scrapologie

Couples Photo Shoot - Kara and Amit

I've never done a couples photo shoot before, so I was really excited about the opportunity to photograph this beautiful couple, who just happen to be my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law! They were visiting us over the weekend and I jumped at the chance to take them to a local park for a fun and sweet photo session! Right now they're living in different cities, Amit in Chicago and Kara in New York, but they'll be starting their lives together soon. These photos really show their personality so well. They are such a fun, adorable couple and we are really looking forward to their wedding. Thank you Amit and Kara for allowing me to capture your wonderful personalities and your relationship, we're so happy and excited for both of you!

 

 

 

Fall Photos and Hair Woes

More fall photos taken at the Park of Roses last month. These were edited with the Picture Perfect Mega Set from Paint the Moon.

I am hoping to take my little girl for a haircut soon. As much as I (and she) both love her long mane, it's been a source of many tears for her. Getting her to let me brush it is a near impossible task, and she can't manage its tangled thickness on her own. She won't bother to work at getting the tangles out so most of the time goes around looking like a bedraggled, albeit sweet little mess.  Is it just us, or does anyone else have this problem??

So I'm on the hunt for a cute short style that will work for her. I'd love to give her a little pixie cut but I don't think she'd forgive me if I do that, atleast not right away, so we may have to go short in steps, sigh! Enjoy your Sunday!

 

 

 

Columbus Museum of Art Photo Shoot

These were taken yesterday at the Columbus Museum of Art. Their collection of art is not bad for a city that is not a major metropolis, and Alekha and I enjoyed looking at all the artwork and exploring the kids area which is very interactive. They didn't have as many open spaces as the Conservatory, but they did have a lovely atrium with a glass ceiling, where many of the photos below were taken as well as an absolutely stunning church next door - it was built in the mid-1800s but looks centuries older. I do wish at times we lived in a city where there was a lot more architectural interest, culture and history, but I am grateful for the small surprises I've found out and about town.

Here are some photos from yesterday, I used the Addicted action from the Fresh Wonderland 2 Set on the first few photos where she is seated in the window seat. We're off to the Columbus Zoo today. It's been 80 degrees here this weekend and we're loving it, and thinking it will probably be one of the last weekends of warmth before the cold weather hits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conservatory Photo Shoot

I think I must have taken over 200 photos last weekend at the Conservatory with Alekha! It wasn't that hard as she kept us moving from one locale to another and all I had to do was keep clicking most of the time. She stopped to pose for me when requested but she absolutely loved exploring the gorgeous conservatory.

She really is very patient with her snap-happy Mama and she earned a trip to Barnes and Noble, where she chose a Phineas and Ferb book, as well as some crafty goodies at Michaels. I hope she never tires of being photographed, because I love to take pictures, and love taking pics of her especially!

I can't believe she just turned 8 in July, she has a lot of natural grace (which definitely wasn't inherited from me) and plenty of 8 year old goofiness too (which WAS inherited from me) - as evidenced in the last photo. She was using one of the large pompoms on her sweater to smack herself in the face, and was all hilarity and laughs for a good ten minutes!  

Tons more to edit, but here are a few. I used mostly the Fresh Wonderland 2 and Miracle Makeover Actions from Paint The Moon to edit these in Photoshop. I love Annie's actions at Paint The Moon, she's an incredibly gifted photographer (with adorable subjects) and her Photoshop Actions are incredible. Plus she posts video tutorials to give you the know how.

We're off to the Columbus Museum of Art tomorrow. I'm on a "rediscovering my hometown" kick and am visiting all the placed I've wanted to go right here at home. Enjoy your weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cinderella's Garden...

 Over the weekend, Alekha and I decided to visit the Franklin Park Conservatory right here in Columbus. The trip was spurred by the fact that I needed photos of Alekha, but it was too cold to photograph her outside. Necessity spurred me to do a little looking online for indoor photo venues around town and I stumbled upon the Franklin Park Conservatory. Though I'd been there many years ago (in my pre-photography obsession days), I hadn't seen the entire conservatory and approaching it with new eyes, I was in for a fabulous surprise. It was a completely stunning venue with gorgeous light filled atriums and sections blooming with plants and trees of every kind and climate, mini waterfalls and footbridges worked into the landscapes and plenty of art exhibits, including those of glass artist Dale Chihuly and a photography exhibit on world food. The sweetest surprise however was a beautifully landscaped courtyard filled with an array of gorgeous glass pumpkins, glass gourds and glass fruits of various kinds and in a rainbow of colored glass. It was truly like being in Cinderella's garden, and you could just imagine her fairy godmother transforming one of these glass pumpkins into her magnificent coach. And even though we didn't get to see the Victorian Palm House, one of the loveliest sections of the Conservatory, due to the fact that there was a wedding going on there during our visit, we were lucky enough to see the lovely "Cinderella" bride in the courtyard, having her photos taken among the glass pumpkins.

The photos don't even do justice to the beauty of these glass masterpieces, the brainchild of the immensely talented glass artisans at Cohn Stone Studios. Here's just a few of the photos I took, I'll surely be going back for more photos. The conservatory gift shops had a display with several glass pumpkins for sale - they were pricey but I am sure they are worth every penny, they were completely stunning. We finished our visit with a delicious lunch - chickpea salad for me and mac and cheese with fruit for Alekha followed by coconut cupcakes.

It definitely left a magical impression on me, so much that I couldn't resist a little fairy godmother magic, adding some fairy like digital details in the first photo above. It's so exciting to find a treasure in your own hometown. It's always gratifying to know there is some little part of town that you haven't yet explored, some little gem that is waiting to be sought out. It was worth the trip. If you've read this far, I'd love to hear what little gems you've found in your hometown that inspire and excite you!

 

 

 

The photos don't do these white ones justice - they were just gorgeous, glowing and luminous. They'd be beautiful in a moonlit garden.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addicted to Photoshop

This post will be mostly visual, because it's way past my bedtime! I spent a few happy hours playing around in photoshop with more photos from our trip and wanted to share them with you. I am seriously addicted to Photoshop brushes and actions. I need to do a post to share my faves.

This shot was taken in Disney's Animal Kingdom, just after we exited the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. There was a little cottage prop along the path we exited and the color of the cottage - a deep turquoise/seafoam green was so lovely I had to stop for pics. I used an Urban Acid PS action, some brushes and fonts to give this the look I wanted.

 

This one was taken in the Chinese Pavilion (Epcot). I've used this building before but it's so appealing I couldn't pass up the chance for more photos here.

 

This one was taken in the France Pavilion, in the gardens behind the Arcade and the Parfumerie. This was taken in the late afternoon, and the I had to do little to touch this photo up.

 

This last one was also taken looking over the bridge from the UK Pavilion to the France Pavilion - just a shot of some scenery and props there, but I love the little vignette.

 

And here are some bright graphics for you to enjoy. See you soon!

 

 

 

Loving the vibrant colors in these graphics, enjoy!

Un Bonjour - A Hello...

 

We were greeted with grey clouds and bits of icy hail pelting us throughout the day today. I'm dying for warm weather. So much so, that I had to talk my little miss into a summer-inspired photo session. We swept her hair back into a bandana and she looked like she was  ready for an afternoon of berry picking with a basket on a sunny hill:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a little of what has been inspiring me lately: lots of Cath Kidston 

 

 
 
 

and some vintage images for you too...

 

 

 
 

Valentine Inspiration

 
Alekha and I will be spending part of the day today baking valentine cookies for her class party tomorrow. She's very excited - on Friday, her class decorated shoeboxes for the valentine exchange tomorrow. We've prepared treat bags for all the children. Definitely one of my favorite holidays of the year! Hope you have a little celebration of your own planned, and because I know I won't be able to get back in here to post tomorrow, a very happy valentine's day to you and yours. Just some random photos - ones I've taken, ones I've gathered from the web, and a little vintage postcard for you. Enjoy!

 

Made these for breakfast LAST weekend. She loves strawberry pancakes with powdered sugar on top - never maple syrup!

 

 

 
A couple JBS projects - loved making the kraft treat box with the silhouette shapes. The mini JBS papers work perfectly for little jewelry boxes that can be filled with small treats or chocolate.

 
via Julia Usher

 
via Julia Usher

 
via Julia Usher

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Snow Day

I had to grab my camera and run out to capture a few snapshots of Alekha in the snow on Friday afternoon. This is the stuff that childhood memories are made of! She built a wee snowman. I was impressed as she had the bottom and mid section completed, by herself, by the time I got outside, courtesy of past snowman making sessions with her Daddy! We engaged in a snowball fight, made a couple of snow angels and came inside to a warm house and had hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies. Look at the size of those flakes! Over hot chocolate, she asked me what it means when God sends snow. I told her that it's God's way of telling us to slow down and do acivities inside together. Winter certainly is a time for quiet reflection and introspectiveness, isn't it?

 

   Here's a vintage image for you, enjoy your Sunday!

 

Photo Shoot

Alekha agreed to submit to my pleas for a photo shoot yesterday - it had been a long time since I had gotten some really beautiful photos of her and I wanted to try and start early on Christmas card photos. I had to bribe her with a new Barbie Doll, but I was very happy with how they turned out. Also broke out some of my stock of my fave photoshop brushes just so I could play a bit. She is growing up so quickly...

 

 
  
  

Played around in PS with this last one - I applied some artistic filters before using the brushes. My favorite brushes are from Sande Krieger and Rhonna Farrer at Two Peas. I think most of the ones I used can be found there!

And here's a few vintage images to share as well, hope you had a great weekend!