Beyond Snapshots

Jenny posted this to her blog. Check it out. It looks like they'll have some good information for sharing.....

.xmp files in photoshop

Do you keep these files?
Can I delete the bazillion .xmp files that are on my computer?
How can I stop them from ending up in my folders?

When I used elements, I could stop having them show up in the folder when I edited photos, but I can't seem to stop them in CS4....

Also, can't wait to see everyone favorite Christmas photos! It was a year ago, we were going full throttle in the Photographers' Workshop! and we haven't stopped since then!

Actions!

Let's talk a little bit about Photoshop Actions.....



First and foremost, do you use them?



the answer for me is 100% yes! I LOVE actions!



Secondly, what are your favorite actions to use and how to you use them?



Me? I have Pioneer Woman's FREE action sets and I love them! She's updated them recently, in case you didn't know that. There are a couple of additions to the sets and they actually work with CS4 a little better...

I also have Total Rad Actions - The Original but am thinking that I'd like to have the TRA2 set as well, someday!



Third, do you have favorite recipes for a series of actions that you LOVE and use on a regular basis?



This is where it gets tough for me. I'm "challenged" when it comes to Photoshop CS4, but I find it much easier for me to get around in than Photoshop Elements 6, which I had previously; that "organizer" that was in there....just bugged me and other things did too, but don't get me started....

I need to learn more about CS4 and don't even know where to begin with that endeavor; was actually looking into one of the Photoshop classes on Jessica Spragues website. But, I really need to learn more about curves and masking tools, etc. I guess this is a good place to start.



Last question, besides that outrageously expensive PHAUNT U photoshop class and the Kelby website, is there anywhere else that one can take on-line Photoshop courses? (the Kelby website is great, but I don't think I have time to do more with it than take one or two classes).

New Year's Resolution....Project??

I just read a blog post about starting a photography project for 2010. I thought this might be a fun thing for us to try (or maybe you guys already do something like this??). Perhaps it's a project to enhance your business, or focus on a tough subject, or to learn something new...or anything. We could post our progress (not necessarily the entire project) on this blog and create labels ("2010 Project-Val" or whatever) for keeping the projects organized. I had thought of attempting the 365 Day Challenge, but I think I'll try that one on my blog. The key word is try-haha! It might end up being a 52-Week Challenge instead.

What do you guys think? Are you up for a challenge or project??

Here's the original post (from photofocus.com) for more inspiration:

With 2010 just around the bend, it’s time to start thinking about a New Year’s Resolution. What a perfect time to start a photography project!

I am going to start a project – I will share more about that later – but for now, I want to encourage you to start one, and don’t think you can wait until January 1, 2010 to think about it. Start thinking and planning right now so that you’re ready to go New Year’s day.

But what sort of project you ask?

Here are some idea starters…

1. Projects based on the calendar

You could make a photograph a day, a photograph a week, a photograph on every other Tuesday, etc. These projects force you to adhere to a shooting schedule, which is something many photographers really need.

2. Projects based on the subject

You could decide to photograph objects, shapes, colors, people, places things, etc., all with a common theme.

3. Projects based on working with others

You could find a buddy, or two or 10 or 100. Consider teaming up with another photographer or group of photographers to complete a project as a team. This provides accountability and motivation for those who aren’t self-starters.

4. Projects based on the season

This is very similar to number one on the list but differs in that the project has a large time window, i.e., it’s based on the season. In summer you could decide to shoot nothing but beach balls for instance. You can vary this by shooting the same subject in different seasons.

5. Projects based on charity

Are there underprivileged or disadvantaged families in your area who need portraits? How about shooting for a local non-profit that needs a photographer but has no budget? Charity projects not only give you something to focus your camera on, they make what you do matter.

These are just a few ideas. Don’t get too caught up in the details. Just go for it. Do SOMETHING. The best way to get better at photography is to do more of it. The New Year’s project is the perfect spring board for just that.

Press Printed Cards

I just wanted to give you an update....I'd been talking with Sherri about where she prints photos and cards. She suggested Mpixpro.com
I've used WHCC (white house custom color) and have been happy, but since I'm not an official business, I don't have a tax id# and I'm charged sales tax, etc.
So, I signed up with Mpixpro and gave them a shot.
My cards turned out BEAUTIFUL!
I also ordered some prints and they are BEAUTIFUL!
I'm a convert from WHCC...
Also, I submitted my order at 3:30pm CT on Tuesday and my order was delivered by Fed Ex at 10:30 on Wednesday morning!
In the words of Sherri, they are AWESOMENESS!

Family Photos

Hey ladies,
I just received a link to our family photo gallery...
Let me know what you think...
thanks!

http://oliviawagnerphoto.smugmug.com/

choose "Emily and Louie"

Newborn Photos (part 2)

After my first pass through, this is the favorite so far....
here's my question, what' s the easiest way to get rid of the dark upper left corner without cropping? I know there is a way in Photoshop to copy the blanket, but I don't know how to do that.....
I like this one.

Bridget has a very mottled newborn complexion. I had to use pro-retouch on her whole body to remove the polka dots. This isn't the best shot of her, but I like it. How on earth do I get the black background to be solid black? Like Becky mentioned on the previous post, it's hard to get rid of the wrinkles, but it's impossible to NOT have wrinkles.

and in case you're wondering, it's really hard to shoot twins. I think I would have been ok with one, but 2 seriously is double trouble. They don't sleep at the same time, Bridget definitely has a very feisty personality. Richard is totally laid back and never got worked up or riled. Bridget was squirming and wiggling even when she slept.
They were older than the "ideal" newborn age, but I guess I figured since they were 5 weeks premature and they're 18 days old now, I would be ok. Definitely do this when they are younger than 14 days.
more to come.....


UPDATE: Here's the link to the gallery that I'm uploading them to... I'll add the unedited SOOC shots along with the edited. So far, they are all the edited ones.

advice + suggestions needed.

i need help.

i'm taking pictures for my cousin's wedding on 12.05. they have a bridal party of 20 (8 ladies, 8 guys, 2 ushers, a flowergirl, a ringbearer ... and a partridge in a pear tree)! i've shot weddings before, but cripe!

i will be taking shots of the entire bridal party indoors and out. i have used the 70-200 before, but didn't like it much. to heavy and i'm an unstable mess most of the time. i've used some other lenses, but am just curious in all your opinion. what wide lenses have you shot and liked? i'll have my 50mm, but i have to rent another lens (and probably a flash ... should just freaking buy one, but i HATE using it).

suggestions? advice? words of wisdom? i get so anxious when i shoot weddings. i will have a second shooter (my friend kim) which helps calm me down a bit - but i just need ... support! haha! i'm a freak show.

thanks ladies!
jenny

PW

These are our attempt at photos today. I'm not happy with anything about them....I had to hand off the camera when we got up to the front. Our photo with her are terrible!
Oh well, it was a fun day and everyone got a cute t-shirt from her. Oh and MM is just as handsome in person as he is in photos. He's an absolute gentleman and he's teaching his boys the same!
Her voice is very high pitched, not annoying. MM and the boys had a much bigger Okie accent than she did.

Newborn Photos

UPDATE:
If I take photos like these at the top of this page, I have them wear black long sleeve shirts, but is it post processing that makes any trace of the shirt disappear? I love this woman's photography (and she's a Canon girl! yeah!)

Oh and I'm sitting her reading this woman's blog and JACKPOT! she's got tons of shooting info out here. I'd highly recommend anyone who will be shooting newborns (Jenny) to dig in and read it with feeling.....check it out!

Hello Ladies,
I need some help from you.....
A good friend of mine just had new babies a couple of weeks ago, boy/girl red head twins. He asked if I could come to their house and take some photos of them.
I've not taken photos of newborns before....suggestions? what have you done? ideas for the shots? I've got a nice wicker laundrey basket and I'll dig up some blankets to put in, but that's as far as I've really gotten with the planning process.
Oh, and I am going to borrow my friends portable backdrop, a white and a black one.
The friends house has tons of clutter everywhere, so a backdrop will be necessary to keep the photos clean...
Anyhow, if you have ideas, suggestions..I'd really appreciate input!
Thanks.

Press Printed Cards

Have any of you ever ordered from WHCC?
I have to order some holiday cards and they need to be done somewhere that does press printed cards. As far as i can tell, only a pro place does that.

I'm NOT a pro.

I set up an account with WHCC a while back, but never used it....

is that ROES ordering system easy to use?

any ideas where I can get them printed other than at a pro lab?

Photoshop collages

Has anyone made their own collage in Photoshop?
I have an idea in my head of a collage that I want to make, but I have no clue how to do it.
It's a 20x20 print and it's got 16 square photos (4x4) on it. A few of the squares aren't actually photos, but color blocks that coordinate with the photos....
I have some nice white frames from IKEA that 20x20's will fit into. I thought it would be a fun way to display photos. My brother had a photo shoot done with his family and there's too many of the photos that I like to get them all...I thought a collage would be a great way to display them.
I have a whole wall in my dining room that we're going to cover with framed photos of family...

If you've come across a tutorial on how to do this or if you've actually done it, let me know. I found a website to buy collage templates from, but they are $80! I think I can make one, but don't know how...

Update:


Found this template online FREE!!! and gave it a try. This is exactly what I was looking for.
Here's a couple more that I found. This one is exactly what I was looking for....
it's from Design Aglow.
If you have a studio and want to display work, these make beautiful canvas wraps that are ready to hang. Also, the Design Aglow has some nice grungy templates as well.
I'd love this part of running my own business, but not the being a one gal show and have to struggle to meet deadlines on my own...I'd love the creative side of it.

Sports photography

I'm planning to go to my nephew's football game on Friday night....it will be at a very nice, well lit (big) stadium.
I'll bring the usual suspects in my camera bag and borrow my friends Canon 70-200mm 2.8 lens.
Any suggestions on settings? I've never shot sports before, inside or out....

My friend (who I'm borrowing the super nice lens from) sent me this:

Four Keys to Success
Do I have a definable subject?
Do I have the right light?
Can I control the foreground and background to make the most effective image?
Are the conditions around me working for me or against me?

Shoot thoughtfully
Slow down
Think about each shot
What effect do I want?
What feeling does the scene evoke?
Can I capture “it”?
Shoot a series of images
Find the interesting points of an image, can they stand alone?

Reviewing your Pictures
Is my image sharp?
Is my image well-exposed or exposed the way to convey my intention?
Does my image have a clearly definable subject?
Have I eliminated all distractions and unimportant details?
Is the subject in clear focus?
Does the image have a clear center of impact?
Have I created the illusion of depth?
Is my perspective the best for the most impact?
Have I used motion rendition to capture the most compelling photograph?
Is the image most successful as a vertical or horizontal composition?
Have I used color effectively for my photograph

Composing for Dynamic Results
Avoid the bull’s-eye syndrome
Consider the rule of thirds
Carefully observe the space surrounding the main subject
Watch out for merging lines with your subject and hot spots of clutter or distraction
Make your main point of interest stand out from the background
Move in close (fill the frame enough to convey your intentions)
Be aware of lines and curves within a composition (S and C curves add flare and grab attention)
Frame the shot
Include a size comparison or depth perception
Give it “air” when composing action shots
Odd is good

We already know most of this, but it's a good refresher!

Full moon!

Went out tonight to shoot a few photos of the full moon tonight and this is what I got:

MANUAL (can you even believe it???)
ISO 200
f/11
1/1000
300mm (cheap Sigma super telephoto)

I adjusted the exposure in Camera RAW and then sharpened and used boutwell's magic glasses. Otherwise, what you see is what I saw. Pretty cool. Thanks to "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson for giving a little help on what settings to use...then I tweaked to get a little better shot. I may like this Manual thing....not really.

more landscape photography

Wow, I had a lot more landscape photos than I thought that I had....but that trip to Kauai without NO KIDS really helped in that effort.
None of these photos were taken after taking Karen's class. I'm almost certain that all of them minus the full moon were taken in full auto (the dreaded green box).
I have no recollection how I managed to take the shot of the full moon. I do recall using a tripod and trying to figure out how to keep the shutter open longer... oh the memories of that self taught lesson make my head hurt!
Duluth Shipping Canal/Lake Superior
ISO 100
f/4
1/1250
70mm (Canon 24-105mmL)



Lake Superior @ Two Harbors
ISO 200
f/5.6
1/15
300mm (480 in 35mm)
(my lens is seriously the cheapest Sigma telephoto available! but it works)

Lake Superior @ Two Harbors


Random lighthouse, Kauai
ISO 400
f/29
1/500
35mm (Canon 17-35mm)


Waimea Canyon, Kauai
ISO 400
f/9
1/800
35mm (Canon 17-35mm)


Na'Pali Coast
ISO 100
f/11
1/100
17mm (Canon 17-35mm wide angle)


Queen's Bath, Kauai
ISO 100
f/4.5
1/800
35mm (Canon 17-35mm)

I can't wait to take my husband to Washington DC someday. He's much better at landscape photography than I am....