Played with Curves -- Serge

[Melody]

Well I meant I have played with the 'curves' layers etc. in PS :lol: :lol: ...ok so some I tweaked some I didn't haven't really finished her yet so you'll see some variances.

This is just one of the girls I took images of sheesh a few weeks ago? Well you asked for a cheerleader before you asked for jets and this is just a small sample of her so consider yourself warned :rofl:

Nikon D2x Nikon 28-70 F8 s250 iso 100

http://flagtography.com/amber1.jpg

http://flagtography.com/amber2.jpg
You knew the little outfit was coming :lol:
http://flagtography.com/amber3.jpg

yes she is quite flexible
http://flagtography.com/amber4.jpg
http://flagtography.com/amber5.jpg

Quite comfortable in front of the camera, she performs and sings with the theater
http://flagtography.com/amber6.jpg

Had to put her on the chopper :getdown:
http://flagtography.com/amber7.jpg

Ok these we uh ok so we soaked her!

http://flagtography.com/amber8.jpg
http://flagtography.com/amber16.jpg
http://flagtography.com/amber10.jpg
http://flagtography.com/amber11.jpg
http://flagtography.com/amber12.jpg

Ok almost finished....well you did ask hehee! Betcha won't do that again :lol:

http://flagtography.com/amber13.jpg
http://flagtography.com/amber14.jpg
Last one! :clap: am I the only one :clap: for last?
http://flagtography.com/amber15.jpg

whew that was a lot....and there are more girls so be careful! :haha:


btw if you made it through all of them, go have a drink you now deserve it :cheers:


Melody

[Melody]

Well never let it be said my threats are idle :lol: :lol: :lol:

Another wet one

http://flagtography.com/Lea.jpg

never know I could be back and put in a few more for the longest post in history :rofl:

yep, with dry hair

http://flagtography.com/Lea2.jpg

Melody

Adding more...won't you be glad when I leave to go home? :lol:

http://flagtography.com/Lauren.jpg

http://flagtography.com/lauren2.jpg

OK OK I'm leaving :)

[ChazR]

VERY nice pics, Melody. The girls are beautiful, and your photos are wonderful.

[Melody]

Thank you Chaz....I just put more in above...I think I went a little nuts modifying my posts :lol: :lol:

The girls are all very sweet, you couldn't have asked for more gracious or appreciative to have their images taken...they even sent me a dozen long stem red roses with a thank you card the next day.

Melody

[Serge]

sweet as Mothers' home apple pie, and may they stay that way forever!

You have captured all the essence of their beauty and youth, superb craftswomanship :goldcup:

Do you need an assistant for the summer? :D

[Melody]

hmmm.... All American Girls...ok give me two minutes ok maybe a bit more I have to upload to my website or this forum might just keel over or something with me this afternoon.....be right back....hehee this is sort of fun! :lol:

Melody

Edit :)

Thank you Dear :getdown: ...and YES I want an assistant rather I'll BE the assistant! :help:

Here's a little more 'americana' looking for you

http://flagtography.com/kelly.jpg

http://flagtography.com/kelly2.jpg

ok so I bore easily I have to change the background

http://flagtography.com/kelly3.jpg

back to Americana

http://flagtography.com/collagecheer.jpg

http://flagtography.com/collagecheer2.jpg

[Serge]

All superb! all gorgeous looking people :cheers:
I think I could learn a lot from you truly :bowdown:
Checking cheap air fares now, will swing by on my way down from Alaska right after I've paid Dave a visit :getdown:


P.S. two Laurens?, different girls?
both beautifull :righton:

[Tom V]

Very nice work. I could learn some things too, can I assist you too?

[chris72]

Super photos :goldcup: and very beautiful girls ... no comment ... the smile ... great ... the bike too (I like Harley :woot: , I have a russisn bike :mad2: ) .
:clap: :goldcup: :goldcup:

[HairyHaggis]

Hi Melody ...

Beautiful set ... love the poses and the energy in the girls. Those smiles .... big and beautiful.

I think they are all simply great, would love to see more of the blonde girl (white top) in the set ... she has ice cold blue eyes ... did you do any more with her?

Was this a cheerleading thing you were doing???

What was the story behind it all.

Another great set of portraits from you though :goldcup:

[sandman]

I think the student has become the teacher , in no time at all . :goldcup:
Wonderful shots .

Brian

[maccapix]

Wow.... a stunning set of images. My favourite is the first through. I love the border effect, very creative and stylish imagery. The model in that set is out of this world, get her signed up as a model, she'll make millions.

What type of backdrop are you using?

Macca :)

[Bill C]

OK ..... I want to take an 'in person' class from you! Name your price (within reason of course as I'm still paying college loans for 3 kids, and I was unemployed for a while, and I just had a hip replaced, and I'm old, and .....whew, is that enough excuses!)....next spring sometime!
These get a 'wow' from me!
Regards,
Bill

[fujifilmnut]

Melody,

What great work. Can you make me look that good?

ps, what camera/lens?

Jim

[Camarochas]

All great photographs, Melody. The color is terrific; poses great; an excellent job.

Charlie

[Melody]

All superb! all gorgeous looking people :cheers:
I think I could learn a lot from you truly :bowdown:
Checking cheap air fares now, will swing by on my way down from Alaska right after I've paid Dave a visit :getdown:


P.S. two Laurens?, different girls?
both beautifull :righton:

Thank you Dear :)

Hey Alaska, Dave and Wolves wait for me! :dogrun: I want to go too!

Yes two different Laurens...it's hard to learn so many names a week, however now when I walk downtown someone is always calling me, I remember faces well names are harder for me :baldy: it's fun though everyone is very nice....wonder if they think I'll PS warts on them or something :lol:

Sure you could learn a lot from me, which restaurants have the best food, what store has what, where the best parking is etc. :lol: I have so much more to learn my brain is on overload however I'm having fun as I go along :getdown:

Melody

[Melody]

Very nice work. I could learn some things too, can I assist you too?

Thank you Tom :)

Oh yeah you could learn something too, SURE you could :lol:, hey call yourself whatever you like, boss anything... just get out here as well! (note to self write down all the questions you can think of and don't forget!)

Actually Melissa (I really do have a full time assistant) would be thrilled if she had more time for her stuff instead of helping me :rofl: and we could all have a big party!

Melody

[Melody]

Super photos :goldcup: and very beautiful girls ... no comment ... the smile ... great ... the bike too (I like Harley :woot: , I have a russisn bike :mad2: ) .
:clap: :goldcup: :goldcup:

Thanks George, yes they are very pretty girls...the bike well that's sort of a toy of mine, darn if it's in the studio and not out in the parking lot! :mad2:

Melody

[Melody]

Hi Melody ...

Beautiful set ... love the poses and the energy in the girls. Those smiles .... big and beautiful.

I think they are all simply great, would love to see more of the blonde girl (white top) in the set ... she has ice cold blue eyes ... did you do any more with her?

Was this a cheerleading thing you were doing???

What was the story behind it all.

Another great set of portraits from you though :goldcup:

Hi Steve, Thank you

Cheerleading thing...well yeah you could call it that...it was Melissa's idea and believe me for almost 2 weeks I could have killed her for it and she knows it. This is a long story but you asked! :lol: I went out to the high school to take group shots of three of the pep squad teams...I made these flags...to hang outside the studio to show support for the school and the homecoming game. While there I decided I wanted some images of seniors as I had few examples and offered to shoot 4 girls for a free session they had to sign up for it and I would pick....ok...well over 60 signed up! Good news is everyone in town and I mean sheesh I don't think I've missed a parent yet, has been in or by my studio talk about fabulous exposure...the sessions they now have to pay for are being booked. Melissa did a fabulous job with the display window. We even had a mom come in from a few cities over as the shop owners in town are talking and I'm shooting her daughter on Sat she knows the other girls on her squad will want them too. It definitely got the 'buzz' out.

Yes I have quite a few more of that girl, and the first question out of my mouth when I met her and saw those eyes was to ask if they were contacts! The image doesn't do them justice she has incredible ice blue eyes.

Melody

[Melody]

I think the student has become the teacher , in no time at all . :goldcup:
Wonderful shots .

Brian

Gosh and from my favorite teacher too!! Thank you Brian that means a lot to me. Now when I get a break here I need some help with clouds on my jet images :lol: HINT HINT!

Melody

[Melody]

Wow.... a stunning set of images. My favourite is the first through. I love the border effect, very creative and stylish imagery. The model in that set is out of this world, get her signed up as a model, she'll make millions.

What type of backdrop are you using?

Macca :)

Thanks Macca :)

I love playing with the brushes and borders and while it doesn't really work with the white background I sort of forced it :( I didn't think the mom's would go for it, however I have a large print in the studio that I really overdid and they go nuts for it! :D

Gosh we have very similiar taste she is my favorite to work with as she is incredibly at ease, and a lot of fun to work with. Plus she is the only one of all of them shorter then I am, all the rest I had to stand on a chair to take their pictures! She does love having her pictures taken and is one of my models for the Christmas limited editions I was suppose to do last week and I'm rushing to figure out how to get done this week :( I guess there is nothing wrong with my taste several of the girls have agents...this one does, she's been in commercials a few t.v.shows and primarily works in the theater she loves to sing...however she's taken a year off to devote entirely to school. I shared more of her here to show how the variety of outfits and number of changes, each girl had them. Her older sister wants her images taken as well and is stunning just in a different way same eyes however straighter hair and taller.

note: there is not an image I take that I don't have the child if old enough to sign and the parents signature on a portrait release form, which I can then do anything I wish with.

The backdrop on these is white seamless paper ( I like how I didn't edit out the shadow on the bike image oh well it's not printed yet hehee)

Melody

[Melody]

OK ..... I want to take an 'in person' class from you! Name your price (within reason of course as I'm still paying college loans for 3 kids, and I was unemployed for a while, and I just had a hip replaced, and I'm old, and .....whew, is that enough excuses!)....next spring sometime!
These get a 'wow' from me!
Regards,
Bill

Whoa I got a wow? well thank you! :)

Tell you what anything I know I'll share for FREE, uh with the understanding that I have very little knowledge or experience, HOWEVER I do have someone coming to teach me who is fabulous at lighting so maybe I'll have a bit more of a clue by the time you get here!

Melody

[Melody]

Melody,

What great work. Can you make me look that good?

ps, what camera/lens?

Jim

Thank you Jim, Now how am I supposed to improve on perfection??? :confused:

I'm sorry I forgot to include it :doh: I'll enter it here and edit the first post to reflect it:

Nikon D2x Nikon 28-70 F8 shutter 250, iso 100

Melody

[Melody]

All great photographs, Melody. The color is terrific; poses great; an excellent job.

Charlie

Thank you Charlie :)

Melody

[Melody]

Honestly anyone who would like to come out to the studio, there is a guy who is well known for his lighting and years of work commercially with models, and various situations coming to teach me (and why he's not charging me I'll never figure out, however he isn't). If you would like to learn as well and can make it to CA just let me know and I'll let you know the date when we do (we are both sort of buried at the moment)

Thank you again for your very generous comments, had a few bumps this week however you all gave me a big smile and some confidence :clap:


Melody

[dartz]

wow, she does split and HD'ing :) :cheers: :cheers:

[maccapix]

Thanks Macca :)

The backdrop on these is white seamless paper ( I like how I didn't edit out the shadow on the bike image oh well it's not printed yet hehee)

Melody


Hi Melody

Sorry, I thought you might have been using a seamless perpex type of backdrop from the reflection under the model. Is that just a sheet of transparent or white perpex shes on. I think all your models are beautiful but I agree with No 1, she's a natural.

kind regards

Macca :righton:

[Melody]

Hi Macca,

I'm sorry, yes the backdrop is the white seamless, on the floor is a piece of clear plexiglass laying over it.

Some on here mentioned they didn't like it, or found it distracting...there are samples of images hanging in the studio with and without it...99% want the reflection..I've not had anyone yet not request it be there.

Melody

[maccapix]

Hi Macca,

I'm sorry, yes the backdrop is the white seamless, on the floor is a piece of clear plexiglass laying over it.

Some on here mentioned they didn't like it, or found it distracting...there are samples of images hanging in the studio with and without it...99% want the reflection..I've not had anyone yet not request it be there.

Melody

Well its a winner with me. I like it.

Macca ;)

[Camarochas]

Melody,

Are the mats in the first couple of photos your own creation, or are they from a software package?

Charlie

[Melody]

Melody,

Are the mats in the first couple of photos your own creation, or are they from a software package?

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

No software package, those are very simple ones, and you can do them fast, when I really play it gets worse hehee!

All I did there was when I was finished with the image itself, in PS was to increase the canvas size, type the border to the amount and color desired. Then I have some really large brushes so I just use those at varying angles. The second image is a bit more as there is a faint text in the image itself I 'brush' that in as it's a brush stroke as well then I just erase it from the face etc. With the brushes I typically have those in a different layer so I can play with the opacity to see what I like most and change it easily.

Melody