Monthly Archives: February 2009

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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.

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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 | Comments (1)

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:

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

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

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Course the elephant is my favorite :)

 

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Lilly likes this guy.. the Ninja Chicken:

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

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

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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 | Comments (5)

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.

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Name: Jennifer Hawes

Location: Kaslo, BC, Canada

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

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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

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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!

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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!)

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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.

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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.

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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!

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

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Thanks Jen!!

By Kylie | Posted in Photography, interviews, phaunt U | Comments (12)

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:

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

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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 | Comments (6)

Heads up.. Color Inc!

February 6, 2009 – 2:26 pm

 

Just got some news from my favorite lab, Color Inc

Very cool!

AND if you haven’t ordered from them before you can use the code: pa08 and get 50% off your first order!

By Kylie | Posted in Photography, links | Comments (0)

Totally off Topic- Hoo-Dee-Hoo!!

February 5, 2009 – 12:30 pm

 

I just had to give a shout out to my favorite person on TV right now.. Carla, who is still going strong on Top Chef! She’s narrowly beats out Fabio as the one I find most entertaining this season (last season it was Andrew)

I have loved Carla from the moment I saw her. I mean who wouldn’t? She’s got quirky slightly cartoonish facial expressions and is so thoroughly excited about everything that I laugh every time they show a clip of her.

Sam and I have now taken to using the Hoo-Dee-Hoo technique whenever we get lost in Walmart.  (See the Video to see what I am talking about)

Ok, Ok, We don’t use the technique, because Sam would kill me if I started yelling that in public.. But I wish I could say things like this and look as awesome as she does:

I’m gunning for Carla, although I do think that Stefan will take the show since he is consistently the winner. Anyway, had to just throw that out there.. Anyone else a Top Chef Fan?

By Kylie | Posted in links, random | Comments (3)

Phaunt U Student Interview- Tracy Larsen

February 3, 2009 – 9:24 am

 

Continuing with the student interviews this week.. Tracy also took the course the first time I offered it. I remember chatting with her on the phone, she was so enthusiastic and excited about photography, it has been amazing to watch her work/business grow and change over the last year. She’s an integral part of the phaunt board as well, I’m so glad she found us!

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Name: Tracy Larsen

Location: Irving, Texas

Links to blog/website/etc: www.tracylarsenphotography.com

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How did you get interested in photography? My son. Yep, I started out as a MWAC! After he was born I realized how fast he was growing and I didn’t want to miss a thing. Instead of sleeping his first year of life, I spent many hours learning all that I could about photography. I owe much of my lost sleep to my son and to phaunt!

Primary focus (children, weddings, etc): My primary focus is children – newborns, little ones and kids. I love capturing a true moment that reveals the real child. They don’t go around smiling all day long, so I appreciate the pouts, the frowns and the crying faces too.

Describe your style in 3 words:  fresh, fun, simple

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What is your dream for your business? Dream a little dream… I want to create a business that allows me to do what I love. I want to take photos because I get excited about it, not because I have to do it. I want to connect with my clients and create a fun experience for them. This happens because I see them as people and not the next paying client. I want to create a solid business by setting business policies and procedures that make sense to me and that I follow. And most importantly I want to create balance with my family and my business. I know it is all possible!

What’s in your camera bag? Nikon D300, Nikon 50mm f/1.8, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8

If you could only use ONE Lens for the next year what would it be? I’m gonna go with what I got. I really should practice more with my 50mm f/1.8.

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Goal in photography for 2009? To keep learning! Most importantly, to keep learning how to capture an image with just the right camera settings so I don’t have to tweak so much in Photoshop!

Favorite Photoshop Tip? Using a soft light layer to add a simple pop of color to an image.

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Favorite thing about phaunt U? Do I have to pick just one thing??? OK, the video tutorials are the BEST! It is so much easier to understand how to do things when you can see AND hear Kylie explain things – which she does in a way that is really easy to follow. I went into phaunt U knowing absolutely nothing about Photoshop – nothing, zip, zero, nada. It was truly my starting point. Without phaunt U, I know for sure that I would still be sitting at my computer today pulling my hair out. It was the best thing I did for myself and my business!

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What was the last thing you bought at Walmart? Drawer locks for the kitchen – we are toddler proofing for our adventurous 18 month old son!

Last song played on your Ipod? “You Found Me” by The Frey

Thanks Tracy!

By Kylie | Posted in interviews, phaunt U | Comments (20)
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