Heartbreaker

heartbreaker, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Penn at work with me.

OK

Everything will be okay.

Family portrait

Two of the most classic little girls. You really can't go wrong shooting those big blue eyes with a blue filter.

Shot in Space.

Rose

is a rose..., originally uploaded by carissabyers.

This one made my day. Many thanks to the thoughtful man who felt I needed flowers.

Michelle and Brian

I shot a fabulous wedding for Michelle and Brian this weekend. It takes a lot of work to put a wedding together and I was extremely impressed with how beautiful everything was and what a fabulous time everyone had. Congrats!

....a window, a space ...

We all need to have a creative outlet - a window, a space - so we don't lose track of ourselves.

Norman Fischer

Click here to see more.

Your Peeps Never Looked So Good

Your Peeps Never Looked So Good - Sugarfilled.com from Daniel Miller on Vimeo.

Announcing the birth of.....

Check out the announcement where you can sign up for updates or follow us on twitter.

He said it best:

I have a new project, sugarfilled, a brand umbrella and consultancy that is essentially the combined forces of Carissa Byers and myself. Between the two of us, we have all the creative and technical skills any small business or team might need to create their image, online and off. Brand ideation, logo design, photography, copywriting, web design, and web development. Lots more can be found out at the site, which I must add is still a work in progress...there are lots of goodies yet to come.

I'm extremely excited about Sugarfilled and it's potential! You are more than welcome to refer all of your clients and friends to Sugarfilled where the sweet puns never end.

Katie and Matt on Style Me Pretty

I shot Katie and Matt's gorgeous wedding last November. Their wedding plus photos are featured on everyone's go-to site for wedding planning, Style Me Pretty.

Also featured are their Save-the-Date's which we shot at the Lakewood Theater. In the cold.

Cheers to such an amazing couple and one of the most fun weddings I've ever shot.

Oh, Mr. Rogers

Found via Jessica

Stares quietly out the window

Penn: Totally ready to go home., originally uploaded by carissabyers.

He loves going to work with mommy. But sometimes he says, "Enough is enough. If I give you my sad face can we go home?"

Happy Valentines Day

----------------
Now playing: Danny Schmidt - Drawing Board
via FoxyTunes

Mixed cd's are the best!

In Lakewood Now

I recently shot the Lakewood Service League's Annual Gala at the Lakewood Country Club. Read the full story in Lakewood Now.

Because Dory and I have a lot in common

Moi

Moi, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Forced to take photo of self to promote world domination. Commencing February 14th.

"You have 19 messages"

Why is it so impossible to keep my phone charged these days?

Apologies for all the missed calls!

Life is:

edible props.

See also.

Puppy Love

While shooting a bunch of products against this groovy background I couldn't help but throw a dog or two up there while I was at it.

Click here for more.

Leaning towards Obama...

I was looking at the "Voters Gallery" in Time and I felt like saying, "Okay. I get it." Obama is inspiring. I already knew that. But inspiring isn't as revolutionary if you're someone like me who walks the road of inspired daily. Politics? A new president? Of course. Bring it.

What I didn't realize is that there are so many who don't believe anymore. Who don't feel like there is anyone to believe in.

Let's say the only thing Obama will ever do as President of the United States is make people believe. Not with the haughty patriotism Americans are so pumped up with, but with something genuine. Words like "Change" and "Hope" are all rhetoric....until they are real.

And when they are real they are no longer buzzwords and slogans. And then they change our lives.

If all these people are inspired by the campaign alone, can you imagine how Obama will inspire us and the world as a president? And can you then imagine what a nation of inspired people would feel like?

I can.

Yes.

"The spirit...is more important than your brain power or your physical body or anything else. And that's what you either build or tear down. That makes a person...a company...an attitude"

"Passion: Embracing an ethic of challenge and intellectual restlessness."


---Ray Mithun

"He's just my friend, okay?"

While I was shooting some products the dogs decided to have a spooner. If you've seen Superbad, then click here to laugh out loud.

Photo for Renne Rouleau on Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks will be giving away the Best of Beauty which will include Renee Rouleau's Anti-cyst serum!

My pic online for Renee rouleau

My pic online for Renee rouleau, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Organic Beauty

Drink Coffee

Drink Coffee, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Pegasusnews.com

Find the latest gigs and news for The Felons and more than 1,000 other DFW acts.

Just ran across this. I'm a huge fan of The Felons. Honored they're using the pics I took.

omgyay

This is it. Purina One Natural Blends Chicken and Oatmeal. This is the food that does not make my dog emit nauseous odors from his business end that require everyone in the room to fruitlessly curse him to the corner through their turtleneck gas mask.

Also, after several brushings concentrated on that fluffy chow rear of his, much of his deceiving 3rd or 4th coat that's been dropping all over my floors in wafting blond hairballs has lessened and the expensive hydro cortisone bath has calmed both scratching and smell.

I brought home sweet Ringo from the dog park at 6 weeks old. I had no idea he was going to be allergic to the world or cost me a truckload of money. I might regret the money part since none of the expenses cured a thing.

But I don't, for a second, regret bringing him home. I loves my puppy. I loves him more without the farting. I think I'll go take him for a walk now.

Stolen from Hal :)

Photo by Hal Samples at Shoot for Change.

Shoot for Change/ Obscenely Unseen

I took Penn down to Space tonight for Obscenely Unseen upstairs and Shoot for Change downstairs. Look! His first armband! That's just so he can fetch me beers. (I am so kidding.)

Despite his serious protesting, we left upstairs since the lyrics became a little less kid-friendly. But he's captivated by live music. Somewhere he's getting something so I think I'm going to have to haul him around to more censored coffee shop gigs so he can get his fix and I can observe his musical interest better.


Shoot for Change, founded by Walter Grio, is something I highly support. He decided that all the money he makes from every photoshoot goes to a charitable organization. He's a very cool cat with a great idea. He's also headed to the Mcleod Residence February 8th if you're in Seattle.

Click here to see just a few more pics.

Basic Photoshop Junk

If I ever teach a Photoshop class I am for reals now going to have to call it "Basic Photoshop Junk."

[Re: See comment on previous post.]

Color correction

BEFORE:

AFTER:


Unless I'm shooting for an agency that comes with it's own team of designers and color correctors, I edit almost all of my own images. I like the editing part. Because this is very much a digital world and the dark room is Photoshop CS3. I like having control over my work from start to finish. I shudder just a bit when I have to hand over a raw image.

And when I tell clients that I will color correct all of their photos they nod happily. It sounds like something they want. But do they really know what it means? Sorting though Laurel's photos I found a good example of what comes straight out of the camera (first photo) and what it looks like when I'm done. The end result is soft and clear and attentive. The final photo reflects who Laurel is.

Color correction is about making a photo the best it can be. I think the amount of technology available has seeped into the consumer brain and exploded somewhere, often in requests to me. Which I always honor, of course. *smile*

But color correction is most definitely not about changing a background or making someone thinner or cleaning up a dirty shoe. I have done many a digital cosmetic surgery, but it doesn't have anything to do with color correction. Color correction also can't cover up a bad photo.

But you wanna look 25 again? No problem. It's invoiced under "extras."

Interview for Lakewood Now

Yesterday I was interviewed at Space Studio for Lakewood Now about being a photographer and living in Lakewood.


There are many reasons I belong on the other side of the camera both moving and still. We'll prove it when the interview comes out. *smile* Many thanks to Kate Mackley and Cindy. Can't wait to see how it all turns out!