I have been told that I should not have taken my image down, so it is now back up.

I got this idea after flipping through a photography magazine, to me when I saw the girl with a strawberry, it was mesmerizing, even though it was a female. My eyes were drawn in, didn't matter whose lips, just the bright redness of them, it was so different from what I was used to seeing and taking in images. I didn't have any strawberries and I knew if I thought about it too long, I might chicken out. So, I rummaged through the refrigerator and found some Maraschino cherries.

It is amazing what Photoshop can do really! ;) I wish my skin was that flawless, but alas it is not. So I take the help where I can, kinda like my own personal makeup artist.

Yes, I did actually put on bright red lipstick, then used vaseline for lips over it to help give a sheen.

I pinned a black t-shirt to the wall, set up tripod, grabbed remote timer, and a few cherries. Took probably 6 shots to get this one, which came out the best to me.

Can't remember all the steps exactly, so I'll give what I remember.

Used highlights/shadows to help even out skintone a little bit, overexposing my skin. Tried variations and wasn't pleased, because of the difference in color between my lips and the cherry. So, I converted to B&W, using adjustment layers, and then started coloring those babies in. Zoomed in so that I could also do the stem, and then used magic wand to grab the black from background and turned it even blacker with levels.

I fully admit I looked dorky with stem standing straight out from lips. So, I rotated it and cropped a little more... used healing brush on my skin.

Now you see some freckles... Now you don't! :D

That's all that I can remember... have any questions, please ask.