Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Clickin' Moms 4th Annual Scavenger Hunt

I'm a member of a super fabulous photography forum called Clickin' Moms that seriously changed my life and pushed my photography to whole new levels. If you are a photography enthusiast and love awesome ladies who share your passion, I can't recommend CM enough!

www.ClickinMoms.com
This is my first year participating in the Clickin' Moms annual scavenger hunt and I am so super excited! If you find and photograph at least 110 of the items on the list (with a 'Clickin' Moms 2012' sign in the image) you get entered into a drawing for some really amazing prize packs. I would DIE if I won one. Die! I wanted to share the list here because I plan to do some little updates with my photos because some are too fun not to share...

1. pic of someone wearing a striped sock and a polka dot sock
2. photo while getting your hair cut/colored/styled
3. a kid hula hooping
4. someone running through a sprinkler
5. identical twins
6. a cat on a leash
7. a fire hydrant that is NOT red
8. kids playing double-dutch jump rope
9. someone jumping on a pogo stick
10. you wearing a prom dress
11. someone riding a unicycle
12. an adult eating a blue popsicle
13. someone getting their ear pierced
14. a house with solar panels on the roof
15. a foot with a second toe that's longer than the first
16. a hooters t-shirt
17. sea monkeys
18. someone mowing their lawn
19. a lobster
20. salt water taffy
21. someone eating a cupcake
22. a kid jumping in a puddle
23. a library card
24. someone building a sandcastle
25. a firetruck
26. a self-portrait in the highest heels you own
27. a man in a dress
28. someone baking cookies
29. an adult on a swing at the park
30. two elderly people holding hands
31. someone barbequing
32. a baby in a diaper
33. a dog wearing clothes
34. someone reading a book
35. a kid in flip flops
36. you wearing sunglasses
37. someone washing a car
38. letters in a mailbox
39. someone balancing a spoon on their nose
40. an adult riding in a little red wagon
41. a child picking a peach
42. someone tubing on a river
43. you holding a snake
44. an adult doing a belly flop
45. someone ice skating
46. you on a motorcycle
47. a train ticket
48. someone eating Vegemite while holding the container
49. a bowl with 5 dyed eggs in it
50. someone eating a pavlova
51. kids playing hopscotch
52. someone playing Monopoly
53. a meat pie with sauce
54. someone wearing an Akubra
55. an adult hula hooping
56. kids playing cricket
57. a kid painting an adults toes with nail polish
58. kids playing with legos
59. someone in a dentist chair
60. a child sleeping
61. a border collie
62. a welcome to {insert state} sign
63. a racoon
64. fireworks+ or sparklers
65. someone performing on stage
66. someone on water skis+
67. a beachfront home
68. nighttime ritual
69. panning shot+
70. a tattoo
71. silhouette of child holding a balloon+
72. sandcastle
73. kid on a swing
74. s'mores at a campfire
75. food fight
76. a group of 6 or more motorcycles 
77. a redheaded girl
78. a woman with a shaved head
79. a group of firemen (oohh...yes!) LOL! 
80. someone playing the bongos
81. people around a campfire
82. a photo of the movie ticket from the last movie you saw in theaters
83. your workspace
84. someone blowing a bubble with bubble gum
85. a cat and dog together
86. feet buried in sand
87. a broken window
88. someone shooting a bow and arrow
89. a mermaid*
90. someone wearing a lei drinking a tropical drink
91. a mullet
92. a tie dyed shirt
93. "Sonic" drink showing the ice
94. the drive in
95. a love note
96. a rich tea biscuit and a cup of earl grey tea 
97. a souvenir from the Queens diamond jubilee
98. somebody eating twiglets
99. somebody walking into a Pub
100. an aran sweater
101. a cast iron chestnut roaster
102. somebody doing a cartwheel
103. a cowboy wearing his hat
104. a pregnant belly
105. someone making a 3 leaf clover with their tongue
106. a pierced tongue
107. a naked mannequin
108. a self portrait wearing bright red lipstick
109. a receipt for something that cost EXACTLY 75 cents
110. someone sitting backwards on a horse
111. someone with a black sharpie mustache on their face
112. someone with a missing front tooth
113. a child in front of the frozen foods section
114. someone reading People magazine
115. the odometer in your car
116. a picture from inside your car while in the carwash 
117. Lightening McQueen + Sally*
118. someone in a flowered apron
119. you and your significant other on date night
120. the last image shown on your LCD screen
121. a baby wearing a wig
122. kids at a lemonade stand
123. a man wearing a t-shirt from Clickin Moms
124. 3 children doing headstands/handstands in a row
125. person blowing a bubblegum bubble that's bigger than their face.
126. a dog's painted toe-claws
127. a cat having a bath
128. a man shaving their leg hair
129. eggs benedict
130. A Volkswagen Rabbit
131. someone in the back of a police car
132. your country's flag
133. you watching the Olympics-(pretrials, qualifiers)
134. a waterfall
135. a grocery checker
136. construction workers
137. a tire being changed
138. children dancing
139. child playing in the rain
140. someone climbing a tree
141. a postal carrier
142. someone in a Santa suit
143. a pack of Big League Chew
144. five different pieces of fruit lined up
145. a row of carrots in a garden
146. a colored light-bulb - not white or clear
147. yourself browsing the CM forums
148. vintage camera
149. Cabbage Patch Doll
150. keys on the CM camera keychain

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Bidness!

I have been in the planning stages of this since April, but have failed to mention it on the blog. I guess because, like I mentioned in my last post, I was afraid it was boring. In early April I made the decision that I wanted to open my own photography business.

I sent out a Facebook message to all of my nearby friends and family offering them free sessions and discounted prints to build my portfolio. I was pretty happy with the response and my portfolio looks nice. I still have a few holes, but I should have them filled within the next couple months. 

I am officially "launching" the business on July 1st. I have been working almost every night on my marketing calendar and materials. I'm working on my senior rep program and two mini sessions for the fall. My website is a constantly evolving work in progress: www.elliesmithphotography.com.


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Daffodils

Sadly the daffodils have already all wilted away in our part of the country, but I was able to capture a few daffodilly (totally a word!) photos a few weeks ago. I looked all over for some daffodils that weren't in someone's yard and I managed to find some blooming outside a broken down house on the edge of town.





I had to basically force them to pose together. This was as close as I could get to smiles, which quickly dissolved into this...


I cannot look at this photo without laughing. Oliver's face KILLS ME. KILLS!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Project 365


Another catch-up post of my Project 365 photos. I've been sticking with this, huzzah! Now I just need to start posting my photos again every Sunday. 


Paint Hands!


Water Baby!


Just a little post bath crazy people time!


Amelia on picture day at her preschool. This makes me laugh every time.


Violet looks so confused!


An excellent eye roll, if you ask me.


Our windowsill garden. We're growing daisies and sunflowers.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Project 365


I have been keeping up with my Project 365, but I haven't been posting them on here. Shameful! Now that we're all settled into our new home I'll get back into the routine of posting my photos weekly. Until then, these are some of my favorites from the past month or so...








Sunday, January 15, 2012

Project 365 - Week Two



Day Eight - The Missing Tooth
My nephew Braylon's missing tooth,


Day Nine - Brotherly/Sisterly Love
My sweeties, being their crazy selves.


Day Ten - Joshuaverine
Joshua's Wolverine hair style just before I cut it all off.


Day Eleven - Gums
Violet's toothless little mouth.


Day Twelve - Mama's New Hat
I found this hat a thrift shop and absolutely love it.


Day Thirteen - Boots
Amelia's snow boots reflected in an icy puddle.


Day Fourteen - Winter Bliss
Nothing says winter like catching snowflakes on your tongue.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Photoshop: Before and After

I do post-processing on almost every single photo I take in Photoshop CS5. I am not the most versed in Photoshop, so I depend on actions for almost all the edits I make. I am a huge fan of Paint the Moon actions and use them almost exclusively for my photos. They are awesome for portraits!

This is my before shot of Oliver playing in the snow this afternoon. It's a decent photo on its own, but I wanted to kick up a few details. 


And this is my after shot....


I used three different Paint the Moon actions to achieve this after photo. I knew I wanted to bring out Oliver's face, the texture in the hat, the texture of his coat and I wanted it to be more obvious that the snow was still falling when I took the picture. 

First I used the Intensity action from PTM's Fresh Wonderland TWO. That deepened the texture in the hat, but made the coat and buttons even darker than before. Next I ran the All Together Now -Vintage action from PTM's Picture Perfect Portrait. Finally, I cropped a wee bit off the right side of the image to help center Oliver in the image and ran the Soft Burnt Edges action from PTM's Picture Perfect Portrait set three times. Ta da!

The second image has more texture, detail and interest than the original and it only took a few mouse clicks.  The big challenge with actions is choosing the right ones for your image.  Two images taken seconds apart can require two totally different combinations of actions. Some images may even only require use of one action to make them great. It all comes with practice and becoming familiar with your actions. 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Project 365 - Week One


I'm a few days late posting these, but my first week of Project 365 was a success. I've done a great job remembering to capture a little slice of life every day. 

While I'm taking part in Project 365 to improve my photography, I mostly want to capture a little moment of our lives every day. At the end of the year I plan to have all photos printed into a photo book. 

Enjoy Week One!


Day One - Traveling with Violet
Violet waking up from a nap on a 3 hour drive to my Dad's house.


Day Two - New Snow
The first snow of the season and of 2012.


Day Three - Squishy Face
Need I say more?


Day Four - Playtime
Playing on the floor with Violet.


Day Five - Floating Away
Playing with my new wireless shutter release.


Day Six - New Shoes
My new shoes, taken by Amelia.


Day Seven - Shopping with Mommy
Just picking up some groceries with Oliver and Amelia.

<3


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Holiday Bokeh

I made a heart shaped bokeh filter to use during some of my holiday photos. These are a few of my favorites. I'll share how to make your own bokeh soon! It's super easy!!!

My new nephew Colton with Papaw Eddie

My ultra handsome husband and the lovely Miss Millie

Another shot of my nephew Colton. I didn't have the heart filter on, but I still love the bokeh in this photo.

My cousin Matt with his daughter Zoe. Precious!




Sunday, December 25, 2011

Violet's 1st Christmas

I just wanted to share some of my favorite shots from my "Violet's 1st Christmas" photo session I took earlier this week. I am in love with how they turned out! Merry Christmas, all!
<3