Tulle Skirt DIY Tutorial

Ive been in love with tulle skirts since I cant even remember... I think its the unrequited love of ballet and never having taken a single lesson and not getting to wear one until I started fabricating my own costumes.

I found this absolutley lovely tutorial online that I know you will love. I used just agather stitch at the top then gathered to the length and fullness I wanted then sewed on the blanket ribbon (doubled over) and tada!
The flowers btw you can find on last weeks blog Here: DIY Silk Flowers


I wanted to share this  tutorial from Cotton and Curls:

Supplies:

6-13 yards of tulle

1.5 - 2 yards of lining - I used a thin knit that matched the tulle perfectly

elastic the width, when stretched, to the natural waist

scissors

thread

pins

optional - static guard

Instructions:

1. How much and what kind of tulle to buy - find the softest/flowy-est tulle you can. I found some for $.75 a yard at Ja-anns. Mine was still pretty stiff, but after some washing, ironing and some static guard, the tulle softens up a bit.

*6 yards - If the width of the tulle (selvage to selvage) is 54" you can use 1.5 yards per layer, do at least 6 yards if you want 4 layers and the skirt to be around knee length at the longest (unless you are really tall or you have wider hips).

*13 yards - If the width of the tulle is less than 54" or you want the skirt to be longer oryou have wider hips, or you want to be safe (I bought 14 yards originally) then you will need to buy more.
***I did the two bottom layers the first way, by folding 1.5 yards in half and not gathering the waist. and the top two layers I cut individually from the 2 pieces of 60" laying on top of each other,  so I can cut deeper into the waist for a greater gather.

2. Cut the tulle into the circle or half circle depending on the size you're going for with these two simple calculations. The easiest way to do this is to take a longer measuring tulle (can reach at least as long as you need) and put one end at the center of the fold where the center of you waist will be and cut a half circle out by slowly sliding the measurement devise around like a rainbow or half circle. then to do the waist, repeat with the radius of your waist size.

 For the bottom two layers and the lining, you won't gather the waist to help the skirt not be too poofy. To cut this out of the tulle fold the 1.5 yards of tulle in half, (unless you are going to use more then do the 60" on 60") and mark out a half circle from off the fold - take your hip size divided by pie (3.14), then divided by 2 gives you a radius. Then add that radius to the length you would want the skirt. 

hip / 3.14 / 2 = Radius + skirt length = half circle template for non-gathered layers

To do the the top two gathered layers you need to do the same equation as above, but add 2-4 inches to the radius to create the gather for the waist. But you still need to make sure the length of the skirt equals the same length of the skirt's above  even though this one has a deeper waist.

hip / 3.14 / 2  + 2"-4" = gathered waist's radius + skirt length = half circle template for gathered layers

-After you have cut the half circle or whole depending on your folding/tulle amount you need, cut out the waists.

3. Once you have cut them all out, sew up the sides to complete the circles if you used the second method of cutting (when you are using more tulle). Check out the dotted lines in step 3 of the diagram.

4. Gather the waist's of the top two gathered layers to your hip size by sewing a basting stitch along the top knotting it at one end and not the other. Gather the skirt by pulling the thread to your hip size. You can see that in picture picture 4.

5. Sew the 4 tulle layers together with a straight stitch.

6. Sew the elastic's ends together, try it on and make sure it fits snug and it can slide over your hips.

7. Sew the lining to the elastic with a zig zag stitch. Do this by placing the wrong side and the raw edge of the lining to the elastic, then stretch the elastic to fit the opening of the lining. There will be a little of a gather from the elastic.

8. Repeat step 7 with the tulle layers.

7. Trim the excess fabric.

9. Flip the elastic over the newly trimmed raw edge to hide it, so the top of the elastic, will now be the bottom. Sew the lining down to the bottom of the elastic on the inside of the skirt.
---no hemming necessary, tulle doesn't fray. You may need to hem the lining if you used a fray-able lining. Mine was knit so I didn't need to.

Erin Pimm Photography: Make your own silk flowers for fashion

I wanted to figure out how to accessorize some fabulous outfits I've been making recently for my couture glamour photography business over at erinpimm.com.

made by Erin @ erinpimm.com

So I started the search... DIY silk flowers...there are always crafty people out there ready to Youtube thier cottage crafts...

Here are 2 DIY flower tutorials for yuu...ENJOY!If you are interested in more DIY, glamour photography fashion ideas, follow my blog post...theres lots more to come!!

These elegant fabric flowers are very simple to make . . . and only take a few basic supplies. The finished product is delightfully lovely, and at times can look like a real flower! Every flower will turn out differently and that is part of the beauty!

If you haven’t used those tea lights in a while, now’s the time! I hope you enjoy making these as much as we do . . . below are instructions with pictures on how to make your own.

Supplies:

· Synthetic Silky Fabric
· Scissors
· Candle (preferably a tea light)

Additional supplies:

· Needle and Thread, Glue Dots or Glue Gun
· Buttons and/or Beads

Directions:

1. Cut circle patterns out of card stock.

Make the largest one’s diameter about half an inch larger than you want the diameter of the flower, as the petals will end up shrinking a bit. Create a few of these, lessening the diameter bit by bit so that the end result has smaller petals in the center and larger ones around the outside. You can also use a pattern here, which works very nice!

2. Trace around the pattern onto the silk fabric (using a pen).

You can also cut around the pattern and skip the drawing part, it just might not be as uniform . . . but with these, uniform isn’t necessary. And if it’s not uniform, it adds character. And character is good.

3. Take the scissors and cut out the circle and petals.

Cut just inside the drawn lines to make a circle out of the fabric. Carefully cut only about a third of the way into the circles to create the petals. You can do as many or few petals as you would like, or even add some variety to them. I cut five times, making five medium-sized petals. You can also round the corners of the petals, if you so desire.

4. Use the lit candle to melt and crinkle the edges.

Be very careful (please have adult supervision, this is rather dangerous), as it is very easy to get burnt. Hold the cut petals about one to two inches above the flame, making sure to keep the circle rotating so that it does not overheat and catch fire. Continue to gently melt the edges of each petal until you have gone all the way around. Do this with each layer.

5. Sew (or glue) the petal layers together.

Using a needle and thread, create a beginning knot and then sew the layers together. You can come up through the top because the center  of the top layer can be covered by a button or  bead. To finish the flower, sew (or glue) the button or bead on top.

If you would like to add extra stability to the flower, you can sew or glue a piece of felt onto the back (make sure it is large enough to give good stability, but small enough so that it won’t be seen from the top).

For a hair accessory, you can sew or glue the back of the flower to the back of a bobby pin, ponytail holder, or snap-clip.

For a broach, you can sew or glue them onto a broach pin or even a safety pin.

And the list could go on of how these flowers can add extra beauty!
What are some of your ideas?

And remember: every flower will turn out differently and that is part of the beauty!

Ribbon Flower Pin Tutorial

I thought with pretty good certainty that the last corsage I would ever pin on was at Senior Prom in High School.

But I was wrong.  A few weeks ago I visited the Quilting Cottage in American Fork, Utah.  I love the Quilting Cottage, which is not only a quaint little store, but they have a wonderful selection of fabrics.  While there, I spoke with Wendy, one of the women who works there…

She was making ribbon flower pins for an upcoming wedding.  The fabric flowers look a lot like the ones they sell at Anthropologie, but hers are a fraction of the cost.  They were so darling I would happily wear one.

Wendy was kind enough to teach me how to make these fabulous fabric flower pins.  Here’s what you need:

• 2-4 yards of wire ribbon (depending on how large and tight you want your flower) (I used one and 1/2 inch wide ribbon.)
• quilting thread or other strong thread
• small amount of felt
• hair clip or pin (or both)

1.  Pull on the wire of one side of the ribbon to ruffle.  Ruffle the entire length of your piece of ribbon.  Not all wire ribbon is the same.  Some are more fragile, so pull gently.  Leave a few inches  wire hanging out from the ends, but clip away the rest to get it out of your way.

2.  To start, fold your ribbon back on forth a few times (on the side of ribbon which you’ve just pulled the wire).  Using quilting thread run a stitch through the ribbon several times to secure.

3.  Start wrapping the ribbon around.  Secure each wrap by stitching all the way through the layers in a star pattern.

4.  Once it is large enough to be difficult to stitch through all the layers, secure by stitching to the previous layer.

5.  When you come to the end of the ribbon, fold the the corner of ribbon back inside to hide the raw edge.  Stitch into place.  Cut off any excess wire hanging out of the ends. 

6.  Cut a circle out of felt to cover the back of the flower.  I cut a second layer of felt in a wide strip and secured it with a zigzag on each side.  That way I could easily slip in onto a hair clip or a pin.

7.  Stitch the felt into place on the back of the flower using a blind stitch.

I love how this flower pin turned out.  I used 4 yards of fabric for this flower, and made it fairly dense.  It looks just like the peonies blooming in my garden right now.  And it was fast and easy… my kind of one evening project.  I’m off to make several more as gifts right now…

Building Building Building LAUNCH Erin Pimm Photography!

Last week it began, this week it continues and next weeks the final touches. The studio has more or less been built (with some chzuzzing still to come). Our video is done. Showreel complete.

Marketing materials - CHECK!
Brochures - CHECK!
Intro Letter - CHECK!
Gift BOxes - CHECK!
List to send to -CHECK!

Nerves? TRIPLE CHECK
So Hum - my mantra last week = fierceness and determination. CHECK (kinda).

So where am I really at? Getting myself out there. Thats the tough part!
Here is Miriam from our showreel...is she not AMAZING?

Miriam Fathalla by Erin Pimm Photography

Miriam Fathalla by Erin Pimm Photography

So here we are. Go time. antacid check...clients can come on over any time now PLS!!

Portrait Couture - Gone with Glamour...

So here is the crux, or apex, or opportunity. The commitment. The forge ahead moment where your heart leaps into your throat, you bite the bullet, put your money where you mouth is a step into the fear
aka
Launching Your Business 2012 (aka stain your shorts)

Portrait Couture

I am taking the plunge. I am putting that commitment into the light and shining it out. I am a successful photographer and this is going to be the proof in the pudding.
Ive been studying Sue Bryce and her coined (love it BTW) Portrait Couture. Gone is the bygone sticky term of glamour portraits. In fact, I still have this horrid vision in my head of mall studios taking terrible flash photography with some creepy old dude leering at the images behind the screen (because you know they are doing it at TSA), or Robin Williams...well I'll just stop there.
Sue has an incredible innate sense of what women want and EXACTLY how to service that. She is one of the most successful portrait photographers not only in Australia (she won AIPP Portrait Photographer of the Year) but in the world now. Between www.inbedwithsue.com, www.creativelive.com, she has come into her absolute primetime, amazing teaching with something like 8? full days of teaching via CL and darn it all if Im not TOTALLY jealous that she gets to be back in my hometown teaching. Just MONTHS after I personally moved away from Seattle. I would give just about anything to attend a workshop of hers.
So, I have spent months now studying her. Watching every workshop over and over. reworking, taking images, learning, practicing, and now here we are. Ground Zero. And its a go.
So. Blog up, write, shoot, market, draw, photoshop, details, planning, building, shifting, moving and a little shaking...
See you on the other side...very shortly ;))

Victory, Paige, and the Great Ocean Road

Every once in a while life grabs you by the down-belows and gifts you an opportunity you just cant pass up. Or perhaps you are the co-creator of such adventure. However you got there, its a chance to ride free, let loose, hang ten, shift up, and get the breeze flowing. 

Paige Phoenix sporting the Victory Motorcycles.

Paige and Erin on the Great Ocean Rd

Last weekend I was priveledged to have such an afternoon out riding with Paige Phoenix. After being given a brand new 1800CC Victory Motorcycles touring bike, we decided to take it for a jaunt along the Great Ocean Rd, with a few stops for the necessary coffee and gratuitous images. The sun was shining, I had a hawt leather jacket on, riding on the back with camera in hand...ahem...and the GoPro mounted to the front window to capture the windy stretches between Anglesea and west of Lorne. 

Thats the way to spend your Saturday afternoon...

Monday Blues, Doldrums and breaking OUT!

Its Monday. Dreading it somehow. My shoot cancelled and my bed is calling...so what did I do today? I wasted 4 precious hours trying to finish the design of my new business cards. Its harder than you think. Im sure you can understand.  Every company has different sizes, bleed lines and you think you FINALLY have it done, just to upload it and find that its gets chopped off JUST at the exact wrong place. Bugger. So you go back, change and re-upload. After a whole lots of cursing and explicatives, its done and dusted. Passed on the fridge magnets and coffee cups this time, but who knows...maybe I'll be back there someday.
Next is something pretty personal I have to say. I think that as a commercial style photographer I can follow and brief and capture what is being asked of me. But I am feeling compelled to step out of that comfort zone these days. I dont event know what you would classify as fine art, but I think I need to explore that side and be more adventurous. I have some ideas brewing, some people Im gathering and hopefully if the brooding weather coopertates, I'll be able to get out and do the first image this week...putting ideas into action are alot more difficult than it may appear. And if its easy, why bother?

Werribee Mansion & Spa

Winter is here in full force, so here I go...bundled up and ready for action!

To Market or NOT to Market...that is ONE of the questions this week...

Perhaps you have heard of this most recent self marketing guru named Ramit Sethi (www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com). If you havent - you SHOULD - IMMEDIATELY!

Many years ago I started down the self help path (aka spiritual path/self awareness/self improvement - whatever you choose to call it). Have studied a wee bit here and there and have integrated many bits n bobs of technology, advise, and of course a mainly autodidactic method of study.
So its when i came across this guy that I started to get SERIOUSLY jazzed again about my self learning path.
Many people need to have it all spelled out in front of them. They need someone to hold thier hands all the way. And in sorts of ways Ramit does that for you. But you have to reaaaaallllly want it. I mean really. Both on the commitment side to money, time, and personal achievement. In other words. You gotta want to be a winner. The last program on offer from him - Dreamjob - costs $4000. A miniscule investment in the long run for you financial and spiritual satisfaction.

I missed out on it. But. Its not too late. I can do what I can figure out and learn  - I love workshops, they are a great way to update your knowledge (AIPP does great continuing education), www.creativelive.com just did a great marketing course and of course you can always get your RSS feeds up to date with the most current blogs and websites offering free marketing information.

What is my point you might ask?

It's not going to come to you while you are sitting on your arse complaining. You HAVE to be aggressive and go out and SELL yourself. Work all your networks and when they are exhausted, go network some more. Send out letters,  follow up calls. Plan on spending several hours every week blogging, updating your Google+ and facebook page with new images. Intertia will carry you the rest of the way. If for no other reason, it gives you a day at home in bed with your pajama on ALL day.

Freebies - there are TONS of them out there for information and marketing purposes...perhaps that should be my next post...phew.

Oh...and dont be afraid to ask for what you want. A little effort goes a loooong way in this business.

A Few Brave Steps...

This week I have been drooling over a few new webinars and marketing/self promotions ideas that heave really challenged where I currently sit in my comfort zone.

BMW, Google+Photography Conference

Guy Kawasaki makes it easy to believe that you can armchair your way to a successful photography business. Facebook does not. Blogger - meh. Twitter - not bad...
The reality is that until you REALLY step out of your comfort zone, the jobs aint going to come to you.
So begins my semi obsession with Ramit Sethi and his very expensive ELITE performers programs in how to get the job you want, negotiate thousands more in salary, and use your contacts to win big.
I would LOVE to be able to sit in my little bedroom office all DAY and twitter, blog, facebook my way to millions, but it is becoming clearer that marketing does NOT work that way in this business. In fact, I think it will land me into the $200 wedding business, hi res DVD's and all *shudders*. The trick is where to start. A few weeks ago, I started updating, cleaning up and polishing my social media profiles. They now all (except SOundcloud (heh)) include information and links about my photography with proportionally representational images and material. Google+, FB Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogger and a few others. After doing a little Google search I noticed how much of the representations were about my DJing and a few other inappropriate, highly personal, private, non relevant information. Let the cleanse begin.
So now Im jazzed up about how I can start writing my scripts for successful meetings, coffee connections, and keeping my eye on the prize. Letting people know who I am, rather than just random searches, flickr images. Cuz in the end, I already have YOUR attention right? Maybe you have something little to offer me. But I know that I have my eye on the BIG prize...and have big inspirations, big plans, big motives, and the gumption to go get it.

How has your week been so far?

Post School Meanderings

I thought I would update you on the the thoughts Ive had around school and the hows and whys, pros n cons, and what you get and dont get - and where you might or might not get out of it afterwards.
First I want to warn you that this is little more of a rant than I would normally post, but I think there are some pretty serious flaws in the education system to start with so lets begin with that.

St Pauls - Bendigo

I quit school last month. For many reasons. I was pretty disappointed with the curriculum, speed, pace, timing, cost but in the end it came down to a few reasons:

1. They werent teaching me what I wanted to know, on my path how I need it to be delivered
2. The cost was very high and I was spending more time and energy self educating via web, blogs and workshops, than I was on school. And there is no way currently around this methodology and thier structured curriculum
3. They arent teaching REAL WORLD skills. like how to set up a business, terms and conditions, pricing, websites, SEO and marketing, contracts etc etc etc. Great. you can take pictures. Now go and let the corporate wolves or mommies DEVOUR you.

St Pauls - Bendigo

So. I'm out. and I'm in. AIPP, ACMP, NAPP...anywhere I can network, take workshops, learn more, have resources like competitions and critiqueing, and learning more on the professional level than I would eveer be provided by school. And this brings me to my last point. Schools dont WANT you to know that there are MANY alternative learning sources. I have done 5-6 workshops in the last few months, some online via www.creativelive.com, some locally with the AIPP as they offer monthly professional development courses. I attended the Google+Photographers COnference (as a biproduct of another tripI already had planned) in San Francisco and learned oodles in 2 day and got to see several mentors of mine such as Jeremy Cowart, Alex Kosolov, Guy Kawasaki, and RC Concepsione to name a few. Last week Joe McNally was here in Melbourne doing a full day lighting workshop for $1200 for the day. Pricey you say? Hell yes. AND. He is by far one of THE western worlds most successful photographers. I called a day after I got the email and it was already booked up. Ya. Next month is an underwater workshop here that costs $1600 for the day. Im going to sign up tomorrow. Yup. its pricey, but its worth it. August is THE EVENT AIPP and ACMP put on this year up in the Hunter Valley. 4 days of workshops and parties. Some people I REALLY want to see live speak like Vincent Laforet, workshops like Resort Commercial work, networking and more networking, and some fiiiinnnne wine country as an added bonus. Im going. Yup.

Ok...rant over...here I am in the real world. I billed out some serious cash last month. One client...and 3 other bits that paid nicely too...so...its out there and I can do it without the tangled tendrels of school pulling on me.

Next step...new website. Been using Wix.com. Its pretty blah, so Im sorting out 4Fotos.com, Wordpress options, zenfolio, and a few others...back to the drawing board, see what news there is on SEO marketing, Im going to go rewatch Lindsay Adler on cretivelive.com, and have one up, 4 yeards earlier than if I had been waiting for someone to teach me...

Lalalalalalalalalalaaaaaaa!

School, Studios and Latex, Oh my!

The places a photographer will go for their craft. Places, spaces, cubbies, nooks, cracks, underground, high up in that tree, out on the ledge literally and metaphorically...


This past weekend was filled with my first portfolio of the season. I was documenting the change from 'Dave' to his alter ego Lolita Latex for this most aucpicious 10th Anniversary show. Ooo what fun you say! Oh my goodness *redfaceintoyourhands* or WHAT? My inclination is towards the first option of course.


So my weekend was full of surprises and interesting captures of something that is very intimate,  and rarely  documented (kinda like that BLue Footed Boobie Bird) and at times very challenging. WHY you ask? Well - because you have to know dont you? Its kinda like watching a car crash. You cant peel your eyes away from it as much as your mother says you should be doing.  All in all there were some moments of hilarity, some of personal introspection challengin my beliefs, and in the end *crosses fingers* a damn fine PJ project and portfolio.


In other news, I attended a great workshop held at 1140 Gallery (Malvern) for complex estimate quoting. Learned quite a bit, saw the biggest cyclorama in Melbourne (fully equipped with a new Jeep being photographed) and got to learn a bit more on the front of complex quoting. biggest lesson. DONT hire the talent - let the client/agency do that...Rights can be an absolute nightmare to control in the end with the models.


This Friday being the *good* kinda for all ya'll Christian Right Wingers out there get the day off. Well...its a holiday of sorts for the Jews as well - and Happy Passover to you too. Not a reason to call off school for any of I think  for the amount we're paying you, but happy to have another week to work out my next assignment ' Stereotypes' ...

Egypt with Spirit Quest Part I

This marks my journey. First journey to a third world country. I mean, I've traveled in quiet a few anglacised countries, in the Caribbean, been to Hawaii, and furthest afield was Costa Rica, but this is the first REAL adventure.
Ive been contemplating Egypt for a few years now, and a good friend of mine and I had been thinking about the spring of 2012 to go together. Our first jaunt of traveling other than to Burning Man and some other fun fun FUN weekends together. I guess it wasn't meant to be because, after a date with my husband ( we have to plan these things months in advance) and attending the King Tut show in Melbourne, the pressure was on to go. You just get that BUG in your ear and it doesn't stop until you are on the plane to Qatar (ugliest airport ever). So my husband has passed on an email some friends had passed on about a guided trip to Egypt with some Modern Mystery School guides Theresa Bullard and quite a few MMS people going. well...after reviewing the itinerary I was sold. It was quick. 2 months from start to finish really. Jump in up to your neck if you dare.
I had never been on a group tour, nor had I traveled so far to such a different country, lifestyle, smells and sounds..well...you know, if you have done any traveling what I'm talking about. Its like a full on assault after 36 hours of traveling.
The most notable point of interest on the 'getting there' was the new fabulously empty planes between Melbourne to Qatar to Cairo. virtually empty. And even if it weren't, I would have loved the long haul due to the newly 5 star ranked airline. Too bad the Qatar airport  was a major disappointment in comparison to their airlines. And 10 hours is ALOT to waste if you cant find power outlets to plug into, that aren't being fought over by long passerbys as well.
Anywho...onto Cairo.
I traveled with Spirit Quest travel based of LA headed by the illustrious, and infamous Halle Eavelyn and Greg Roach. Halle upon first glance is the red haired lioness with a sense of humour and expressions to match. Greg is the sarcastic sidecar, diffuser and puveyor of dirty jokes.  They have arranged for y pick up at the airport and thank goodness because I have pulled the mother of all stupid pet tricks and left my passport somewhere on the plane after entering customs in Cairo. Talk about a smack to the forehead - while trying to talk to the security agent who are conveying my stupidity to the airline staff Im sure in a language so foreign, I feel like I'm wearing a pair of diapers and I still just peed my pants in front of them. Like a white knight, my driver meets me, and has my passport in hand and is so polite I cant even imagine that he is regaling this ridiculous story to the cab driver.
I am whisked around the ring highway past massive Mcmansion filled half built  houses in the 'burbs' and mall after high end mall, all unfinished, all collecting the  piles of dust that Egypt is known for. That and the CRAZY drivers. Next its onto downtown New and Old Cairo with thousands of tenement building once again half finished. Later on in the trip I ask why, and apparently its due to the lack of permits required as the revolution has fostered all this new growth, and the fact that no taxes are required on finished buildings. So in short, if you dont have a top floor and your building is unfinished, you don't pay taxes.
As we drive over the Nile - right down the middle of the city, I see thousands of people gathering all along at so many points...just sitting, and for what? Ugh...the city is so dirty and diesel hazed, but I come to find that the mess is mostly in part of the last night of Ramadan - the feast night. And apparently its a PARTY in Cairo. Everywhere!
Finally we arrive at my home for the next few days. The Mena House Oberoi. 5 Star, with a killer view of the Pyramids over breakfast, gilded ceilings, and opulence everywhere. It was a nice flow into Egypt. Nicer than it could have been to be sure! My room mate has yet to arrive (apparently had some issues with her Air Lufthansa flight out of Germany), so I settle in for a nap and a shower. I plan on sleeping until I am called and summoned by the powers that be. That happens a little faster than planned with a call from Halle asking me where I am and why haven't I shown up for dinner yet. Right. First plan, check check and double check the non existent itinerary. Part of the fun I will comment on later (and it is fun if you can trust in the flow)...At dinner, in our lovely private dining function room, I discover that we are to be up and dressed and (AWAKE?)ready on the bus for 4 AM. Ya, that's right 4AM. About 8 hours after we get to leave from dinner and already I have a tingly feeling in my tummy that scares the hell out of me that this is setting some sort of precedent for the rest of the trip...
Off to the Sphinx we go I'm told...

Sue Bryce vs CreativeLive

This weekend I spent my creative energy focused on my computer. Actually...GLUED would be more accurate.
Creative Live based out of Seattle (I wish I could have had time with them before I moved away) started a few years ago with online computer classes. Enroll and watch for free, or buy the workshop, download and watch later.
Ive watched several of their workshops, various characterize photographers such as Bambi Cantrell, Zach Arias, Jasmine Star, Vincent LaForet and a few others. A few Ive paid for  too...
But I was just blown out of the water this weekend. Exploded. Havent been more geared in up (well) months really. And as a photographer, what a statue, a whirlwind and a force of nature. Her business acumen is top notch, and she is LOVES what she does. It speaks volumes.
She took the 4 women in the studio, hair make-up and then the Before and Afters. EVERYONE in the audience was balling. As women we have such a hard time identifying with the magazines and advertising. But thats what she does. Takes the meek, plain, average woman and brings out the mose amazing features, and the the most beautiful images....and its just...us!? We all have it...posess it, and she gets it.
So I ran out and purchased for $99 and I think that she just might have changed my life. Maybe I wont do glamour - maybe I will.

What I can say is that this woman is ready to conquer the world. Manifest, produce, market. Be your own force of nature, whatever it that you chose. Move forward. Know what you want and what you love. How can you be successful if your not doing what you want.

BAM. DONE. The Universe says its so.

In the beginning...

  ...There was this thing called a DSLR  camera. My first real camera. Actually OUR (my husbands and mine) first camera. Plunged into the firely hells of our old 1982 camper on the side of the road on our way to Oregon Country fair. Yes. 40+ ft flames on the side of the I5 with pregnant momma (me), husband and my brother with his 2 kids, 10 and 12 at the time. Needless to say we all escaped, with nothing more than our socks, one wallet and a great story to recollect from time to time.
 
Given that I was 6 month pregnant at the time, we had opted for a decent Craigslist buy of a Nikon D60. Decent enough with all manual so we could learn a little bit. We decided it might be time for an upgrade with some video, so opted for a great starter package of a D90 with 2 (didnt know the different) kit lenses. It was great. In fact, until I decided that photogrpahy is the end all and be all - it was perfect. But lo and behold the gear monkey kicked in this year and in order move onward and upward I decided the final plunge was into the Canon 5D Mark II. Yup Shes a beast. The 70-200 lens weights more than the body, and of course now there are all the upgrades into new L series lenses, filters, flash, straps, bags, readers, cards, batteries and on and on.

  I decided that if we had a reasonable camera, that it deserved a reasonable education, and in order to get out of the house with a wee one, I justified it by taking an intro DSLR course at PCNW in Seattle. I had a great experience that left me hungering for more and went back and did the full intro course. Voila. Within 2 classes I was ramped up and running. Fortunately the second course fell mostly summer time otherwise the rain would have beat the photography life right out of me...not much to see after 3 straight weeks of rain (although it down make it fun to go find abstracts in your house for assigments).

Lo and behold we are here in Melbourne after a job transfer. The weather is great most of the time, oodles new to shoot, being so close to town, fabulous art and architecture and an amazing country to explore as a first timer. I took the final leap this year into a PT 4 year course in Digital Photography at PSC and although its a major stress on my being, I am learning and stretching and growing and creating and things are really starting to flow. More people in my immediate community mean more contacts, more sujects, more ideas..and now for the final leap - into travel photography, writing and more importantly DSLR movies...Mmmmmm... I have started by doing some small pieces learning ADobe Premiere and am wanting to move futher up with some workshops, writing courses and doco additives.

Its an adventure to be sure. Nowhere to go but up. Will be putting my images out to as many sources as I can over the next few months, building contacts and making it happen as best I can. Mix a Jack-of-all-trades with a creative tonic and you get hellfiregirl and the unstoppable forces!

Next stop...FAME AND FORTUNE!

Travel Writing

Well,
It is here that I announce the grand intention of moving towards travel writing and photography. This blog was intended in its infancy to be a roaving inspirational blog as I started down my scholastic trail, but I see that it will be moving and changing, keeping up all the fun tales that m images will lead me to...SO I do say...
JOIN ME! WARTS AND ALL!

11.11.11 - St. Catherine's Monestary, Sinai, Egypt

First initiative will be to recover all the stories from the most recent sojourn to Egypt with Spirit Quest travel. Next will be some of the adventures Australia has led me into and down the line will be some fun back in the USA, BC, Canada and then finally to India next January for the Maha Kumba Mela...maybe you've heard some of the stories, maybe not, but I do promise there will be some funny, rib-crushing fun of you manage to stick it out with me...
and now....onto...THE FUN!!!

Finals for Self Portrait PArt Deux!

Sefl Portraits - At it again!

Round 2 with the self portraits...fun? serious?....

Inspirational Image and Creating Mood with Light

Creating/Portraying an emotional state via light.

Heres what I came up with...

Lytro introduces Light Field Capture and changes photography forever | Sync™ Blog

Lytro introduces Light Field Capture and changes photography forever | Sync™ Blog

Semester 1 COMPLETE!

Here are the images on Facebook for all the world to see: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150698564570456.709573.764735455&l=2fecf7a8ca

Inspirational Images - PSC Visual Diary - People, Place, Object

People

I have chosen to focus on several portrait photographers including Herb Ritts, Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon.

The portaits that I lean to in similarity for these are the stripped down, banal version. The connection of plainness that we have to all these figures, be they migrant workers, Old, young, famous, beauty. Their character is revealed, and we see the authentic self. This to me communicates the oneness of us all. We see ourselves simply in these images. We are all at heart - beings with emotion and expression. These images tend to be on very simple backgrounds, the glamour and facade and context taken out of the person. Brings all people to an equitable level, where they are persons not characters that they portray in every day life.
I enjoy these images for thier simplicity, raw emotion, expression(less). What you see is what you get. Averageness and equality. There is nothing special. IT IS and THEY ARE just.





Place

I heartily lean towards architectural photography. Ezra stoller who popularized Architecture for the mainstream in the 21st Century. Most major architects including, Frank Llyod Wright, Louis Khan and Kenzo Tange called up on him to immortalize thier structures.
"Stoller’s own strengths as a working photographer, devoting himself for half a century with fervor and vigor, to the achievements of others and thereby, through the very rejection of self importance, to our surprise an indebtedness, the chief enabler of our experiences of Modern architecture.” (William S Saunders)
He was able to see the formal and spatial ambitions these architects were conveying and capture them in perfect union.
Personally I enjoy the balance that he strikes with space and design. The angle of his photography would be perfectly centered to portray the geometrical and aspect designs. Impressive spaces seem calm and tranquil. I enjoy the clean, contrived, conservative, lean aesthetics and they have definitely influenced my choice of images, for all of the sections of this blog.



Object
Barbies by Muriel Clayton. I love elaborate sets and dioramas and Miniatures that are meticulously created for the purpose of the message.  Loretta Lux and Tom CHambers with thier washed out lyrical photomontage images or Lori Nix with her incredible diaramas and sets. The creative work that goes into these images is hundreds of hours and an intense expensive creative process. These have greatly influenced my thematic section on our final folio of this term.

  The second pervasive theme I have enjoyed in Object is partial-abstractions of objects including Edward Weston, Noah Wilson, and RamonaG. They are generally geometrically based and most a quite colorful (another concentration in my blog) and have great texture.

These items are representative of my preference for clean commercial object photography. Light boxes, or overhead lights, great reflections or not...simple clean images.