Vintage Freebie with Keren: Tweet - Tweet Post Pretty!

Yay! Fall has arrived and I couldn't be anymore giddy! By far my most favorite time of year. Has nothing to do with the fact that I'm an October baby bty.. ;)  All the pretty colors and smells make me... Well.. Just Plain HAPPY.  I've also been wanting to use these adorable little brown birds in something, because they too make me.. you guessed it ..super happy and they just Tweeted Autumn is here! :)

Click HERE to DL

So here's to all my fellow Fall Lovers! This one's for you! :)

Till next time!

 

www.freeprettythingsforyou.com

Attention Mommy Bloggers!

We've all been in that situation where you're with a group of people and some unfortunate soul has something icky in their teeth or in their nose...or maybe their zipper is down.  I can't lie to you, friends.  In that situation, I'd either be the winner with spinach in her teeth or the girl who just smiles and pretends like she doesn't see it.  However, there is something I have seen a lot of in the blogging community and it is infinitely more harmful than spinach teeth.  In all seriousness, I'd like to address this issue with you because it involves many of the things that matter most to me, personally.

Regardless of where I am online, most of my time is spent in the company of moms.  There is something within this circle that comes up on a regular basis, but is almost never addressed.  That something is the issue of safety.  I truly don't mean to offend or alarm anyone, but I have been shocked by some of the photos and information I have seen shared online by women (and men) who most likely just never stopped to think about the risks of such.  I've seen home addresses posted for all to see, detailed family whereabouts shared, and naked child after naked child after naked child.  I just don't understand this.  I've thought a lot about it and as someone who believes that people are basically good, I can only assume these lapses of judgement are based on a simple lack of awareness.

According to the Internet Safety Project, more than 20,000 images of child pornography are posted every day.  Approximately 20% of all Internet pornography involves children.  While I sincerely doubt anyone reading this article would EVER knowingly contribute to these statistics, my fear is that we may be inadvertently placing our children in danger just because we don't want to think about an issue as horrific as this one...certainly not in relation to us or our own sweet children.  To be completely honest with you, I would quite literally rather think about pretty much anything else on the planet as opposed to things like identity theft, cyber stalking, child abduction, and pedophiles.  It makes me sick to my stomach.  Please believe me that I would never be writing this if I didn't feel there was a strong need for it.  While I am not claiming to be an expert on this subject, I have done a bit of homework...and we all know that there aren't many forces in this world greater than a mom who has done her homework.  So, without further ado:

 
DON'T post suggestive/provocative pictures of yourself or anyone else- especially children, online.  In my own mind, I imagine that each picture I share online is a poster in a crowded subway station.  Would I still post it?

DO keep in mind that the way you see your photos and the way others see your photos may not be the same.  That photo you have of your little one in the bathtub or on the beach may be the most adorable thing you or I have ever seen, but to the wrong person it could be pornography.  Be discerning and use caution.

DON'T forget that what you share is most likely permanent.  If you do choose to post that picture of your little one's tushy, just remember that the same little tushy will be a big tushy one day.  We want that tushy to be able to run for congress...or at least go to high school without getting stuffed in a locker.

DO take a closer look at your photos before sharing them.  Is your house number on the mailbox behind your little sweetie as he or she is getting on the bus in that first day of school photo?  Is your address on the envelope next to the bouquet of flowers you photographed?  I know that sounds a little James Bond, but just be aware and be careful.

DON'T share personal information.  That sounds strange because we often share personal things on our blogs, but I mean things like your address, what school your children attend, where you will be (and won't be) at certain times, ages, birth dates, last names...things like that.

DO be aware of what photo editing software can do.  If you have posted pictures of your children online, it is possible that those images have been taken and photoshopped in a manner that makes them child pornography.  In other words, cyber predators can take that sweet photo of your little one in the bathtub and Photoshop themselves right on in there with them.  One of my best friends is a social worker and opened my eyes to this practice.  I seriously felt sick to my stomach and lost a lot of sleep after that conversation.  Don't freak out like I did.  Just be aware.

DON'T be afraid to speak up if someone is posting something you think could be dangerous to themselves or their children.  Just keep in mind that this is a very sensitive subject and should be handled carefully and tactfully.  Don't go overboard, but do be a responsible advocate for the safety of children and others.

DO err on the side of caution when it comes to deciding what to share online.  I'm not saying you should parade your children around with blankets over their heads a' la the late Michael Jackson.  I'm just saying we should all exercise common sense and be protective of our own children and children in general.  I don't want to start any wars in Blog Land, but I say, when it comes to something this important, sometimes you've got to be the girl who cried spinach in your teeth.

Vintage Freebie with Keren: Etsy Shop Banner Collection!

Hi there!! Sorry about running late today! Its been pretty hectic in the world of FPTFY.  I'm sure you can all relate :) Hopefully this next Freebie will make it up!

Remember a while back, when Megan first introduced me I made some Freebie Vintage Business Cards?? If you don't, you should really check them out because I just made YOU and Etsy Collection to match them!! YaY!!

The Collection includes:

          -760 x 100 Blank Etsy Banner

-400 x 400 Blank Image

-100 x 100 Main Avatar

-100 x 100 Blank Avatar

 *Note: Make sure you Download the Original size on Photobucket* 

BTY-- the 400 x 400 Image will also work for a Post Pretty!
Enjoy!!
xo,

www.freeprettythingsforyou.com

Photography with Jessica - Post Processing - How Much is Too Much?

In the next few posts I'd like to start delving into the subject of post processing.  In today's digital world, a photo is rarely left as-is straight out of the camera.  Post processing refers to anything that is done to enhance the photo after it has been taken.  It's such a fun and interesting subject and we have such great resources available to us to use that sometimes it can be difficult not to get carried away!  So before we start learning about the "how's", I'd like to spend a little bit of time talking about the "why's".

So, why do we post process an image?  With photography our goal is to capture the world around us, and the goal of post processing is to enhance that reality and make it even more beautiful.  But I would caution that there is a line between enhancing and distorting.  Of course, photography and post processing are art forms, and as with all art, there is much room for creativity and interpretation of what is considered "good".  So what I have to offer today is just my opinion of how post processing should be used, and I realize that there may be those who disagree with me... and that's ok!

I think our culture is kind of making us feel like everything and everyone needs to be PERFECT!  Real life is beautiful and vibrant and wonderful... but it is NOT perfect, and I think that photography should reflect that.  When I first started out with post processing I did so much to every image, just because I could.  It took me a couple of years to learn to back off and leave some life and reality in my images.

When you first meet a person, your impression of them includes so much more than what they look like.  You take in their voice, tone, attitude, mannerisms, facial expressions, and everything that makes them who they are.  When I first meet a client, I don't notice if they have some flakiness on their chin or some puffiness under their eyes because there is so much more to them than that.  But photos are different.  When you look at a photo all you get is the visual aspect of the person, and so the little "imperfections" are much more noticeable than they are when you see a person in real life.  So when I'm post processing the client's images, I'll go ahead and get rid of the flakiness and the puffiness, because in my opinion those are just visual distractions of what your real impression would be if you were really with them.

What I don't like to do is extreme skin smoothing (makes them look like a doll, not a person) body shaping or slimming.  Don't get me wrong, I'm just like every other woman out there, always wanting to lose 5-10 pounds, but I think if we regularly alter what we look like in photos it just tends to reinforce the unfortunate cultural pressure to be perfect and make us feel like we aren't good enough.  I also don't like to go crazy with the color enhancing.  Upon viewing my images, I don't want the first thing to pop into the viewer's head to be "Photoshop!"  I want the beauty and life of the subject to be what grabs the viewer's attention.  So in short, that's what guides what I will or won't do with post processing.

In the next post I'll start to teach actual post processing techniques, but in the meantime I'd love to hear what you think!

Extra Credit Blog Collage Freebie

I'm pretty sure I went through all of the stages of grieving this past week.  (Is eating chocolate cake one of the stages?  Because it totally should be if it isn't.)  Summer is over and my two oldest girls are back in school.  Little by little, I am doing my best to accept that.  One thing that will be so great for me is getting back into designing again.  I've loved this time with my children more than words can say, but I really have missed designing lovely new things for you in mass quantities.  :)  So much to do and it is back to it for me!

For those of you who haven't blogged those back-to-school photos yet, here's a little goody to help you do it with flare.  (Of course, you can use this for other things too!)  I did a fun little shoot with my girls inspired by the previous post by Jessica.  Even though I had my camera settings all wrong and didn't realize it until way too late to do anything about it, I'm still pretty pleased with the shots I did get...while trespassing in the neighbor's apple orchard.  Rebel.

This photo collage was created using a super cute kit called "Extra Credit" from one of my all-time favorite digital shops, Digital Design Essentials.  Just click the image below for the full-sized .png file and then save that little sweetie to your computer!  Happy shabby blogging!

 

Ooh, PS!  Don't forget to vote for us in the Parents Best Blog Awards!  We would be ever so grateful!

Photography with Jessica - Back to School

I recently visited my elementary school in California... well, at least the outside of it.  I loved elementary school!  I have dim but happy memories of the people and things that occupied so much of my life at that time.  I wish I had pictures to help me always remember my classrooms, wonderful teachers, the beloved library, and friends who I haven't seen in decades.

Even though it was 113 degrees here in Arizona today, and even though school started weeks ago for us, September always gets me in a nostalgic, back-to-school kind of mood.  Ahhh, the crisp autumn air, the new shoes, the smell of library books and crayons.

Don't forget to take some back-to-school pictures of your kids.  And don't stress out about doing on the actual first day of school (which is stressful enough already)!  Here are some photo ideas to help you capture some memories about this year in their life:

·         have them write their name and grade on a slate or ruled paper and hold it

·         clothes laid out the night before (be sure to get details)

·         new backpack

·         new shoes

·         kids packing lunches

·         this year's text books

·         details of school supplies

·         child in front of the house with complete outfit and backpack

·         getting on the bus

·         with their best friends in front of the school

·         shot of the school sign

·         child with new teacher

·         sitting at new desk

(click on photos to enlarge)

Remember, these photos can be as artsy or as practical as you want!  The whole point is to be able to remember all the fun little details that make up "school life" for your children!

Vintage Freebie with Keren: Shabby Rose Digital Lables

It's Super late right now.. or should I say Super Early (2:32 am) and all I can think about is THIS!! :)

I will totally resort to begging if I have too! ;)
Happy Vintage Freebie Thursday BTY!
     
      xo!

       www.freeprettythingsforyou.com