http://www.michelleblackconcepts.com

Link to download her rockin stuff:

http://www.pifphoto.com/MB_PIF_Exclusive.zip

 Please note that the Actions are
compatible with Photoshop 7 and above.

 *Thank you MICHELLE! Superstar!-Lindsay PIF Owner

Your name?
Michelle

How long have you been in the photography business?
Michelle: I’ve been into photography for 6 years now but as far as the
business end of things, 3 years. An additional year was spent assisting
another photographer before I took the reigns and went at it alone. The
best decision I have ever made! I feel truly blessed to be able to do what
I love and also balance the time I spend with my son.

What is the best advice (Pay It Forward Style) you could give a
photographer starting out in the business?
Michelle: Practice is the key. Seems obvious enough but it really is true.
I have been OBSESSIVE for the past 5 years now teaching myself everything
and I am STILL learning and growing everyday. Something I’m realizing as
of late that I would suggest also… is… yes.. we are in this for two
reasons: 1) for the love of giving back a part of ourselves and the
enlightenment we gain through creating art.. and…. 2) to hopefully
generate a career doing something we appreciate so much. I think
regardless of anything else, remember what is important is not overworking
yourself. Don’t take on too much and price your work for what you feel
your time is really worth. I put my ALL into my work and finally realized
the type of workload that works best for me is to price a little higher,
and book a little less. Time is important to me and I see so many
photographers burning themselves out by pricing too low in the beginning
and then not being able to raise prices to where they should be because
everyone already expects something less. The people who really do
appreciate the time and effort I put into my work are willing to pay for
it. I do host specials about 4 times per year that brings in people who
might not normally have hired me and I have kept them as clients, so
hopefully this year is the one that will “make the mark” and define who I
am as a professional. Knowing what you’re after in this market is key…
and knowing how to market your energy. Learn when and when NOT to give
freebies. Trust your inner voice, and trust your vision for the future.
Set goals, and figure out how you will reach them. Don’t be afraid to
contact people - I write editors and publicists daily and I just know that
my persistence will eventually start giving back to me… in fact there
are already a couple of surprises on the way!!

What is something you have learned in the past that you carry with you to
the present?
Michelle: That the past is something we should learn from and not dwell
on. This is actually a lesson that recycles itself within me regularly,
and I find myself yearning to inspire others to push past their
inhibitions at all costs and never stop moving forward. I’m often told
that my work is inspiring, which is fulfillment beyond the price I’ve ever
been paid by any one client! In business and in life alike.. everything we
experience is nothing more than an opportunity to grow from.

One thing you just CANT live without?
Michelle: Well definitely MUSIC… I listen to many genres and have over
the years developed a very deep connection/appreciation towards artists
who others may never ever hear of, who are buried beneath the scene but
actually prefer it to be that way, people that don’t seek recognition who
just write for the beauty of it. On a sillier side note, I can’t live
without tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions because I put them in nearly
everything I cook as of late, nor can I live without my vintage wine
goblets, ha! Odd as it may seem.. I have a strange ‘complex’ about the way
a wine glass sits against my mouth when I take a sip… LOL! I’ve
purchased many over time, and the ones I have used the most, and can’t
live without, I actually found at a thrift store for $.50 cents per glass.
They’re very heavy and sturdy - unlike most that are fragile, and for lack
of a better word.. CRAPPY. I’ve even been drinking ice water and juice out
of them lately, teehee. OH.. and last but not least…. I could NEVER live
without my CAMERA!!! ( hm.. that exceeds ‘one thing’ doesn’t it? )

Your favorite quote?
Michelle: My new favourite quote was posted by someone in a group that I
created on Flickr ( http://flickr.com/groups/michelleblack ) and it goes
as follows:

“Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is
everything it’s cracked up to be. That’s why people are so cynical about
it. . . . It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking
everything for. And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk
even more.”
– Erica Jong
Wildest Craziest Thing you have done?
Michelle: OH wow. This makes me feel like a boring person because my mind
is literally drawing a blank, haha! I would have to say probably the
wildest thing I have done is breaking into an abandoned mental asylum when
I was 17 that is named one of the most haunted places in the USA. I was
the one that actually knocked the window out so we could get in; I didn’t
break the glass, mind you, just shimmied it off of its hinges. The crazy
part is - we didn’t realize that the place was wired up until one of us
almost opened a door that had an alarm hooked up to it! On our way back
out, it was like a movie when as we were climbing back out the window we
originally entered through, my cousin’s shoe fell in as she was squeezing
through. We all just stood there staring down into the basement at it.
Guess who was nominated to go BACK IN and grab it???? (yep, ME!! haha)
Who is your hero?
Michelle: My son. My son is the ONLY human being on this Earth who forces
me to keep going when sometimes I get overwhelmed with things without even
saying a word.. After he was born, so many of the things that had once
been so unclear became “black and white”. Including my realization that
photography was the avenue for which I felt the most confidence. He
reminds me to be patient, kind, generous… all the virtues of life.
Adults learn just as much from children as we strive to teach them while
they are growing. It is an amazing and unpredictable balance, but the
balance is undoubtedly alive.
Tell us a little bit about your company?
http://www.michelleblackconcepts.com

Michelle: Well to make it short and sweet.. I am a freelance photographer.
I love shooting a wide variety of subjects and assignments, but I try to
incorporate the same approach so that my galleries are fluent in
atmosphere. After an overwhelming amount of emails, comments, etc, asking
me how I achieve certain contrasts, tone, etc.. I started designing
actions and other resources that I now give back to the industry. I like
sharing what I have learned because we are all in this together and I have
learned so much of what I know simply from inspiration that I have drawn
from others’ work. Giving back to the community just seems to complete the
cycle.

Linkage to Michelles COOLness stuff!

http://michelleblackconcepts.com - Portfolio
http://mb-photoprofessional.com  - Resources
http://flickr.com/photos/ursylla - Flickr

*And its so not over, nope, never is on PIF…she’s hooking you guys up…. I have to upload it though :0)-  *Thank you too michelle for a rockin interview!!!!!!!!-Lindsay PIF Owner

Its photoshop week, this coming week.  Got LOADS of things to help you out with THE PHOTOSHOP GURUS!  They are fantastic, superb, WONDERFUL!

Lots to come, look for it.

Hit us up if you have something to share for photoshop WEEK!  We do! Come play with us!

Much PIF Love,

Lindsay PIF Owner

Another vendor is on board with us on the PIF blog.  This company has some cool tools for us Photography addicts.

Plug it in, Plug it in! Pictocolor style!!!

I use the Icorrect plugin, I have for a long time. http://www.pictocolor.com/oneclick.htm  I absolutely love it!  I had to email them. I just had too.  And they emailed back!

PIF readers get 15 PERCENT OFF their products (15%) !!!!!

Here is a special PIF code from a superb gentlmen from Pictocolor! He is paying it forward!!

Coupon: PIFBLOG  Link too Pictocolor: http://www.pictocolor.com/

I have to quote Wayne, his email was so inspiring and motivational.  It always amazes me the emails I recieve (thank you to everyone that emails).  Heres a bit of what he said:

“I spent a little time reading your blog yesterday and was quite impressed.  I really appreciate the premise of the site–to give back.  I am a Rotarian and Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self”.

Wayne”

*Thank you too Wayne at Pictocolor for PIF to the blog, greatly appreciated and a lovely gesture!!-Lindsay PIF Owner

First… love the site. Found it a couple of months ago, and visit it everyday.

The post with the link on how to get correct skin tones…very helpful.

a day or two later, this post came out:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/07/15/70-beauty-retouching-photoshop-tutorials/

and I thought I’d pass it along to you guys, so you can pass it forward to all the readers.
Allen

*Thank you Allen, very helpful and thank you for loving the site !! -Lindsay PIF Owner

Last week I came across this on one of the photography forums I belong too and I knew right away what I’d be posting about here this week. ArtsCow is a newish company and to build their word of mouth and client base they are running a ton of different deals. Just for signing up alone you are given free prints and 1 free 8×8 hard cover photo book - wow!

I only just ordered my book so I can’t vouch for their quality. You do have to pay for shipping but it’s still a pretty good deal. They have a ton of different voucher codes posted in their community forum too so you can get even more free stuff - love it!

Use this code to add 10 free books to your account: FREE10XPB
_{(just a heads up… when I first used the code I didn’t think it worked… it’s a little strange and added the 10 books seperately)}

I thought I’d share a simple easy template so you can get started making your books! You can download it {here}

Tiffany R*** to me
show details Jul 11 

I really love your blog!!! I have learned so much and am actually working on
my first template to PIF with! I would like a little advice or guidance or
direction about a small matter, I have seen some really great black and
white photos that are almost white! How do you acheive that effect? An
example is like the picture on the banner of Heirloom Photography blog.
www.heirloomphotography.blogspot.com. If you could help me with this or
point me in the right direction I would appreciate it so much! Love your
site, rock on!

-Lindsay PIF Owner

 Family Time……Photography Time…..Me Time…..

 As everyone knows, or anyone that reads this little ol blog, I worked with Flashpalette Website Design, did a little bit of traveling, worked alot, nonstop, and now taking a step back too spend more time with my family (and smell the flowers,lol ). My last day is 7/15, and I enjoyed it ALOT.  I’m excited to break out the camera more, along with taking it easy. 

Anyways, thats the lowdown, nothing major, love flashpalette and all the stuff we did.

Much PIF Love,

-Lindsay PIF Owner

Props is doing a little diddy where you can get in for $75.00 instead of $150.00:

Here is what Cher says:

I’d like to give away a $1000.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to B&H VIDEO!!

Here’s the deal!

To Do this ($1000.00 GC) We need NO LESS than 100 people to sign up and pay for their renewal.

RENEWALS for $75.00 for premium members only! 
Props will run this for ONE WEEK ONLY. From 7/05/08 to 7/12/08.

At the end of the week (SUNDAY JULY 13) , I will do 3 drawings from those who renewed.

First one drawn will win $1000.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to B&H VIDEO!! 2nd one drawn will win $500.00 GC to B&H and
the 3rd will win a $250.00 GC to B&H!

So, spread the word! and get your name on the list! Remember, we need 100 or more membership renewals! This is for Premium Members (OLD AND NEW) Only!

PAYPAL the $75.00 to admin (at) prophotogs.com

www.prophotogs.com

Tell Cher, I sent ya :)  I love that board, one heck of a deal.

-Lindsay PIF Owner

I made this paper a couple of months ago and have found it quite useful in making frames and using in templates. It’s also quite useful as a texture as well.

It’s 12X12 and 300 dpi.

Enjoy!!

download vintage paper here

Jenica