Carissa's Grad Announcements

I really don't know what I enjoy more. The actual photography or creating art and designing in photoshop. I do know I spend more time behind the computer than the camera. lol

This has to be one of my favorite cards that I have designed and I just had to share. This is actually a Luxe card with a beautiful cut out design on the top and it's a tri-fold.

Congratulations Carissa. I wish you the best of luck. And, your mom already told me she will fly you home in October for our Annual Christmas Portraits, so I'll see you soon.

Cool App Sat - Translator

With my upcoming vacation to Mexico I know I'm going to use this app a lot! It's called Translator. Every language that I can think of is included in this app. It's so darn simple too. Click on what language you want to start with, um duh, English and then click what language you want it to translate too and in this case Spanish. And Whala! It types it out for you.
Now if who are talking too can't read then we are in trouble! lol

I also read on some of the reviews that it helps them with their foreign language homework. Now that alone is worth the download if you are trying to learn a new language.

So for now Hola and Hasta pronto!

Here is the link. And once again it's a free app.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/free-translator/id293855167?mt=8

School Portraits in the Fall!

My mom would take all four of our pictures on the first day of school every year when we were in elementary school. I always thought what a fun idea. I am proud to say I have taken a photograph of my two kids on their first day of school for their entire school career. And, I'm still photographing them even though they are in college. What can I say, some habits are hard to break.

I've told that story to several of my clients and i n return they have asked  if I would start taking their children's School Portraits. You speak, I listen. :)

Really, I am talking about Back to School Portraits in the fall when the kids aren't even out of school yet. lol But, I'm taking this as a sign... I just got asked again this morning.

So, I'm getting the word out now about my upcoming Back to School Specials. Mark it in your calendar.  September 7th, 8th, and 9th. And if you would like a special package of your kids together I can do that too.

I'll send out more info as the time approaches. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm excited about this. Especially since my kiddo's are in College.

Cool App Sat - Halftone

How cool is it to transform your images into cartoons? Well, I think pretty cool.

You can choose from 9 different types of "paper",  type text inside the  boxes and add the cool words in the fun multi colored fonts like "BLAM!", "ARRRGGH!", "NOOOO!" or even a cloud of smoke. There are 21 different "stamps" to choose from with customizable colors.

I remember how fun and dare I even say important comic books were to me and my three brothers growing up. My fav was Richie Rich. Quick, easy reading as a young kid and a great introduction to books. My brothers had hundreds. Couldn't tell you which ones, but I do remember the huge stack and us spending hours reading them together. Those are good memories. Maybe that's why I like this app so much.

I could see making a very short cartoon with three or four images and having your kids help with wording and the story line. The possibilities are endless.

This is designed by Juicy Bits and the download is 99 cents.

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/23/halftone-iphone-app-gives-your-photos-that-old-time-newspaper-lo/

So Pow, Bam, Oh my Gosh, go check it out!

Wildflower Festival

Calling all DFW Music Fans! The Wildflower festival starts today in Richardson. They are celebrating their 19th anniversary this year. 


If you have never been, it is really is quite fun. They have big name bands, ie;, Jerry Lee Lewis, REO Speedwagon,  Jack Ingram, Sister Hazel, and Whitesnake  to name a few spread over five different stages playing all day long . 


What I am most excited about is to hear, "A Hard Night's Day". They are a tribute band to the Beatles. I am a huge fans of the Beatles, so is my hubby. I can't wait!


But WAIT! There's more... Street performers, dancers, and The Calypso Tumblers perform throughout the festival.  A video game tournament featuring Guitar Hero and Game Havens Call of Duty Zombies Tournament is offered if you into that. lol


How much would you pay attend now? But WAIT!  There's even more... A big  Kidz Korner with a Karaoke Stage, Petting Zoo, Rock Wall, Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Hula Hoop Loop (am I too old to do that?) Kidz Sand Pit. etc., etc.

Arts and Crafts of course and this is right up my hubby's alley, An Art Guitar Program and Auction.  Local artists, celebrities, and sports figures are invited to enter a decorated guitar. Should be really interesting to see.


Have I talked you into yet? Tickets are available at door, Tom Thumb,  and also online at:


http://www.wildflowerfestival.com/Homepage.html


This is a rain or shine event. Bring your umbrella!

Tessa's Senior Portraits 2011

Tessa was so much fun to photograph! The first thing she said to me was, "I'm not very photogenic." Haha, I don't think so! I love these. Tessa, you are Beautiful.

Cool App Sat - ESPN ScoreCenter

If you have been following my blog, and I hope you have, you know that I love me some Giants Baseball and 49er Football. Being in Texas is not conducive to follow the Bay Area Sports, well my bff told me about this app called ESPN ScoreCenter.

The best part about this app is you pick you favorite teams that you would like to follow. AND, for any sport: football, baseball, soccer, basketball, ok you get the idea, and set up alerts to be sent to your phone via a text message.  Standard text rates apply.  Do I sound like the commercial? lol  Or if you download it on your ipad it will send an alert to that as well. Yes, I have it set up on both. Like you had to ask.

I set up my baseball alerts for the start of the game, any score changes, and the final score. They also have a setting for every three innings. I'm keeping up to date on every game with just a simple text. Because you know I could let it take over my life if I watched every baseball game. I mean really, why do they have to play 6 days a week. That's exhausting to watch that many games let alone those poor players who have no spare time or family time during the season. I say 2-3 games a week is perfect. Who is with me? lol

Here is the link and you may download it directly from their website, no need to go to the app store.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/mobile/products/product?id=4222201

Now you will always be update and in the know!

GO GIANTS!  :)

Carissa Graduates

I want to share some of my favorite images that I recently took of Carissa when I flew home to Cali last month. We went to Hawk Hill, the beautiful Place of Fine Arts by the Marina, and ended the session on the Golden Gate Bridge. I LOVE photographing in San Francisco... so many wonderful, unique locations.

I have been photographing Carissa since she was in her mom's tummy and every year since. Because we have collaborated together for 18 years we work wonderfully together. I love that she never questions my posing ideas, she just jumps right in and does it. Thank you for that Carissa. You and your sister are a couple of my favorite subjects to photograph.

She has been dancing since she was three years old so we incorporated that into the session. It's such a big part of her life, how could we not?