Can You Make a Low Resolution File a High Resolution File?

Low Resolution or Screen Resolution files or 72 dpi is all the same thing.  I was sent the photo above to "improve" by my editor.  It should be noted that I did not shoot the photo; I believe it was shot by another worker, not a photographer, on an older cell phone.  I get a lot of people asking me how can I improve this photo and make it printable.  I even get people that say I have a low res photo by a girl with a really nice camera but it is low res what do I do?  

First of all, I just love when people tell me...her camera was really nice, but the photos are low res so I should be fine right?  NOOOOOOOOO, a nice camera does not a photographer make!  A camera is a tool, it doesn't make an idiot into a professional photographer overnight.  Sorry didn't mean to call someone an idiot, but if you know me you'll get over it. 

Fancy cameras or larger cameras can actually be set to shoot photos in a screen res mode or lower resolution jpeg files.  However, unless you are exclusively shooting for the web, why would anyone do this, because all of your images would be low res.  Remember, there is no way to go from low res to high res, but you can always go from high res to low res.  Remember this.  I have actually seen fly-by-night hobby photographers actually shoot in this mode.....remember that when you hire one, you probably would be really upset to learn that your wedding was shot entirely in a low res mode....another reason to hire a pro!

I recently had a lady send me a cell phone photo of her husband and said he died of a heart attack but it was her favorite photo.  My heart broke for her, so I wanted to help her out so I took a look at her photo.  The photo, which I won't put up because I don't want to insult anyone, was shot on a flip phone and was not only out of focus but really grainy or noisy.  Old flip phones are some of the earliest camera phones, not high res at all or good quality.  I softened the noise, corrected the color as much as possible, but that was as good as it could get.  The photo was around 600x600 too low for making a good print!  The lady was not pleased that I couldn't make it perfect and didn't pay me...note to self get money up front for this every time!  I did tell her up front that it would never be what she wanted it to be.  I still stand behind this!  I can't make something out of nothing, no matter how bad she really wanted a great photo of her husband, she will never get it out of the photo she sent me.  If it had been shot on a newer phone such as my iPhone 6plus it wouldn't have been a problem. The resolution on cell phones is improving every year just like digital cameras have.  So the answer is yes you can get a high res photo on a new phone, just look at the resolution if it is in the 1000x1000 range your good.  Okay so maybe you will never get bill board size, but you can print something for the house no problem.  

Here is a quick tip to remember as well.  If you want to keep a photo at the highest possible resolution from a phone email it from the phone do not text it.  Texting compresses the size even more, and if it is already small don't make it smaller.  

So the answer to your question; "Can I make this tiny photo high quality and print an 8x10 and make it look great?" No you can't.  But  you can keep it on your Facebook or phone and view it whenever you want to make you happy.  Remember Low to High = No, High to Low = Yes.

It never ceases to amaze me what the Lord can do for your business.  I have prayed over my business this year, and the Lord has blessed me way too much....can I say that?  I am not complaining, I am just thinking if it continues like this I will have to hire an assistant full time.  Yikes, am I ready for that?  I love it and I wouldn't change a thing.  So much to do so little time.  I am booking into September now!  Woohoo, the Lord is Super!

Well I survived my first Bridal Show!  I had a booth at the Granbury Bridal Show.  It was hosted by the Granbury Bridal Circle.  Attendance was good and I met a lot of other vendors in the business.  Local wedding planner Erin of Finealta Events https://www.facebook.com/FinealtaEvents encouraged me to Just Do It!  I really wanted to build a wall and buy more than I needed, well I did that anyway, but I didn't have time so I got creative and made my booth anyway.  I used what I had, for the most part.  I think it turned out really well though and I was asked if I did a lot of shows...uhh nope, not yet anyway. 

I must admit that I heard all the booths are going for trendy or shabby chic, so I ran the other way as savvy marketers would.  I knew I had to hit all the senses as well.  I used a Tyler candle auto glam scented paper behind my brochures in the Tyler scent to hit the sniffers since you cannot have candles!  I am a Tyler Candle Junkie!  I also wanted real flowers, and I think I got robbed on that deal, Kroger $25.00 and they were okay, but I thought that was a bit steep.  I probably should've put the money in a reusable arrangement, but I love fresh flowers.  I used wedding crystal that I already had, I mean does anyone ever use that stuff, so my booth was a perfect use for it!  Hershey Kisses for the taste buds worked well because everyone wants a kiss.  I did consult with an Interior Designer for my booth, I think I was second guessing myself, but she was well worth it!  I consulted with http://kimfancherdesign.com/  Kim was easy to work with and worth it!  She suggested I use my old cameras to draw on people's curiosity, or for conversation pieces.  Many people did comment on them.  Also, she suggested the different levels of things on the table to make the eye wonder around.  Kim also suggested the marbles on the black velor to catch the light.  I highly suggest Kim for your home too, check out her site!  My biggest challenge for my booth was how to hold the darn photos in the back.  I really wanted to make a wall and a living room feel, but I just didn't have the time...two girls, middle of school year, booked....hello....no time.  I came back down to earth, thinking how can I use what I have and not go broke doing this?  I had already paid the booth rental, which wasn't cheap, but I had to think...what do I have.  Oh yes, a great Wescott Background that I love, and I have a background stand.  And I love my background stand...and I've used the heck out of it, but it didn't break the bank either, and it's long paid for.  Now, how to hold the pics?  I was afraid that frames would be too heavy, so I printed my prints through my new fav... White House Custom Color....sorry you neighbor with a great camera....if you don't have a tax ID you can't use them!  They are great, they call me every time there might be a problem, they look out for me!  They are all 16x20's in the background that way I can get a cheap frame later at Michael's if I need too.  Frames that you haul around don't last, so I wasn't about to go expensive.  The prints had to be mounted, so I spent a bit over $100 for those.  I am useful for useless info sometimes...magnets!  I have bought up the heavy duty magnets from lowes, not cheap, but reusable, and used mounting tape to mount them to the back of the prints and with my husband's help we hung them on the background.  I also had to spend about $30 for a coroplast sign of my logo or name.  I am thinking metal would've been smarter, but again, weight was a consideration.  The other frames are from Ross, a great place for frames, but yes it is hit or miss there.  I did have a mishap...I broke one of my turquoise candle holders from the Wagon Yard in Granbury.  I love that store.  If it is me though....I know that I will break something!  So all that aside I think I did alright.  Now all I need is bookings from the show to pay for the fun I had!

Get Your Shoes On Girl

Both of my daughters are twirlers, and my older daughter has been at it since the first grade.  She was just a little bitty thing when she started and one of the things that twirlers go through is jazz shoes.  We practice quite a bit, especially in our driveway because sometimes it's just easier to walk outside than to go to the gym.  Lazy, I know...but anywho, the driveway eats jazz shoes.  Twirlers spin a lot and even eat a lot of batons.  They learn to catch them because they don't like eating them I think.  So here is what I busted out for the driveway to eat...

Well they aren't perfect but I remembered the days when I painted jeans and pillowcases and anything else we could get our hands on when I was younger with my best friend Nancy Fields.  I was always envious of her artistic talent.  I still have my jeans we painted somewhere hidden in the attic, and hidden they will stay until we move again I suppose.  I think I rekindled my love for fabric painting.  These were done with paint pens.  I haven't tried the markers for fabric.  I eyeballed them at Michael's, but truly I have too much craft stuff and the paint pens stretch to other mediums.  I think they remind me of cartoons.  And Laney was happy enough that she is wearing them to school this week so mission accomplished.

I am a Frazzeled Female....Not a Doubt in My Mind!

I am honored to spend Thursday mornings with a group of moms who are trying to be better Christian women.  We are using The Frazzled Female

It seems to be a good little Bible study, we will be on week 2 this week which is having a positive attitude.  If you are like me when everything around you seems to go to pot at times it is hard to have a positive attitude.  Different people get "frazzled" for different reasons.  We are supposed to find something positive in everything even cleaning the toilet.  Yep that would be a hard time to find the positivity, especially if your a mom cleaning up after boys...okay or a wife of any man (it doesn't matter the age...none of them can aim, and all of them think a maid will clean it up later).  All of us moms feel that our families assume the mystery maid comes and cleans up after them, the maid that never gets paid or many thanks.  Anyhow I think the point of this weeks study is to try to see the positivity in the horrible tasks of life or in difficult times.  So if anyone hears me scream "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 NIV, it is probably because it is the only positive thing I can think to say.  We are all supposed to remember while we are cleaning up after our families that God has great plans for us, as long as we seek Him even when we don't think we have a reason too. 

*I think I should note to those faint of heart that I am a Christian, but I am a human so at times I should probably put a disclaimer...I am a messy Christian, sometimes without a filter.  If you don't agree with me that is okay, or if I offend you I am so sorry.  But one things remains, I am here to honor the Lord and he knows me really well and he accepts me as I am a wonderfully made mess!  Trust me He either shakes his head at me a lot or laughs at me a lot...take your pick!

Amarillo By Mornin' Up from Granbury

I wanted to take time to talk about my new header picture above.  The Randall High School senior is Lexi and we had an extraordinary morning in Amarillo taking her pictures.  Her Dad has some access to some really great landmarks in Amarillo.  This photo was shot from the top of the court house.  I have never had that opportunity before and it was awesome.  I feel like the photo really depicts Amarillo and Lexi.  Her Dad and Grandpa had much to do with many buildings downtown and ohhh the places she will go possibly from Amarillo.  Since moving from Amarillo I have had some people say your from Amarillo, "Isn't it a truck stop?", or "It's windy as hell there!" or the it's just plain ugly there.  Well I suppose all of those things are occasionally true if you live there, but I think Amarillo is full of people who know how to look for the beauty in the simple stuff.  My mother-in-law who has also lived in Amarillo was also perplexed with why people think it is so ugly and since she travels much she had a great observation, it is because Amarillo's skyline never changes.  It could be.  I  discussed this fact with Lexi's family while we were shooting and they felt it was because Amarillioins like to keep it original.  I would concur, but there is a bit of room for improvement I think a coupel of old buildings just need to get a little TNT time and build something new just to change the skyline, and it must be optically interesting, something to talk about.  I am not sure what the newest building is downtown, I think the Petroleum building

which is the mirrored building to the right behind Lexi (and if you look like a pro photographer they will run you off from there, they are no fun and they lie that the building has a copyright....really).  No, the Amarillo Opera House is new, and really interesting architecturally, but you cannot see it from the highway.  The Amarillo staple of their skyline is the "Bank One" building or the tall one in the photo, I think it says WT now because they have a downtown campus there.  It is super 70's and houses the Amarillo club in the top, or the Amarillo equivalent of the "rich folks super club".  I always thought that it was really posh when I was younger and was in awe of the rich old ladies playing bridge there in the afternoon.  Now that I have seen Fort Worth and Dallas wealth first hand.....I think what I thought was wealth at a young age is not spectacular now.  However, I must say that in the Panhandle it boils down to simple again.  I have known very wealthy panhandle people who wear their wrangler work shirts, jeans with holes, and always have their hands dirty....and you couldn't squeeze a buffalo nickle out of their ass.  But I digress....the buildings...wouldn't you think one of those ladies that lunch at the Amarillo Club would have noticed that they should donate all of their money to update the Amarillo skyline?  Okay if one of you ladies ever reads this blog, your kids and grand kids probably haven't seen you in 10 years because you wouldn't buy them everything so just make a new skyscraper in Amarillo and name it the "ungrateful brat" building lol.

Another building that is historical to Amarillo and was actually gutted and renovated some years ago it the Sante Fe building which is now owned by the city.  I think it is art deco style.....it really is neat up close and this time I got an inside view!  Lexi's Dad maintains that building and we got to go in a couple of cool places.  Places many Amarilloins would be honored to see.  I was, but I had to warn her Dad I may call on him again in the future. 

I have photographed at the Sante Fe Building before and so have tones of Amarillo photographers, especially the view from above.  It is even awesome with a bride or couple in the front.  But I got to go in...woohoo lady!  Here is one of my favs of Lexi in the service elevator, the old cage kind.  I really had a great time doing Lexi's pics, and I love old buildings.  I love old original things, oh yeah maybe because I am from Amarillo too! 

Okay I thought of a name Kreativ Liv, which in Danish or pa Dansk means Creative Life, which I think sums me up perfectly.  I long for things to make, do, and see that are creative and that can make life more fun.  If you know me you know that I used to live in Denmark as an exchange student, so Denmark or Danmark if your Dansk has a special place in my heart.  I think that is where I learned to mix the new with the old.  So Kreativ Liv it is.  It's my blog and my new goal is to enjoy this outlet as something fun not something dreaded....if your a mom you know what I mean....one more thing to do!