{Anniversary} {Photography} {Giveaway Winner}

On the first day of our anniversary weekend/staycation weekend, after our lunch at Foster's and a mani for me, we took some time to revisit Duke Gardens where Mike had proposed a year and a half ago:

This time there was no guise of "just cutting through the gardens [after dark] to get to our car". There was no sudden shock as 10,000 twinkling lights lit up a gazebo and an ice sculpture with our monogram. This time there was no hidden photographer capturing every moment. This time we decided to give our very novice photoging skills a little practice. And here's how it turned out...

 Mike likes to get "paparazzi shots" all the time. I never really know their coming which makes them mostly realistic. Except, oh, I'm not Jennifer Aniston or Miley Cyrus, so maybe they're not actually realistic at all. 

I thought Mike's reflection in my sunglasses was cool. I actually thought he was just talking to me when he shot this one. But nope, he was capturing a cool reflection shot. 

This is the first time we've ever shot and edited people. It was really fun and I thought the results weren't bad for a first run. Anyone want some practically free portraits done? (I'm actually serious).

Naturally my husband would do this. 

This has become my new head shot for my new writing gig. And just think...I didn't have to pay for this one! 

My Austrian husband. Fortunately he has outgrown the lederhosen. VERY fortunately. 

And did I mention I wore these little comfy beauties around the gardens. Nothing like a pair of pink Sperry's to complete an outfit. 

Now that the photography bug has bit me, I've got this hankering for some real editing software (we're currently using an online editing software). Tell me, what do you use or hear is good? Photoshop, Lightroom, iPhoto? 


P.S. I entered the giveaway participants carefully double checking each entry you earned and using the Random Number Generator on Random.org drew a three...which was one of Aileen's number since the third entry was one of hers! Congratulations, Aileen- you won the stationary set. Please e-mail me your address and I will mail it to you. Thanks to everyone who participated. I wish I could give everyone a stationary set :(




Thanks for hanging on during this especially long post. More even more fabulous anniversary stories and pictures to come! I can't wait to show you our jewelry making adventure...