DIVAS AND DREAMS

How to Shoot for Creativity and Variety

2012-01-31T06:53:00.000-08:00

Model: Anne Lysa - Make up: Malene Micha - Photography and styling: Christina Greve Lyse

Styling is not only about clothes and make up. Your photographs are much more than that! Your photographs are work of art. There are many ways you can play with your creativity to make your images unique. Getting started may seem difficult. However, I like to think of it as an awesome experiment in a process of finding what works for you and discovering your own style. The good thing is, there is no right or wrong! I think most photographers always have a tiny voice in their heads that says “I don’t know what I’m doing!” This, as I would like to call it, is creativity! Be brave, go into the unknown world, and figure it out.

Story telling

When you take a picture, get into the practice of asking yourself "what is the story that I wan to convey?" The best photographs tell a little story. Consider which story you wish to tell the viewer. The story can be simple, like a story of her beautiful eyes, her smile, her shoes or her curves. The story can be about her feelings, it can be a certain mood or a prop she is holding. Keep it simple and let the focus be on the story you are telling.

Concepts

Decide the concept or theme you wish to create. The concept can be as simple as to create a black and withe portrait, having your model dressed in a white blouse on a grey background. Or you can take it to another level and have fairy tale inspired concept, such as a Circus Princess, a french femme fatal, a girl on a horse in sunset, a hippie or a warrior theme. Again keep your story in mind. Use your inspirational vision board or magazine spreads as inspiration.

Styling on set

Keep the styling on set simple. The main focus should be your subject and the interior is just there to help you create a certain mood. Move furniture around if necessary (now, who says being a photographer is a glamorous job when it involves heavy lifting? ...smile.) Get rid of the clutters to eliminate distractions or use different backdrops for variety.

Styling with props

Once again the key is to keep it simple. Decide which props will make your image outstanding and only include a few - perhaps only one or two, depending on the theme. You can find props in market places such as Etsy, Ebay, vintage shops or in the back of your own closet.

Capture emotions

Remember that emotions will have a much bigger impact in your images than a prop will. It´s all about your model, how she feels and looks. Nothing is more important than her/him. Try and play with different emotions. Guide your model to laugh, flirt, express sensuality, dream or even look angry or puzzled.

Capture movements

Have her toss her hair, dance, jump, run, just to name a few. Movements can be a challenge to capture but they are often treasured by clients as they are different from the normal portrait. You can also use a fan to make her hair or her clothes move. Don´t be afraid of motion blur in this situation as it can add a creative touch to your images. Trust me on this...smile...

Change lenses

Remember to change lenses (if you have more than one). This will also help you achieve varieties in your pictures.

Change camera

Play with toy cameras like Diana, Polaroid or Fuji Instax Instant. They create an extra fun images that you can give to your clients or just to keep them for yourself to remember a fun shoot.

Be spontaneous

Even though I strongly recommend you to be well prepared, I don´t want you to forget your spontaneous self. Always get those "safe" portraits first then be prepared to try something new and go crazy...smile.

xoxo, Christina

5 Myths About Being A Successful Photographer

2012-01-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

I was lucky to be able to photograph my make-up artist, Malene the other day (please see the above image. Isn't she just gorgeous?) We had been waiting for our model to show up for about half an hour.We started to talk about the plans for the shoot and suddenly I had a vision about how to capture her and I just knew I had to do it. So I shared the idea with her and lucky for me she was in! So off she went to put on some make-up and changed her outfit while I was setting up the equipment. I just love spontaneous ideas like that, it´s my fuel for experimenting and honestly it is how I often work...smile...

This experience got me thinking about some myths about being a successful photographer...

1. You need lots of talent

Well it´s great to have talent, that is for sure. However, talent only gets you 10 percent to move forward. Passion and many hours of experimenting, practicing, and working are absolutely required to achieve the remaining 90 percent for success. If photography gets you to jump out of bed with joy in the morning, if it makes you sit up playing with Photoshop all night, if you find yourself being bored without a camera in your hand...well then you have the passion and it will be the fuel you need to put in the many hours of practicing and experimenting, in which both are needed to develop your own style and niche.

2. You have to be good at everything

If you think you need to master all genres in photography, which are portraits, fashion, beauty, weddings, newborns, seniors, just to name a few...well the chances are that you will be just an average photographer. Many photographers think they need to be able to do all genres to be able to get enough jobs to support their business. The truth is that costumers hire an expert. Whether it is an expert in weddings, portraits, or newborn. So it is very important for you to find a niche if you really want to make a living out of your photography business. I found my niche instantly when I first started out. Honestly, it was more or less a luck that I found it in my early years and it really helped me in getting the words out that allowed to start accepting bookings. I love to photograph food, fashion, boudoir, and lifestyle. Many photographers are doing this as well. However my niche are feminine, dreamy, and diva-like portraits of women. It is what I am best at and what comes natural to me. To help you find your niche you can start asking this question to yourself: When does your heart beat the most? Is it when you photograph kids? Is it weddings? Is it animals, nature, flowers? Find your "thing" through your heart.

3. Don´t share what you know

Many photographers don´t share their knowledge with others. They are afraid of copycats and that people will steal their ideas. This is a huge concern for photographers. But the fact is that most successful people love to help others and share information. When you support others with your best intentions, you are more likely to meet people that will help and guide you too. So network with other photographers, whether they are just beginners, at the same level as you, or way better than you. No one can make it completely on their own - someone has once guided and helped you, so be aware of giving back. It is kinda like karma, you know. :-)

4. Compare yourself with others

Every time you compare yourself with another photographer or artist, it kills your creativity, your energy, and bring down your self esteem. Even if you compare your strengths, there will always be those who are better or those who are still developing their skills. Where you are on the ladder of accomplishments has nothing to do with what you want to do. Even if you do well in comparison with others, you may be artificially inflated from this comparison. It’s a short-lived boost of ego if you win the comparison — easily knocked down. What really matters is that you dare to aim for the stars (go for all your crazy ideas and dreams) and aim from your heart (be sure to photograph what you truly LOVE) - nothing else matters! Focus on being you and bring YOU into your pictures. If you look too much at others' works, you will bring too much of their vision into your own work.

5. Use high quality equipment

Professional photographers will say that having excellent equipment makes their life so much easier. However, it is not the main reason to their success. I started out with a Sony 300a kit. (oh boy!) When I bought it, my knowledge of photography was big zero. ISO, shutter speed, white balance, aperture were like alien language to me....chuckle. I just put the camera in auto mode and pressed the shutter button using auto mode (I know...I know...) But it was with that camera that I grew from a beginner to being a fully booked photographer in the business! When I finally upgraded my camera, my daughter Maja inherited my old Sony. She too managed to create her success using that very same camera. Pictures taken with that old Sony have been featured on several art galleries and museums. Truth is that while it is not the greatest camera, the creativity and passion for experimenting beat equipment every time! So don´t let lack of great equipment be an excuse for not making great pictures. Just dare to experiment, throw in a reflector, play with the composition, be creative, tell a story and most of all have fun!

xoxo, Christina

PS: Only one week until the SELF STUDY COURSE begins. SIGN UP HERE!

Running Bride

2012-01-25T08:22:00.000-08:00

Model Line Søborg - MUA: Maj Barner - Photographer: Christina Lyse Greve

Yesterday was one of my lucky days! I got to work with two amazing women: a talented make-up and hair stylist, Maj Barner and a gorgeous model, Line Søborg. The two images above were some of the results of my last spontaneous idea of the day. Luckily the girls jumped into my idea happily although it was freezing cold outside. The sun was high on the sky, shining strong, making it a big challenge to get it right....but sometimes you just gotta take a challenge and a chance, right? :-)

xoxo, Christina

Behind the Scene - Casino Royal

2012-01-25T07:09:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I was invited to join a shoot with Ole Vangsgaard at the beautiful and historical Hotel Royal (famous people like H.C. Andersen, Louis Armstrong and Madonna have stayed there!). Ole was shooting new pictures for the Casino´s website and he asked me if I wanted to photograph the models while they where waiting for everyone to be ready. And I thought to myself, what a grand idea! So I did and I only had to spend less than 30 minutes with each girl - meeting them one-on-one. You've probably seen Bettina's pictures from yesterday's post and more will come as soon as I´m ready to post them...smile...there is so much to do these days... :-) It's a good thing, though...

While Ole was working, I shot a few Iphone pics and a little Iphone video. (not the best quality..sorry but this will serve the purpose)

Bettina (with boyfriend) photographed at Hotel Royal

2012-01-24T09:22:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Bettina few days ago. She is a wonderful model and I had the opportunity to work with her once before last Summer (oh, where did Summer go?)

It was fun to see each other again and this time Betinna brought along her handsome boyfriend with her...what can I say? They are such a fabulous couple!

Posing Guide Winners Announced...YAY!

2012-01-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

Oh wow...I've received so many lovely comments on Facebook and on the blog...First, I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated and took the time to join in this giveaway. I love...love...love reading your comments and believe me it was SO hard to choose two winners. I really wanted to pick ALL of you...smile...but I guess that´s not good for my business right...LOL...

Anyway I've decided to pick four lucky winners - instead of the two like I promised...so here are the lucky ones...tadaa...

Mary Beth Whitaker

Ashley Natelborg

Hilary Kennedy

Christa Morgenstern

Winners please e-mail me within three days to claim your prize: christina_greve(at)hotmail.com

Happy Sunday to all of you dear ones!

xoxo, Christina

Working in My Tiny Studio

2012-01-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

I am probably a photographer who have the smallest studio in the world (sigh...). I´m sure of it...smile...

It has been a struggle to work in a small space and every time I tried, I kinda gave up. For a long time, I used the small studio as a place to store my equipment, lighting, clothes, and props ... and oh yes, I can assure you I do have a lot of props! I have been whining and complaining for months about the studio being so small. As a result, I always end up using my living room to shoot portraits, which also means that I move my whole studio into the living room. To do this, at least I need a good two hours to move everything from one room to another (sigh..sigh...). Oh, I forgot to mention that my studio is not located inside my house but in a building next to my house. Now imagine that I have to run back and forth from my house to the studio, carrying all the equipment and props! (yeah, I agree that's not pretty...chuckle.)

So, I've been looking for a REAL studio for the last six month. A huge studio, gorgeous studio, but I also keep telling myself not to rent a studio because I really do LOVE to work from home (who doesn't? right?) I adore being surrounded by my kids and dog, and I love the fact that I don't have to drive a long way to work or pay a high rental fee.

With all of these considerations, I decided to take a good, hard look at my tiny studio. Is it true that it's too small? (Well, I know it is but maybe I could work something out, with some creativity and smart thinking.) Rather than wasting my money on a high rental fee, I invested my money in Canon 5D Mark II (smart move this one! smile!). The Canon 5D Mark II is a full frame camera, which means I now have more space between my camera and my subject. This makes a huge difference compared to when I used my Canon 7D, which is not a full frame camera.

A full frame camera gives you more space to work on because it does not crop your image. So now looking into the viewfinder of the Canon 5D, I can finally get more of my subject in the frame when working in small places - before it was just impossible to get more than a head shot. Changing the camera that I use simply makes all the difference in the world.

I also removed all the stuff I did not need anymore, which was more than half the stuff that had been stored there. I also spent days to find and figure out the best lighting solution. Again you can only do so much in a tiny room. But today I think is my lucky day - I finally figured out how to make the most out of my studio and I dragged the kids and Mr. DJ over to test the lighting for me. On the above image you see Camilla with no make up other than a little red lipgloss. I have a beauty dish placed just above her and a large soft box placed on the floor - this really lights up the shadow in the face.

Before I go, I wish to thank all of you who left me such sweet birthday messages yesterday, both on the blog and on Facebook. You sure made me smile all day :-) Thank you darlings!

xoxo, Christina

It´s My Birthday Giveaway: Win The Posing Guide

2012-01-19T10:18:00.000-08:00

It´s my Birthday! ...oh well almost, actually...in just a few hours. Anybody wants to take a guess at my age? LOL. Well, I am going to tell you. I´m turning 38...oh gosh... (but looking as young as 28 and feeling as great as 28...smile...just kidding).

So in celebrating my birthday, I said to myself....WE (yes, WE as in you and me) shall CELEBRATE!!! Woot-woot!

There are many reasons to celebrate. First, I recently launched my first and new Posing Guide (ta-da...), my birthday is coming up, and I have so many lovely readers on my blog. I think that is fantastic! See, so much to celebrate! :-)

A huge part of the reasons why I LOVE my job is because I have the opportunity to share my knowledge. I know so many great stuff about photography, Photoshop, and portrait photography, and I think it is just too boring to keep it for myself and taking this journey alone. It will be a lot more fun to share the excitement with like-minded people!

So...(are you ready?)...I´m giving away 2 Posing Guides along with the Bonus Video. Yes, sweet peeps, you read that one right! :-)

If you don´t wanna miss out on this chance to win and save loads of $$, leave a comment here on the blog or on my Facebook page.

I will announce two lucky winners on Sunday Jan. 22. on the blog.

xoxo, The Birthday Girl

Today`s Inspiration: Girly Stuff

2012-01-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

No. 1. - No. 2. - No. 3. - No. 4. - No. 5. - No. 6.

Inspiration: New artistic 3D Dance movie: PINA

2012-01-18T00:24:00.000-08:00

I´m going out with my two "little" girls tonight, to watch this new and very different movie titled PINA. This movie is nominated as one of the candidates for best film in Cannes Film Festival in 2012. It is said that the film will take the audience to a sensual, visually stunning journey of discovery of a new dimension. The film is a tribute for a German choreographer and dancer, Pina Bausch who died in 2009 at the age of 68, five days after being diagnosed with cancer.

I watched the trailer and instantly thought that it would be great to watch this movie for visual and photographic inspirations - not to mention all the dance moves that can inspire me to explore new interesting poses (yes, I find inspiration from everywhere...smile.) What is also exciting is that this dance movie is featured in 3D. Now, I´ve never seen a dance movie in 3D before - gotta love that...very new and creative :-)

I´ll let you know how I like the movie after I´ve watched it :-)

xoxo, Christina

3 IPhone Apps for Photographers

2012-01-17T03:41:00.000-08:00

I finally found some time to test three iPhone apps that I downloaded recently. The test picture is probably not the best pictures...smile...I just grabbed what I had next to me, which were few old tomatoes and an old spoon. But the picture would serve its purpose, to give you an idea of what the apps can do...you get the picture, right :-)

If you are an iPhone photog addict like me, you can always connect with me on Instagram - just look for @christinagreve.

Lo-Mob iPhone app
This app gives you that retro-looking feel...oh don´t we all love that ? (smile...). This app is definitely fun and easy to play with. The app offers different effects, ranging from 35mm format film to a variety of instant camera effects. I used the tomato pictures and processed it with two different retro filters and you can see the results above. I actually really like their black and white instant, shown in the right image. To find some inspirations you can take a look at the Lo-Mob Flickr group.

ProCamera app
This app lets you capture stunning photos and videos with your iPhone. It´s said to be one of the best cameras available for iPhone. What I like about this app is that it has an anti-shake element, which is very useful for someone with shaky hands (like me, for example.) It also has a self-timer, which will come handy in some situations. I just found out that it also offers separate focus and exposure control for both photos and videos. Adjustments will be locked so that you can move your iPhone without having to readjust again (how awesome is that for an app?) It even has white balance control for your desired color temperature. The app is still pretty new to me, but I can´t wait to play around more with it.

Iquikdof
This is a powerful app to create TiltShift/Bokeh/Focus/Miniature effects in your photos. It gives you an easy-to-use interface to adjust the level of blur around the sweet spot of sharpness. It comes with a few funky overlays as well - so you can play even more. For inspiration you can see other peoples Iqikdof pictures here.

Have fun!

xoxo
Christina

The Posing Guide: A Pro Guide To Fashion Inspired Posing

2012-01-16T12:36:00.000-08:00

YES!! The posing guide is finally ready! Phew....(letting out a huge sound of relief here.) I have worked on this posing guide for such a long time during the last couple of weeks, non stop! So, finally I´m SO proud to introduce you to my brand new baby...smile... now let´s pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate. YAY!

Get The Hottest New Posing Guide Today

- Available for immediate download!

(and get an exclusive discount)

Have you ever wondered how to successfully pose clients and models, so you can get those fabulous, striking pictures that everyone loves?

This guide is especially designed to stimulate your creativity and help you to start coaching your clients so they feel comfortable in front of the camera.

When it comes to portrait photography, creativity and posing triumph equipment every time and now you can use this guide as a reference to kick-start your portrait business and create unique images.

What you get

66 pages full of incredible must know information on posing women for fashion inspired portraits.

29 gorgeous, inspiring poses to make women feel and look great, as well as express their unique personalities.

Learn how to easily coach and connect with your clients, so you can capture striking portraits that are uniquely them.

Get the insight information on how to shoot for creativity and variety.

The best images are those that tell stories. Learn what it takes to create portraits that stand out.

Get useful tips on how to prepare your client for their portrait session.

Learn how to work with professional models to build your portfolio.

Get Christina's tips on how to find inspiration, so you can start creating your own style.

"I have just had a first look and it is such an AWESOME work! I love each and every of your poses and texts, it's amazing how much a good pose can change the picture. A huge THANK YOU for sharing such beautiful work". Ana GR

"I am so excited! I am downloading it now and cannot wait to look through it. I know you've invested a lot of heart and time into this, so I wanted to thank you for that. You are so wonderful. Have a beautiful week!" Angie

"Thank you sooooooooooo much Christina! This is an incredible, beautiful and helpful guide!" Silvina Derdoy

Get an exclusive BONUS!

Purchase the Posing Guide Today and get a Bonus Video! (value of $49 USD)

The Top 10 Things Christina Does to Every Portrait in Photoshop

I will show you step by step how I edit my images using Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop CS5

Available for a limited time!

Available for digital download

The posing guide is a Digital Download (PDF format). After your order has been processed, you will receive an email with a link to download the guide. Please be sure you can open PDF files in Adobe Reader before making your purchase.

Free Podcast with me

2012-01-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

Recently, I answered some questions related to photography that were asked via my Facebook page. It was a special treat for those who subscribed to my newsletter (so yes, you may want to make sure that you subscribe to my newsletter *wink*.) Now I made it available for everyone who is interested to listen to for the next week.

It´s a bit long (it's about 30 minutes) so you might want to brew some coffee or make yourself a cup of tea, put your legs up and enjoy watching. :-)

Enjoy silly me...LOL

xoxo, Christina

NEWS: Posing Guide Release Day....SOON...

2012-01-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

OH dear....I have been busy (in a good way) and it has been hard for me to find time for blogging these days...phew! What I can tell you is that I am working like crazy right now trying to get the POSING GUIDE ready for the release on Monday (I hope you are as excited as I do!) I hope I will succeed...smile.

It has been a wonderful experience to write this guide, mostly because I am still surprised how it actually turns out. When I first started, I had a plan about the Posing Guide but my creative flair took it into a new creative direction! (Actually, I kinda like it when my creative flair takes control.) So instead of explaining static posing techniques, I took a new angle and feature creative alternatives to posing.

While I was looking through my files to decide which images to use for the book, I started to notice my own posing workflow. It suddenly became very clear to me how I pose my models and clients. Without realizing it, I have been guiding my models and clients to do similar poses.I give names for each of my favorite pose and I will share 30 of them with you in the book, along with tips about coaching clients and professional models.

I give you all the know-how to help making your subject feel relax and comfortable. If you are interested in fashion inspired posing and glamour portraiture, this is the guide for you - pro or beginners, all can find help here - or at least that is my hope for this Posing Guide.

Happy weekend.

xoxo, Christina

Q&A with Christina

2012-01-09T04:55:00.000-08:00

Over the next couple of days I´ll do my best to answer more of your questions posted on Facebook.

Today the question is from Shanna Toney Bradbury and it goes like this:

Q: Love your work Christina! My biggest question is, how do you get your models to be so comfortable with you? How do you get such natural photos?

A: Hi Shanna. Thank you. The best way to get the models/clients feeling comfortable is by being kind. Remember, this is the key. If a model or client feel distance or not connected with you because they feel insecure, shy or under pressure, the whole session is worthless. So be kind, be yourself, have a laugh, be supportive, ask questions nicely, offer breaks, give lots of compliments - even to professional models! It´s important for the clients/models to know they are doing great. The better you connect with them, the better they perform. My goal is to always have my clients going home feeling that she has had one amazing day!

The natural style comes mainly by using natural light and controling the white balance.

xoxo, Christina

I will answer the next question in few days. Please be sure to subscribe to my blog so you can keep up. Thank you...

Self Study Course begins February 6

2012-01-09T01:09:00.000-08:00

NEW: Self Study Course

Starts on February 6, 2012 and will run for 10 weeks.

For the first time I offer a self-study course. The course runs from February 6th to April 16th. All lessons will be available 24/7 for 10 weeks. This will provide you with plenty of time to study on your own pace. All videos, lessons, assignments, and bonus material are available from day one! That means you can study this course at your own pace and move forward at time that is most convenient for you.

You don't need to have photography experience to participate. For beginners, this self-study course will revolutionize your photography. For intermediate level photographers, there are many new stuffs and some review in store for you.

• Learn to easily create beautiful pictures that your friends and family will drool over

• Develop and/or renew your passion for photography

• Explore new opportunities related to photography that will motivate you to grow as beginners and intermediate level photographers

• Become and stay motivated! You will receive photo assignments and tips to keep you on track and inspire you to go out shooting

• Convenient course, which means no pressure to follow a specific schedule

• Learn while sipping your tea/coffee in your pajama. You don’t have to go anywhere. The workshop material is available 24/7. Learn according to your own schedule.

• Get great bonus material that explore tips about running a successful Facebook page and blog that people want to read and follow

• Learn the right mindset to boost your confidence as an artist and photographer

• Stuck in a creative rut? Lack of inspiration? Get the secrets to stay creative!

• Get to know Christina’s personal workflow. Aren’t you curious? ☺

"Christina is wonderful and her Divas and Dreams workshop is top notch! This is one Diva who knows how to inspire and help others find their unique spark of creativity within. I was so impressed by Christina's professionalism yet down-to-earth nature, she really shines and helped us to shine as well. I felt so comfortable in her workshop. The video tutorials she put together and the hand-outs were all amazing - Christina really covered it all. I cannot recommend this workshop enough to those of you who wish to take your photographic skills to the next level and beyond. Again, this is one lovely Diva who knows a thing or two about photography and how to inspire those of us who share her passion regarding it, how to shine!! Thanks, Christina" - Angie Woldman San Diego, CA.

Become a Confident, Creative Photographer

A large part of the workshop focuses on developing your creativity, your sense of styling, your knowledge about posing, and shooting with natural light. In addition, with my background in psychology and coaching, I will give you my best tips on how to interact with your clients and how to make them feel relax. I will also focus on giving you the direction to increase your confidence as an artist and photographer.

Learn the Secrets to Beautiful Portraits and Still life

In this workshop I will teach what I love, which is shooting portraits and still life. The still life session will help photographers who own an Etsy shop or a blog and you plan to sell fine arts and present your products in the most beautiful way. The portrait session is a great session for every mommy out there who adore photographing their children or for you who want to run a photography business focusing on portraiture.

Getting Creative with Photoshop

Through this workshop, you will learn the basic Photoshop workflow and what you should do with all your pictures. To top it off, I will also share secrets to more advanced Photoshop techniques – all taught in an “easy to understand” way. Learn how to get a perfect black and white conversion or how to create a vintage style look in few simple steps. I will also teach how to achieve those sparkly, crystal clear eyes as well as share with you my personal workflow in retouching portraits!

Go from Auto to Manual - The Easy Way

This workshop will cover the basics of photography (and much, much more). Lessons will include shooting fundamentals such as exposure, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and white balance. I will introduce you to shooting in manual mode so that you can start to get the results you want from your camera!

" It is more than obvious how much effort Christina put in to this course and it is amazing how much she is willing to share it with us. I admire Christina’s approach and passion to life. This workshop has helped me gain confidence and has inspired me to be clear about what I want from life."

"I love the video tutorials, they are in my opinion and far better than any other Photoshop class I have ever been in!" - Luisa Pascalis de Thomas

Workshop Content

Creative Development

• How to develop and find you own unique style

• How to start believing in yourself as an artist and focus on your strengths

• How to boost your creativity

• How to turn your mindset around to get the results you want

• Receive great homework to boost your creative development

Shooting Techniques, Equipments, and Lighting

• Know your camera settings: Going from Auto to Manual, the Easy Way!

• Learn the fundamental of photography: ISO, shutter speed, aperture, light meter, white balance, exposure control, etc

• All you need to know about JPEG and RAW

• Learn the equipments I use, see what’s in my bag and in my studio

• Get recommendations about lenses

• Tips on what to bring on a shoot and how to prepare

• My best lighting tips for still life and product images

• Props and styling tips to create beautiful still life images

• Fun and practical homework assignments to practice and test your skills

Photographing People

• Photographing people with indoor natural light

• Photographing people with outdoor natural light

• Using continuous lighting and backdrops

• Playing with Composition and shooting angles

• Connecting and working with women of all ages and shapes

• How to make your model relax and feel comfortable

• Pre-shot client instructions

• Posing tips for women

• How to shoot for creativity and variety

• Hiring and working with models

• Connecting and working with kids

• Posing tips for kids

• Challenging homework to help you start with portraits

Photoshop and Post Processing

• Editing in RAW

• Basic post processing techniques

• Using the most important tools and tricks

• Creating your own color filters and actions

• Sharpening for print and for web

• How to display pictures for blog

• Converting to beautiful black and white

• Creating beautiful vintage style images

• Being creative using overlays and textures

Retouching Techniques

• Retouching kids portraits

• Retouching women portraits

• Retouching for glamour and beauty shots

• Retouching with actions

• Creative tools and resources

Starting out

• Taking the first steps into being self employed

• Dealing with clients

• My personal secrets for success

• Building a compelling portfolio and setting your price

• Website recommendations

+ Introduction to LightRoom

"A total self-confidence-booster. Christina fills you up with a mindset that truly blows your creativity, and forces you to think differently about yourself. A brilliant workshop if you, as me, are new to photography and have a wish to take it further." - Line Flindt

Get Bonus Material

I will share my own personal workflow and how I get the shots throughout the workshop. And last but not least, as a full time photographer and entrepreneur I will share with you what it takes to be successful if you wish to turn your hobby to photography into a successful photography business. I will share everything I know including getting started, setting the price, booking, social media marketing, blogging, and developing a compelling portfolio. I learned all these through years in the hard way and I am teaching you all these the easy way!

What do You Get?

• More than 50 lessons (video and written tutorials)

• Assignments to improve your skills, increase your creativity, and help you prepare to be a great photographer

• Plenty of extra bonus materials

• Access to tutorials 24/7 for 10 weeks

• Everything you need to know to become a great photographer

"This is not a standard photography e-course. This is a truly special one! In five weeks, you're going to enjoy, learn, have fun and also know about yourself in a way you haven't imagined before. There is a word to define this workshop: POWERFUL! Thanks Christina!" - Silvina Derdoy

Equipment needed

* A digital SLR Camera.
* Photoshop Elements 9 or 10 or Photoshop CS5.

Investment

Before: ~~$498~~

NOW: $398

You will receive a confirmation within 24 hours after you send your payment. You will also receive your login invitation to the "classroom" on the day the Self Study Course begins.

Payment option 1 - One payment

Payment option 2 - Split your payment in two

Now available in two payments. $199

Pay $199 now and then again after one month. The amount will automatically be withdrawn from your account.

****NB: After February 6 no refund will be given.

****NB: Please note that your login invitation will be sent to the email address you use as your Paypal account. If you wish to use another email for the classroom login, please email Christina to let her know; christina_greve(at)hotmail.com

New Website

2012-01-06T13:23:00.000-08:00

Hello lovely peeps! I am super excited to share that I have a new fresh website to feature a selection of my pictures.

Come visit! Tons of beautiful things over there. See you...

Find me elsewhere

2012-01-06T13:20:00.000-08:00

Photoshop Elements tutorial: How to make a photo collage

2012-01-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

Learn how you can easily display your pictures in a beautiful photo collage using Photoshop Elements.

Giveaway: 10 week-long photography self study course

2012-01-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

I´m in the mood for a little New Year - Fresh Start celebration. Don´t we all need that? :-)

I´m giving away one free spot on my self study course that starts on February 6th. Yes, you heard it right! The course runs for 10 weeks and the best part is that you will have access to all my tutorials, which includes more than 50 lessons! How wonderful is that? Read about the self study here.

All you have to do is to head over to FACEBOOK and ask me a question. I will select some of your questions and answer them in my newsletter tomorrow. I will announce the winner in the newsletter, so make sure you join the mailing list. You can sign up here.

xoxo, Christina

How to adjust the white balance of a JPEG in Photoshop Elements

2012-01-05T03:57:00.000-08:00

The best way to get a correct white balance is to set your camera settings. But if for some reason you are still not too happy with the white balance you can also correct it during the editing process. The best way to change a white balance is in RAW. Does it mean you can not correct the white balance if you are shooting JPEG? Watch the video below. I am showing you how to correct the white balance in JPEG using PSE. I know you are curious... :-)

How to adjust the white balance of a JPEG in Photoshop CS5

2012-01-04T02:56:00.000-08:00

I always shoot my images in RAW format. I love the quality and the control it gives me. For a perfectionist (or control freak) like me, RAW rocks... :-)

But looking through my old files, I found many pictures that were shot in JPEG format and many of them were taken not with a good white balance (sigh...). In a self defense mode (smile...), I did not know how to control or correct the white balance back then. Throughout my experience, getting a correct white balance is extremely important as it can be the one thing that makes or brakes your photograph.

Perhaps you have tried to photograph indoor with artificial lighting from a lamp and you noticed that your picture turned out kind of yellow? Well luckily it´s pretty easy to correct it. All you need is Photoshop.

In my workshops I cover a lot about white balance as it is such an important subject. My own images truly became much better when I learn to control the white balance. Do you have JPEG images with white balance that looks wonky? Don't press the delete button yet! Today, I am sharing a free video tutorial with you so you can rescue those JPEG images in a few easy steps.

In this tutorial I use Photoshop CS5. If you are using Photoshop Elements, come back tomorrow and I´ll post another a video for you as well. :-)

2012 - plans, goals and dreams

2012-01-03T08:15:00.000-08:00

So here we go...in random order :-)

More of the good stuff:

More exercise
More Champagne
More Celebrations
More dancing and laughing
More relaxation and meditation
More walks
More picnics and tapas
More time with friends and family
More hugging and kissing

Less of the bad stuff:

Less unhealthy food
Less back pain

Travel destinations international:

Paris
Spain (north of Barcelona)
New York
Berlin
South of France
Lucca, Italy

Travel destinations in Denmark:

Skagen
Copenhagen
Fanø

Photography related goals:

Experiment more - be daring
Shoot more film
Shoot more iPhone
Shoot more self portraits
Shoot more personal everyday life snapshots of family and friends
Work with creative, fun and ambitious people
Improve Photoshop skills
Improve studio lighting techniques
More collaborations with my creative children
Practice video editing

Investment dreams:

Contax 645 film camera
Canon 100 Macro lens
Lighting assistant
Advanced photography workshop somewhere exotic..yay... a girl can dream right:-)

xoxo, Christina

iPhoneography - a love affair

2012-01-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

One of so many lovely things I discovered in 2011 was the experience of playing with iPhoneography. I had the old iPhone 3 for a long time but never used it for snapshots. Then one day I decided that it was about time I started to take some more of everyday life pictures...sometimes we as professional photographers forget that...I know I do. And sometimes I´m just too lazy to drag around my heavy Canon gear when going on fieldtrips with the kids or out with friends.

So about eight months ago I started to take pictures using my iPhone. Soon after that Mr.DJ went to New York for business and came back with this book "The art of iPhoneography" by Stephanie Roberts. I felt like a whole new world was opened up to me and it totally set my creativity on fire. I downloaded some funky and fun photography apps and started to play around.

Today it´s one of my favorite activities for relaxation and creativity. So much that I decided to upgrade to iPhone 4s. Ha! I especially enjoy when Mr. DJ and I walk Simba (our Golden Retriever) and I bring my iPhone. During the last day of the 2011, we took a walk at our local beach where we live and the weather was just stunning, which is very rare in Denmark at this time of the year. Then when we came back home from the long walk, I made myself a warm cup of coffee, collapsed on the sofa with the iPhone and started to editing some of the pictures I took on the walk. Pure relaxation!

I love it so much and I can declare it that it is now an official love affair... :-). Luckily Mr. DJ starts to getting involve too and I´m teaching him all about Instagram and photo apps at the moment :-)

Hope you all got a great start to the new year!

Happy 2012!

xoxo, Christina

Bye Bye 2011 - Thank You for Everything!

2011-12-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

This was meant to be a very long, clever, and informative post about my year in words and pictures (Ha!....) But since I´m still reflecting about my past year and dreaming about new goals for 2012, I will just do the most important thing, which is to thank all of my readers of my blog, all my dear photog friends, all the people that worked with me this year and all the clients who booked me. From the bottom of my heart, a big THANK YOU! Without you I would not be where I am today.

Tonight will be the evening where I will ask myself some hard questions (accompanied with a good glass of red wine, of course), to make sure I get the most out of my life and to make sure that I learn from my mistakes! I will share the questions with you...maybe you can ask yourself the same questions?

15 questions I ask myself every year

1. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?

2. Which area of your life that needs to be simplified at the most and what's the one way you could simplify in that area?

3. What's the most important need you feel the urgency to meet this year?

4. What habit would you like to establish this year?

5. Who do you want to encourage most this year?

6. What is your most important financial goal this year and what is the most important step you can take to achieve it?

7. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

8. What was the one thing you did that you most regret about last year and what will you do about it this year?

9. In what area of your life do you most need growth and what will you do about it this year?

10. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?

11. What skill do you want to learn most or improve this year?

12. What is the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

13. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life and what will you do about it this year?

14. What single thing that you plan to do this year that will matter most in ten years?

15. What is the one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of life?

Have a great PARTY tomorrow and once again THANK YOU so much for all the kind comments both on my blog and Facebook page! I wish you all happiness and joy :-)