Blissfully Domestic » Photography

When To Make a Photo Black and White

Christine — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:11:59 +0000

Black and white photographs were once the purview of history and artists…but no more! The digital photography age has brought black and white photography to everyone with a digital camera or scanner, opening up gorgeous possibilities to a photo frame near you.

But some find the choices a bit daunting and overwhelming. Just when should a photo be taken in black and white…or made black and white in post-processing? When is it best to remove colors and let the image stand only in grayscale or in a washed-out sepia tone? When is black and white best for a photograph?

Knowing when to make a photograph black and white is all about knowing the strengths of the medium. The following tips will help you do just that.

Removes distractions so that the real subject grabs the attention. Why focus on that bright striped shirt, when the real focus of the photo should be on the gorgeous child who is wearing it? Black and white eliminates those distractions, and centers attention right where it should be…on the actual subject.
Makes poor lighting situations work! Sssshhhh…don’t tell anyone, but black and white photographs are more forgiving than color. Not enough light? Strong shadows? Need a flash but don’t have one? It’s far easier to use these to your advantage in black and white photography than it is in color photography. Play around…you may find that you create moody, dramatic photos.

Five Fun Photo Apps for the iPhone

SarahB — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:17:39 +0000

If you have a smart phone you know that the cameras are getting better and better – and the saying “The best camera is the one you have with you” has never been more true. While I frequently carry my DSLR, I find that the quality of photographs from my iPhone is pretty spectacular, and I don’t mind capturing moments with my phone.

Here are my five favorite photo apps for the iPhone:

Instagram

The social media aspect of Twitter and Facebook without all the silly WORDS. I love being able to snap a picture, apply a filter, and post for friends to view, heart and comment on. I can add a border (or not!), and I find some of my favorite selfies (you know you take them too!) were taken with Instagram. My favorite filters for portraits are Nashville and Brannan. Like Twitter, you can track hashtags on Instagram, too. Instagram is free on iTunes.

Flickr

Well, sure – you’re used to Flickr’s website, but Flickr’s app is one of my favorites to use on-the-go. I can upload my iPhone shots directly to Flickr. I can browse photographs by other users. You can take photos using the Flickr app, or upload a photo you have taken with any of the other photo apps you may choose.

How to Shoot in Black and White

Kat — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:12:02 +0000

As photographers, we are always on the hunt for the ‘perfect‘ shot. Then, once you get it, you are faced with all the editing capabilities. With all the great photo editing software and programs out there, the possibilities for one photo are endless. In all honesty there is no true rule as to when to leave a picture in color and when to change it to black and white. Sometimes a black and white photo is just more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Here are a few strategies to help you decide when to opt for black and white.

Shoot In Color

First and foremost, always shoot in color. When you shoot in color you will have more control over your end results than if you shoot in black and white. The great thing with digital photography is that you can take a color picture and then experiment with black and white without effecting your original picture.

Benefits of a 365 Photography Challenge

Linda Sellers — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:36:35 +0000

A 365 Photography Challenge entices you to take a photo every day of the year and catalog or archive them in some way so you can remember the year in photos. Participating in a 365 photo challenge is a great way to memorialize the year. Whether you are a serious photographer or just want to have fun with an iPhone, there are so many advantages to taking on this challenge. And with the new year upon us, this is a great time to consider starting one. Here are some of the benefits you’ll find in taking that leap.

Remembering the little things.

How many times have felt like the year went by and you didn’t take time to enjoy the little things? Keeping track of what matters each day makes it easy to remember the what’s, where’s and when’s about the year – whether it be the day your child cut their own hair or the day you bought your favorite shoes.

Improve your photo skills.

If photography is a passion and something you want to improve then practice makes perfect. What better way than to photograph something every day? This way you can look back over the year and see how your skills have progressed.

Archive the year in photos.

Have you ever gotten to the end of the year and thought “Gee I’d love to put together a photo book” but the thought of going through all your photos and deciding what to include seems time consuming. By participating in a 365 challenge you have your book already to add and everything in a perfect chronological order.

Build or join a community

By searching the web you can find 365 challenges to join with people with similar interests, similar lifestyles or perhaps people who live near you. If you can’t find one already established, start your own. You can give each other inspiration, hold each other accountable for a photo a day, and make new online or real life friends.

Will you start one this year? We’d love to see it if you do!

photo credits Linda Sellers

Last Minute Personalized Photo Gifts

Linda Sellers — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:30:13 +0000

If you are worried that it’s too late to order a personalized photo gift for friends and family, worry no more. There is still time to order fabulous gifts (make sure to check each site’s shipping guidelines) to be delivered before the holiday. So get your favorite photos ready – here are some creative ideas.

Canvas Prints

These are so popular and come in all sized at all price points. This one from PersonalizationMall.com can be framed by you, or let the recipient buy the frame to match their decor.

Photo Ornaments

Make this an annual tradition! Your favorite photo is easily turned into an ornament for your tree or to hang on a wall or lamp. At $8.75 this is a great gift idea on a budget.

Photo Books

Online sites like Shutterfly can still deliver a photo book by the holidays and prices start at $12.99 making this a perfect gift for Grandma and Grandpa. Make sure to order an extra copy for yourself!

Photo Totes

Snap Totes has an ever expanding variety of personalized photo products. We are big fans of Snap Totes both for style and quality. Check out all the options from wallets to totes to e-reader covers. Look at priority shipping options to make sure it arrives in time.

Enjoy these products and see the other personalized gifts these sites offer. Happy shopping!

Top Gifts for Photographers

Linda Sellers — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:21:52 +0000

I’m dreaming of a photographer’s Christmas this year! There are a several camera related gift items on my holiday wish list. And with so many fun and fashionable choices, there are also a few that I’ll be getting for other photography addicts like myself.

If you want more flexibility in holding the camera or hate that uncomfortable neck strap, you may want to try this wrist strap. The look and feel are very similar to a camcorder strap. Only $40 at Photojojo.

Etsy is the place to find cute photography themed jewelry. A search of “camera necklace” yielded some adorable finds at all price points. Prices from $1.99 and up.

Every photographer needs a nice camera bag, and my personal favorites are the Epiphanie Bags. Several of our writers have personally tested the brand and they are as nicely made as they look.

For those times when a tripod is too hard to carry around, but you need more stability, try a monopod. This is a very affordable gift (amazon sells for as little as $13) and can be easily carried to photo shoots.

Fun props can lighten up a photo session or make for fun at home. This chalkboard thought bubble would be great for parties too. This is also at Photojojo for $29.99.

These gifts are sure to make the photographer in your life thrilled this holiday season. Happy shopping!

Posing Family Pictures for Christmas Cards

Linda Sellers — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:02:13 +0000

‘Tis the season for holiday photos and if you are like me you are praying for that one perfectly posed shot out of the 100 you may take this season. It would be a dream to have one picture with everyone smiling, everyone’s eyes open and everyone looking…well…happy.

That’s a tall order and may be too much to ask for especially when you are dealing with newborns, toddlers and pets. I can however give you some ideas for the best posed shots so you’ll have a good start.

Triangle Pose

Think in terms of triangles or angles. The heads of your subjects places in a triangle give a visually appealing image.

photo credit www.AprilsLittleFamily.com

Colors Make a Difference

Keep in mind as you choose outfits and backgrounds that colors should compliment each other but not overpower. We want the focus to be on the expressions and personality of the people. The white t’s and jeans look may be “so 2000″, but if you plan on using a bright personalized photo card frame or are posing the family in front of a decorated tree, “simple” will create the least distraction for the eye.

photo credit iClipart stock photos

Try Unique Poses

Sometimes the most unconventional poses make the best photos. Who would have thought that feet could look so cool? These types of photos can elicit feelings of ”remember when” bringing back memories of good family times. Black and white also gives you so many options for card frames and personalization.

photo credit Green Apple Media

This photo gives a whole new meaning to the term “headshots”. Poses like this with heads on the floor can lighten up the mood and bring out the personality of the subjects. Some of the best photos started out with a case of the giggles.

photo credit iClipart stock photos

Good luck taking your holiday photos this year! Remember in the end it’s all about bringing out the personality of YOUR family and creating memories for years to come.

How To Take Halloween Photos

Lotus Carroll — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:14:22 +0000

Tips for Taking Photos of Jack-O-Lanterns:

The best photos of Jack-o-lanterns are those where you get a sense of the darkness and the glow from the inside. Do not use a flash!

Take the photos in the dark – you can do this inside or outside, at night. Make sure that the surrounding area/background of your photo does not have another light source in it. Complete darkness is best.

Use very small candles so that the candle can’t be seen inside the Jack. Tea lights work well. When you frame the shot, make sure you take an angle that does not allow the flame itself or the candle to be seen! You just want the glow.

This is important: Use a tripod to avoid motion blur. If you don’t have a tripod, find a stable resting place for the camera.

Set your camera to a low ISO for high quality, with a long exposure (try between 0.6-2 seconds) to assure light is gathered. To make it easy, you can use the Tv mode on your camera if you don’t want to go fully manual – this way you can set the exposure and the aperture is automatically set for you.

Any movement will cause blur. Don’t touch the camera or the pumpkin. Use the timer on your camera or a wireless remote if you can, so that your movement doesn’t affect the camera at the moment of shutter release.

Tips for Taking Photos of Kids in Costumes:

Don’t wait until the kids are in full door-to-door mode to take photos. You’ll have all kinds of things working against you, ranging from their excitement and inability to stop moving to possibly failing light.

Get the kids in their costumes ahead of schedule and take the time to pose them for photos.

Look for natural light (outside if you don’t have a bright home) – no need for flash so you can avoid hard glare and shadows.

Use your Halloween decorations as backdrops! Those pumpkins, ghosts, and stretched webs on your lawn make great scenery. And if you don’t have that, ask a neighbor who does if you can do a quick photo shoot in their yard.

Remember the rules of child photography: don’t do it when they are tired or hungry, warn them ahead of time, and use bribes liberally!

How To Take Sports Photos

Lotus Carroll — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:12:28 +0000

Go Team! Do you need to learn how to take great sports photos before the big game? Your main aims in great sports photography are capturing the action, pace, and emotion of the game or event. Here are some tips that will help you freeze that movement and portray the passion of the moment.

Biggest single tip: Know how to manipulate your camera settings to freeze action. You need a fast shutter speed to stop action (likely what you’ll be doing most often) and a slower shutter speed to show motion blur (works really well in some situations, but use it sparingly, you’ll most often want to do the opposite).

You are going to depend on your camera settings heavily to help influence the amount of light you are gathering. Indoors, you will have to work your camera to gather as much light as possible (often a flash is not allowed at these kinds of events, so don’t expect to depend on one). If shooting outdoors, you will have an easier time – natural light is your friend!

You will need to use a higher ISO to allow a motion freezing faster shutter speed (and the less available light you have the higher the ISO will need to be). Yes, higher ISO will lend itself to possibly grainier photos. However, most cameras nowadays handle this better than in the past, and if you have good editing software (most notably Lightroom3) you can fix grain in post, easily.

Set a large aperture (a small f-stop number is a large aperture). If you can shoot between f/2.8-4 you will be able to let in more light (allowing a fast shutter speed) as well as creating a shallow depth of field. With a shallow DOF, your main subject will be crisp while the background blurs out, eliminating distracting elements and bringing the attention where it belongs.

Choose your position on the field, sidelines, or court carefully ahead of time. Don’t box yourself in or you won’t be able to move in response to the action and your photographs will suffer.

Finally, try for a variety of photo types: take some photos of the crowd for setting, take some wide shots of the entire team(s) in action to tell a broader story (using a smaller aperture to get everyone in focus) and take a lot of photographs of the main leaders – the people after the ball or the star of an event.

When you can, get in very tight on these players, and be on a mission to capture facial expressions when you can – there is much passion in sports and the faces always show it.

Photo Credit: Beth Rankin

Taking Pictures at School Events

Lotus Carroll — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:25:09 +0000

Did you ever try to take photos at a school event? Band concerts or piano recitals, starring roles in the school play, or honor society award ceremonies are important moments to capture and memorialize. Unfortunately, it can be hard to take photos inside at a school event. Here are some tips that may help you get better photos.

How To Take Pictures at School Events

Use a large memory card that allows you to store a good amount of data – you will want to take a lot of photos to make sure you get the right moment. These are not things you can just try for again later.

Get to the event early. This is your best chance to place yourself in a position to have the best vantage point. Yes, this is important! Even 4 steps to the left or right in many situations can make or break a photograph. Get there early, and scope this out for yourself.

A flash may be necessary – indoor events often have horrible lighting. Practice with your flash before you’re in the critical situation. You can do this at home, indoors, where you also probably have less than ideal lighting. Especially at night. Consider purchasing or constructing a diffuser/reflector so your flash is more effective and less likely to cause glare and/or shadows.

Be familiar with your camera. make sure you understand how to use your manual settings (ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed, anyone?) The more control you have over your camera, the less you will try to depend on “program” mode and the better your photos will be.

Test your settings before the event begins. Take some test shots and make sure you have everything figured out before the action starts. This is another advantage to being there early.

If your camera is capable, take some video along with your still shots to fully memorialize the event (another good reason to have ample storage as video takes up more space).

Photo credit: Scott Catron

Preserving Photographs – Store Old Photos Safely

Lotus Carroll — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:45:55 +0000

In this age of digital well, everything, many of us don’t think about printed photographs as often. Personally, I think that picking out photos regularly to have printed is a great idea. And all of us probably have a stack of photos from “back in the day” when all this digital awesomeness wasn’t available. The question is, what should we be doing with them?

If you don’t store your photos carefully, unfortunately, they can sustain damage. This can be anything from the natural fading process being accelerated to serious scratching or even water damage if you have an “accident.” So how can we store old photos safely to preserve them and the memories they carry?

Tips on How To Store and Protect Old Photos Safely:

Stop throwing them all in a box. Yeah, I’m talking to YOU. That’s one of the worst things you can do. Just because the lid is on there doesn’t mean your photos are safe. They are prone to humidity, scratching from rubbing up against one another, and fading.

Make some time and sort them all out based on a system you like: by year or themed by subjects/events are popular ways to do this. This is one of the most tedious parts of our project, but will make enjoying them later much more pleasant.

Scan them electronically so that you also have digital copies before you seal them away. This way, no matter what, you have some way to see them again if anything does ever happen to your original prints. These are irreplaceable parts of your past, memories. Make sure that after you scan them, you save them to at least 3 places. Harddrives die! Back them up on external drives, online storage services, and CDs.

Once you’ve sorted and scanned the photos, choose a safekeeping method that will protect your photos from dust, moisture, light damage and scratches. Photo albums where you slide your photos into plastic pockets work, especially if they seal. Even a non-sealing pocket is good, though.

Look for albums that have pages that will cover and seal in photographs. You can use heavy cardstock inserts to make the album more attractive, but for all pieces of your album, look for items that are archival safe and lignin and acid free so that they do not damage your photographs. When the albums aren’t being viewed, store them inside a dark, decorative box. This is a good way to employ added moisture and light protection.

Keep the final storage solutions all in one place. (Albums in a single box, for example.) That way if you ever have to “grab your memories and run” (flood, fire, etc) you can easily do it all in one swipe.

If you want to frame and hang some of your old photos (a really great idea that will enable you to really enjoy them on a regular basis), have them reprinted for the framing, and keep the originals properly protected.

How To Take School Photos

Lotus Carroll — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:09:53 +0000

It’s that time of year again when you’re torn between being sad that your kids are heading back to school and jumping for joy and filled with glee that the summer insanity has finally come to an end. You probably have so much on your to do list to get the kids ready! Don’t get too wrapped up in school supplies and packing lunches to remember to capture some memories of them with your camera.

Tips for School Photos:

Taking photos “the morning of” is a great way to really capture authentic memories – but it can also be hectic and in the midst of trying to keep your schedule, you may not get the shots you really want. Have the kid(s) put on their favorite new school outfit and pose with their backpacks a couple days ahead of time, when you have time and space to get the best photos. You’ll appreciate not being stressed or rushed.

Whenever you take the photographs, make sure the kids are fed, well rested, and warn them that you’ll be taking photos so they can get the grumps out of the way before you press the shutter button. Never try to have a “photo session” when your subject is tired, hungry, or upset (unless you want those emotions in your photos!).

Use themes if you like that kind of thing – you can pose them in the same place every year (same chair, in front of the same door or tree) so that you can see the growth easily over the years.

It’s also fun to have them holding a sign saying the year, how old they are, or what grade they are going into. Remember to have fun and be creative!

Technical Stuff:

-use a flash if you must, but be aware that it can be hard to do this properly without causing blowout and shadows if you’re not experienced at it. I’m a fan of using natural light – if you can find a spot outside with a nice background (water, flowers, bushes, trees) you will get better photos more easily. Avoid harsh, direct sunlight.

-using a tripod can be helpful to avoid blur, especially if you want to use a timer. Of course, getting the kids to sit still will still be your main challenge. (I’m a fan of bribes and conversations about trucks, trains and superheros to keep my son’s attention.)

-take a hint from James Brown and get dooowwwn-ahh! Eye level photos of children are always more personal, striking, and engaging.

I’m not a fan of only taking ultra posey shots – so when I capture, I try to do it authentically. As I mentioned above, this can put the pressure on you if you don’t allow enough time for it, so keep that in mind and plan accordingly. And take LOTS. We’re in the digital age, so you can just ignore the ones that aren’t perfect and keep the awesome ones.

Take photos at home, but bring that camera to the drop off / walk to school with you! You’ll want to take some shots of your precious ones walking into the school, or in their new classrooms, connecting with new and old friends. And if yours are bussers, make sure you get them climbing aboard the big yellow buddy! (And riding away – wahhhh.)

One last thought: if you’re going to go to the trouble of taking these every year, don’t just let them get lost on a harddrive. Print them and frame them, make a photobook, or at least create a special online album with all of them that you can easily access. Photos were meant to be seen, after all!

Have fun, and good luck! Oh, and enjoy the quiet when it comes.

Summer Photos You Have to Take

Lotus Carroll — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:25:43 +0000

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with your photography and want to capture, but lack ideas. There are a lot of little tips and tricks you can use to brainstorm what to shoot. Taking it by season is one way to go. It’s also nice to remember to think this way throughout the year so that you don’t miss out on things that only present themselves at certain times.

For the Summer season, here’s a list of things you shouldn’t miss out on.

Summer Photos You Have To Take

Your Own Backyard

Bright Colored Flowers

Full Green Trees

Birds, Bugs, Bees, & Butterflies

Vegetable Garden

Rainbows

Summer Fun

Pool / Beach / Water Play

Bubbles

Fireworks

BBQs / Parties

Watermelon Eating

Ice Cream Dreams

Travel / Vacation / Outings

Scenic Overlooks

Tourist Destinations / Major Landmarks

Winding Roads

Fairs / Carnivals / Theme Parks

Water Parks

Concerts

Ballpark Fun

Camping

Park / Playground

(Tips for which camera to pack here.)

Children Playing

Spray Park / Pool / Beach / Sprinkler

Water Slides

Bike / Skateboard / Rollerskate Rides

Hopscotch / Jump Rope

Chalk Drawings

Sparklers

Bubbles

Happy Faces of Summer

Lovin’ on Grandparents / Family

Because Winter Nights Are Cold

Sunsets

City Lights at Night

The Moon

Summer Bonfires

Point and Shoot or DSLR – When To Take Which

Lotus Carroll — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:17:19 +0000

The question often gets asked: “For travel, when should I pack a DSLR and when should I just pack the point and shoot camera?”

There is really no quick and simple answer to this question, as your personal preferences are going to really come to bear here, but I’ll try to offer some insight.

The 3 main things I would consider in making this decision:

Length of Trip

Type of Outing

Room to Pack

Length of Trip

If you’re going to be gone for a long period of time (several weeks, for example) and visiting a variety of places, I’d say you need to pack both and a good range of lenses. Why? Because you’re likely planning on being in more than just one place and depending on where you’ll be at any given time, you’ll want to change what you’re carrying.

Type of Outing

This is the major deciding factor in the end. I’ll be honest with you, I will try to take my DSLR everywhere I possibly can, because it will outperform my point and shoot in certain situations. But I am a big time proponent of the idea that you can get freaking amazing photos with a point and shoot with enough practice and confidence. (Can you tell which of the photos in this post are P&S vs DSLR?)

So when you are going to be somewhere iffy (water park, roller coasters) and you don’t want to chance damaging The Big Kahuna, you might want to pack The Dependable Little Brick (nicknames for my Canon 7D and Canon Powershot g9).

Room to Pack

If your packing space is limited (assuming you’re taking a pleasure trip and not a serious photograph assignment) you’re going to be defaulting to your point and shoot, as they are always smaller, and the lenses are attached and limited to what’s in camera. Many of them fit in your pocket, and those that don’t will fit in your purse. But if you have room and you’re going to be seeing gorgeous sights, you owe it to yourself to have that DSLR on you. Invest in a good camera bag that will hold your body and a few lenses at least.

Five Can’t Fail Photo Editing Techniques

Lotus Carroll — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:44:01 +0000

I love processing my photos – you can do so much to a photograph with good editing software. Depending on the choices you make, you can create different moods and elicit varying reactions to your art. I find that when I’m processing, I like several different versions of my photo rather than just one. The solution is that I’ve been creating more than one version of the same photograph by using different editing techniques. I encourage you to try the same.

Here are five different basic techniques you can use on almost any photograph:

Cropping / Orientation / Rotation

Often, you can crop a photo into a different size to really bring in the focus to one thing, and can even change the orientation with this type of edit. Rotate a little if your angles are off. This can make a huge difference.

Here I crop down and rotate the original slightly to the right.

Here I crop to achieve a different orientation (still rotated to the right).

Selective Color

Used with caution, this edit can be fun and create an emotional effect.

Muted Colors

There are a lot of ways to do this, but basically you want to bring down the vibrance and/or saturation of the colors in your photo. You can also play with tint if you want to create different moods (see next).

Sepia Tones / Color Tints

Like selective color, this should really be used with caution, as the effect can be ultra cheesy if you’re not careful. In the end though, it is what your artistic eye is most pleased by that matters.

Black and White

I love seeing how a photograph looks in black and white. Often, my eye is drawn to things it wouldn’t have been with a color photo, and there can be a completely different “feel” as well.

Keep in mind that these are just basic techniques, and you can (and should) go much further with your processing. Often, these are really just jumping off points, and you can continue to tweak settings that will make both subtle and drastic changes that will really bring a unique look to your work.

As with anything, practice will make perfect, and what looks best for a photo is different from one to the next. Experiment and see what style fits you best, and keep an open mind with every image you process.

Makeover Digital Photography – Using Editing to Rescue a Bad Photograph

Lotus Carroll — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 05:08:34 +0000

One of the wonders of the digital age is that we are able to do so much more with photographs than ever before. Editing software enables us to take the art of photography to greater levels, and in no small part is this due to the fact that we can now save photos that would have been sent straight to the bad photo graveyard years ago. “Bad” photo? You can fix it. Here are some common photo edits that can save an otherwise “ready for burial” photograph.

Tilt/Rotate

Ever see a photo later and think, um, I should have had a V8… ? It happens to me all the time! Don’t despair. If the angle on your photo is slightly off, don’t pitch it, just rotate it a little. Most photo editing software will let you do this.

Black & White

Did you take a photo and then later realize it just seems too busy, or maybe there are elements in the photo that distract from the main subject? Sometimes making this kind of photo into a black and white will calm down the distraction.

Tint

Uh-oh, you took a photo in a room with yellow walls. Now everyone looks jaundiced! Let’s get rid of that extra bilirubin by using the color balance slider (little more blue, maybe?) or even auto-tone. Most software programs will have an auto setting that tries to normalize these off tints for you. If you can’t seem to get it right, you can always try black and white.

Shadows

Was the lighting bad when you took your photograph? Maybe the shadows too deep? No fear! Add some fill light to your photo or brighten the shadows and you can save that dark photo.

Crop

Sometimes a photobomb is a thing of glory (I personally love them). But if you want to focus on the main subjects, don’t forget you can always grab that crop tool and save the photo. And if you need to, you can even brush out extra stuff. (See next.)

Adjustment Brush Tool

Some photo editing software, such as Photoshop and Lightroom, enable you to use brushes to make detailed, complex changes. In the example above, after cropping, I used the adjustment brush in Lightroom. I painted over part of the photobomber and then took the exposure and brightness all the way down on those painted parts, making her fade into the background.

Noise Reduction

If you took your photo in low light conditions, you may have had to up your ISO and had to trade off the better exposure for some grain, or noise. One of my favorite features in Lightroom 3 is the set of noise reduction tools. Use that luminance slider to work a little magic. It will take a grainy photo and make it so smooth in no time.

Clone/Heal

Did you have a smudge on your lens? Or maybe there was, um, some stuff you forgot to vacuum off your carpet? Hey, we’ve all been there. Use the Clone/Heal tools in your software to make those marks disappear! This can literally take a photo from loser status to a photography heck yeah.

How to Create Good Backdrops for Photos in Your Backyard

Lotus Carroll — Mon, 16 May 2011 22:20:14 +0000

Spontaneous photography can often use background elements to help tell a story, but if your main focus is a person, the background should be simple and non-distracting. Think you need to spend money on expensive backdrops to make your portraits great? Not at all. It’s easy to create great backdrops to use in photos around your home and in your own backyard.

Three ways you can get great backdrops for photos in your backyard:

- isolate areas of your backyard that have natural backdrops

- repurpose things you have around the house as simple backdrops

- construct your own backdrops for use

Isolate Areas of Natural Beauty for Photos

- scout your backyard and find trees, flower patches, and bushes that are pleasing to the eye but will not distract from your main subject

- make sure the area is clear of things like stray toys or anything that doesn’t belong in the shot

Repurpose Household Items as Backdrops

Attractive blankets, sheets, and curtains can be used as understated backgrounds and work great in a pinch. You can hang them from a clothesline or pin them to a fence. Make sure anything you use is not wrinkled or matted, or your photograph will suffer.

For infant portraits, large pieces of poster board can also be propped behind the child to create a smooth and lovely backdrop. The focus should always be on the subject, rather than what is behind them, so smooth and simple is best.

Construct Your Own Photo Backdrops

You can purchase muslin or canvas and use it as is, or if you want something more colorful, you can dye it yourself to suit your needs. RIT dye is inexpensive and easy to use, so you can color your backdrop as you please. If you prefer not to hang or pin the backdrop from something in the backyard, PVC pipe can be used to create a structure you can hang your created backdrops from. If you want to create something like this, there are tutorials online that you can tackle.

Create Muslin Background

Build a Background Stand

Image © Lotus Carroll, All Rights Reserved.

Mother’s Day Pictures to Take for Mom

Lotus Carroll — Sun, 01 May 2011 02:34:39 +0000

Mother’s Day is just around the corner – May 8th. What kind of gifts are the best to get for Mom on Mother’s Day? They range greatly based on the specific mom you’re celebrating, and popular ideas include spa packages, jewelry, and flowers, as well as (my favorite) photography inspired gifts.

Part of being a mother is cherishing the memories she has with her family. That is what makes photographs, the way we all capture memories to celebrate for a lifetime, the perfect gift for the special mom(s) in your life.

What kinds of photographs are the best Mother’s Day gifts?

Your significant other / mother of your kiddos: Photographs of her with her children are a great way to honor her as a mother. Special moments shared with them, frozen in time, will warm her heart.

Your mother / mother-in-law: She will be touched by photographs of her with her children, in days gone, if you can dig those up. A framed succession of these of her with her kids from then to now would be a true winner. She’ll also treasure photographs of her children with her grandchildren.

Your grandmother / grandmom-in-law: She want to see her children grown up and playing with her grandkids. It will remind her of the days when her kids were just babes, and touch her heart.

A friend who is a mom: Take photos of your friend with her children, either blatantly, or surreptitiously. This will surprise her with a point of view she doesn’t always see – the third person view of her shining as a mother.

Setting up photos? A few basic portrait photography tips:

Backgrounds aren’t the most important thing in the shot, but if they’re distracting, they will become the most noticeable thing. Simple is better. Attractive bushes and trees are often nice, and outdoor shots have the added benefit of natural light.

If it’s a controllable element, try not to let the clothing speak louder than the people – let’s highlight faces and emotions – not patterns!

Take a lot of photos, and talk to the people you are photographing casually. The more uptight the situation feels, the more posed it looks. Halfway in (between beginner’s anxiety and fatigue) is usually the money shot, in my experience.

Don’t ignore “outtakes.” Sometimes these are the best emotional images of all.

How to gift photographs for Mother’s Day:

The most classic way to give a photograph is framed, either a single portrait or several moments in a collage-type frame. Of course, there are so many other ways you can gift photos now, and those are fun, as well. My personal advice is to stay away from the “too cliche” things (t-shirt, mug, etc.). We want to warm Mom’s heart – not give her indigestion via Le Tacky.

What other options do you have for Photography Gifts for Mother’s Day?

personalized cards instead of generic store bought

photo necklace (if done well)

photobook (it’s nice to have a hard copy collection in this digital age)

laptop skins (pretty cool for a tech savvy mommy)

photo canvas

personalized planners

calendars

These all make great Mother’s Day gifts if executed with her personality in mind – don’t gift jewelry to a mom who doesn’t wear it, for example.

One last thing to consider in the photography gifts spectrum: Does the mom you love wish she had some better photographs of the family, her with the children, or just some really nice photos of herself? You can also gift her a session with a professional photographer in your area. This will really make her feel special and give her some quality memories to cherish. Talk to the photographer in advance and choose one that is a good fit for your family/mom.

Now go brainstorm about the most important moms in your life and get it done! In a couple of weeks, she’s going to know how much you love her, and have memories captured within easy reach to cherish forever.

All images © Lotus Carroll, All Rights Reserved.

Photographing Spring Flowers

Ivey League Mama — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:00:27 +0000

If you look through my mother’s photographs, you’ll find a lot of pictures of flowers.
Most of those pictures look like this:

And while it’s a pretty flower and a decent picture, it doesn’t make you go “aaahhh”

There are several ways that you could photograph the same flower to get that “aaahhh”.

Get a glimpse inside the flower by focusing on the beauty hidden within the petals.

Get down on the ground to find a unique perspective.

Look for tiny details that are unusual or different, such as this petal that was somehow speared by a neighboring branch.

Aim high or aim low by shooting from below the flower…

…or from above.

Don’t forget that even weeds can be beautiful!

A Quick Lesson on Lenses

Patricia Knight — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:00:04 +0000

Depending on your camera, there are many choices available to you when it comes to lenses. Here’s a quick overview of your options to help you make the best choice for you.

Image: Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Zoom Lenses

What is a Zoom Lens?

Any lens that has a range of focal lengths is considered a zoom lens. They are usually heavier than most lenses because they have more glass in them to accommodate the different focal lengths. But they provide a lot of versatility and allow you to get close to objects that you normally wouldn’t be able to get close to.

What are Zoom Lenses Good For?

Photographing your kids while they are playing in youth sports. This lens will allow you to get a close up of their expressions as they score the goal. Zoom lenses are also great for taking on vacations when you may not always be allowed to get close to your subjects.

What to look for in a Zoom Lens

When deciding on a zoom lens the first thing to consider is the minimum, and maximum, focal lengths the lens is to cover.

Wide Angle Lenses

What is a Wide Angle Lens?

They allow you to take in wide areas without you having to move.

What are Wide Angle Lenses Good For?

Think landscapes which can be vast. They tend to distort the photo, especially around the edges so you generally will not use a Wide Angle Lens to photograph people.

What to look for in a Wide Angle Lens

Write down the make, model and serial number of your camera so you can check for compatibility when shopping for a wide angle lens. Understand focal lengths before you shop for a wide angle lens. The standard focal length for old-school film photography is 35 mm. The focal length establishes the viewing range for the lens, so the smaller the focal length, the wider the image a camera lens can capture.

Macro Lenses

What is a Macro Lens?

A macro lens lets you get the fine details on small objects close up.

What are Macro Lenses Good For?

If you love to photograph flowers or bugs than you will want a macro lens. Though you will probably need a tripod as well since you don’t want to have blurry photos.

What to look for in a Macro Lens?

The magnification ratio, or reproduction ratio as it’s also known, is a crucial feature. True macro lenses offer a magnification ratio of 1:1, meaning your subject will be the same size as the image sensor it was taken on. 1:2 means the subject will be double the height and width and so on. If magnification is less then 1:1, it’s unlikely to be a true macro lens.

Prime Lenses

What is a Prime Lens?

Prime Lenses have a fixed focal length. So in order to get closer to a subject, you will physically have to move yourself in these situations. The common Prime Lenses have a focal length of 50mm, 85mm, etc.

What are Prime Lenses Good For?

Prime Lenses are usually great for portraits as well as low light situations because Prime Lenses generally allow you faster shutter speeds and apertures that are wide open so they let in more light.

What to look for in a Prime Lens?

The aperture is one of the mechanisms that controls the amount of light that passes through the lens to the image sensor. The aperture is usually referred to in terms of f-stops, and is represented by a number such as f/2.8. The smaller the number, the larger the opening, and the more light it allows into the camera. Because it collects more light, a lens that opens to a wide aperture lets you maintain faster shutter speeds in low light-this can be essential for obtaining sharp images from a hand-held camera. Wider apertures also provide more creative control by giving you the option to throw backgrounds out of focus.

Specialty Lenses

What is a Specialty Lens?

These are generally lenses that do not take normal photographs. Think Lensbaby lenses, fish eye lenses and the tilt shift lens.

What are Specialty Lenses good for?

These lenses allow you to have some fun and explore the more artistic side of photography.

What to look for in a Specialty Lens?

This will all depend on your needs.

If you are not sure what lens will work best for you and your photography needs, I suggest you try renting the lens you are interested in first before spending your hard earned money (or your husband’s) on expensive lens.

Baby’s First Year Photographs

Ivey League Mama — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:00:22 +0000

With each of my children, I have done a one year project that I like to call “Watch Me Grow”. At the end of the year, I had books printed with all of the pictures. My kids love to go back and look at their books, and it’s fun go back and see just how little they really were!

By having the same background and same size calendar date page, you can really see how much they change throughout the year.

First I made a simple page-a-day calendar template in Word. (You can download my template here.)

Then I grabbed a black sheet and a sweet baby. (When they were really small, I used a pillow under the sheet to prop them up.)

At first, I took weekly pictures because it’s astounding how quickly they change those first few weeks.

At the 3 month mark, I started doing monthly pictures.

Lightscoop: the MUST HAVE DSLR Flash Accessory

Linda Sellers — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:15:33 +0000

Affordable Flash Accessory for DSLR Cameras

Have you been frustrated by creepy shadows, red eye, an lighting created by your DSLR’s pop up flash? It’s a good solution if you don’t want to spend too much money on an external flash. They can be several hundred dollars and take some getting used to.

The Lightscoop is an add on accessory that slides easily over your camera’s hot shoe. You engage your flash and when you take a photo, it redirects your pop-up flash to a ceiling or wall. The photos are pretty impressive. The best part – it will run you about $30 or less.

If you don’t believe me (but then why wouldn’t you!) take a look at this series of photos taken SOOC (straight out of the camera). These were taken in my house in the evening with low lighting. The first one my WB was set to tungsten. The second two the WB was set to flash.

Great Results with Lightscoop

Pretty dramatic, but you can see that for the Lightscoop I would have to do very little editing to the photo.

Check the site to make sure you camera is compatible. A few are not. But it’s something every DSLR camera owner should have in their bag.

Best news! Lightscoop is offering our readers a discount when bought on the site. Use code BD15 to receive your discount – expired 3-15-2011!

Organizing your digital photos

Patricia Knight — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:05:56 +0000

A new year has begun. Time to begin working on your new year’s resolutions. And if you’re looking to get your digital photographs organized than you have come to the right place.
As a professional photographer, I take hundreds of photographs on a regular basis, and I have thousands of them stored on my external hard drive. With this many photographs to manage, they must be organized in a way that makes them easy to find.

First you need to have a logical folder structure on your hard drive.

This will vary for every person because we all think differently so I will share my file organization as an example. I begin with a year folder and and then within the year folder I have created folders for each month. Within the Month folders, I break it down by the date the photos were taken. And lastly, within a folder I separate originals from the various ways I edit my photographs. Another way to label the folders is by year and within each year you would have a folder for each event you the photographed.

Folders by Year

Photos by Month

Photos by Date Taken

Good organization begins when you upload your photographs from your camera or memory card to your computer. How you do this will also depend on which program you use to upload your photos. You may use software that came with your camera like the Kodak Easyshare software or a program such as Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or Lightroom.

Another important element is how your photos are named.

Personally I use Lightroom to upload my images onto my computer. During the upload process not only does Lightroom allow me to choose which folded to upload the photos in to, I can also re-name the images. I have elected to use the date the photos were taken followed by the sequence number. And when I am uploading images of clients, I incorporate their last name into the file as well.

I would also recommend applying keywords or tagging your images.

Have you ever have had to find one photo from the thousands on your computer? This can be a major time suck. When you assign keywords to your images you can take advantage of the search ability that is available on practically every software and computer program there is today.

I would also highly recommend backing up your photographs as well.

Computers and hard drives are known for crashing. So save yourself on the heartache of lost photos and get into the habit of backing up your photographs. Someday you will thank me for this tip. There are a variety of ways to accomplish the task of backing up your photographs. You can upload to places such as Flickr or Photobucket. You can elect to use a service such as Mozy or Cabonite. And there is now the option of using Cloud Computing services such as Dropbox, Windows Live SkyDrive or utilize the storage options from Google.

It doesn’t really matter how you organize your photographs, it’s just important that you have a system in place to keep them organized. I hope that you have found these tips useful. Now go out and get your photographs organized.

Project 365: It’s not too late!

Ivey League Mama — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 02:55:36 +0000

What is Project 365?

Project 365 is quite simply taking 365 pictures, usually a picture a day for an entire year.

Why do Project 365?

It gets your camera in your hands when otherwise it might stay in the bag.

Going back to look at your pictures is more fun than you think it will be.

You might capture moments that seem insignificant at the time but, looking back, will mean much more.

You’ll become a better photographer. (Think of all the practice you’ll be getting!)

It’s fun!

Do I need a special kind of camera to do Project 365?

Nope! Blurry cell phone pictures work just as well as ones taken by the fancy-pants cameras.

Don’t forget: The best camera you can have is the one that’s with you!

Where should I post my pictures?

The first time I attempted to do Project 365, I didn’t post my pictures anywhere. I ended up giving up.

The second time I tried, I posted all my pictures on Facebook but I didn’t like the way it cluttered my feed. I ended up quitting then, too.

The third time I tried, I joined a Flickr group: BD 365, which is made up of Blissfully Domestic readers. When I had people commenting on my photos, it was much easier to stay motivated. And I made some really great friends this way!

What if I forget a day(or two)?

You can do a “make up” picture the next day.

You can just aim to have 365 pictures that you love by the end of the year.

Or you could always choose to do Project 52 instead: 52 pictures in 52 weeks! (We’d still love to see your pictures in the BD 365 Flickr group!)

Is it too late to start Project 365?

It’s not too late! Some people started their 365 days in October, some people only add photos on a semi-regular basis, and some people are great about posting every day. Click over to our Flickr group and join us for photo fun!

*All photos shown here are from my previous Project 365. You can find the complete set here.

Fun Gift Ideas for the Photographer in your Family

Elissa Lerma aka Punk Rock Mom — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 18:22:40 +0000

We all know that photography can be one expensive hobby. Lenses can cost thousands of dollars and just do not make them budget friendly gifts. So what can you get the photographer in your life that won’t break the bank? Here are some fun and cute ideas…

The Camera Lens Mug

Imagine walking into your local coffee shop with a camera lens in hand. When you get to the counter you twist off the cap and ask for your coffee to be served in your camera lens mug. Very cut and unique gift. You can find them at www.photojojo.com, www.cannonmugs.com and on ebay.

Lens Bracelets

Seems like you can show your support and love for just about anything these days with a rubber bracelet. Why not show love for photography? Another great find from www.photojojo.com. These bracelets look just like the zoom ring from your favorite lens.

Camera Shirt

Any lover of photography would love this t-shirt! You can find this one and more with a simple “camera shirt” search over at www.etsy.com.

Camera Pendant

Another great Etsy.com find! You can find this and other adorable camera jewelry on etsy.com. Some for as little as $10.00!

I hope I have given you some gift ideas! Of course a new lens always works too!