Exciting News! >> Adobe Photoshop Elements Brand Ambassador

In yesterday's post, I mentioned that I leave in a couple of days for a trip to San Francisco, and that I had some news to share in regards to the trip.  Well, here it is!  I'm very excited to announce that for the next four months, I'll be partnering with Adobe as a blog Brand Ambassador for Photoshop Elements!  I'm a huge, huge fan of Photoshop, and have been using it on an almost daily basis for the last few years for everything from the graphics you see on this blog to designing the website for my clothing line to editing photographs for both personal and business purposes.  Photoshop Elements 10 is especially awesome, because you don't need to be a photo editing software expert (or even close) to use it to transform your photographs.  It has the essentials you need to improve your photos, is affordable, and is very easy to learn.  I'll be posting more about how to use PS Elements 10 in the near future (including some fun DIY/tutorials), and I'm really looking forward to being able to share my experiences in my role as a Photoshop Elements Brand Ambassador with you guys in the upcoming months. 

I get a lot of questions asking about the photography equipment that I use for the images on Bubby and Bean, so I wanted to share this info with you all today, and also talk a little about why photography is so important to blogging (and to me!).  First though, a disclaimer - I am by no means a professional photographer!  Photography is a fun hobby for me, but I don't have tons of fancy equipment or formal training.  Maybe some of you who are just starting out feel like you have to be an expert to have great images on your blog, but you really don't.  You just have to be willing to experiment, practice, know a few tips and tricks, and learn some basic editing skills.  My dad is photographer so I had a love for photography pretty much ingrained in me from birth, but he only uses film cameras and black and white film that he develops himself in his dark room.  When I started taking digital photos and using Photoshop, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and I'm still learning everyday.  The best thing about this though is that the process of learning photography and editing is so much fun, and I'm constantly amazed by the different ways you can play around with different elements to create cool photos. 

As I mentioned above, photography has been a part of my life since I was a little girl.  On every group vacation I've taken, I've been the one who came back with a million photos.  When I'm out with friends, I'm the one who busts out the iPhone to capture random shots of our food at a restaurant or a flower peeking through a sidewalk crack.  When Bubby dog was still here, I probably took five pictures of him everyday, capturing his cuteness from different angles in different lighting.  There is just something about chronicling life through images that takes things to another level, and allows you to capture details or moments or memories in a way that sometimes words alone can't convey.  Despite growing up with a photographer dad, I never pursued photography enough to become an expert.  But since I started the Bubby and Bean blog a year and a half ago, I've learned how essential photography is to running a blog.  With blogging, it's about much more than just posting a technically perfect image. Whether it's a photo of an outfit that you styled, photos outlining the steps of a DIY tutorial, photos from a trip, photos of your pet/child/partner/friends, or just photos of what you did over the weekend, it's a way of expressing who you are, what you're doing, and the story you're telling.  And the best part is that anyone can take a picture. 

DSLR >> Canon EOS Rebel T2i EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens Kit
DSLR LENSES >> Canon EFS 18-55mm and EF 50mm f/1.8

Robbie also loves photography, so it's been a hobby that we've been able to really enjoy together.  Over the past couple of years, we've collected (and learned to use) a lot of different types of cameras - everything from vintage cameras (below), to medium format film cameras, to our first real DSLR that we finally got very recently (above).

I absolutely love our DSLR, but you don't necessarily need one to create great images for your blog.  Right now I don't own any "fancy" equipment and only have two basic lenses (although there at least a dozen that I'd love to own!).  I don't have a light meter, I don't have any modifiers... I don't even have a real camera bag!  But I make the best out of what I have.  I practice, make mistakes, and continue to learn.

POINT AND SHOOT >> Nikon S8100
PHONE >> iPhone 4S  //  MACRO LENSES >> Olloclip 

There are so many cool filters, apps, and lenses available for phones these days (I post a lot of photos taken with our Olloclip for iPhone lens here and on Instagram), and editing software like PS Elements 10 can work wonders on regular point-and-shoot photos.  And of course, old school film cameras can create some really amazing images too.  When we get our Holga film developed, we also get a CD of images so they can be easily uploaded to view online. 

MEDIUM FORMAT CAMERA >> Holga 120N

Scouting out new locations for photo shoots is another of my favorite parts of photography.  I love exploring the city and taking grittier, urban photos, but my most treasured places to shoot usually involve nature in some way.  (This likely comes from my dad as well, as he always photographs nature and is highly influenced by Ansel Adams.)  When we're doing outfit shoots, I like to go to nature preserves, forests and old farms.  When we're just having fun photography days, I like to scout out rural towns and parks.  It's amazing the details you notice when you're taking pictures vs. just walking around a location.  It allows you to slow down and appreciate your surroundings, and therefore, really experience life instead of just going through the motions or mindlessly rushing to get on to the next thing.

I hope you guys enjoyed this little intro to my photography experiences, and I can't wait to share more with you over the next few months!  I also can't wait to head out to San Francisco (one of my favorite places in the world) in less than two days and meet with the Adobe team and the other bloggers involved with this project.  You can follow my adventures on the trip via my Twitter and Instagram (@bubbyandbean) accounts, and also keep up with the project via Adobe Photoshop Element's Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube accounts.

More to come soon!