Picture Editing Editorial

When i first started out i did try my hand at taking pictures and while it wasn't the best it wasn't all THAT bad considering i couldn't really am the camera right and didn't know how to work gimp/photshop all that well ... actually i didn't know ANYTHING about gimp/photoshop... but here is the first vendor picture i ever did (of one of the first outfits i ever made):

I worked really hard to frame the pictuers nicely, and i was adviced (later realizing it wasn't always correct advise to follow) to apply artistic glow to my photos as you can see when the item does have sequins in it it gets somewhat over bright and way TOO shiny almost giving a washed out look.

After i started making more clothes i asked friends to do pictures for me, i wanted my stuff to look professional, after all i want to establish myself as a known designer, this is what some of my friends have done:


Brianna Vollmar

Kymber Karsin

As you can see they, both brianna and kymber, are much better than i at photography. However I was not able to retain their services for long (at the level i needed them) due to RL issues they were/are having. I advertised in photographers groups and happened upon my now dear friend Jimmmy (yes 3 M's) Sharktooth and here is some of the work he started out for me:

His composition is fabulous, he is able to interrupt the meaning behind an outfit very well and suit the background and styling of the vendor photo with little to know direction.

So thats where i was a week ago - i had friends doing photos for me.... then one night i got it in my head i wanted to try photography... i found a cheap (and very good!) photo studio available from ISItheDreaMakeR Teskat (here is a link for his marketplace store:https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/42537) .  I ended up purchasing his Ultimate Studio - its very easy to use and poses/backgrounds of your own can be added to it (well any of his photo studio set ups for that matter) with a few short steps!

My very first vendor picture i produced on my own (modeling, photographing and editing) was my "Anysa" swimsuit, and it went a little something like this:

Now, like my first picture and considering my skill at the time it was made i am qutie proud of this picture even tho as i look at it a week later (having learned more about gimp/photoshop) i can pick out flaws or things that could have been improved upon/done differently.

I then took a little more time to research different tools that gimp offers, i found several helpful links (as follows):


For Fonts - http://www.dafont.com/

For Gimp Brushes - http://www.techzilo.com/gimp-brushes/

For Wallpapers/backgrounds - http://www.desktopnexus.com/

Additionally i have found that http://www..allgraphicdesign.com/ is not only a good place to find gimp color pallettes and gradients but it serves as a good informational resource for anything gimp/graphic design related.

Now after i took a little time to teach myself a bit, i was able to accomplish some more polished photographs:

I am quite happy with my most recent photographs - even tho like before i can easily notice in hindsight things that could be improved upon.

Eitherway and anyway - i am gonna keep learning and teaching myself cuz even though i may get frustrated while working through things i feel quite satisfied and accomplished when i succeed! <3 muah <3

A Little Snookie isn't neccessarily a bad thing......

Have you seen jersey shore? well i must admit i actually haven't... likely you won't believe me if you read further lol

While i have in fact not scene the show I know exactly who Snooki is, a bit trashy and skanky i actually find her quite amusing ... simply put she makes me smile.

And like everthing else in real world - there is often a second life version and Snooki is no exception! I couldn't help making myself a "snooki " avatar once i found a shape that is actually quite accurate on marketplace and the finished product looks a little like this:

Accurate isn't it? although the tan is probably better than hers i think i hit the mark otherwise... I even included some of her fav foods (hot dog, dill pickle, lollipop and scooby snack shot).

The shape was purchased from KaySlay Christensen for a mere 50L!

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Female-Shape-Snooki/1365855

The hair, slippers, shirt, shorts and big drink she is hold will soon (next weekend) be availabe from DDesigns in order to complete the costume....

If your wondering about the skin - that is an LAQ skin (which run about 1990L); another skin will be made available with the hair,outfit and accessories....

That said - its kinda fun to run around second life as snooki, needless to say she is often the life of the party even in second life... who doesn't love a little chubby girl with such a big personality???


<3 Always,

Dmari Bilasimo

Today... I am 7 months old!

Today is december 13th and i am exactly 7 months into my second life ... its strange to realize that while 7 months is not much in the grand scheme of real life, in second life well... more than a lot can happen!

I started out i now realize like any other noob, i was so proud of how i had put my avatar together... all with freebies! I was really into the freebie thing... still am but, my tastes are now how you shall say discerning? lol

While i could not afford to buy many lindens, i worked my way thru tons of freebie content and bought discounted items to develop a avi that was a little less newbish....

I worked as a dancer, host and even a manager at 2 different clubs and explored my domme side at House of V; I also began to teach myself how to make clothes and opened my own shop DDesigns. While shopping one day i landed at LAQ and fell in love with a skin... and was more tha willing to pay the 1990L they wanted for it...

After real life took me away from my second life for a couple of weeks, i came back and made some changes... i shed uneccessary connections and resigned from my dancer job and have gone full force into my store and creation efforts for my label DDesigns.

I am now becoming more active in second life, forging new contacts and exploring new paths... I hope to make the next 7 months as fun and interesting as the first!