My Valentine's Day Gift - Photoshop Elements

I heart photography.  I am a very visual person and just love the way photography can capture feelings and emotions into something that I can look at for years to come.  When I had my children, my love for photography reached a whole new level as I realized just how fleeting many of those moments are. 

As some of you may remember, I gushed about my favorite children's photographer in this post.  She's a dear friend who I "bumped" into years ago and have grown to know as a rockstar mama, wife and most recently photographer.  She will be the one who I forever take my children to for those milestone photo sessions.  But, on the other days when my kiddos are doing something that I find "photo-worthy," (which is most every day of the year), I want to have the ability to take the pictures that are worthy of being preserved for years to come...not the fuzzy, color blown shots that I am always taking on my iPhone.  She suggested I pair my basic DSLR with Photoshop Elements.  So...Photoshop Elements went on my gift list.  And in the meantime, I continued to work on my photography skills by taking LOTS of photos.  Seriously.  LOTS. 

I shot my sister and her husband on a very COLD, December afternoon.  It was my first photo shoot to anyone other than my poor children and I had SO much fun.  I froze.  But I had SO much fun.  Here was a highlight from that session (edited with PicMonkey....oh how I love PicMonkey). 

I do have to give a shout out to my husband for his assistance on this photo session.  We used quite a few "props," including snugly blankets, metal letters and their dog.  While shooting, he became the prop master walking up and down the river bank, covered in blankets with a giant (high strung) dog, looking like a homeless man.  It made us laugh...and don't worry he was rewarded with a trip to a microbrewery following the last shot. 

 

I was then able to take pictures of this sweet baby girl....

 

Ahhh...I had caught it...the shutterBUG! 

 

I joined my sister and a few of her friends in a 365 Photo Challenge and am happy to say that I've made the effort, every day, to find something to capture.  I have to say that in addition to finding beauty in my every day life, I have also become a much better deleter.  No longer do thousands of terrible pictures linger on my photo cards or hard drives.  If they don't make the cut, into the recycle bin they go.  Ahhhh.....freedom. 

  

And then along came Valentine's Day.  I went out to buy my newly "bearded" husband a trimmer and he remembered my LIST!  A list that I had long since forgot about.  My birthday and Christmas had come and gone and I must say extravagant Valentine's Days are not "our" thing, but HE REMEMBERED MY LIST.  In he walked, to our chaotic home, with a single rose a card and PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS!  Be still my heart.  He had listened.  And remembered. 

 

And now for over a week, that sweet gift has sat unopened on my buffet.  Why?  Because it terrifies me. 

 

Well, today I opened it.  And played with it.  For a little while.  I am still terrified.  Please add all helpful suggestions below in my comment section on how to begin working with it.  I know it can do amazing things...I just don't know where to start.  But for now, I did manage to come up with this edit. 

 



And it has inspired me to learn more.  Because I love photography.  And I REALLY LOVE good photography.  And I think, with the right tools, I can be a good photographer. 

 

A Favorite Post - The Power of a Picture - A Photography Display Wall

Hi.  I missed you.  Excuses, excuses, blah, blah, blah...  Moving on.

In our absence from one another, I received one of the sweetest packages in the mail.  The kind of package that makes you run and greet the UPS driver with bedhead and in your jammies.

I apologize now, for missing one picture in the "reveal."  Imagine a sweet brown box, tied with an unassuming cream, twill tape bow.  Now, untie that bow {in your head} and lift off that lid and LOOK!

Okay, so you may not have the same reaction because it isn't your family portrayed through the BEAUTIFUL eyes of Jeanne Hansen Photography, but it was MY family...and believe me, it was a gasp heard round the world! 

Let me tell you a bit about my love of professional photography...this professional photographer in particular.

I have FOREVER taken my children to get their "ages and stages" photographs at various locations along the way.  3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, etc... you could find me (and my less than cooperative) child at the local, point and shoot, print them while you run and grab a snack in the food court, photography studio.  Now, granted, I have loved those shots because they were of MY children.  They gave me a tangible reminder of my child's size and maybe a sweet expression...maybe.

Then my dear friend decided to start a little business and my photographic life changed FOREVER!  Her sessions are relaxed.  She's an awesome mommy and approaches my kiddos in a...well...mommy-ish way that puts them...okay, all of us...at ease.  I can't say that I've had that same experience at other places...at all.  She also looks at my kids with a "mommy lens."  Perhaps, you haven't experienced this lens before, but its the one that captures emotion...not just a "shot."  These photos remind me of great, big love and pride in my life's work.  The smiles make you smile back...and even giggle.  Check out her photos and I can only imagine that you will see...no feel...the same thing.

Anyway...back to my little project.  Remember that sweet box of memories...they needed to be somewhere where the world could see them.  ALL OF THEM!  Well, I don't know how many art galleries that you have been to, but I am pretty sure that one of the reasons that they are so sparsely decorated is due to the price of frames...ugh.  But my GORGEOUS photos needed something worthy of their importance and beauty....but on the cheap.  Here's what I came up with...

Yes, the bottom right side needs some straightening...the toddler seems to be magnetically drawn to that frame in particular.  He broke one in the "hanging" process and has knocked its replacement off once already. 

I purchased my frames from Michael's and Wal-Mart.  My priciest frames are the 3 photo frames which I got on sale for ~$22 each at Michael's.  The least expensive frames would be the frames that house my 5x7" photos and I got them for less than $10 at Wal-Mart.  They are all a mix of brown and black, wood tones, mat colors, and black and white and color photography.  I am pretty sure that combo breaks every rule in the home decorating handbook.  But I think the thing that works here is the unity of the photo session within the pictures.  Same clothes, similar backdrops, etc.  What do you think?

I purchased the frames before I ordered pictures so that I knew what photos I wanted where.  Believe me...that was a challenge (to narrow down my choices, that is!), but produced a result that now makes me sit and look at my wall with such a happy heart that I can't imagine replacing it ever.  A moment in time...wrinkles, cowlicks, crooked smiles that have already disappeared in my everyday life but are forever remembered on paper.  I challenge you to find a collection of pictures...better yet...call my friend and have her create a collection for you...and place them somewhere where you can see them everyday for the rest of your life.  The reward will be sooo worth it.  I promise you.