But first…

Presenting the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge Photography Tips & Tutorials FREE e-book

My co-hosts, Alicia of Project Alicia and Rebecca of Bumbles & Light, and I have a special gift for you all. We’ve compiled the photography tips and tutorials shared throughout the challenge, threw them into a lovely e-book and wrapped it up with a pretty little bow, especially for you.

Access our tips and tutorials on the go!

The Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge Photography Tips & Tutorials ebook is available in PDF form. Simply click on the image above and download to your computer or handheld device via iBooks, Kindle and more.

We’re always looking for ways to reward you all for your participation and we hope that you’ll enjoy the e-book. Feel free to pin it, tweet about it, share it with a friend.

And if you haven’t already entered our finale giveaway, there’s still time! Link up by 11:59pm CST on Friday, May 18th for your chance to win one of 20 fabulous prizes. Winners will be chosen at random over the weekend and announced right here on Monday, May 21st at 9am CST.

Twenty lucky winners will have a chance to win one of the following prizes:

Five (5) winners will win an annual subscription of ThisLife’s Adventure Box package, valued at $80 each.

Five (5) winners will win Topaz Labs fabulous Topaz Adjust plugin, valued at $50 each.

One (1) winner will win a custom 26-page 8″ in spine photo book from AdoramaPix, valued at $40.

One (1) winner will win a lovely card bundle template of their choice from Life-n-Reflection, valued between $24-30.

One (1) winner will win a 11 x 14 “pretty print” of their choice from Veronica Armstrong Photography, $25 value.

One (1) winner will win a beautiful camera strap of their choice from Forshee Designs, valued between $19-27.

One (1) winner will win a gorgeous Daisy & Elm camera charm bracelet, valued at $30.

One (1) winner will win a $50 gift certificate to Photojojo.

Three (3) winners will win a $25 gift certificate to Photojojo.

One (1) winner will win the “Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off ‘Auto’ and Photograph Like a Pro” book, valued at $16.

And once again, thank you to the following sponsors for their generous prize donations and support:

And thank you to the following blog sponsors and business owners for their monetary contributions as well:

*Rules: The linky will be open from Friday, May 11th 9am CST – Friday, May 18th 11:59pm CST. Submit your favorite spring photos to be entered into the drawing. Link directly to your blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s homepage or Flickr photostream. Link back to the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge in your post. One entry per household, please. All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing spring at the moment. All winners will be chosen at random, prizes will be matched as best possible, no exchanges. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 21st.

Head on over to the Finale Giveaway post to link up and enter for your chance to win one of 20 awesome prizes!

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge: FREE Photography Tips & Tutorials e-book" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

I took my girls for a walk yesterday as the sun began to set.

They goofed around…

Picked a few flowers…

Found a critter or two…

Explored their surroundings…

And marveled over the beauty of spring…

In case you missed it:

• I created 3 Facebook timeline cover templates and they’re absolutely FREE! Stop by and download them today.
• Tamron USA is featuring me over on their site and I’m so very honored. I sat down to talk with them about child photography – what works for me, how I get my children to cooperate during shoots. I would love for you to stop by and read it when you get a chance.
• The Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge is in its final week and we’re hosting a HUGE giveaway to celebrate our finale. Stop by between now and Friday at 11:59pm CST and share you favorite spring photos for a chance to win one of 20 prizes!

Thanks for stopping by and linking up here at Live and Love Out Loud. I’d love for you to visit a few of my friends…

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "Evening Walk {Wordless/Wordful Wednesday}" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

But I hate being limited to just one photo.

So I created a few Facebook timeline cover templates that allow me to showcase a collection of photos.

I created a diptych,

A triptych,

And a fun collage.

*click to view full size

They’re sweet and simple.

And I’m sharing them with you.

For free.

Yes, I said free.

FREE Facebook Timeline Cover Templates

Simply click on the following image to unlock and download your FREE Facebook timeline cover templates.*

*Need some help using these templates? I’ve got you covered, thanks to my collage template tutorial.

I’ll have more templates available for download soon, so stay up-to-date and subscribe to receive email updates today. Any templates you’d love for me to create? Let me know in the comments.

Did you miss these freebies?

• Free Photo Collage Template
• Free Overlay Texture

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "FREE Facebook Timeline Cover Templates" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

Here we are in the final week of the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge and I’ve got to be honest, it’s a little bittersweet. My co-hosts – Rebecca of Bumbles & Light and Alicia of Project Alicia – and I work year-round to make our seasonal photography challenges fun, inspiring and rewarding.

In addition to sharing a few snippets of our lives through photos each week in the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge, we shared a few photography tips as well:

• Composition
• Perspective
• Shooting during the golden hours
• Capturing motion
• White balance

You showed up, inspired us with your beautiful photos and joined our growing community of photographers. We’re so grateful to you for your continued support. And to thank you, we’ve got an amazing assortment of prizes for the taking. See rules and prizes below.

…………………….

Summer is fast approaching.

Warmer temperatures are on the horizon.

Lazy days in the sun are beckoning.

And new adventures are waiting to be lived.

We’ve got a sweet, laid-back and fun summer photography challenge in the works and can’t wait to unveil it sometime in the near future. (You’ll want to stay up-to-date so don’t forget to subscribe to receive email updates!)

But for now, I’m bidding adieu to spring with a few of my favorite images captured during the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge…

Sunshine and Light

Capturing the beauty of small town Missouri as the sun drifts westward across the plains.

Easter and Eggs

Capturing

Blossoms and Trees

Gorgeous little blossoms and bountiful trees. Spring is in full bloom.

Rain and Water

Soul soothing rain and a bittersweet, magical moment.

Grass and Green

Sunshine, grass and a sweet little turtle found along the back roads of small town Missouri. Not to mention, a free photo collage template.

Let’s get this giveaway started, shall we?

Our finale giveaway just wouldn’t be possible without a little bit of help from our wonderful friends.

Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous prize donations and support:

And thank you to the following blog sponsors and business owners for their monetary contributions:

Twenty lucky winners will have a chance to win one of these awesome prizes:

Five (5) winners will win an annual subscription of ThisLife’s Adventure Box package, valued at $80 each.

Five (5) winners will win Topaz Labs fabulous Topaz Adjust plugin, valued at $50 each.

One (1) winner will win a custom 26-page 8″ in spine photo book from AdoramaPix, valued at $40.

One (1) winner will win a lovely card bundle template of their choice from Life-n-Reflection, valued between $24-30.

One (1) winner will win a 11 x 14 “pretty print” of their choice from Veronica Armstrong Photography, $25 value.

One (1) winner will win a beautiful camera strap of their choice from Forshee Designs, valued between $19-27.

One (1) winner will win a gorgeous Daisy & Elm camera charm bracelet, valued at $30.

One (1) winner will win a $50 gift certificate to Photojojo.

Three (3) winners will win a $25 gift certificate to Photojojo.

One (1) winner will win the “Beyond Snapshots: How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off ‘Auto’ and Photograph Like a Pro” book, valued at $16.

Rules: The linky will be open from Friday, May 11th 9am CST – Friday, May 18th 11:59pm CST. Submit your favorite spring photos to be entered into the drawing. Link directly to your blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s homepage or Flickr photostream. Link back to the Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge in your post. One entry per household, please. All are welcome regardless of experience, time commitment and whether or not you’re experiencing spring at the moment. All winners will be chosen at random, prizes will be matched as best possible, no exchanges. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 21st.

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge: Finale Giveaway" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

Have I mentioned that I love the way you twirl your hair around your finger?

Have I ever told you that I love the sound of your laughter and the way you get excited when you tell a story?

Have I mentioned that you’re especially beautiful when the sunlight hits your face just so?

Hey girl, have I told you that I’m so very lucky to be your mom?

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "Hey Girl…" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

The joys of motherhood run far and wide and deep – every single one of them, worthy of being celebrated.

Speaking of celebrating mothers…

Verizon Wireless wants to celebrate moms with its Perfect Day Giveaway Sweepstakes! The grand prize package includes a manicure, pedicure, massage, facial, laundress, house cleaning, and a $350 restaurant voucher or gift card. The retail value of this amazing prize pack? $1,350!

Entering Verizon’s Perfect Day Giveaway Sweepstakes is easy.

Verizon’s Perfect Day Giveaway Sweepstakes will run from May 10th, 12am ET – May 11th, 11:59pm ET.

You must complete the following steps to be entered to win:

• Simply follow @VerizonWireless on Twitter, tweet out a message that makes a positive statement about your mom for Mother’s Day and include the following in your tweet: @VerizonWireless #PerfectDay 

Example: @VerizonWireless My mom is the most incredible woman I aspire to be. #PerfectDay

• You can enter a maximum of 5 times per day during the contest.

Tweet wisely! The person with the best tweet will win this amazing prize pack for mom.

Good luck to you all!

*Additional Details: Prizes: ONE (1) GRAND PRIZE: Perfect Day Giveaway Sweepstakes Grand Prize Package to include: manicure, pedicure, massage, facial, laundress, house cleaning, dinner/restaurant voucher or gift card for $350 (terms and conditions of voucher or gift card apply) (selected by sponsor in its sole discretion). Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $1,350. See Official Rules for more info.

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "Celebrate Mom with Verizon’s Perfect Day Giveaway, Valued at $1,350" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

They make me smile.

I’ve been through a lot in the last six months and I’m emotionally drained, to say the least.

Today, I finally felt like I was mentally prepared to put the words together and share the pathology results of my recent lumpectomy. I’d love for you to stop by and take a moment to read it.

This breast lump journey isn’t just mine. It’s yours too.

You’ve been with me every step of the way and I’m so grateful for that. I’m grateful for your kind words, virtual hugs and support.

All because of a breast self-exam, my life has changed exponentially over the last six months.

I have a totally new perspective on life – what it is that I want out of it and what I plan to do with it.

Like this simple arrangement of daisies…

Sometimes, all it takes to gain a new appreciation for life…

And the beauty around us…

Is a whole new perspective.

…………………….

You may have noticed the new look around here.

I have Sarah of One Starry Night to thank for that. She’s wicked-talented when it comes to design and super patient as well. She’s such a trooper for putting up with my requests and my need to control every single element of my new design. She’s available for hire and reasonably priced too. I highly recommend her work.

…………………….

The Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge is still going strong. This week, we’re sharing photos of “grass/green” and I’m sharing a few tips on white balance as well. It’s not too late to share your photos. The linky will remain open until Thursday 9am CST. On Friday, May 11th, we’ll be celebrating our finale with a great big giveaway so stop by and share your favorite spring photos. Grab your cameras, leap into spring and share your favorite photos inspired by our weekly prompt. Head on over to the Spring Photo Challenge page to learn more.

Thanks for stopping by and linking up here at Live and Love Out Loud. I’d love for you to visit a few of my friends…

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "On Daisies and Perspectives {Wordless/Wordful Wednesday}" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

It’s been an emotionally draining time in my life, to say the least.

I’m a 37-year old wife and mother of four children ranging in age from toddler to teens.

I’m a writer.

I’m a photographer.

I’m a daughter, sister and friend.

I have hopes and dreams and great big ideas that I’d like to someday see into fruition.

I don’t have time for cancer.

Which is why, at the recommendation of my doctor, I opted for surgical removal of the tumor in my left breast two weeks ago.

I showed up for surgery all decked out – mascara, sparkly toenails, shiny happy flip flops and all.

I shook off those pre-surgery nerves by tweeting, texting, emailing and chatting with a few of you while waiting to be called back and lulled to sleep.

Surgery went well and the mass was removed.

I made laying in recovery look good.

But I was in a considerable amount of pain.

And, I’m not going to lie.

I wanted my mommy the entire time.

I wanted her to hold me close.

I wanted her to tell me that the pathology results would be no big deal – that the pesky little lump was benign.

But there’s only so much that a mother can do, even when her 37-year old baby needs her to work a miracle.

So I waited and waited for the results to come in.

I removed the bandage, examined my new scar and I cried.

I cried like a big baby.

In short, the wound is ugly. It’ll take some getting used to.

But there are bigger things in life to cry over than an imperfect breast.

So I wiped my tears and smiled instead…

I headed to my doctor’s office recently.

And wore yet another hospital gown.

He sat me down and explained that my breast would take a considerably long time to heal.

And then he told me that the tumor he removed is benign.

My tumor is benign.

My tumor is BENIGN.

MY TUMOR IS BENIGN!

But then he followed it up by saying that the cells in the tumor were suspicious, abnormal.

A ticking time bomb.

A ticking time bomb that was eradicated, sliced, diced, tested and obliterated for all eternity.

I couldn’t help but smile as I drove home.

I called my husband and my mother and shared the wonderful news.

And then I began to cry.

Somewhere along the back roads of Missouri, it finally hit me.

That pesky little lump I’d been carrying around for six months could’ve gone unnoticed.

The ticking time bomb could’ve exploded.

And my future would’ve looked a lot more different than it does now.

I have hopes and dreams and big ideas that I’m hell bent on seeing into fruition.

I have a family to love, live and make memories with.

There’s a world of experiences just waiting to be lived and I am damn well going to live them.

All because I performed a breast self-exam. 

Would you please do me a favor? Perform your monthly breast self-exams or schedule that mammogram you’ve been putting off once and for all. You owe it to yourself, and the people you love, to monitor your breast health.

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "All Because I Performed a Breast Self-Exam {My Breast Lump Journey}" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

A photographer who spends time outdoors…

On sandy beaches,

Muddy trails,

Tropical rain forests,

Braving the desert heat,

And the bitter cold of winter.

I’ve climbed trees, laid in tick-infested grass, have been scratched by thorns and thistles, waded out into a creek during a thunderstorm and dangled over a cliff – all in an effort to get the perfect shot.

No matter where I am or what I’m shooting, I’ve always got my iPhone on hand; tucked safely away in my back pocket.

But sometimes, accidents happen.

I was standing in just a few inches of water along the creek’s edge a few weeks ago, when I took this shot…

And somehow, during the shoot, my iPhone worked its way out of my pocket and into the creek. Plop!

After I recovered from the mini heart attack and took a photo of my iPhone in the creek, I examined my phone and thanked the geniuses at LifeProof for creating a water, snow and dirt proof case that protects against drops, knocks and tumbles.

My thoughts on the LifeProof iPhone case

The LifeProof case is available for the iPhone 4/4S, easy-to-assemble, sturdy and secure. My phone performs just as well while encased in its LifeProof cocoon. The sound quality is amazing and the controls are functional. Bike mounts, belt clips and underwater headphone adapters are available as well.

I am so happy with my LifeProof case. As a busy mom and photographer, this case is an absolute must-have!

Get your very own LifeProof case today! Use coupon code: FBMOM10 to score 10% off anytime between now and May 14th.

And don’t forget to enter the LifeProof iPhone case giveaway!

The awesome folks at LifeProof are giving away one LifeProof iPhone 4/4S case, valued at $80, to one lucky reader here at Live and Love Out Loud!

Entering the LifeProof iPhone 4/4S case giveaway is easy…

Rules:

• This giveaway ends on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 9pm CST.
• A separate comment must be left for each entry.
• One winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email.

Mandatory Entry:

• Head on over to LifeProof’s site and tell me which color case you’d like to win.

Additional Entries:

• “Like” LifeProof on Facebook.
• “Like” Live and Love Out Loud on Facebook.
• Follow my blog via email.
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following no more than once a day: I’m entering the @LifeProof iPhone case #giveaway valued at $80 at @TweetingMama’s blog http://bit.ly/Jbv5pG

Good luck to you all!

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER WILL BE CONTACTED VIA EMAIL.*

Disclosure: I received the LifeProof iPhone case in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "LifeProof iPhone Case Giveaway, Valued at $80" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama

Don’t forget to grab my FREE photo collage template and check out my tutorial on using collage templates as well!

Spring is in full bloom here in small town Missouri.

My little girl loves looking for little blossoms to pick.

Hands off my irises!

One of the things I love most about spring is the reemergence of animals who’ve laid hidden during the cold winter months.

I found this little guy crossing the road on the outskirts of our little town. I’d seen so many of his friends squished along my drive that I couldn’t bare to leave him there.

So I picked him up, brought him home…

And set him down in a field of grass outside my home…

Where he basked in the warmth of the evening sun.

After a few hours, it was time to go.

So off to his new home, he went.

Blossoms, April showers, hazy sunsets and fields of grass…

These are the makings of a perfect spring.

…………………….

We’re sharing photography tips each and every week in Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge. This week, I’m discussing white balance.

Photography Tip of the Week: White Balance

Simply put, white balance is the process of removing unrealistic color casts so that the objects which appear white in person appear white in your photo as well. While our eyes do a great job of discerning the color white in various lighting conditions, digital cameras often have great difficulty with auto white balance; creating orange, blue and sometimes green color casts.

Avoid color casts and improve your photography under a wide range of lighting conditions by getting a better understanding of white balance.

The best way to do this is through experimenting with the white balance settings on your camera.

Start off by shooting the same subject in auto white balance mode first, followed by another setting. When set to auto white balance, your camera makes the best guess it can on which objects in your photo are truly white. In the example below, I shot the same scene by setting my in-camera white balance to auto and then daylight.

Notice the effect that both white balance settings have on the same scene. Though subtle, they both create a different mood. One is warm while the other is cool.

Here’s another look at the effects that various white balance settings have on the same scene.

Often times, the white balance setting you choose will come down to personal preference. Are you looking to achieve a true-to-life, clean effect? Or are you going for a warmer feel? What are you shooting?

White balance is especially important when shooting people. Notice the wide range of effects that various white balance settings have on skin tones.

Too lazy or forgetful to change your white balance settings? Keeping your white balance set to auto is an option, particularly if you shoot in RAW and are able to adjust your white balance settings post-processing. But using auto white balance is discouraged when shooting a series of photos over an extended period of time and under varying lighting conditions as the camera will simply not be able to produce consistent results.

Another option is programming white balance on a scene-by-scene basis in-camera by selecting the custom white balance mode. In the example below, I photographed my daughter with a white card and set my camera to custom white balance. In doing this, I’ve trained my camera to discern the color white under the current lighting condition. (Had the lighting changed, I’d need to reset my custom white balance all over again.)

The result is a true to life to image.

Avoid color casts, improve your photography under a wide range of lighting conditions and cut down on post-processing time by getting a better understanding of white balance and implementing what you’ve learned into your everyday shooting.

In case you missed it, here’s a rundown of the tips we’ve shared so far:

• Composition
• Perspective
• Shooting during the golden hours
• Capturing motion

I’m teaming up with Rebecca of Alicia of Project Alicia and Bumbles and Light to bring you the Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge – a 6-week photography challenge aimed at capturing the beauty of spring.

Just a few details:

Not experiencing spring in your part of the world? No problem. All are invited regardless of geographic location.

Two prompts to choose from each week! Share your favorite images inspired by one of our weekly prompts. Or both. It’s totally up to you.

The linky will remain open from 9am Friday – 9am Thursday CST. Leap Into Spring! blog post or Flickr photo, not your blog’s home page or Flickr photostream. Feel free to share your photos in our Leap Into Spring! Flickr Group as well.

We’ll be showcasing some of your lovely photos by pinning our favorite submissions to our Leap Into Spring! Pinterest Board each week.

We love Instagram just as much as you do! We’ll be on the lookout for your lovely spring photos, so be sure to use the #leapintospring hashtag.

Last, but not least, don’t forget to grab our lovely button!

Next week we’re kicking off our Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge Finale Giveaway by sharing some of our favorite spring photos. Anything goes! So stop by, link up and enter to win one of many fabulous prizes we have in store for you!

Thank you to the following sponsors for their generous donations to the upcoming Leap Into Spring! Photo Challenge Finale Giveaway:

Hi there! Thanks so much for subscribing to Live and Love...Out Loud. I love hearing from you, so please don't be shy. Stop by and leave a comment on my recent post "Leap Into Spring Photo Challenge: Grass/Green {Plus White Balance Photography Tips}" or shoot me a quick email. It would certainly make my day. Thanks again! Kristi, Live and Love...Out Loud @TweetingMama