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SOUVENIR FOTO SCHOOL::ASSIGNMENT NO. 12::CREATIVE PORTRAITS

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Creative portraits and what I mean by that is not someone sitting there with no life in their eyes/expression looking like they are being tortured (unless that look is part of your creative set-up than go for it).  I want you to get as creative as you want on this.  I am including some inspiration images and links that I hope get you in the mood...This first image if from Phillipe Roy of his assistant, he has an explanation on his site of what he did. Click on any of the images to take you to the photographers sites.

 

 I found a site that was all portraits, it is really hit or miss some are great some are um, interesting.  This is one I liked by Jareck Kubicke but they have a random picker you can click that will give you a whole new set of portraits.

This was a very cool self portrait I found.  I liked that he admitted that it took him 102 tries! It's digital baby, go for it, shoot as many shots as you need, one may be a total winner like this shot:

 

A creative photo project called Room 23 collaborated by photographer Deborah Anderson and Diana Jenkins. 100 people (okay celebrities) shot at this one location--a hotel room.  Think how the photographer had to step outside the box on that! 100 people, in the same setting (not at the same time), a relatively small space with the same basic set-up (no new sets were created for each sitting). 

So no excuses for not being able to find a person to shoot (yourself will do quite nicely thank you AND most point and shoots do have a self-timer). If she could dedicate a 100 portraits to one room I am sure you can do one quite nicely. Pick your place and go outside your comfort zone. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

MING WRAP LABEL DOWNLOAD + BONUS MINI MING LABEL

It is quite a feat that this label download is here today.  I had some serious computer problemo's yesterday and lost the downloads I was working on.  Truth be told, I would ordinarily scrap the project, 'it wasn't meant to be' I would reason, where's the remote? But alas, you have a pull on me...I had an email yesterday that a download link wasn't working and since I couldn't find the right file to match the download I thought I would make up for it by creating these pretty 'Ming' vase inspired labels.  I am quite happy.  All together they look very Lilly Pulitzer to me. I hope you likey too.

I want you to know I really, really, really, want to make these editable pdf's so you can put your info in the right place and print (convenient for bride's or a big mailing) but I can't afford the Professional version of Adobe Acrobat 9 just now and can't justify buying it when I would only be doing it to make free downloads for you.  So maybe I will start a fund for those that keep emailing and asking for editable pdf's for the labels, throw your buck in the hat and I'll see what I can do.  I think it would be a heck of a lot easier but for now you can play with your printer settings or hand address to your hearts content...

 {DOWNLOAD MING LABELS HERE}

SUE C. DEFINITELY WANTS ME FINITO...

Sue C. emailed me yesterday with the subject line, 'I thought you would love this..'.  I am suspicious of those types of emails because they are almost invariably pleas for transferring funds, pharmaceutical solicitations for products that are gender specific (and have nothing to do with my gender), degree's I can buy, etc.  One, the other day that read 'she would like you better if you had a bigger cook', seriously. I don't know who 'she' is but she should find her own big cook.  I opened Suzie's email because I am obviously a glutton for punishment. Oh dear, I had no idea that Sue's innocent enough looking email would blind me with its contents. The link,  I know better than to click on links, I do, but it called my name, beckoning and I folded....I am giving you fair warning here, DO NOT click on the images below unless you want to be annihilated by what will be revealed...DON'T DO IT! (Note from Amy this link has music so turn your volume down if you don't wanna get caught surfing the internet during bid'ness hours but the volume will be a futile exercise as you may gasp, and coo and make all sorts of weird noises once you view...)

 

I decided that since I was making that wacky warning above it might be nice to make you some as well in colors that might suit your taste.  It is a tad 'cutesy', I do admit but sometimes you need a little cute warning and why make one yourself?  Waste of time when you can get some here....Again, DON'T CLICK ON ANY OF THESE WARNINGS!!!!

Definitely don't click here....

Well, you get the picture. This isn't my most exciting download but it's FREE (the price is right) and well how many other cute warning downloads are available on the internet?

{WARNING DOWNLOAD HERE}

TWO SECONDS TO GORGEOUS A.K.A. MISS B'S BEAUTY SCHOOL-BLUSH

A not so lifetime ago I was a fashion publicist, in fact, I would like to call myself THE fashion publicist to the indie set.  If you don't believe you are the best than no one else will.  PR is hard. One of the hardest parts was photo shoots.  I am easily bored if I don't have constant stimulation and let me tell you a photo shoot is not that fun (especially when you are sitting next to a size negative zero amazon that is entirely too good looking to be alive and happens to be smart and witty and getting paid more than you make in six months, I digress...). 

I found myself often poking around the makeup area and harassing the artists hoping they had the secret to supermodel-dom in a bottle.  I am going to share the one 'secret' that will take you from Blah to WOW in 2 secs--creme/sheer blush.  Okay, that's not the only secret, the blush MUST look nuclear reactive in the pot/container.  The thing that NO ONE tells you is that the brighter the color of the creme blush the more NATURAL it looks on your face.  WTH? The blushes are invariably formulated much more sheer than they appear.  When you take your fingers (YES FINGERS) and swipe some color and add to your cheeks you will be amazed that you have a fresh faced natural glow.  I stay away from most powdered blushes BUT I have found that the mineral blushes are the only powdered blushes that will get near that same effect (I think it's because the pigment doesn't sit on top of the skin) BUT the color must look like a carnival is coming to town. Stay away from the neutrals-anything beige, brown, taupe, mauve, etc.  Those leave a flat I AM WEARING BLUSH look (or I am auditioning for the Rocky Horror Picture Show look).  You don't want that, you want to look impossibly fresh faced, this is the GLOW factor. I know I expound on the glory of mascara but really if I am going to the grocery store, to walk the girls, a matinee with the Fancy (you get the picture) I am throwing on some tinted moisturizer, my creme blush (Tarte and Korres above are my FAVES) and I am out the door.  I ALWAYS get complimented on how young I look for my age (I am as old as you can get for a young person) and I KNOW it's the blush because it tricks people into believing that I am a sweet faced, young thing.  It works.  I have no idea why this info isn't readily available?  Why are cosmetic companies still making powdered, flat blushes and not concentrating on products that actually make you look like you have a natural blush?  Have you ever seen a person blush taupe?  I rest my case. I am a pretty much a hard core Tarte sheer blush fanatic they have an all natural version as well and Korres lip and cheek butter is all natural and pretty dynamite (only $9, it will last you months!).  I am not a fan of the liquid sheer blushes. They are dangerous in the hands of a woman that can't pay attention also, I have sun spots on my cheeks (think freckles but not as charming) and the pigment seems to highlight the spots and is NOT the look I am going for, same goes for gel blushes they sort of sit on my hyper pigmentation and they dry faster than I can blend--not attractive. I promise you this little secret will change your life.  I am serious, it's basically goof proof and you will have people complimenting you on how fresh you look, how natural (even when you are wearing a ton of foundation, concealer, primer and powder!). Your face will look alive, awake, glowing, just perfect in 2 secs...

A side note, in a pinch you can use a tinted lip balm on your cheeks. This is only if you are stranded on a desert island because it is glossier than the formuated creme/sheer blush and it won't last as long (you may get your hair stuck in it as well) but it works if you don't have your blush on you and you need a 'lift'. 

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SAMUEL LEO IS TRYING TO KILL ME...

WTH? Why Samuel Leo must you take a photo of this smiling miniature sloth and post it for the world to see?  Are you to trying to show off your incredible good fortune to have this crazy baby animal twirl its body around your fingers in delight?  It's Monday Samuel!  I am trying to stay grumpy all day, it's mandatory but noooo you have to go and have this on your Flickr photostream. That's it I am done! I am not grumpy anymore, I am a blithering, happy, idiot! I hope you are happy Samuel Leo, you and your sloth.

HANNIBELLA HATES MONDAY'S...

"Hannibella" hates Monday's as much as her Mommy.  You see when Monday rolls around Mommy gets grumpy and doesn't like to play.  In fact when Monday's roll around Mommy and Daddy leave and I have to sit at home thinking up ways to destroy things and let me tell ya, it gets tiresome thinking about what to chew on next.  Mommy says I don't have any sense of time, Daddy says that I sleep 20 hours a day. It's those 4 hours of time that I know that I miss my Mommy (I love my Mommy too much) and well those 4 hours seem like 20 (since I don't have a sense of time and all). I wish Mommy could stay at home and play with me and give me kisses, I need kisses, lot's of them. Mommy is a good kisser but Daddy says I am a better kisser than Mommy. Daddy loves to kiss me, especially when I have my muzzle on. Mommy says her friend Alex says it looks very Jean Paul Gaultier, I guess so. Mommy knows more about fashion than I do, Mommy loves fashion.  I think the other dogs in the neighborhood make fun of me when I wear it but I never liked them anyway.  I think I need to take a nap, Mommy said she would be back later....

WHISLT STROLLING THROUGH THE BLOGOSPHERE...

You can't tell but I am doing a happy dance right now because it is Friday.  Friday at 6 p.m. becoming one of my all time favorite times of the week (unfortunately it is not 6 p.m. yet).  How very sad is that? One day my pretties, one day soon before I start collecting social security checks my job will be to write blog posts about nothing and everything and I won't care if is 6 p.m. or midnight on any given day.  I do need to come up with a better word than 'blog' though, it sounds so offensive to my delicate aural palette.

I thought I would do my little round up of blogs that I should have social bookmarked but didn't know how to, so here they are for your consumption post (too wordy?) in their glory, random posts I loved this week (just click on the pics to get you outta this joint, much faster than clicking your heels three times and repeating 'there's no place like home')...

This series by City Sage is so flippin' clever and creative it's not even funny (I mean it is funny, but seriously creative).  I have sent fan notes to Anne that she needs to make this a book series, her eye coupled with her wit would make it an instant Decorista's favorite. If you love great iconic design than this is a must read.

 

Anyone that knows me knows I am skittish when it comes to new-agey type talk.  I am not mean or negative (I know that much is bad joo joo in the cosmic world) but I do get turned off by too much wacky talk, which seems odd since I am the biggest nut there is.  I have no idea how I came upon the Super Hero Journal but I did and just in time to find out about her Mondo Beyondo class coming up.  Basically the idea is taking your goal list and puttting it on steroids.  Allowing yourself to dream and dream BIG.  It seems like it's done in a fairly harmless non-new agey way and she now has my curiosity duly peaked.

 

Okay, Four Corner store is a store and not a blog BUT they have a blog, it just isn't as cute as the store (very boyish) so I am showing the store graphic but what the blog lacks in 'cuteness' it makes up in interesting toy camera talk.  I think you will find some inspiration for those stuck in a photo rut or those looking for a new medium. I highly recommend a toy camera for adding a little interest to your creative arsenal.  You can buy a camera from their store (awesome prices) or you may be inspired to keep your eye out at the next garage sale or see what goodness you might have in your own garage. For the record I want one of those Blackbird Fly cameras in white like yesterday and have put in my request with the Fancy and Marie for my upcoming very gigantic impending b-day. 

 

I always forget how much I love Mer Mag until I stumble through the door of Mer Mag.  Illustrator and blog hostess Merrilee has such style and talent that I recommend you become a frequent guest. I also love that she had the 'This is Glamorous' image up.  I am a HUGE fan of white, if it weren't for my Fancy and Hannibella we would live in an abode that most resembled heaven minus the harps.  Just ask G.G. my all white pup, we spent many years in our white castle until those two came on the scene now we know why our great aunt covered her furniture in plastic...

 

I am never one to miss an opportunity to read up or ogle baby animals....

 

I LOVE Photoshop, I should marry it really. I am that in love.  With every great love you try to find out as much as possible about your object of desire.  Photoshop is so complex in the best way, I feel I will never know everything (which keeps it interesting and fresh).  I try to learn something new in Photoshop at least once a week but I use it for work A LOT so I sometimes find myself learning something everyday. The kinds of things I do for work in Photoshop are equivalent to watching paint dry so as not to taint my passion I actively look for new ways to play with my beloved program.  I found this tutorial and when you see the steps it will make you ooh and aah (hopefully). 

 

So that is my little random spattering of finds this week, I hope it gets you into a nice little pretty procrastination session where you are thrilled and delighted by the offerings of this great thing we call the web. Phew!  I will be back in a sec to post our next assignment for Souvenir Foto School so don't think you got rid of me that easily...

THE KIT SNEAK PEEK...

I am a maniac, this I think we established many moons ago.  I have been working on a creative tool kit (that's the "working title") with my b. partner Jules for photographers, artists, bloggers, memory keepers, etc. to help turn blase images (who uses that word?) into 'works of art'.  I mean it really is subjective, what's awesome to me may suck to you but the beauty of the kit is you can decide what you like (I love having control, don't you?).  As I am working through this I will promise to add little bits and pieces to try out because seeing is believing. My only problem I am having is the kissing part, K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) I think that's what it stands for or maybe it's just keep it simple smarty.  Anyways, I am complicated and I make things complicated just like this sneak peek I could of shown you already but no I had to yap and yap...Here's a 'Before' photo, granted this had many, many layers (Photoshop speak) that I played with but the kit can take you to the point to where you can go from drab to fab and then continue the tweak to your liking.

BEFORE THE KIT:

The photograph isn't bad, it's just not what I imagined for this scene (note: this is from a stock photo site this is not my snap, I wish it was, this place looks like a good time).  I knew this could be so much more and maybe you have an image in your arsenal that you wished was just a little more (insert jazz hands here).

THE AFTER::VINTAGE LAKE 1949

I won't lie to you and say you can create this effect in one or two clicks. You can get close but just like a freshly built and painted house you will need to add your touches to make it yours and personalize it--make it a home. Most of the photoshop actions will be adjustable as will the textures and overlays (is this all Latin to you?) AND you won't need to be stuck using our textures and overlays, no sirree, we are working on an action so you can use your favorites as well.  I am really excited, bursting excited because I so wish this type of thing was available to me when I started this little adventure.  Of course this is for someone that uses Photoshop for those that don't or don't care to we have some ideas brewing just for you and of course one day you can procure a work of art from one of your favorite artist, photographer, etc.  We are a tad busy right now with The Bright Side Project but inbetween that, our full-time jobs and families, we are going to get an email sign-up so you can be notified of the launch.  We want those pretties that sign-up for the launch to get a little something extra in their kit.  If there is a technique or effect you want to try to achieve and are hoping to be able to get from the kit please put your 2 cents in the comments because we want to make this as fun as possible for you, kinda like paint by numbers without the paint and numbers but with masterpiece result at the end (but better)...

THE LONGEST, LUSHES, LASHES EVAH!! A.K.A. A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

If you want the longest, lushes lashes of your life for FREE than run on over to The Bright Side Project!  I mentioned this product before I am evangelical about it because I absolutely can not believe it works and it works BIG TIME!  I got mine as a gift, I couldn't afford the steep price tag of $150 a tube and that's the beauty of The BSP you don't have to be able to afford it either, just throw your answer into the ring and Revitalash might pick you, yes you as their super lucky winner! I don't think the readers know what's on board today since there's less than 100 answers, or maybe the BSP readers all have long, luscious lashes naturally and don't need the extra lift or maybe they are all independently wealthy and $150 a tube of lash magic is nothing to them BUT if you are like me and NEED this product you must go over there pronto! I was in a happy frenzy when they agreed to participate if only I could win, alas I can't but you can.  This stuff is MIRACULOUS.  I personally like to look like Tammy Faye but for those that don't have an unusual need to spackle their lashes with globs of mascara like myself, you can actually get away with wearing no mascara at all with regular use of this elixir.  I am serious it makes THAT much of a difference. 

When I was turned on to Revitalash by my friend Nina, I asked her if she was wearing lash extensions and she said 'Why no I am using this stuff', this is when the heavens parted and a sun beam spotlighted the silver tube in her palm (and did I mention the angels singing?) That moment changed my life forever. I couldn't afford it/justify it back then but she got me a tube for my birthday and well the rest is history. I rival Tammy Faye any day because my now naturally long lashes (thank you Revitalash!) coupled with ten coats of mascara and I have successfully channeled Carol Channing lashes on steroids.  It's the look I am going for but you can be more subtle....

Try to win while you still can, here's the link!!!  Good luck!!!

HANNIBELLA

If you think this image looks familiar it may be because of this guy. As you can see in the photo there are dogs in the near background and the look of pure insanity in Hannibella's eyes is the reason behind the new accessory. Hanibella can not control her impulse to kill and chew on her brethren. For now.  I am hoping with help from Alex's super duper doggie contact I may be able to one day take the muzzle off but for now it has been the best thing that has ever happened to her.  Our neighbors are allowing the beast near their fur babies where as before they would cross the street and break into a sprint to get away from us. I never took it personally, I would probably do the same if she wasn't my charge.  People have become very curious and walk up to us and ask, "Does she bite?" 'No', we answer, 'We thought we would put this on her for *s* and giggles,' is our pat answer.  She doesn't seem to mind it unless a dog starts barking frantically and then she takes her two front paws and rips it off her face and throws it across the sidewalk.  It happens so fast I can't stop it and I will be calling the manufacturer to ask how is it possible?  I can only believe it's the bionic powers she possesses when adrenaline scurries through her body, she does not take kindly to dogs barking at her. Who can blame her?  Maybe she needs a good set of anger management courses but she's been kicked out of every dog school she's been in.  She's a rebel without a cause and for now she is our precious Hanibella--a face only a mother can love...