I Heart Faces - "Pets"

Its "Pets" week at I heart faces! Its time to show off our pets and I'm glad to join in. If you want to share a picture of one of your pets go to I heart faces and link up, too!





This is my boxer, Brady. He turned three this month and he is just as much as pup as ever. He's great with my son, playful with our cats, and a big cuddlebug when he wants to be. He loves to play outside, chase laser lights around the house, and try again and again to catch his own tail. He's taught my son Collin how to drink water from the hose, and really, really appreciates a good bone.

Before And After Blog Hop - On the water.

Another Thursday and that means its time for some before and after blog hoppin'. If you have a picture you've edited and you're proud about it post 'em and link up over at Pixel Perfect. Monica hosts the "Before and After Blog Hop" every Thursday where you can show off your work and check out plenty of other examples of editing.

This weeks picture comes from a bunch I took last weekend while we were out walking at the beach. It was very hot and hazy but a great time. This first picture is good, but you can pretty much see the haze. The second is much, much better.

SOOC:

After:

I took this picture with my Canon 450D (Rebel XSi) and edited it in PSE7.

Before And After Blog Hop

Its Thursday and that means its time for some before and after fun. If you have a picture you've edited and you're proud about it post 'em and link up over at Pixel Perfect. Monica hosts the "Before and After Blog Hop" every Thursday where you can show off your work and check out plenty of other examples of editing.

This week I am showing off my beautiful six month old niece. I had the opportunity to take some pictures of her last week and love how they came out after some post-processing.

SOOC (except I added the watermark):

After:

I took this picture with my Canon 450 (Rebel XSi) and edited it in PSE7.

The "D" Family

I met the "D" family at a nearby location to take some outdoor family photos and can tell you that from the moment I stepped out of the car I knew we were going to have a great morning. The family of three were all extremely friendly, kind, and happy. Here is a sneak peek:

I Heart Faces - "All About Babies"

This weeks theme at i heart faces is "All About Babies." I love this theme and cannot wait to check out all the other entries! If you want to participate you just need to go to i heart faces and read the directions on linking up your own picture.

Before and After Blog Hop

Every Thursday Monica, from Pixel Perfect, hosts the before and after blog hop, where we get to show off our editing skills by posting a picture SOOC and post-processing. If you'd like to join in visit Pixel Perfect to link up!





SOOC:

Edited:

I took this photo with my Canon XSi (450D) and edited in PSE7.

A little validation goes a long way.

I am new at this whole photography thing. Actually, I should clarify. I have been taking pictures for a long time. I am new at taking others' pictures and doing the whole business thing. I am still a work in progress, still carving my path, still figuring out if this is truly meant to be.

Ask my family and friends and they'll tell you that I don't have much confidence in myself right now. I think it is just a defense mechanism, so I won't be disappointed if someone isn't happy with my work. The truth is, though, that I am not half bad, and I know that.

Yesterday, through email, I got the most amazing message. It really made me feel great and feel like I certainly can do this. I photographed a small wedding a few weeks ago and it was the bride emailing me about her pictures. And she was insanely happy, and said that I managed to bring her to tears. Tears of joy. And that she will gladly recommend me to anyone.

This one email did so much for me. It made me feel so great. I am excited to continue on this journey and have a renewed sense of confidence about it all. That little bit of validation held so much power.

Thank you, M.W.!

I heart Faces - "Play"

This week at iheartfaces the challenge theme is Play. I have a ton of photos of Collin playing but it was hard to choose. I finally came upon the one I knew I had to use. This is a few months old, but it is one of my favorite photos of him. He's playing in a firetruck, put the hat on himself, and just looks incredibly adorable, if I do say so myself.

Visit iheartfaces to link up your own picture that represents "play" or just to check out some amazing photography!

"C" and Family

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to meet with "C" and her family, who is going to be growing any time now. They are expecting a little boy! I had the privilege of photographing the family of three and really had a great time doing it. Here is a sneak peek.

Before and After Blog Hop

Every Thursday Monica, from Pixel Perfect, hosts the before and after blog hop, where we get to show off our editing skills by posting a picture SOOC and post-processing. If you'd like to join in visit Pixel Perfect to link up!





SOOC:

Edited:

I took this photo with my Canon XSi (450D) and edited in PSE7.