Friday, November 30, 2012

Family Strong | Family | Fayetteville, NC Photographer

This family is just too cute. I mean, the kids were as happy as can be. Lil' boy warmed up to me in two shots, which the parents said was extremely odd because he's very shy. These two were running around ans chasing each other and just acting silly. And mom and dad are just so in love. I loved every moment of it.

*** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Hair fun | Pinterest Thursday | Fayetteville, NC iPhonographer

I have been doing so many food pins that I'm sure you're wondering if I aspire to be a chef ... no, not even close! LOL I do pin other things on my Pinterest account than food and recipes (though I do love me some food). I pin crafts, clothing styles, things for my boys, funnies, DIY's for the home and of course beauty tips!

I haven't done any hairstyles in a while, and felt like I should share! :-) Both are along the same lines, but with little differences.

I found the original pins HERE and HERE.

Idea from A Beautiful Mess
 I've done this hairstyle before ... but I had always pulled it into a pony because humidity and curly hair just don't mix. Now that it's winter, not much humidity = straightened hair! Wahoo!

Next up is the same idea, but I have my swept bangs. This collage is a mixture of two hair days, one I used a bow and the other I added some pearl flair. By far my favorite hairstyle so far! This hairstyle idea courtesy, Join the Mood.


Well, you can see that ever since I got the hang french braiding my own hair, that's all I do. It's true. I'm super proud of myself and finally mastering braiding my own hair! LOL Which is why I just dig Join the Mood, she has all kinds of braid hairstyles and I plan on trying out many more of her ideas!

And there you have it folks! This week's Pinterest Thursday! And don't forget to:

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All my  photos were taken with an iPhone and copyrighted by SWP.

 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Monday, November 26, 2012

Frost | iPhonography | Fayetteville, NC Photographer

Here's a lil' share for y'all just to let you know that the best camera you can own is the one that is on you.

This was taken with my iPhone:



























Do you know how many times I get, "Wow! Your pictures are really good! What kind of camera do you use? It takes really amazing shots!"

I know it's supposed to be a compliment to my work, but really what someone is telling me is that because I have an expensive camera ... that is why my work is amazing. Not my skill, my talent, my eye, not me. Just the camera.

Now, I'm not saying the camera doesn't help in what I do, but I want y'all to know that I spend a lot of time learning, practicing and enhancing my skills to become a better photographer. You can take any camera ... a phone camera, a disposable camera, a point and shoot, or an expensive DSLR and make a photograph look amazing. You have to know your basic rules of composition and how light works. You can have a $5,000 camera (which I wish I had) and take horrible images if you don't know how to use it.

My point is, it's not the camera that makes the picture, it's the person behind the lens. Remember that. ;-)

This goes to show that I did do a lil' post work in Photoshop as well ... but I do that with all my photos. LOL Y'all know that, especially if you follow me on Facebook and see my before and after album!
So, go out there and shoot your lil' hearts out! You don't need thousands of dollars worth of equipment, you can do it with a lil' $200 iPhone! ;-)

*** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving dessert | Pinterest Thursday | iPhoneography

 In honor of Thanksgiving ... I'm sharing this SWEET dessert! It's not too late to make!


I found this PIN, and knew I had to try it out! So I headed over to Gimme Some Oven's blog to get the recipe. I was not disappointed. The directions were simple, easy to read, and I wasn't left scratching my head. I made these in the morning for my coworkers. We were having an early Thanksgiving feast and as usual, I offered to bring dessert — sorta my trademark with them.

Ingredients
    Gingersnap Crust:
  • 1 cup gingersnap cookie (or graham cracker) crumbs
  • 1/4 cup (half stick) unsalted butter; melted
  • pinch of salt
  • Cheesecake:
  • 2 bars of cream cheese (8 oz each), room temperature
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
  • Pumpkin Pie "Frosting" (**recommend cooking this first**):
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

There wasn't any weird ingredients, everything you'd pretty much get to make your own regular pumpkin pie. So, it was easy for me to get into the spirit at 5 am! LOL

I'll let you read her instructions, (<--- Click on link) because really, they are that simple to follow. LOL I used gingersnaps for the crust which added a lil' extra flavoring. But just wanted to let y'all know that my cowrkers LOVED them. I heard, "Wow, this is awesome." "Those were damn good!" and "That cupcake was awesome for a morning breakfast!"
We made a full cheesecake pie for today!
So there you have it folks! Perfect lil' twist on a traditional dessert! Happy Thanksgiving and make sure you spend all this time with family and friends. Also, take note of all the wonderful things you have in your life and be thankful that you're breathing and spending time with family and friends.

Please don't forget those who are overseas defending our country on this holiday, be sure to thank them and any veteran you see for their service and sacrifices!

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All my  photos were taken with an iPhone and copyrighted by SWP.

 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Holiday Specials | Black Friday & Cyber Monday | Fayetteville, N.C. Photographer

I have some good specials going on for Black Friday and Cyber Monday to help y'all get into the holiday spirit. What better gift than a picture of you!? No seriously, what grandma, aunt, sister, mom, or close friend (don't forget, grandpa, uncle, brother, or dad) wouldn't want a picture of you, your family, or your kids? Or how about treating a relative or close friend to an SWP experience? Or, hey, why not buy one for yourself?! Best present ever, and even better yet, I take care of everything.

So, on Black Friday I'm offering 25% off all dollar amount gift certificates. All you have to do is email me at sharilynwellsphotography@gmail.com on November 23rd, tell me how much you want the gift certificate to be, pay via Paypal or Credit, and the gift certificate is yours to give to anyone you wish! If you purchase a $100 gift certificate, you only pay $75, but your loved one gets a full $100 to spend however they wish.

You can either pay for the whole SWP experience (prints included) or you can offer up a dollar amount for them to include in their experience. There is no minimum or maximum dollar amount! How cool is that?! And to sweeten the deal, there is no expiration date on these gift certificates! Your loved one can use it whenever they feel like it, though current prices at that date will apply.
 

















But the fun doesn't stop on Black Friday! I'll also offer 15% off all prints, to include canvases, on Cyber Monday, Nov. 26! What?! Am I losing my mind? No way! I want you to be able to share gorgeous portraits as gifts to as many people as you wish!

Offer valid on sessions taken in 2012 only (includes OpLove sessions!).

If you've had a session with SWP and have already ordered your initial prints, you can take advantage of this awesome offer. This offer does not qualify on first time purchases. To sweeten the deal, if you order a 20x24 canvas or bigger or the Bronze Package or higher, I'll throw in holiday cards for FREE! (Template based cards).

Example of template based card:

If you want to take advantage of the Cyber Monday deal, please email me at sharilynwellsphotography@gmail.com and tell me the session, the file names, the sizes/packages, canvases you want. Prints are guaranteed to be in your hands by the holidays.

To see regular, year round prices, visit HERE.

Remember however, no other discounts apply (example: no military discounts, print credits, or coupons) to either the Black Friday or Cyber Monday specials.

Enjoy and stay safe during your shopping! I'll be out in public as well taking advantage of other local business sales! Think local/small business when shopping for the holidays! :-)

Saturday, November 17, 2012

A Colorful Smash | Child Photographer | Fayetteville, NC

I was super estatic when this lil' boys momma called to say she wanted another session for his one year portraits! I suggested a cake smash and she was all over it, but we had to get some "big boy" pictures first. I think we achieved that. ;-)


 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies | Pinterest Thursday | iPhonography

So, my buddy Annie and I were bored one night .... and we were like, "Let's hit up Pinterest to get some ideas to bake cookies."  <--- That's how all good nights start right? ;-)

After swinging by McDonalds for a late night treat, we searched our pins for a fantastic (and quick/simple) recipe in the parking lot of the grocery store. We both happened upon the same pin, Oreo Cheesecake Cookies. I mean hello! You can't go wrong with that combo right?


Here's the original PIN and recipe from Table for Two:

Yield: 12-15 cookies | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup crushed Oreo’s (it took about roughly 10 Oreo cookies)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
  2. In a food processor, crush the Oreo cookies until they’re fine crumbs. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth and well combined.
  4. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and beat until well incorporated.
  5. Gently mix in the flour and stir in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
  6. Using a medium sized cookie scoop, scoop the dough and put it in your hands to roll it into a ball. Roll the ball in the Oreo crumbs and cover the dough well.
  7. Place on cookie sheet and repeat until all the dough has been used up.
  8. Bake for 12-15 minutes (I had to bake mine for longer because my balls were a lot bigger so it took 20 minutes to bake).
  9. Remove from oven when you see that the edges are getting browned. Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to cool completely on a wire rack.
  10. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
 My take on it:  The recipe was simple, easy to follow, and with drink in hand ... we were able to nail this dessert. However, don't eat them fresh out of the oven, they are a different kind of texture and I wouldn't recommend eating them so quickly. They left kind of a weird after taste in your mouth. BUT, fear not. Both Annie and I tried them the following day and viola, they tasted amazing. My family thought so too.

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All my  photos were taken with an iPhone and copyrighted by SWP.

 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Monday, November 12, 2012

Cape Fear High School Reunion | Event | Fayetteville, N.C.

Cape Fear High School class of 1982 had their 30th reunion and I had the pleasure of photographing it! Kind of fitting since I just had my 10 year reunion, huh? ;-)

But phwe! What a blast! These guys know how to party!

 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Saturday, November 10, 2012

A Fall Reunion | Couple Photography | Fayetteville, N.C. Photographer

I finally got to work with this couple. They had scheduled me for their wedding, we had everything together, then all of a sudden, I found out that my college graduation was on the same day!

I was so bummed that I wouldn't get to photograph their beach wedding and in the streets of Wilmington, N.C. But, as fate would have it. During a lil' R&R, she booked me for a couple's session and we had a blast! These images were taken at the Cape Fear River Trail.

 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Desert Sunset | Family Photographer | Guest Vegas Photography

These faces may look familiar, I did another session with my high school friend but with her hubby this time. I was super excited about this session because she had gone location scouting earlier that day and sent me pictures of where she wanted the images. Her plans were for a gorgeous, large canvas to put in her living room of her family. No pressure right? But the phone pictures she sent me I began to get extremely excited. Though, she left out the part of having to climb a mountain! LOL

She is very lucky to live on the outskirts of our city where not many houses have been built up. So, at the end of her road, she has easy access to the desert mountains. She's like a mountain goat hiking up the mountain in boots and her husband is an iron worker - so climbing and heights don't bother him. Not to mention he carried the lil' guy up the mountain and also held the hand of big brother all the way up. Huffing and puffing my way up the mountain ... we got these incredible shots!

Enjoy!

Here, you can sorta see how steep the mountain was! ;-) But hey, we got fabulous images, I couldn't be any happier with these!


A lil' blooper of the session ... LOL the kids were over it, don't you think? LOL
























 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Monday, November 5, 2012

Gone to the Dogs | Pet Photography | Guest Vegas Photographer
























These dogs were just amazing! They made me work, but they were amazing! Just look at those eyes and smiling faces, you just can't say no to them.

This session was just like any other session photographing a toddler. These pups just wanted to play and every time the camera came up .... they'd look the other way. LOL They made me laugh and they made my heart melt when they came in for kisses. Just too cute!

I also had to do some trickery with head swapping for their momma. It was crazy windy that day. You can always plan on a beautiful day in Vegas but the wind just kinda sneaks up on you!

Check out my head swap skills. I was very happy with the result!


























 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Crescent Ham & Cheese Rolls | Pinterest Thursday | iPhonography

Sooooo ..... I may have miss last Thursday. I'm sorry. Did you guys go through withdraws like I did? I'm seriously addicted to Pinterest and I haven't even logged onto Pinterest since ... well, a while. My life has been consumed with kindergarten drama, photography (which I'm not complaining) and Army Reserve duties. BUT I'm here, I'm back and I'm sharing a Pinterest Thursday!!!

A while back ago, I had a guest blogger, ANNIE, who share with us her crescent roll PIN. She said it was okay, but wouldn't try to make it again. The cheese tasted weird and the bread didn't cook all the way. So, I took her suggestions and decided to try it my way.

I used thin slices of ham, pepperjack cheese and cooked it for a lil' longer than what the directions on the crescent roll package said. And viola! It was awesome! My son, who is very picky, loved them and ate 4 of them. Not to mention, us adults enjoyed them too and they filled us up. Quick and simple.


Little side note: We enjoyed them so much that they've become a regular staple in our dinner choices. However, I did run out of pepperjack and used American cheese on one of our dinners. Bad decision, this meal really does need the pepperjack to make it work.

Also, because I totally dig quick and simple meals ... I saw this PIN just recently and now have to try it! Crescent rolls taste yummy alone, throw in food inside it and you've got a masterpiece!


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All my  photos were taken with an iPhone and copyrighted by SWP.

 *** Please remember that all images are copyrighted to Sharilyn Wells Photography, LLC. Please do not copy or alter any images without SWP, LLC consent. ***