As we near the end of our 4th week of Project 52, I’m impressed with how many of us have kept up! And if you haven’t, don’t throw in the towel… a collection of 50 images at the end of the year is better than none.

So how did you do with self-portrait?

I’ve heard all sorts of excuses from my clients, especially women, about why they don’t want to get photographed.

“I want to lose weight first.”

“I need a haircut / color / new style… first.”

“I’m not dressed for it.”

“I feel silly getting my picture taken.”

(See my readers responses as to why they put it off on my FB page!)

Yeah, I get it. I really do. Even though I’m a photographer, I’m a mom first. And I’ve carried and nursed 3 babies. This body ain’t what it was 13 years ago.

But guess what girls? It’s not about you.

Getting your portrait taken isn’t FOR you. It’s for the people who love you.

I have exactly two photographs of my grandmother. In one, she’s posing with 5 generations (!) of family: me, my dad, her, her mom, her grandmother. In the other photo, she’s talking off camera at my First Communion celebration. It’s a candid.

She looks beautiful. And young. And healthy. The way I remember her before cancer took her away from us when I was 16.

And that is why you must. must! get photographed. It’s not for you. It’s not even really about you. It’s for your granddaughter. And it’s for her granddaughter. And for all the members of your circle of loved ones. They cherish you…

exactly the way you are.

Because, girlfriend, you’re not getting younger. Your hairstyle reflects the current trends. And your clothes? Don’t matter.

Your best friend, your son, your granddaughter will cherish the images of you one day, like you cherish the images of your loved ones. Exactly the way you remember them.

Get in the picture. Your granddaughter thanks you.

(clicking each image leads to its source.)

Cannot wait to see your beautiful selves.

P52 Week 4: Self-Portrait is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

I’ve been told the southerners have a season like this in reverse, where it’s so stinkin’ hot you just can’t leave.

And it forces you to get creative with your camera. You simply can’t shoot mild twilights, and grass in toes, and pretty colors of nature, full bins of ripe fruit at the farmer’s market, and happy faces of those you love if the weather is insufferable.

So what do you like to shoot when this kind of weather keeps you prisoner in your home?

Cozy mugs of cocoa, warm socks peeking out from blankets, baked goods, the steam from your morning coffee, tubs of bubbles as you thaw (and *ahem* sip wine), kids in snow suits or still in pjs, their little hands coloring pictures or turning pages…

Maybe if we all throw in a few ideas, together we’ll have enough inspiration to make it through til spring. You southerners can tuck these ideas away til July and August.

Can’t wait to see what you’ve been shooting this week.

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Admittedly, I’m a bit OCD when it comes to browsing. I like to control when windows pop open and when they don’t. Preferably they don’t.

And the reactions were all over the place.

“oh yes. HATE that!”

“oh, i don’t like when links DON’T open a new window.”

“I prefer tabs, not windows.”

“how can I force new windows to open so my readers don’t leave?”

“ugh. why do people DO that??”

“I thought it was better…? “

The point is, for every person who responded, there was a new opinion. It all comes down to personal preferences… which means you should allow your readers to determine how links work, and not determine for them.

Screen shot of Safari browsing preferences:

Screen shot of Firefox browsing preferences:

Your browser of choice should be similar to those.

You can determine for yourself how you want your browsers to behave. Unless a blogger overrides your preferences for you. And yes… they can do that. Usually bloggers force windows to open because they are afraid you’re not smart enough to figure out how to ever find them again. But you are. I have total confidence in your ability to surf the web. And I would never underestimate your intelligence!

I liken forcing link behavior to the people – usually older teen boys, in my experiences – who have their radios blaring and their music thumping so loudly that you’re forced to hear their taste in music, rather than enjoy your own. Your eardrums thump to their dictated volume without any say in the music choice.

Turns out music, religion, and politics aren’t the only polarizing opinions on the internet. How you prefer to browse is personal.

I prefer tabs, personally. I don’t like when random windows pop open, and I tend to leave any site that forces it. But if you do prefer that new windows open, you can easily do that, too!

Some mice have a right-click and you can pull up a context menu, but that’s more time-consuming that simply holding the command or control, and many mice don’t have right-click buttons, especially Mac/Apple products.

Right-click context menu on a Mac:

On most browsers, holding down command on a Mac (or control on a PC) while you click will open a window or a new tab or a new browser – depending on your settings. This allows the best surfing experience – because YOU decide how the link behaves.

Look here are some gratuitous links for you to practice on. Try the command-click or control-click…

Pinterest
Twitter
Facebook

You can hold down command- or control and click all three links, or you can use the context menu, and they will behave how YOU have decided they should.

Nice, right?

So, how do you prefer to surf?

Surf the Internet the way you want. Let your readers surf the way they want. One step closer to World Peace. is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

It’s week 3! January 15 – January 20. This week our theme is I Dreamed a Dream.

So it’s a pretty liberal translation, but this week’s photo theme was inspired by MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech. I have to admit… this one was a hard one, and I was kicking myself for picking something so BIG. But I can’t wait to see how you’ve all interpreted this one!

We still have great numbers, which means – yay us. You’re still going to be here in July right?

Next up, next week’s theme is self-portrait. Much less nebulous, no?

Let’s see all your dreams…

Project 52 Week 3: I Dreamed a Dream is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Each month, professional photographer Kent Weakley – best known for his infrared landscape images and his online eClass courses for new photographers – and I host exactly that kind of chat. We meet for an hour on twitter, using the hashtag #photochat, and answer questions from new photographers and ask questions of the photography community. New photographers can ask questions, experienced photographers can lend their expertise and grow our community of photographers.

This month, that chat will take place on Wednesday, January 18th. It’s an afternoon time for the US and an evening time for the UK/Europe. I hope you can join us!

Bring your questions, bring your expertise, meet new photographers, be part of the discussion!

Can’t wait to see what you’ve been shooting this week!

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

I am simply floored that over 250 of you joined on week 1 of p52. Now don’t you all go fadin’ away on me. If there aren’t at least 252 of you this week, I might have to come hunt ya down. YOU have to keep it up, so I keep it up. I mean, not that’s it’s about me…

Okay, I’m counting on you all to keep me honest! I only did 26 last year!

New to p52? You’ll want to read the Project52 page.

This week’s theme is Made with Love. Can’t wait to see your work!

Next up is “I Dreamed a Dream.” Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. day and I picked a theme loosely inspired by his famous Dream speech. I know you all will do it justice.

Project 52 Week 2: Made with Love is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Have you considered assembling your weekly shots into something tangible? An m3b reader on Facebook mentioned she put 52 images ( a year’s worth! ) in a Blurb Book as a collection of her year’s efforts in photography. ( I wish I could find her comment. If she is you – please come forward!) I am considering this for Project52. But for those among us who think themes are too restrictive, a collection of Sweet Shots would be awesome!

Do you plan to keep all your shots digital, or will you make something tangible with them?

I’m such a proponent of prints and albums. It’s all well and good to have jpgs on your hard drive – but when is the last time you printed images, hung something on your wall, or made an album of your memories?

No matter how much those jpgs mean to you, having something tangible will *always* trump the digital. My 2011 goal was to finally get a canvas gallery wrap in my own home. This sweet thing is 40 inches x 60 inches – that’s 5 feet tall! We also framed and hung individual portraits of each boy in 2011 – those are gorgeous Organic Bloom frames.

This iPhone snapshot makes it hard to tell the proportions until you compare the size of the canvas to the size of the front door.

What will you do with all the images you take in 2012?

Can’t wait to see what you’ve been shooting!

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

In case you’re new to p52, I wrote a page about Project52 answering questions and setting some guidelines. There are also graphics for your posts and buttons for your sidebars if you want them. Please bookmark that page – it’s also where I’ll be listing the weekly themes.

This week’s theme is Resolution. Can’t wait to see how you all interpret that. Happy p52ing!

(looking for a p52 without themes? Consider Sweet Shot Tuesdays, instead.)

Project 52 Week 1: Resolution is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

If you’re not sharing content and receiving traffic from Pinterest, you are missing a huge viral opportunity.

But in its rapid growth, there are some issues Pinterest has failed to address.

Can Pinterest continue to allow free reign in over-sharing?

The answer is no. Since the general public is blissfully ignorant about what constitutes intellectual property copyright infringement, who should be responsible for policing such errant behavior and what kind of counter action can bloggers take who have had entire posts pinned?

Here’s the problem:

Blogger, let’s call her Jane, writes a post. She photographs the content and publishes her post. She does so either as a professional blogger to support her family, or as writer to reach, entertain, educate, etc her readership. The blog’s success relies on traffic that finds her, delights in her hard work, subscribes, and keeps coming back. Bloggers rely on visitors, subscribers and readers to click ads to remain profitable.

Pinning her content is a wonderful way to help propagate her efforts. Pinterest, by definition, is meant to be a pin board – a visual collective of inspiring and beautiful ideas. By pinning her article, you give her a boost of traffic and tell others you love her work.

But what’s happening more and more isn’t a simple share. Pinners are copying and pasting entire recipes, entire how-to posts, whole articles. Pinterest users then have no reason to click back to find Jane’s blog because the work in its entirety is already provided.

Good:

The above pins are wonderful examples of crediting the content owners, summarizing, or sharing just enough to encourage click-through. (**edit** Since they are hard to read, they are credited to, in order: Centsational Girl, Peanut Butter Browneye Cupcakes, @improvephoto, and Adolph Sutro.)

Bad:

In each of the above examples, pinners over-shared or didn’t credit. No need to click these pins. (**edit: Since they are hard to read, they are credited to: google.com and “uploaded by user”. The photo of the girl is mine, although I didn’t pin it. It took a little research {phew!} but the second image should be credited to: Preschool Alphabet. If you’re the rightful owner of the other two, let me know.)

The result is sabotage of the original owner’s work and infringement on her intellectual property. She actually receives very little traffic back and soon credit for the work is so buried in pins she isn’t even acknowledged for the content she created.

And even though the pinner probably meant to share the blog post with well-meaning intent, a pinner who does this is hurting, not helping, the blogger. The long-term possible result? The blogger sees less traffic, finds her blog isn’t profitable, and closes shop. By over-sharing, we are sabotaging the bloggers we love most!

Until pinterest can put some limits in place, we can police ourselves by using some basic good manners.

Some Pinterest etiquette:

1. Always share the permalink. Make sure you are on the individual post NOT the main URL or scrolled page number when you pin. Otherwise, by the time the pin propagates, the post is no longer at the top, and the content cannot be found.
2. Share only the post title or a summary statement about the post. Pinterest is only a visual inspiration board. It is NOT a re-blogging machine.
3. Don’t pin from Google images. Google doesn’t own those, click back to content owner.
4. Credit the original content creator whenever possible. Name the blogger, the photographer, or rightful owner.

Should Pinterest be accountable for copyright infringement? Should over-sharing pinners be held responsible for stealing content?

How do YOU think this issue should be addressed? Discuss.

**update! Readers have spoken! I made a graphic summarizing the post to pin on Pinterest.

Pinterest: Good or Bad for Bloggers? is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

I cannot believe it’s 2012!

In case you don’t follow my tweets or Facebook (what?!) – which totally outed my location over the past 10 days – we’ve been in Florida. I didn’t want to broadcast the trip ahead of time and invite would-be ruffians and thugs over to my house.

(see? professional photogs take noisy, red-eyed, iPhone pics while on vacay, too! I love them, anyway.)

Did you make any 2012 goals?

I did. And I’m sharing them here – publicly – so you’ll all keep me accountable.

1. Project 52. I’d love to have you join me! Here is the page with all the details – Project 52.
2. Pushup challenge. 1 pushup a day the first week, 2 a day the second… leading to 52 a day by the final week. Yeah. I cannot even do one.
3. Pare down all the toys, books and clothes in this house. That task will be huge. First world problems, right?

What 2012 goals or resolutions did you make?

Can’t wait to see what you’ve been shooting!

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Something that will force you to use your photography muscles…
Something with a variety of ideas to push your creativity…

Announcing…

I’d like to run things a bit different from last year. First, I’d like to use the blog instead of Flickr. I’ll have a link on Fridays. Once a month I’d like to feature some of the really interesting, inspirational, or exemplary images here at the blog – with links to the artist so we can all get to know them better. By request there will be 52 specific challenges. We will be assigned themes for each week. You may interpret them with whatever artistic license you wish to employ.

Details:

1. Participating in p52 means you have a blog or Flickr stream to link back to.
2. You agree to use permalinks to the p52 post / image only.
3. Photo must be taken within the past 7 days – digging up old photo defeats the challenge.
4. Linking at p52 implies you may be featured here at m3b, with proper credit and acknowledgement of your work, and you agree that I may use your week’s image to show your work. All featured images will have a link to the artist’s blog or Flickr stream.
5. Amateur and professional artists are welcome, but any signs of abuse or misuse or inappropriate photos will be banned.

I really don’t like to play bad cop, so let’s make this FUN, high energy… and something that you will actually challenge yourself to make the most out of that amazing camera you have.

Ready for the first few weeks’ assignments?

Week 1 – ending Friday, January 6: Resolution
Week 2 – ending Friday, January 13: Made with love
Week 3 – ending Friday, January 20: I Dreamed A Dream
Week 4 – ending Friday, January 27: Self-portrait
Week 5 – ending Friday, February 3: Shadows
Week 6 – ending Friday, February 10: Drink up!
Week 7 – ending Friday, February 17: True Love
Week 8 – ending Friday, February 24: Cabin Fever

Suggestions for future weeks can be left over on the m3b Facebook page where I’ve started taking requests! Please suggest theme ideas there.

I cannot wait to see how you all interpret these challenges, and I look forward to getting to meet new photographers!

Happy New Year!

Announcing: 2012 p52 is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Wanna know what I got??

A big…

sparkly…

brand new…

driveway.

I know, I know. OOoooohhhhh Aaaaaahhhhhh. But seriously… it’s pretty nice and makes me so much happier than rock.

Hard to believe it, but there are only 4 more days left in 2011. So I send you warm wishes from chilly Iowa for a happy, healthy, prosperous and wonderful 2012.

Happy New Year!

Let’s see those holiday photos!

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

So from my family to yours, hope this holiday season find you surrounded by those you love most. Capture the memories but enjoy your good company.

Merry Christmas to each of you. Thanks for making Sweet Shot Tuesday special each week…

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Winners, you should hear from the vendors shortly. Please reply to them in 48 hours. If you do not hear from them, please let me know!

1. Winner of the $50 gift credit to Everyday Elements is Jessie from The Lucas Zoo

2. Winner of the $40 gift certificate to The Pleated Poppy is Amy from JerAmy.

3. The winner of Kent Weakley’s Night Photography eClass and the Composition eClass is Rosie (from Scotland!) who blogs at Leavesnbloom Studio.

4.The winner of Life-n-reflection’s Calendar Marketing sets is Kim from Mom Tried It.

5. The winner of the newborn pixie hat and coordinating headband set from Castaway Collection is Sylvia from Sylvia Cook Photography

6. The winner of the portfolio image review from His & Hers Photography is Heather from Heather Booyson Photography.

Congrats to each of you! Thank you all for making the Holiday Bokeh Party so much fun.

Holiday Bokeh Party – Winners Revealed! is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Next: This Wednesday is our photo chat. Want to ask photography questions? Want to share what you’ve learned? Be on twitter at 4pm EST – 3pm CST – 2pm MST – 1pm MST which is 9pm in the UK and 10pm in Europe! Photographers from all around the globe can ask, share and network! Set your phone alarms or icals.

Okay – let’s see what you’ve been shooting this week!

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

It’s here! I’m so excited to see all your holiday bokeh images. Welcome to the 2nd Annual Holiday Bokeh Party!

Isn’t she a gorgeous model to kick off our party??

If you’re new to the party and need a tutorial for how to make holiday bokeh, see this post. And I’ve partnered with some amazing small businesses just in time to help you finish crossing off the good boys and girls on your holiday list. I don’t know about you – but I really want a whole lot less Wal-Mart and a whole lot more small business for my holiday shopping.

Amanda from Everyday Elements offers tutorials, workshops, and actions to make your editing workflow faster and easier. What photographer wouldn’t want more time? Amanda is best known for her work with Photoshop Elements, but I use CS5 and her clean edit is the bomb (do people still say that?)! Amanda is offering a $50 Gift Card toward any actions or workshops. Woot!

Follow Everyday Elements on twitter | Follow Everyday Elements on Facebook

Lindsey is the artist behind The Pleated Poppy. She makes posy pins, bloom bags, petal pushers and so many perfect accessories for girls and women. She recently added custom ties for boys and even matching ties for Dads. I need 3 of these! I use her products in my studio often – and I’m so thrilled to announce Lindsey is giving away a $40 Gift Certificate to her shop. I feel the need to say, “I’m not just the president, I’m also a Hair Club for Men user!” That photo in the feature is mine – her headbands are perfect for accessorizing my babies.

Follow The Pleated Poppy on twitter | Follow The Pleated Poppy on Facebook

Kent Weakley is one of the blogosphere’s best photo instructors. He doesn’t just explain what to do, he explains why to do it – all with beautiful graphics. Since it’s an eclass, the learning is done on your time and at your pace. Kent has two upcoming eClasses perfect for the photographer on your list! And he’s giving a spot in his Photo Composition eClass that starts on Jan. 20th and a spot in his Night Photography eClass that begins on Feb. 10 – a total value of $114!

Follow Kent Weakley on twitter | Follow Kent Weakley on Facebook

I’ve featured Kristy from Life-n-Reflection here on the blog before. She is sooo talented! While she is probably best known for her photo textures, which are artistic overlays for enhancing your photos, she’s also a designer and a talented photographer, as well. She’s a regular here on Sweet Shot Tuesdays, and I always love her work.

Kristy is giving away two sets of calendar templates: 12 – 5×7 monthly calendars in Venetian and 8×10 yearly calendars in 4 styles. These are excellent marketing gifts – simply drop in your clients’ images, add your own branding and print! Beautiful gifts that will be displayed with YOUR name and work on them. This is a $40 value.

Follow Life-n-Reflection on twitter | Follow Life-n-Reflection on Facebook

Tracy from CastAway Collection is a Newfoundland-based crochet artist who makes hand-crafted classic pieces with a modern twist that are perfect as photography props, as gifts, and just make each day “oh so special!” Tracy sells her beautiful creations in her Etsy shop. I am sooo in love with the granny square newborn pixie hats!

Tracy is offering a winner the newborn pixie hat / headband combo as featured in the image.

Follow Tracy on Twitter | Follow CastAway Collection on Facebook

My photography business is joining in the fun! His & Hers is a Des Moines, Iowa-based photography studio specializing in newborn & children’s portraiture as well as unique senior portraits and model headshots. I mostly shoot the little ones, and my husband Randy shoots the “big ones” who, I’m sure, love being called “the big ones”! We know you all are far away – so we’re offering a 5-image portfolio review and critique. Don’t let the word critique scare you. Having another set of professional photographers offer constructive review of your images is a great way, especially if you’re new to the business, to help you hone your images and decide which to include in your online portfolio. The 30-60 minute review will take place on Skype sometime after the holidays have settled down.

Follow His & Hers on twitter | Follow His & Hers on Facebook

How do you win all this awesome stuff?! There are SIX vendors, and there will be SIX winners drawn! Here’s how to win:

MANDATORY:
1. Link up your holiday bokeh image.
2. Like each vendor on Facebook: Everyday Elements, The Pleated Poppy, Kent Weakley, Life-n-Reflection, CastAway Collection and His & Hers Photography.
3. Tweet or post about this party and the giveaways and link back to this post on twitter or your FB wall. You can write what you want, but here’s a sample:
Holiday Bokeh Party & Giveaways @my3boybarians – link up and win! http://my3boybarians.com/2011/12/holiday-bokeh-party-giveaways/
4. Leave 1 comment saying you’ve done those things. Make sure your email is on the form (not in the comment!) or I will redraw.

EXTRA ENTRIES (yay, lots more chances to win!):
1. Pin this giveaway on Pinterest.
2. Subscribe to Everyday Elements blog -OR- follow Amanda on twitter.
3. Go to The Pleated Poppy shop and come back and tell us your favorite thing in her shop.
4. Subscribe to Kent Weakley’s blog -OR- follow Kent on twitter.
5. Go to Kristy’s Life-n-Reflection Etsy texture shop or her Etsy design shop and come back and tell us what your favorite thing is.
6. Go to CastAway Collection on Etsy and come back and let us know what your favorite item is.
7. Subscribe to the His & Hers blog.
8. Stumble, Digg, Google+ or blog about this giveaway and come back and let us know you did!

This link will remain up until Wednesday, December 14th at midnight central. Come back Thursday, December 15th to see if YOU won!
Thanks for linking up and making this one of my favorite times of year on the blog. You all make m3b so pretty with your images.

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah! Phew! Let’s Do It!

Holiday Bokeh Party & Giveaways! is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

This week is the Holiday Bokeh Party! The link will go live late Wednesday night at midnight central time! The party is Thursday, December 8th. Have your posts ready, last year’s link party still remains one of the highest traffic posts throughout the year. Statistically those first links get more visits, but I hope you’ll all get a chance to visit many bloggers’ holiday light posts.

Some really FANTASTIC vendors are participating this year with lots of giveaways!

Also, next week is the twitter photography #photochat. We’re trying something new this time! By request of our friends across the pond. (I love saying across the pond, as if it’s nearby. The internet does make the world seem more accessible.) Anyway – our friends in Europe are always sleeping during the usual #photochat time, so we’re having an afternoon in the US / evening in the UK and Europe time that will allow more people to attend. Several amazingly talented photographers from England, Ireland and Italy have said they’ll be there. Hope you will too!

Photochat – Wednesday, December 14th – 4pm EST – 3pm CST – 2pm MST – 1pm PST – 9pm GMT (London) – 10pm Euro

Okay, onward! Let’s see what you’ve been shooting!

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

I used an image with a solid background. This trick can even be used with sky/busy background by selecting smaller doses and transforming small areas. Try it out and let me know how it goes.

Photoshop Tutorial: How to fix a Continuous Background of an Image is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

What was your favorite part of Thanksgiving weekend? If you’re abroad, did you get any Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals anyway??

Can’t wait to see what you’ve been shooting this week. As for me, I looked a little bit like that bird.

Show ‘em whatcha got…

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

I know, shocking, right? But today isn’t about portraiture. It’s about family. It’s about being in the moment instead of being a spectator to the moment. An iPhone is a perfectly legit camera. That point-n-shoot in your purse will record memories just as well.

So, today as we celebrate all that we are thankful for, I urge you to be in the moment. Snapshots are perfectly wonderful ways to remember the holidays. Don’t fret about the lighting. Eat more mashed potatoes. No one cares about aperture. Go hang out with your cousin.

Love to you all.

xo,
Darcy

Happy Thanksgiving! is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you find yourselves surrounded by those you love most.

Show us whatcha’ got…

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

• cait + create winner was announced. was it you?
• The Holiday Bokeh Party officially has a date. pretty please come?
• This week is the twitter party. We’re talking business + photos. I’d love if you’d come!

Let’s see what you’ve been shooting!

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Okay, this will be our sophomore year! Last year the holiday lights bokeh party was so much fun. You all have been asking for dates (what, are you all planners or something?!) and now I have it.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

This gives you almost a month to get your tree or menorah up, lights hung, learn how to make custom shape bokeh, and get your post up. There will be prizes and giveaways!

To get you ready for the party I’ve assembled a short list of fun tutorials for you!

How to Make Bokeh with Christmas Lights

How to : Holiday Light Bokeh Tutorial
kevin and amanda’s tutorial
Kent’s Custom Bokeh tutorial

Lastly, check out last year’s Holiday Bokeh Party for additional tips and to see all the beautiful lights you guys posted last year!

Want some buttons for your posts and sidebars?

<a href="http://my3boybarians.com" ><img src="http://my3boybarians.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bokehparty_11_300.png" alt="holiday lights bokeh party my3boybarians.com" title="holiday lights bokeh party my3boybarians.com" width="300" height="125" /></a>

<a href="http://my3boybarians.com" ><img src="http://my3boybarians.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bokehparty_11_125.png" alt="holiday bokeh party 2011 my3boybarians.com" title="holiday bokeh party 2011 my3boybarians.com" width="125" height="125" /></a>

Announcing: 2nd Annual Holiday Bokeh Party! is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Allrighty – show me whatcha’ got!

Sweet Shot Tuesday is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.

Ooohhh, it’s been hard to keep this fun surprise a secret. Caitlin contacted me back in September with links to her cute etsy shop. She works with a lot of photographers (among others!) and I knew a pennant banner would be a great giveaway and a fun way to introduce you to Caitlin’s shop.

First, meet Caitlin. The girl behind Cait + Create.

Cute, huh?

Cait says,

“I’m a California girl, who married a boy from Nevada, and we’re raising our 3 busy boys here in Utah. I’ve always loved to paint and finally decided to open an etsy shop and do it professionally. My blog is about crafts and cooking, gardening and painting, and most of being a mom who is vastly outnumbered by boys. ”

I can relate, Caitlin!

She makes cute stuff. I have my eye on that harvest banner. Wouldn’t it be cool for birthday, too?

Chalk board! I can imagine the love notes…

Today, Cait has a great giveaway for m3b readers. One, randomly drawn winner will get a custom pennant banner (up to 12 wood flags!) of their choice. It can either be a custom phrase, or it can be painted in chalkboard paint so that it can be reused. The pennants are made of wood and hand painted.

To enter, please head over to Cait + Create. and come back and leave a comment to tell us which is your favorite of Caitlin’s creations. (mandatory!)

For additional entries:
1. Go to Facebook and like cait + create.
2. Follow Caitlin’s blog by joining her Google Friends.
3. Tweet, post on your FB wall, or pin this entry and say something like,
Win a custom wood pennant banner from Cait + Create via @my3boybarians: http://wp.me/p1q5vb-1rT
4. Pin this post on pinterest.
5. Subscribe to my3boybarians.com.
6. Like my3boybarians on Facebook.

For each one that you do extra, come back and leave a comment. The more you help us spread the word, the more chances you have to win!

This entry is open to US residents (sorry far away friends! I’ll have one for you soon!) for 7 days. Winner will be drawn randomly and announced next Thursday, Nov 10. Winner will have 3 days to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Thanks and good luck!

Giveaway! Custom Pennant Banner from Cait + Create. is a post from:
Darcy Milder | Life With My 3 Boybarians
Iowa Photographer Photography blog
All Rights Reserved.

Please visit His & Hers, my Des Moines, Iowa Newborn & Children's Photographer blog.