Style Lush

Photography props we're all drooling over

by Rachel

While taking a much needed break from working on my business plan, I found myself on Etsy sifting through pages and pages of photography props and I just knew that I had to share them with everyone here at Style Lush. Even if you aren't a photog geek like me you can still appreciate the cuteness of each and every one of these items.

 
( from left to right: 1.HEAVEN SENT Luxe Gold Angel WINGS  2.Vintage Bliss Headband 3.Newborn AVIATOR hat   4.Spindle-Style Bed )

And even sweeter yet are the following items which I can guarantee will eventually all be in my possession:

 
( from left to right: 1. Oh-So-Rainbow Summertime Tutu 2. Off-White Baby Hammock Newborn 3. Little Grey Newsboy Hat )

What are some items that you love to incorporate into your photographs? 

The Post (un)creatively called "Camera Bags"

By Rachel

If you're anything like me you have a lot of camera equipment, therefore requiring a rather large case or backpack to carry it all in. However, there are many times where I just need to hold my camera with one lens, and naturally I don't feel like lugging around the rest of my equipment with me. Equally important was that my bag look nice and, well, not scream camera bag. Thus, my search began.

 

1. Lowepro Rezo 140

Small enough to fit my needs, but definitely says "I've obviously got an expensive DSLR in here." So, I moved on.

 

2. National Geographic Africa

I loved the canvas look and the fact that it could be mistaken for a purse, but upon further inspection there just wasn't enough space for what I wanted to carry around. Next!

 

 
3. Deluxe DSLR Camera Lens Bag

Etsy is swarming with beautifully handmade camera bags and this one was no exception. While it definitely looks like a camera bag, it did give me the option of carrying my camera and two lenses and also was very well padded, which is a big plus. However, seeing as how I leave things until the last minute, I didn't have the option of waiting for this gorgeous bag to arrive in the mail.

 

 

4. LOWEPRO TERRACLIME 100

I knew immediately that this was the camera bag for me. It's clean and simple and very lightweight, not to mention that I can easily fold it away if I'm not using it. But the real selling point was the fact that over 95% of the total content is made from recycled materials. It also comes in black and plum!

Do you have a camera bag that you would highly recommend to others? Or perhaps you just like to look at beautiful bags that are out of your budget (like me!). Well, show us what you've got!

{Photo credits:  henrys.com, etsy.com}

Christmas Movies for the Modern Day

By Rachel

Last month I wrote about Christmas Music for the Modern day and now I'm back to share with you some of my favourite Christmas movies.

                        

1. Elf (2003)
2. The Holiday (2006) 
3. Love Actually (2004)

And it's not really Christmas if you don't watch either or both of these movies:

               

5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
6. A Christmas Story (1983)

There's nothing like curling up on the couch with a nice big cup of hot cocoa and watching a Christmas movie, so what are you doing here? Get going!

Confessions of a Newbie: Knitting for a Baby

by Rachel

I’ve known how to knit since a young age, but I’ve never ventured beyond the basic garter stitch. With the impending arrival of my best friend’s baby this month I’ve decided that it’s about time I try to knit something a little more complex.

My goal is a hat with ribbing.

On my way to that goal I decided to first practice, and what better way than to make a wee baby scarf!

 
As my first time creating ribbing I would have to say so far so good, but of course a hat is a lot more complex and to be honest, I'm going to ask my mother -- a veteran knitter -- to help me out so that the day that baby is born I can give him his first gift from his Aunt Rachel. 

And so I shall!

Any tips for a knitting newbie?

Author Spotlight: Johnathan Tropper

By Rachel

If you're a bookworm like me or even if you only read once in a blue moon I'm about to do a big favour and introduce you to a great, humourous author: Jonathan Tropper.

 I'm sure you've heard of This is Where I Leave You, which I actually discovered via one of my favourite bloggers, Jessica of What I Wore. I spotted it at the library and read it in two sittings. I am now finishing up my fourth Tropper book with one more on its way to me right now.

Without further adieu, I highly recommend the following novels:

 

 

 

1. This is Where I Leave you - "a riotously funny, emotionally raw novel about love, marriage, divorce, family, and the ties that bind—whether we like it or not."
2. Everything Changes - "The arrival of a long-lost absent father forces a Manhattan man to come to terms with an ongoing romantic triangle in Tropper's latest, a funny, sensitive and occasionally over-the-top comic novel"
3. How to Talk to a Widower - "Alternately flippant and sad, Tropper's book is a smart comedy of inappropriate behavior at an inopportune time."
4. Plan B - "The title of Tropper's novel refers to the madcap plot at its center, and also to one of the book's primary themes--that life rarely works according to plan."

Go ahead and pick up a copy for yourself and maybe one for your bookworm friends. You're welcome.

Christmas Music for the Modern Day

By Rachel

I will admit that I like to listen to Christmas music, but I am very picky about what kind. Since I'm not the biggest fan of classical music that rules out a lot of options. Fortunately I've gathered a small collection that doesn't involve me wanting to puncture my ear drums!

1. Michael Buble, Let it Snow - He has a great voice, who wouldn't want to hear him sing White Christmas (which is one of my favourite Christmas songs by the way!)

 

  
2. Glee, The Christmas Album - Lets be honest, everything that comes out of the mouths of this crew is genious.

 

 

3. Christina Aguilera, My Kind of Christmas - an oldie, but goodie.   

 

 
4. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas - A collection of songs by Panic! at the disco, Fall Out Boy and Fiona Apple just to name a few. One word: awesome.

 

  
5. Another Rosie Christmas - Another oldie but goodie. I bought this is in 2000 and I still listen to it religiously.

 

Now then, you really have no excuse not to get into the Holiday spirit this year, now do you?

December Daily: A Holiday Album Project

By Rachel

If you’re anything like me you like to take on a lot of projects in your life. Often you get to the point where you can’t even possibly think about taking on anything more, in fact you’re already thinking about what you can get rid of. What I’m about to introduce you to is going to make your life a lot busier, but I guarantee that you’ll have a great time and love the results.

You’re invited to join us all in what has become a favorite holiday tradition: December Daily.

"December Daily is an album project that documents the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Many people start their documentation earlier and many people go longer. I have found that 25 days is just right for me.

One of the keys to success in this project is getting an album structure set-up in advance of December so that during December you can enjoy the season & enjoy the process of documenting your days without having to be putting the entire thing together at the same time. It is not meant to be stressful. It is meant to be a way to creatively celebrate the season and document you special holiday memories in one album."

I am most definitely going to take part in this project next month (holy smokes, is it November already?!) and I will be posting my progress on my blog. I encourage all of you out there to take the time this Holiday season to put together an album that can be cherished for years to come. And please, post your links to your work in the comments so that we can all see your gorgeous work!

Even if you cannot spare the time and energy to create a December Daily album this year I encourage you to have a look through Ali Edwards' site. I guarantee that you will be inspired with every click of your mouse.

{photos and description credit: aliedwards.com}

A Bedroom Revival: Lighting

by Rachel

As part of a bedroom revival (the word makeover - to me - implies an overhaul, and that's not what this is) I have taken it upon myself to procure some really great lighting for around the bed. I do a lot of reading in bed, and I'd love something that is secure but can be moved around easily. I, rather naiively, jumped onto the Pottery Barn website in search for ideas and came across the perfect lamp:

 

 

However, with perfection comes the heavy price tag of $159.00 which I am by no means willing to pay for a lamp, no matter how close it is to the image that I had in my head.

Then I saw this lamp and went crazy over the futuristic style:

 

 
But alas, I am not in search of a desk lamp. Still, it's a damn cool looking lamp!

Then after looking around various websites I came across this: 
When I lived with my parents I was never allowed to even consider track lighting for my room because they both hated it. Howver, this track light, with a  price tag of only $69.99, would be perfect for direct reading light!

And just like that, there was light, providing me with the opportunity to sit in bed reading books all about bedroom revivals.

{Photo credits:  potterybarn.com, bedbathandbeyond.com, homedepot.com}

Simple but Beautiful Prints to Brighten up your Day

by Rachel

There is something so beautiful and satisfying about simple photography. With no clutter to distract you, you're left staring at something strunning, ideas running through your mind of how you're going to incorporate these prints into your home.

It wasn't long ago that I came across a photographer who could perfectly capture "simplicity" without foregoing beauty. Her name is Kristine May.

 
  

 
 
 
 
     

Do you know any photographers like Kristine May who also capture simplicity so well?

Oh Snap! Going Smaller without Compromising Quality

by Rachel

I have been an avid photographer (for fun) for many years until I was bitten last summer with the 'wow, this is really what I would love to do for a living some day' bug. I went out, bit my tongue, and splurged for the Canon 50D. Now, for those of you who don't know much about cameras, it's a big one (though still on the small side compared to other dSLRs). This is often what it looks like:

Now I love taking pictures of everything and anything, but sometimes it's such an inconvenience to carry around such a big, heavy camera, and I couldn't possibly buy a simple point and shoot and be satisfied with the output compared to my Canon.

Fortunately, Fujifilm has come to the rescue. The new Finepix X100 will be released in early 2011 and is "aimed at the professional photographer or keen enthusiast looking for exceptional quality pictures from a compact camera. It is designed to appeal to the millions of DSLR users who need a slim back-up camera for high quality in-fill shots when the use of a bigger SLR system is either inconvenient or impractical." In other words, it's perfect for me. Plus, it's so darn good looking!

 (photo from photojojo)