Florabella and PhotoDUDS

I just had to introduce you guys to two wonderful resource sites that I am somewhat addicted to. :)

and

Check them out!!!

Altered Identity

It's time to give this blog a facelift since I failed my "Challenge" long ago and rarely pop in to say hello. Things will be changing here, and hopefully someday I'll actually have some content to post. Here's hoping!

Meanwhile, feel free to check out some of the Photoshop resources I provide (for free) on deviantArt.

Graphics, Photoshop goodies, and Experiments
Stock photos, Textures, and the like

I also have a photography account that's as neglected as this blog:

And now, here are some images from my engagement shoot! (Photos by Katie Dawes Photography, processed by moi)

Happy Holidays

It's been awhile since my last post, but not much has changed. I'm working at a photography studio whenever the owner can use my help, and eventually I will be taking my own photoshoots in the studio. The fiancé and I are slowly but surely working toward our life together. He presented me with my actual engagement ring on the day before Thanksgiving. Here it is. :)

Christmas was wonderful as well. Now on to a new, exciting year! Happy holidays, my friends.

Whoopsie

Well, the drawing idea failed, but I did learn that evidently all the e-mails I was sending out weren't going to anybody! Lol, yay for strange websites. The problem has been fixed, so messages WILL get out there! Also, I have a cosmetic and jewelry party this weekend that I'm rather excited about. In the meantime, my art professor has us making inflatable architecture using plastic rolls and tape, so this week shall be interesting to say the least.

New post?! What?!

That's right, guys. I am alive! And there is so much to tell you...

The short version is that I met an amazing guy in January, started dating him in April, and am now engaged to him; will not be graduating anytime soon due to lack of financial aid, but I'm only two or three semesters away from completing my degree (irony); my best friend is now living with my grandparents and me; and I am now a Mary Kay consultant.

So yep, lots of change, but I am still trekking on as a photographer. Second-shot my first wedding last weekend for Katie Dawes Photography, and have a few wonderful repeat clients here in Zanesville. Life's still handing me lemon after lemon, but hopefully I can toss a lemonade business on top of my photography and Mary Kay businesses! ;)

My fiancé

Speaking of Mary Kay, I've decided to begin putting customers' names into a weekly drawing for a free product. When you make a purchase from me, your name will be put into that week's drawing. This week's free product? The insanely popular, absolutely addictive Foundation Primer!

Well, that's all for now. Here are a few shots from the past year.

Me currently

My "babies"... now taller than me. lol

From a project called "The Scanner, the Self". This is actually a direct scan, not a photograph.

Another favorite from "The Scanner, the Self"

Three photos from a Double Exposure project

Calendar

Challenge Failed

Well, it's safe to say that I have officially failed my 365 Challenge multiple times over. :(

Illness keeps plaguing me. After my wig post, I got really sick and am still attempting to recover. Unfortunately, it seems like I'm on a rollercoaster-- I start feeling better and then BAM, I go right back to the beginning. Doc says it's a bad mix of Pharyngitis (funny, since the first time I had an attack of pharyngitis was exactly 4 years ago to the day) and asthma. I've been on antibiotics and steroids, but the two are making it impossible to take the rest of the vitamins and meds I normally take, so when one thing gets better, the others take its place.

Lovely.

But enough of the complaining. I actually have good things to say! The WalMart interview seemed to have gone great. The woman was anxious to call me back, and we really got along well. Sadly, I'm still waiting for the callback. On the plus side, not being called back yet means I was still eligible to receive a free family photoshoot with $50 worth of free prints. It was nice to have all three of us in front of the camera together for once.

Aside from that, I've mostly been sleeping or doing photoshoots with my friend Kaytlin. We had a group shoot at the nearby Dawes Arboretum last weekend, and even though it was chaotic (and proved to be terrible for my health), it was absolutely amazing. There was a great turnout, and the contacts made there have become friends already. Tomorrow, most of us from that shoot will be reuniting to make a commercial for Ohio University Lancaster. Then, when the night falls, we will be enjoying some hookah and clubbing!

Don't worry. I plan to be very careful not to overexert myself. A social life is important to me, but it means nothing if I sleep the next week away. lol

Now, for some shots from the past month+.

My cousins stayed a few nights. We had a blast shooting in the garage.

Please click on this one. It's so much cooler when it's larger. :)

This and the previous set is from the one full shoot I got to do at Dawes. Sarah was amazing!

 

Kelli was a blast to work with. <3 

So were these guys (and the Giant Foopa With Legs)

The last of the people at the Dawes shoot.

Kelli and Avi being silly while waiting for makeup.

Unedited shots of Ellen and Kayla

Unedited shots of Ellie








If I'm going to fail a challenge, I'm at least going to do it right! :-)

That 70s Post

I spent yesterday (Saturday) evening caring for the wigs I've accumulated over the years, and then I put them onto styrofoam heads. After some boredom, I started playing with the heads by adding some of my many pairs of glasses and other accessories. Figured that each day for 4 or 5 days I could post a photo of one of the heads, but naturally I didn't get to editing yesterday's photo until today.

During the process, I was getting frustrated with how boring the photos were, so I started clicking on random things. One of them was this crazy rainbow gradient map I'd made for a previous photo of the day, and it was such an insane but awesome look that I absolutely HAD to keep it. In fact, I had to use it for today's photo too. Here's the result.

256 and 257 of 365; Sept. 24 and 25; faux-retro wig heads

Today, my first meeting with the Scarlette|Grey Team (Ohio State's fashion organization). Tomorrow, interview at WalMart's photo center. Now, bedtime since it's 2:14 in the morning. Goodnight!

Angles, Angels, and S'more

Last weekend was a blast. Katie and I met in downtown Newark, where there were practically no people but plenty of gorgeous bronze statues and wonderful murals to take their place. I fell in love with this little ghost town, especially once I came across their example of "vandalism".

249/365; Sept. 17; Yes, those are marshmallows.

The next day was just as great, if not better. Katie and I made some fun jewelry for our Indian-inspired shoot, and my car was stuffed with things for all the models to work with. Unfortunately, all but one had to cancel on us, so it just ended up being a 2-hour shoot with an absolutely breathtaking young girl named Katilyn. I'm actually thankful that it just ended up being her, as she was so pretty and sweet that I couldn't stop taking pics of her.

Three edits of one of my favorite shots. BTW, I made the bracelet and hair accessory!

Since she had a time constraint, we weren't going to have time to curl her hair up for the second half of the shoot. Luckily, I happened to have my trusty brown wig with. It matched her hair perfectly! We just blended her hair with the wig and got started. Here's my favorite of that set.

250/365; Sept. 18; Lens flares added for fun. Otherwise, just played with variations and called it a day.

The next three days were spent in Columbus, so here goes.

251/365; Sept. 19; Church windows. I felt like playing with HDR, but then also wanted a film look, so here's the combo.

252/365; Sept. 20; El Jefe, the epitome of man... and his favorite purse?

I couldn't resist capturing this shot of my grandfather. He is so wonderfully comfortable with himself that he can sit there looking all intimidating whilst holding his wife's purse and shopping bag. Better still, his shirt reads "The beatings will continue until morale improves."

253/365; Sept. 21; More playing with HDR.

The 21st was supposed to be my first day of attending Ohio State University, but instead it ended up being the day I withdrew from all my classes :( In any case, I was on campus. The next day (and still today), however, I didn't feel very much like leaving the house, so the next two shots were taken in my living room.

254/365; Sept. 22; Zoom-panned wall decoration.

Can you believe that one's almost completely unedited? AND it was my first shot?! I was taken off guard when I saw that I actually got the shot I wanted right away. It was taken in Monochrome with a yellow filter since the wall's yellow and the sun is a warm green. The apparent vignette was caused by the darkness of the surrounding room and the highlights and shadows were from my flash. All I did to this was use a subtle Unsharp Mask on the face. O.O  For once, I'm finally believing I'm getting better. :)

Finally, we get to today. My grandfather rearranged all the furniture in our living room, and now I sit much further from the lamp I photographed on September 9th. I'm ridiculously exhausted today, so I've barely left the couch. :( Took this while lying down.

255/365; Sept. 23; The Golden Hour Came Late

In other news, Kaytlin and I are planning a bigger, more public shoot for the weekend of October 22nd, so be looking out for those details. Also, I have a job interview for WalMart's PictureMe studio on Tuesday. Hoping for the best. I could use some good luck on the professional side.

Aw, Nuts!

248/365; Sept 16; Peanut in an oddly lit bar

Ohio State still hasn't gotten back to me, and Welcome Week starts on Monday, so I guess I'm not going. :-( Monday was supposed to be the day I went to campus to get my parking permit, locker, transfer credits straightened out, and some fun time during all the WW festivities. Doubly sad.

Oh well! Tomorrow's another day. I've applied at a couple more local photo studios and am hopeful. Also, tomorrow I get to spend the night at my friend Katie's house. We'll hopefully be taking some shots of her gorgeous baby sister dancing, preparing for Sunday's Native-American-inspired shoot, and just being our silly selves, so if I don't post for the next night or two, it's only because I'm busy taking a ton of pictures (or resting from it). :D

Now, just for fun, I'll throw a few of my favorite shots from my shoot with miss Brandy Cruz née Gilbert.