The make up of the Studio part 2

Sorry I won't have any hats to show this. But I wanted to keep good on on my promise.

Here's how you do a quick 5 to 7 minutes "studio" set up. What you'll need.

A tip, always ALWAYS do a black to white background if you are doing a professional look to a project. Sometimes you can get by with a colors background, but most of the time it is not clean and it does not bode well with the product. So if you do go with a colored, then really pay attention to what  you are trying to say with the colored.

By the way...just a tip Never EVER do a green background for a portrait. Unless you want them to look sick...yellow ( a bright color yellow) isn't so great either. When it comes to photography, do a complementary color.  Say you're doing a teal mug with a cream lettering...a brown background depending on the hue would work very nicely. Anyways back to the things you'll need.

A white background (A twin sheet would be best, although I used a double up queen size sheet.)
A flash ( I don't mean those pop up flash on the camera. If you don't have a flash like a sb-900-an off flash camera, use available light.) Available light is light that is already there.
A clipboard
A table
A chair

You set up up like so:

Although, a pillowcase worked well for hats, a sheet is so much better for scarfs.  But there you go. Quick, easy, and has effective results for a mini studio. 

Touch up quickly in camera raw, save it as a jpg, slap your watermark on it, and send it on its way. 

The best part of all this, is you can do this in a messy house aka the background or a small place at any time at any place. I did this at night and I loved the effect. 

What I did in class today

Who woulda thunk we'd mess around with photos today?

Word for me

This morning during worship, I got this word. I wanted to name this year specifically for me. Not for anyone else, just me. It was important. Well...I got two. But one is subtitles per say....
Pastor Tim declared this year of increase for Harvest Church. Which is ironic because I have heard for me and and from others that is what they too have heard for our church. I am excited for this year of increase. Please read Ephesians 1:17-22. I'll add a second blog latter on explaining why. It got me excited and I am still chewing on those verses. Probably will be for a while. But back to my Word...or Words.
The first one, I was thinking Training...it will be another year of training. I was thinking...Oh God, please give me a break. This past year has been so rough on me in so many ways. Then He spoke to me..."Think of how much you have learned," as I think back I really would have not changed a thing other then the fact of my favorite lens spontaneously falling and smashing into pieces. Of course I would have preferred that the house that I was house sitting didn't flood on me. But other than that...it was well hard.
You know what I love and hate at the same time? God testing me. It's wonderful and dreadful at the same time. But with His grace, I believed I passed. After all I am still His through and through.  But this test has caused me to explode...cough...several times. Never, have I been in a season where I have been so angry. Yup....testings brings out the worst in me. My mom can attest to this.
Most of the times, I strive with the times. Whatever hits me I can roll with it with the best of 'em. No sweat...seriously. Not this year. I had been bombard with so many things at once, I lost it. But I only cried once...twice at the most which is unusual for me.  Instead I got angry...not a good thing. The only good thing was I didn't hold it in...unless I was with other people. Then I hid it often. No...I didn't punch walls, hit anyone, or damage property. Firstly, that is not godly, nor ladylike, and well just plain not me. But my steering wheel did get slapped several times in frustration and so the kitchen counter when no one but God was watching.
One story I'll share, because I'm sure you'll giggle at this. Nod your head and say "Honey, I can so relate."
It was hard night. School was ending in a week and it was super crunch time. Thanksgiving had just been over. My computer had not been allowing me to get on internet. I got kicked off easily five times. Getting kicked off and having to do research is enough to make any already extremely stressed college student that had a business plan due in two days more freak out. My phone died, and I had no way to get ahold of my family. That.did.not.make.me.happy. But I heaved a sighed and kept at what I could.
And
Then
The house flooded. It took me more than a half of a day to clean it up. After I cleaned it up. I was fine. Then I sat down at the computer. It did not work. I flipped out.
"You're God, and you can make this work. So make this work!" I shouted no...screamed in a high shrilled voice at the ceiling. Desperate and overwhelmed with stress I struggled to keep words inside my mouth and not cry to instead think rationally. You know what He did? He laughed at me. Two hours later, the internet worked and had no problem since. "I fixed it alright for you, but I'm going to do it in my own sweet time."He whispered. He helped me with my work and I finished my assignment due in two days. Needless to say I learned a lesson. When I am weak, He is strong.
By the way, I ended up with good grades that semester which I can only give credit to Him.
So you can understand my questions, more training?! You've got to be kidding me. I don't know if I can stand another one like last semester.
Thankfully thus far it hasn't been ANYTHING like last semester. Yes, I have been crazy busy. Which explain why this post has taken me nearly two weeks to type up. But I have enjoyed this semester and I should it's my last.
The second word is Romance or romancing. What does that mean? I don't know to be completely honest. But I think it'll be along the lines of this: I believe I'll enter into a sweet time with God this year. Where He and I just grow really close. Will there be a guy in the picture? Hard to say, but I'm not looking. No, God has claimed my attention and what's left is devoted to my crazy busy life in general.  This week alone, I'll be arriving home around 9ish every night maybe even later. Unless I'm out for once in a blue moon fun, I'm rarely out past 9:00 save for Thursday nights when I go dancing. By dancing I mean ballroom dancing such as foxtrot, tango, waltz, cha cha, and others. Great deal of fun. But already, I feel that my relationship has grown sweeter dare I say it more mature? It isn't an intense longing to be with God, rather well its starting to be more a natural longing. It is hard to explain. It's like there's no pressure, there's no scolding, no pressing and yet I find myself more drawn to Him. I've pondered the most simplest things and have received some of the most amazing teachings. There are a time when I simply haven't had time to study, but my talks with Him I think have grown longer. I've done really nothing new other than the fact of I have been writing in a journal nearly every night and attending Young Adults Fellowship as faithfully as I can. That fellowship...don't join unless you're willing for some downright heavy discussion. There's power there and the best part is: it is just us young folks. A young leader already graduated from college leading us late teens, early twenties. This is one of the best group that has ever happened. We're serious about our learning, we encourage each other, and pray for each other. Perhaps unlike any group I've ever attended we'll actually get to finish our study. Do you know I have never once in my life actually completed a bible study? Sad really, and I really want to. Because I feel like I get chipped out of something amazing. Perhaps this time it'll be different. So what will this romancing and learning curve year look like, don't know. But you'll probably hear how it goes by the time the last day of December rolls around...maybe even before.

Overhaul'ng

Good gracious me! I said that I would take it easy. Guess over all I have. Considering the changes I'll be starting tomorrow. I'm determined to have a healthier style of life. Mind you if every now and then I slack, then fine. I'll eat my piece of cake and love.every.last.bite. Although frankly, I must owe I'm much more an ice-cream girl myself. But that is besides the point. So....since I have decided to exercise more, eat a more balance meal, and spend my time in creativity involving anywhere from training Keegan to decorating my room in my own photographs, I thought it was high time to organize my closet. Cough...half of a mistake.
I don't think I'll be passing my room inspection on friday mom. Think I'll cash in a pass. But maybe I'll be surprised. Despite my being a photographer, I'll not be photographing the changes. However, if I am well pleased with my organization skills I may photograph the finished results.
I'm moving most of my office supplies outa of my closet into my own lil corner in the office. Sorting through my clothes. Except this time I'm not going to give so much clothes away that I actually I have to go  buy clothes. I want to decorate my closet! I want to beautify it. My room will be beautified why not my walk in closet? Sigh...this is a huge process for me. I'm going through my old things, my old writing will go into folders to be taken out and read on rainy days. Photographs sorted and packed away. Fresh things that reflect me during this season will be brought out.
Then I move to my room. Which won't be hard. There really isn't much there which makes it fabulous for cleaning. Of course I'll rearranged my room. It's time for that deep cleansing. If I could I would clean the carpets...hmmm maybe I will.
But the cleaning doesn't stop there. Nope the office will be the third that I'll have to deal with. Which will be grand!

Web designing

Web designing. Who would ever thought me a photographer, writer, reader, and hair stylist would be soon designing a website? It is a great deal of fun and I am so looking forward to really completing it. Who knows I might stuck around next semester to have more classes in web and to finally get some sign language in me.  I have been surprised the number of amounts of people who have asked me to teach them. Which brings me to another side step. I think this is starting to turn into a dance. Bear with me today, I have much on my mind. I encourage people to learn. It is my personal belief that people should love to learn and love to help other people with their wealth of knowledge . But here is something I have pondered for a while. When is it that we give too much. Face the music. There are times despite having really good friends that our work gets stolen. By work I mean our ability to have an income to be able to provide for our family and bless others. I know. I have seen not drastic measures, but I have seen some "stealing" off of other peoples work. So I ask myself where is that fine line of encouraging and helping others learn and where is the line of being a good steward over the gifts that God has given. At some point or another my business will be passed down hopefully to one of (gulp here it goes, my children) along with it secretes and wisdom that I had learned over the years. You are probably asking what on earth does this have do with web design? I thought this was supposed to be a light hearted topic. My answer? Everything and well nothing. Anyone who puts their mind into it can make a web site or a page, but the secretes of the design. Well that takes heart and it takes joy combined with tears to make a the long tedious struggle of journey turn into life that you couldn't imagine not having. A good design captures not just the eyes but the soul. It invites you into a new world informing you or giving deeper understanding of what has already been. I don't teach someone looking for a way out quickly, I help someone who is willing to stay and battle it out. One with a humble heat because frankly you can't teach to a cold stone or a proud heart. This post has dance too many dances I think for right now. But in a strange way it makes sense. Don't think for a minute I am not willing to teach someone my skills, I have already promised her that I would. Or don't think I am not willing to help someone out with photography or something I know what to do. Because I do. The question above has just been musing around in my mind. I have refused to teach someone my crochet design. Because I did come up with it but I will not refuse to help someone come up with their own crochet scarf without fear of me taking it for my own save for turning it into my own inspiration. Am I right in this? Time will tell and if I am not God will gently reproof me.
 Back once again to web design. I will try not to take you for anymore turns. I having been learning how to put colors for the background, do different font family, choose different colors. Apparently today we will be going over some more graphic design. By the way if you are interested in understanding colors get a boom called "color". It has mighty fine prints so you want a magnify glass but its worth the read if you are patient. It describes how to use color with graphic design and printing, and I am pretty sure colors for the web. I am starting to be able do links and list photographs. Big deal right? Actually it is. I kept trying to type in the code, but apparently I can't. Guess because it's a code...silly me. I should have thought of that.  I really enjoy it. But here is a photograph of a code:

  This is, but many of the codes that I have to memorized. If you are interested. Look for my website coming in May. We have to do a full blown website for our class...from scratch as is in html and css. So excited!