Fix It... but not on Friday | Raleigh Newborn Photography

Wow. Where did the week go????
I was all set to work on this weeks fix-it, but time just ran right over me!

I could not, however, pass up the chance to play with this gorgeous photo by Andrea Riley.

This is a very popular shot. And for all the right reasons. The sight of a Daddy holding his new baby. Giant hands and tiny, new person. So remarkable.

Here is my version. Enjoy.

Fix-it Friday | Raleigh Newborn Photography

Looks like I'll be making it just under the wire this week, but I really loved this submission taken by contributor Rachel Durik.

Look how sweet this little model is!

For such a lovely portrait, I wanted to keep it simple. And, to tell you the truth. I get tired of playing with actions {{gasp}}!

For this edit I exclusively played with the adjustments tab (you know, the one that looks like a black and white cookie???), moving the sliders and simply tweaking until I was satisfied with the results. I also used the clone stamp just to help smooth and brighten under her eyes without covering her adorable freckles.

A quick black and white conversion as well. 

We're talking 5 minutes tops for all of this goodness, people!

Go. Play. Have fun... :)

SMILE | Raleigh Newborn Photography

Lily and Mama. They melt my heart.

Head over to I Heart Faces to see some other precious smiles. :)

Happy Holidays | Raleigh Photography

Wishing all of you the happiest, merriest, safest, coziest, snuggliest, and warmest of holidays.

Family Portrait | Holly Springs, NC Photography

I've been friends with the 'R' family for almost as long as I've been in NC.
They were one of my very first clients and have been such wonderful friends and supporters of my business.

I was all too happy to capture some long overdue family images...

My favorite...

Laura off-handedly mentioned that they didn't have a photo of just the two of them. I caught this one for them. I hope she likes the surprise I will be tucking into her package. ;)

This is a photo that their older daughter requested. I took another hand holding image of the girls a few years ago. She wants to make it a tradition. {sigh} Such a sweet girl.

Thank you 'R' family. It is always truly my privilege. 
xo

It's Fix-It Friday again... | Raleigh, NC Photography

I really had fun with today's fix-it from the very talented Dana Suggs. This photo is of Dana's gorgeous little girl. First, it must be said that I cannot handle the cuteness of this outfit. My own daughter let out an audible gasp when she saw it. Adorable.

Here is Dana's image SOOC...

Since I am feeling under the weather today (yes. again. poor me.), I decided to curl up and play a bit.
I'm not certain that anyone is really all that interested in every.single.step. that I took while editing this, but in case you are, I will list them below each image. Goodness help ya'.  ;)

Here are my versions of this lovely image:

1. Full body crop. With the pants. Because they are cute. Nuff said.

Compose

Lightroom 2:

crop
adjust fill light
reduced exposure
upped the blacks
warmed
brightened
upped the vibrance and clarity

Photoshop CS4:
reduced noise
unsharp mask
Totally Rad's Boutwell Magic Glasses @ 40%
Coffeeshop's Powder Room
- eye define @ 60% (on her eyes mouth and around her face and hair)
- white whites @ 15% on her eyes
- bright eyes @ 5% (irises only)
MCP's Touch of Light @ 10% (as needed all over the image)
Burned edges as well as a selective dodge and burn all over the image
Ran M4H's Strawberry Sunset @ 20%
Boosted the saturation a bit (+15, or so)

2. This is the crop I wanted. No cute pants. But this is what I saw in my head when I first looked at the image.

 

All of the above edits with a different crop.

3. The black and white. Can't decide which is my favorite after converting it.

Same edits as above, but Strawberry Sunset is run at 100%, and I reduced the red saturation by -2.

 

Phew.


Okay. Just one more. A storyboard.
Don't you think every little girl would love to have one of these in her room? So sweet.

Thanks for sticking around for this lenghty fix-it. I hope you will head over I Heart Faces and give it try yourself.

Have a cozy weekend.

Niagara Falls in B&W | Holly Springs NC Photography

A departure from my norm (I'm a portrait girl at heart), BUT it's scenic black and white week at I Heart Faces...

I really love the timeless wonder, the truly awe-inspiring power, and even the corniness, that is Niagara Falls.

Head on over and play along.