I told the boys all to make faces and be goofy in an attempt to get them happy and ready for a few more pictures. It’s always nice to have a little break when mom is pointing the camera at you. I love how the dog is busy with his little chewing project and he is the focus while the boys are going crazy in the background.
The I heart Faces theme this week is feet. I’m sure there will be a million posts like this one since it’s very similar to the image they used in their example. Oh well! 
This makes me think about protective big brothers and all the places their dirty little feet will take them.
Here’s an oldie but a goodie shot. Mag was playing with his robot. He played with this robot until it literally fell apart. He loved it!
The theme is Let Them Be Little. Which I think is a tough one. Not tough for lack of photos but because there are WAY too many that fit this theme. I have tons of great shots of my kids being kids and enjoying childhood. How do you choose? Pretty much just close my eyes and stick my hand in a hat!
I’m not starting this blog up again… today. I just wanted to join in with the iheartfaces brothers theme. This blog seems like the place to do that.
I entered to win the iheartfaces giveaway of one place in the Park City work shop. I didn’t win. I didn’t realize until this morning that I was actually really hoping that I would. Usually I enter giveaways and then forget about it or don’t really care that much. This was different. I could REALLY use a get away for a day. Like REALLY, REALLY badly!
I have become a bit burnt out on photography. I’m officially not obsessed any more. I officially gave up on my 365 project last week. I was doing so well at taking daily photos. Then I was having a hard time posting the images, but I was still diligently taking the shots. Then last week I realized that I just didn’t want to do it anymore. I had a hard time admitting that to myself. Sometimes it’s hard to be honest to myself.
I just had a thought… I’m not sure who I think I’m writing this to. My blog is dead! I still have about 50 people a day who visit but I’m pretty sure that 99.9% of those people are not actually people but bots fishing. Hahahaha! I’m totally talking to myself right now. Love it! I feel like I’m doing that a lot in real life too; that’s kind of my point about needing to win the Park City workshop spot. There’s no way in HELL that I could fork out almost $700 to go to a photography workshop. But oh, it would have been so sweet.
I won a great workshop last year at Photocamp to learn from a world renowned photographer but my baby was too young to leave all day, my husband was working too much and too sporadically to be able to rely on his schedule to be open to go to it so I gave it to my friend. I wish I could take that workshop this year. Bad timing.
I’m starting to think that photography has served a place in my life and I learned many great things but it isn’t as important as it was. I don’t know what will take its place. I have decided to go back to school so maybe that will take its place. Right now I’m just depressed. My house is dirty. My kids are running all over. My walls are bare. I need someone to come over and just fix everything. Any volunteers. I just look at my piles and feel even more depressed and tired.
This post sucks! I hate pity part posts. I’m not a pity party person. I’m a lie and tell you I’m doing great even when I’m not. Whatever. No one’s going to read this anyway!!! Muahahahahahaaa!
You would think that after nearly three years of being Mrs. MomShots I would be able to get a decent photo of my children for our family Christmas card. Nope. I had to fall back onto my Photoshop laurels.
I went out one evening with my four children and got lots of shots like this:
and this
and of course this:
They all had “cute” potential but absolutely missed the mark. So we had to try again another night. This time I thought I had a few good shots. However when I looked at my camera I found this:
this:
and this:
Close but not quite right. Each shot has a little bit of goodness in it but all three of them didn’t quite add up to the great picture I was looking for. So instead of going out a third time, I decided to try my hand at a little Photoshop magic. I knew that layer masks can be used to stack images and only let specific parts of the images show so I thought this would be the way to go.
I turned to my trusty friend, Google and searched for a tutorial that would help me turn these three shots into one that I was happy with. I found this tutorial and I was off at super sonic speed! Google never lets me down. He always knows exactly what it is I need to find. Google is my friend.
Following that tutorial was pretty simple and I ended up with this image:
I am very pleased with my results. I am sure I can practice this skill a bit more and become better at it but for now, I am so happy to have a shot of all four of my kids looking at me and smiling that I am not complaining. I am still of the belief that getting the shot in camera is better, but today Photoshop came through where my photography skills failed me.
Hooray for Photoshop! I learned how to do the classic “Head Switch” maneuver and I am very happy with the resulting image.
If you are struggling with a similar type of problem, give this tutorial a look through and try your hand at it. I found it pretty simple to follow and really fun to actually do. If you run across a problem, leave a comment and I’ll try to help you through it.
I can’t pass this one up. I have a photo… actually this photo:
that I want to print as an 8×10 and hang on my entry way wall.
MPix.com is having a sale on the printing of 8×10s. 50% off, to be exact! Just my cup of tea.
The sale ends tonight at Midnight, CST so you don’t have much time to take advantage of it. If you do choose to get something printed, use the code 8×10printsale when you check out to get 50% off your purchase.
MPix produces excellent results or the highest quality. I have never been disappointed with any photos that I have had printed there.
Anyway, just thought I’d pass on the word to you in case you’re thinking of getting some 8×10s printed. Today…
Since Eva Marie has been born I have taken a lot of pictures. I’m sure you can imagine! Today I stripped her down and took a bunch of photos using the natural light that comes in through the large East facing windows in our family room.
I tried to figure out some props to use. I pulled a couple of things from around the house; an old scratched up kitchen chair, a sheepskin, a cute pillow, a knit yarn sack thingy, a baby blanket from when I was a baby, a few cute flannel blankets and the Boppy. I also used our olive colored love seat and my old wooden desk since they were pretty basic back grounds.
I had a little trouble with my white balance. I wasn’t sure if I should use the cloudy or the shadey preset. I think I should have actually done a custom white balance because I had slightly adjust each image. I will try that next time. Maybe tomorrow!
I also am going to try that chair image again but instead of on the carpet of our family room, I will try it on the hardwood of the living room. I think that will look a little better.
I also pulled my older boys in for a few shots. I made them all take off their shirts. I just liked the look of that better than the mismatched t-shirts they were wearing. It also adds an organic element that looks more natural and innocent. I found four that I really liked and am planning on putting them together in a collage. Something like below.
These are pretty much straight out of the camera. I only adjusted the white balance a tiny bit. I would like to try some other editing but for now that’s all I have the energy to do.
So what did I learn?
It’s the anniversary of this marvelous blog today, and Jess is sadly without internet to post about it, so let’s surprise her when she gets back!
MomShots has changed how I look at taking pictures of my daughters, by not only encouraging me to simply get the camera out and shoot, but giving me bite sized pieces of information, new techniques and ideas to improve my pictures. It has de-mystified photography, showing me that while it is a skill to be developed, it’s not an impossible, elite activity. Perhaps more than anything, it has inspired me to read my camera manual, which has opened my eyes to so many new possibilities for my camera. My hard drive is filling up with beautiful pictures, and it’s largely due to MomShots.
So thank you, Jess, for sharing your love and passion, and inspiring us to capture our own.
If you’ve learned something new, been inspired, or just entertained by MomShots, please leave a comment and say so.
Happy MomShots Day! Here’s to many, many more.
I haven’t written up my thoughts about Photo Camp Utah yet. This morning a talented photographer and blogger, named Gail Vehar wrote up some thoughts that I wanted to share with you. Even if you aren’t interested in Photo Camp Utah, you should read her post. She has wonderful info that applies to everyone who holds a camera.
That’s you!
Shooting Seniors is really hot right now. Check out the great post at I Heart Faces to read their tips. I learned a thing or two!
Obligatory MomShot taken in March of 2009:
