Project 365: CYE Style wk 3
Posted on September 24, 2009
Redmond area Family PhotographerWEEK THREE INSTALLMENT
of Project 365: CYE Style
Welcome to week three!
I’m glad to be here as I fully expected to be unable to complete this week’s installment in anywhere near a reasonable timeframe. CYE debuted our fall Mini Session sale this week and we have received a great interest. We still have a few sessions available for those still wanting to book: info@cyephotography.com.
Also this week, CYE joined, and is participating in, two causes to help give back. The first is Images for a Cure. Click the link for more info. All session fees for shoots completed on October 11, 2009 will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. Will you be a doer for cancer with us?
The other cause is Operation: Love ReUnited (OpLove) for deploying, deployed and returning military families. If you are a member or family member of the United States Military, and are interested in having very special and touching images with a patriotic edge taken of you and/or your family before a deployment or during, and at your reunion, please check out their site for more information. You will receive a substantial package as a gift in appreciation for all you have been through as a military member.
Now… onto this week’s photos!
I’m trying something a little different this week; a gallery-type slideshow instead of posting the photos one after the other. Let me know which way you would prefer to view the photos; gallery style or just post ‘em?
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The first two photos seem to share a theme.
The first is Reiken plugging his ear while Quinn howls, and I do mean HOWLS, next to him. The second is little Miss Toby. She is the daughter of a friend of ours. The boys and I met up with a bunch of Creekside ladies at The Village Bean in Bothell. The Village Bean is a new kid-friendly coffeeshop with toys and activities for your children to master while you relax -FOR FREE! Anyway, Toby, her new sister Kasey and her gorgeous and fun mom Melissa showed up to the coffeeshop, along with every other mom with younger-than-school-age kids in what must have been a 15 mile radius of Country Village… It was quite the hullabaloo! In this image, I can just HEAR Toby asking for just ONE second of quiet and sanity. She is so stinkin’ cute.
The third photo is the newest member of the Bursch Clan;
Little Miss Lauren Elizabeth. She was born to Kirsten and Jason on 9/17/09 at 2:08AM weighing 8lbs, 5oz and measuring 19.5 inches long. This tiny elf angel was born via c-section as she was a breech baby. All are healthy and happy. Big sister Madison is in lahoooove.
The last photos are of varying scenes in my life last week.
Number 4 is a beautiful red plant that seemed to confirm that fall is on its way soon. The fifth is a beautiful photo taken at Ken and Chelsea’s wedding on Saturday. The sixth is taken from the congregation at my amazing church in Mountlake Terrace, Creekside. The dapper man featured is Pastor Don. He is an amazing teacher on Sunday mornings. The last photo is of my boys holding hands on the couch. Well, really it is of Reiken smashing Quinn’s hand trying to be sweet, but no one needs to know that, right?
As for week four…
Its all a surprise! Really, I can’t remember what I’ve shot so far this week. I know there will be a beach portrait session and a building dedication to Jesus. Other than that… we’ll find out soon enough. See you next week!
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Project 365: CYE Style wk 2
Posted on September 18, 2009
WEEK TWO INSTALLMENT
of Project 365: CYE Style
Another week gone and the mornings are starting to feel like fall already. Soon, every morning will highlighted by the traditional pain of making a fire and then trying to keep toddlers away from said fire. However, as those days are not upon us yet, let us be thankful and joyous for the dwindling days of summer! My sister and brother-in-law (who is also Jeff’s brother!) had their beautiful baby girl just yesterday (photos of her next week!) so I am watching Madison for the next few days along the two boys. Seeing as I am sneaking away to write this blog and have plied the older two with candy and Yo Gabba Gabba! this week is just about the pictures.
So! Onto the photos:
Now, this photo deserves some quick words. Meet my husband, Jeff. This was just after work and I had to use him for a test shot. He is not too thrilled with the photo but I think he looks… well, I won’t say here. Just know that its good, ya?
Another quick word… Remember that wood cutting that I mentioned last week? Here is the evidence! Meet Jason; Jeff’s brother, my sister’s husband and my brother-in-law twice.
Well. We have succesfully made it through week two and I have already started collecting wonderful photos for next week.
As for week three…
What to expect? Maybe some newborns. A wedding. A little bit of maternity and maybe even a birthday party and some craft stuff or gyoza (what? Check back… you’ll find out!).
As for now, kids are screaming, cereal has been spilled and general chaos is ensuing. Ah, life.
Ciao!
Project 365: CYE Style Wk 1
Posted on September 11, 2009
So I may be a day (or like, 4) late and a dollar (or two) short but IT is finally here! (Do you have a drumroll sounding in your head right now? I do!) (Wow… I must be in a parenthesis kind of mood today… don’t mind my formerly inner, now outer, monologue.)
WEEK ONE INSTALLMENT
of Project 365: CYE Style
This gem I have dubbed “Mother’s Sanity” (can ya guess why?!) and was processed with a lahoooovely texture from the talented Miss Beth Armsheimer. Check out her site! It looks like she is still running a sale on her texture packs (I have both pack one and pack two). They are high resolution and come in a colored version and black and white of each file. Check her out!
This was Reiken’s first experience with stickers. His cousin, Madison, brought some stickers on over to the Bursch Shanty and Reiken swiftly claimed them for his own. Thus, a picture title was born! “Stickers” was converted to black in white in Photoshop. Then, I added a color fill layer in a cool yellow brown and set the blending mode to color at about 40% opacity. I duplicated that color fill layer and changed the blending mode to soft light and lowered the opacity to around 15%.
“Mr. Q Explores!” Just a quick tweak to the RAW file’s brightness, clarity and exposure in ACR (Adobe Camera Raw)was all this image needed.
I call this “Hope”. It was edited using a free action called Wheat Bread from I-don’t-know-who! I can’t find the creator’s info. Is this your action? Do you know who the author is? Email me so I can give some credit: info@cyephotography.com.
“A la Mud” in Marblemount, WA. Luvin’ me some Coffeeshop Vintage Honey action. This is my new processing addiction. And you know the best part? Rita, Coffeeshop’s head barista, GIVES the action away -FOR FREE. It works both in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Rock on.
This photo (“Peace”) was also taken in Marblemount, WA, on my husband’s grandparent’s property. We (all four of us) stayed in Marblemount for Labor Day weekend. We didn’t set up the tent, (my choice; not the smartest,) instead we set up our sleeping quarters in the bed of our one ton dually Chevrolet (totally acceptable in Marblemount!)! Thankfully, we do have a canopy as it rained BUCKETS all weekend. However, 2 adults, a 1.5 year old and a newborn jammed into the space the size of two refrigerator boxes does not a happy family make. Those were some long nights to say the least! Processed with Coffeeshop’s FREE Orton action.
Well, friends, we have made it to the end of the week. This photo I call “Temptation”. Toddler boys and puddles should not mix (at least according to mama)! However, Reiken flashed me with his white, toothy grin and I caved. Processing? I tweaked clarity, vibrance and brightness in ACR. Then I added a vignette layer and set the blending mode to overlay at about 40% opacity. Voila!
As for week two…
I can tell you that on our photography adventure we will be going to the grocery store, visiting my preggers sister (two weeks ’till Lauren!) and possibly sneaking up on Reiken during nap time. Also, summer is saying its last farewell to the Northwest tomorrow and blessing us with 80 degree weather. There will be wood (hopefully ONLY wood) chopping and other antics that may be captured and become Project 365: CYE Style contenders. You’ll have to check back next week to find out!
Until then,
The (re)birth of a blog…
Posted on August 31, 2009
Maintaining this blog has been on my back burner.
My intent for this blog was at least bi-weekly updates, info, how-tos and other stuff (in order to keep the SEO trolls happy) but, expectedly, LIFE just got in the way. Specifically one life, the birth of our newest addition, Quentin (Quinn) Raymond on July 17, 2009 at Steven’s Hospital in Edmonds/Lynnwood. He wasn’t due until August 10, 2009 so his arrival was a bit of a surprise. So much so that my bag was not packed, diapers had not been purchased and I was home alone with our 1.5 year old, Reiken when labor swiftly and suddenly began. Thankfully, Quinn was not born on the side of I-5 in morning rush hour and everything turned out splendidly. So, now that Quinn is just over 6 weeks old…
I don’t have an excuse not to keep this blog up to date anymore.
Well, no excuses except two children under two in diapers and hubby at work all day. But, I digress. So, in honor of this milestone in my life, I will (re)begin this blog with info regarding my latest photo adventure and a freebie item(!!).
Project 365
What is it you ask, oh savvy web surfer? Simply, Project 365 is one picture a day for a year. Now, keep in mind that is one ‘keeper’ photo a day for a year. A ‘keeper’ photo entails much more than just pick up camera, point and click. Composition, subject, background, and editing/enhancing are all elements that are required for a pleasing, web-worthy Project 365 contender; at least for someone like me (my husband calls it neurotic, I prefer detail oriented). Project 365 will be like a mini shoot, everyday, for a year. I hope to post my Project 365 photos at least once per week, if not more often. So check back and see what my latest Project 365 photo subject is -it could be you! Project 365: CYE Style will begin September 1, 2009, or in layman’s terms, tomorrow. I hope to post the first round o’photos within a week!
Until then, to satisfy your CYE photo craving, check out some of our latest work on our flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cyephotographyflickr/.
And now…. the freebie!
The CYE special today is a custom birth announcement! It comes to you prepackaged in a 300 dpi layered .psd file that can be opened in Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or any program that can open the .psd file extension. All layers are customizable. Just copy and paste your photo into the layer helpfully titled ‘Your Photo Here’ and voila! Instant personalized birth announcement. You are more than welcome to customize this to your heart’s content, print it out and share it with family and friends featuring your precious baby’s image. However, please do not remarket this without written consent from CYE Photography. As long as everyone follows the rules, these things will remain FREE!
