First 'shoot', shall we say...

I find that I just don't get things posted as timely as my mind would like.  The same is true for just about every other area of my life... something I need to work on, I think.  Time Management!  Anyway... a couple of weeks ago one of my best friends and her husband, Steph and Jimmy, allowed me to have my first practice shoot on them.  It was so much fun!  I had ideas, I was 'prepared', I was nervous and excited... and it went so great!  THEY were so great!!!  They can pretty much be classified as professional picture takers, so they were very helpful to me!  I can't say enough great things about them.  Anyway, though I think the actual shoot went awesome, I came home to find lots of errors on my pictures (boo!) and many more ideas flooded my mind, and it was too late (double boo!)  Learning experience #1.  So... here are a few of my shots, and feel free to comment with any helpful criticism or encouragement!

 This was my SOOC image.  Not too bad... the sun 'spot' (I don't know the technical term) on her belly we could do without, but overall I was happy with this one!

 I cleaned it up, which I did on all of the pictures, and I love how it brightens the colors!!! 

B&W Version

SOOC

After a clean edit

 I love the brightness of the colors, but the blown out background was a major disappointment.  I definitely need to be more aware of the sun when I take outdoor pictures.  Steph looks too bright too, I think?!?!?!

SOOC

Clean edit and crop

 I like this one a lot, even though the sun is still an issue in areas!

SOOC

After edit

This is one of MANY that turned out blurry... such a disappointment!!!  I guess I must have focused initially, then moved and didn't refocus, producing way too many blurry images.  I am so bummed I can't even say.  If anything should be right on a picture, it should be the focus.  Major fail on my part... many times over!!!

SOOC

Add caption

I loved the idea of this... but then when I looked at the original image, there were too many things wrong that were just out of my control.  Brown grass, green scummy pond, and somehow it looks crooked which I just don't know how to fix.  So, the crop with black and white edit was my only solution.

SOOC

Edited

I wanted the blocks to spell baby's name... then I realized I didn't have all the right letters.  lol.  Ooops!  So, 'baby' had to do.  But I love this one.  I think I could have come out a bit on it, but otherwise, I love the bokeh, how her belly is smoothed and the brightness of the colors!

SOOC

Crop with a dreamy effect

This one is cute :)  That's all!

I have so many more I could post... these are some of my favorites, and also some of the ones with the biggest issues I have!!  If anyone is blog world happens upon this and wants to share some advice, I'll take it!  Just be nice :)  Thanks!!!