Friday Photo Journal Link Up - 3/28/14

I'm afraid I don't have much to share this week. I spent most of my week working on client images and didn't take many of my own family. When I'm not editing, marketing or catching up on client correspondence, I have been trying to focus on my own kiddos and husband. That usually means setting photography aside for a bit and just playing. We also had a return of winter this week, which left me feeling less than inspired. I had hoped to get out and at least capture some early spring blooms, but it was just too icky out. So, I'll leave you with just this image of my girl, "working" on her bike.

What have you been up to? Share your link below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you so much for stopping in! Have a fun weekend! :)

WW- Before and After Editing

Today I'm sharing a little before and after from the senior session I shot last week. I just sent out this gallery the other day. For seniors, I do more hand editing than for most family sessions. I tend to shoot more portrait-style work for seniors, with slightly more posing. 

I try to keep it pretty natural, but do smooth skin, whiten teeth, and dodge and burn to bring out highlights and add depth.  

 I also removed umpteen flyaway hairs from the close up shots in this session.  While I did try to keep an eye out and have her smooth & comb her hair before I clicked the shutter, shooting with backlight can make for an editing nightmare with stray hairs. All those finite details take a lot of time to correct in post-processing!

I did learn a new trick though, by duplicating the background layer in PS and adding a dust and scratches filter, I was able to use a layer mask to help paint over many of the flyways. Here's a link to a tutorial of this method if you're interested: Editing in PS.

Thanks for stopping in!

Friday Photo Journal Linky 3/21/14

Happy spring everyone! I guess it is official now. Let's hope the warmer weather is moving in to stay!
Last week we had some warm days and some frigid, wet days. But, we are headed in the right direction, I think. I enjoyed getting back to the beach last weekend for a senior portrait session. It was so great to feel the sand beneath my toes again! The kids enjoyed some outdoor PE activities, and even donned bathing suits to help daddy wash the car over the weekend. I love seeing buds beginning to pop on the Bradford Pears and Forsythia. Hooray for spring!!

Here's a peek at our week in iPhoneography:

What have you been up to? Share your link below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you so much for stopping in! Have a fun weekend! :)

WW - Back in the Saddle

Last year, as my first official year in business, was a challenge. I didn't have a weekend off all summer and fall was pretty crazy too. I was booked solid with holiday portraits, mini sessions and weddings. Marketing, creating workable business systems, shooting, editing, client correspondence - it was non-stop about 80 hours per week. By the time Christmas came around I was dog tired - then I had an unexpected slew of sessions over the holidays. So, January and February were a welcomed respite. Things slowed down quite a bit, but I did have a few sessions here and there, and managed to book a few weddings for 2014 - woo hoo! I also spent some time revamping my marketing materials and social media and studying through workshops, books, practice, practice, practice…

I had worried that the slow season might last…not having a lot of bookings lined up was making me a little nervous. Owning a business can be feast or famine, I suppose. But, last week my phone started ringing again. I booked three sessions for this weekend, one for next weekend and a wedding in August. Then I breathed a sigh of relief. Funny how the onslaught of work can be, all at once, overwhelming, intimidating and comforting.

I also had a senior session at the beach last Saturday and it was great to be back in the saddle again. We lucked out with some gorgeous weather and I had a gorgeous senior to work with! Here are a few of my favorites that I have edited so far:

And yes, I switched up my logo this week, so forgive the non-matching watermarks please. ;)

What have you been up to?
Thanks for visiting!!

Friday Photo Journal Link Up- March 14, 2014

Happy Friday Pi Day! :) Last weekend we ventured to NC to visit my in laws. It was a great trip and one we had not made in quite a while. We were blessed with gorgeous weather and I enjoyed visiting with family and taking in the rural countryside as we travelled.

 Here is a peek at our past week:

What have you been up to?

An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you so much for stopping in! Have a fun weekend! :)

Little Things and Funny Faces

Little Miss is quite the personality lately. In fact, she practically rules the roost. 

Here's about 10 seconds of her shenanigans captured on my iPhone yesterday.

She is sweet, silly and sometimes waaaay too sassy!

Linking up with Kim for:

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Wordless Wednesday

We spent the weekend visiting my in-laws in NC. We had gorgeous weather and it was great for the kids, (and me!), to get outside and play - dirt and all. Spring seems to be trying it's best to break through  the chill and I couldn't be happier about that. :)

Shot in the late afternoon on a partly cloudy day with my D610 and 105mm lens. 

Friday Photo Journal - March 7, 2014

Happy March everyone! I'm so glad we're inching closer to spring. It didn't feel much like it this week though. Brrrr, more snow, ice, frigid temps - enough, I say!  

This week was an interesting one - I dropped my iPhone in the toilet, nursed a cold, nursed others nursing a cold, had a couple of "spots" frozen off at the dermatologist (fortunately nothing serious), spent a lot of time updating my marketing materials for my photography business, and avoided the outdoors as much as possible. 

In between, I entertained myself by shooting a few lifestyle shots seen here:

What have you been up to?

An InLinkz Link-up

Thank you so much for stopping in! Have a fun weekend! :)

Little Things - and Little Ones

 ISO 5000 50 mm @ 1.8 1/250 

Linking up with Kim for:

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Wordless Wednesday

One of my favorite images from last week - when it was much, much warmer. Today - snow, ice, blech.