I was an Extra in a Christmas Movie

It all started when my friend sent me a newspaper article about

a Christmas movie filming in the nearby town of Frankenmuth, Michigan

that needed extras to mill around in the background!

Frankenmuth is the CHRISTMASIEST town on earth

with holiday lights and finery dazzling all through the quaint Bavarian village.

I have photographed there many times!

It's also home to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland,

the largest Christmas store in the world!

I knew it was the perfect backdrop for a Christmas movie,

and I wanted to be in that backdrop!

I immediately followed instructions in the article and sent off

an email to the casting company.

I was excited actor Brant Daughtery from my hometown of Cincinnati

 and his then-fiance Kim Hidalgo (They're married now!)

were starring in the movie!

Within minutes, I heard back from a woman named Tessa

 saying she would be sending the schedule soon!

I guessed I was IN!

Except...

I never got the schedule or heard from Tessa again.

BUMMER!

Meanwhile, the movie was busy filming in frigid March 

so close to my home with locals as extras!

I couldn't miss this chance to experience the 

making of a Christmas movie so,

 I drove to Frankenmuth on one of the last shooting dates

and poked around town for a film crew.

Really, I just wanted to witness the making of a holiday movie

because I am an avid fan!

 I carefully dressed in a red sweater, with a red and white striped hat and scarf set.

I figured if I looked Christmasy, they may let me in the film!

My heart started to pitter-patter when I rounded a corner and saw people

strewing quilt batting on trees and sidewalks to look like snow.

Then I saw men hauling what looked like film equipment!

I clicked off photos as fast as I could figuring

they would soon realize I did not belong there

and kick me out.

OMG!  I will, at least, get to see the production from 

behind-the-scenes!

After snapping photos of the exciting set-up, 

and still not kicked-out...

I turned around and right there...across that little wooden bridge...

I saw them!

The EXTRAS!!!

Look closely at that wooden bridge because that becomes

important later.

I rushed across the structure and started photographing those

EXTRA STARS, 

all aglow in their Christmas duds.

They were led by their own "extras director"  

"Hi, my name is Ryan!" he shouted.

I recorded Ryan on my phone showing the

extras exactly where to walk and how to space themselves.

I was starting to feel like one of THEM...

I was barging in and was right THERE

walking next to Ryan the king of the EXTRAS!

That's when my mouth opened and the words spilled out:

Me:  Ryan, do you need an extra EXTRA?

He sized me up in my Christmas hat and scarf :

Ryan:  You certainly look the part!  Yes!  We'd love to have you join us!

I was whisked off to a building to fill out paperwork.

Guess who was at the table?

TESSA!

I didn't remind Tessa she never emailed me back or

say, "See, Tessa...I AM in this movie!"

Turns out Tessa was SO nice and friendly and helpful.

Lots of colorful Christmas characters...

all from my local area milled about,

 excited and overjoyed to be a part of it all!

They lined us up and took photos of all our outfits

and to identify everyone.

We bonded over the fun of Christmas

and this new experience!

(I'm on the far right in my strategic striped hat and scarf!)

Who WOULDN'T want me in a Christmas movie...ho! ho!

Then it was time to start filming.

Tessa made me remove my coat because it was black and

they wanted Christmas colors on everyone.

UGH...actors must suffer for their craft.

It was 35 degrees out there!

I was paired up with a lovely young gal named Devin

who had already filmed for four days, 

so she was an expert and knew the ropes.

Devin told me to never look at the camera and to walk slowly

and follow the exact path laid out by Ryan

when they practiced earlier.

Oh, geez!  

I wasn't paying attention then...I was snapping photos!

We practiced walking in a large figure-eight pattern

which eventually crossed the wooden bridge.

They cued the extras to begin walking,

then a few moments later, cued the actors to start action.

I noticed that the action cue happened right as Devin and I

were passing behind the actors on the wood bridge.

After a few takes, a woman ran out of a building and gave me a large

present to carry.

I KNEW if they didn't cut that scene, Devin and I would be in it!

Three  hours later, dizzy from walking in that figure-8 and

 pretty much frozen, my acting role

was complete.  

But, it was worth the winter chill!

Eight months later, I sat on my cozy couch

watching "Christmas Movie Christmas" and when

 the actor's crossed the wooden bridge...

sure enough...

there I was with Devin, and my big present!

I also showed up as a red blob in the background

of a later scene.

There's that bridge again!

I am so proud of Frankenmuth and all they put into 

CHRISTMAS!

And, to all the extras who brought the movie to life!

These are my friends and neighbors!

The movie is airing on the UPtv network during this

holiday season (2019)

Keep an eye peeled for the wooden bridge and flash of red in the background!

Now, I'm waiting for Hollywood to call.

Hollywood:  We have a role for a red blob in the background...

Spring Portrait Tips and Ideas

Spring has finally sprung here in Michigan...

about two weeks later than usual!

I met fellow Michigan blogger and Instagram-er Tracy from Plaids & Poppies 

online last fall, and since she blogs about gardening and decorating,

I invited her to meet me at the spring spectacular 

Dow Gardens for a portrait shoot!

Oh, my!  Dow Gardens was bursting with tulips, daffodils

 and all the spring bushes and trees!

I know it seems intimidating to shoot on a bright, sunny day, 

but that's just  the day I chose.

We started at 9 am when the park opened and the sun

was still pretty low in the sky.

By shooting with the sun behind Tracy,  I was able to ignite her

hair with the sun and avoid mottled shadows and splotches on her face.

To learn more about how to capture beautiful skin tones in

bright sunlight, read this blog post.

When shooting with back-light, I use a reflector that I hold myself.

To learn how to use a reflector for portraits, read this blog post.

It's a bit bulky to carry around, but SO worth the effort!

We also hauled around all those props!

I like to shoot close-ups:

Medium shots:

And, some full-length. 

Tracy was a natural on-camera!

Try different and interesting angles.

I stood on a large rock to take these from above her:

Throw in some action shots:

And, zoom in on some pretty details:

In this photo, notice I added a spring blooming cherry tree!

Watch my video tutorial to show you how to add a spring tree to your photos.

You can purchase my high-resolution cherry tree png (transparent background)

in my Etsy Shop by clicking here.

It was wonderful to finally meet Tracy!  We laughed and gabbed as we spent 

several hours in the park.

Notice I'm wearing my white shirt!  I always wear white when shooting portraits

because whatever color I wear, shows up in the subject's eyes!

Learn more about capturing catch-lights in the eyes in this blog post.

I hope you have a chance to get out and capture some spring splendor!

Apps to Create that Light and Airy look in Phone Photos

If you primarily use your phone to take photos,

you are probably disappointed when they

turn out dark and drab.

Editing apps are my favorite way to create that light and airy look 

that is popular on social media platforms these days!

Apps make it quick and easy and you don't have to be

a technical genius to edit with them.

My favorite app is PicTapGo

available for $2.99 in the app store.

I love it because you can instantly lighten, brighten

and improve photos with a few simple clicks!

One of my favorite filters in the app is AIR.  This filter adds a bit of  hazy white

while brightening the scene.

If I don't want the haze, I like LIGHTS ON

because it brightens, yet maintains the detail in the photo.

The best part of this app is the slider at the bottom of each

filter screen to determine the filter strength!  Use that to perfect the effect.

PicTapGo is my GO-TO app for quick editing.

You can boost color, contrast, warmth, coolness, exposure etc.

with just a few clicks!  You will LOVE this app!

For more detailed editing I like Snapseed by Google,

Available for free in the app store.

One of my favorite features is the BRUSH TOOL!

After brightening this next photo in PicTapGo,

I wanted to lighten her face a bit more.

I brought the photo into Snapseed and clicked on TOOLS at the bottom of the screen.

Then I clicked on BRUSH:

Inside the brush tool, select EXPOSURE and click up or down

with the arrows depending on how much you want

to lighten or darken.

Your finger is now the brush!  Simply "brush" with your finger

over the area you wish to lighten...or darken if you choose.

You will quickly catch on to using these apps and

create beautiful, light and bright photos

with your phone!