my newest storybook theme

I need to come up with a name...got any ideas??

My turn to share my senior mailing

What do you think? I would love some cc before sending it off to be printed.

Great smile

This is one happy girl :)

One in Color...

...and an overexposed background. Don't ever let girls talk you into letting them sleep (then eat slowly and shower and do their hair...) so that by the time you get to the beach to shoot a few photos the sun is just about straight up . On our last vacation when my kids wanted to boogie board it was overcast and cold...but this trip we got the nice sunny weather...go figure.

from my senior guy tonight

just read a great tutorial on high key so I thought I would try it.

Montage

Okay, do you guys ever read the Digital Photo magazine? It is probably my favorite photography magazine. Each month it comes with a CD of tutorials and free downloads. The latest issue was on portraits (very JSO stuff). The free downloads were 6 different "montage" templates. Here is my play with one of them. I added the white edging because I didn't like it without. So, what think ye?

my ballet stage

I'm just about ready to start shooting little ballerina girls on my new set. Just need a few more things.

And another...

One thing is for sure....girls are much easier to shoot than boys...she was always willing to pose!

Children's Museum

SETTINGS: ISO: 200 AP: f/2.8 SS: 1/125

I took the kids to the children's museum all by myself. Not too fun for me but super fun for the kids. It's trips like this that makes me wish I had 3 hands.

Side note: gotta take my camera in for work - it started acting all funny during this trip - knowing my luck I am going to have to put it down and get a new one... :(

More of my Senior

She loves selective color...and wants a lot of black and white pics...but I'm not too sure if I like it.

Here are a few shots of my work space

Note all the costumes... it is an addiction just behind my backdrops!! It is snowing here today!! What the heck????

I'm Here Ruth!!!

Been out of town for 3 days...took my daughter and some friends to the coast. This was the senior gal that went with us....figured we'd do some work amidst all the SHOPPING!


ISO640, ss100, f5.6 w/flash

ps. anyone got any quick teeth whitening suggestions???

Where the freak is everyone???

Here is another from my photo shoot in Portland

Sweet 16

I shot the daughter of a friend's 16 year bday pics yesterday. Here is one of my favorites from the shoot (because I love the crop on this one).

my marketing postcard idea

what do you think?

Portland shoot

Had a great time in Portland and got some wonderful shots!! Here is one. I'm tired...need more sleep. Nite everyone.

Write with Light

Christian Glitter Graphics

NA NA NA NA NA NA...

Hi! No photo to post this morning but Ruth is here and we are heading to a workshop in Portland today. She said to say na na na na na na, but I told her that is rude. But she said to say it anyway. We'll post some photos tonight from the workshop.
Tammy

After Dinner

SETTINGS: ISO: 200 AP: f/2.8 SS: 1/60 Flash used - cause it was pitch black outside...lol

We haven't seen my husband's dad in forever and it was great to get to know his wife over dinner tonight. Kids of course were not on their best behavior but it was a pleasant evening non-the-less. I was able to snap a few shots after dinner of William, the kids and his dad and wife. I can't wait for summer when we just get out and see them. We are going to do it!! lol

Not a household item...

...and I for one LOVE the theme for the week. But since no one (except Tamara) has actually done anything with it (shame on us :) we should use it again sometime.
These flowers are for my brothers website, he's a landscaper.

ISO 800, ss800, f4.5 with Poster effect.

Wedding Work

I shot a last minute wedding this past Saturday. The ceremony was under an open pavilion and it stormed fiercely during the ceremony. This is one of my favorites of the day.

Senior contest on my blog

If any of you have time please stop by my biz blog and vote for your favorite senior image, I would really appreciate any unbiased votes! Thanks!!

http://courtney-lifebehindthelens.blogspot.com/

not home yet

WPPI is over...I didn't have internet access. But I learned tons!!! I don't have time to really say anything. I'm off to visit Tammy in a couple of days!! Having a blast. Will post some pictures soon

Household item-picture frame

Had this old garage sale picture frame just lying around, ok had to throw some of my mismatched $1. paint on it. Does it count as a household item? It say's Marie Antoinnette Eat Your Heart Out...

Week 12 Household items

Here is the theme for this week. Let's see what you can come up with. Let's make it challenging. When you shoot your household items, let's see you play with DOF or lighting to add some technique to the image you are shooting.

My son is a monster!

So I finally got the large softbox that I have been waiting for and really wanted to practice, but all I could get from Sawyer was this.

f8, ss 125, iso 200 alien bee with large softbox about 2 feet in front of him, reflector to my right

First Ever Track Meet

I was trying to get a shot of the baton exchange (and one of my favorite colors is red :)

ISO400, ss2000, f5.6

My favorite color

This color reminds me of Cinderella and Marie Antoinnette. This ralph luaren paint comes in all kinds of great colors. I am a paint junkie. I visit home depot every weekend for their mis matched paint cans for $1.00! All of the sudden I am in love with metallic paint. So my current project is this chair for the studio. I'll post it when I finally finish it. I have no idea what I am going to use for fabric on the seat. Wouldn't it look great with faux fur the same color?

My Favorite color is Purple!

Well not really, but since getting married 3 years ago (our anniversary is this Wednesday!) my wardrobe has a whole lot more purple in it! I married into a K-State Wildcat Family, I think their blood runs purple!! Here's a shot I took for my business blog and I thought I would share it here. My 2 middle girls all decked out in their purple preparing for the game tonight.

WPPI bound

Just letting everyone know that I'm off to Vegas for the WPPI convention with Michelle. Maybe we'll try to post something from there..... don't forget me and do post cause we'll be checking!!

Scrapin Fun

Here is another page I did - I want to do one of each of my family members. And to stay in with the theme it does have some of my favorite colors on it.

I am not all the way caught up with my scrapbooking but I am getting there - I still have much of January to scrap but I am getting there. I hope to just scrap the stuff shortly after the images are edited, (fingers crossed that this happens).

You can find lots of free digital scrapbook stuff all over the web but if you click HERE you can see the blog I check everyday. They have done all the scouring of the web for you, plus they show images of the items that can be downloaded so if you don't like the item then you don't have to go there. Makes my life easier for sure.

I love the layout templates where you can add your own papers and elements because they are just like templates for collages and stuff - all layered and you can just link your paper with their shape & design. Very cool and super easy - which makes scrapping lots more fun and less time consuming.

lots of color!

Isn't she just the cutest? I may have posted her before but I just wanted to post her again! :)

Favorite Colors?

I think I like all them all (well, maybe not pink :)

ISO200, ss250, f2.5

Scrap Attack

So I got the scrap'n bug and here is a sample of what I have been working on. My goal this year is to get all my 2008 images "scraped" so when I do my yearly book all I have to do is drag and drop and not have to worry about layouts.

I LOVE photoshop and all the cool new digital scrapbook stuff available!

another one of my senior

Here my senior is with her cousin... such a cutie! I hated having to use such a high iso.. always makes me nervous.

E Session

Despite having a bad cold, I went out yesterday between worship services and did engagement pictures for this couple. Being out in the cold was NOT good for my sinuses. Anyway, I used a reflector but it must have moved as I snapped this because it's only on her chin now. But, they had great smiles, so I did what I could with it.

My favorite color is Baseball....

...oops, I mean green :)

ISO200, ss1000,f5.6

Your Favorite Color

This is the new theme for this week. If you don't want to do images with just your favorite color, how about just images that showcase color in general!

Remember, keep posting images as you shoot, and try and get at least one image from the challenge during the week.

in I come

hey everyone just stopping back by to show a shot from my recent session! I'm still around!
iso 1600 ss 1/500 f2.8 at 70mm

Hello? Is the mic on?

Ok.. I'm all alone in here and I don't like it one bit. Are we going to play anymore? sniff sniff

Here is one from my senior session today

senior announcement

Here my first one for the year... cc welcome!

so where has everyone gone???? Do we need to add some new people to the blog? What do ya'll think?

So Ruth will stop yelling at me....

...I'm posting a pic today :)

And I'll even make it relevent to the thread. This is our son Wilson, baseball player extraordinaire, and he makes my life easier because he is the most good-natured, hysterically funny child on earth (no kidding). Everyone should have a Wilson in the house. He makes us laugh and makes us think and is always pleasant to be around (well, almost always, he's not a drone).

ISO 32oo, ss320. f2.8
ps.what would really have made my life easier is if this stadium had decent LIGHTS.....geez!

group buy on digital paintings

ok ladies we only need two more people for this group buy. Julie just painted a beautiful painting for me...I'll try to post it. If I can't here at work I will do it at home. Anyway she is doing a group buy for 10 people for $50.00. She usually charges photographers $85.00 and of course clients more. I only need two more people to make the required 10. Anyone interested?

Her website is http://www.jandersonpic.com/ and my image is under commissioned paintings far bottom left. Little Blue Boy.

Does anyone want in? I would like to finish this up today or tomorrow. Let me know so that I can add your name to the list.

Things that Make My Life Easier

My Husband. ( he was not happy that I took this picture)
My Laptop and Lightroom (noticed the little helper)
And My Children having fun together (even in time out). Didn't notice that my DD had the saggy bottoms until I took the pic, then couldn't get them to do it again after I fixed her pants.

Oh yeah and Baby Gates, got to love Baby Gates.

All Bounce flash indoors.

sharing my animoto

just thought I would share with y'all my first music video.. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzgAmk7vI8M

leave a message if you care to!!!

He is what gets me thru

He is my rock and my sanity. He makes my life easier and without him I know my life would be extremely chaotic. He is my husband, friend and Hero. I love him dearly.


His scar is healing nicely - the boys think it looks cool and his friends think it's wicked. To me it's a physical sign of all he has gone thru and sacrificed for us. every day is a step forward - he tries to do too much sometimes and ends up two steps backwards in his recovery (which drives him nuts).

The Word

I find that life is easier if I live by His standards.

Collage

I finally got this collage done. Again it takes me forever to get My Family pictures done. What do you think?

Making my Life Easier

Some mysterious stranger (no kidding) dropped off a portable lighting studio for me to shoot product with. It's a 3-sided fold away box, and it came with lights and a couple different colored backdrops...perfect for shooting food and jewelry. I love it!!! Here's my first session...now all I need is a tripod!

Even princess's get boogers

So I decided to make a tutu for Ruth - which by the way was super easy! She loves it and of course she didn't want to take it off so before she went to bed I took a few pictures of her. This is was one of my favorites.

SETTINGS: ISO 100, AP f/2.8, SS 1/60

my son makes my life easier too!!

he really truly does!!! :)

he makes my life easier

trying to work on ambient and flash lighing. Cindy will you please email me your phone number...I need to ask you a few questions. My senior was sick today...so now it is next Sat.