Archive for September, 2011

totally rad giveaway!

September 28, 2011

One of the coolest things about our workshops is the chance we have to work with some of our very favorite companies. We have been long time users and lovers of Totally Rad Actions and are thrilled to have them support and sponsor our workshops.  We just held our last 2011 workshop last weekend and I have been uber excited to share some of our experiences, thoughts, and images.  With that in mind, we are giving a big shout out to our rad friends over at Totally Rad Actions and the totally rad products they create to make our job easier and images really rad (I REALLY love it that they brought back “rad”  from the 90′s and I am going to overuse it).

What’s that?  You want to get straight to the giveaway of $150 to the Totally Rad Store?  Keep scrolling down to find out how you can win!

I love recipes.  I use them on almost all images I edit in Photoshop.  This is where I combine several actions and/or steps in Photoshop to come up with a “look.”  I decide on the mood or feel I want for a particular shoot, and start combining actions to create my recipe for that entire shoot.  Here are a few images from our September 16th and 17th workshop edited with Totally Rad Actions.

Oh yes…about that winning part.  In order to win the $150 to the Totally Rad Store, we are going to play a little recipe game.  It’s called Take-Your-Best-Guess-At-The-Recipe-I-Used-For-Either-Of-The-Two-Edited-Images-Above-And-Whoever-Is-Closest-to-the-Real-Recipe-WINS game!

To make it easier for everyone, here are a few rules and hints…

  • Make a list of the actions you think I used to create either one of the two edited images above (please only submit one recipe for one image)
  • Contest ends Monday, October 3rd at 9 am (est)
  • To make it easier for you, I used only actions from TRA2 – The Revenge Set.
  • I used 3-5 actions + one sharpening action on each of the two edited images.
  • You can see all actions from TRA2 and examples by clicking HERE to help you see what the actions look like and what effect they produce.
  • Please leave your recipe guess in the comment section of my blog.
  • An example of what a recipe guess might look like…
  1. Claire-ify 100%
  2. Acid Washed 25%
  3. Select-0-pop 100%
  4. Pool Party 50%

Want to see what else Totally Rad has to offer?  Go check out Travis’ post on his blog for RADLAB…a newer product, that is well….freaking RAD.

If you would like to see all that they have to offer and purchase some rad products for yourself, click the image below!!!

darren and yasmeen…married

September 23, 2011

Darren and Yasmeen
09.10.2011
Toledo, Ohio

Shoe envy!!!

Whatever Yasmeen’s day job is, I vote she quits and steps into the pages of a fashion magazine…where she rightfully belongs. STUNNING.

Hello Handsome Darren…One of my favorite groom shots EVER.

Gorgeous girls!

I ADORE how Darren treats and acts around Yasmeen.  I love how he is holding onto her as tight as he can.  This is what movies are made of, people.

Anddddd, it’s a wrap!  Good night and CONGRATULATIONS to Darren and Yasmeen!!!

kristina…class of 2012

September 20, 2011

Sometimes, you just. can’t. put. the. camera. down.  Yeah, this was one of those times.  Kristina…my camera had a crush on you in a serious way…

Round 2 of Brett and Erica coming at you. This time it is the wedding day. Heaven in the Riviera Maya that day…

This shot…the one of the groom seeing his beautiful bride coming down the aisle…gets me EVERY time…

Pinwheels and yellow dresses…LOOOOOOVED it!

One of my favorite images of the day…

Oops…another favorite…shot by Travis…

Inspired by an image my friend, Laurel, took in a wedding I shot with her in Mexico last year…

I was a little obsessed with the covered-jungle-beds-on-the-beach.  I read there, napped there, and of course, brought my bride and groom there…

Brett and Erica know how to put on a good beach party.  The last shot of the night was Travis and I are our awesome bride and groom.  A little blurry (we’ll blame it on the alcohol, Dane), but I love it!!

brett and erica…in mexico!

September 13, 2011

Ok, Brett and Erica…I’m ready to head back to the Riviera Maya, soooooo, just let me know when you’re ready and I’ll follow :)

No, really, Travis and I had the most amazing time with this gorgeous and equally fun couple.  Loved their location, loved their friends, loved their family, loved their wedding, loved THEM…times one hundred.

The wedding day is coming, but I just wanted to share a few of these two the day before.  Just hanging out on the beach…

Loooooove the tiny touch…

Travis rocks and captured this next series of awesomeness…

mackenzie…class of 2012

September 8, 2011

How often do you get a longboard, a Chickolaterie, apples, a chicken,  bright red lipstick, and a most beautiful and fun senior all wrapped up into one high school senior shoot?  Uh huh…let me see you beat that combination.

Everyone loves a girl that can rock a longboard…

Anyone who can make apples look this fabulous is meant to be in front of the camera, no?

Our location (THANKS GARY) was straight out of a storybook.  Amazing.

Off to the Chickolaterie.  Don’t ask me what it means, but it sure looks cute…and sounds an awful lot like chocolaterie…

Porcelain skin and red lipstick.  LOVE.

Eek!  Someone escaped from the Chickolaterie!  Chickens…it’s ALL the rage at senior shoots these days…

kelsey…class of 2012

September 7, 2011

“All a girl needs is her hot jeans, dazzling smile, and a pair of aviators.”

- Jean Smith (made up by me. Just now.)

Hey hey!  The countdown to our workshop is on…only 10 more days!  We are so, so, so, SOOOOO excited!  The workshop has been full for a while, but we have decided to open up 2 more seats to the September 16th and 17th workshop.  Waiting list folks have been emailed, but the seats are available to anyone, so please contact me (jean@jeansmithphotography.com) or Travis (travis@bokastudios.com) if you are interested.

Speaking of the workshop, check out the location of our workshop below…the old LaSalle Winery building in Farmington.  EEEEK…I love it!  I wish I could tuck it in my pocket and call it my own, but alas, our friends at Door 2 Studios hold that honor.  They have been amazing to work with and we are so thrilled to have them as a workshop sponsor and hold our workshop there!  Door 2 Studios has recently announced that they will be renting out their studio space to local photographers.  That is a huge bonus as local studio space rented out on an hourly basis is hard to come by.

In celebration of their opening and in honor of our upcoming workshop, Door 2 Studios is giving big.  For every 50 “likes” on their Facebook Page by Monday, September 12th, they will be giving away a free Point ‘n’ Shoot Membership, along with a free 4 hour block of studio time in Studio A.  Not a photographer?  You can still join the fun!  Out of those who “like” their Facebook page, they will be randomly choosing someone to receive a free photo session by one of the three photographers who own Door 2 Studios.  FREE STUFF ROCKS, so go “like” our friends on their new Facebook page!

aaron and nania…married

September 6, 2011

Ahhhhhhhhh…back in town, school has started…let’s get on with life and the sharing of lovely people. That brings us to Aaron and Nania.

Aaron and Nania are the types who kiss and cuddle when the cameras are down. There is such a special love and feeling surrounding these two. I loved, loved, loved, and did I mention LOVED, working with them from their engagement session to their fabulous wedding day.

Venue-Michigan League
Officiant-Dave Poole
Floral-Chelsea Flower Shop
Photographer-Jean Smith Photography
Day-of Coordination-You’re The Bride
Invitations and Card Holder Rental-You’re The Bride
Music/Band-Remedy
Cake-Jefferson Bakery
Photo Booth- My Exposure Photography
Chaircovers/L:inens-Linen Hero
Hair/Makeup-Sharla Mohney

I hate to repeat myself…BUTTTTT…I adore First Looks. When a couple opts to see each other before the wedding ceremony, the entire day flows more smoothly and allows for the bride and groom to relax and breathe easy before their ceremony.  A collage to reveal one of the sweetest and most touching First Looks I have had the pleasure of photographing…

Nania…you are killing me.  SO beautiful.  Awesome capture by Travis…