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It’s that time again.. BRAGGING about my great students!!

June 29, 2009 – 10:31 am

Hey everyone! I know I’ve been absent on the blog lately, so much going on! But I promise to post more in the coming months. I have a new blogsite in the works from Kim Townsend (who rocks BTW), so you’ll see that revealed soon!

I just had to brag again on my students for this term, we have a GREAT Bunch of gals and everyone is doing amazing! Here’s just a FEW of the awesome edits!

From our week on Color correction.. learning to zap those nasty color casts!

From week 2 (Exposure adjusting).. lightening up a photo without losing detail..

Love how the eyes are emphasized in this one. I encourage all my students to get into their heads that SUBTLE editing is better than edits that scream "PHOTOSHOP!" This one is a perfect example of a few tweaks polishing off an image:

Another more subtle, but very effective edit. Popping colors is one of my favorite weeks!

WOW look at the difference on this one!! Love this edit:

Another Amazing change.. I love how this one emphasizes the little boy using the vignette:

Last but not least I love how this one goes from snapshot to portrait with just a few great PS moves:

I think the images speak for themselves. My students are rockin this term!! Thank you all for letting me show off your work and for a great term!

If you’re interested in signing up for the next phaunt U, we start on July 13th. You have until WEDNESDAY to sign up and get $25 off your registration, so don’t wait!

GO HERE TO SIGN UP

By Kylie | Posted in Uncategorized | 2 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Bragging on my Students

May 5, 2009 – 10:07 am

It’s the last week of phaunt U and I am amazed at some of the work coming out of the group of students. Every round I do I am thoroughly impressed by the amazing people I get to meet. It’s truly an honor to be able to help them along in their photography journey. I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite edits from the last 2 weeks in the course (posted with permission).

I love the vignette and subtle contrast pop on this image, really helps to focus the attention on the subject. And does she not have the cutest outfit ever??

This one is one of my favorites all quarter.. Melissa was able to go back to a photo that she had edited before the course and do some awesome stuff with it. I LOVE the color pop and burning/dodging. Not to mention the subject is just plain adorable!

This photo is one that I throw into the course at the end of week 4 to test and see how well everyone is doing. I purposely messed it up to have all sorts of problems! This edit is one of my favorites of the bunch, I love how the white vignette softens the picture.

This edit is a bit more subtle, but it’s one of my favorite methods. By just some simple application of the dodging/burning/multiply/sponging (and some good cropping), this shot went from good to GREAT!

And last but certainly not least, an awesome edit by a photographer who has only been doing this for a few months! She’s a great example of how far you can progress in photography and photoshop if you only apply yourself a bit!

Thanks

By Kylie | Posted in Uncategorized | 9 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Sneak Peek for Christie P.

April 15, 2009 – 2:36 pm

I got to shoot this awesome family on Saturday morning. Christie is a fellow photographer who lives in Fruitland, and it was great to meet up with her and meet her adorable kiddos.

The day was overcast so we got a little bit more light out of it than we normally would have, and it was a great opportunity to chat with Christie and her husband and get to know them.

Although Christie SAID that her kids suffer from typical PCS (Photographer’s Kid Syndrome.. usually manifests in kids who refuse to look at the camera and have numerous tricks to avoid allowing the photographer get any decent shots.. we’re very familiar with this syndrome at my house).. I don’t know if I believe her. These gorgeous kids were some of the best behaved kids I’ve ever taken pictures of, and look how amazing they photograph:

I think the trick is that PCS only manifests itself when it’s MOM who is the photographer, so I’ll have to take Christie’s word for it, cus I’ll photograph her kids any time, it was a treat!

Thanks Christie and Justin for the great morning and letting me meet your gorgeous family! Here’s a shot of mom and dad that I loved

By Kylie | Posted in Uncategorized | 3 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Breakfast with Lilly

March 25, 2009 – 6:22 pm

Since her diagnosis, Lilly has been fully aware of what is going on and involved in her care. Just days after we got home from the hospital she was wanting to test herself (she does it all herself now), and has asked about giving her own shots. She had done it a few times, but holding the syringe and injecting it without wiggling around was hard for her to do, so up until a few weeks ago we did most of them for her.

When we met with Lilly’s endocrinologist at the beginning of the month we got an Inject-Ease, which makes it MUCH easier for her to do her own shots, so now she does them entirely on her own.

Keep in mind she is only 5 years old (6 in May). I sometimes forget that it’s not normal for a 5 year old to be so in control and on top of things, and I really take for granted that we don’t have to struggle with her (at least now) to do any of the things required of her with her diabetes. She wants to be involved, making decisions, helping out, and learning.

She has asked about drawing up her own insulin but I told her that I didn’t think she could do it, since it requires a bit of dexterity on pulling the syringe to the small amounts she takes (usually 1/2 to 4 units or so). She kept asking, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to let her try. Low and behold, after a few bent syringes and a bit of help, she is now successfully drawing up her own insulin! We of course have to supervise and check the dose, but she does an amazing job, even holding the insulin bottle still so that the needle doesn’t bend.

I’ve given her the job of doing her Lantus shot (morning and evening, long acting insulin), and we do the Novalog (short acting, taken after eating), but we’ll see how long that lasts, as she asks at every shot to draw up the insulin.

For breakfast on Tuesday she was proud of herself, and I wanted to snap some shots to show how amazing she is.

Inserting the syringe…

Checking the dose and looking for air bubbles…

(see the Inject Ease).. Pinch and press the button…

Inject…

And Eat! Cinnamon Toast Crunch.. Yum

Proud Girl.. Love the morning hair

After talking to her endocrinologist and discussing the options we have decided to get Lilly on the pump in a few months. She’s excited, her only requirement is that it is Pink!

By Kylie | Posted in Lilly, Photography, diabetes | 14 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Next Phaunt U Session.. 2 Spots Left!

March 18, 2009 – 9:33 am

I had most spots filled by those on the waiting list, but I do have 2 spots left in the next U (Starting 3/30). If you’re interested you just need to go HERE to sign up!

I thought it would be cool to show a few Before/Afters from someone who is actually a STUDENT in the U right Now! We’re up to the last week, but these are from past weeks where we were working on Color Correction and Color Enhancement. These are just a small sampling of the great work coming out of this group of students.

(the Befores are on the Left, After on the Right)

After just 5 weeks of lessons and practice students are able to tackle exposure issues, color correction, color enhancement and black and whites. I’m so proud of this group of students, they’re doing amazing and it’s so much fun to see them progress and do beautiful edits like these!

If you’re READY to take your PS editing to the next level and actually UNDERSTAND what you’re doing, then hop on over and sign up for the U.. you wont be sorry!

GO HERE TO SIGN UP!!!!!

By Kylie | Posted in phaunt U | 1 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Phaunt U Alumni Interview- Evie Curley

March 13, 2009 – 1:18 pm

Please forgive me for taking so long lately on posts. With the forum hopping like it is and all the things going on in our personal life the pace of the blog has really slowed down. If you’re missing my posts/witty dialogue you can always come to the FORUM and play. It’s FREE for anyone to join and we have all sorts of fun stuff going on every week.

The next Interviewee (is that a word?) is Evie, who was a part of the 2nd round of phaunt U, last April. The smallest class I’ve had so far (just 6!) but it was great to get to know people a bit more one on one. Evie came into the class relatively new to Photoshop, but I knew from the time I talked to her on the phone that she was going to progress rapidly. She has a wonderful outlook and sunny personality, not to mention a great sense of humor. She’s going to be going to to PV in April and I can’t WAIT to meet her!

Name: Evie Curley

Location: Greensboro, NC

Links to blog/website/etc: www.eviecurleyphotography.com and www.eviecurleyphotography.com/blog

How did you get interested in photography? I have always been interested in it but when I was younger, film was so intimidating and seemed incredibly complicated so I felt like it was something I would never be able to do. Fast forward to 2007 and I was keeping a blog to record the homeschool antics of my children. I wanted a better camera and my husband came home with an XTi for me. It was like a light went on and has been shining brightly ever since. It showed me my passion and since he brought that camera home, I’m rarely without one on my person. I have shot tens of thousands of photographs on the journey to where I am today.

Primary focus (children, weddings, etc): Children and families are my primary focus but recently a fellow photographer invited me to shoot weddings with her so I’m anxious to see what that is like as well.

Describe your style in 3 words: Clean, crisp, natural

What is your dream for your business? I just want it to be successful. That is a simple statement, I know, but I really don’t know how else to say it. I’m not looking to be famous, I just want to make people happy by taking photographs of their families that they will cherish forever. My dream is that I will be able to do that for a very long time!

What’s in your camera bag? I’m a Canon girl and currently own a 5D, 40D, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 100mm macro 2.8, Tamron 28-75mm 2.8

If you could only use ONE Lens for the next year what would it be? Hmmm. I use my 50mm ALL the time so it would probably be that. I absolutely love that lens!

Goal in photography for 2009? I would like to try and stretch my creativity a bit and shoot some more risky (not risque) shots for myself.

Favorite Photoshop Tip? Recently, I set my brush to "precise" in the preferences menu and wow, it has really made such a difference in my work. It’s very concise and makes getting in those tough to reach areas much easier and neater!

Favorite thing about phaunt U? Before taking Phaunt U, I had a very basic understanding about how Photoshop worked and the whole course really helped me step up my post-processing game. It’s so in-depth and I loved it all. It’s way too hard to just pick one thing! I would say the combo of the book and the videos pack a powerful punch though. I really need to see something in action in order to understand it so it was great to have the videos to turn to.

What was the last thing you had to drink? Water, exciting I know.

Do you need to do laundry? Oh mercy day, yes! I always need to do laundry!!! I think I have a load in the dryer that has been there for 4 days!!! LOL

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat Evie.. Love ya!

By Kylie | Posted in interviews, phaunt U | 9 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Renewal

February 24, 2009 – 1:07 pm

We’re smack in the middle of another phaunt U and I’m having a great time with the students. The bad thing about being so busy is that I don’t get to get out and shoot a lot. Lilly and Kate and I went to the park and Lilly was showing me how she could run with her eyes closed. Then Kate had to get in on the action as well.

This to me is my life right now.. they summed up their personalities and the joy of life with my girls perfectly, and I didn’t even have to ask them to pose for me.

I am on a black and white kick again, I’m frantically searching for some books to hone my b/w technique, especially ones that will talk about dodging/burning and the theory of black and white photography. Any suggestions?

By Kylie | Posted in Photography, phaunt life | 1 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

My Mom rocks!

February 18, 2009 – 2:19 pm

I have to take a second today and brag about how cool my mom is. She’s a knitting/crocheting master and makes all sorts of cool stuff for the family. Like..

Just grabbing a few pics out of my web folder of things that she’s made.. like this dress for Lilly:

And this coat (Kate has one that is just like it)

And for Lilly for Christmas she made all these little animals that go into a pouch thing with thier pictures on them:

Course the elephant is my favorite

Lilly likes this guy.. the Ninja Chicken:

And for Valentines Day we had a Sock Monkey theme. I got an awesome Ipod cover:

And the girls both got their own V-Day Sock Monkeys!

She makes all sorts of awesome animals and things for the girls. I’m glad because I’m so far from being able to do anything like that, at least someone in the family can do it for them!

Love ya Momma!

By Kylie | Posted in Photography, phaunt life | 5 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Phaunt U Alumni Interview- Jennifer Hawes

February 13, 2009 – 9:41 am

Jennifer took the course the first time thru as well and I have kept my eye on her since. Her photography and post processing has progressed so rapidly in the last year that I can’t wait to see what she does in the next few years. I have a soft spot for her B/W photos, a girl after my own heart Her photography is amazing, as well as her kind spirit.

Name: Jennifer Hawes

Location: Kaslo, BC, Canada

Links to blog/website/etc: http://www.jhawesphotography.ca/

How did you get interested in photography? I started out as another MWAC wanting to document every precious moment of my child’s life. When I was expecting my son my husband gave me my first 35mm SLR. I loved that camera and took thousands of photos - the whole time thinking I was awesome - but never taking it off Auto Mode! It was after my daughter was born that I began to realize that I wasn’t getting the images that I wanted and I knew I had a lot to learn. I saved up and bought my first DSLR and dedicated myself to learning and improving my skills.

Primary focus (children, weddings, etc): Children, Families, and Weddings

Describe your style in 3 words: expressive, relaxed, genuine

What is your dream for your business? My hope is that my business will remain a labor of love and never become "work". Photography is my passion, and I don’t want my business to ruin that for me. I want my business to prosper, while remaining fun for me. Now that I finally have a job that I love to do, I want to keep it that way!

What’s in your camera bag? Nikon stuff. D300, D200, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8, 17-55mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8, a couple of SB-800s, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Sigma 10-20mm, and the usual odds and ends.

If you could only use ONE Lens for the next year what would it be? My 70-200mm f/2.8, I think. (I’ve changed this answer 3 times!)

Goal in photography for 2009? To keep learning and to keep challenging myself. Oh, and to be more decisive when proofing!

Favorite Photoshop Tip? Customize your keyboard short-cuts to ones you’ll actually use and remember.

Favorite thing about phaunt U? I love how personal Phaunt U is. The class is small enough that everyone gets to know everyone and you not only learn about Photoshop, but you create valuable friendships as well.

Your signature dish/meal? You’re asking the wrong girl! I’m not much of a cook, but my family does request my meatloaf from time to time. But I love to bake, so if that counts, I make the best chocolate chip cookies!

Last song played on your Ipod? Hard Sun by Eddie Vedder

Thanks Jen!!

By Kylie | Posted in Photography, interviews, phaunt U | 12 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Scenes from the homefront- Teeth and Diabetes

February 10, 2009 – 11:44 am

The girls love to take videos on Sam’s camera phone and watch themselves. Yesterday Lilly wanted to do one and talk about her diabetes. She listens to me record my videos sometimes and says she wants to do her OWN videos. She goes back and forth between saying that she wants to be like me and teach people and that she wants to be like iCarly and have her own "wepshow"

The video/audio quality of it is horrible, so excuse that, but she wanted me to be sure to put it on my "wepsite".. so here you go.. all you ever needed to know about diabetes!

Also Lilly lost her first tooth last week! I totally forgot about taking a picture of it (how bad of a mom am I?!) until we got an email from her cousin (who is 6 months older than her) with a picture of him and how he had lost HIS first tooth. Lilly was upset that I hadn’t taken a picture of her and emailed it to him, so we had to take this one to send to him to PROVE that she had lost hers first:

And a quick shot of the 3 girls last nite.. (Kaylee is my brother’s 9 month old)

Tomorrow I’ll be posting another interview with a former U student, so be sure to check back!

By Kylie | Posted in Lilly, Photography, diabetes, phaunt life | 6 comments Show Comments | Add a Comment

Welcome!!

It’s that time again.. BRAGGING about my great students!!

Bragging on my Students

Sneak Peek for Christie P.

Breakfast with Lilly

Next Phaunt U Session.. 2 Spots Left!

Phaunt U Alumni Interview- Evie Curley

Renewal

My Mom rocks!

Phaunt U Alumni Interview- Jennifer Hawes

Scenes from the homefront- Teeth and Diabetes

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