Monday, June 29, 2009

Pink in High-Resolution

I woke up Saturday morning and thought to myself "Girl, you just need to learn how to do your own photography". Off I went to my local camera store and came home with a technology-induced headache and a new best friend, a Canon Rebel XSi. Photoshoots for my website have always been the hold-up in the process, it's just plain tense and way too picky for most professional photographers. I see my product, but conveying that picture (in my head) is too time-consuming and expensive. And it's ongoing with new product, so at 55 yrs. old I am determined to learn how to do more styling, and shoot my own photos. Yesterday I absorbed impressive words like aperture, ISO, white balance, macro, and telephoto. My hand is sore from carrying this hefty friend around all day shooting everything in sight and these mature neurons are firing off like crazy. This Princess Pink photo is one of my baby gift ensembles that is being re-styled for the website and I think it is the most precious pink present to send to a new princess. It comes with the most feminine pink Daisy sun hat since it's never too early for a girl to worry about sun protection.

When you ask for help from your fellow blogger friends, they always come through for you. A few weeks ago, blogger Mandy from A La Parisienne emailed with some advice on white balance when I apologized to blog viewers for my tinted photo backgrounds. She got the wheels turning and from there I emailed Alice at the photographically-superior blog Thoughts from Alice W, who's blog and website photos are some of the loveliest I've seen. Within ten minutes, she graciously emailed her camera spec's and off I went into a whole other learning curve. I also noticed this is the same Canon camera used by the book-worthy blog photos at Cannelle Vanille and we all know her food photography is something to see. My Paris Pink file folders, Paris Rubber Stamp Set, and Eiffel eraser are always on my desk.....if I have to work I'm going to make it as pretty and pleasant as possible. Now wouldn't this lovely gift perk up those pesky desk chores?


This photo actually has some great resolution, but when it downloads to blogger it loses some of it's clarity. A quick, 7 am email to my web guy with the question "why are these photos losing their resolution in the transfer from file to blogger and how can I fix it?" still hasn't been answered (he's obviously a late-sleeper or hiding from me) but I'm dying to know. This Cote Bastide Giroflee Bath Gel and Soap is one of my favorite gift products, makes me think I'm in a sophisticated Paris bathroom. I think I might use these tonight in a good, long soak after a good, long bike ride. My other best friend who I am ashamed to admit I have been ignoring the last few days.




All photos by Sande Chase ~ A Gift Wrapped Life

26 comments:

  1. Sande,
    This post of pink perfection is making me giddy! Congrats on the new camera - I agree that it is better to learn to do things yourself than to wait for others (especially when we seek the ultimate of high standards!).

    Cote Bastide it my absolute favorite - their packaging is divine!

    Hope you and your BF enjoy the afternoon ride!

    Melissa

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  2. I've just recently found your blog and love it! I have the same camera and I too am trying to figure it all out.A blogging friend suggested a few books so I've been looking through them in my free time ~ when ever that may be.

    Best of luck!
    Jo

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  3. Sande-Adore the pink-my favorite color. Great post-my next project is upgrading my camera and skills.

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  4. Beautiful, Sande. You will have mastered photography in no time, I am sure. Looking good!

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  5. Sande, you sound so much like me. That is the reason my website is SO outdated! It took 3 photo shoots just to get what I have. I am so picky, I drive the photographers insane - wanting to style and re-style.
    Best we learn to do it ourselves and then we get what we want. You are doing great...I, on the other hand, need a few classes!
    All the best~
    Dana

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  6. Congratulations on the new toy!
    I know I'm overdue for an upgrade from my little
    point & shoot and the vote for the Rebel
    always seems to be a big thumbs up .

    A new skill is always exciting ... . ....

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  7. Good Job girlfriend!! Wow, I can see your doing it all right too! Beautiful photos! A website renovation opens more doors, like new opportunities.. You will feel really free now~ I remember when I didn't do my photos, nothing was more frustrating to me. As soon as I learned it opened a whole new world for me...and my creative thoughts have been endless~ Keep up your fabulous journey!
    XOX's

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  8. Congrats on your new camera! I have a Cannon and love it! What I've learned about photography is all in Photoshop. The sharpening tool is great, there are so many easy to learn bells and whistles. Just play around. And shooting in natural light too. Also, that macro is a great feature for close-ups. Enjoy!

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  9. Yes, it can induce headaches - almost daily - for regular blog posters. I am sort of over it because even magnificent shots are so poor Blogger...

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  10. Oh, Sande, I am so happy for you! A new camera and the determination to learn how to use it will lead you to a horizon of amazing possibilities. I, too, have been wanting a new camera with an adjustable lens. My hubby said that if I'm good this year, I will get one for Christmas! Choosing a good camera, to me seems so overwhelming! Everything you've done looks great!

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  11. Nice work! You're making great progress! Photography is a very rewarding hobby - I'll bet you'll soon be photographing more than just blog stuff :) The best thing you used to be able to do for indoor photography (to take out the odd light effects) was to purchase a filter - now however, you can probably achieve a similar effect with color balance in your computer with digital editing. It will take out the florescence. I'm still mostly a film girl, but digital is AMAZING.

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  12. Congratulations!! You are on your way. There is nothing better than being able to do everything yourself on your website, to get it just like you want. It took me a while, but if I can get it, so can anyone else. Your photos look great! Love your website,
    xoxo Lidy

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  13. Good for you! All the technical stuff is really challenging. I just teach myself as I go. I have no idea why your resolution is changing...Never heard of that.
    Pink is one of my favorite colors. Someone gave me the Eiffel Tower eraser as a gift, but told me it was a stone. So that is what registered in my mind until one day I picked it up and said, "What in the world! This is an eraser!" Too funny.
    Catherine

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  14. Lucky you a new camera. I so have to learn to take better photos inside. I am opening a webstore soon and need better photos. I think it is me rather than the camera
    Alison

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  15. oh cameras I know the feeling I too am trying to make my images look gorgeous for my site, I think you are doing just great keep at it you will be so pleased you did. :) Elaine

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  16. So glad I could help Sande and glad to see you are off to such a good start with your new addition! The photos look great and I am sure you will pick up on your own perfect style in how you want your photos to look in no time. My best advice {and what I do with my own photos} is always strive for natural light...outdoors if it's not too glaringly bright...or indoors near a window...then they turn out with the best natural coloring. At least in my humble opinion...Best of luck to you!

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  17. I'm right there with you! At 65, I am struggling to improve my photography which was nonexistent before I started photographing the arrangements for our webstores. I am having a lesson this week with a professional who I am hoping will help me. Thank Heavens for digital! I couldn't afford all the film I would have used!

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  18. I really admire your jumping wholeheartedly into a new world of photography. Your work and photos are just gorgeous!

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  19. Have fun with that new camera Sande - these pink images are a very pretty place to start, xv.

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  20. Well the pink images are so warm & cozy, I think they're going to be big sellers. I knwo Im needing the new site up soon.
    A white box can really save you too. For those who know not what it is, its literally a collapsable white box you use with a light & it brightens & softens...I love it.

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  21. WOW your photos are just glorious! I love that you have the back blurred out. My pro photog friend told me I'd never be able to achieve that with my current camera and I just love the look. Thanks as always for sharing such a great find. I don't know why you wouldn't be a great photographer, you're so artistic that it was a natural extension. Still it's a science and you're a genius cause you've already mastered it!

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  22. Enjoy your new camera.. it looks like it's working perfectly!

    xoxo Noel

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  23. Happy Canada Day Sande. Your photo's turned out really well. I find that the older I get the harder everything seems; but I have pledged to myself that I will not give in. That is on my list is to improve my photography skills. Before you know it, you will have it mastered. ~ deb

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  24. You are a great photographer!

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  25. I adore the all pink for a special little princess!

    I have the same camera. Santa had it under the tree for me this past Christmas. I'm still learning and playing with it. Even if I don't know what I'm doing yet- I definitely can see the difference in photos from my old camera. I didn't have any 4th of July photos to post, so I had used some older ones from last year. One advise that seems to always come up when I ask is- take a photo a day to get comfy with the camera and another was to take start off in "P or TV" mode.

    Happy photo taking! xoxo

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  26. Love your blog!!!!

    Discovered it at The Lisa Porter Collection

    I will so enjoy looking at it regularly!

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