Check out the new button on our sidebar >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A new feature on PI, the CALENDAR!

Check out the list for up and coming shops and giveaway, and check them out in advance!
Get to know their shops & props… and try not to let your anticipation get the best of you!

Now, we all know we love headbands…. come on, admit it.. YOU’RE A JUNKIE FOR HEADBANDS!

So.. now that we have that all clear (lol), you should take a peek at Bailey & Company.
The simplicity and sweetness of their products is honestly… YUMMY!

Top their product line off with gorgeous belts… and shoe clips… and you have the set perfect for a senior portrait!!!!!
Or newborn session (with those dang cute headbands!!!!)

*check out the belts & shoes here… Bailey & Company.*

and see the headbands here… B E L O W

simple…

sweet…

and perfectly vintage…

now that’s how I like it!

WHO WANTS TO WIN
their product of choice from Bailey & Company

Enter to win:
Visit their site at: Bailey & Company
Then come back HERE and comment on your fav items.. and you could win that specific item!!!

Extra entries… visit their facebook page and LIKE it! Bailey on FB
Then come back HERE and comment that you “liked” their page… easy as pie junkies!!!

If you love unique and fun baby hats for props… then come check out Sonia McCutcheon’s MILK MONEY

Sonia McCutcheon’s MILK MONEY creates some really sweet, and unique, hats for us photogs (and mama’s alike!).

My favorite from her bunch was her “Mums the Word”… check it out.. .LOVE IT!

and a second close winner to a favorite is her LIMITED EDITION Feather Fashionista hat!

Seriously…. amazing hat, perfect for us prop junkies!!!

Discount alert below… so keep your eyes peeled…

All hats are made with her loving, and very crafty, hands,
and knitted with the softest most plump yarn out there!

Sonia has been a long time favorite of mine… so I encourage you to ALL CHECK HER OUT!
Sonia McCutcheon’s MILK MONEY
Sonia McCutcheon’s MILK MONEY
Sonia McCutcheon’s MILK MONEY

lol, you get the idea!

She has also installed an amazing REPEAT BUYER Program (great for us photographers!)
With discounts from 10-50% off!

DISCOUNT ALERT!!!
PI followers 25% off their order-
(just send her a convo that says PI Follower)
*this only applies to items NOT in her chrismas in july sale section*

Sweet Pea Hats winner is…..
Josie (All for fun Photography)

Love by Cc winner is…
Tiffany Lane

Keri Meyers “actions” winner(s) are…
1) LeAnne Wilson
2) Susan Nawyn

Sassy Designs “template” winner is…
Brooke Price

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ENTERING… and enjoy!

If you LOVE baby cocoons.. then you’re gonna go nutso over Cozy Cocoons!

Cozy Cocoons! is stuffed full of … you guessed it, COCOONS!!

From amazing style such a the Bumble Bee, to the FootBall…. a sweet and perfect Mermaid set… and even a tiny Ballerina!!!!

I had the fun and pleasure of working with a few of their amazing products… the Confetti Cocoon set and their Fairy Tale Prince and Princess sets!

First.. to the confetti sets…  A NEW FAVORITE OF MINE!
Lovely stretch to these cocoons, and lots of nooks and crannies for toes and fingers to peek through.. .
The Confetti Cocoon cant be beat!

Even with a tiny baby, you can pull the top of the cocoon over and around their heads, to fit like a cocoon nest/bowl would…

then playtime w/the Fairy Tale sets…
Lets start off by saying their are “taylor made” for babies!!! They arent flat cocoons, they are multi faceted in the body.. so they fit like a sock, vs a sack!!!

And with a matching crown.. they are sure to please every mommy and daddy!!!

Told ya they were darling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So head on over to Cozy Cocoons!, and see the sweet, darling, and even ORGANIC, COZY COCOONS for youself!!
(you can thank me later, lol)

Baskets and bowls are always fun, especialy with newborns! For so long I have stuck with the traditional wicker, wood or plain old brown basket. Until I found these!!

Also available in white and pink! And did we mention CHEAP! Each runs about $15 (includes shipping) but right now there is a 20% deal going on (checkou the code listed on the website!)

Head over to ihome.com and add some color to your basket/bucket collection!

Quick Link HERE!

Wait no longer…………………..MCP Photoshop actions for Elements is HERE!!!!

MCP Actions has done it again…. transitioning their actions and story boards for ELEMENT users!!!

Their newest release for Elements are the Magic Blog It Board Collage Actions and Magic Print It Board Storyboards.
For two years these collage and storyboard Photoshop actions have helped professional and hobbyist photographers with the full versions of Photoshop prepare their images for the web and turn photos into print collages in seconds.

They will save you time and can make you money.

I personally LOVE the print it boards!
They are a fabulous way to create amazing story boards and montages for your clients..
All while saving you time and patience (something I am limited on now a days, lol)

Create a beautiful 10×20 montage… in just a matter of 60 seconds!!!!
Drop in your pictures… seriously.. it’s that simple!

How about a 16×20 summertime family session?

EASY with the print it boards!

Now to the best part… what YOU get with this ONE action!

For $69.99, you get

Just visit MCP Actions and check it out… the Blog It and Print It Boards are out of this world, and something I love as a photographer… and client!

CLICK on any of the logos here, or the links, to be instantly redirected!!!!

Ps…. be on the lookout… MCP will be teaming up with PI for a giveaway… soon… very soon!!!

We ♥ Photoshop actions for Elements

There has been a TON of talk these days regarding newborn portraits, taking it to the max and keeping safety first. Although there are many awesome photogs out there that can capture amazing newborn portraits of babies in what are considered “wild” setups or unique poses  without composite shooting, there are many things to remember! Many (if not all) of these shooters have assistants and will sometimes even ask for a hand from mom and/or dad.

We need to remeber that in every session, whether it be a newborn or child, or even a senior hanging out on the railroad tracks, safety is the most important part of a shot. We never want to put a subject in harms way and sometimes, not always, we need to work a composite shot to get what our creative minds are thinking onto film.

Many have asked “What exactly is a comp shot”? It simple terms it is taking two pictures of one setup and combining the two to look like one.

Today we will walk you through a basic comp shot and how it can be perfected after captured in camera. (P.S.- this is the same technique that I use when I need a head swap, or two, something we should all get ready for with the big holiday/family season right in front of us!)

99% of the time I can get this shot in camera with the help of an assistant waiting only inches away from my perfectly balanced babe. But this little booger wasn’t having it..she would fall to her right EVERY time we CAREFULLY pulled away and would drop her head like it weighed 200 bs. So we resorted to a comp shot.

Step 1: Setup the shot. You will need to keep in mind that you will be combining the shots so make sure you do a true 50/50 split in your mind when snapping the two pictures. I knew my assistant would have to keep her hands on the babe in both shots and I need to make sure there was a center portion of the babe without any assistant interference or this wont work.

Step 2: Snap your two shots. Here are the two shots I took side by side.

Step 3: Drag one of the shot over and ontop of the other. (Just drag that layer over).

Step 4: Lower the opacity of your top layer so that you can see what lies underneath. When taking a comp you may not get back into the exact spot you were in for the first, maybe a hair further away, etc. I always find a focal point that I want to match, and I almost ALWAYS use the eyes of my subject. With the opacity lowered I can cake sure my eyes in each picture are exactly overlaying each other. I have to to tilt my top shot just a bit to make sure the eyes line up and when they look perfect I can move on.

Step 5: Add a layer mask to your top layer (see pic below on where to click to add a quick layer mask) You will want to use a mask not just your eraser tool to ensure the ability to go back and paint on minor mistakes.

Step 6: Bring back the opacity of your top layer. Make sure your layer mask is selected and grab a black, soft airbrush at 100% opacity and start removing the assistant interference in your photo.

You will end up with something like this.

Step 7:  Edit away. This is where I put the finishing touches and final edits on my photo…POOF ready for print!

Go. Shoot. Be Safe.

(P.S. – this is of course just how I have come to do my comp shots, if you have tips and tricks, please share them here!)

Sweet…

Simple…

Fresh…

SWEET PEA HATS! and more… has won our hearts once again!
This time.. with cute rosette fabric headbands (that fit newborns or stretch out for toddlers!!!)

Gorgeous prints… with sweet designs on them.  I loved the whole “organic” look to these,
almost as if you took your favorite old skirt and made it into a headband for your wee’one!

Price them in at $10… yeah, $10… and they will melt your heart (not your pocket!)

And these dainty headbands are just a tiny part of the “prop fun” you can find over at SWEET PEA HATS! and more…
So don’t doddle, and go take a peekie peek… you won’t be unhappy, PROMISE!

SWEET PEA HATS! and more…

is offering a WONDERFUL giveaway for Prop Insanity readers
Simply visit their store, and come back HERE to comment on your favorite product…
Want an extra entry? Visit their FACEBOOK PAGE and “like” it!
A random winner will be chosen in ONE WEEK… and you’re gonna love this prize..
One of their BABY NEST Cocoons!!!
Winners choice  in color and yarn/boucle !

Do YOU want to know who is up next for a feature on Prop Insanity?
Or would you like to be surprised each and every week by our featured shops and places?

I’m thinking of placing up a calendar on PI, to show who is “set” to be featured for each and every week (For up to 4 weeks in advance)… but I’m thinking, do YOU wanna know who is up for feature?
There are perks… surely… you’d see who is up for reviews, and allow the “excitement” to build up…
Then again… surprises are GREAT!!!

Hummm, I just can’t decide.. so help a girl out, can ya?

TAKE OUR POLL, and let us know!