3 Mistakes New Photographers Make With Their Cameras. Are You Guilty?

There are three common mistakes that I see new photographers make all the time.

 Even though they seem like small things, the results could be devastating.  Are you guilty of any of these mistakes?

The other day I sent the kids off to school, blew off work and headed to Disneyland with my husband. We live so close we can hear the fireworks every night, but we almost never make the time to get there.

The rides and attractions are awesome, but my favorite part is the people-watching. People from all over the world gather and I find it all fascinating.  

And even though the crowd is literally from everywhere, I noticed one common theme among the camera carrying folks.

Download a Free Photoshop Action!

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Today I’m giving away a free Photoshop Action.

It’s really like a four-in-one Photoshop action, because this single action will create a variety of different soft tones that can be mixed and matched to your liking.  It also includes a nice crisp black and white portion – all in one easy to use action!

How to Load Photoshop Actions

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How to load Photoshop Actions:

We all have to learn that first time how to load Photoshop Actions.  If this is where you find yourself, these are the easy steps to getting the job done.  

Open an image.

You should see that little triangle that’s circled in aqua.  (If you don’t see it, on your menu click “Window” and then click “Actions” and it should show up.

A Review of Sleeklens Photoshop Actions – Portrait Perfection Collection

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Sleeklens Portrait Perfection Collection Photoshop Actions.

A Review

I was recently contacted by Sleeklens and asked if I would like to try out their Portrait Perfection Collection set of Photoshop actions.  I’m not a big actions user.  For portrait work, I kind of have my workflow down, and I know my way around Photoshop, so if there’s a look I want, I can pretty much make it happen.  And honestly, in the past, I’ve tried some actions and wasn’t all that impressed.

But I love trying new things, so I agreed to do the review.  I really went into this with an open mind.

[Sleeklens provided me with these actions in exchange for an honest review. Complete disclosure information can be found here.]

Free Photoshop Video Tutorial: Clipping Mask

Free Photoshop Tutorial: How to use a Clipping Mask

In this post I want to share with you a free Adobe Photoshop video tutorial that I created.  The term clipping mask may not be familiar to you, even even if you use Photoshop on a regular basis.  For years I was focused on portrait work, and I never felt the need to use it.  Once I knew what a clipping mask was and what it can do, my world changed. Ok, that may be an exaggeration, but it’s a fantastic tool to have in your Photoshop arsenal.  It’s a simple trick that creates amazing results with fast click of the mouse.  

10 Easy Steps to Create Amazing Headshots

 

Headshots – The Challenge

Headshots ~ If you’re like me, the thought of finding a photographer and having headshots photographed is a challenge.  Will it be expensive?  Will you actually LIKE how you look?  And will you get all the files you need with the permission to us them as you choose?   If you’ve got a DLSR camera and a nice lens or two, or a friend with the gear, wouldn’t it be great to be able to tackle this yourself?  

Understanding Exposure | Simple Tips for Better Photography

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Understanding Exposure

I own an expensive DSLR.  So why are my pictures so dark? If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, this post is for you!

Understanding exposure is a giant step towards better photography.

My favorite tools for getting great exposure straight out of your camera are cheap, and sometimes even free!

Read all about getting your exposure spot-on.

Greek Style Turkey Burger Recipe

[vc_row][vc_column width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]This Greek Turkey Burger Recipe is an oldie but a goodie, because it’s been re-made without any artificial ingredients.

For quite some time, this recipe has been a family favorite.  Even when my kids were little, they loved the flavors and gobbled up as much as they could.   The recipe originally came from a cookbook you may already have on your shelf.

Unfortunately, the recipe calls for an envelope of Italian salad dressing mix, and I could not find any at the store that did not have some kind of mystery ingredient.  I’ve learned that even “Natural Flavoring” is not something I want in my food, because that often indicates MSG.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][vc_single_image image=”2331″ alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”http://amzn.to/2dz8k8p”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you’re wondering why MSG isn’t good for you, I’d encourage you to study up on it more.  One simple way is to watch this video, by Russell Blaylock, M.D. The information is easy to understand, even for non-scientific types (like myself). It’s long, so I’d recommend putting it on while you’re doing busy work around the house. There are a few parts when you’ll want to look at the screen to see the charts he’s sharing, but for the most part, you can just listen.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1475899590049{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1475899673200{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/G1bYNsSCxjQ” el_aspect=”43″ align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1475899826266{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Curious to read further? I’ve added his book to my “wish list” on Amazon. You can find the book here.

Now back to the turkey burger recipe.  It’s a little more complicated than in the cookbook, but it’s worth it, because it actually tastes much better when you make it this way.  It’s a multi-step process, as outlined here:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Step 1: Preparing the seasonings:

Ingredients

1 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp celery salt
a few quick dashes of pure stevia powder
1 tsp sea salt

Instructions:

In a small bowl, mix all of the seasonings together.  Set aside 1/3 cup for the burgers and use the remaining seasons in the Greek Salsa.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Step 2: Make the Greek Salsa

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
2 Tsp extra light olive oil
Seasonings mix (all except the 1/3 cup set aside for the burgers)
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 medium cucumber, peeled & chopped
1 small can chopped black olives (or use a larger can if you love olives)

Instructions:

In a small bowl, mix the oil, vinegar and seasonings together.

In a medium bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumbers and olives.  Pour in the dressing and mix well.  Set aside.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Step 3: Prepare the Burgers

Ingredients:

2 slices of sourdough bread, dried and crumbled (roughly 1/3 cup breadcrumbs) –
~ Look for sourdough bread that has just the basic, real food ingredients.  You can even make your own: here’s a delicious looking recipe!

1/3 cup onion, chopped finely
1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 Tbsp milk
1/3 cup seasoning mix
1 lb ground turkey
Crumbled Feta Cheese[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Burger Instructions:

Mix all the burger ingredients (except for the Feta cheese) together and form into 4-6 patties, depending on your preferences.  Cook them up, either on the grill or stove and make sure the turkey is cooked completely.  According to Consumer Reports, turkey burgers should be cooked to at least 165° F.  A simple meat thermometer like this one should do the trick to make sure the meat is adequately cooked.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To serve the Greek Turkey Burgers, I like to put the burger on a bed of lettuce and add sliced tomatoes and onions in addition to the Greek Salsa.  Add the crumbled Feta on top. 

I also serve my family pita bread on the side (as shown in the picture), but I don’t think it adds anything to the meal.  The burgers with the Greek salsa and Feta cheese are so flavorful, you don’t need the added bread.  And that’s saying a LOT, because I love bread! But if you must add bread, like the sourdough, look for a good quality pita bread, or make some from scratch.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Greek Turkey Burger Recipe from WalkingInLightBlog.com

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