Blissfully Domestic » Photography

Awesome Mother’s Day Gifts for the Mom Photographer

Christine — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:38:48 +0000

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, plans for breakfasts in bed and extra hugs and pampering are in the works for moms all over. But finding that right gift for the mom who insists, “Oh, I just want everyone to get along!” can be a challenge.

So with that in mind, I wanted to present a helpful guide to anyone out there looking for a gift for a mom who has a passion for photography (and let’s face it, most moms do love photography). This also makes a handy article to print out and leave “accidentally” on a kitchen counter or desk. *ahem*

Off-Camera Flash Flip Mount. I’ve had one like this for at least a decade, and it immediately boosts the quality of portraits by reducing shadows and red-eye…for a reasonable price, too!

iPhone Telephoto Lens. The first time I saw one of these I was like, “NO WAY.” Honestly, I say that every time I see one of these. First I need to upgrade my iPhone, then I’ll make this puppy mine!

Epiphanie Camera Bag. I’ve had my eyes on these gorgeous bags for ages (sorry, can’t grab a photo from their site)…they aren’t your father’s camera bag. You don’t need to settle for an ugly black boxy bag to tote around your gear; these bags are so pretty, I know women who use them for purses. But with their compartments and other accoutrements, they can do the heavy lifting.

Using Family Photos as Gifts for Mother’s Day

Christine — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:20:51 +0000

I’ve been serious about photography since I was a teenager, but that passion took on a whole new level when I became a mother…not only did I have the most gorgeous little model, but I wanted to capture every. single. moment.

Motherhood and photography are a natural combination.

With that in mind, gather some of those treasured family photos and craft a mother’s day gift for a mom you love…or yourself! Need some inspiration? Here are a few ideas to get you motivated:

Family Scrapbook. Sounds obvious, but today there are lots of different options…first step is to decide what format you want for your scrapbook. You can create an old-fashioned, hand-made scrapbook with actual photographs held onto pages with photo corners and hand-written captions…tie it up with a ribbon and a family treasure has been created. You can also embrace technology and make a scrapbook online through any one of a number of photo-sharing sites…you upload your photos, type in captions, and have it shipped directly to the mom of your choice. Then there are online scrapbooks where you simply share a link to the site…it’s easy to keep this type updated regularly; a great option for a mom who travels or Grandmas who live far away.

Most Iconic American Images

Christine — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:03:09 +0000

April is Keep America Beautiful Month!

Most photographers have, at their core, a strong desire to document the world around them for posterity’s sake. Some of us lean towards capturing beauty in the world, others towards events or people or concepts or cityscapes or nature or…or…or…

But the common denominator is almost always a basic desire to capture and hold onto a moment in time. In honor of this, and this month dedicated to the beauty of America, enjoy the following iconic images of the United States.

Ansel Adams' Half Dome at Yosemite

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Classic Americana.

Photographers Easter Checklist – Must Take Snapshots of the Holiday

Christine — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:00:21 +0000

Spring is in the air! Along with it comes Easter, a most special holiday celebration infused with spiritual meaning, family traditions, and cultural symbolism.

For us photography types, it’s also a time ripe for shooting images. The colors of the season, along with the holiday beloved by adults and children alike, make for an abundance of opportunities for special photos. The possibilities are endless.

Of course, that means that sometimes the obvious can be overlooked. For that reason, here is a checklist of those photos that you really don’t want to forget. Tuck it in your camera bag, and refer to it often. Future you will thank you!

Image courtesy Erich Ferdinand via Flickr Creative Commons

Egg Decorating. Images of children’s fingers covered in food dye or drawing with crayons on egg shells is classic.

Hiding of eggs. If an egg hunt is part of your family’s tradition, don’t forget to snap a couple of photos of those eggs in situ, before they are discovered by little hands. It’s part of the story.

How to Photograph Spring Flowers

Christine — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:36:39 +0000

Yay! Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes warmer weather and a wonderful photography subject…flowers!

The colors, texture, shapes make flowers visually appealing, and the symbolism of new beginnings inherent in spring flowers makes them a particularly attractive subject matter for photography enthusiasts.

Where to start? Following are some tips to help you make the most of this time of year’s most special photography opportunity:

Forest of flowers. Shoot upward, including a sea of stems as well as the flower itself, all set against a sunny blue sky. This unique perspective creates a dreamlike quality that is unlike any other.

Move it! Don’t be afraid to pluck that flower and place it in a different location to add interest and suggest a narrative. Float it on water, place it on a bed of grass, juxtapose the petals with a rough, cracked sidewalk…this hints at a story beyond the flower itself.

Photo courtesy Wayne Silver from Flickr Creative Commons

Shoot from behind. Flowers can be stunning from every angle; you don’t need to include the “face” of the flower to create a beautiful photograph. The shape of the petals, the curve of a stem, the texture of a leaf…each of these elements can be the focus of your photograph.

Tips for Photographing at a Conference

Christine — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:05:34 +0000

Image courtesy Southern Fairytale (Rachel Matthews)

Heading out to a conference any time soon *ahem*?

If so, you’ll probably be taking a camera with you…but snapping photos at a conference can be tricky. The light is often low, rooms are crowded, and there is visual overload. The whats, hows, and wheres to shoot can be overwhelming!

The following tips will go a long way towards helping you create photographs that capture the magic, and tell the story, of your conference experience.

Make a list in advance of-have take photos. People you want to see or meet, speakers you admire, city or hotel landmarks you want to visit…or any specific shots you want. Conferences are busy, and being able to refer to a list will be very helpful.
Avoid saying, “Say cheese!” Don’t wait for people to be looking directly at the camera with a plastered-on smile. Take photos as they happen; some of your favorites will likely be unrehearsed and spontaneous.
Image courtesy Southern Fairytale (Rachel Matthews)
Walk around…stretch your legs and get a different perspective. Sometimes the best photographs come from unexpected angles. Remember…hands and body language can be just as expressive as faces!
Adjust your camera’s settings to accommodate for dark rooms. In practical terms this means fast ISO (higher numbers, maybe around 800), wide open aperture (lower numbers, like 2.8) and slower shutter speeds (don’t go below 60, you’ll probably get blurry photos). You might also consider using a tripod, or something else such as a half wall to stabilize your camera.
Avoid using the flash when doing large room shots. The flash seems like the obvious answer to deal with low-light situations, but that’s not always the case. It can wash out details and “flatten” the scene by reducing depth of field (everything beyond the flash tends to be dark and shadowy). A simple rule of thumb is that when you’re taking shots of an entire room (or any large area), the flash might not be the best solution.

Attending Blissdom ’12? Join Us For a Photowalk on Thursday!

Lotus Carroll — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:02:19 +0000

I’m so excited to be flying to Nashville, TN next week. I’ve been lucky to be involved with Bissdom since the beginning, when it was a tiny, one room event. Every year it has grown and become even more brilliant. I cherish the time I will have to spend with friends who I don’t get to see for the entire rest of the year! I look forward to the fun, love-filled, happy community environment that awaits.

But this year I’m even more excited because I’ll be doing something I love to do in association with the conference – hosting a Photowalk! I know that many of you love to take photos as much as I do, and doing that together is just the best kind of hangout time that photographers can plan. There is endless beauty inside of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and we’ll be walking through it under the biodome and among lush plants getting some amazing shots along the way. Let’s photograph an indoor waterfall together, what do you say?

All levels are welcome – bring your camera in phone, point and shoot, DSLR – whatever you have!

Please RSVP: http://plancast.com/p/9w85

Have questions? I’m happy to answer them!

Walk Details

When: Thursday, February 23rd, 10am
Where: Meet in the Magnolia Ballroom
RSVP: http://plancast.com/p/9w85
Hashtag: #BD12PW

Social Media Details

Please RSVP for the walk (even if you’re not 100% sure you’ll make it) at the Plancast Page here: http://plancast.com/p/9w85

Blissdom ’12 Photowalk Facebook Group – if you’re planning on attending, please go join the group. This is a great place to see who else will be there and ask questions or make suggestions.

Blissdom ’12 Photowalk G+ Page – Are you on Google+? Add this page and keep an eye on it. After the walk, when you share your photos on G+ use the hashtag #BD12PW and tag the page and I’ll start gathering and sharing the photos there. The hashtag stream will be a very easy place for us to see each other’s photos. Please note that I can’t circle you back with this page until you circle me first – it’s a spam prevention thing. So please go circle!

Blissdom ’12 Photowalk flickr Group – Love flickr? Join this group and after the walk when you upload your photos to flickr, you can add them there. Tag your photos with Blissdom ’12 Photowalk.

Blissdom ’12 Photowalk Snap MyLife Group Collection – Do you share your photos on SML? I do! (Find me here.) We can all easily add to this Group Collection on SML and have them in one place.

Or course, it’s great if you Tweet photos during or after the walk. The Hashtag for our walk is #BD12PW wherever you can use a hashtag.

Whew! I think I covered all the bases, but please feel free to ask me any questions or offer suggestions. I look forward to seeing you guys!

Best Photography Pinterest Boards to Follow

Christine — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 07:17:40 +0000

Pinterest is hot now. HOT. And especially useful for photographers.

And for good reason,functioning as a virtual pin-board, this social networking site is a pictorial smorgasbord, satisfying every aspect of our visual appetite. There’s bound to be something for everyone.

Not surprising, this is especially true for photography aficionados. Sharing amazing photographic images is at the heart of the site, and the following Pinterest boards are sure to please.

Awesome Collection of Outdoor Photography

Waterfalls, meadows, rainbows and oceans...this collection has a breathtaking images of the wonders of nature." class="shutterset_best-pinterest-photo-boards">

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Waterfalls, meadows, rainbows and oceans...this collection has a breathtaking images of the wonders of nature.

What are your favorite photography boards to follow?

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.