It’s tax day – how about something cute and calming to look at?  Like a kitty?

This comic pretty much sums up what I looked like photographing Leo (be sure to read the rollover text, too).  He’s so soft and cuddly, and just enormous.  I made ridiculous faces and did stupid crazy cat lady talk.  He’s just that cute.

And did I mention huge?  He’s 20lbs, and nearly impossible to pick up because he’s just so noodle-like you can hardly support him.  What a sweetheart.  Happy Tax Day.

Being a bride is time consuming.  So many websites to visit, research to conduct, people to meet.  I commend all of my previous and current brides for their efforts in creating fantastic events.  I truly don’t know how you did it so very well.

As for me, I’m not as talented at being a bride.  I’ve made no mention of my own wedding planning over the last few months because we’ve been at a standstill trying to sort out the venue.  I’ve clearly been to loads of weddings, and had several different ideas floating around in my head for ours.  Consequently, our wedding vision changed multiple times – from mountain chateau to downtown art gallery, upscale restaurant to tiny elopement.  After much discussion, we decided on a simple indoor evening ceremony followed by a cocktails and heavy appetizer reception in a space with a loungy feel.  We want an event that will promote mingling amongst our various groups of friends and family, and generally feel like an intimate (and more laid back) party. » Continue reading “A Wedding Date – Finally!”

Cute underwear is my shopping downfall.  I generally dislike shopping, but I love buying underwear.  In college I worked as a lingerie salesgirl (and bra fitting specialist), and it must have hooked me on the good stuff.  So when I go into a boudoir shoot I love getting to see all the fun outfits everyone brings.   These ladies did me proud.  They brought some awesome outfits for this weekend’s marathon.  Here are a few favorites that don’t reveal too much (posted with permission, of course.)

Another thing I love about boudoir is how quickly we get to know each other.  99% of sessions start with a handshake and end with a hug.  It’s just that kind of experience.  I don’t have another marathon scheduled just yet, but if you feel inspired to do a session let me know.  I just might get another one in the works soon.

I wish I’d known how to do this my first year in business.  So in case someone else can benefit from the knowledge, here’s a quick little How To.

You can save LOADS of time editing images by batching them in Photoshop using actions.  There are a few somewhat generic adjustments that I tend to like on particular types of images, so I create custom actions with the exact steps I like built in.  Once I export and image to jpg, all I have to do is run the action on a specific folder and leave to do something else  (like make soup) while my MacPro does all the work.  It’s so easy, and a serious time saver.

Actions can get highly complicated, but for this demonstration I’ll show how to build a simple custom action for converting color images into black and white.   (Click the images to see them larger so you can read text!)

Step One: Select a jpg file to use as a sample image and open it in Photoshop.  Click on the Actions Palette, and select Add New Action.  Name your new action – in this case “Black & White.”

Step Two: Your custom action is now “recording,”  so you can edit the image how you’d like.  For a basic black and white conversion I would play the Totally Rad Action Boring Old Black and White, and lower the opacity of the Contrast Up layer.  Then I’d run the Kevin Kubota Edge Burner action, and adjust opacity. (Yes, you can use actions within your action.)

» Continue reading “How To: Create Photoshop Actions”

Chelsey and her teammates swore to hate him.  As a rival player within their volleyball league, David was the enemy.  But Chelsey didn’t really hate him – in fact, she kinda had a crush on him.  So when David’s team disbanded for the next round of league play and he became Chelsey’s teammate, she could finally drop the act.  Two years later, these ex-rivals have decided to become life partners.  Funny how life works out.

Chelsey and David opted to have a very low key ceremony this June with just immediate family in Colorado Springs.  I’m a little bummed they’ve decided not to have a photographer at the event – I would love the opportunity to photograph these two again.  Laid back, smiling, and in love…everything that makes a photographer happy :)

We wandered all over downtown Denver for their engagement portraits on Saturday.  Despite the crazy wind whipping Chelsey’s hair around, we ended up with some great shots.  I had so many favorites from this shoot it was hard to narrow them down – I hope they feel the same!