IPHONEOGRAPHY // MY PROCESS


I blogged about my Instagram photo editing process last year and it is still one of my most viewed posts. Since my process has slightly changed, I thought I'd do another tutorial for you. I'm not saying that I go through all of these steps every time I post a photo on Instagram. Sometimes I just quickly add a filter and that's it, but I would say the majority of the time I go through each and every step. Taking the photo is the easy part, It's the editing that can take time. And by time I mean five minutes rather than one. 
VSCOcam // I've said it before and I'll say it again, VSCOcam is my favorite and most used photo editing app. I love the filters- G3, G1 and M5 being my most frequently used. You can also decide the strength of the filter from 1 to 12, which no other app does. I love that they have added features like the straightening tool and the ability to take your photo with a square frame around it, making it easier to gage what can fit into frame if posting on Instagram. I also use this app to lighten, add warmth or contrast. 
AfterLight // This app also has great filters and many tools that I love like sharpening, darkening shadows and adding clarity. 
Touch Retouch // I use this app to remove shadows, smudges, gum from a sidewalk, anything distracting. Sometimes it's not totally accurate or can make a smudge on a wall worse, but most of the time it is amazing. It's like photoshop on your phone. 
Snapseed // I have stopped using this app to straighten photos, since VSCOcam now offers this feature. However, I do still use it for a really genius feature- the ability to lighten, darken and add saturation to one section of my photo, rather than the entire thing. I have yet to see this feature on any other app and it can be very useful. 
TimerCam // To be honest the photo in the tutorial above was a self portrait taken from the top of my car using Timercam. It's a very straightforward app that takes a photo on a 5, 10, 15 or 30 second timer. It's great for self portraits and it's free. You can't beat free. 

I hope this tutorial gives you ideas, or some insight into my process. See you on Instagram!

LATELY

Since I have so many instagrams from my trip to Martha's Vineyard, I decided to extend my lately post and include them all. Even though I've been going to the island for 24 years, I think this summer will stand out as one of the best ever. That has a lot to do with my wonderful travel companions, Phil and Afton. They love to explore and take photos as much as I do and their excitement about being on the Vineyard definitely transferred to me. We had all kinds of adventures and moments that I will forever hold dear in my heart. Our trip was full to say the least- we went to two beaches, a pond, took a boat to another island, eat lots of lobster and oysters, had dinner parties with old friends and new, sung karaoke, played running charades, went to a dance party, saw plenty of lightning, bought friendship bracelets at the flea market and eat far too many Backdoor Donuts {if you've never been, you must}. It was more than difficult to say goodbye, but this time instead of waiting a whole year,  I get to come back in one month for a wedding. As you can imagine, I'll be counting down the days. Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile... 
Packing for our trip
Nautical details
The light and shadows
A photo walk around Menemsha
A dreamy dinner with friends old and new
Spending time with my parents
Adorable Swedish friends
A boat trip to Cuttyhunk & a 14lbs. lobster
Lobster, lobster & more lobster
Sunsets on the deck & island exploring
The sweet summer breeze
Fantastic meals & beaches
Gorgeous scenery everywhere you turn
My family's cottage

LATELY

The last few weeks It's really started to feel like summer. Maybe it was my getaway to Palm Springs for the 4th, the few beach and pool days I've managed to sneak in, or watching sunsets, cold drink in hand with both new friends and old. Come Monday I will be headed back east again to my favorite magical island- Martha's Vineyard. It's crazy to think that it's been 44 days since I posted this instagram, counting down the days to my trip. This time I'm bringing two friends with me who share my love of exploring and photography, so this should be quite a fun trip. I'm sure I'll be going a little instagram crazy while I'm there, so make sure to follow me @sweetthingblog to come along on the journey. In the meantime, here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile...

SNAPSHOTS FROM GIRL SCOUT CAMP

A few weeks ago I got to spend two wonderful days at the Ojai Rancho Inn with a group of 30 creative women, put together by the ladies behind Bash, Please, Fiore Beauty and The Life Styled. It was a sort of grown up version of Girl Scout Camp. We sat by the pool, drank Tacate, went on a hike and talked about life and business. I came away feeling relaxed, inspired and with so many new friendships. I'm ready to go back!

SNEAK PEEK

I'm back from the east coast and going through photos of what was a very inspiring and fun few weeks of travel. I have lots of photos to share with you, but for now, here is a sneak peak of Girl Scout Camp in Ojai. Come back tomorrow to see the rest of the photos. 

IPHONEOGRAPHY // VSCO CAM

My favorite iPhone photo editing app VSCO CAM just upped their game and came out with a new version. Let me tell you in is phenomenal. It takes iPhoneography to the next level. There are so many amazing features, like the ability to take a photo in a square format, to focus on two subjects, white balance and 48 new filters. The list goes on. Oh and it's free! They also licenced about 30 of my iphone photos to showcase different filters. It's so fun for me to see my photos (some of me) in an app. I guess I can add 'App Model' to my resume. Who knew when I got an iPhone a year and a half ago that it would completely change my life as a photographer. So rad. Here is a walk through of the app for those of you who are curious. 


*side note- VSCO did not pay me to write about the new app, I just truly love it so much I had to share. 

LATELY

Another week, come and gone my friends. What are you up to this weekend? I'll be spending mine finishing up a few jobs before I head out on Monday for two back to back trips. I can hardly contain my excitement! First off Ojai and then a bachelorette trip to Boston and York, Maine. While I have spent many a summer in Massachusetts, I have never been to Maine. I've heard it's very similar to Martha's Vineyard, so I'm sure I feel right at home. We are only there two nights, but If you have any favorite restaurants or sights in Maine, I'd love to hear them. For now, here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile... 

THE VINEYARD

Something happens to me around this time of year, where I get heartsick for Martha's Vineyard. It's kind of funny, because if you look back on the blog, I post about it each year. This year will be my 24th summer on the island. Crazy. One of the reasons I cherish my time there so much, is that it's so completely opposite from Los Angeles. The humidity, the scenery, the people- all different. I won't be heading there until mid July, but looking through these photos from last summer has me wishing it was tomorrow. This time I'll be bring a few friends with me, which has me all kinds of excited. Getting to experience a place you love with people you love breaths new life in to it. You suddenly get to be a tourist again, sharing all of your favorite spots and exploring some new ones. I can already tell, this summer is going to be one to remember.

HAPPY WEEKEND

Well that was a lovely short week. I've spent it mostly catching up on all the photo editing and emailing I had neglected over Memorial Day weekend. This photo is a little sneak peak of what's to come next week. It's from last summer, when I chopped off my hair. No I didn't get another hair cut, so it's not that. As the temperature rises in LA and the days get longer, I can't help but feel that summer is near. Can we officially say it's summer or do we have to wait until June 21st? Either way, I'm dreaming about beach days and warm nights. Aren't you?

LATELY

Well, these last few weeks have just flown by. Somehow it's almost summer and I can't believe it. I have all kinds of fun trips coming up to be excited for, like Boston, Maine, Martha's Vineyard and Palm Springs twice. I can hardly wait! I've been jonesing to get out of town lately, but with my schedule I haven't been able to make it happen. This past week I was up in my hometown of Ojai for a photo shoot and just as I was about to start driving home one of my appointments got canceled. I suddenly realized I didn't have a reason to come back to LA, at least for a few days, so I called some friends and they joined me for an impromptu Ojai sleep over. It was out of control fun and exactly what I needed. I didn't turn on my computer for four whole days. Unheard of. When I returned to LA the fun didn't stop because I had a friend's birthday to celebrate, a night planned picnicking and watching Clueless at the cemetery and an Arrested Development marathon to attend. All and all a very full and perfect long weekend if I do say so. How about you, what did you do this holiday weekend? Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile...

DESIGN SPONGE // SNEAK PEAK

Today a sneak peak of my sweet little craftsman house is on Design*Sponge. Design*Sponge was one of the first blogs I read and loved, so I am thrilled to get to share my space on there. I truly adore this house and still feel excited every morning I get to wake up here. I hope you'll fall in love with it, as I have. 

 *Make sure to come back tomorrow because I'll be sharing photos that didn't make it in the sneak peak.

 {thanks to kimberly genevieve for snapping that photo of me!}

LATELY

These last few weeks have been all about work work work. I haven't had time for much else. Sometimes forgetting to eat. I've been going at a pace that I know I can't sustain. And while I know something has to give, I feel so incredibly grateful for each and every opportunity that has come my way. I think many of you who work from home can relate, that sometimes days can go by with little to zero human interaction other than through twitter or instagram. For that reason I've been forcing myself to take breaks, even if it's just leaving the house to grab a cup of coffee or have dinner with friends. I keep telling myself it wont always be like this. But than I wonder if that's true. 
Wishing you all a happy Mother's Day weekend! Here is a little look at my life of late and a few of the sweet things making me smile...

*follow me on instagram @sweetthingblog

SNAPSHOTS FROM OJAI


I am so sorry I've not being able to update Sweet Thing much these days. If you're wondering why, it's really that I've gotten so busy with shoots that I just can't keep up. I have not taken a day off in over three weeks and trust me, I'm overwhelmed and exhausted. More on that another time, but I promise I'll be posting more often soon.

A few weeks ago I spent a few days in my hometown of Ojai, shooting stills for my friend, Charlie McDowell's film. This time of year is pure magic in Ojai, as all of the orange blossoms and flowers are in full bloom. It didn't hurt that we were filming on one of my most favorite properties in all of Ojai- belonging to his family. Sometimes I just can't believe how beautiful it is. I feel so very lucky to have grown up in a place such as this. 

SAYIN HEY

Hey! Just poppin in to say hi and let you know I haven't forgotten you. I've been shooting like crazy this past week. All fun and creative jobs I feel lucky to be apart of. I even started photographing my own house, which I am very excited to share. I've lived here for just over two months now and even though I'm pretty sure it's in my nature to never feel like my house is "done," I decided it's time. 

Later this week I'm headed up to Ojai to be set photographer for a friend's film. I'm so looking forward to spending some time with my family, mixing up my usual genre of photography and of course the intoxicating smell of orange blossoms that takes over Ojai this time of year. I'm sure I'll be instagramming my travels as always. 

How was your weekend my dears?