Last day to enter the Hot Momma Contest

This is the last day to enter the Hot Momma Contest.  Send me your entries now!  Voting commences tomorrow!

More Magic of Photoshop | Jessica Lloyd Photography | Salt Lake County Child Portraits

Messy Lil' Miss!  This picture is SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera, no editing has been done to it).

Clean Lil' Miss.  This picture has been Photoshopped.  I fixed the exposure, cleaned up her face, fixed some flyaway hair, made her eyes sparkle just a bit more and intensified the colors.

Another how to take a good picture & the magic of Photoshop | Jessica Lloyd Photography | Children's Photogrpaher

One of the most important parts of taking a good picture is to capture the personality of the individual.

But sometimes you have to sacrifice other elements of the picture to get that personality.  For example I've posted a great picture of my middle daughter.  This picture shows her personality, but the background is very cluttered.  So to fix it, I brought the photo into Photoshop and played with it a bit.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Hot Momma Contest | Jessica Lloyd Photography | UT Family Photographer

Jessica Lloyd Photography is hosting a Hot Momma Contest! Beginning Sept. 9, 2010 you will be able to submit a photo of your Hot Momma (or yourself, if you are a Hot Momma), and the winner will receive a free photo session with Jessica Lloyd Photography, as well as 25% off all prints, and 3 digital images to share of your choice. Here are the details:


TO ENTER
* One entry per family.
* You must have permission from the Hot Momma or be the Hot Momma.
* Woman must be a mom or an expectant mom at the time of entry, age of her child/children doesn't matter.
* You must have permission/rights to use the photo you enter.
* Photo must have been taken in the last 6 months.
* Photos will be accepted from Midnight 9/4/2010 to Midnight 9/6/2010 (Mountain Time) via e-mail.
* Only photos e-mailed to jessicatlloyd@gmail.com with the Subject line HOT MOMMA CONTEST during the previosuly mentioned time will be accepted.
* Include Momma's name in the e-mail (first name), her phone number and the best time to reach her, and your name, phone number and the best time to reach you.  Please indicate which date you would prefer to have your pictures taken.
*The Momma in the picture with the most "Like's" will be the winner, not the person entering the picture.
* Contest open to everyone, however if you live outside of a 30 mile radius from Magna, UT, you must choose a location within 30 miles of Magna, UT, for your prize shoot, or a travel fee will be charged of 85 cents per mile, each direction, beyond 30.
*The winner must be available to have the session on either the morning of 9/11/2010 or the evening of 9/15/2010.

HOW PHOTOS WILL BE JUDGED
* All entries will be uploaded into an album by Jessica Lloyd Photography no later than 9/7/2010, on the facebook fan page.
* To vote for a photo you MUST be a 'fan' (or under the new facebook system 'like') Jessica Lloyd Photography.
* Click 'like' for the photo you are voting for in the Jessica Lloyd Photography album labeled 'Hot Momma Contest'.
* Photo with the most 'likes' will be the winner. Comments permitted, but WILL NOT count towards the total number of votes.
* Jessica Lloyd Photography will verify that all 'likes' of the winning photo come from Jessica Lloyd Photography facebook fans, 'likes' from non-fans will not be counted.
* Voting will close 9/9/2010, 11:59pm
* Official winner will be notified and announced no later than 9/10/2010.

WHAT YOU WILL WIN
* The Mom in the photo that receives the most 'likes' will receive a free photo session with Jessica Lloyd Photography, 25% off all prints, and 3 digital images, watermarked and resized for viewing on the internet (facebook, blogs, email etc - not to be printed, reproduced, or altered in any way)
* Photo session must take place either 9/11/2010 or 9/15/2010
* Minimum retail value of $75- can not be altered or changed in any way, and not redeemable for cash
* For a full list of retail prices, send Jessica Lloyd Photography an email.
* Only redeemable towards Portrait Photography
* No other promotions or discounts can be applied

Please post any questions you have on this note, and I will be happy to answer them. I look forward to seeing your Hot Momma entries!

How to take better pictures | Jessica Lloyd Photography | Family Photographer

I frequently get asked how to take better pictures.  So I thought I'd share a tip.  Know your camera.  Read the manual, and figure out what the heck it means.  I know most camera manuals aren't written in an easy to understand jargon, but it's a very good resource for you to learn how to take better pictures.  You need to know your camera.  Learn what all the buttons mean, what the settings do.  You don't have to shoot in manual to take a great picture, but it really helps to know the basics of what your camera is doing so that you know which setting to put it in to capture that shot, just the way you want it.