I have gotten a lot of requests to do a lesson on how to create storyboard/collage style layouts in Photoshop. In this video, I show you one way to do a simple layout with four 5x5 images. There are a million and one ways to do everything in Photoshop including this type of layout. This is one of the simplest ways. I hope you enjoy the video and please leave links to your creations in the comments section below or upload them to our Monday Lesson Flickr pool. I can't wait to see what you create!

My work is all about milestones in people's lives. It's one of the things that make the work that I do so special to me. Recently I have started shooting high school seniors and I am loving it (this image is from a recent senior session). I used to teach high school so I feel connected to that age group already. They are at such a cool and scary time in their life. It's half amazing, hopeful and ready to conquer the world while the other half is scared, nervous and uncertain. My job is to make amazing images that capture the spirit of the age and give Mom and Dad something they can hold on to. in most cases, their child is heading out into the big, scary world to make their way and may never live under their roof again. Before I know it, it'll be me sitting in that hot seat watching my boys pack up and set off.

I remember the day that I packed my car with all my belongings, my scruffy dog and $1000 and headed to CA. I'll never forget the look in my Dad's teary eyes. It was everything from terror to pride. I didn't get that look back then but boy do I get it now.

What about you my friends? Any favorite shots today? Leave links to your images, Flickr, blogs, etc in the comments section below or add your images to our Favorite Shot Friday Flickr pool.

Happy weekend!

One of the very best parts of my job is getting to watch couples become parents and babies become toddlers. In the case of these two lovely people I am getting to see both. I met Shenequa and Derek when they were about to have Preston. Their maternity session was so much fun because they are so much fun. They joked around, laughed, cuddled up and gave me lots of amazing smiles. That's just who they are together and it was a great session. Since then I have photographed Preston 4 times. This last session was sweet like all the ones before. Look at him now, he's grown so much!

I love this image because of the way he's looking up at them and how they are holding him up. I love his little toes! When I look at this image I just think of family. It's just one of the very best things we do as people. Our children are our best and brightest hopes all rolled into one little person. It makes me think of this quote: "Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body" (Elizabeth Stone).

There is another quote (one of my favorites too!) but I can't find the exact wording. I have been searching for it online now for way too long so you'll get my (probably incorrect) version. It goes something like this, Family is like the giant redwoods, shading the tiny trees at their feet. I think it's by Maya Angelou. Preston is definitely the little redwood in this family- being carefully shaded by Shenequa and Derek.

So, how about you? Any favorite shots this Friday? As always, please leave links to your favorite images in the comments section below or submit their to my Favorite Shot Friday Flickr pool. Don't be shy!

By the way, for all of you Moms-to-be and new Moms out there, Shenequa has an amazing company called, Premier Baby Planning. If you need help getting organized, planning for your new baby and so much more, she's the one to call!

I get a lot of questions from my students about cropping images and about what size and resolution images should be to make a good print. I also get tons of questions about how to organize images onto an external hard drive or on your computer. In this video I show you an easy way to crop your images in Photoshop and Photoshop Elements and talk about image sizes and resolution. I also share with you how we organize the digital camera files at my studio. To make the video larger, click on the little square in the lower right that looks like arrows pointing out. That will make it full screen. Enjoy!

Just wanted to remind everyone that I still have some space in my upcoming Intro DSLR workshop this coming Saturday. Sign up here.

If you would like to download a 30-day free trial of Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, go check out Adobe's downloads page. If you are new to image editing on the computer I would suggest starting with Photoshop Elements and working up from there.