New Lightroom Storyboard

Quick Walk at the Park

So, we were given Lightroom as a gift last week. Yesterday, we had to go and buy a book so that we could even understand the new editing program. We new that it would change the way we would/could edit our business' photos. We never knew how awesome it really was until today. Dave, 150 pages into the book, says, "Let's go to the Troll bridge and take pictures." Yes. That's what we call the bridge down at the state park a few blocks from our house. Dave hasn't picked up the camera like that in several months. Knowing what that would mean, I ran into my closet, threw on "vintage" clothing, slapped blush and lipgloss on, brushed my hair, and grabbed the new parasol I got at Molly Mo's Antique Faire last weekend. The beautiful vintage umbrella was only $5! Dad would be proud! Anyway... Dave was wondering what was taking me so long. I am glad I freshened up, cause look at the result!

We came home and excitedly put the photos on the laptop. We couldn't believe what we could do with them and how fast it took! It was hard enough for me to learn Photoshop and it scares me a little to know I have to learn another program... but it will be soooo worth it!

All By Myself...

Hello, I know that I posted about my adventures at the Molly Mo's Antique Faire on my other blog but I just wanted to share more pictures with you. Go to our website and check them out. It was so fun... and the best part was meeting the coolest new friends with Becca!

Becca also found a new prop for our photo shoots and I am going to keep it a surprise. Dave's going to take me out to get photos soon and I will bring it then!

The Reason for it All...

Big Picture Scrapbooking is doing a great class by Cathy Zielske. This inspiring video tells why I do what I do...

http://bigpicturescrapbooking.com/meatozvideo.html

Korissa's 2nd Birthday Party

It was this princess' birthday celebration last Saturday. Jessica did an amazing job and I would have to say that it was the best birthday party I have ever been to. It was a luau theme and so cute!

Here's the princess.

She loved the sunglasses Ethan picked out for her.

They had a shell hunt. Ethan found four to take home!

They also got a chance to paint shells.

Didn't he do a good job?

Auntie Tammy gave wagon rides around the block.

Korissa opened the doll I made for her and yelled, "Baby!" It looks just like her grandma's. Check it out. Now they can play with their dolls together. ;)

He loved the party and didn't talk about anything else the whole way home!

Vacation Count Down

I am not sure it was a good idea to tell Ethan that we were going to the beach to go camping - six days before we go. Everyday he cries asking if it is the day we go.

He wanted to go to the beach so bad that wanted to wear his life jacket around the house. He finally calmed down a bit when we asked if he wanted to take a bath with it on.

In anticipation... three more days.

The Salem Bite

So, last Saturday Josh, Becca, and Sarah invited Dave and I to The Bite at the Riverfront. I had been once before but not with Ethan. We decided to eat dinner there since The Bite is all about local cuisine coming together for this community event. To our surprise, there wasn't much food. It seemed like the carnival took up most of the park. Here are my ultimate favorite photos of the evening. Although, there are more I just haven't edited them all. These were taken with Becca's camera. I took them all (besides the one with me and Dave in them) and I also processed them.

Here's Becca having to get a cotton candy. Ethan liked it a lot!

I really wanted to get some vintage-like photos of the carnival. There is something nostalgic about a carnival.

Ethan's first carousel ride and it's not even the Riverfront Carousel! I love the fact that Dave and Ethan have this as their first ride together.

Man it was hot!

Make the Best of Things

So I haven't been able to use our camera all week. It needs to be taken to the shop. In the meantime, I have been trying to make the best of things and have been playing with Photoshop... what do you think of my processing on these photos?

Aren't they fun?!

Family Reunion

Yesterday was an adventure! Dad invited me to go to his family reunion. He hadn't been in over ten years. This last month his beautiful sister (photo below) passed away. Jack realized that it would be good to see his family. He said, "I realized family is more important than I thought." I was invited because there would be family there that would have more information about the family's history. Since October of last year I have been wanting to hear more about Jack's family. This was the first time I met anyone from Jack's family. Little did I know that I was in for an amazing treat...

Jan and Jack

Jack and his cousin Jim re-connecting at the reunion

I didn't know that there was this beautiful story behind Jack's history. Jack's great grandmother was married to a salesman that was killed in the 1903 Heppner, Oregon flood. She then married a divorced man. So, there are three families that are involved in Jack's family history. It is really amazing and too detailed to begin here.

Family trees and photographs



The mixed family and where the journey begins

The best thing is that everyone let me take the photos and some of the family's history home with me to begin this new journey of documenting everything digitally. Nothing has been preserved and I can't wait to help with that job. Everyone voted at the reunion to have next year's at Mom and Dad's! So, I hope to have the job done in a year. That's my goal.

The best part is that I already have thirty photos digitally restored and I printed them today. They look brand new! So amazing! Can't wait to share this journey with you...

(to follow the creative journey go here)