Photo Contest

I spend a lot of time on two peas in a bucket. I learned how to use my camera there and learned a lot more about photoshop there. I even created this blog to do Photo of the day (POTD) from two peas. I would say that most of my inspiration comes from the people I have meet there. Well one of our peas had a Pro or No Pro contest. I debated entering the contest because the images were so great and I never win anything but decided what the heck and entered. Here is the image I entered AND IT WON TWICE. They had three judges and then a board favorite. I was one of 3 winners with the judges and tied as the board favorite. How cool is that. I almost didn't enter and I almost didn't enter this picture as I thought people would know it was mine (I share alot of my children). I'm really excited about this as there was some amazing competition and I really didn't think I would win. The Peas are an amazingly talented group of people and I feel very honored to have won in this contest.

Love

So this weeks theme is love and I have been wanting to get pictures of Isaac and Gabby together. So today Gabby pulled out her enormous stuffed dog (so big he fits on the whole top of her bunk bed). I have wanted to get pictures of Isaac laying on it and I figured today was as good as any. I haven't had a chance to work on the ones of Isaac but here is what I have done. I truely love my kids, they make my life so much better and make me want to be a better mother for them. I think they just look so cute together and this is what I was able to capture of them. I have to mention that in order to get gabby to pose with Isaac I had to bribe her with chocolate.





This one is just Gabby being a goof ball. I love it.

My baby is 3

My baby girl is 3. I can't believe how fast time has flown. She's getting so big and she is so smart. It amazes me everyday I talk to her to hear the things that come out of her mouth. She picks up on everything, we really have to be careful what we say around her. On monday I took her out with a friend to do her 3 year birthday pictures. It was so cold but she was such a trooper. I almost prefer taking pictures of Isaac as she is constantly on the move and so not interested in having her pictures taken. She's 3 yrs old and I have already ruined her.

More Isaac

Here are a few more from of Isaac's last "modeling session" on saturday. They are just a few of my favorites. I still have more to go through.

More Isaac

I hope you aren't tired of seeing pictures of Isaac. He has been the model twice this week for my photography group. These are more pictures from Tuesday and I have some more from today. But come on who can resist such a cute model. He is such a trooper to put up with this however I have to take advantage before he can complain or run. Hence the reason you see very few pictures of Gabby. When I get some more time I will take her out to do her birthday pictures.

More Isaac

So I went to one of my "Pea" friends home (Margaret) to do some pictures with Isaac. It was lots of fun and he (Isaac) was such a trooper. He did really well letting us spend a couple of hours practicing on him. After about 3 hours of hanging out in nothing but his diaper her through a major fit and decided he needed clothes on. Poor guy. He's going to be pretty popular this week as we had a mini practice photoshoot with him today and we will have another one with some my "Pea" friends on Sat. These are just a few of what I took.





I just loved this picture below here. I know it's a bit soft but look at that face. Don't you just love those jowls and that double chin. Too cute. I just love my baby boy. He sure is handsome as Gabby tells me. Boys aren't cute.

Daddy and Isaac

Gabby was at Monga's (grandma's) and I decided to do a "mini session" with Isaac and Pete. I rearranged my front room so that the window has nothing in front of it and now I get really great natural light in the room. I love the way these turned out and thought I would do a vintage wash on them. Poor Isaac, he is going to hate the camera like Gabby does when I get done with him.

ETA: Here are my instructions for doing a vintage wash. I use PSE 7.0.
1. Create a gradient map adjustment layer and lower the opacity to taste. In these I lowered the opacity to 75% though I usually go to about 40%. I just wanted a hint of color in these ones.
2. Create a levels adjustment layer and adjust it to taste.
3. Create a photo filter adjustment layer. I choose sepia and changed it to 70%. You can use which ever filter you like and % depending on the look you are going for.
4. Create a brightness/contrast adjustment layer and add some contrast. I usually go up to 35 on the contrast but it varies depending on the picture. These I set it to 35.
5. Use the marquee tool to add a vingette. I set it to feather at 250 and make my selection then invert it so that the outside edges are what is selected. Then I create a solid color adjustment layer and select black. Then just adjust the opacity to taste.
Super easy.