Flora Bella Actions

I recently purchased some Flora Bella Actions.  If you love photography, and photoshop, and if you haven't checked them out - please - go - now!  Well - read the rest of my post - then go :)

Here are some images that I finished editing last night with her LuxeII collection.

The first ones were mainly Tea Time - I did tweak the sliders and adjust a few other - but - the action made the photos!  All of them were shot with my 50mm prime.

SS 1/6400, F/2.8, ISO 320

SS 1/1000, F/2.0, ISO 100

SS 1/1000, F/2.0, ISO 100

SS 1/1000, F/2.0, ISO 100

SS 1/1000, F/2.0, ISO 100

This is one of my favorite of my Hay...such sweet and angelic, with a hint of mischief - which is SO Hay.  And - I am finally figuring out the exposure thing, and how it can make such a difference in the quality of the picture!

SS 1/1250, F/2.0, ISO 100

These were her B/W Blush Action.  Again - I tweaked some here and there and added some other slight adjustments - but - this currently is my favorite black and white change!

SS 1/6400, F/2.8, ISO 320

I love the Bokeh in this image.  I am learning the sweet spot of my new 50mm lens - she really stands out!  Love it - love that blur!

SS 1/2000, F/2.2, ISO 250 Shot with my 50mm 

Ok - now that you have finished reading the post - go check out Flora Bella!!!  I am already planning the next purchase (shhhh - don't tell my husband!)

Getting ready for school

Well - we are getting ready for school.  It starts in 2 days!!!  Well - I guess with the time - tomorrow.

So we had to make sure homework was finished.  Brianna had to draw a picture.  Now with this being her first homework assignment - she got a little confused on where to do her homework - A chair looked good at the time.

Then she found a better place - with better light!  School hasn't even started - and she already looks so big and into her homework :)

Well not to be outdone!  Her sister had to partake.  She got the same sheet - got to work - and it's even hanging on the fridge.

I think these are some of my favorite to date.  I am working on my photography skills literally everday.  And I have to say - I am so happy with the memories coming out of it!

You can dress him up - but you can't take him out!

Continuing on from yesterday's post on at the park with my HayHay and Shooting into the Sun, this one is my little man - and what a boy does when he is all dressed up at the park...So - here is him all dressed up.

Then - this is him - looking - and pondering a mud puddle.

He is running away (ahhh - look at that back light...lovely)

And - it's done - the mud - the mud puddle.

Ohhh - let's see what happens when we throw a rock in....

Or maybe just lay down - take a nap in it?

Ok - now what....

Ahhhh - more rocks - that makes sense. 

Exploring the texture the puddle.

You can dress him up - but can't take him out.

"So what's it to you - I'm covered in mud!"

What!

Well - we were done with the mud puddle - now on to the playground.

What - I can go on a slide - while covered in mud!

It was fun watching Mikey go from clean boy to big mud puddle mess in a matter of...oh - say 5 minutes. At first I looked at my husband and thought he was crazy - why would you let him go near a mud puddle - but this was perfect.  What better way to capture a boy than letting him play in a mud puddle.

I learned a lot through this day.  Yesterday's sun post - I learned shooting into the sun - well - I should say practice.  And with this - I was trying to figure out focus. He is a wiggling little boy!  I really need to practice nailing my focus, that is my next step.

Shooting into the Sun

Tonight I twisted my husbands arm and got the kids dressed and went on a photoshoot.  It is my favorite thing to do you know!

So we went to the park.  Today I am going to show some pic's of my HayHay - My husband and the other two kids went off ahead and Hay stopped to play in the leaves. 

I had my 50mm prime on the whole time, and I shot into the sun.  These were the images I captured.  I am loving the Bokeh of these images - just need to nail that darn focus - you know - the little things!

I love that I carry my camera around so often - my kids don't even realize I am taking pictures of them half the time. 

Get out there and get snapping!

Cousin get together

Today we had my husbands side of the family over.  Now that I am crazy photo obsessed - I take these opportunities to get some pics of my nieces! 

The ones from my husky down to the end were taken with my new flash - I am loving it!!

My new toy!!!! A new Flash

So - I had some money - I wanted to spend - and I bought myself a new toy! I got myself a Speedlight (a Nikon Flash), I am crazy excited. 

Here is case and point of why it is awesome!  Here is a picture of my daughter from tonight - with the flash.

Then I took it off real quick - more to justify to myself (and my husband) that the purchase was worth it. So here is the picture with the onboard flash.  It cranked up my ISO's so it was grainy - it's super bright on her face.  Not so pretty.

Which do you prefer - I don't know about you - I prefer my new flash!

When I first started looking at photography I read so much about natural light photographers - and I thought - yes - that is what I want to do. But - after buying this - I think it is a crazy great tool to bring when the lighting isn't perfect.  I can't wait to learn more!