Photo Expressions

What To Do With Your Old Photos

Summer Fun Photo Tips

Enjoy these last few weeks of summer with some fun photo tips...

How To Link Your Instagram Account to Your Foto Depot Account

If you have a Foto Depot Account Log in to it. If you don’t have an account, go to photoexpressions.fotodepot.ca and sign up for one. (It’s FREE). You can see a bigger version on our web here.

Summertime Beach Photo Tips

Are you heading to the beach? Here are some tips...

Invitations and Announcements

Are you celebrating? A birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding, graduation, new house...whatever it is, you can print custom invitations at Photo Express. Flat or folded, single or double sided, 4x8 or 5x7, 1 copy or lots, the choice is yours.  Hundreds of styles to choose from.

Order online here or come in to the store and order on our kiosks.

 

Travel Photo Tips

When you return,  print your travel photos online at Photo Express

Canvas Prints

Start your Canvas wrap print here

Love them

Went out with Ron the other night to take "Pictures in the Park" of my family.  I absolutely LOVE them and we had such a fun time. Here are just a few of them.  Book your session now 604-463-3654. Details here

Pictures in The Park

Visit here for a price list and FAQ.

Travel Photography Tips

It is that time of year for travel. Here is an article with some travel tips for you from Picture Correct.

Travel Photography Tips and Techniques

by Wayne Turner

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With travel photography you want to convey not only the sites and scenes you have seen but also the feelings and emotions associated with the locations. The unexpected is always around the corner when you travel and with some careful preparation and a keen photographic eye you can produce some memorable results.

“Burj Dubai” captured by Lensamson (Click Image to See More From Lensamson)

Good travel photography starts at home or the office before you leave for the airport and weeks in advance of your trip. Here’s how capture great travel images.

1. Research before you leave

Purchase the best travel guide you can afford and find out everything about the locations you will be visiting. Find out about the natural beauty, tourist sites and the culture. Look at the images in the guides and see what the important areas are and what you need to record.

Learn about local transportation and distances as well as timing to reach the areas you want to visit. Learn about the culture and find out what you can photograph and what is taboo, what the dress codes are and any local laws or rules. Buy a phrase book and learn some of the key phrases to communicate when photographing. You will be amazed at how this will open doors for you.

2. Prepare a checklist

Essential for any photographer is a checklist of everything you will need for the trip, photographically as well as you normal travel needs. Check that all your gear is covered by insurance and that it is up to date. Take proof that you purchased your equipment at home and not abroad so you don’t get landed with customs duty on your return.

3. Avoid cliches

Don’t return with all of the images that are in the guide books which everyone has seen. Use new angles and try get to viewpoints that are not traditionally used for photos. Leave the tourist path and get away from the bus. If you can afford it, hire a private guide to take you off the beaten track.

“looking glass” captured by Micah Dravland (Click Image to See More From Micah Dravland)

4. Photograph local life

Local life in foreign countries is rich with sights and scenes that are brand new to you. You’ll often find that you will experience your photography much more by getting to know the local folk and seeing just what their daily life is like. By capturing the essence of their lives and homes you will experience the journey and capture memories that are unique and far more interesting.

5. Make yourself the subject

As the photographer you probably find that in all aspects of your life there are few images of you in front of the camera. So go out of your way to include yourself in photos while touring. Ask a travel companion, a guide or another tourist to take photos of you experiencing the local life. With digital you can see immediately the results of their work and whether you’ll need to reshoot it.

6. Take portraits

By respecting the local culture and as I mentioned learning a few of the most important phrases most locals will allow you to shoot their portraits. When photographing them close-ups are great and reveal character and the beauty of people you aren’t familiar with. But, this is the time to photograph portraits of people within their environments so shoot fewer head and shoulders and more with some of the background. Use wide angle lenses more often for great shots.

7. Shoot candids

With a longer lens and the ability to stay in the background and keep your distance you are able to photography people without them knowing. Unposed photos have people behaving totally naturally in their environments without the pressure to pose. The key here is to remain unobserved. Reveal yourself only once you have your shots. Look for opportunities that will reflect the local culture and people naturally.

“In the Million Insect Storm, the Constellations Form” captured by Thomas Hawk (Click to See More)

8. Look for detail

By getting in closer and photographing the traditional clothes and jewellery you will see details in the colour and styles. Look for details in the architecture, transport and local costumes that reveal something more than a traditional shot. A macro or telephoto is great for this type of shot.

9. Tell a story

By shooting a series of shots at a location you will be able to tell a story of the life of the local people. How they dress, work, have fun and where they live and relax. Select a theme or shoot at a market and try to think about the end result and how you will tell friends and family about your trip in just pictures. Maybe shoot a day in the life of a local you have befriended from morning till bedtime.

10. Take lots of photos

Work out how many images you think you should shoot and then double it. And then double it again. You can never take too many images. This may be the only opportunity for you to see this country and rather edit later than lose the memories by shooting too little. Not every picture will be perfect but it will be a memory. You are not just looking to create perfect photos but also great memories. Digital film is inexpensive so take lots of memory cards with you.

“Manhattan Tourists” captured by Ray Devlin (Click Image to See More From Ray Devlin)

Travel is often a once in a lifetime opportunity for many people so go well prepared and come back with memories that will last a lifetime. Happy shooting!

About the Author:
Wayne Turner has been teaching photography for 25 years and has written three books on photography. He has produced 21 Steps to Perfect Photos; a program of learner-based training using outcomes based education.

Project Life is at Photo Express

Project Life is Here!!!!!

And out on the shelves. Anyone can make a Project Life Album because you don't need any tools or adhesive -just your photos, a pen and a kit (Core Kits are only $29.99!). That's it!

Project Life truly is a back-to-basics approach to memory-keeping. Pictures + words. That's it. Slip it all into pockets and add title cards that are already designed for you. Don't think about layout design. Don't think about cutting and pasting anything. SIMPLIFY. Get it done.

You can make Project Life as simple or as involved as fits for you. Some people use it to record one photo a day, some use it to record one week of their life at a time, some use it only for special occassions, some use it for just random everyday things. Whatever works for you is perfect. Either way, it is just print photos (www.photoexpressions.fotodepot.ca), slip into pockets, slip in journaling papers, done!  That is it.  So easy and effective.  And if you choose to do Project Life digitally, you can print out your pages at www.photoexpressions.fotodepot.ca also. Follow our Project Life Pinterest board, for lots of ideas, freebies and more.

Here is a quick video explaining how easy it is plus a few sample pages. Come in and check it out!

What is Project Life? Click here to find out. Available at PE!

 

From Becky Higgins website (creator of Project Life):

 

Project Life is whatever you want it to be. I really, really, really mean this. Literally. Let me give just a few examples of what a full Project Life album might contain:

 

1. A year in review, highlighting random memories from this year ... last year ... any year at all. Photos can be organized chronologically or by theme (have categories like birthdays this year, travel this year, school stuff, in our spare time, friends, etc. - and add Scrapbook Dividers to label your sections for ultimate organization).

 

2. Cover the span of several years. Let's say you haven't done much scrapbooking ever. But you're itching to get at least some of your pictures in an album. How about tackle an entire decade in one album? Each year could have say, 6 layouts (our Big Pack of Photo Pocket Pages comes with 60 pages) and you can include the "best of" pictures in those 6 layouts per year. An entire decade of "catching up" in ONE album? YES. And you can do it all without touching a pair of scissors or using any adhesive whatsoever.

 

3. On a related note, I totally think most of us could compile an album that sums up our entire childhood. True story. Just blow the dust off those old photos, throw them in the pockets along with the Title Cards and Journaling Cards that come in the Core Kit of your choice. Done.

 

4. Pick a theme, any theme. Create an entire album all about ... you name it. Perhaps all of your travel adventures go in one album, or maybe you fill an album with memories of a loved one that is no longer here, or think about anything you have lots of pictures of and BAM! There's your theme.

.....

 

Project Life is easy-peasy. Like - for real. If scrapbooking in general gives you anxiety, that is 100% normal. Think about it - we all have thousands of photos on our computers, in boxes, wherever. I totally know what it feels like to be drowning in pictures. That's my story too. That's why I developed the system ... so that I could get my photos + memories into books but not even have to think about designing a page, choosing products, adding embellishments, or any of that stuff that is part of "traditional" scrapbooking. This is back-to-basics, folks. Photos + captions. That's it. But the end result is what we love: A scrapbook.

 

Everything placed in pockets. No cutting. No sticky anything. No embellishments. No techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Photo Editing Class

Jessica Sprague is offering a free photo editing class next week.  Sign up and tell your friends!

Remember, you can print your photos and your digital pages at Photo Express!

Father's Day Gift Ideas

When Dad doesn't need another tie or more socks, get him a gift he will treasure - with your photo on it! You can come in to a store kiosk to order or order directly from home here.

National Photo Month Winner

Congratulations to Merle C, random winner of the May National Photo Month Challenge. 

She wins $100 in photofinishing from foto depot! Plus everyone who entered the contest won a FREE 8x10 Metallic print. Thanks for helping us celebrate photography. We loved seeing all of your great photos! Join us again next May as we celebrate National Photo Month.

Daddy & Me

Here is a great 4 generation portrait - what an amazing keepsake for each member of this family.

Call now to book your Complimentary Daddy & Me Sitting! 604-463-3654