Sneak Peek: Smile Little One!

"There is no right or wrong way to preserve your memories"

- Ali Edwards -

What would you do when you are met with a big attitude from a little one during a photo session? Do you pack your bags, call it a day, and will do it next time? I didn't! Because when I saw the look of the little one sulking with her chubby cheeks, hands, and feet...I couldn't help but laugh and just kept on clicking. Her look is just too adorable to pass. I want to hug her there and then. 

 

Meet Khanna, the little boss of my friend's beautiful family. There are more photos to come of this family in the next few days. Don't worry, you will see her flash a beautiful smile. :-)  

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No Photos Allowed

I was at a shopping mall over the weekend with the intention of buying a few props for an upcoming family photo session. I was browsing some local handmade products when I chance upon these cute paperweights.

I pulled out my camera and snapped away. I suddenly felt like someone is watching me and lo when I looked up, other customers were looking at me with bewilderment and a sales lady looked like she wanted to say something, but hesitated to approach me. I felt self-conscious so I put on the lens cap and proceeded my way. Not far from the racks where I was snapping photos, I saw a sign "No picture taking allowed". :-( I felt guilty, but at the same time confused. 

I do not understand why most shops in my country do not allow photos taken for their merchandise. Don't they know that there are already a lot of bloggers out there who can do free marketing promotion for their product and their store? (Scratch my head). 

Anyways, I am still happy because I have snapped the photos I want and how lucky am I to find that the tail of the psuedo-fish made from seashells is painted goldenrod. 

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Pay It Forward

There's a belief by some in our country that if one travels or moves a lot; then, that person may have a mole on his/her feet. There was a time that I scrutinized my feet just to see if I have a mole on it. You see, there are days that I itch to travel. I have not tried to understand or fathom why I do, because all I remember is the feeling of excitement for the day when I hop on a boat, take a plane, or go on a road trip. I enjoy going to new places and learning new cultures. 

I was in college when I experienced a first out of town trip. Yes, only in college; because I grew up very sheltered by my parents and went to an exclusive school for girls during high school. I reminisce those fun days when I get to browse our photos, but sadly there are not a lot of them. That is when I realize the importance of taking pictures for the moments and the sights that I have the chance to see and visit. 

Going to a foreign place for the first time is daunting to many. Travel agencies and travel guides exist to make the travel easy and avoid getting lost, but they are costly. My sister and I have learned to do our own research and create itineraries which may be challenging, but it helps build the excitement. Research has made it easier for us through travel forums, which is a tremendous help. It's time for me to pay it forward after a successful and within the budget HongKong trip with my family.

Click the links below for tips.

Travel itinerary and budget in MS Excel file (this includes accomodation, meals, entrance fees, etc) 

Arriving in Hongkong and the City 

Nan-Lian Garden

Disneyland Hongkong

Macau

Victoria Peak 

I hope this helps and enjoy your trip. 

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One Day

How's your mid-week everyone? I hope you are all having a great week so far. Just hang in there and it's gonna be TGIF soon. For those who do not seem to be having a great week so far, may the tides of fate work on your favor ASAP. Meanwhile, may a button-full of colors brighten your day and a song encouragement helps you get through the rest of the week.

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Palette Interestingness

A bug bit me. The color palette bug that is. If fashion has a fad; then, in photography this photo color palette technique is the latest trend. This technique is inspired from mood boards created by interior designers. I'm hooked because the color swatch added a punch to a photo. Below are the steps to create a palette: 

1. Upload your photo to a Color Palette Generator. I used Pictaculous.

2. After you have successfully uploaded the photo, click on Get My Palette.

3. Click Download Adobe Swatch File; then, save it.

4. Open in Photoshop the downloaded file. The colors will be added to the Photoshop swatches.

5. Open too in Photoshop the image you uploaded in step 1.

6. Click the Crop tool and clear out the Width and Height values.

7. Be sure that the background color swatch is set to white.

8. Crop the photo and extend the dimension to your preference.

9. Add each swatch color using the Shapes tool.

8. Press CTRL + T to freely transform each swatch shape.

9. Adjust the dimensions to your preferred size.

I also used this technique for my Olive Green color find of this week. You will find my photo at Project 64: Out of the Box because I'm also guest posting there. Please check out Project 64 for more color finds.

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Sweet...

"Once in a young lifetime one should be allowed to have as much sweetness as one can possibly want and hold."

- Judith Olney -

I love bokeh and shallow depth of field (DOF) shots; it is because of this type of shots that has got me interested in photography. My quest to capture a bokeh or a shallow DOF using my point and shoot (in which I learned has its limits) earned me a power zoom camera; then, eventually I graduated to a digital single lens reflex camera.

I usually photograph subjects with a background blur or bokeh, but a friend reminded me of the foreground blurs by asking me if it is also possible. So here it is and as usual the subject is food and something sweet. I seem to have an abundance of these to the detriment of my sugar level. :-(

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Boudoir: Vintage Vamp

This is the second look of a boudoir session held a week ago. We are going for a vintage and vampish look which is a complete turn about from the fresh and ethereal shots taken on the same session.

"I am a woman above everything else." 

(Jackie Kennedy Onassis)

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Timberwolf & Fashion

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."

-Coco Chanel-
 

Have you heard of a Timberwolf? If you are like me who has not come across such a word; then, thank you to Project 64: Out of the Box for bringing up such a term. I know from the word itself it suggests a wolf, but is it really? What does it look like? I look it up in the web and I have found that it is indeed a wolf. It is also commonly called a "gray wolf". Crayola find inspiration from the gray wolf to name it after to one of their crayons, Timberwolf. 

My subject for this week's Project 64 assignment is no wolf. I find the color in a fashion accessory; in a fabric rosette of a bead necklace.

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Boudoir: Intimately Fresh

"Curve the loveliest distance between two points." 

 

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Timeless...

"The human body is the best form of art."

(Jess C. Scott - The Intern)

The strength of a woman comes from within. She is beautiful inside and out. Her elegance, charm, wit, youth, and maturity make her unique. She simply is HER. 

This is a sneak peek of a boudoir session. Boudoir is a French word that refers to a lady's private room. A boudoir session is empowering to a woman for the following reasons: 

• captures forever her beauty and body at a certain age
• helps discover her secret seductress 
• boosts her confidence that she does not need a 36-24-36 statistic to have a centerfold shot. 

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Sugar High

The word STRESSED when reversed is DESSERTS. So on a stressful day - sit down, relax and enjoy your favorite sweet treats. It won't hurt to treat yourself to a sugar high from time to time. Life will be so boring without dessert. So go ahead and indulge to a pleasurable treat. As the French would say: 

La bonne cuisine est la base du véritable bonheur.

(Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness)

In my books, having a cake (in moderation) is good food, it doesn't hurt to pump some happy hormones when the going gets tough or when a day does not turn out well. On days when you just gotta have a sugar treat, what's your go to indulgence? 

***mini strawberry cake***

Postrio Cakes and Pastries

The Terraces Ayala, Cebu

Parkmall, Cebu

Banilad Town Center, Cebu

Archbishop Reyes Street, Cebu 

The challenge for this week at Project 64 Out of the Box is salmon. I found this shade in the glazed topping and cream filling of the mini cake. Yum yum yum!!! Styled the photo with a patterned paper of the same shade for an added touch. 

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Behind the Lens

Hello, I am Bel. I prefer to stay behind the lens, but I figured that I should be honest to the Universe and reveal myself. I don't want any of you to be wondering whether I am a phantom who manages this blog. After so much soul and word searching, I have finally composed an about me. Click the Behind Me Lens to know me more. Of course, a photo will also speak a lot, right? Here goes a selfie I took for my project 52. 

 

The Peak, Hongkong

This was the last leg of our trip in Hongkong. We visited the highest peak for a spectacular view of Victoria harbor and the Hongkong skyline. We were not disappointed. This was supposedly part of our 1st day itinerary, but due to the moody Hongkong weather we were forced to skip it and move it to the last day. We were crossing our fingers with a hope that the skies would be clear on the 4th day. Our wish was granted. Just look at the picture below; it is an amazing sight to behold.

Related Posts: 

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hongkong

Nan Lian Garden 

Disneyland, Hongkong

Macau

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