See that thick padding? There is also semi-flexible board in there to protect your gear and allows your bag to keep its shape and not go mushy soft.
The dividers are easy to move and adjust to your needs. Yes, there is an extra divider the length of the bag that can be seen at the top of the picture. You can also see the interior zipper. To the right of my camera (with a lens and lens hood attached to it, I might add), is another divided space where my wallet and business card holder are.

Here is everything that you just saw in that bag. No kidding.

Canon 7D (with 50mm lens and hood attached to camera body)
Canon EF-S 55-250mm lens
Sigma 10-20mm lens with hood
Speedlite with small stand
Remote shutter release
My black wallet
My small red wallet I keep business cards in
Macro filter attachments
Extra CF card
Lens Pen
Camera sling strap

I get so many compliments on this bag. My bag is in the color option Idle Turquoise. This bag is not teal or aqua. It is the truest color of turquoise I have ever seen. I have turquoise jewelry and it matches it exactly.

The color options for this bag are awesome. There is a lime green (Candy Apple), navy blue (Ocean Blue), along with peaches and pinks and black and red. Oh, they are all so lovely!! Check out the colors available for Pompidoo Cologne here.

It looks like one very stylish purse. Who would ever think I am a rocking photographer? It helps with my transformation from frumpy mom of three small kids into hip and stylish photographer (my alter ego that clients get to see).
I think it is a great investment to protect your gear if you want a fashionable camera bag. So if you have been thinking about the others, take a look and see what Pompidoo has to offer. If you are spending that much anyway, you might as well get leather and the extra protection.

I will be sure to let you know if I hear of any giveaways or contests they are sponsoring so you can win one, too. Be sure to like them on facebook and follow on twitter just in case I miss something.

*Just so you know, this is NOT a sponsored post. I won this bag in a giveaway on another site. Pompidoo has no idea who I am except that I comment on their facebook page often. I love my bag and thought I would share this with you guys, my friends. :)

Monitor Calibration: Why You Need to Do It

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:01:00 +0000

Have you heard of calibrating your monitor? You might have heard your husband talking about needing to calibrate your new LCD TV. Or you might have read a few places why you should do it.

So why should you really buy some kit (most are expensive) to calibrate your monitor? Because of this…

This photo is one that I edited soon after I got my new computer. I have this big ‘ole monitor that I love. But is wasn’t calibrated. On my original post in which I shared this I got comments that is was too warm. So I knew something was up.

My monitor settings were set at too cool of a temperature and too bright of a display (totally unknown to me). So my photos were actually darker and warmer tinted than I thought they were.

Here is my photo that I re-edited AFTER I calibrated my monitor. I know, it still something, but that isn’t the point of the edit or this post. ;)

Why is temperature of my monitor such a big deal?

If your photo is appears cooler on the monitor than it really is, you will probably add more warmth (reds and yellows) to it than you really should. It will throw off your editing process.

Why does it matter if my monitor is brighter?

If your monitor is brighter than it should be you could very well adjust the brightness, contrast, or exposure on your photo when you really do not need to. You could actually make your photo darker. Or if your photo is a little too dark from before you start to edit, but your monitor is too bright you might not even notice your photo is too dark and leave it be.

What kind of calibrator should I buy?

There are hundreds of calibration kits out there. I would read the reviews and do your homework. I have heard great things about ColorMunki, but never used them myself. Many people highly recommend Spyder calibration kits. They are very user friendly. But when researching for my own kit I read that their calibration kit did not have a way to read/adjust brightness.

So after I researched it a lot I came to the conclusion that I wanted to buy an X-rite i1 Display 2 calibration kit. The reviews were great. This kit is discontinued, however. You can still buy brand new kits from B&H Photo, though.

How much are monitor calibration kits?

Truthfully…they are expensive. No way to sugar coat it. Some are around $700! The X-rite i1 Display 2 kit like I have is still around $100, even though it is discontinued.

But do not freak out. There are still options out there. I bought my kit on ebay. Yep, ebay. I bought just the calibration device. I am able to download the free software from the manufacturer’s website. When my kit came out it was compatible with a different operating system than my newer computer runs, but the manufacturer keeps up to date with that stuff and I was able to get the latest version that is still compatible with my device. If you are wanting to know how much I spent, I spent $40 on my used device. I don’t regret it one bit.

What benefits, other than photo editing, are there to monitor calibration?

All of the colors you see will be truer. So blog design colors will reflect the true colors. Etsy shop or Big Cartel owners will want to make sure their products are represented accurately. Do any online shopping? Do you want that shirt you thought was blue to show up at your house only to be teal? With a calibrated monitor you will see the true color.

Bonus points: You can use the calibrator on your LCD television, laptop, or netbook. Huge selling point to the hubby! Why have HD if the colors are all wrong? That maybe a tad exaggeration, but we all know we may need a little help justifying another photography expense. ;)

So to make this kind of difference in your photos…

Invest in a calibration kit. Go in together with a friend and share it. See if a friend will let you borrow theirs.

But do remember, you get what you pay for in most cases. So do your research and make sure your kit will do all of the things you expect it to do at the level you expect.

Is your monitor calibrated?

*Just so you know, this post is all my opinion. The people at these companies have no idea who in the world I am. Any links are NOT affiliate links, just being nice. :)

Transportation for Mobility Challenged

noreply@blogger.com (Kim) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:33:00 +0000

I have many blogging friends that have children with physical disabilities. I have a few local people I know, as well. As a foster parent I know that there are many children in the system that have limited mobility. Wheelchairs, specialized strollers, and other devices are very helpful when out and about.

But what about getting out and about? For older children, teenagers, and adults with mobility assistance gear this task is difficult. This is where many people turn to handicap accessible vans.

The prices for these vans can be crazy high. But there are options like buying pre-owned. Some families do not have the luxury to afford such vehicles and invest in carriers for wheelchairs that go on the trunk. However you can make life easier for yourself or for a loved one with mobility challenges is always a good idea. Do what works best for you.

I wrote this post because this is National Mobility Awareness Month. If you do not know someone that faces these difficult challenges, please look out next time you are at the store. Don’t stare or be rude, but just be aware of those around you. See if there is a way you can offer some help. Maybe just give a friendly smile and hello. Teaching your children to embrace other’s differences while helping out your community is always a good example. :)