1/1/09 - 2/1/09



* A little tip on the creme brulee - action: Play the creme brulee action and set the layer to soft light, play with the opacity and enjoy a porcelain creamy skin ;)

Mask series

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Saturday, January 31

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The photo is dark for a reason, it was a pay day today :) How on earth is it possible to get paid and after 1 hour of paying around at the banks, supermarket etc, not having a euro in your pocket? It's somehow magical. Does it happen only to me? LOL

pay day

Posted on

Friday, January 30

Split toning set, new photoshop action, you will not need anything else as the finishing touch of your photos!

*new action*

Posted on

Thursday, January 29


Xan and Mark, aren't they wonderful together ? I wish you my best guys wherever you are :)


Click on the image for a larger preview

Do you have any photos you love but you think they need a little touch up to become magical? Are you a photographer but have no or little knowledge of photoshop? Are you a model who needs to edit a specific photo for your book? Do you have any wedding photos that need a little magical touch?
I'm here for you and I can help you out.



Send your photos to: la_fenia@otenet.gr, allow me 2 days time for the editing.
You will receive a small and watermarked sample of the enhanced photo to check out.
If you are happy with the results send your payment through Paypal to : lemonlime@in.gr with a "photo enhancement service" note.
Once the payment is received you will be e-mailed the edited photo.
The service costs only 30$ per image but if you send me more than 5 you will get a 30% discount.

You can check 3 samples below.


photo from stock.xchng by: surfkid74



photo from stock.xchng by: NewArt_pic
Click on the photos to see them in full size


You can see more at http://lafenia.com/

Photo enhancement service

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Tuesday, January 27

 ***UPDATED on 5/6/2012***

I get a lot of messages asking me on what equipment do I have, what lights do I use, with what programs am I editing my photos, where do I find my models, makeup artists etc...

So here I decided to gather your questions and give you the answers. This way when I get a "question" message I'll reply with a link to this blogpost. In case you don't find the answer you are looking for don't hesitate to contact me again and I will add my reply here as well.

Q. How long have you been involved with photography and which school did you attend?
A. I'm into photography since my 15 and I'm 44 now. I never went to photography classes. I'm totally self taught. Read a LOT of books, expreriment a LOT with light, composition etc., internet has helped me a lot the past 5 years where I read hundreds of tutorials, seen a lot of videos on how to, read a lot of reviews on equipment.
In few words, I read and practice. Nobody can teach you photography except from the basics.
You've got to want to learn by yourself.

Q. What is your equipment [camera and lenses etc.]?
A. I use the Canon 5D markII. My most trusted and fav lense is my Canon 85m, I can say I mostly nowdays shoot with it. I also have a Canon 28-105mm which I don't use often.
Unfortunately photography equipment cost a lot [you should know that by now] and I'm not rich, well I try to become, but I'm not yet at least. So I'm trying to visualize my imagination with the stuff I can afford and I'm saving money for the stuff I want to have.
I also have my Lastolite Reflector which I always use in my photo shoots, it is extremely useful.

Q. What editing program do you use?
A. Photoshop CS5. Nothing else! No external plugins, only the tools photoshop offers. I'm self taught in this also. And I still have a lot to learn on it, never ceases to amaze me :)

Q. What light and accessories do you use?
A. I love natural light, I just adore it. There is nothing better under my humble opinion. When there is no sun around me though I use my Sola4 MkII studio light, which you are not going to find anywhere, it is TOO old lol, but good and serves me well. I also use my Canon 580EX Shoe Mount Flash mostly on location shootings.
I always bounce the light whether it is natural or not. An umbrella is really cheap to afford but if you can't, white surfaces are always near you to be found :)

Q. Do you have any good books to recommend?
A. All these years I have bought many books and magazines also. Some of them were really good, but they all helped. What I'm trying to say here is that every book will have something to offer, but my advise is to search tutorials on the internet. They are really helpful, do not cost, and you get to read exactly what you are looking for. Just google your question and you'll get millions of answers :)

Q. Where do you find your models and collaborators?
A. That was a problem at the beginning. I was chasing my daughter around to pose for me :) Then I called some modelling agencies and I begun test shooting their models. They liked my work and one thing lead to another...
As for my team nowdays I was lucky enough to find and work with high talented people in the field. Makeup artists, stylists, designers, hair stylists. It took me sometime but as always internet helped a lot. Brings people closer when used well.

Q. Where do you find your inspiration?
A. Everywhere!!! And I mean it! Movies, music, the world around me, painters, photographers, theater, nature, my own dreams, people and incidents on my flights, the internet, magazines. Everything inspires me when I'm open to get inspired, because there are days in my life that I keep my eyes and mind shut off. There is always a need of a break. Small maybe but powerfull!!!

Q. Do you do T.F.P. / T.F.CD?
A. I used to but not anymore (unless there is a very special reason to do it) as I really need the money to live and pay for my bills.
On the other hand I'm working too much on this and I'm trying my best to produce good images so I think it is fair enough to get paid for my efforts.

Is there anything else you want to find out? Send me a little message and I will add your question and my answer to it, here.
Thanks for your interest in my work. I really appreciate it and it DOES give me a lot of inspiration [oh yes! this too].

Your questions... answered!

Posted on

Monday, January 26

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I love it when I dig in my PC's old files and find stuff of the past. I'm in this mood today so you'll see more in the next few hours. For now click on the image to see the full size of it


A new gallery has been added to my portfolio, the Retouching services, where you can check before and after photos, as the one above.
If you have a photo you wish to retouch, no matter where you live on this planet, you can send me an e-mail for further information.

Retouching services

Posted on

Sunday, January 25

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Memories ... certain memories never cease to exist, they follow wherever you go

memories

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Saturday, January 24

Gandor is 5 months old so it is time to show you how beautiful he became :)
Some photos with him and Lussy. Past photos of Gandor on how was he when I found him on the streets can be seen here






Aren't they lovely together? When they don't fight, that is LOL

Gandor

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Friday, January 23

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Just wanted to wish you all a beautiful goodmorning wherever you are whatever you do :) See you later...










I am updating my print store so in the next few days I will be uploading high quality prints. Support my work

model Ntenia
MUA Marina
photo and edit by me


for more samples visit: LaFenia

This is a copyrighted work, no unauthorized use is permitted

© 2008 fenia labropoulou

Updating print store

Posted on

Wednesday, January 21


A new print which can be purchased in my print store

New print

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Tuesday, January 20

Just purchased a new domain name http://lafenia.com/ and I love it :boogie:

* I have questions for you.
What would you like to find on the next post?
Offering a new action OR textures
or maybe both?
Is there any specific kind of action you would like me to make you?
Waiting on your feedback...

A new banner and a new button. Grab them and link to: http://lafenia.com/ and thank you :)




Ciao

It was a crazy day yesterday since the moment I woke up at 5.30 in the morning without no reason to get off bed so early. I just wasn't sleepy anymore [first time in my life, I must be getting old lol].
After many days we had a sunny beautiful weather so we wanted to do the shooting outdoors, it wasn't so cold after all, but... Natasha [the model in the photo] got stuck everywhere, on the bus, on the train, it just wasn't her day :) And she arrived 2 hours before sunset. We had to fix the make-up and dothe styling and I was yelling and all grunchy but we managed somehow.
By 9 at the evening I was completely closed as a mind and as a human ...
In case you'd like to check more on this shooting visit my Flickr

Recent work

Posted on

Sunday, January 18


The above image is a preview of what this action can do. If you click on the image it will redirect you to the page on where the dowload will begin automatically after a few seconds. If the download does not begin for some reason send me a message to email you the .zip file.
The .zip contains this preview image and the .atn file which you have to copy in your presets/actions folder of your photoshop.
This set contains actions
HAVE FUN :)))

The Tritone action

Posted on

Saturday, January 17


The model is Tina, photo and edit by me a couple of months ago. You can check the older version here.


A newer version of the venetian mask

Posted on

Tuesday, January 13



The good thing is that we were really comfortable here at home,the bad thing is that my studio flash is causing me some problems and I was really tired of trying to get the light right and the way I wanted, so this time I threw many shots in the trash bin :(
Emilly came yesterday and spent the night here at me. We had a great time, laughs, she is a great company and when it comes to shooting she is a fantastic model. She doesn't need any guidance but even when you tell her what to do she does it in her own better way.
I'll upload some more of this session in a few days. These are samples on what we did just for our fun.

Shooting at home

Posted on

Saturday, January 10


The above image is a preview of what this action can do. If you click on the image it will redirect you to the page on where the dowload will begin automatically after a few seconds. If the download does not begin for some reason send me a message to email you the .zip file.
The .zip file contains this preview image and the .atn file which you have to copy in your presets/actions folder of your photoshop.
This set contains 4 actions: the lighter, the darker, the cool and the warm.
Leave me your comments on whether you like or not and...
Most of all HAVE FUN :)))

b/w photoshop action

Posted on

Friday, January 9

New Set of Actions!!!

The Duotones!



The "duotones" set contains 5 actions totally adjustable to your needs and taste.
The set costs only 20$
To obtain it you must e-mail me at: la_fenia@otenet.gr I will send you the link to my Paypal account and after I receive your payment I will e-mail you the actions.

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The "Beauty" set!

* The Beauty set which contains 3 actions:
the flawless skin - the glamour touch - and the terracotta powder
All you need for great portraits and golden bodies.
Check the samples below:



Click on the images for a larger preview

This set of these great actions costs only $20.
To obtain it you must e-mail me at: la_fenia@otenet.gr I will send you the link to my Paypal account and after I receive your payment I will e-mail you the actions.


Actions can save you big time in your work and can also enhance your photos in ways you wouldn't know about [otherwise you wouldn't be here searching lol].
So they are both learning and accelarating tools. I don't know about you but I'm a huge fan, I use them all the time when I edit my photos and I have created many all these years.
me know for which actions you are interested.



Detailed tutorials on how to install and use or even make your own actions can be found here
Thank you for your purchase and enjoy!

Actions on sale

Posted on

Thursday, January 8


My little boy is well again at home!!! Just thought to let you know. I'll be back with more details and some new shots of him....

My gandor is well :)))

Posted on

Tuesday, January 6

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Gandor is my 5 months old dog, for those who don't know it.. yet. And he will pass the night to the vet clinic :(
Why? Because as a young boy as he is, he eats EVERYTHING!!! And when I say everything, I mean it!!! He ate: a key chain, a small towel and I really don't know what else when I wasn't home. So he can't digest these things so he has to stay in without no food at all, only fluids, serum and medicines to make him vomit [is this the right word? I don't know].
In case his organism will not be able to get rid of this stuff in 48 hours the vet will have to operate him :(
He has 80% chances to digest and 20% to be operated.
The good thing in all this is that I saw that on time so he has no real life threatening problem. His blood exams were perfect and he is very young so his organism is really strong.
But my poor boy is all alone in a small cage so he can't move and eat the serum as well... It's the first time he stays alone all night and it's the first time [that I'm home] and he is not sleeping next to my bed :(
Lussy, my other dog searches all over the house to find him [and I thought she didn't like him at all].
Anyway, it's a sad night in here...

Gandor is sick :(

Posted on

Sunday, January 4




Played with some old photos today, I found almost 50 long lost files that I love [I don't really know why I haven't seen them before].
I am preparing some textures for you... in a few days they will be ready hopefully :)

Old photos

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Saturday, January 3


Some photos I had in my pockets from Toronto, just for my fun.
I didn't do the shooting because I decided to relax in my room, buy my holiday gifts and just be on my own :D [a really rare thing to do!!!].





I made some decisions for the new year. I always do that, but not always succesfully :D I mean I never had a success on quiting smoke so i didn't make this decision for now, I just know I don't want to... yet!
My new year's resolutions for those interested :D :

1. Quit on a never ending relationship which leads nowhere... and move on!
2. Start a serious diet and loose those 5 kilos [that's about 10 pounds] that seem stuck on me this last year.
3. Earn more money!!! Nothing else to add on that. i just need more money.
4. Start training again at the gym.
5. Change my profession. I am forced to leave my flight attendant profession as Olympic airlines will be sold and none of us will stay "on board". Since I am already 41 years old and I just can't fly forever [it's not healthy], I decided to stick to photography as my main profession, so I have to get better to this...
6. Find the love of my life... [it seems I'm too difficult on that, since I haven't found it yet :D ]





And that's it. At the end of the year I'll let you know which of these decissions are completed and which not and why.

Now about decision number 3...earning more money, why don't you help me out on that by visiting my brand new store :)