I'm NOT a Photographer But I Like to Play One

I love taking pictures even though I don't know what I'm doing!!!  I'm too cheap to pay for a class and too impatient to read a book....so I do the best I can with what I have to work with, so when my bonus daughter asked me if I would take her maternity pictures I was excited but nervous that I wouldn't be able to do what she wanted....but we would try with what we had and of course - 

Thank goodness for Photoshop Elements and Picnik.com!

I did not receive anything from either company and these are just my opinions of both. 

You can get Photoshop Elements for under $50, but there is a learning curve.  You can find tons of tutorials online and it can do a lot for altering photos. 

Picnik.com is FREE and is awesome.  I'm still learning all that it can do, but I haven't been disappointed so far.  You can pay for the Premium account, but I haven't seen the need yet.

This photo was done completely with Picnik.com.  I used the Sepia effect and the matte effect (soft white edge)

I used Photoshop Elements first on this photo.  I turned it black and white in a second layer on top of a color layer and then used the eraser to erase the blk/wh layer where the flower was - letting the color from the first layer show through.  Then I loaded the picture into Picnik and used the matte effect for the soft white edge.   Amber is sitting on a very old, white comforter that her husband is holding up behind her.

This turned out to be one of my favorites!  I used Picnik for the whole thing.  Turned it black and white, used the focus effect so that the outer edges are blurred and the ultrasound is in focus and then vignette effect for the black soft edges.

 I used Photoshop Elements for this one.  I turned the picture black and white in a second layer over a full color layer. I used the lasso tool and outlined the ribbon and ballet slippers, then I took the eraser and erased the top blk/wh layer where the lasso had outline...leaving the ribbon and slippers in color.

I used Photoshop Elements for this one.   I turned a second layer black and white on top of a full color layer.  I used the lasso tool to outline the rose and then used the eraser to erase the blk/wh layer where the rose is.

 I used Photoshop Elements the same way as above, plus Picnik matte effect.

 I used Photoshop Elements as mentioned above, then I took a scroll frame from a digital scrapbook kit and colored it to match the slippers and reduced it to about 40%.

This one I used Picnik.com.  First, I cropped the picture, then turned it black and white, then used the focus effect to slightly blur the outer edge and focus in on the charm....it's a very sutle effect, but I really like it! 

 This one I used Picnik.com...turned the picture black and white and then used the vignette effect to add the soft black edge.

So, I'm not a photographer and I don't notice the little things that 'stand' out when you see the proofs....but I love taking them and I love 'playing' with them and I think my bonus daughter loves them too and that's all that matters :-) Not too bad for a wanna-be photographer - ha!

Camera used - mom-n-laws Canon Rebel

Having my bonus daughter text me 'they're perfect' = Pricele$$

I party with all these great ladies every week...go check them out & party on!!

http://www.thegypsyscorner.com/