I have a major confession, well not that major.  At my Jen Huang Workshop I didn’t shoot film.  I had good reason, I felt like I so rarely have the opportunity to shoot people (other than my husband) that I knew I was going be a wreck and then add film on top of that equation it could have been a disaster. I also really wanted to take advantage of all the beauty Jen had masterfully set-up for us, from the styled florals and vignettes (like that beautiful dress above) to the models, I didn’t want to miss a thing.  I must say that all the models were amazing and I do want to show you some other images soon, but I was just crazy for Laura Murray.  If you read my blog you know I have an obsession with beautiful skin and lashes and what you may not know is I also love me a good set of teethe, Laura was flawless. Besides the preset I used to make her photo black & white and a tiny mole that I removed (that she may have wanted to keep), I didn’t have to do any other edits to her (nada, rien, zip–no teethe whitening, no eye sharpening, no skin smoothing, nothing). Her eyes sparkled, her skin glowed, her hair was soft and in beautiful waves, she was the perfect subject. And get this, Laura isn’t even a model, that beautiful girl is a talented photographer!  I hope she doesn’t mind that I am plastering her face all over the blog this morning.

Now for the presets I used. I have had this set for awhile, I bought them when I got my copy of Lightroom 4, they are the Film Art Presets from Clickin’ Moms. I always feel like I need to add a disclaimer of not letting the name dissuade you.  You do not need to be a mom to participate in their forum or partake of their presets. I personally love these presets, even though I am a novice to LR and don’t really know yet how to manipulate the presets as well as I would like to. They do work best on RAW files and I currently do not shoot RAW but I was still able to use them and I am happy with my results. The thing I love most about presets over actions is you can scroll through each preset very quickly and get a preview of the results, it’s so much faster than using a Photoshop action. If you apply the effect and hate it you can just press ‘reset’ and your file is back to the original in a blink of an eye. I also feel like the Film Art presets do a beautiful job of mimicking film, the ‘moonstone’  is one of my faves in the color options and the one I used for the edit ‘Pewter’ is always a good choice.  It’s a great buy if you have been wanting a film preset collection but feel like the VSCO or the Red Leaf versions are currently too much of an investment. And you? Have you tried any of these preset collections or think there is a set I should have mentioned?  I do know that the look is not a substitute for the beauty of film, I do love the look of film so, but it is a nice alternative for those that want to get creative in the digital darkroom and add a nostalgic quality to their photographs.

make-up by 1011 makeup | styling by borrowedblu

P.S. One of my favorite floral studio’s Studio Choo is offering a very affordable flowering arranging class in April. Check it out!

Hello my friends!  A happy Monday to you!  I am getting ready for my trip to New Orleans this weekend, I am pretty out of my mind excited.  It was a trip that was a year in the making so I really can’t believe it’s here already. The year before last I was invited to the same weekend getaway by a girlfriend I met on line, I couldn’t make it because I started a new job for a dog food company that canned me a couple weeks later for writing on my blog that I thought no one liked me.  They said they read it and that it seemed like I was unhappy there.  So my suspicions were accurate they didn’t like me, because if they did they would have rectified that feeling of no one liking me, no?  Anyways, I wasn’t cut out for dog food. Fast forward a year later, I was invited again and was able to go, granted I was terrified that I would get there and well that no one would like me (I am terribly insecure with new people), guess what?  They liked me, I loved them and we planned to make it an annual event. I highly recommend doing something like this yourselves if you have a group of on-line/blog friends that you have never met and it seems not plausible because you live all over the country (or even in another country), planning a weekend getaway is a lot easier (and less expensive) than going to one of the big blogger type conventions.  We rented a small beach house, we bought groceries, we took turns cooking, we talked our heads off and we learned so much from each other.  It was worth every second.  And now we are doing it all over again, this time in The Big Easy!

Of course, there’s my move to contend with.  I have started to take down the studio, it’s going to be a long and arduous task, but I know you will help me right?  I need to send some things off to new homes so for today’s bestowal I am going to give one lucky winner the remainder of my wood storage box inventory, it should be about 5-6 boxes.  There is a little disclosure involved, not all will be in perfect condition, meaning some may not have a plexi top or there may be rogue dents (that can be sanded out or painted).  They will still be awesome storage though and if I had room I would keep them for my studio, but alas space is at a premium and I am going to need to send these off.  To enter to win please answer the following question by Sunday, April 7, 2013:

What is your favorite word or words and why?

I am going to need to think on this one myself since I love so many of them for different reasons, I shall join you in the comments later this week!

P.S. I LOVED all your answers last week, I feel I know you so much better, it’s nice to feel like I am not the only one with strange peccadillo’s. There was many I shared with you too. I chose Debe as the winner, because I too at my advanced age am still trying to figure out what I am going to do with my life + I can not handle anyone reading my magazines before I do!  I also want to give something to Katie E. because she took the time to say ‘hi’ to a fellow Winnipegean and I love the idea of this being a community and that it doesn’t have to just be me up here flapping my gums! Ladies please email me your addresses and I will send your prizes off!

P.P.S. Nicole Classes is giving away a year of classes, stop by here for a chance to win.  I have recommended them plenty before and even if you don’t enter it’s worth book marking, it’s an excellent resource!

I wanted to make-up for those of you that were not able to get into the Product Photography class on Skillshare.  So, I decided to share this ‘tool of the trade’ that I use for my product photography from time to time.  I first learned about it via a Scott Kelby book (if you aren’t familiar with him and are a photography newbie, I highly recommend his series). I was also pleased to know that Jen Huang recommended it as well.  The tool today is a close-up lens set it’s a great alternative to an expensive macro lens.  My set was under $15.  What it allows you to do is get in much closer than you would normally be able to with your lens.  I almost always shoot with a 50mm lens so I made sure to buy a set that would fit on my lens.  It came with 4 lens attachments a +1, +2, +4, +10.  What I usually do is stack the +1 and +2 (there are grooves to allow them to attach to eachother). For me that is the best combo to still create a sharp image.  The +10 works but I feel creates a very narrow amount of detail and a lot of soft shallow depth of field, which might work well for creative shooting but not so well for product photography.  I took some sample shots below for comparison. The first one on the left is shot with my 50mm lens without the addition of the close-up lenses (this is how close I could get in). The one on the right is with the close-up lens +1 and +2 close-up attached.  You can really see how much closer I was able to get in and shoot, it’s pretty amazing! On a side note, I have seen the Hoya close-ups get great reviews, I have not tried them but it’s another option if you can’t find one that will fit on your specific lens.

I am so excited to bring you the interview of Nancy Hopkins, this has been in the works for a while now.  I wanted to be one of the first blogs to showcase her work and be the one that introduced her to a broader audience.  I feel like a lot of designers and letterpress artists know and work with her but keep her as their secret.  As you know, I am not good with secrets and I prefer to tell everyone that will listen how great this, that or so & so is, so without further ado let me start gushing…Thank you Nancy!

//NANCY HOPKINS INTERVIEW//

Where are you located?  

In Berkeley, California.

How did you get started in lettering?

Well, I’ve been drawing on most any available surface (including walls, clothes, shoes, newspapers, furniture, you name it) since I was a kid, but didn’t formally discover calligraphy and lettering  until I was in college.  While in a typography class, a calligrapher came in to give a guest lecture, and boom! I knew that was what I wanted to do.

What are some of your favorite supplies (inks, nibs, paper)

This is an area of the craft in which I’m not very well versed….and that is why I am so excited to discover your fabulous blog!  I always feel I could know a lot more. There are many times I sit down to a job convinced there must be a better paper, or a better ink, or a better nib for the task at hand!   That said, there is a Sumi ink sold by John Neal (my favorite resource) called “Moon Palace” that I use all the time because it gives the best hairlines.  And I use Mitchell nibs (size 4 & 5) and Nikko G nibs a lot.

Can you name some of your inspiration?

This is a tough question because there are so many things influencing me all the time.  Looking at other calligraphers and lettering artists’ work has got to be most inspiring. Georgia Deaver (who recently passed) was a great. The latest craze of chalkboard lettering is so cool — I love the work of Dana Tanamachi,  and type designer Jessica Hische is an incredibly creative talent.  The beauty and spontaneity of  graffiti, when done well, can be the ultimate mastery of control and  fluidity of movement.  This probably sounds kind of corny but feel that the most rewarding aspect of calligraphy is the rhythm  and flow you experience while doing it.  When you are in that “zone”, nothing compares.

Name one random talent you have that people may not know?  

Uh….well….I like to play tennis….

Any recommendations of books or classes for lettering enthusiasts to further their studies?

The Letter Arts Review is a beautifully produced quarterly publication that has interesting articles and high quality photos of lots of great works, especially the edition devoted to their juried review.  Also, most major cities have great local calligraphy guilds.  Here in the Bay Area, we have a fantastic organization called The Friends of Calligraphy.

I love how prolific you are with all your styles (and I do LOVE every single one of them), any advice on the best way to develop ones own style or create their own lettering off shoots. 

As is true with all art forms, in order to start abstracting from established styles, you’ve got to know the basics first.  Once you are comfortable with a specific hand and how it is  technically created, (which usually involves A LOT of practice) then you can start playing around with it.  Maybe try using a different tool (like a brush instead of a nib), or different types of inks, or  varying pen pressure at different junctures in the letter, or trying different types of paper (ones that bleed as opposed to to ones that don’t) to create different affects. Often really simple experimentation can inspire you in ways you hadn’t dreamt possible.

 I get asked a TON about white ink, is there any formula you use or suggestions?

Another calligrapher once told me she adds Pro White to Winsor & Newton’s Permanent White gouache.  I’ve tried it, and it works, but it does have a slightly thick, grainy  texture.

Any advice on what ‘not’ to do?

Never start in on a job without warming up for at least 20-30 minutes.  Sometimes I get impatient, and am always sorry when I begin writing when not fully “in the groove”.

P.S. This has been my best couple of weeks EVER!  I got to travel to the West Coast and meet such wonderful people, then I I got the thrill to work with Caitlin of Roost (faint) and then my very favorite stylist and someone I have long admired online Ginny Branch posted the NICEST post on me.  I am still fanning myself in order to not hyperventilate, it’s hard not to since this has been such an exciting time for me. Thank you’s all around to Caitlin, Ginny and of course you, you make my days so much brighter!