Sep 02 2010

clean color tutorial update and QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

Last Tuesday afternoon I sent out a newsletter to those on my photographers mailing list (see sidebar to the right) regarding my Clean Color Tutorial Video. If you did not receive it and you signed up BEFORE last Tuesday afternoon (9 days ago) then please check your spam mailbox. You may also need to double-check that you activated your subscription using the link in the email sent to you when you subscribed (this may be in your spam box as well).

In the newsletter I invited you all to ask questions regarding the Clean Color Video. I want to be sure that you know what the video IS and what it ISN’T and I thought the easiest way to do that would be for me to answer your questions for you. So this web clip is my attempt to do this. Please ignore the following:

1) My crazy eyes and incessant blinking. I created this web clip three times. I was crazy by the second time.

2) Any repition of words, phrases or ideas. I created this web clip three times. I was crazy by the second time.

3) My lack of smiling and general seeming unfriendliness. I love you guys. But it’s past 11 and I created this web clip three times.

3) The grain, noise, and general lack of quality. I’m a photographer not a videographer. I most certainly won’t quit my day job.;)

Enjoy!

Just a few quick notes that I think are worth repeating in regards to the video. (and a few things I might have forgotten to mention)

- Clean Color will be a hard copy CD, not a download. There will be a version for Elements as well as full Photoshop.

- It will include everything I do in post-processing from beginning to end. It will briefly include Lightroom but only to show how I cull and sort images there.

- The CD will contain a variety of resources in addition to the Clean Color Workflow Video to include access to all of the images I work with in the video so you can play along at home, a bonus FAQ of me chatting and answering any and all questions you have for me (no holds barred), actions related to my process and an appendix with links to additional resources.

- Because the Clean Color Workflow Video is created using screenshot software you will see my screen as I work. For two hours. If you are a novice Photoshop or Elements user then you can still very much benefit from this video because you’ll be able to easily follow along as I work. Not much (if any) prior knowledge is required.

- Finally, this video is not for local photographers. I think it is to the benefit of each of us to develop and hone our own processess in order to differentiate ourselves in the local market.

6 comments

add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Sep 02 2010

home.

When I walked in, and this was the first thing I saw, I knew I was home.

Yesterday we celebrated our third anniversary in our little house in Huntsville. When you’ve been a military family three years is a big deal. Instead of packing up and moving on we’re settling our bones in a little deeper and, literally, making ourselves at home.

When I look back at these pictures I’m right back to 2007. Sarah and I spent the summer traipsing around every reasonably priced three bedroom home in the neighborhood. I spent the evenings stalking for new “for sale” signs. We made three offers on three different houses that summer and none of them were right. I was getting desperate as Ephraim got bigger and bigger inside of me. I needed a house before that boy was born.

The day I found our home I was feeling a bit forlorn about the whole situation. I was driving my pregnant self aimlessly around our now-neighborhood, as I was prone to do, when I came across this beautifully landscaped house with a for sale sign propped against a side wall. I rang the bell (did I mention I was desperate?) and asked if it was for sale. The woman inside told me that it wasn’t yet but it would be soon. I begged to come in. The floors weren’t ready she said. I didn’t care. I couldn’t yet see the bedrooms. Fine by me.

I walked in and I knew it was right.

I could feel it in my bones.

I insisted Brent come see it that afternoon and by the evening we had made the sellers an offer they couldn’t refuse. Unfinished floors, mystery bedrooms and all.

But I knew I was home. Thankfully, blessedly, sometimes it just works that way.

5 comments

add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Aug 31 2010

ten on tuesday.

1. I often get questions about blog design and other bloggy things which I consider myself highly UNqualified to answer. I have piddled with HTML over the years out of necessity but my knowledge is limited to what the answers I find on google. I’m a far cry from a web genius or design guru. If you’re looking for great information on blog design for BLOGGER you might want to consider Kristina Proffitt’s Blog Design Basics Class. It looks like an awesome class and if I were still working on Blogger I’d be in it in a heartbeat!

2. As a random sidenote, I actually met Kristina almost four years ago on an elevator in the Park Meadows Mall in Denver. She recognized Sarah and me from the blog. It was a crazy fun coincidence! She’s a super talented person with a super kind heart. (My favorite kind of person.)

3. Thank you to everyone who sent along recipes for honeydew melon sorbet (and more!) a couple of weeks ago. I put Brent to work on this recipe Saturday afternoon for our Supper Club that evening. It was so delish! We served it in tuiles I made using this recipe from my new favorite (as of Saturday when I went a-googling) food/baking blog, Bakers Royale. I love her fresh simple set up and her gorgeously crisp finished images.

4. I was so inspired that I channeled my secret desire to be the Next Food Network Star (not!) and made a trio of desserts for Supper Club. To include individual coconut cakes, s’mores petit fours, and the aforementioned honeydew melon sorbet in fresh tuiles. I am now in sugar detox. Not even kidding about that.

5. Have you checked out Mila’s Daydream lately? It’s only gotten cuter. Laundry Day? Are you kidding me? How is my heart supposed to absorb that much squishy baby love? Geez Louise.

6. I just registered for the Huntsville Half Marathon in November. It was only $20. Easy to back out of, right?

7. Where has roasted cabbage been all of my life?

8. I sent a newsletter out last week regarding the Clean Color Workflow Video. In response I got tons of questions about the video that I plan to answer in video clip format here on Thursday or Friday. So if you don’t want to see me as a talking head stay away.;)

9. TOMORROW is the day I’ll be sending out a newsletter regarding my holiday minisessions for this year. So if you’re local and you want more information use the signup form in the sidebar of the business blog. I love minisessions!

10. Brent’s mom is currently recovering from a pretty intense surgery yesterday. If you have a prayer to spare our family would appreciate it.

13 comments

add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Aug 30 2010

you two.

My two monkeys are home with me today. It’s a school day but a bit of tummy trouble kept us from heading that way at 9 am. It’s the worst kind of “sick” though since they actually feel fine and have just as much energy (or more!) as usual. And they’re together. Which means double trouble. On a day when I was planning to be ultraproductive two little sick-but-not-really munchkins aren’t exactly what I was hoping for. Sometimes doing the responsible thing really stinks.

On the other hand, having two kiddos who are so into each other is pretty fantabulous. So I won’t complain.

Some of you have commented before about how well it appears they get along. And they really, really do. Sarah is thrilled to have a little brother to take care of and lead around while Ephraim thinks his sister hung the moon.

Brent has a brother. I have a sister. This whole mixed gender sibling thing was new to us and I’ve spent a good chunk of time worrying that they won’t grow up close. My fears are beginning to alleviate.

As far as two and four year olds go, I’m not sure they could be closer.

 Gosh I pray it stays that way.

And I hope they go to school tomorrow.

13 comments

add a comment
link to this post
email a friend
Aug 27 2010

please don’t tell me you thought I forgot.

 

I mean, I may easily forget the nights I invite company for dinner or to put my child in the appropriate holiday dress or to send my little one to church in, well, underwear, but I most certainly would NOT forget to document the first day of the new school year. Not so far anyhow.

So without further adieu I present to you…Pi’bears and B-Ro, First Day of Preschool, 2010…(taken two weeks ago)

Ephraim is clearly happy to be snuggling his sister. At least it’s an improvement over last year when he only cared what was inside his lunchbox. This year he only cares who is ON his lunchbox. (Question: What kind of mother buys her two year old a Spiderman lunchbox? Answer: The kind who also forgets to send her child to church in underwear. See above.)

Now just a few random thoughts in my head about my children at this very moment in time. Humor me please.

Sarah remains the best big sister on the face of the planet. She shares every last bit of everything she has with her brother. Unless she’s sleep deprived. Then the world better watch out because she’s kicking butts and taking names. Starting with Ephraim’s.

Ephraim is becoming more verbal by the minute and delights us each day with a new phrase. This morning it was, “that’s not fair.” On a daily basis it’s, “I don’t beary know.” But my favorite remains four words he says to me every morning as I head to my shower, telling the kiddos I’ll be in the bathroom if they need me. He always replies the same way: “I need you mommy.”

Sarah has an intense sense of smell and taste and can peg both of those things with uncanny descriptions. I’m convinced she will be a chef. She shows culinary curiosity and promise. (If anyone has a hookup with Top Chef Junior, hit me up.)

Ephraim is only into race cars and no other kind of car will do. In his mind “racecar” means matchbox cars. No more chubby plastic toddler cars for this chief.

Lovies are still permanent fixtures in our house: RaeRae for Sarah (she still smells his ears) and Blankie for Ephraim (Blankie is no longer called “Yucky.” Boo.)

These two munchkins put such a smile on my face on a daily basis.

  Especially now that they’re back in school.

;)

9 comments

add a comment
link to this post
email a friend

« Older posts

© 2010 The PigBear | ProPhoto Blogsite by NetRivet WordPress Development WordPress Loves AJAX

M a m a   M o n d a y s
F A Q s
H o w   T o
A c t i o n s