Photo Expressions

Do you have an actual photograph?

Have your children or grandchildren or neices or nephews ever held an actual photograph of themselves in their hand? Contrary to what many children growing up today may unfortunately believe, family pictures don't have to be viewed only on a computer screen.

Believe it or not, you can still actually make pictures you can hold in your hand- just like the film days! Even more amazing, you can put them in an album and look at them while reminiscing about when the photo was taken! Really, no kidding! lol

The trouble is, too many well-intentioned people never get around to moving those pictures from their shoebox--whether it's a physical shoebox or a digital one--into an album. Make 2012 the year you get around to doing this.

The above picture of my daughters was taken on Christmas eve and because of Foto Freedom, it is backed up, tagged, rated, super easy to find to share, printed and in a photo album! And I just ordered an enlargement of it for my family wall.  Don't think that this is because I am in the photo industry.  Working in this industry has actually been a "detriment" to my photo organization - I take waaaaay too many photos, and they were only haphazardly organized before Foto Freedom and I was totally overwhelmed. I now get excited when I think about my photos and how organized they are (from last June to now, I still have to work my way backwards) instead of anxiety and guilt. Plus we get to enjoy and look at actual photographs! The girls are loving this!

If the idea of actually holding a printed photograph in your hand just seems overwhelming to you and you have no idea where to even begin, Foto Freedom has all the answers for you!

This self-paced online course will take you step by step from the very basics of once you have snapped a photo on your camera, all the way to actually enjoying your photos in an organized way for generations to come. The next session starts this Thursday January 19th (and if you are reading this post after, you can sign up until Jan 25th). Don't be intimidated by this being a 10 week course. It is a simple step each week to fit into your busy life and can be done at your own pace. And with the savings you receive, it is almost free!

If you are ready to print out some pictures, take advantage of our 40% off sale on Foto Depot photofinishing right now! Extended until Jan 25th.(wallet size to poster size)!  It's all about saving those Christmas memories before they get buried on your hard drive.

Just use the promo code save2011 at checkout when you place your next Foto Depot order of more than $20 before discount.

Here is some more explanation from the Ghost of Christmas JPG's Past!

The Ghost of Christmas JPG's Past!

Promaster Keychain Tripod

Many of you have bought these super cute and useful mini tripods that attach to your keychain! This way, you always have a tripod on hand for your small camera. Over time the ball head may loosen. To tighten it, turn the middle leg clockwise.  Easy peasy!

 

Do You Have Foto Freedom?

Ask Yourself...

Where are your photos?  Do you invite people over to sit at your camera screen or computer screen so you can share and reminisce?  Can you find a photo of a friend that you took 2 years ago that you want to send them for their birthday?  Do you even know where your photos go once you take them off your camera?  Are you overwhelmed with the volume of photos that you have to deal with, and so give up and feel guilty for not doing something with them?  Has anyone even seen the photos you have taken?

Foto Freedom has the answers for you!  Foto Freedom will provide you with an easy, step by step work-flow, that will guide you to a place in your life where you enjoy your photos.  You will organize your photos into a great system that allows you to find them, that allows you to share them and reminisce through them and best of all, relieves the guilt associated with not doing something with your photos.

Foto Freedom is a 10-week, online, self-paced course with personal support.  It's like a personal trainer for your memories!  After completing the course you will be able to:

    Find your photos on your computer, even years later!
    Share and reminisce about your photos, without looking at a computer screen!
    Back up and share your photos online
    Show off beautiful printed projects that you actually got done!
    Have control over your photos again!  Just like in the "film days"!

This is a no risk program with a 100% money back guarantee. Visit www.fotofreedom.ca for more details and some free sample materials. Make this the year you do something with your photos!

Don’t let your kids grow up to be jpegs! Visit www.fotofreedom.ca today and sign up today. Next Course starts January 19th, 2012. (Register by January 25th.)

Photo Decor projects

 

Embellish Plain Photo Storage Solutions with Scrapbooking Supplies

Design by Vicki Boutin

Vicki put a spin on scrapbook photo storage by dressing up an ordinary photo box. After covering the box sides with patterned paper and rub-ons, she finished the top with a title and images.

 

 

Frame Tiny Family Photos and Patterned-Paper Circles

Design by Jen Lessinger

Jen framed a montage of favorite family photos, fun patterned paper, and quirky embellishments. She decoupaged wooden discs, then arranged them in rows inside a frame.

Editor's Tip: Punch circles from photos and patterned paper to ensure shapes are even and the edges are smooth.

 

Make a Photo Montage Mat

Design by Sheri Reguly

When it comes to pictures, the more the merrier. Instead of framing each photo individually, Sheri covered an 8x10" photo mat with a collage of black-and-white photos.

Editor's Tip: Use imaging-editing software to resize and place the photos for a custom fit.

 

Fill Window Panes with Family Photos

Design by Kim Hayne

Kim transformed a secondhand window into a showcase for photos. She cut chipboard pieces to the size of each pane and covered each with papers, pictures, and embellishments.

Editor's Tip: Attach your completed chipboard "pages" to the backs of the windowpanes, and apply rub-ons to the glass fronts for a dimensional effect.

 

 

Whip Up a Quick Family Gift with Scrapbooking Leftovers

Design by Shannon Zickel

Shannon made this family gift in 15 minutes. She embellished a favorite family photo and a photo mat with scrapbooking leftovers, leaving plenty of white space for a contemporary look.

 

Frame Favorite Family Photos from the Year

Design by Shannon Tidwell

A year-in-review family photo collection is perfect for display and fun to re-create every year. Shannon mounted 24 wallet-size photos on cardstock and added a paper border to anchor the collage. She finished the design with a custom date label printed on a digital tag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create a Summer Photo Book

What Can I do with My Photos? - Tips and Ideas to do something with your photos. 

 

Create a Summer 2011 Photo Book   Wouldn't it be great to have a completed Photo Book to look back on and remember all the wonderful memories of this summer. Here are a few of the pages that were in my (Michele) Summer 2009 Photo Book.                                Here are a few easy steps to accomplish this (if you need help with ANY of the steps, just ask us. We are here for you!): Upload your photos to Foto Depot as you put them on to your computer. Some people do this after every event, some people do this when their card gets full. May I be so bold as to suggest you do this at least every 2 weeks, then you don't have so many photos to deal with. And remember to delete the bad photos and duplicate photos first! Pick your favourite photos from your upload and move them to a Summer 2011 Folder. Repeat steps 1 and 2 throughout the summer as you take photos. At the end of summer you will have a Summer 2011 Folder in Foto Depot full of your favourite photos.  In Foto Depot click on the Project tab at the top.  Click on the Photo Book Image, and then choose the type of book you want. Hit Start. It now asks you to choose your photos. Select your Summer 2011 Folder and select all the photos in it as they are all your favourites. Click the add to project button and all these photos will be added to your Photo Book. You will notice under the add to project button that there is a button called Use Auto Layout. I LOVE this feature as it automatically lays out your Photo Book for you and still allows you to make any changes you want.  Very fast! In a few moments you will see your completed Photo Book of your favourite Summer 0f 2011 photos. Yay! Order and pick up at Photo Express or we can also mail it to you.  Of course once your book is layed out, you can go in and change the order of the photos, add some, delete some, change the backgrounds, add text...whatever you would like, or you can just order the book as is.  This works for previous summers, or a trip, or an event, or a Year In Review Book, the options are endless. What a great way to share your memories.

 

Photographing Fireworks

Location is everything.
Arrive at the venue well before dark to be sure there are no trees in your way. If you’re sitting on the grass, take the higher ground so those who arrive after you do not block your view.

Bring a tripod.
If toting a tripod is inconvenient, bring a monopod. The tripod is the only accessory which can improve EVERY image you capture.

Set your camera’s ISO to 400.
Keep in mind high ISO settings and undesirable image noise go together, so be prepared to deal with that later on. Experiment with ISO settings of 800 and 200, and other ISO settings, too.

Turn the camera’s built-in flash OFF.
This setting is generally indicated by the circle-slash-lighting bolt icon. You may want to try a shot or two using the Night Portrait flash setting if there are people in the shot. Try it at least once.

Set the camera on manual and the f/stop to the largest setting(remember, that’s the smallest number, like f2.8 or f3.5). 
Set the shutter speed to 1/60th of a second for starters. Later you’ll shoot at 1/30, and 1/15 settings until you find the right combination. If you’re quick you can shoot two or three shots of each burst of fireworks, and if you’re really quick you can change shutter speeds on the fly. Use the LCD monitor to judge whether or not you’ve achieved proper exposure. When you do, continue to shoot at that combination. Fireworks are much brighter than you think. So, err on the side of under exposure and you’ll probably be right.

No manual settings? Then you’ll have to shoot on Auto. The only way you can adjust the camera is by increasing and decreasing the ISO setting. If your camera selects a shutter speed that’s too long (like one-half second) your image will be a white-ish mess of streaks. Begin with the highest possible ISO setting and work your way down.

No need for autofocus here.
If your camera has Manual Focus, Landscape Mode or forced Infinity Focus setting, you’re in luck. If not, you’ll probably still be okay, but you may lose some time while the autofocus servo motors scoot the lens in and out, looking for somewhere to lock focus. They usually default to infinity, but you could miss a shot or two.

All photography requires a good sense of timing.
Anticipate the flash point and trip the shutter so it’s open during the peak brilliance of the explosion. Light travels faster than sound, so you’ll see the flash before you hear it.

Use your infrared remote release, which allows you to trigger the camera without touching it. Touching the camera, even when it’s on a tripod, transfers movement which can reduce sharpness in the picture. If you must press the shutter release button by hand, do it ever so gently.

If you’re lucky enough to be watching fireworks launched over water, include some reflections. If at a baseball stadium, catch part of the scoreboard to add a sense of venue.

Fireworks are small explosions.
Fireworks burn on their way to the ground and leave a trail of sparks and smoke. Because they are in freefall, they move at the whim of prevailing winds. Watch which way the wind is blowing, and if practical, have the wind at your back. It will blow the debris away from your view and you’ll get better results.

And finally:

• Don’t set your camera down on the ground (as in wet grass) or it may become damaged.
• Since you’ll be running the LCD monitor continuously for up to thirty minutes, bring a spare battery if you have one. Buy a spare battery if you do not.
• The high ISO settings will cause image noise to appear in your otherwise perfect pictures. This can be removed in post-processing.
• Bring a small flashlight.

Many times the end of the performance is signaled by a rapid fire barrage of white concussion rockets. Although they’re not at all colorful, they still make interesting pictures—especially because they illuminate so much of the ground below them.. 

Prepared by Take Great Pictures. Senior Writer Jon Sienkiewicz. For more tips visit www.takegreatpictures.com.

Very Important Digital Tip in Dealing with your Images

Are you overwhelmed with the volume of digital images you have? Do you find it hard to manage or do anything with them? When was the last time you held a printed image of a photo you recently took, in your hands?

I am going to give you a SUPER BIG hint to deal with this problem. It seems so simple at first, but trust me on this, if you discipline yourself to do this from this day forward, you will have a lot less frustration and guilt surrounding your photos, and will even get to the point where you can enjoy your photos again.

If I can give you ONE hint, to help you, it would be to take a few moments after the event, and DELETE, yes, I said DELETE, some of the photos you took right in your camera.  Now before you gasp in shock, read on.

In the film days, you would have taken 6-12 photos or maybe even a roll of 24 photos for something really special.  Now with digital, we tend to take 100+ photos of an event.  You end up with 3-10+ times the volume of photos that you used to have. This becomes overwhelming to organize, edit, share, or do anything with so if you are like most people, you do nothing.

Do yourself a favour, and go back after the event, and delete ones that aren't great - someone blinked, you cut someone's head off etc. Also delete ones that are super similar- keep the best 1 or 2 of the 10 similar ones you took.  Do this right in your camera before you upload to your computer. (If you must upload them all, then make sure to take a few minutes and delete the not so great ones, or similar ones from your hard drive right away.)

Here is a good example of photos my husband or one of my daughters (not sure who) took while we were in Hawaii.

Now while these are cute photos just in the fact that they are of my daughter :), I don't need 5 of them. I wouldn't do a layout with all 5 of these photos, I might include one of them on a layout, or in a photo album about our trip to Hawaii. So, looking at them, I can delete the top left one right off the bat, as I can't see her face or what she is looking at. I can then delete the other top one, because she is making a funny face and the other ones are cuter of  her. I can also delete the bottom right one as it is similar to the other two bottom ones, and her face is more in the shadows. So that leaves me with the bottom left and bottom middle photos. I could leave it at this, but if I discipline myself, I would only leave the middle photo as it is very similar to the bottom left photo, but shows more of her, has a better expression, and also shows the waves in the background.

 

 

So after this few minute exercise I am left with this photo. Now this is very easy to do something with - whether I want to edit it (it is much less overwhelming to edit one photo than 5!), or upload it and print it for an album or scrapbook page.

 

 

Really stop and take a moment to think about this...what if you had 1/5th of the volume of digital images to do something with?! How would that feel?! I bet you could get something done with them! Even if you only had 1/2 of the photos to deal with, you would probably feel a lot better!

 

 

 

Doing this on a regular basis from today forward, will make the volume of digital photos that you have to deal with way more manageable and doable. Instead of having 10 photos of one "image" that you have to edit or share or print, you will have one or two to deal with of an image.  This is way more manageable and doable. But you MUST DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO DO IT RIGHT AWAY. (or at the very least asap before uploading to your computer.) I give you PERMISSION to delete photos. It is okay and will allow you to treasure and love the ones you have in a proper manner!

I have gotten pretty good at deleting photos in my camera, but I know I have to get more ruthless with this. I have been working my way backwards in my images on my hard drive, and deleting ones that are not great or very similar. This is so liberating once you take this step, as the volume of photos to print and put into a photo album or scrapbook so people can enjoy them, is waaaaaaay less overwhelming. The first few sessions of doing this were stressful, but now I feel the guilt lifting off my shoulders and I know that I can scrapbook my favourite images, and place the rest in a regular photo album to be enjoyed. (I use the pages that are 12x12 and 4x6 that fit in my 12x12 album, this way I have ONE layout that tells the story, and the rest of the images related to that story are in pockets right behind.)

Keep watching for more simple tips to help you in your photo life.

Photo Tips - Digital Photography 101

 

1. Explore the light. Learn to read where the light is coming from by looking at shadows - notice if the shadows are hard-edged or soft-edged. A general rule for beautiful images is to plan your photo shoot for early morning or late afternoon light because softer shadows equate to less contrast in your scene and more flattering light for your subject. If you must shoot images at high noon, move your subject under the shade of a tree or building. 2.  Mix it up! Change your angle and distance from your subject when taking the photo. Viewing images taken from the same distance and angle becomes dull and boring. With children, get down on their level and don’t be afraid to zoom in close to capture every detail. 3.  Use the rule of thirds and move your subject over to the side of the frame. Placing people right in the middle of the frame is great for the perfunctory passport and driver’s license photo, but unless other interesting compositional elements are present, it’s not an exciting image. Think of the scene in your viewfinder or on your LCD display as a tic-tac-toe board and mentally divide the image into thirds, and place something of interest at one or more of the intersections. 4.  Keep it real. Don’t force a child to strike a pose or force a smile. A compelling photograph captures an authentic moment, a look, or a gesture that elicits a feeling from the viewer. Motivate kids to move around and photograph them from a variety of angles. Choose a location for your shoot, then encourage play, action, and activity. Be silly and have fun. 5.  Mode Dial - Get creative and choose a customized Mode Dial setting! The Basic Zone Modes (icons) automatically choose the exposure settings for your selected scene. The Creative Zone Modes (P, TV, AV, M) can give you full or partial creative control over your exposure settings. 6.  Daytime is a good time to use your on-camera flash. You can fill in dark shadows across faces created by harsh overhead sun, and illuminate your subject when they’re positioned in front of a bright background. 7.   Get closer than normal by using the macro mode on your camera. The flower icon button activates the macro mode and enables you to focus closer to your subject and capture details in your images that were previously too small or out of focus. Just because macro mode is represented by a flower doesn’t mean that flowers are the only allowable subject. Get creative with a few of the following macro photo ideas: • Flowers and insects • The human eye • Baby’s fingers and toes • Textural detail in fabric, stone or wood • Coins and collectables 8.   Control the light. Create a more attractive image by bouncing or diffusing the available light. Bouncing light brightens up faces, gets rid of shadows and creates a catch-light in your subject’s eyes. Diffusing the light softens harsh light falling upon your subject. You can buy a reflector or diffuser at a camera store, but you can also use common household items. Aluminum foil wrapped around a baking sheet, a car dashboard reflector, or a white foam core board can be used to reflect light. Translucent fabric, sheer shower curtains, or plastic bags can be used to diffuse the light. 9.  Give yourself ROOM to ZOOM. To eliminate distracting elements and provide a flattering perspective – stand back and give yourself room to zoom into your subject and fill the frame. 10.    Think about using color to create a compelling image. From vibrant contrasts of primary colors to the Zen-like mood of harmonious blues and greens, color can determine the emotional content of a photograph. Prepared by Erin Manning. For more information, visit www.erinmanning.com.

Erin's book is available at Photo Express www.photoexpressions.ca  604-463-3654

 

Travel Photo Tips

 Travel Photo Tips

Here is an article with some great travel photo tips.  I love how the author, Russ Burden, says to "Go beyond the I Was Here photo so you can return from your destination with the I Was Here and Look at How Great the Images Are photos."

Image © Russ Burden

See the article here...

No Fault Camera Warranty

 Get Peace Of Mind With Foto Care Protection

 

If you got a new camera and/or lens this Christmas, first of all congratulations!  Secondly, you have 30 days from purchase to add a Foto Care Warranty.  With a Foto Care No-Fault Warranty, you are covered - it's that simple!  Your protection is good for 3 years on new cameras, SLR's and lenses.  Here is a list of what is covered, compared to the standard manufacturer's warranty:



And the price is very reasonable, starting at $59.99.  Get the details here...

 Travel Photo Tips

Cropped Images

The 12 Photo Inspirations of Christmas

Back by popular demand, holiday photo tips for this Christmas season!

This Christmas, besides all the regular photos of gift opening, the group around the dinner table with the paper crowns, and the Christmas tree, why not also try for some other creative and memorable photos?  Here are 12 photo inspirations to get you started: (click for larger versions)

Christmas Lights.

 Blurred Christmas Lights.

Turkeys.

Santa Scenes.

Santa Behind The Scenes.

Siblings.

Cousins.

Grandparents.

First Christmases.

Place Settings.

Annual Christmas Morning Self-Family Portraits.

Traditions.

Hope you are inspired to go out and "get the picture"!  Have a Merry Christmas!

Picture Keeper - A Better Solution

How many of you can say yes to these questions?!

To see a bigger version, Download A Better Solution Picture Keeper

 

Group Photo Advice

Here are some good tips from a Scrapbook Etc article...

Group Photo Guide

Whether you're photographing your parents on their anniversary or your son's football team, group shots can be a challenge to arrange. Here are some tricks for getting great group portraits every time.

Go Unposed

Not only can you get good smiles and good shots out of unposed pictures, but shooting while the subjects are unaware might lead you to an even better portrait. Shoot before and after the "posed" shots to catch more natural expressions and interactions. Here, Melissa Inman was able to capture a telling moment shared by her parents.

Photo by Melissa Inman

Shoot from Above

Photo by Shaune Lightfoot

Try shooting from above the group. When they look up to see you, each person's face will be visible and the angle will be flattering. In this photo, the approach also placed catch lights in the subjects' eyes.

Arrange People in Levels

Photo by Anita Matejka

Create a more dynamic shot by arranging everyone so their eyes are at a different level, as shown here. Eyes draw you in to a photo and by having them on different planes you'll gaurantee a dynamic shot.

Bring People Together

Photo by Tracy Kyle

In this situation, asking the subjects to put their arms around each other helped close a gap between them. It can also guarantee smiles as subjects play off each other's energy.
Form a Visual Triangle

Photo by Rachel Ludwig

When arranging groups, avoid static-looking rows. Creating a triangle formation, as shown here, gives the shot a sense of unity.

Capture the Kids with Ease

Photo by Christina Cole

When photographing a group of kids, take photos during play rather than forcing posed shots. By simply asking them to turn to the camera you can grab great personality shots with lots of impact without sacrificing the kids' playtime.

 

Place Your Subjects with Purpose

Photo by Christina Cole

Assemble your group and personally place everyone where you want them to stand. If someone is wearing brighter clothing, you may want to place that person behind other people or toward the center so that he is not as distracting. Important family members, such as grandparents, should be situated in the center of the group.

Place People on Levels

Photo by Leslie Lightfoot

Placing your subjects on different levels increases the interest in any group photo. Use natural or architectural elements to do this outdoors. Let everyone do what's comfortable, whether it's standing or sitting or jumping on someone's shoulders to get the effect.

 

Outdoor Portrait Light Control

By Russ Burden

The world is chock-full of items that don’t go well together. The quintessential science example is oil and water. How about a cell phone and a swimming pool? Not a good pairing. In the world of photography, how about harsh sunlight and portraiture? While there may be no hope for the first two examples, there are options for the last. These options include technology, homemade light modifiers, photographer ingenuity, store-bought products, or a combination of any of the above that provides a solution to the harsh light problem.

Example No.1

Before and After: These two images were made with a digital point-and-shoot camera. I intentionally included these before and after pictures to prove one doesn’t need to spend thousands of dollars on sophisticated lighting equipment to net a pleasing image. This is a photo of a participant on my nature photo tour to Hunt’s Mesa and Capitol Reef National Park. When I saw how the fall foliage and the red vest blended, I knew there was a photo opportunity, but the light falling on the subject was awful.

Out from my pocket came my little point-and-shoot. I knew I had to use fill flash to counteract the high-contrast light falling on the subject. I set the flash mode to “Forced On” as it otherwise would not fire due to the intensity of the ambient light. I made the image, but the result was still less than ideal. I showed the photo to the “nature-walk class,” and the realization was the flash on the point-and-shoot was not powerful enough to overcome the harsh sun. I then asked for two volunteers to stand to the subject’s right side to cast their shadows across her. This softened the light to the point the flash on my trusty point-and-shoot worked just fine, as evidenced by the result in the “After” photo. Moral: A combination of flash technology along with a bit of ingenuity and two volunteers worked together to provide a nice souvenir portrait, even with a point-and-shoot camera.

Example No. 2

Overhead Sun and A Large Hat – Two Major Obstacles: When the sun hovers directly above, deep shadows appear in the eyes, under the nose, and under the chin. To make matters worse, the lit portions of the face tend to be washed out. Add to the mix a hat that creates its own havoc-filled shadows, and the photographic nightmare begins. Thankfully, the fix is as basic as the pop-up flash on a DSLR, providing the photographer is close enough to the subject. As an instructor for the Panasonic Digital Photo Academy, I went to New York City for an orientation. During this orientation, one session included a photo shoot in Central Park with live models. I positioned one of them by an iron fence, as the setting matched her outfit.

As you might imagine, the light was horrendous because the hat created a strong shadow directly across her right eyebrow and left eye. I set the focal length of the lens on my Panasonic L1 DSLR to 50mm and moved in close so the pop-up flash would be strong enough to offset the harsh ambient light. I had to set the aperture to f9 because of the strong ambient light, but in checking the depth of field, this was not a problem in that the background was far enough away to throw it out of focus. I set the compensation on the flash to +2/3 so it would act more as a main light rather than a fill, which was necessary to overcome the shadow cast by the hat. Look closely at the image to see how the shadow line of the hat crosses just above the eyes but even the light is a result of using the flash and moving in close to overpower what would have otherwise been a poorly lit photograph. 

Example No. 3:

White Reflector: In the portrait of the girl in the red blouse, I used a reflector to bounce light back onto her face. The weather conditions included cumulous clouds in the sky. I took the photo when the sun just started to be obscured by one of the clouds. This provided directional, yet soft, light. The reflector kicked back just enough light onto the subject’s face to make it the brightest part of the image. Without the reflected light, she wouldn’t stand out as prominently, and soft shadows would have appeared in her deep eye sockets and under her nose.      

 

From Takegreatpictures.com