Just another shoot

These guys are all cousins. Aren't they such a good lookin' family?

Also, another thing I've learned - don't wear white to a photoshoot. It washes everything out. I didn't have a chance to tell them not to wear white and they were avid about doing it because they were remaking a photo they took when all the kids were littler. In the old photo they all wore white too, so they had to dress the same.

Thanks to my friend Allie, I learned how to do brighter eyes and it was sooooo fun. I also added burnt edges (also "thanks" to Allie for that tip). Here is my before and after. Oh, and the link for the tips she gave. She is REALLY knowledgeable about Photoshop and an awesome photographer.
http://1000wordsphotography.typepad.com/allie/2007/01/post.html

Burnt Edges continued

Okay, here is a burnt edge picture trying it the way my friend Allie suggested. I like this look alot better, not so organized. Try it out everyone and let us know how you like it.

Burnt Edges Look

Okay, thanks to Lexi (Thank-you Lexi!) I finally know how to do the burnt edges look. I tried what you told me and you were right, it turned out great! I then remembered that Becky had e-mailed me months ago how to do it and searched my e-mail for the directions. Here they are:

1. Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to make a selection an inch and a half in from the edge of the entire photo.

2. Go to ‘Select’ then ‘Feather’ (I typically make the selection about 40+ pixels)

3. Go to ‘Select’ then ‘Inverse’

4. Go to ‘Image’ then ‘Adjustments’ then ‘Levels’

5. Pull the middle slider (it’s gray) to the right a tiny bit

Hope you don't mind me sharing this Becky (which I'm sure you're thinking I'm a Barney for even asking). I chose to use the oval marquee for this picture because it just fit better. Although, I should have moved it down a little bit more but you get the jist. Below is my experiment with it:

Just a picture I took. Maybe they'll help inspire you to take some more pictures as well. I just thought these kids were so funny trying to take care of their little bro.

Not Dead

Sorry guys! I haven't posted anything lately (obviously). Things are a little crazy and busy right now. But, if there is a tip you learned and would like to share with the rest of us, please e-mail me at sabrinaatwood@gmail.com. I will then set you up to be an author on this blog so you can put in some tips too. Also, I would love to see some scrapbook layouts. I think that falls in the category of "phototipster" (that's what most of us are taking these pictures for anyway right?). Plus, I need some motivation right now. MOTIVATE ME!!!

Lighting

Lately, I have really enjoyed using my lighting. That's right, I said it, I got some indoor lighting. I just don't have any good big windows to shoot pictures in my house so I'm always spending countless hours on Photoshop adjusting the lighting on ALL my pictures.

I was walking in the mall and walked past Ritz Camera. In the window, they had a display of 3 lights with 2 umbrellas. You just plug them in and leave them on. So you don't have to time them with your camera or anything and the umbrella's make the light softer. I really like them. They are from Smith Victor and I can't remember if it was $150 or $200 for the set of 3 with the umbrella's.

It has been so great to have them. If I do want to touch up the pictures, I can run a "batch" on photoshop and retouch them all at once because they all have the exact same lighting. I highly recommend them. You can also get a soft box later on or something of that nature if you want to go bigger.