Fix-It Friday

I decided to participate in this week’s Fix-It Friday. Nevermind that it’s actually Saturday…!

I think I’m in the minority when I say that I actually enjoy editing photos. I feel like an artist creating a masterpiece, bringing out colors, cropping, sharpening, etc. I know most people hate the editing, but I really enjoy it. I can sit in my pj’s with my big glass of Crystal Light Iced Tea (I know… so sophisticated), maybe a snack, and get ’em done!

For anyone curious, I use Photoshop CS4 for my editing.

Here’s the original photo (provided by I Heart Faces):

And here’s the edit:

For anyone curious about Fix-It Friday, it’s hosted by I Heart Faces. You can visit them to see others’ submissions and for more information.

Jimmy & Rachel’s Senior Portraits

Last week I met Jimmy and Rachel for some portraits to celebrate their upcoming graduation from NC State. So how could we NOT get some fabulous shots on the NC State campus in Raleigh? Jimmy and Rachel were so much fun – jumping, sitting, standing, posing with their dogs… you name it, they did it! And their Mom came along so they could also have family portraits done. We had a blast and got some great shots. Have I mentioned I love what I do? 🙂

What To Wear Guide | Spring Edition

I know choosing your family’s wardrobes for portrait sessions can be difficult. The old trend used to include everyone wearing matching outfits – all white shirts or everyone in khakis and a black shirt. But the trend has changed for portraits.

The way to look your best is to have everyone coordinate – NOT match! This means you should pick a color or two and build your wardrobe around it. In this first example, we see a great shade of blue and some tans. Notice that everyone incorporates those colors into their outfits. Try incorporating a color using accessories – jewelry, shoes, a cute belt, etc.

Another important thing I always tell clients is to be comfortable! If you’re wearing something that isn’t “you”, it will show in your pictures. Always be yourself and let your wardrobe reflect your family’s personality and style.

The next example uses yellows and greens. I just love yellow for spring, and you can see from the children’s outfits that there are some things that reflect their personalities – cool sunglasses and a funky t-shirt!

If you need assistance selecting your outfits for a portrait session with me, I happily provide assistance with that! I always ask what you’re wearing and provide guidance on outfits before you show up for a portrait session. I want to make sure you’ll look your best and be happy with your portrait experience!

A big thank you to Melinda Brookshire Photography and I Heart Faces for this season’s style boards.

Six-Year Diagnosiversary Portraits

I recently met Sarah, who is celebrating her 6-year “diagnos-iversary” of breast cancer. She wanted some photos to commemorate the occasion, and we got some great shots of her in downtown Raleigh! She’s currently healthy, cancer-free, and happy. So happy for her, I had a blast meeting her!

Jessica’s Maternity Portraits | Durham Maternity Photographer

“A mother’s joy begins when new life is stirring inside… when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone.” — Author Unknown

Jessica and Andy will soon become parents for the first time… what an exciting time in their lives! They’re on my “Mommy & Me” plan, which means I’ll be meeting their baby soon after she arrives, I can’t wait! Jessica is absolutely glowing — pregnancy really suits her. Thanks for a fun session, guys!

Photo Challenge – Sunflare

This week’s photo challenge theme on I Heart Faces is Sunflare. It was perfect timing, because I took this photo with major sunflare in Durham over the weekend. Looooove some sunflare on a gorgeous pregnant Mama!

More images from this session to come soon!

To see other sunflare entries in the photo challenge, head on over to I Heart Faces!

Spring Mini Sessions Available!

Spring Mini Sessions are now available!

If you’d like to capture sweet little Easter outfits, give a Mother’s Day gift, or just have a few updated pictures, then these are for you!

Please contact me soon to book your session! Space is limited!

Fix It Friday!

I’m a big fan of I Heart Faces, they have wonderful tutorials and are a great resource for photographers. They do a weekly Fix It Friday in which they supply a photo that needs some editing help. This week I decided to participate and put my own spin on the photo.

This is also a good example of what goes into custom photography (and why it costs so much – you don’t see Wal-Mart or Sears doing these things to your photos!). It takes a LONG time to master Photoshop, and if you’re hiring and paying for a custom photographer, make sure they know their stuff! I spend a huge amount of my time sitting at my computer after every session making each image perfect. You wouldn’t believe the details I look at in every shot and make sure everything’s super duper!

So, on to the photo. Here’s the before:

And the after:

Here’s some of what I did to the photo, all in Photoshop CS4:

1. Crop
2. Run an unsharp mask
3. Clone out the white door in the background
4. Used MCP’s Magic Color Finder Brush (Vivid) on everything but the skin
5. Used the spot healing brush very lightly on portions of his face
6. Ran TRA’s Oh Snap action at about 75% opacity
7. Burned the edges of the photo slightly
8. Re-sized and sharpened for web

Visit me on Facebook here!

Josh & Mary Grace’s Engagement Portraits

Meet Josh and Mary Grace! They’re one of the cutest couples I’ve ever seen and soooo in love!

Josh’s Mom is a member of my local Clickin’ Moms group. We’re a bunch of photo-friends who get together once a month or so to have fun and take pictures together.

We held the session in downtown Raleigh and had a blast! I couldn’t believe all the blooms we were finding in DOWNTOWN in FEBRUARY! And I had so many good pictures, I had a hard time narrowing them down.

Here are my faves!