Photo Expressions

Where are your Digital Photos?

You all have heard me (Michele) harping many times over the importance of PRINTING your photos as you will almost for certain have the technology to view a printed photo (your eyes and hands). Technology changes so fast now, that who knows what will be available 5 years from now and if you will be able to get into your computer to view the photos and memories you have stored there. You don't get warm and fuzzy feelings looking at a computer screen, nor do you usually invite guests to come and view your computer screen, so your photos sit their lonely and unloved.  So please remember to print some of your photos.  Notice I said SOME, not all.  Most people take way too many digital photos now compared to the film days.  You don't need to print every one, just take some of the best and PRINT THEM. (You can do that at our instore kiosks, online at www.photoexpressions.fotodepot.ca and from your idevices with our free PE Photos app )

I thought it would be a good idea to give you another voice on this topic also. Cristina had to write a persuasive article for a class she is taking and she chose photos as she has seen first hand in the store what happens when someone loses all their photos (we want to cry with the customer when they come in with this story).  Here is her very well written article:

 

I have seen the look of devastation in people’s faces when they realize the digitalized photos of their loved ones are gone forever, the candid shots that jog your memory of precious moments not available anymore. It bewilders me that only at that point do people realize the value of a printed image.

It seems that in the rush to take more and better photos to post on facebook and email to friends, the important part of printing the memory has been deemed ‘not important’. The line “Jpeg kid” is a common joke because there are so few prints of the child, all the images are stored in the computer, forgotten about as soon as the next 100 pictures are taken and uploaded.

However, when people are running from a burning building the first possession they worry about is their photos. When cleaning a deceased ones room, the first thing people gravitate to is their photos and the stories they tell. To take an album and sit down with it is often a bonding experience, either with the people looking at it with you, or with the person in the photos. It’s a reflective activity that I believe makes us better listeners, more introspective, and more appreciative of the lives we live and have lived.

Huddling in front of a bright screen on a slideshow simply does not induce the same experience. I urge you to go through your photos and print them.

If not for your own delightful trip down memory lane, then perhaps for the utter joy you will give a friend or grandparent, when you gift them with a small scrapbook of memories and photos of loved ones. I promise, those little albums are worth more than gold, at times when you least expect.

 

Joby Ultra Fit Sling Strap for Women or Men

 

Joby has done it again with this innovative strap design.Available at Photo Express $49.95.  (Also available in a version for Men)

 Designing for Comfort

After talking with photographers and testing every camera strap on the market, we discovered that no one designed a strap to work with your curves. We think that your camera strap should let you quickly and securely place your camera wherever it feels the most comfortable on your body.

Ergonomically Optimized for Your Curves

The UltraFit Sling Strap for Women will fit great, whatever your body type. The length and width of the strap pad, the length of the webbing, the size and placement of the pivot ring—each is optimized for a woman's body. Our camera strap conforms to the shape of your body instead of just lying flatly across it.

Lightning Fast SpeedCinch^TM System

In one fluid movement, the UltraFit Sling Strap extends from cinched to shooting and back again

 Designing for Speed

There are just moments between you and the perfect shot. But, a lot of the time you spend shooting isn't with your camera at your face. We designed a camera strap that not only helps you capture fleeting moments, but also makes your downtime more enjoyable with your camera always at hand, but also hands free.

Designing for Security

We know that protecting your camera is a top priority, especially when you're shooting out in the field. Our SpeedCinch system, with its fiberglass-reinforced parts and safety locks, lets you comfortably cinch your camera closer to your body for peace of mind.

Tiltpod by Gomite

The Tiltpod by Gomite is a handy little helper to help you get in the picture or to free up your hands. Works with your compact camera or iphone.  Available at Photo Express

 

50 photos to Take with your Kids

Here is a great list from our Photographing Kids Pinterst board. (orignal list from Tiffany Dahle)

 

 

Preserving Your Families Memories - How to Organize your Photos

Your photos are one of your most priceless possessions and are the starting point of your family’s history. Most people say that if a fire happened in their house, they would first make sure all family members were safe, then their pets, and then their photos. Everything else can be replaced – your memories can’t.

Download Preserving Your Family Memories - How to Organize Your Photos (Grab a tea or cup of coffee first :)

Adobe Elements Organizer Help / Import photos from your camera

The Adobe Website has tons of articles to help you get comfortable with Photoshop Elements. Here is an example of one:

Catalog file stores path, name, and other details about imported files.

Bring the photos you have taken with your camera into Photoshop Elements. You can then organize them in many ways and make them look great. Photoshop Elements maintains information about imported photos in a catalog to help you find or organize them easily.

In the Organizer workspace, click Import and select From Camera or Card Reader.

In the Photo Downloader dialog box under Source, select where to copy/import from using the Get Photos From drop-down list.

Use default settings, or set the options in the Import Settings area.




Click Get Media.

Click OK in the Files Successfully Copied dialog box.

Note:

If Elements Organizer is launched while copying the photos, click Yes in the Files Successfully Copied box.

Pet Photography Tips

Love Your Pet Day is tomorrow Feb 20th.  In honour of pets everywhere, here are some pet photography tips from Digital  Photography School.   Make sure to take a picture of you with your Pet tomorrow.  One day you will be so glad you did!

The Photography Tips That 96 Photographers Wish They Would've Learned Sooner

Jim Harmer over at Improve Photography, asked his facebook fans about Photography tips they wished they had learned sooner.  He then gathered the top 96 lessons here.  Hope you pick up a few tips. You can also follow Photo Express' new Pinterest account here and pick up more photography tips.

 

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.