The next workshop on my list is The Light Workshop, which I actually don’t have to leave home to attend.  It’s an online class focused on learning how to see and use natural light to create beautiful images.  If you’re looking for a wonderful online workshop, check out Detra’s blog for more information!

Here’s my shot a practicing finding and using natural light.  I took this at the edge of a parking lot just as the sun was going down.  The fake smile was the result of begging any one of my four children to please just stand in the weeds for a few seconds so that I could get the shot.  Here’s the poor child who caved to my pressure. 

My new flash site can be found HERE. It’ll link to this here blog from now on.

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They have spent hours upon hours working together at this orchard over the years.

What an apropos spot to get some portraits taken.

We were thrilled to see there were still some leaves hanging onto the branches this late in the fall.

Thanks for listening to my lame jokes this afternoon.  I promise to collect some new ones soon.

Enjoy your sneak peek!

Luckily, we ventured out and managed to avoid getting wet.

These two were awesome!  I only had to mention McSteamy and gorgeous Miss S would swoon just a little.  And the mention of Mr. J’s fine punting skills elicited some great smiles.

Thanks for trekking through dirt and cornfields and sand with me this afternoon.

Enjoy your sneak peek!!!

Before:

My workflow in CS4:

1.  Duplicated the image

2.  Color corrected using curves

3.  Levels adjustment to add contrast

4.  Using the patch tool to remove spot on cheek

5. Bumped up the exposure using a curves layer

6. Bumped up saturation and masked back the face

7.  hi-passed the eyes

8. Added Blue Lily’s sweet water action masking back here and there for variety

9.  Brightened eyes with an inverted curves layer just on the eyes

10.  Rotated 90% and flipped vertically

11.  Cropped to 5×7

12.  Noiseware at 40%

13.  Sharpened for web

A great picture to begin with if just a little under exposed.

My edit:

And my black and white conversion with a touch of pink:

Head on over to iheartfaces to see more editing magic.

Happy Friday!

Kudos to these guys.  Despite the chilly weather and early hour, we were able to get some fun pictures of them for the holidays.

Thanks for a fun morning and for introducing me to a new location.

Enjoy your sneak peek!

Josh was so easy going and laid back.  He was a natural at posing and was “super” easy to shoot.

I think I could get used to seniors. 

Josh, enjoy your sneak peek.  I’ll have your gallery up and ready soon.

I love fix-it fridays because editing is one of my favorite parts of of photography.

And since I started Phaunt U last week, I’ve learned a few things I didn’t know before about Photoshop.  Fix-it Fridays gives me yet another photo to try out what I’ve learned.

Original:

My workflow:

1.  Duplicate image

2.  Curves adjustment and color balance to correct skin tones.

3.  Ran Secret’s basic colr

4.  Patch tool to get rid of bruises, paint, and under eye circles

5.  Bumped up the saturation

6.  High pass over eyes and lips at 50%

7.  Added Kaleidoscope’s flare texture hard light layer at 50%

8.  Added a flare brush.

9.  Noiseware to smooth skin

10.  Sharpened for web

My edit:

If the weather holds out I’m taking the kids to attempt our Christmas card pics.  Considering it snowed yesterday, that may or may not happen.  I’ve also got a senior and a family to shoot this weekend.  And let’s not forget Halloween!  Think good weather thoughts!!!

Happy Halloween!!!!

Isn’t he adorable?

Just in time for Halloween!

This was last year’s costume but it makes it’s appearance every so often throughout the year.

You can never get enough Darth, right?

Check out all the other festive photos over at iheartfaces.

Happy Monday!