Patti Brown Photography

I swear, this woman repeatedly (repeatedly) comes up with ways to make my life easier.  God love her.

I’ve mentioned Jodi at MCP actions a few times on this blog in the past, and honestly, whenever I get the big “why don’t you do actions?” question (which I get all the time) she is a big part of the reason.  She is the queen of actions, hands down, and every time I think of a special idea for an action, she’s already come up with it.   Although there are a few others that I use and love, Jodi’s are just soooo good, and you all know this isn’t the first time I’ve raved about her on my blog.  Well, she’s done it again.

I helped trial her latest release,  “Finish it” last week, and I’m in love.  Her “Blog-it-Boards” totally revolutionized the way I blog, but I think I like “Finish it” even more.    I love pressing ONE button and having my pictures automatically resized, sharpened for the web, and (AND!) and she even figured out how to (somehow?) add a side or bottom bar (which, btw is completely color customizable) that you can automatically insert your logo into.  Yup!  Couldn’t be easier.  And since I’m a ginormous fan of anything that saves me a litle cyber-time, I can see these puppies becoming an automatic add-into my workflow.  I’m starting to think she may have super-powers. The only problem is that I  am (once again!!) stripped of yet another excuse to be a slow blogger.   Here are a few pics I edited with them.  Pressed one (maybe two…) buttons total, including logo insertion (okay, maybe I had to press a third button to auto insert the logo…) and the results are extremely perfect.

The above was created using her build it color block right.  And I counted, I had to press 3 buttons.  Easy, peezy.

The below was created using her build it color block bottom.  You can auto-select any color from the picture for the bottom bar, and add (or remove) an image stroke (I left it on here for demo-purposes) if you choose to.

If I invest in a digital product these days, it has to either significantly add an artistic value to my work overall, or it has to be a major, major time-saver.  There is no question that “Finish-it” is a time-saver, but it also adds an aspect of prettiness to my blog, that quite frankly, I was struggling to find the time to incorporate with each post.  So, Yay for Jodi – she has definitely done it again.  I am going to try to see if she can write an action that cleans my house and makes dinner.  I’m pretty confident that if it possible, she could do it.

****In Other News****

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints!  It was the first time I’d ever routed against my husband in a Superbowl game.  Not because I’m some little wallflower of a wife, but because  I (a.)  Just don’t watch enough football to know what’s always going on and  (b.) CERTAINLY don’t watch enough football to be able to formulate an actual argument as to why I’m rooting for the other team.  But this time, it was easy.  We have always loved the city of New Orleans, and prior to Katrina, made it a ritual to visit every year at Christmas.  Like the rest of the world, in 2005 we watched as she was brutally ravaged and ripped apart.  We were living in Shreveport, Louisiana at the time, and through our church we had the opportunity to befriend a number of evacuees, most of whom we still keep in touch with.  I can hardly recall the details of all they endured without becoming emotional, so I certainly won’t itemize their horrors on this blog.   However, I will say that if ever a team or a city deserved triumph, it is the Saints.  And for once, I can confidently defend my reasons to Ray.  Because honestly, they don’t have anything at all to do with football. 

****One more thing****

I’ve posted a 30% off coupon code on my Facebook fan page  for Kaleidoscope.  Hurry, though..it’s only good through tomorrow morning.  Make sure to fan me in order to hear about additional discounts & freebies throughout 2010.  That’s all for now!  Enjoy your week, and for those of you who get annoyed because you find something amazing to buy every time you stop by my blog, well I apologize.  That trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.  Enjoy! - PB

These are just a few of the  gorgeous shares I’ve been receiving from Photographers (both hobbyist & pro) recently.  Although this is just a quick sampling, I wanted to share these splendid creations and offer up many thanks to the wonderful women who were kind enough to send them my way!   If you sent me a share and it doesn’t appear here, it’s not because I don’t love it!   I only had enough time to grab a few this morning, but I’m planning another post very soon. 

This one comes from Stacy Hayward of Stacy’s Creations Photography and it is gorgeous!  She sent me a sweet email thanking me for creating such “awesome textures” and was kind enough to attach this great B&A.  She used some of the textures from my Gallery Collection to edit these.

These next two come from Leesa Moore of   Expressions Photography.  She has the following sweet words to share:  “Patti, I just wanted to drop by and say how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the gallery set!!!  I did an autumn shoot for a young couple at my church and your gallery set has completely transformed the photos from blah to AMAZING. There were leaves and grasses but their colors weren’t so great…..adding a few overlays just put that extra pop into the images. Thank you so much! You are truly talented!”  

Leesa, you did an amazing  job!!  Thanks again.  This fun share was sent in by Christy McKay Peake who writes:  “Just wanted to let you know that I’m in love with your textures!!  I purchased the Gallery and Lite Flare last week and I’m addicted!    I finally have photos that have the “look” I want.   I am overjoyed!  I never take photos of anything but people, but I took a photo of some flowers this morning just so I could play with the textures. LOL  I attached a photo – using Pool 1 and Clouds Softer.  Thank you again!  I can’t wait to purchase more!”   

Thank YOU Christy!  And finally, this unique share comes from Penny Maggio who says “Your texture collection is wonderful and very fun to work with. The possibilities are endless!”   She sent in this totally amazing architectural photo using some of the overlays from Lite Flare.   I just love it because it is so unique, and although I haven’t thought of incorporating my Lite Flares into architectural work before, this pic just may inspire me to do so.

In addition to the shares above, I wanted to share some of the beautiful testimonials Kaleidoscope clients have been sending me.  Here you go….

*Kind Words*

“I Just wanted to say that this was the BEST money I have spent all year! I was going to buy the XXXXX textures from XXXXXXXX…and I am glad I held off! You did an amazing job!! Thank you!! I will be buying the rest next week!!! Have a wonderful day! ”   – Elizabeth

“I LOOOOOVE your textures and use them all the time!!! I’ve been telling all my photog friends about them.” – Susanne

“I have been a graphic designer for almost 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything like your light set.  It is truly ingenious.  Thanks for creating, and I can’t wait to see what you do next!”  – Pauline

“I love your textures, but a big part of me wants to keep them to myself!  I can’t though.  I’ve been telling everyone.  Gallery Collection is my favorite.”  – Melissa

“Wow.  The Gallery Collection is just amazing.  Your prices are great too.  I absolutely love and use everything I’ve purchased from you.  Thanks again!”  – Josephine

“I just wanted to write in to thank you again for assisting me with my download problems.  You were so quick to respond, cheerful, and professional.  I love the Dream Collection, and am so happy that your set is the first set I purchased.” – Barbara

“I am LOVING your site! I just got my first DSLR last week and am having a blast learning to use it! It’s definitely more difficult than it seems but sites like yours are so helpful. And I love your gallery! Can’t wait to have time to poke around in there a bit.” – Brittany

 “I absolutely could not edit without your textures and I’m thrilled to work with your new collection. The intensity of the colors are stunning and offer enhancements that are so unique to my photographs. Your hard work has paid off…you have a fan for life in me! ” – Christy

“Wow! I love all of the textures….. Amazing!!! impossible to pick a fav, but if I had to . Gallery collection would win. I want the whole kit an caboodle.”  – Linda

“WOW! WOW!! Absolutely stunning what you can do with this. This has to be my favorite…I love this most as it gives so much warmth and hope to the pictures. My friend (WAYOUTNUMBERED) does such fabulous work with the help of your products that it has given me inspiration. I am so excited to see what’s next!!”  - Ann

“Patti, I just have to say that your textures have helped inspire me to take my business in a new direction next year.  They are fabulous and I cannot say enough wonderful things about them.  You are a creative genius and I LOVE everything I have ever gotten from you.  You rock!!”  – Evie

Posts like this remind me that I have the coolest clients in the world.  Happy New Year everyone, and thanks for continuing to make Kaleidoscope a success!  Hugs, PB

We’ve started a new tradition in our house this Christmas, and I think it’s going to extend right on through to 2010.  It’s pretty simple really.  We just turn off everything – TV, computer, laptops, phone – for an hour every night and hang out with each other.  I know, it doesn’t sound like much, and it isn’t really – but it has made a big difference this year.  For an hour each day, we just talk, play, and focus on each other.  I’m not allowed to do housework (big sacrifice, I know…) the hubster isn’t allowed to watch sports, and our son isn’t allowed to watch cartoons. 

The first couple nights of this little routine were met with great resistance.  By all.  But we were committed to see it through, so our nightly little quiet hour is now known as “Family Time.”  Not exactly an original concept, but seriously, it has been so nice.

Now, nobody resists, especially our biggest original critic: our 3 year old ZLB.  The last two nights, after bath-time, he has been hollering through the house “It’s FAMRWY TIIIIIMMMMMEEE!!!! – Daddy, No EFPN (ESPN), Mommy, No Pweter (computer), I tuwning off Dowa (Dora) and we are Famry.”   He is now sooooooo into it.

 Seriously, seriously, sweet.

So, last night during “Famry Twime” he wanted to play with the Baby Jesus.  This is what we came up with.  And of course we also read him a very special, ancient story.

Very. Special.

And finally, from our family to yours….Merry, Merry Christmas.   I hope you have a wonderful time, regardless of how you celebrate, and I also hope you can find a little silence tonight to reflect on how lovely life is.  Love & Hugs – PB

…and that’s not the only thing we have in common, darlin’.  Thanks for the laughs! – PB

Wow, wow, wow.   I’m so pleased to share with you all that The Gallery Collection has debuted as another Kaleidoscope mega-hit, and I am truly amazed (and continually suprised, humbled, floored, overwhelmed…..) at it’s growing popularity!  So, I thought I’d take a quick break from all of our holiday happenings to share a few little things that may be of interest to you.

Thing 1.)  Thank you to everyone who has purchased, blogged about, commented about, and sent me the world’s *sweetest* emails regarding  The Gallery Collection, and it’s other Kaleidoscope cohorts:  The Light Set, Lite Flare, and The Dream Collection, over the past two weeks.   I’m beyond overwhelmed with the amazing reception my digital babies have received, and I truly cannot thank you enough!

Thing 2.)  Tis’ the season!  Due to popular demand, I’m extending 30% off your entire cart total for one more week.  Use the coupon code: blog and enjoy!

Thing 3.)  Kaleidoscope has been receiving some seriously rave reviews on boards, in chat rooms, and via the dozens of emails I receive daily from happy clients, for which I am so grateful.  If you’ve emailed me, you know that I truly try to answer every single email I get because I love them and they totally make my day, so keep’em coming!  I also would like to hear from you if you’re interested in doing a short testimonial about Kaleidoscope.  I’m trying to go back through all my emails and contact those of you who have already said such lovely things, but I’d like to hear from the rest of you too!  Just shoot me a quick one or two liner (or longer if you want) anytime at patti@pattibrownphotography.com or leave something in the comments area letting me know I can use your kind words.    Of course, if you have any questions regarding the products, you can always contact me about that as well!

As always, thanks so much for taking a minute to check out my little corner of the cyber-world.  Now, I’ve got some gifts to wrap, some cocoa to sip, and some tinsel to toss around…..so until next time, I hope you all are continuing to enjoy this season of color, beauty, light & love! – PB