Motivation Monday!!!

       Sometimes we just need a little inspiration. No matter what your profession is, no matter whom you are, we all need to be inspired, to be motivated to do great things.

       What inspires you? Is it a beautiful flower peaking out of a mountain of weeds? Is it a child playing in the park? A smile from a complete stranger. We are all different but yet we are all on this Beautiful Journey we Call LIFE!!! Life is too short to just sit around and watch life pass us by. Go for your dreams, try something different. Be the BEST YOU that you can possibly be! Don't wait, do today what you should have started yesterday.

       Wake up with a SMILE Everyday! Tell yourself "Today is going to Be GREAT!!" If you are a parent stop waking up to your children and start waking up FOR your children!!! Be patient and kind.


       If you are in a bad mood or having an off day that's OK! We all have those days. BUT make sure it’s not affecting the whole house. It’s not far to share your negative energy with the rest of the house hold. Take a break and just BREATH. Clear your mind and just be still, calm your nerves and relax.

* I would love to here what inspires you!

Fix-it-FRIDAY #98 {I Heart Faces}

OK so this week's Fix-It FRIDAY was pretty simple! The images really didn't need much editing at all!!!

SOOC:

After:

After opening the original image, I ran MCP Fusion Action, played around with the opacity then added a bit more Saturation. I then used the patch tool to touch up the scraps on the girls legs. I ran MCP Facebook action for resizing then the MCP Sharpening for Web action. And there you go! Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Travel Tuesday #5 {Watson Lake, Fort Collins, Colorado}

 Love this Heart Shape Rock!!

Fix-It-FRIDAY #97 {I Heart Faces}

SOOC:

For this Fix-It-Friday all I did was adjust the levels added a bit of saturation. I ran MCP Facebook Web sizing Action.

Travel Tuesday {Colorado}

Rocky Mountain National Park  {Trail Ridge}

I just LOVE this rock!!! 

As always thanks for reading!!! Have a FABULOUS Tuesday!!!

Fix-It-FRIDAY'S # 96 {I Heart Faces}

SOOC:

After:

I had a lot of fun with this weeks Fix-It-FRIDAY!!!

1.) Opened up in Photoshop
2.) Adjusted the levels
3.) Adjusted the Saturation
4.) Opened new images with Clouds {see images below}

6.) I then used the Lasso Tool and selected the clouds.
7.) Ctrl J {this makes a new layer}
8.) Dragged onto the original Kite Image
9.) Free Transformed the NEW Layer and placed where I wanted it.
10.) I changed the Layers mode into MULTIPLY {this way I could see what the image looked like underneath the new layer.}
11.) Used the Brush tool set to BLACK to erase any unwanted part of the NEW Layer.
12.) Flattened
13.) Adjusted the the levels and hues {again}
14.) Cropped
15.) Saved and published to blog!

 

Thanks for reading my blog come back soon!!! Look out for this weeks Travel Tuesday! =)

{Anthem Travel} Travel Tuesday!

 

This weeks Travel Tuesday is a bit different. Remember the Travel Agent I talked about a few weeks ago??... Megan Austin? Well I took her business portrait head shots for her. She was published in a local Arizona Magazine, called ImagesAZ.  Along with information on her Travel Agency one of my portraits I took of her was published with the article. Above are a few of her head-shots I took. 

 

Below is the article that was published in ImagesAZ.   http://imagesaz.com/blogs/viewBlog/590/anthem-travel--megan-austin-owner 

       _____________________________

 

 Anthem Travel :: Megan Austin, Owner

Friday 4.8.2011 @ 7:25pm | ImagesAZ | Travel

All You Need Is Your Suitcase Your travel agent has your trip ready for you


Megan Austin wants to help you get away.


She is the owner and operator of Anthem Travel. As a travel agent, she’s somebody you want to know when you’re ready to start planning your next vacation.


Megan and her husband, a Phoenix police officer, moved to Anthem in 2008. They love the great outdoor spaces, the lack of hustle and bustle, the availability of so many family-oriented activities, and that it is such a great place to raise their son, Daniel, and daughter, Gabrielle, ages seven and three, respectively. And with travel always in mind, they enjoy the access to Northern Arizona for weekend excursions.


Prior to opening Anthem Travel, Megan used her travel and hospitality degree from Rhode Island’s Johnson and Wales University to work in Phoenix hotels and resorts. She then worked for a travel agency for several years where she found her love of helping people plan their vacations.


“I like sending people on their dream trip and hearing about it and seeing pictures of the trip after,” said Megan. “And I wanted to keep doing it, but on my terms and with a higher level of customer service.”


She’s building her business one happy traveler at a time.


“I’m always asked what exactly I do for people now that the Internet makes travel so accessible,” said Megan. “If you want to take a great vacation, but you don’t have time or want to spend hours researching airfare and connections, comparison shopping, finding the right maps, booking excursions, and managing all the details, then you want a travel agent.”


When Megan meets with a client interested in booking a vacation she finds out:
~ Where they picture themselves if they don’t have an exact destination in mind.
~ What they want to do on their vacation, i.e., be active, lay on a beach, etc.
~ What their interests are.
~ How far they want to travel.
~ How much they want to spend.
~ How involved they want to be in the planning.


“I work with my clients until we reach an itinerary or package that meets their expectations,” said Megan. “And it doesn’t matter how much time on my part that takes.”


“I know the vendors, the shortcuts, and the tips. I do the comparison shopping, have experience in the industry, and know the track records of these vendors,” said Megan. “I spend the time and do the work so my clients don’t have to. And they can count on me to be there to answer their questions, help with every aspect of their trip and make sure they have the best trip possible. Those aren’t things you can count on with your Internet vacation package.”


So how does Megan get paid? After deposit and final payment are made on a client’s vacation package, Megan gets a commission paid to her by the tour or cruise company. You don’t pay any more for the package than if you were to book it yourself online, and you get the extra help of a professional travel agent.


As Megan builds her Anthem-based business, she has big plans for the residents of Anthem. One thing she is working on is creating fun and convenient day-trip packages. These pre-planned group trips will leave right from Anthem to a variety of places, including Arizona destinations and farther.


“One thing I’ve learned from being in business for myself is that excellent customer service is the most important thing.  Vacations are very precious to everyone.  It’s time spent with family, spouses, friends, etc., so new memories can be created and special occasions can be celebrated.”

Anthem Travel
Anthem, AZ 85086
623.444.5406
info@anthemtravel.com
www.anthemtravel.com

          _______________________________________________________________


Go check her out!! Tell her Kristin sent you! =)

Have a great day!!!

Fix-It-FRIDAYS #95 {I Heart Faces}

SOOC:

After:

 

1.) Opened in Photoshop

2.) Adjusted levels to lighten

3.) Adjusted Saturation

4.) Ran PW Warmer Action at 80%

5.) Adjusted curves just a bit

6.) Re-sized and Sharpened for Web

After #2:

1.) Same as above

2.) Ran PTM Make it Snappy B&W

{Steamboat Springs, Colorado} Travel Tuesday!!!

This past weekend my husband and I made a short trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Beautiful place, this was my first time visiting Steamboat. 

Fix-It-FRIDAYS #94 {I Heart Faces}

1.) Opened in Photoshop CS2
2.) Ran MCP Action Fusion
3.) Added Saturation
4.) Adjusted the levels
5.) Sharpened eyes just a bit
6.) Ran PW Warmer Action 80%
7.) Adjusted Curves to Lighten a bit
8.) Ran MCP FB Fix "Two Image" Top & Bottom action 
8.) Sharpened for Web
9.) Flattened and Saved

I hope you enjoyed Fix-It FRIDAY!

I HEART Comments!! =) 

Have a Fabulous Friday!!!! 

Happy Editing! 

www.photographybykristinmcconnell.com {Under Construction New reveal coming SOON!!!}

{Ireland} Travel Tuesday #2

Ireland

I am so excited about this weeks Travel Tuesday!!!! This is one of my Favorite places in the world!!!! I will never forget the time I spent in Ireland!!!! It is such an amazing place. Back in March 2005 my family and I had the pleasure of visiting. My Oldest at the time was only 9 months old. I can't wait to go again one day and bring both kids so they can enjoy the beauty of the land. Dingle, Ireland was our "home base" we traveled around a bit and stayed in Dublin, Ireland for St. Patrick's Day! All I can say is AMAZING experience!!!! I had a hard time picking which images to add for this blog so rest assure I will be featuring Ireland again for Travel Tuesday! 

A street in Dingle, Ireland

Cliffs in Dingle, Ireland

Hore Abbey

Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny City Ireland 

The Cliffs of Moher

I'm not for sure where I took this last image. I remember it was on our way back to Dingle and we stopped and hiked up a little ways and found a beautiful waterfall and this river.

Thanks so much for reading by blog!!!! I hope you enjoyed this weeks Travel Tuesday as mush as I did!!!

Have a fabulous day!!!