James
Operations

It is funny if you think about it, but you, your camera and your computer make an amazing gift making machine. Photos are extremely personal, and make great gifts. Everyone loves looking at photos. Don't believe me, then try to explain why there are over one hundred and thirty million people on Facebook.

Brighten someone's day this week. Send them a photo by email with a funny text caption, and since it is all digital, it won't cost a cent.

"Our daughter had a soccer clinic this summer. Her trainer was a young man from England. As a thank you gift at the end of the clinic, we gave him a mouse pad with a collage of pictures from the clinic and a sport bottle with a picture of all of the girls. He was so thrilled! He called the gifts "brilliant" and something he would "cherish" forever. Thanks so much - he was the envy of the other trainers!"

Cheryl from California

"I just received the Ultimate Combo Frame Pack. This is great! It is so easy to use and I can't believe the amount and collection of frames for me to choose from. This will make my scrap booking a lot easier!"

Margie from Georgia

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Five Great Suggestions For Better Photos

We are going to take a break from the mistakes, and focus on the positives in this training session. Here are five great suggestions that you can use today to make better photos and scrapbooks or craft items.

Use props for kids and animals

Kids naturally get fidgety when they are having their photo taken. Some just stiffen up, and others get way too out of control. One great trick is to have them pose with their favorite toy, stuffed animal or blanky. Have them describe what they're holding, or have them show it to you by holding it in front of themselves.

The key is to get them to stop focusing on the camera or having their photo taken. All of a sudden it is about blanky. Ask what blanky looks like when blanky is happy. What does super hero blanky look like? Having them bring their inanimate stuffed animal to life will just loosen them up, and be ready for a great photo. Best of all they'll have their special blanky or boo boo bunny in the photo with them.

Use fill flash during the day

We know that shooting in low light conditions is extremely tough on digital cameras. How can they focus on the object, if they can't visually see it? Well this problem doesn't only happen at night or in low light situations. Sometimes it happens in a very light environment. The camera needs a little more help to see what it is that it should focus on.

How can you help your camera out? The answer is simple, turn on your flash so that it lights up every picture. That way your person or object will be "filled" with light. Professionals call it fill light. The always on prevents the harsh bright background from overwhelming the person that is standing in front of it. Now we can't tell you how to turn on the flash for every photo on your camera because it is different for every camera in the market. Just look it up in your manual, and you'll be happy with the results.

Frame your photo using the surroundings

This is a trick that many professional photographers use. They try to integrate the surroundings to essentially frame the object of the photo. Maybe it is a rock outcropping, or maybe it is a doorway. There are every day objects that make huge visual impacts to photos.

Let's try to visualize this with a real life example. Imagine you're in a tourist center or theme park that is made to look like an old west town. A great photo that integrates the surroundings is having your photo subjects stand in the doorway. You can "frame" the photo with the sign above the door and by leaving some of the surrounding visible in the photo. That way years later, you'll know exactly where the photo was taken. You'll see the Saloon sign above the door. You'll see your family pushing through the swinging doors, and you'll see the wood flooring and siding that gives the setting the feel of the old west. In a moment you will be transported back in time. Contrast that with a close shot of the family with the background out of focus. You might not remember where that photo was taken.

Consider purchasing and using a tripod

Every modern camera has a timer function built in. The timer enables the photographer a few seconds to run and get in the group that will be photographed. You can set your camera on a table, ledge, chair, etc., but for best results you should invest $20 or so in a tripod. A tripod has a standard screw that screws into the bottom of all cameras. The screw hole size is standard, so that it will work with all cameras. With a tripod, you can then place the camera at the distance from the object to be photographed that you want. You can also raise or lower the camera so that your shot looks best. Best of all, your camera will stay in the same place for every shot when you take multiple photos (which you really should).

Practice builds confidence

Everyone has heard of the old saying "practice makes perfect." That is so true, but I really want to emphasize how important it is for digital photography. Taking a photo is a form of art, and with any art the more you do it the more confident you will be. What is great about digital photography is that it costs NOTHING! If you were an oil painting artist, you would need to invest in canvases, paint, brushes and clean up solvents. What is your cost for digital photography after you have purchased the camera. The answer is a little electricity to recharge your battery.

Take tons of pictures, and don't be afraid to experiment with the different settings on your camera. The next time you're at the kids game or family event, be wild and daring and click a few buttons. The more you try, the better you'll be and the more confident you'll be with your camera.