More portraits of my sister-in-law, Shiela and our friends, Joy and Cathy.

Perfecting the art of realistic portrait retouching.

Thanks for looking. Comments are most welcome.

Related posts:

1. Portrait Sessions: Kristin
2. Portrait Sessions: Mitch
3. Portrait Sessions: Earl

I was itching to practice shooting portraits one weekend, and fortunately, my wife’s choir mate, Mitch, was a willing model. So I lugged my whole mobile studio with me and went to our friends’ flat to do the shoot. Thank goodness for portable setups.

Some technical details:

Cameras:  EOS Canon 20D and 40D

Lenses: Canon EF 70-200 f/4 L and Tamron 17-50 2.8

Lights: 1 580 EX II and 2 Generic speedlights

Here are some of the images from the shoot.

Related posts:

1. Portrait Sessions: Xaui
2. Portrait Sessions: Shiela, Joy, and Cathy
3. Portrait Sessions: Earl

Warning: This post is not for the people who are weak in spirit,  have low self-esteem, or are easily offended. Openmindedness is advised.

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For the women out there: How many times have you had sleepless nights falling in love with a guy, but that guy doesn’t seem to notice how you feel about them.

Ladies (and men), please take note of this fact:

Men will not assume you like them even if you flirt with them, not because they’re insensitive, but because they don’t want to assume something then be humiliated for thinking so.

If  you want a guy to know how you feel about him, just tell him!  You get to know their reaction faster, and it removes the countless nights of thinking whether or not they like you. Let’s face it: Men are not all psychic. If  you girls can’t read our minds, why do expect us to read your mind? Human beings have evolved an efficient way of expressing their thoughts and feelings:  it’s called talking.

I will be daring enough to assume that if you’re reading this blog, you are human. Then,  if I’m right, you can talk too (maybe even too much).  Do you know how irritating it gets when a girl talks and talks about how great someone is? Yes it can be very annoying.

Here’s the kicker: After some time this girl will come to you crying or sobbing or with a very long face and then suddenly blurting out that this guy that she can’t stop talking about is seeing a new girl and that, that guy is thankful for her for being a great friend?  So you let her cry, then you ask her, “Did you tell him how you feel about them?” And her answer….drumroll please…”No”. Tada! And then you have this lightbulb moment: “So that’s why.” Something reminiscent of the “My Bestfriend’s Wedding”.

So why are you afraid to tell him?

Fear of rejection? Fear of the unknown? Fear of losing a friend? If he’s really your friend, he won’t leave. You are both rational people, right? Sort it out.  Don’t dwell on it if he leaves, at least you got one less friend to  think about. Don’t act like a child;  you don’t need a boyfriend to survive. You’re like saying that all singles are unhappy without a partner. Once you get that idea straight, life will be easier.

Don’t pressure yourself, and definitely don’t rush it. It will come when the time is right.

Don’t get tunnel vision and block out your other friends. You have friends that understands you and care for you.  You have them; don’t risk losing them because of one boy, man or woman.

Live your life to the fullest. Remember, not all men are psychic.

Related posts:

1. One year later…