As always the poor blog suffers from the craziness of my life. Along with the normal busy I’ve had a number of big photography jobs over the past few weeks which just ads crazy to crazy! However, I have a few things to share! A lot of people ask me about my photography and my camera and how I get my images to look like they do. One of my secrets is that I do a lot with post-processing. After I shoot, I open up everything into Adobe Lightroom first.  This is what it looks like. Click on the image to see the larger version.

I do a number of things in this program like adjust the exposure/fill light/shadows/contrast, etc. See all of the things on the right? Lots of little tweaks. I highly recommend this program to anyone who takes digital pictures. I can’t imagine processing with my images without it.  I also have hundreds of presets and actions I play with. If you are unfamiliar with what presets and actions are, they are a series of tasks that you play back on a single file or a batch of files - menu commands, palette options, tool actions, and so on. I have some actions that I use on almost all of my images that were created by two of my good friends Cindy & Lauren and they are finally selling them! The presets are for Adobe Raw files and the actions are for Adobe Photoshop.  Here is an example of what they can do.  The top left image is sooc (straight out of camera) and the rest of them are with the actions they are selling - (click to see bigger)

I use Lauren’s clarity on almost all of my portraits. I have literally hundreds of actions and presets and these are my favorite ones. They created a group on flickr too if you are interested. - Cinnamon Rose Actions and Presets. I know a lot of you are really into your pictures and playing around with the post-processing so go get these! They are selling them for really great prices.  I have seen other actions selling for hundreds of dollars and you can get everything from Cindy & Lauren for just $30.00. It’s a steal if you ask me. Let me know if you get any. I’m more than happy to answer any questions about them too. If you join the blog they check in there regularly to answer questions as well.

As we approach the holidays I wanted to share another link with you. My friend Pete started up the coolest business. Straight from Santa - Personalized letters from Santa postmarked from the North Pole. Make great Christmas gifts and it helps spread the Christmas cheer. Choose from one of our different themes, answer a couple of questions, and then check out. It’s that easy! Your child will receive a specially personalized letter from Santa in the mail. Each letter is sealed with an embossed Santa seal and comes with an authentic postmark from the North Pole. You know I love supporting my friends so please spread the word about this one. It’s such a cute idea.

I just finished reading a fantastic book. It was one of those books that kept me up until midnight every night until I finished it. The book is called Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.

“An American journalist researches the notorious roundup of Parisian Jews and uncovers her French family’s war-era secrets, in this page-turning, interconnected novel of modern-day Paris and occupied France Paris.” Just trust me when I say you should get this book and read it.

Well kids, I think that’s it for today. T. took the day off to help with the kids so I can write. I am almost done with chapter 4 so my goal for the day is to be done done done!  Hope you are well!