I received a box about 2 weeks ago… a BIG box…and heavy too! I hadn’t ordered anything so I was surprised!
Did I tell you I LOVE surprises? Anyway, I could hardly wait to open it! You’ll never guess what was inside… Well, you could try, but you’d probably be wrong. One of my dear, dear, readers sent me a Light Tent to help with taking pictures of my dolls.
I was so busy when it arrived I hadn’t been able to set it up and try it out, but last night, when I was faced with taking pictures of Emmie in her blue and pink Easter dress, I just HAD to see what all the hype was about.
I didn’t have a clue how they worked and it took me a little while to get the hang of it… I put the lights on the sides but it wasn’t quite bright enough, so I googled Light Tent videos and found out a few things… I needed an extra light in the front and then things looked much better.
Here is a picture of Emmie in her slip before I had it figured out…
…and here’s one where I think it’s pretty sweet…
This is what it looks like when I step back a few feet…
…a little closer…
…and one cropped and edited just a bit…pretty pretty isn’t she?
I’m sure there’s a learning curve to them and I hope to get better, but I love how pretty Emmie looks in my Ebay listing this time. In fact, she looked SO pretty, I took 76 pictures and narrowed it down to 26… ONLY because I had too! We had a great time last night posing this way and that and chatting while we worked.
Here are a few more pictures of the shoot and a link at the bottom of the post to the Ebay listing.
So a BIG thank you to my surprise reader who blessed me with this! I’ll think of you every time I take pictures!
OH, I almost forgot…here is the link to Emmie’s dress on Ebay…or you can click on the top picture on the right side bar.
See you,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh. My. Goodness! Delicate, dainty, darling! Emmie’s debut dress may have been long-awaited, but it definitely didn’t disappoint. I think you put the charm of ten dresses into this one Easter dress, Jeanne! I have errands in the morning, but I will comment again tomorrow. Thank you for providing beautiful visions for sweet dolly dreams as I lay down to sleep. I hope you have sweet dreams, too!
Wow, Emmie’s whole outfit is just adorable!! I’m glad you showed it without the bolero, too, but, really that bolero is just the icing on the cake, as far as I’m concerned! I’ve always loved boleros, anyway, so of course I love this one!
How thoughtful, for a blog reader to send you that wonderful Light Tent! You will have fun learning how to use it to best advantage, I’m sure. I had never even heard of such a thing before tonight–but what a great tool for the kind of photography you do!!
Prayers continue….
Oh, Jeanne, Emmie looks adorable, and yes, I do see a difference in using the Light Tent! Even me, someone who just randomly “snaps” pictures with no real preparation! How wonderful for you that you can take such wonderful pictures at the drop of a hat! And ,hey, it seemed to have worked, since you already have a bid!
What a wonderful and generous gift from the “Mystery Blog Reader”!
I hope you are feeling the love from all of us during this Holy Season of Easter. Prayers are being said daily for you and George! Yesterday’s weather was a real taste of spring and the promise it brings!
Yes, a light tent makes all the difference. I’m hoping to get one this year as well. 😀
Meant to say congrats on getting yours and what a sweet person to send you one. I hope all is going good with George. You both are still in my prayers.
What a marvelous gift to you from that very generous and thoughtful reader. Jeanne, Emmie looks so beautiful in her ensemble. You make pretty fabrics into works of art. Thank you so much for sharing your journey through sewing, photo taking and life. I look forward to anytime we can “get together”.
Blessings and prayers.
This is just so great! With that light tent, gray days, humid hot days, or windy days no longer matter because you have a wonderful indoor light source. So exciting to see how it is set up and used too. A big thank you to your caring reader for sending the surprise.
Wow, Emmie’s photo shoot is amazing. Love it. The dress and jacket are so stylish and just perfect for spring and Easter. That outfit can be worn all summer too without the jacket. Here comes the end of school picnic where Emmie will win the best dressed award.
My Meadow girls are kicking up their heels because a friend took pity and sent a couple of cute rompers for them. They are so thrilled to have some clothes.
Had a ton of heavy rain last night. Some urban flooding today, but it should be over for now. Most of it went south to central and southern CA. Not good for them. 🙁
Good Morning Jeanne,
Such a pretty Easter dress. The new wig is adorable. Your pictures are awesome. What a sweet and thoughtful gift. Continued prayers and have a blessed day.
Hugs
Ingrid
sorry this is so short and to the point but my grandson wants to help me type..lol
Emmie looks adorable in her outfit. She has such a pretty face and the colors you chose for her dress and hat really enhance her looks. And the tent light really makes a difference in the colors and it tones down Emmie’s complexion. It softens it somehow.
What a nice and thoughtful surprise from one of your readers.
Hope you and everyone out there have a nice day!!
What a thoughtful present! Your pictures have great detail and the colors seem very natural. I think it is a great addition to your photo studio!
Emmie’s dress is lovely. I knew it would be from your sneak peak picture. The outfit clearly says spring will be here soon! Your handiwork on such a small scale is truly inspiring.
Hope you have a great day!
Take care –
Dear Jeanne, wow, more elephants in your mailbox! What a lovely and generous surprise.
As Linda said, we are all sending you our love and prayers. We appreciate you gathering us together to share a little bit of our lives and to take part in yours.
Emmie’s outfit is beautiful. Some lucky Little Darling will for sure be wearing it in the Easter Parade.
I have been thinking about Emmie and her “Easter Charm” outfit all morning, Jeanne, and I am just smitten by this charming ensemble! We’ve come to expect excellence with your outfits, but you have really outdone yourself with this one, and that is saying something! The outfit enhances Emmie’s blond hair and blue eyes so well. I think Joy said it best when she described Emmie as a “picture of perfection.” Indeed she is, and your pictures highlight just that. They look wonderful!
Congrats on your new light tent, Jeanne. My photographer son said the second to last photo looks nearly professional, so I’m sure you will have a quick learning curve with your new equipment. It also will be reassuring for you to have a reliable indoor “studio” when the weather conditions for an outdoor photo shoot are less than desirable. Bless your thoughtful reader for her kindness and generosity!
I’ll be stopping by again and again this weekend to stare at Emmie’s pictures. 😉 I hope there was as much joy for you in the creation as there is for us in the viewing! Blessings for Thursday’s journey, Jeanne.
Hi Jeanne – Emmie looks SOOO Beautiful. Her “Easter Charm” outfit is just perfect. I think you’ve outdone yourself, I love every little part of it.
Your pics turned out great, especially the last one. Such a thoughtful, useful gift for you – we know it will get lots of use. I, too, had never seen a photo shoot tent, what a wonderful gift.
Keeping you all in my prayers
Those pictures are impressive! You do a great job with photos anyway but there is something different about the way the light tent exposes the light.
Your readers do take care of you don’t they!? Will you be able to use it for the AG dolls?
The Ensemble is SO pretty…colors couldn’t be any better and the trims and jacket and hat….oh so cute! Good luck with that auction!
Wow, the light tent makes such wonderful photos. I’ve never seen one either, but they are perfect for seamstresses like you to show off your creations. What a lovely and useful gift. Emmie looks adorable in her debut outfit. The blue and pink really set her off to perfections. i love the jacket with the pleated cuffs. That really adds to the charm. The fabric looks almost like dotted swiss, very pretty. For only being able to make one Easter dress this year you certainly made a winner.
I’m glad you have a light box now. You are so clever to go to YouTube and find out how to use it even better. Emmie looks wonderful. Thanks for showing us the difference it makes to photographing her in the beautiful outfit with the darling rabbit. Your jackets and hats are great with all the details so carefully thought out.
Thanks so much everyone,
I’m glad you enjoyed seeing Emmie in her tent! She’s still standing in it….she might not want to come out.
It’s 24″ tall, so I should be able to take pictures of the AG dolls too.
I can’t wait to do some more practicing with it.
Thanks again to my reader who sent it. I am overwhelmed at her generosity!!!
I hope everyone is having a nice Thursday evening….
Blessings, Jeanne
Stopping in again, as promised, to drool over Emmie’s lovely Easter outfit! Her sweet tufted jacket with ruffled sleeves is so feminine, and her pretty tutu-like slip, alone, makes me yearn to be a little girl again! Emma will surely be the star of the Easter Parade and the center of attention for many occasions beyond the holiday, as well. Thanks for the delightful dolly daydreams, Jeanne. I hope your weekend is dreamy, too!
P.S. I know you are still having fun experimenting with your new light tent, and here is a tip that might improve your already wonderful results. I hope it will be helpful. I showed Emmie’s pictures to my son, who is degreed in photo-illustration and graphic design, and this what he said:
The idea of a light box is to create an overall soft, diffused illumination that is shadowless or nearly shadowless, minimizing harsh light, deep shadows, and glare. He suggested that you pull the lights back on the sides so that the entire side panels of the tent are bathed in filtered light, as opposed to the circles of light that are shown in the photos above. The same goes for your direct light source in front. At some point, you may want to upgrade to bigger/brighter photo lights for professional quality results with this technique. Additionally, you can also buy a small photo “umbrella” accessory for your direct lighting. The benefit of an umbrella is that you can place your lighting closer to your subject while still maintaining a soft light, which is especially desirable for the type of detailed portraiture you do with your dolls. It will also help eliminate distracting glare on your AG backgrounds. Have fun with your new equipment!
Thanks so much for your sons suggestions on using the light tent, Anne. I really appreciate it and hope to get really good at taking pictures with it. I love the soft look it gives Emmie already…imagine how she’ll look when I learn a little more about it all! It will be great to use on days when it’s rainy or dreary or midnight, which seems to happen to me quite often! :o(
I wish I had someplace to set it up permanently, but I’d have to knock out a wall to do that! :o) Oh well, I’m just thrilled at the possibilities ahead!
Tell your son thank you for me!
Blessings, Jeanne
We had a lovely, sunshiny day — the rain should come the week of Easter and my brother-in-law’s hip replacement surgery. My sister says, “These are the best days of our lives because these are the ones we have.” I like that — wear your pretty clothes, use your best towels, enjoy the day — it might make an ordinary day one of the best.
I’ve been dusting the ceilings and walls — I remember my mother tying a towel over a broom to do that. Swiffers are easier and lighter.
I keep looking at Emmie’s jacket. The ruffles on the sleeves and the angled corners on the bolero make it new. This is a great outfit and I see that it got an early bid. I need to go check to see what’s happening now. I love how carefully you timed to so that some special doll will have a new outfit for Easter. Debs, on Ebay, usually has pink boots too, if that appeals to the winner.
HI Marilyn,
I’m going to write that down…” These are the best days of our lives because these are the ones we have!” I like that too!
Thank you for your sweet compliments on Emmie’s dress set. Yes, pink boots would be cute with this! :o)
Thanks again Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne