Conrad | Military Homecoming {Jacksonville, NC Senior Portraits + Wedding Photographer}

This was a VERY special homecoming. This was MY LAST homecoming.
I shoot a lot of military families and have a great appreciation for our nations armed services, both men and women.  I, however am not in the military NOR is my husband so it is very hard for me to get on and off base.   It can get VERY stressful from time to time attempting to shoot these things.  So, if you are a photographer, in the CAMP LEJEUNE area and want to get some GREAT REFERRALS, comment me your link or message it to me or even leave a comment below.

Sarah is such a sweet heart and I look forward to shooting her family portraits in 2013!


Sarah is a young mom of 1 year old twins.  With a loving heart, Sarah knew that she needed her homecoming documented so that she couldn't FORGET A SECOND. (she was BOOKED MONTHS IN ADVANCED! This was probably a good thing considering all the other photographers were booked in the area for this specific return.  She and I texted back and forth for quite sometime before we set a consultation date.  That was when I got to meet her fabulous baby girls. The had just started walking and seriously were so MUCH FUN to be around. I knew then that this was going to be a VERY smooth sailing homecoming.

Around the beginning of October I get word from Sarah that the 24th MEU was being held and would return until the END OF DECEMBER! that means that sarah had to wait an extra 2 MONTHS to see her husband once again.. (and if you have ever face timed or skyped with your husband... you KNOW that it is NOT the same.)


So the waiting game continued.


About 3 weeks before their estimated scheduled arrival, I texted sarah and asked if she was excited. Her response.... " YES, and I can't wait for you to be there to help remember the day"

I was then contacted about 4 days prior to the homecoming day that she had word of their times and that so far they were on schedule.  So I called.
Can you guess what she was doing?

PAINTING A SIGN! and I interrupted.
I felt so bad bc I felt like I just kinda stepped in on her moment. (NOT HER FAULT)
So, I got all the info I needed and then said, "Well I'll let you get back to painting and I am SUPER happy for you!"

Finally, HOMECOMING TIME!
I packed up my gear and headed toward base.
and the emotion of that day was SO INSPIRING!
There were moments that Sarah thought that SGT. Conrad didn't make it back but she would receive a text that would say, "Look at the sky, I'm on my way to you."
(Can he get any more romantic??   Guys LISTEN UP!) haha


Just take a look into her day for yourself you be the judge!

Everyday People. {Jacksonville NC Senior Portraits + Wedding Photographer}

Welcome to another installment of "Everyday People."

Today I will be showing how I edit a photograph.  

Some say my way is incorrect, but honestly if I am happy with my out come, I am doing something right. 

Lets get started.

one UPLOAD your original photo in your editing software and adjust the levels and exposure to your liking.

original image:

Adjusted exposure and levels:

NEXT...

You are going to sharpen your image.

Duplicate your layer 2 times.

go to your blur filters and select Gaussian blur.

After this you are going to change the layer mode to GRAIN EXTRACT (this is what it will look like.)

Then merge your layer down. The next layer you are going to set to SOFT LIGHT.

I then, change to layer opacity to about 60-70 percent. 

I merge this layer down completely and duplicate the remaining layer.  After this, I grab my heal tool and find the BRIGHTEST and MOST CLEAR portion of the photo. (here you can see it is the highlights on the top part of her cheek bone.) I use the heal tool all over her face and smooth out any kind of beauty marks that will not be there in 2 weeks. (any freckles and scars will be there after two weeks so they stay... unless requested to remove.)

I will then lower the layer opacity to about 40 percent.

Merge the layers and duplicate the remaining layer.

Next I focus on eyes.  I will erase all but the eyeballs on the top layer so that when I change the layer mode it won't effect the ENTIRE photo. 

(here the background is white bc jpg will not allow a transparent background)

I then Will Burn the shadows on the pupil and the RING around they eye and dodge the highlights on the color of the eye. So that it looks like this.

Change the layer mode to SOFT LIGHT.

Set the layer opacity to about 30 percent

Merge the layers. 

Duplicate the remaining layer and open up your curves.

On the value raise your highlights and lower your shadows. (this adds contrast and it will be adjusted)

You want to change your layer mode to SOFT LIGHT.

NEXT Set layer opacity to about 15-20 percent so that your photo looks similar to this:

Merge the layer.  Duplicate the remaining layer and open up your levels. you are going to darken your shadows on the top two left sliders to the right and brighten those shadows by sliding the left bottom to the right. this is what it will look like.

Then set your layer opacity to about 60-70 percent.

Merge your layer. ADD A NEW LAYER.

and fill it with a cream color. (Mine is a little more on the yellow cream side)

Set your layer mode to DARKEN ONLY! (this color will ONLY show in the highlights of the photo.)

This looks pretty drastic... So lets bring down the layer opacity to about 25 percent.

Merge your layers and you are ALL DONE! 

So you started with THIS:

And this is your FINISHED product:

Happy MONDAY FRIENDS!