Photoshop Fun!

*not for WB :)

I'm taking a Photoshop class right now & to say that I am obsessed is putting it mildly :D From the basic tools alone, I'd have to say that clone-stamping is my favorite thing to do. The clone stamp tool allows you to copy one portion of the image and repeatedly "paint" over unwanted things in the picture. I have some examples below, but I've used it to completely remove things from the backgrounds of pictures, to cleaning up clutter on a bed, etc.

The one thing that makes me sad about our wedding day is that there isn't ONE professional picture of Ted and I, standing up, looking in the camera in a "normal", posed wedding shot way. & there really weren't many guest pics like this, either! I have no idea how I let this happen, as I actually LOVE posed shots, but I can't dwell on it.

Luckily, my sister Jennifer took a picture with her point & shoot of us standing on the pier at sunset. The lighting isn't great & there is a ton of "junk" in the background. However, with my handy dandy clone stamping tool, I was able to wipe away all of that clutter!

Click to enlarge the original picture (THANK YOU NEN!!!):


After Clone Stamping & fixing shine on our faces, etc:


While the color is still a little dark, this picture looks 100% better than the original.

Here I tweaked the curves to allow in a little more light & color:


Still not great, but getting closer!

We don't use these in class, but now that I own Totally Rad Actions, my love for photography has gone through the roof! Taking the original clone stamped image, I "played" various actions on the pictures to achieve various looks. Actions are great because you can use as much or as little as you want of them by utilizing layer masks. This may sound foreign to those not familiar with Photoshop, but trust me...Totally Rad actions are TOTALLY freakin' rad!

Here are some of my favorites:






grungy, grainy & awesome ;)




Totally Rad Actions are also great to spruce up color on landscapes. This first image is one my mom took while zip-lining through the Jamaican mountains. Pretty, right?



Well, check out what applying an action can do to really make these colors POP! I believe the action I used had the word Green in the title, but I can't remember.




I keep bragging about my mad photoshop skillz to anyone who will listen, so I intend on making this a series of sorts to show off. :)

Ya Mon! Our First Look...& The Attack of the Veil!

We decided to do a "first look" for a couple of reasons - mainly, allowing extra time for fun pictures :) Also, since we were together all morning, we'd already cursed ourselves by seeing each other before the ceremony. Oops! It's a good thing we don't believe in stuff like that!

The first look gave us time to be giddy about getting ready to walk down the aisle & to also calm each other. We also got to relive prom when I pinned on his bouttoniere (successfully, might I add?).



One last kiss from my girls & I was on my way to meet Mr. Q at the end of the pier!




Remember when I said my veil was like a sail? This is what I was talking about.








Sooo happy :D




Then it was time to pin on Mr. Q's bout. It was around this time that my veil started winding up, readying itself for the attack...




Oh, how I wish my veil were blowing lightly in the breeze in these pictures!





Apparently the weather man didn't get my memo stating that I would be wearing a long as* veil & to keep the wind down! Because all of a sudden...




...ATTACK!

But in the end, it was worth it because we were able to get amazing shots like this...



...and this.






After we sautered off the pier, we headed around the grounds of Coyaba for a fun photoshoot - coming up next!

Did you do a first look? Why or why not?


All pictures, by the one & only Ashley Colhouer.

____________________________________________
Previously in the Quiche Jamaican Extravaganza:
Ya Mon! Back to Reality
Ya Mon! “Goin’ to Jamaica & We’re, Gonna Get Maaa-arried”!
Ya Mon! Who Zip Lines Before Their Wedding?
Ya Mon! Reggae Sailing
Ya Mon! Practice Makes Perfect
Ya Mon! Rehearsal Dinner/Party/Bonfire
Ya Mon! Jamaican Mornings
Ya Mon! Getting Pretty
Ya Mon! Crewcuts Model (aka Boys Getting Ready)
Ya Mon! The Dress, The Dress, The Dress!

Ya Mon! The Dress, The Dress, The Dress!!

Besides little snippets here and there, I've never "formally" introduced my dress to the hive! I found my dress on the first (and only!) day of dress shopping, about 14 minutes after we got engaged ;) Mama & Sister Quiche Nen were in town for the Sheffield Garden Walk weekend & they suggested looking for dresses. I had a few dress in mind that led us to two random, strip mall bridal stores on the NW side of Chicago (you can see those horrid results here). At the second shop, I ended up throwing on a Watters WToo dress that looked cute on the hanger. Once I had it on, we all instantly fell in love with it! It cost around $700, so we bought it on the spot :)


source
This image, found after shopping, made me fall in love with my dress all over again!

I love the slim, floaty-ness of the dress. It's very dainty & feminine, and I love those touches as well. The flowers and leaves (which sounds strange, but look so pretty) in illusion tulle seem to float on the dress. I knew I didn't want a big, poofy number...so this ended up being perfect for me!







While I could have easily put this on by myself (& did many time while walking around the house. What? I know you did it, too!), it was nice to have these pictures of my mom helping me. There's only a zipper back there - I loved the ease of it.


You can also see my Muscari hair flower here.

Playing around, pretending to be a model :)





I try to be smoldering & sexy...and it NEVER works for me. Smiling is much better, thank you!



Then, it was time for the veil & to walk down to meet Mr. Quiche for our first look!


This thing was like a claw! Thank goodness, as the Jamaican breeze turned it into a sail that could have ripped it out of my hair (& almost made me take flight on more than one occasion) ;)


Selfishly, three of my favorite shots from the entire wedding...eee!







And there you have it! I am so glad this was a painless, fast process. How long did it take you to find your dress?

All pictures, by the oh-so-fabulous Ashley Colhouer.

____________________________________________
Previously in the Quiche Jamaican Extravaganza:
Ya Mon! Back to Reality
Ya Mon! “Goin’ to Jamaica & We’re, Gonna Get Maaa-arried”!
Ya Mon! Who Zip Lines Before Their Wedding?
Ya Mon! Reggae Sailing
Ya Mon! Practice Makes Perfect
Ya Mon! Rehearsal Dinner/Party/Bonfire
Ya Mon! Jamaican Mornings
Ya Mon! Getting Pretty
Ya Mon! Crewcuts Model (aka Boys Getting Ready)

Ya Mon! Crewcuts Model (aka, Boys Getting Ready)

I know I said I'd post about my dress next, but I just had to share these incredible pictures of the boys getting ready. Mini Quiche A stole the show with his smoldering Blue Steel and deserves a spot in the next JCrew catalog. Don't you think?





Mr. Quiche had so much fun getting ready with Mini Q. How handsome are the Quiche men?!



Mr. Quiche ended up buying a new suit about 1 week before the wedding! He wasn't crazy about the way his original suit fit, and this was after multiple trips to the tailor. We decided to invest the money in a new suit that ended up fitting him perfectly after only one trip to the tailor! Shew. His fun tie was a suprise find at Macy's one day - it's by Kwame (remember him from the apprentice?!).



We bought Mini Q's suit on ebay & the seersucker tie from JCrew Crewcuts. I think the tie cost more than the suit. oops :)



Boys Getting Ready wouldn't be complete without the requisite Red Stripe. Or 2, in GM R's case!



The thought of our wedding video makes me giddy. I cannot wait to see this thing because trust me, it will be INCREDIBLE! Cousin Quiche David was also shooting the wedding, and I am sure this footage of GM B-Fresh is priceless! Oh yeah, Red Stripe & Appleton Rum from the OOT bags! I told you there would be a Red Stripe in almost every picture!








GM P offered up his suite for the day - how sweet :)

As I was walking outside, I heard cat calls coming from above. I tossed a quick glance over my shoulder as all the guys were outside - this moment couldn't have been planned any better than this. It was priceless!



& finally, after all of the shenanigans were over, the boys were dressed & Mr. Quiche was waiting for me at the end of the pier :)



Next up - dress (I promise!), then our First Look!

All pictures, by the oh-so-fabulous Ashley Colhouer.

____________________________________________
Previously in the Quiche Jamaican Extravaganza:
Ya Mon! Back to Reality
Ya Mon! “Goin’ to Jamaica & We’re, Gonna Get Maaa-arried”!
Ya Mon! Who Zip Lines Before Their Wedding?
Ya Mon! Reggae Sailing
Ya Mon! Practice Makes Perfect
Ya Mon! Rehearsal Dinner/Party/Bonfire
Ya Mon! Jamaican Mornings
Ya Mon! Getting Pretty