I Have Questions

Go for the new site design … it is always fun to have a new look & feel (especially with the new year)! I don’t have a clue on Photoshop … wish I could help you there. And, if you do have any extra time I think you should TOTALLY sell your photography. You have some amazing shots that would make great keepsakes (cards, magnets, prints). If you can make some extra spending money by doing something you love … well, that is just icing!

Sure, give Etsy a shot! The nice thing is, you can start out small (just a couple of photos or cards or whatever) and get bigger if you want to.

I love Graham’s sparkly concert accessories.

Go for it!! Particularly the photos on cards… I know that’s a pretty popular item.

Christmas concerts are so much fun!!! That’s when you hope it’s not your kid that’s looking around and picking his nose - There’s always one in every group! Graham looked adorable! I would definately look into selling your photography. I agree with you on the kid thing but your other pictures are beautiful too and hey, I’d hire you to do my wedding!

I’m sure you could sell your photos! They’re great.
I can’t help with the other questions though … but I’m positive some other clever readers will be able to

I’m totally with you on Etsy (yes,do it!) and I will be on there in the new year.

for Photoshop … try youtube … lots of video tutorials on there!

Totally go for etsy! I’d buy your photos in a heartbeat! You do have talent…share it!:)

And the kidlets are indeed adorable!

And I have a question. If you just got photoshop, what have you been using for photo editing?

Do it, do it! I will totally buy your prints; just tell me where to sign up. Your photography work is breath taking.

p.s. I miss Foto Friday. =(

Do not fret - it will be back in January

Okay the pic of the cousins… far too cute!!!

As far a selling your you pics, go for it, what do you have to loose?

Oh and I love the last pic of the flower!

I don’t have many answers for you since we share a lot of the questions (wanting to learn photoshop and html, etc) but I do know that it’s always a good idea to follow your dreams and put yourself out there, so you should totally open a li’l etsy shop and let your goods fly off the racks.

I like the way you shoot flowers, personally You should try the Etsy shop! You won’t know unless you experiment a little.

The picture of Graham from his Christmas concert… he looks like the Greek god of Christmas!

I think that Etsy would be an awesome thing to try. You’ve already got tons of stunning photos, I’m sure there are people who would buy your work. I almost asked if I could buy that flower photo when I commented on it the other day!

Photoshop 5? And it will still run on your computer? The next time I visit my on-site office I could look to see if I still have any books for that version. I would gladly send them to you for free. The ‘Sam’s Teach Yourself in 24 Hours’ books are pretty straightforward and easy to follow. I’ve had several of my part-time employees work through those to learn new programs and they’ve worked well. Plus since you’ve got an older version, you should be able to get the book for dirt cheap. Try AbeBooks.com or something to find low prices on used books.

No help on html… I need html for dummies… seriously. And photo editing… I still use picasa because I am too cheap and have no time.

BUT YOU SHOULD TOTALLY SELL YOUR PHOTOS.

Ahem.

No, really. I mean it.

Ps a deadline of Christmas day? Who’s idea was that?

I can only give advice about Etsy. I would say you should go for it. If it doesnt pan out, there is no big loss. It costs 20 cents to put an item in your store and it stays there for 3 nmonths (I think) I sold a painting 2 days ago that has been in my store for a while and I store for a while. It is pretty easy. Good luck!!

You have a WordPress theme, modifications can be done in the CSS. Html is more for your postings. I have already tweaked the layout in my theme, I’m thinking some more would be in order.
There are many online sites you can reach by google that will give you code for layouts, but you will have to understand some CSS.
OH! And if possible, get Xamp, which is a setup for a testing server right on your computer. You don’t really want to mess with a live site. It can get ugly.
Maybe someone is willing to barter their skills for some of your photographs.
I think the portrait you took of your SIL and niece would make a lovely gift to them. Rambling. I know. You will have to play with PhotoShop and go “what does this do?” to figure it out. I doubt you will find any books about it. Even version 7, which I have is scarce to find resources for. But I just click and play.
There are many online resources to learn CSS though. Google is really your friend.
Sorry about the badly written novella in your comments.

I’d say go for it. Hey, even if you made a wee little cash on the side, it wouldn’t hurt, right? And you seem to thrive the busier you are!

Your photography is amazing! You should definitely do the Etsy shop thing.

You know what I think

I’m going to buy those wine glasses first, in whatever form you offer it.

There are probably tons of sites out there to buy the things you need, but I love the cards and paper offered at http://www.paper-source.com.

And I’m still trying to get my site’s redesign off the ground. Eventually, perhaps. But I’m all for spicing things up.

And your kids are adorable. (So are the cousins, too!)

I know nothing about website design. Absolutely nothing. But as for photography, I definitely think you have the talent to sell your prints. Weddings are quite stressful and a lot of work, and I wouldn’t recommend them unless that’s what you like, but what about kids photography? A friend of mine is a stay-at-home mom and she started a business just doing kids photography. She only takes on as much work as she wants and she doesn’t use a studio so her portraits are all natural, outdoorsy stuff. She does really well in it.

How to Wow with Photoshop is a good book. Though learned all I know from taking evening courses at a community college here — they were really helpful.

you should def try!! you have som real talent in the photography field! i wish i knew more about templates so i could help you out, but im just not that talented. and the kiddies so soooo caaauuute!!

Even better than selling on Etsy (and less work and more profit) would be to make your photos available through a stock photography site. Every time someone wants to use a photo, you get a check! What’s easier than that?

Sell em. Give the people what they want. Maybe I should try this….hmm.
Ange and her good ideas.
I can attest to the fact the weddings are major stress….AND major fun!
Maybe you can come and help me shoot one sometime and tell me what you think.

I don’t have any advice, but I love the wine glass picture! It could be used to advertise a winery, obviously, or in a come-have-a-romantic-weekend-at-our-resort brochure.

I don’t know about the other two things, but i list some stuff on etsy and I have only ever sold two things. If you are in to trading or bartering you could make a killing in other peoples products. A great one to ask about etsy is Kaili’s mom Carleen. She is an etsy expert.

1. Have you SEEN my blog?
2. Photoshop is fun, I once did a module in highschool. That is all.
3. Your pictures rock! Have at ‘er! I like your scenery/still life pictures best, you know, stuff that doesn’t move. SO much easier to take pictures of. You have the knowledge to take not just good photos, but awesome photos.

I am absolutely no help on any of your questions except that you should definitely try Etsy. I would totally buy your photos! Also that flower photo done as a magnet similar in style to the ones that you received as a gift would be very cute!

Oh….and Graham looks completely adorable at his Christmas concert!

THE KIDS ARE SO CUTE!!! (did that make you happy?)

1. I just play with the html. I change something, and then click “preview” to see what it does. I don’t know of any books or anything. I just know that OMSH does sweet designs.

2. No photoshop = no knowledge of photoshop. There’s got to be a manual online though somewhere! (you’d think …)

3. I’m working on something for etsy as we speak. But, it has nothing to do with photography. And yes, if someone wanted to buy pictures of your kids, I think it would be weird too. Creepy weird.

I know that I helped you a ton here with my answers containing no answers. The internet broke at work and I missed your blog all the live long day. I’m happy to be home and able to read it again. I’m a bit of a nerd. My husband thinks the blog thing is weird too. Must be a husband thing.

Go for it!! I’d get a print now if I weren’t so insanely broke. Also, ugh, those actions are really expensive.

Why wouldn’t you? What’s to lose? You have the biggest investment already! Ask Brenda … she was reticent too, but look - she’s the bomb! And you are too!

Go for it, why not?
I have no real advice though cause I have been wondering some of the same things myself:)

Love all the pics!

All look great!

Happy Holiday!

The answer to #3–yes! YES! YES! Do it!

Yes. Heather’s rock! Unfortunately this Heather is in the same stage of photoshop learning as you and just bookmarked those handy sites you listed from the awesome Heathers;-)

I was just going to ask you what you’ve been using to edit your photos. I’m finding Photoshop at the top of a lot of lists. I totally think you could do the etsy thing, I agree with the idea of cards and such not just prints. I think they’re really great and it’s so hard to find cards with great prints and nothing written inside, I love Hallmark, but sometimes I like to be original. Good luck with your decisions/research and the other busyness!