Where have you "PIN" all my life?

I hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year!  If you haven't checked out Pinterest, it's my new favorite place to "pin" photography, tutorials, and so much more!  It's like Google's images, but so many people find things for you, the search is much more vast, and quick.  Enjoy it if it's your first time there:  Pinterest.

One of my boards I "pin" to, http://pinterest.com/cindyirene/photography-tutorials/, filled with photography tutorials and tips.

WELCOME BACK!

Welcome back, not you, but me!  I have been in hiatus for a few months now, but now I have returned and I am looking forward to meeting new clients, and creating new images.  I am also in the process of revamping my website, so you may see some changes here and there and I apologize in advance if something is not working right.  It will all be ironed out soon.  

In the meantime, bake something delicious!

Baked, courtesy of my daughter, Rachael.

Food Photography

Food Photography is another passion of mine, maybe because most foods are colorful, maybe because I love to eat it when I'm done, or maybe because I can position how I want and it never moves. ;)  Here are a few of mine, followed by an article with some tips.

Here's a great article on Food Photography, by Ree from The Pioneer Woman:  http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2011/01/ten-important-things-ive-learned-about-food-photography/ .

*GIVEAWAY* LIVE on Paperie Boutique!

Robyn, from Paperie Boutique has graciously hosted a giveaway from Cindy Irene Photography!  You have until tomorrow evening, EST 11:59 pm to enter.  She is the editor of the packaging category in the Professional Photographer magazine and owns Buttons & Bows Photography.  Visit Paperie Boutique to enter!  In the meantime, visit my shoppe at My Etsy Shoppe for more information on my Marketing materials, kits created with papers by talented Terry, owner of Sassy Designs, Inc.

*GIVEAWAY*:

www.paperieboutique.com

Click here to enter the giveaway, and view some of the over 80 files below, to start, revamp or add to your Photography business!

My Etsy Shoppe for Marketing Materials and Printable Party Decorations

My Facebook FAB Photog Freebies, all about FREE Photography related items

My Facebook Photography Business

NEW Marketing Kit for Photographers, "Frenchy", now available!

Visit http://www.etsy.com/listing/74592098/photographer-or-any-branding-business for more information!

NEW Marketing Kit for Photographers, "Frenchy", coming soon!

I have a new Marketing Kit coming very soon, that has over 60 files!  Watch for a FREEBIE from the kit at www.fabphotogfreebies.com.

Quickly change to a new backdrop using textures!

There are numerous ways out there to get a new background look, including actual cloth.  But how would you like to do it quickly and easily and FREE!?  Here's my tutorial on how I achieve different backgrounds when i'm limited for space, want to have a different look or I don't like the original.

First, search Google for FREE wall textures.  Here is where I got mine:  http://www.freestockimages.org/2009/05/13/free-stock-images-part-15-stone-wall-textures-continued/

Then open Photoshop.  Open your original image and your texture.  Drag the texture over the original image, be sure your arrow tool is selected.  You may have to resize or move the texture around to achieve how large you want the backdrop to look.  This photo is my original.

Then, you lower the opacity of the texture enough to see the original photo.  Click on the erase tool, making sure you have selected a brush size with a feathered edge.  Erase the texture off of the areas of your subjects you want to delete.  Then raise the opacity to original so you can see what the final will look like.  You may have to do that step a few times to be sure the edges do not look odd.   To clean up, I click on a no-feathered brush edge to give it a clean edge.

Once you've done that, flatten your image, run an action or leave it and you're good to go!

Below is the new background!  Have fun creating!

It was a beautiful day yesterday for shoots, here's a sneak peak from a Prom couple, the day before tonights dance!

25 Biggest Mistakes in Starting your Photography Businesses

I have to share this article.  THIS posting was one of the most inspirational words I have ever read, coming from another photographer that learned from her mistakes, as we all do.  I printed it and always had it hung in my office while starting my business, would read it often and refresh my inspirations.  It's a must read for those of you starting out in a photography business or have been in business and is in relation to us all.

http://twophotogs.com/2010/02/my-25-biggest-mistakes/

NEW set of Mellow Yellow actions set, coming soon!  Watch Facebook for more information and sneak previews!

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