Location Hunting & Photography Questions

If you follow me on facebook you know that I’ve been out location hunting a lot the last two weeks. October and November are going to be quite busy for Kendra Pryor Photography and I couldn’t be more tickled about it!

I have several sessions coming up so I wanted to go out and hunt down a few new to me locations.

Basically this means I pack my

camera,

snacks,

and coffee (you know the essentials) and get lost for several hours.

 

I hit the road, listen to some tunes and see where the day takes me.

 

Sometimes I find some great spots other times I end my journey frustrated and low on gas. It’s all worth it though. Even if I do get lost and a little frustrated at times I still get to enjoy things like this………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not the best picture but this place and I are tight! This beauty is 5 minuets away from my house. Kent and I go walking here almost every night. Well, every night since we found it which was a week ago ;o). I foresee many fall nights spent relaxing and watching the sunset from this very path! I have a photo shoot here this weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lately I’ve been asked what type of camera I use.

I actually have 2 Digital SLR’s that I switch back and forth from. I started out with the Olympus E-420 (great camera to learn on). I would highly recommend it to anyone that’s new to the Digital SLR world and a little unsure of what they're doing. The price point is not too high and the lenses are affordable (by affordable I mean not $1,000 a pop). It’s one of the smallest Digital SLR’s on the market but rates right up there with some of the lager cameras. Due to this I still use it A LOT!! It’s easier to lug around than my professional camera and still delivers great shots…..especially in natural light.

The other camera I use is a Cannon 50D. I like to call this my big girl camera. The price point is quite higher than my E-420 and so is everything that comes along with it…..including the lenses, ouch! I’ve only had it for a short time so I’m still getting use to it but I’m already loving it! It does great in natural light as well as indoors and delivers awesome clarity.

The pictures above were taken with my 50D or E-420.

Not sure if I will ever fall out of love with my E-420. We’ve had some good times but I’m tickled about my new big girl camera! 

 

Here’s you chance to ask away!

 

Since I’ve received a few e-mails from people asking photography questions I thought I would put together a post and try to answer the most common questions.

Uhh now let me tell ya I am in no way shape or form an expert on the subject. I have a huge passion for photography and spend many hours learning about anything I can get my hands on but I’m not the most technical photographer so go easy on me! I hope to get there some day.  

 

If you have a question regarding photography let me know in your comment.It can be any from how I got started (still growing my business) to funny things that have happened on a shoot…..whatever!  I’ll pick a few questions and answer them to the best of my ability in a later post. :o) I would also love to know if you use a point and shot or anSLR. This will help me gear my responses to the right audience.

You don't have to own a pricy D-SLR to take great pictures. It helps but you can also do some really neat things with your point and shoot camera!  

Let me just say that I’m tickled that you
even ask ME photography questions!  

 

 

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Don’t forget to e-mail me (domesticprincessintraining@gmail.com) your homemade costume picture. It doesn't have to be 100% homemade. It can be several pieces that you bought and put together to create an over all look. As long as it’s not a prepackaged one size fits all type of costume. :o)

For more details click HERE!

Homemade Costume Parade

 

 

Let’s celebrate this spooky holiday

with a costume parade!

All you need to do is e-mail me (domesticprincessintraining@gmail.com) a picture of your homemade costume. You can share a picture of you, your kiddos, or even your pets!  It can be a picture from this year or 10 years ago as long as the featured costume is homemade (not a pre packaged costume).

 

Be sure to include a link to your blog in your e-mail so I can give you credit. If you don’t have a blog that’s okay you can still join in on the fun! I’ll post all submitted pictures October 10^th and will include your name and a link to your blog under your picture. :o)

 

All pictures need to be in my inbox by October 7th! Oh I really do hope you participate! I’m going to be pretty sad and a little embarrassed if I’m the only one at the parade.

Rules (they’re not too bad….I promise)
-All costumes need to be homemade. As long as the costume you choose to submit is not a pre packaged costume you’ll be good to go!  
-One picture per entry. You can have multiple people/pets per picture.
- All entries need to be in my inbox by October 7th.

 

Are you wondering if a prize involved?

 

There is!!! All you have to do is participate in our costume parade by e-mailing me a picture and I’ll put your name in a hat for a chance to win a prize!

 

Are you wondering what the prize is?

 

Well I am too, but trust me it’ll be good and you’ll want to win so send me your homemade costume pictures (I’ll update on what the prize is as soon as I know)! :o)  

 

E-mail you entry to:
domesticprincessintraining@gmail.com

 

Feel free to spread the word about our

parade by tweeting, facebooking, and

blogging. The more participants the

better!

 

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins with Streusel Topping

 

 

Ingredients

-Cream Cheese Filling-
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons brown sugar
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-Streusel Topping-
4 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons white sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons chopped pecans

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-Muffin Batter-
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
(or 1 t each nutmeg, clove, allspice, ginger)

1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 can (15-16oz) canned pumpkin
1/3 cup canola
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour 18 muffin cups, or use paper liners.

2. To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add egg, vanilla and brown sugar. Beat until smooth, then set aside.

3. For the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Add butter and cut it in with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

4. For the muffin batter: In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture and add eggs, pumpkin, olive oil and vanilla. Beat together until smooth.

5. Place pumpkin mixture in muffin cups about 1/2 full. Then add one tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture right in the middle of the batter. Try to keep cream cheese from touching the paper cup. Sprinkle on the streusel topping.

6. Bake at 375 degrees F (195 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.

 

Picture Hodgepodge

I need to come clean about something. I have a HUGE crush on on my camera! I think Kent is starting to catch on but come on how I could NOT fall in love him? We do everything together!

We travel together, shop together, visit friends and family together, work together, cook together, ahh I could go on and on but I think you get the point.

You see my camera does something really neat that makes me love him even more. He helps me freeze precious and silly moments in time. I know…..how awesome is that! Since we’re always together I have tons of random moments some not as “technically” correct as others but I still love them none the less.

Here’s to all those random moments frozen in time!

 

 

Kent’s makeshift bed when our upstairs AC unit was out this summer. He’s crafty too!

 

 

 

 

This is the moment that Ninja fell in love with Parker.

 

 

 

    

 

 

Don’t mind the dust! Ninja loves hanging out right on top of my fabric pile. Don’t worry, he’s litter box trained.

 

 

Precious!

 

 

Take a look at her eyes. This one cracks me up!  

 

 

 

Ha! Parker thinks my feet smell real nice. ;o)

 

 

 

 

  Don't worry. He’s not dead. Just taking a little nap.

 

 

Accessory contest at Target with my nieces. Tay and Tori if you’re reading this hope you don’t mind that I posted this picture. :o)

 

 

 

 

 

  Watching the sunset with my love.

 

A snapshot stops a moment from running away.  ~Eudora Welty 

 

 

Come on over and visit Domestic Princess in Training on facebook!

Tour of Homes: Bird Edition

Welcome to Tweedy Villa! My name is Gale and I’ll be your realtor for the day. I’m so glad you’ve decided to visit our lovely community. We have something for every flock. Do keep in mind that we are a high end community and do not allow outdoor nest.

 

Alrighty please flutter this way………… 

 

     
This beauty just came on the market. You’ll definitely have to be the early bird to catch this worm. I have two other clients looking at it later today. Ahh, don’t you just love the artistic charm this abode offers. It’s rumored that Ladybird Johnson lived her for short stent in her early twenties.

 

Moving on, moving on…………

 

As I said before we have something for everyone. We had a few birdbrains that use to live here….if you know what I mean. You didn’t hear that from me though.

 

The next home we’re visiting comes with an intriguing story.

 

  This poor thing has gone into foreclosure. The previous owner tried to kill two birds with one stone! I know, I know…..CRAZY! Trust me his goose is cooked! Our community can now rest easy.

 

Okay if you’ll please follow me this way. We need to get the bird’s-eye view for the nest uhh I mean NEXT one.

 

Isn’t it lovely! This was Martha Stewbird’s summer home. We try to keep it hush, hush but she became a jail bird and we had to ask her to leave the community. Ahh I miss her dearly. Her food was something to crow about!

 

Have you ever seen Little Nest on the Prairie? Oh good! You’re going to love our next home.

 

  This home offers that quaint Little Nest on the Prairie charm and even comes with security. Oh no need to be scared he’s a fine feathered friend and has eyes like a hawk!

 

Okay let’s flutter right along please.

 

This is one of the fist homes built in our community. It has that old world charm. Don’t you agree? A little bird told me the home owners are planning on reducing the price. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch but I bet you could get an awesome deal on this beauty. Let me know if you want to make an offer!

 

Now do keep an open mind as we make our way to the next home. 

 

  This is one of our smaller floor plans but still offers that Tweedy Villa appeal. Tracy Chirpman use to live here. Let me tell ya…..that girl has a voice like a nightingale! She was sweet enough to serenade or residence from time to time.

 

 

 

Ahh I just love the privacy this home offers. You could sit out on you perch necked as a jay bird and no one would be able to see you. It has that high rise tree house feel without the hefty price tag.

 

One more home left in our tour. I’ve saved the best for last!

 

Ta-da…..isn’t it dreamy! It has a working outdoor bird bath and over 10 rooms! The Gosselin’s used to live here. Kate caught her husband doing the birds and bees with some chick. She was furious when she found out. Her husband flew the coop and we haven’t seen them since. Oh well, their loss can be YOUR gain!

 

 

Well, what do ya think?

Did you find something you would like to fluff your feathers in?

I do hope I didn’t chirp your ear off. I have a tendency to do that. People have even been rude enough to call me gossiping Gale but I have no idea why. Uh some birds can be so mean! Anyway please do keep in touch and maybe it’s best if you brush some of the things I’ve shared about our residence under the nest. Some people these days just can’t keep their beaks shut.

 

 

Little Side Note: I know this post is totally random and cheesy but I thought it would be fun! My aunt has a ton of bird houses on her property. Last time I went out for a visit I took my camera along and snapped wayyy too many pictures. What does any silly blogger do when they have a plethora of random bird house pictures? Well, they come up with a post full of cheesy bird sayings and a pretend catty bird realtor …….right?

If you would like to read other super random post…..and I’m sure you do ;o). Take a look at the links below.

- Take Your Dog to Work Day
- Pumpkin Spice Coffee Killer

Domestic Princess in Training is now on Facebook!

Once a Pillowcase Now a Work of Art

After I finished decorating my craft room I wanted to try and incorporate a little yellow throughout the rest of my home. It is my favorite color after all.

 

I found a beautiful golden yellow striped pillowcase at Goodwill. I knew I could find something to do with it so I put it in my cart and took it home!

 

Here’s a little thrift store tip: While shopping at thrift stores keep an open mind when looking though bedding and clothing. Sometimes you can find really neat fabrics for a great price. They may come in the form of a skirt or a pillow case (in this situation) but you can always cut it up and turn it into something new!

I had a couple matching frames from a previous Goodwill trip. I’m sure you thrift store fanatics know how rare it is to find matching frames. I snatched them up when I found them and put them away for a rainy day. They were bright gold so I toned them down with some glossy black spray paint.

 

Can you see where this project is going?

 

 

That’s right! I got out my scissors and went to town.

 

I picked up a package of vinyl flower decals from Ikea.

 

Called in my craft room mascot for a little help!

*If you’re new to Domestic Princess in Training this is Ninja our little lionhead bunny. He is just precious and loves to be involved in whatever’s going on.*

 

 

   I cut the decals so I was able to arrange them however I wanted on my frame .

Tip: If you try this project at home try to not remove the sticker once you’ve placed it to your surface. They leave a tacky residue behind when they are move and loose a bit of their stickiness.

 

 

       

                    Before                                                         After
                                                             Revamped Goodwill
                                                                             goodies used to give this wall
                                                                                          a little love.

 

I switched out the old melted down candle with a *new to me* candle purchased at Goodwill. I love the black toile print. The sconce is also an old Goodwill find. :o)

 

 

 

I’m happy with the way it turned out! This corner in my living room still needs a little work (I want to replace the red pillow on the chair, looking for new end table, and may take down the red flower print on the wall) but I think the new art helped!

Oh how I love a cheap Goodwill revamp!

I’m linking up with:
Southern Hospitality