Photo Expressions

Christmas Concert Photo Tips

It's that time of year, when parents squat their way to the front of the school gym to get a picture of their little angel, battling bad angles, low lighting and elbows all the way.  Here are some tips for great Christmas concert photos:

• Bump up the ISO.  ISO settings affect a photo in 2 ways: how much light is let into the camera, and how much "noise" will appear in the picture.  A higher ISO setting will let in more light and also allow more noise (noise appears as random coloured dots).  I would personally rather have a sharper picture with a bit of noise than a smooth, blurry picture.  So take your camera off "Auto" or "100" ISO and try changing it to "400" (or maybe 800 or 1600 if you know your camera can handle it).  Make sure to change it back after!
• Get as close as possible.  You know all those parents who sneak up to the front row to get pictures of their children?  They are doing a good thing.  Christmas concerts tend to be dark, so you need to be as close as possible for your pictures to turn out.
• Zoom with the feet.  You might be tempted to use your big zoom from the back of the gym, but keep in mind that the more you zoom in, the less light reaches the camera, and the more your hand movements are multiplied, which can lead to blurring.  You are best to crawl up the aisles.
• Got image stabilization (usually called IS, OIS or VR)?  Use it!  What a great invention this is.  It counteracts the shakiness of your hands to create sharper images.
• Here is the Flash Rule: if you are within - oh, say - 20 feet of your subject, flash will make your picture look better.  If you are further than 20 feet from your subject, flash can actually make your picture look worse!  Beware the folly of distant flash!

In the 2 photos below, I used a camera that can shoot 1600 ISO no problem.  It's really a matter of preference in this case.  The flash photo (top) freezes the action while casting some shadows on the back wall.  The high-ISO photo (below) allows for some movement and takes on the characteristics of the gymnasium lights.  Realistically, in a Christmas concert setting I'd be happy with either one because they are sharp and capture the moment!

200 ISO with flash - about 20 feet away

 
1600 ISO without flash 

• One last tip. If you can - sit in the front row.  That's how I got the picture below! (and I used flash).

Trust us with your Memories,
Ron C

Creative Corner with Tanya

I have been flipping through a couple of magazines lately and have found myself looking at some of the layouts and thinking “You know, I wish I could get more people to realize that they too can create the same layouts that are published, in their own scrapbooks!”  So I have decided to prove to you guys that page maps are really easy to follow and more importantly … “scrap lifting” is perfectly legal and such an easy and inspirational way to get your pages done!

This first installment is taken from a page that Ali Edwards just had published in the November 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes.  For the most part, her layout is all white with a hint of blue in her title. I liked how really simple her page was but at the same time it packed a visual punch.  I decided that I wanted to re-create it. 

So I recruited Renee and, using the silver glitter paper from Best Creations, she cut the giant snowflake for my first page using the Silhouette.  I used the stores snowflake dies and our die cut center to cut the smaller snowflakes for my second page.  I used the “Storybook” alphabet for “SNOW” and the “Stardust” alphabet for “Angels” (both alphabets from QuickKutz), added a little pink bling and some gorgeous pictures of my two girls and my nieces and DONE!

See, now wasn't that easy?! Stay tuned for more scraplifting ideas soon!

~ Tanya ~

Flower Soft and Tips for Sharper Photos - @ PE

And here is the finished card from the video:

Christmas Card Inspiration

Have you checked out our Christmas Card ideas on Facebook? We have an album of Design Team cards for you to look through, for inspiration and encouragement as you finish up the last of your Christmas stash.

Click here to check it out!

"Sharing Cards" Card Contest

One of the things that we love so much about working with the public is the opportunity to come together and impact the lives of others. During this holiday season, we would like to invite you to join us in making a difference within our own community!

This year we're hosting a "Sharing Cards" Card Contest. This event will raise money for a local charity and will gift dozens of cards to our local seniors' homes just in time for Christmas! There will be a main winner of the contest who will win a Sizzix Big Shot machine ($118 value!!!), plus two more random draw winners who will each receive a QuicKutz $50 draw bag! We would love it if you would partake in this fun event and in doing so, positively impact the lives of others!

Here are the details:

• Purchase a Sharing Cards card kit at Photo Express for a minimum $2 donation, between now and Sunday Dec. 6^th.
• Take your kit home and create a card with some or all of the pieces in your kit.
• The only product that you may use in addition to the items in your kit, are: adhesives, ink, pop dots, glitter, Stickles, and colouring implements for your stamped images (e.g. Copic markers, pencil crayons, etc.).
• Return your finished card to Photo Express by Sun Dec. 13^th.
• Your card will be displayed on our “Sharing Cards” display board along with all the other entries.
• Be sure to come back to Photo Express between Mon Dec. 14^th and Sun Dec. 20^th to cast a vote for your favouite card (other than your own!). Make sure to send your friends in to vote as well!
• The cardmaker with the most votes will be announced on Mon Dec. 21st. The winner will receive a Sizzix Big Shot Machine (value $118.00)!!!!
• The winner of the contest will also choose 1 of 4 local charities to receive the proceeds of this event: Friends in Need Food Bank, Cythera Transition House, SPCA, or Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation. The cards will be donated to local seniors homes, to offer cheer and goodwill during the holiday season.
• Two random draws of all the entries will also be made. These two winners will receive a QK goodie bag with a retail value of $50 each!

What a great way to share your holiday spirit with others! We hope that you'll join in on the fun and pick up your card kit today!!

Flower Soft is in the house!

 
Flower Soft is the most exciting and versatile craft product for years. It can make fantastic realistic miniature flowers and plants in minutes, which can then be used to decorate your cards, scrap pages, presents, pictures, eggs, dolls houses and much more. Not only does it create flowers but is also creates a floral effect on text, borders and designs. 

This stuff is sooooo cool.  Come in and see the samples.  And you can use it for much more than flowers.

 Take a moment to look through the ideas and projects sections to find amazing new ways to use your Flower Soft ™.

http://www.flower-soft.co.uk/Ideas/Idea-Gallery.php

http://www.flower-soft.co.uk/Projects/Projects.php

Here are a few examples of what you can do 

26th Anniversary Door Prize Winners!

Whew!  Saturday's 26th Anniversary Bash & Sale was CRAZY!  Thank you all so much for coming by.  We love that we are relevant to the lives and memories of so many people in our community.

Without further ado, here is a list of Door Prize winners.  Every Club Member who made a purchase on Saturday was eligible:

Silhouette SD + Holly Gift Set
Valued at over $500!
Jennifer R.

Flower Soft Lavender & Lace Collection
$45
Rebecca P.

JustRite Monogram Stamper Kit
$45
Dorota H.

Prepaid Prints Card (100 free prints)
$35
Sharon D.
Wendy B.

Free Studio Sitting & 8x10 Portrait
$35
Martin B.
Jessica L.

Free Foto Calendar
$30
George P.
Jeffrey F.

$25 Photo Express Gift Card
Heather C.

Nikon Ball Cap
$20
Nona R.
Paula H.

Congratulations to all the winners!  You can pick up your prizes in the store.  Here's a few photos and a video from the day, enjoy!

 

 
 

Woohoo! 26th Anniversary Bash & Sale This Saturday Nov 21st!

It's almost here!  Can you smell the excitement (and the popcorn and Big City cupcakes)?

Saturday from 9-6 you are invited to come celebrate PE's 26th Anniversary.  Here are a few reasons why you will want to come by:

• The first 126 customers will receive a sheet of very valuable coupons - we can't show them here, let's just say they will help your Christmas shopping!
• EVERY camera in the store is on sale!  Receive bonuses like free memory cards, free extended warranties, and free camera bags with every camera purchase!
• Door Crasher Specials - Click the link to read all about them!
• A HUGE scrapbooking sale - like for example, all in-stock scrapbooking items are 26% off the regular price!
• Our very knowledgeable sales reps from Canon (9am-12pm) and Nikon (1pm-4pm) will be here to answer your questions and show off the latest gear.
• Did we mention the FREE Big City cupcakes and popcorn?

If you are a Club Member, you can also win one of many door prizes just by making a purcahse on Saturday!  Just a few examples of door prizes:

• Silhouette SD machine!
• Prepaid Prints Card!
• Free Foto Calendar!
• $25 Photo Express Gift Card!

Hope to see you there Saturday!  We are so excited we even made a video to tell you all about it:

New from Cosmo Cricket

We've got 2 great new lines in the store from Cosmo Cricket!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calendars and Stickers from SRM

It's that time of the year again for making calendars for loved ones. Not only do we now have the brand new online Foto Depot calendar tool for you to check out, but we also have a variety of 8x8 and 12x12 calendars in the store for your to scrapbook. Here are a few of the stickers that we've brought in for your gift giving calendars this season.

 

Donate Food - Win an iPod!

We'd like to raise a ton of food for the Friends in Need Foodbank this year, and we need your help.  Bring your food donations into Photo Express foto source and each day you bring in food, you can enter to win an 8GB iPod Touch!  As you know, this year more than ever donations are needed to help people in our community from going hungry.

There shouldn't be people in our community that are hungry. It is very difficult to think, to learn, to do the right thing, if you are hungry. 34% of their clients are children!   Children need food to grow and to learn and to play.  Their little bellies shouldn't be wondering when food will be available. They also have many seniors whose pensions just aren't lasting until the end of the month.

 

Photo Express is again a drop off location for food for the Friends in Need Foodbank.  And to encourage you to bring in food everytime you come in or are in the area, you will receive an entry ticket each day that you bring in food from now until December 14th, 2009. What can you win? An 8GB iPod Touch from Photo Express! (To be drawn on December 15th, you don't have to be present to win.)

Any nonperishable food items are great.  Make sure the food is unopened and hasn't expired. They are in extra need of canned fruit, kids recess snacks (granola bars, pudding cups, juice boxes), bottled water and Gatorade, and diabetic stuff as many of the elderly are diabetic.

Feel good knowing you are helping someone who needs a little extra help and you might even win a camera in the process.  Thanks for your generosity!  What you give out always comes back tenfold!

And here is some info from the Food Bank

The Friends in Need FOOD BANK was founded in 1989 by two women in Pitt Meadows, who saw the need to assist the hungry in their community. Since that time, Friends has grown from a basement operation to a 3,200 sq ft warehouse in Maple Ridge, with a secondary distribution depot at the Grace Church in Pitt Meadows.

The food bank distributes to well over 600 families and singles in a month. As well it assists 7 community agencies to provide food and nourishment to those who are hungry. The food bank usually receives over 105,000 kilograms of food donations each year. These are donations from local groceries, bakeries, retailers and community members.

Friends in Need are a member of the CAFB - BC Branch. It abides by their Code of Ethics and does not promote door to door or by telephone solicitation. We depend solely on the generosity of our community and its members.  To donate or volunteer, please call (604) 466-FOOD (3663).

Easier than Ever Scrapbooking Vol. 2

Trying to keep it simple? Looking for layouts you can make in minutes? This new special issue is for you! The follow-up to our best-selling special issue Easier-than-Ever Scrapbooking, Easier-than-Ever Scrapbooking 2 is 164 pages of inspirational designs and easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to finish lots of pages in less time.

The formula is easy: use the supplies you have on hand (your "scrapbooking pantry") to create multi-photo scrapbook spreads in under an hour. Switch it up by adding 1-3 more items for some variety. We show you over 180 ways to scrapbook the easier-than-ever way.

Click on the image to interactively browse the sneak peek of this issue!

QuicKutz Wishlist

Did you know that QuicKutz has a wish list for their Santa's Workshop gift set release that you can register for on their website? Simply check the boxes next to your wish list items, fill in the contact information at the bottom of the page, choose Photo Express as your store of choice, and hit submit! They will send us an email informing us of your wish list and we'll make sure to contact your 'significant other' and let them know about it. We'll even help them by wrapping it for free and having it all ready for them to pick up.

It's a great idea!! But don't wait too long....there's a limited number of gift sets left and we anticipate them to be sold out by Christmas.

Let's Roll!

Have you seen this fabulous kids' line from Imaginisce?! It is so much fun, you'll love creating with it!

 

Here are some design team samples from the Imaginisce website:

 

An Elegant Christmas

Hi everyone, Michele here. I'm very excited to announce that there is a new class just added to the November class calendar. Allison is a teacher at Archbishop Carney, and I have been going in on Mondays to help her with the card club at the school. She has a very elegant, beautiful style and uses very cool techniques, so I finally convinced her to come and teach a class at PE! You'll absolutely love all the cards she has planned for you, and I know you'll have a hard time giving them away.  Here are just a few of the cards you will be making.  Click here for class information and to register. Hope you can make it!