Tag: Pictures

How To Take Better Photos With Your iPhone

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 21 February 2016

muffinchanel how to take better photos with your iPhone pictures pinterest iPhone photography This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

If you want to take better photos with your iPhone, I have 9 awesome tips that will help you. I use my iPhone to take a lot of the pictures for my blog and all of the pictures on my Instagram. I always have my phone with me, so it’s just convenient to use it and the iPhone takes really great pictures, so for me, the iPhone has become my go-to camera. I recently got the iPhone 6s and the camera quality is so good!

Since I basically only use my iPhone to take all my pictures, I thought I’d share my tips for how to take better photos with your iPhone! Here are my 9 tips:

Tags better pictures, composition, fold, fold 2, hacks, how to, iPhone, iphone 6s, iPhone hacks, iPhone lens, lighting, macro, photo, photography, photojojo, photos, Pictures, rule of thirds, tips, tricks

Blog Lifestyle

Photojojo Lens for iPhone and Android

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 2 April 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I love taking pictures! I have a point and shoot camera that I like to use for blog pictures, but lately I’ve been using my iPhone since I always have it with me and it’s easy to quickly take & edit a picture. Check out my most recent Instagram pics on the side. —————->

And with these lenses that I got for my birthday last year, I can take some really cool photos.

I have the wide/macro lens, telephoto lens, and a fisheye lens & they just stick with a magnet to a small ring around the camera lens on my phone.

The lenses just pop on and off to change them out, but the magnet is strong enough to keep it in place as you compose your picture. I keep the lenses in a small pouch in my purse, so it can be a little awkward to try and whip out a lens for some split second photo op. But to me, it’s just like changing the lens of a DSLR. When I’m having a photoshoot (of some flowers, or my newest makeup, or pretty scenery), I definitely use these lenses to get the best shot!

Macro (my favorite)

Fisheye

Wide

Telephoto

You can get these lenses online. They have two new lenses (super fisheye and polarizer) that come with the complete set for $99. Or you can buy each lens individually — they range from $15-$30. I love them!

Tags agenda, android, blog photos, camera lens, dslr, erin condren, fisheye, fisheye lens, how to, instagram, iPhone, lens, lenses, life planner, macro, muffinchanel, photo, photographer, photojojo, photos, Pictures, potd, review, telephoto, telephoto lens, wide

Blog Lifestyle

Sephora Shares | Tangent

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 12 March 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’m really loving the free apps that Sephora Shares is offering! Similar to the Starbucks app, the Sephora app for iPhone offers free songs or applications. You can download the Sephora Shares freebees on your computer as well. Usually, I am not interested in the free apps since they don’t really meet a need I have, but I was excited to see Tangent offered! I’d looked at it before, and the $1.99 price tag was a turn off. But thanks again to Sephora Shares, it was FREE! YAY!

The Tangent app is a fun photo editing app that uses geometric overlays to create interesting pictures. Lots of free options for customization — also some in-app purchases available, but the “basic” version is very powerful. Sephora Shares is offering this app for free until June 15 (US only). So check it out if you’re interested; there are other apps and songs available as well!!

Tags a beautiful mess, app, App Store, Color, editing, free, free apps, free options, free songs, geometric, instagram, iPhone, iTunes, photo editing, Pictures, Sephora, sephora shares, shapes, Starbucks, Tangent

Blog Lifestyle

What’s on my iPhone | Photo Editing, Fitness + More

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 10 March 2014

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

It seems like the phone is the one accessory we never leave the house without. It’s a camera, a calendar, fitness tracker, social media outlet, and of course helps us keep in touch with our friends and family. We use our phones everyday for tons of things, so I thought I’d share some of what’s on my iPhone with you.

Photo Editing

Diptic – Make a quick and easy collage with this app. With lots of free templates to choose from and customization options, this is my go-to for any Instagram collage. You can even adjust the borders’ thickness, shape, texture, and color.

ColorSplash – This app makes it easy to add a splash of color to a black & white photo or vice versa. You start with a color photo and then you can hand-draw the black & white filter, leaving something specific in color so that object really stands out.

LINE camera – The auto-enhance option on LINE is really good, especially for selfies. It corrects the lighting, smoothes imperfections, and can make your eyes look bigger. They have a lot of fun “stickers” to choose from too that make this app super fun.

PixlrExpress+ – I use pixlr to edit photos on my blog, so when I saw that there was an app for iPhone, I knew I wanted to try it. I use this for most of my phone-editing. Lots of filters and fonts for text overlays and powerful basic editing features. Plus, I really love how I can resize the image to keep its full size and clarity. I hate when a great picture end up looking pixilated because the app compressed it — not with PixlrExpress+!

Bokehful – The best app for adding bokeh! Not just a filter or overlay, Bokehful lets you kind of control the placement (puts a bokeh near where you tap; not exactly on the spot). You can also choose the color/color palette and shapes of the bokeh.

A Beautiful Mess – I got this app for free from Sephora and it’s pretty cool. You can add text, doodles, and borders and choose from a few filters. It’s pretty basic. There are some upgrades that I haven’t tried, but the free content seem sufficient for a quick edit.

Social Media

Twitter – I like the official app for Twitter on the iPhone. It’s clean and simple; gets the job done.

Instagram – It’s fun to go through different Instagram feeds and see everyone’s pictures. I never really use the filters in Insta; instead, I’ll upload after using some of the apps I mentioned ^.

WordPress – I mostly just check comments from the WordPress app. It’s a little tricky for me to try to blog from the app, but I have before. It’s good in a pinch!

Health & Fitness

MyFitnessPal – This app is great for monitoring your food intake and calorie goals. There is a huge library of foods you can select and you can chat with your friends so everyone stays motivated. I have it linked with my Fitbit, so MFP automatically keeps track of my activity too!

Nike+ Running – I’ve been slacking on my running goals lately….big time. But I still love the Nike+ Running app for tracking my runs. The Nike Coach update is great and helps you reach your goals without having to think too much into it.

Nike Training – I just recently downloaded this app, but it seems cool so far. Great for a Cross-Training day or its own program — I like how there are lots of sessions you can choose from. It’s like a guided workout with videos so you can see what each move is supposed to look like.

Fitbit – The Fitbit app helps me track the number of steps I have for the day, my sleep cycle, and my ranking among my friends. It’s great to not have to log into a computer to sync up my stats.

Let me know what some of your favorite apps are; I’d love to try out some new ones!

Tags 4, 4S, 5s, a beautiful mess, Apple, apps, blog photos, bokeh, bokehful, camera, color splash, diptic, dslr, editing, favorites, filters, Fitbit, Fitbit Flex, instagram, iPhone, iPhone 5, lens flare, line camera, my fitness pal, myfitnesspal, Nike, nike coach, nike plus, photo editing, Pictures, pixlr express, Running, selfie, top 10, training, Twitter, what's on my iphone

Blog Lifestyle

Pier 39 | San Francisco, California

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 27 October 2013

These piano steps played notes as you walked up and down

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here.

We enjoyed such a beautiful day at Pier 39. The weather was perfect and there were some extra attractions to celebrate the Pier’s 35th anniversary.

Tags anniversary, bay, bridge, California, fisherman's warf, golden gate, Picture, Pictures, pier 39, pier39, San Francisco, travel, usa

Blog Lifestyle

Top 10 – September Favorites

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 29 September 2013
1 Comment on Top 10 – September Favorites

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Skillful Means by Tarthang Tulku

This book is all about improving your life by being mindful of what is happening right now. I first read this book a couple of years ago and it’s great. How many times are you walking to class or your car or at the mall and you’re on your cell phone? Or how often are you thinking about the XYZ you have to do tomorrow or next week instead of paying attention to what you are doing right now? All we have is the present — this moment. Skillful Means is all about living in the moment you are in; being mindful about what is going on around you. No distractions — just really being self aware and clearing your mind. It’s a great book that will help you focus and appreciate what’s happening all around you.

Starbucks Star Dash

From now until October 1, Starbucks is doing their Star Dash. Basically, it’s another incentive for you to go to Starbucks during certain times of the year in order to accumulate stars to earn a gift card. This “Star Dash” is different from the stars you earn with the Rewards Card, although, you do need a rewards card to participate. Separate from the regular stars you earn with the Rewards Card, these “Star Dash” stars will give you $5 or $10 gift cards depending on how many you get before the deadline. Each transaction will ear you one star. I’m on my way to earning the $10 gift card!

Mediterranean Veggie sandwich (Panera)

New favorite sandwich for sure. I was looking for some meatless options at different restaurants and a friend suggested I try this sandwich from Panera. It’s amazing — lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, red peppers, cilantro/jalepeño hummus, and ~~feta~~ swiss cheese (I prefer swiss) on tomato basil bread. I bought ingredients today to make my own version at home! YAY!

iOS7

I love the clean look and feel of the iOS7 update. I have the iPhone 4S and my camera app is faster and I really like having the “live filters”. Command Center is great and I really like all the new ringtones/sounds. It’s neat to have the option to block contacts and to be able to multi-task between apps.

Clear

Clear is a simple task management/list application. It’s clean and easy to navigate with lots of color schemes to choose from.

iTunes Radio

iTunes radio is basically like Pandora. I prefer it because it’s already integrated into iTunes and it remembers the songs I’ve listened to and makes it easy for me to purchase them if I choose. You can create your own “stations” and mark that you like certain songs. There’s even a Top 100 iTunes radio and you can listen to a shuffle of all the Top 100 songs on iTunes. I think this is awesome for getting high quality audio for more than just a preview of a song you might be interested in buying.

The Killers – Shot At The Night

It was actually through iTunes Radio that I first heard “Shot At The Night”. ^^^

The Killers songs are always a little vague, but this one seems to be about taking this once in a lifetime opportunity to get out of a situation that is stale and move on to a life that is exciting and full of happiness. I love this. Plus who doesn’t love a nice 80’s synth ballad! Yay for new music from The Killers! I’m excited for Direct Hits to come out in November.

Lighted Makeup Mirror

This mirror is great for applying makeup or tweezing your brows. With 8xs magnification and 360 degree rotation, you’ll be sure to see exactly what you are doing!

SEPHORA COLLECTION – Pro Stippling Brush #44

I’m surprised this brush doesn’t have better reviews online. A lot of people are saying the brush sheds, but I’ve never experienced any shedding. I really like this brush. I use it to apply my Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Foundation. The brush gives my skin an even, airbrushed yet natural look. The natural and synthetic fibers work together to give a streak-free application that looks great all day.

BB Dakota ‘Renley’ Lace Fit & Flare Dress (Nordstrom)

This dress is super cute. I bought it for a friend’s wedding next month but I can see myself getting a lot of use out of it. The lace design is really pretty, but durable — this isn’t some dainty-be-careful-or-it’ll-rip lace. The A-line makes it flattering for all body shapes and it’s very comfortable on.

Tags 44, 5s, app, Apple, bb dakota, Brandon Flowers, bread, California, clean, clear, collection, colors, dress, Food, foundation, gift card, happy, Hibiscus, hummus, IOS, ios7, iPhone, itunes radio, Killers, lace, lighted, lists, Loyalty, Loyalty program, makeup, management, marc jacobs, mediterranean veggie, mindful, mirror, Music, nordstrom, Pandora, panera, Picture, Pictures, radio, reading, refresher, rewards, Sephora, shot at the night, Skillful means, Star, star dash, Starbucks, stars, stippling brush, Tarthang Tulku, The Killers, themes, travel, update, upgrade, vegan, veggie, very berry, vib

Blog Lifestyle

Sephora Shares | A Beautiful Mess

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 21 September 2013

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Sephora’s Instagram posted yesterday that, courtesy of SephoraShares, you can download A Beautiful Mess for free. This app cost $.99 through the iTunes App Store, but it’s free if you go through sephora.com/sephorashares. Yay!

I had wanted to download this girly photo editing app before this free download, but the numerous reviews about all “the good fonts and effects” only being available through in-app purchases and the initial $.99 price seemed like a waste. I’m glad I got it for free through Sephora though. The app has enough cool fonts and doodles to make your pictures more fun.

It was super easy to download onto my phone

Thanks for the free app, Sephora!

Starbucks has a similar program through their iPhone app; you can download a free song of the week and sometimes, a free app as well. Definitely a cool way to discover new music/apps!

Tags a beautiful mess, app, download, edit, free, instagram, ios7, iPhone, photo editing, Pictures, Sephora, sephora shares, sephorashares, Starbucks, update

Blog Lifestyle

Top 10 – August Favorites

Post author By muffinchanel.com
Post date 29 August 2013

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

Taylor Swift – Red

I’m a little late to the party — I think this album came out sometime late last year — but I’m here now!

I first listened to the album on YouTube and then forgot about it, until recently. I’ve been listening to it a lot lately; the songs are catchy and fun.

Game of Thrones

After I saw the first season, I hated this show! How dare they kill off a main character!! Not much has changed….but I like the show a little bit better. I’m rooting for the Khaleesi to reclaim her throne!

Natural for Her – Herban Cowboy

I first heard of this deodorant from neo-reality.com. It prevents sweat and odors and it’s natural, what more could you ask for? This deodorant is vegan and certified organic so you don’t have to worry about chemicals and carcinogens seeping into your skin. Very happy with this purchase.

Pedicures (Clambake by Essie)

My mom and I recently went out for a birthday pedicure! I used Clambake by Essie because it’s so fun and it’s the perfect balance between red and orange.

Pedicures are a great way to relax and pamper yourself. Especially during summer, when you’ll likely be wearing flip flops, nothing can make you feel a little happier than looking at freshly pedicured toes.

Korres Lip Butter

I got these two, Pomegranate and Jasmine, for my birthday and they are both awesome! These lip butters are so smooth and make my lips feel soft and hydrated. Some of the colors are bright, but the results are mostly sheer with a hint of color. Perfect for every day and definitely one of my all time favorite lip products.

US Open

All the best players all on one stage for two weeks of fun. Tennis is such a cool sport because it’s just you against your opponent — no teams, no blaming others. They’re doing some intense stuff as athletes, from sprinting to strategy. What a great game!

California Pizza Kitchen

I love the Pizza Kitchen. Their spinach artichoke dip is delicious and their BBQ Chicken Pizza is awesome.

Photojojo iPhone Lens

These lenses are so cool! Thanks to my family for the perfect birthday gift! You can find these lenses at photojojo.com — all four for $50.

My favorite lenses are the Macro and the Wide. Both lenses actually come as one and you unscrew them to separate. It took me a day to figure out how to get to the Macro lens :/ but it’s awesome. Check out my instagram: MuffinChanel for some awesome pictures!

Josie Maran SPF 40

I really like this lightweight, dewy sunscreen. With Argon oil, it seems to clear up any discoloration and balance my skin. No parabens and cruelty free; it’s a silky sunscreen that absorbs well into my skin. It leaves me feeling fresh-faced, and not greasy.

SEPHORA Smart Liner

This liner is so awesome — the curve of the casing give you the control you need to get the most precise line ever. The flexible felt tip makes it easy to create a fine line or build up the drama with a thick wing.

See last month’s favorites HERE