Apps to Use While on Vacation

Picture App

Most phones typically come with a picture taking app preloaded, and in many cases this is the only photo tool you need.  Before you depart, clear out any existing pictures you have saved to make room for new pictures.  There's nothing worse than discovering you have no space left and no way to remove the old pictures on your camera. Do you delete old pictures to take new ones or forego taking new pictures? Avoid the a hassle completely and upload your pictures to your web photo album before leaving home. Some phones have the ability to have additional storage space via a removeable SD card. Invest in one if you plan to use your phone to store a lot of media.

Word Lens

If your travel includes an international visit, download the Word Lens app and set it up with with the language of your destination.  When you open the app and place text in front of the camera it will translate the text on screen from the selected language to the desired language. The app is still somewhat new and not all languages are available yet. The all works offline so you don’t need an internet connection for it to work.

Skype or Google Hangouts

Staying in touch on the road can be difficult and expensive.  If you're traveling domestically this may not be a problem. For international travelers, find a wifi connection and open up one of these apps. Be sure to take the time before departure to register and set up your account. When youre on the road you can simply dial another users web account or phone number and be connected.

Tripadvisor

Almost all travelers today consult Tripadvisor when in someplace new and looking for a place to stay, something to eat, or to find something to do.  Locations are peer reviewed and rated. You may not want to plan your entire trip around the site but if you're stuck it can be a good spot to see what's popular or may not be in the guidebooks.

Weather App

This Is another app that comes preloaded on most phones but there are dozens of others available for free download or a small fee. The other apps have a variety of different features that can be customized based on your needs.

Maps App

There are plenty of good mapping apps on the market. Some cater to those driving, while others focus on public transportation, and still others on walking routes.  Depending on your needs while traveling find an app or apps that best fit your specific needs. If you plan to do  a lot of walking having driving directions won't be very useful.

Your phone is a powerful tool that can help take your trip from good to great. Take lots of pictures to remember this special time and take time afterwards to download your images and add them to your favorite online photo galleries. You'll be ready for the next time wanderlust strikes!

Things to Consider When Starting a Home Based Business

Starting a business from your home can sound very appealing. Making use of things like selling stock images from your online photo galleries or starting a service based online business can be as easy as firing up your laptop and putting up a website. It can be incredibly inexpensive as well. However there are still considerations to keep in mind as you launch your new business.

There are considerations before beginning any type of business even a home-based one.

1. Check Out the Local Laws for Registering and Zoning a Home Business. There are still regulations that you’ll need to follow depending on the local community and state you live in. In most cases you won’t find any problems unless you’re meeting clients at home or posting business advertising in your yard.

2. Tax Laws. When you decide to move from hobby to business you’re subject to different tax exemptions, deductions and payments. Sites like www.irs.gov can give you the information you need. There are often small business bureaus in communities that can be helpful too.

3. Have an Independent Work Space. This could be as simple as using a spare bedroom or den with a door to keep your work separate. If a workshop is needed, consider using a garage or purchasing a large outbuilding. You may want to create independent accounts online (separate from your personal accounts) for things like email, web photo albums, and bookmarking sites.

4. Use Multiple Methods to Find Clients. Some ideas include: viral marketing, flyers and direct mailings, email marketing, or setting up a website.

A home-based business is an alternative for people who want to create something of their own without spending a lot in upfront costs. By spending some time to make sure that everything is set up correctly you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches and potentially a lot of money down the road.

Starting a Blog for Profit

You may have heard of bloggers making a full time income online. While this is possible, it takes a lot of work and time to see these kinds of results. If you are looking for a way to show off your expertise and also make a little money while doing it, consider starting a blog. While you might not be able to quit your day job tomorrow you can make some extra spending money.

There are many types of blogs. Some are more like journals. Others show off the online photo galleries of photographers. A third type are business blogs. This is a blog that you begin to attract traffic in order to sell products or services. Sure you can sell products on any website but business based websites exist with the idea that they will just be means to make money. To be interesting to others, your blog will need to:

• Have regularly updated content for visitors

• Be marketed in a way that draws traffic

• Register with search engines so it can be found in the rankings

If you are new to blogging, use a free blogging platform to get your feet wet. Depending on the site you choose, the themes and plug-ins (added features) will vary. Most will walk you through the process step by step so that you can be up and running in no time.

Before you start posting, decide what will be the theme, or niche of your blog. If you like photography that can be your niche. Create posts that talk about how to take great pictures, great poses, new techniques, or how to sell images from your web photo albums.

In order to make money with your blog, you need to have people visiting it. Any money-making venture will take place once you have an audience. Once this is done you can put into play a number of options like Google AdSense ads, affiliate marketing, or ebook marketing.

Sell Your Digital Photography at Stock Photo Sites

Many of your hobbies can be turned into business ideas that can make you money. Digitally photography is a great way to make an easy profit on doing the thing that you love. Digital photography allows you to capture a variety of images in a variety of formats. With tools like online photo galleries and web photo albums you can easily save, sort and display your images for pennies.

Wondering what kind of images people want to buy? Remember when you used to visit the fair or take a family vacation to a theme park? Those family pictures might seem like something only your family would want to have but for companies who want to pair an image with an article or are looking for the perfect image for an ad campaign they are willing to pay for your images.

Stock photography is one of the best ways to take these images and start making money in the online digital photography market. Sell your photos to others who need pictures for websites, newsletters, magazines and e-zines and other media. Your photos can add a new flavor to what is currently being offered.

Working in this way is not without risk. You want to make sure you have the permission of any people in the images before you place them up for sale. You also need to understand how the stock photography business works. Customers can purchase pictures or lease them for a certain amount of time. On some sites, photos are free to use when signing an agreement of use and including a link back to the site. Make sure all of this is clear before you start to put your work out for purchase. You may also want to keep track of the places you’ve listed your pictures in case someone decides to purchase the image outright.

Organizing Your Photos

Most people dislike housework, it is a chore we take on, it’s simply something that must be done. Once it is done though there is nothing better then walking into a beautiful clean home. It may of taken some work but it was well worth the effort. Now when it comes to all our online files and photos it is just the same we want to have it all organized but sometimes it remains in a heap kind of like that one load of laundry that is waiting to be done, that you never seem to have time to get to, so how do you organize your photos?

Pictures used to be something very tangible. In fact many of us have photographic prints still in boxes in our homes that have never gotten into a single photo album. Is that the story in your house? So today many of us have photos that are stored away on our phones, and we are gathering even more photos on a daily basis.

With the onslaught of how easy it is to take a photo with our phones todays many of us have accumulated thousands of photos. But good are they if they sit there?  Are your vacation photos sitting on your phone, how about the photos of that last party you attended? Or your day at the beach? Its easy to have a jumbled mess of photos, just as easy as it is to mess up your home.

The best solution is to organize your photos, an online website photo album offers you the chance to organize your photos. By using an online photo gallery you have a simple place now to organize your photos so they can be shared with those you love, or simply for your own enjoyment.

Six months, a year down the road, or five years you may not remember who was with you at that event you attended so as you upload your photos to your favorite online photo album make sure you are labelling your photos.

Another thing to make sure you do as you organize your photos is delete the excess. How many shots of those toes in the sand or of that sunset do you need? How many would you really want to share?  Get rid of those bad shots and save the best. By deleting photos along the way it makes this process easier and you are not wasting time later. Remember not all those shots deserve to be saved. Be brutal as you begin to organize, you will thank yourself later.

Some people have larger albums and then even sub albums to keep themselves organized. I recommend labelling each album differently. Since it is the summer of 2014 I may have a label: Summer 2014 or Trip to Spain. Remember to keep your titles simple because you will be sharing these hopefully with family and friends.

Once you have your online photo albums organized they are now easy to share in many ways. You can  share them through many social sites, such as Facebook. You can also email them to family members or if you simply want to you can always upload them to a digital photo frame for your viewing pleasure.

Making Money on Stock Image Sites

Selling stock images is a great way to make use of unused images in your online photo galleries that are just taking up space. You can make a nice chunk of money if you get your work out into the marketplace.

As a photographer, you will make more money if your photos are leased as opposed to being sold. A one-time sale can be really tempting, especially if it’s a big sum but the lease will provide a continuous source of income off of that one photograph. It can make sense to diversify your income by leasing some images and selling others through a lease arrangement. Both arrangements have positives and negatives and it will really depend on your goals and needs.

To begin making money in stock images, start researching current stock photography sites. Find one that offers the leasing option to customers and also has an easy-to-navigate site. This is an easy way to start testing the waters with your work. Don’t empty all of your web photo album images immediately. Start small, learn the ropes, and then work your way up.

To figure out what will sell, look at other stock photographs that are selling. What do they have in common? Are the pictures clear? Can you make out all of the features of the photo? What qualities are people looking for? This can be difficult because every buyer is looking for something different.

Don’t forget stock photography companies are out to make money too. Don’t be afraid to try some new ideas for pictures. You’ll receive feedback on what does or doesn’t sell either from the company you’re selling through or through your sales figures.

To better market your work create a website with links to the stock photography sites featuring your work. This will send more people to your work.

Tips for Setting up Your New Website

You’ve taken the big step to create your own website. Maybe it’s for professional reasons, you want an online space to share your thoughts, or you’re starting a small business. Whatever the reason here are three tips to make sure you start off on the right foot.

Think it Through

Before you start adding loads of content, think through what you want your page to be about. Sit down and create a statement that sums up your page. Then brainstorm as many potential topics as you can. All of the information you add should relate to this overarching goal and theme. It’s easy to stray off path but you’ll end up with a website that is a mess and readers who are confused. You may want to implement a content calendar to make sure you’re staying on track, keeping users informed about sales, or other pertinent information that relates to your business or topic you are writing about.

Appearance

You want to make sure your website looks nice and is easy to read. Avoid dark colors and styles that include too much to look at. Your readers want to be able to find and read the information you are posting and if there’s too much clutter they won’t be able to find it – and the won’t come back. You may want to hire a graphic designer to help you with the layout and appearance of your site.

Visual Aids

In today’s online world images and video are important. Create online photo galleries to house the images that you plan to use. You might have one dedicated web photo album that shows up on your actual website. Incorporate video if it adds to your site but be careful with any video that automatically plays. It’s better to let the user decide if they want to click play or not.

With web photo albums and online photo galleries you can even separate them into special folders to house important information for your customer base.

Tips for Capturing Summer Memories

There’s no better time of the year to take pictures than summer. Long, sunny days filled with lots of outdoor activities, family get togethers, vacations, and more! It makes sense that you’ll have your camera out and at the ready all season long. Don’t worry if you don’t have the newest or best DSLR camera, many of today’s smart phones have amazing image capturing ability. In fact there are some professional photographers that are making a name for themselves through their smartphone photography! Use what you have and keep in mind some of these suggestions. Enjoy some of our best tips for capturing those summer memories and how to preserve those memories once they’re taken.

Capturing the Essence of the Season

What are some of the items that scream summer? Grass, chalk, water, a cold drink - just to name a few that quickly come to mind. When you are documenting summer adventures or memories be sure to not only grab the image of the person or event but the feelings and other items that really stand out as “summer.” This is the essence of the season. Take some close up shots of a foot in the grass or a face in a water bubbler. Use lots of different angles. Zoom in on the chalk instead of the image of the child and vice versa.

Movement

Kids running down the soccer field. A group of friends sharing drinks and laughing. Capturing people in action and movement bring a static picture to life. The more feeling and movement you can bring to an image, of course without it looking too blurry or out of focus the more likely you will be to remember that scene and moment. Posed photographs are great but they don’t capture the full range of emotions.

Food

Picnics, barbeques, and other food-centered activities are a big part of summer. Whether you’re strawberry picking on a farm, enjoying hot dogs in the backyard or toasting s’more’s around the campfire these are all great opportunities to take great images to remember summer when the snow starts to fly. If there are special dishes that you really want to remember take solo shots and when you’re organizing your album later type up the recipe to go with the picture.

Preserving Memories

Now that you’ve taken dozens and possibly even hundreds or thousands of pictures how can you best remember them? One way is through printing and arranging them into a photo album. However technology has made this once time consuming and somewhat expensive process faster and less expensive. You can create a web photo album much easier than a physical photo album.  Simply upload your images and arrange into online photo galleries. You can group them by event, by child or family member, by month or some other combination that makes sense to you. Don’t forget to include descriptions in the captions so that you can remember what, when, where and why you were taking that picture. Once you’ve set up your web photo albums be sure to share with other family members so that they can relive summer memories too!

Three Cheap Summer Vacation Ideas

Summer vacations can be very expensive, especially if you have children. Even the quintessential summer road trip can rack up thousands of dollars depending on how far you go and for how long. You don’t have to go far to enjoy a fun summer! The most important part is having a memorable and enjoyable experience you and your children won’t soon forget.

Camping

It doesn’t get much lower cost than camping. You can even do it in your backyard! Cook simple food, toast marshmallows and stay up late. Borrow a tent from a friend, bring sheets and blankets from home to further reduce costs. Don’t forget your camera to take lots of pictures! You’ll want to save those pictures for your web photo album when all is said and done.

Hit the Road

Even though driving still has some associated costs it’s often less expensive for a family than flying. Make your trip about the journey and less about the destination. Take pictures at tourist traps along the way. Enjoy documenting the trip as much as what you do one you arrive. This is an opportunity to see a lot of different cities, places and people in a short span of time. Challenge each other once you return to see who can put together the best online photo galleries. You might be surprised to see what stuck out for each person.

Visit a Family Member

If you have a family member living somewhat close by why not go visit? Of course get their approval first. See their city through their eyes – chances are it will be much different than a typical tourist. You’ll save money on lodging and have a unique experience. Don’t forget to reciprocate the offer to them sometime!

These are three very inexpensive vacations you can enjoy without spending a lot of money, which ever you do, remember to capture the memories to a web photo album.

Use a Web Photo Album to Host an Online Thrift Sale

If clutter is taking over your garage or you have a big move planned you’re probably starting to wonder what to do with all your stuff. Sure there’s always the traditional way of hosting a thrift sale, by setting up tables outside and labeling all of your items but what if you’ve got more collectible things or lots of furniture that isn’t really “thrift sale” worthy priced? Host an online thrift sale!

Plenty of people look at sites like Craigslist to purchase goods. Instead of listing each of your items that are for sale create online photo galleries to share and price them all in one place. While doing a sale this way may not seem like any less work than the traditional route you may be able to get a better price for your things. Here are some tips to setting up your sale and photo galleries.

First, sort through everything you have that you are considering getting rid of. Decide what you will keep, what you will sell, and what you will give away. Designate a special place in your home or garage for all of the items that will go up for sale. Next, do some research on those items so that you can find out what the going price is. If you have antiques or items that are highly valuable consider selling them to an antique shop or private collection before putting them online in order to get the very best price. If this is not possible include them in your online sale. Save the information you find so that you can add it to your photo galleries.

Third, begin to take photographs of your items. The better the photograph the more likely your item is to sell. Use good, natural light and capture the item alone, not amongst a jumble of other things. Take a shot from multiple angles and if there are any flaws be sure to photograph them as well so that the buyer knows exactly what the condition of the item is. For bigger pieces of furniture it might make sense to take pictures of it in a room instead of your dusty garage. If people can see the piece “in action” they are better able to envision it in their homes. If this is not possible, simply take the best pictures possible.

It can take a lot of time to go through all of your items and photograph them so try and break your work into chunks. Once you have finished photographing for the day set up a web photo album for each theme of items. So have one album focused on furniture, with another on collectibles and so on. Add the images and then spend some time adding information from your research to the description boxes. Most importantly don’t forget your price! In the description of your photo galleries include your contact information and how people can pay. Finally publicize your albums on your social media accounts, on Craigslist and any other local resources that publish sales.

Summer Lake Activities for All Ages

When the temperatures start to soar there’s only one thing left to do – pack up the kids and hit the water! While not everyone lives near the ocean almost everyone has a lake within driving distance. For some people just enjoying the water is enough but if you’re looking for a little more here are some ideas to keep busy at the lake. Don’t forget your camera, you’ll want to add these memories to your photo galleries.

Have a Swimming Race

Depending on the age and swimming ability of those racing determine a course ahead of time. Make sure you have plenty of eyes on the water so that no one is hurt or struggles. Have someone in charge of time keeping and let the games begin! If there are lots of people involved you can even set it up like a round robin tournament.

Sand Castle Building Contest

Kids love to build sand castles but you might be surprised, many adults do too! There’s really no rules needed to building, but you can set some creative ones to make things interesting. Maybe it’s a height requirement or an overall size requirement. Use items found nearby to embellish the creations.

Play Beach Volleyball or Soccer

If there’s room in the sand or nearby grass put together a friendly game of volleyball or soccer. There are plenty of other “beach” games that are available. It’s an easy way to spend some time, be active, and make new friends.

Collect Rocks and Wash Ups

You may not find many seashells washed up on the shores of the lake but you might find other interest things! Bring some containers and let everyone explore to see what they can find. You might do this before the sandcastle building contest so that there are things to decorate with. Be sure not to include any living creatures. If any large things are moved like rocks or driftwood, be sure to put them back when you’re done.

Have an Aquatic Scavenger Hunt

An underwater scavenger hunt? Yes! You’ll need goggles for everyone who wants to play so that they can see both above and below water. Create a list of items to find and have everyone work in at least two person teams so that someone can be in charge of the list of items to find and someone else can be looking for them. Include things that can be seen both above and below water. Take lots of pictures because this memory is sure to be one for your web photo album.

Take a Boat Ride

A summer afternoon cruising the lake in the back of a speed boat – sounds perfect right? Whether it’s a speed boat or a canoe, spending time on the open water is fun for all ages. Many lakes have boat rentals available for a small cost. Canoes, paddle boats and kayaks are the most inexpensive but if you want to splurge a little a speed boat sure is fun!

Whatever your summer adventures have in store keep your camera close by to remember the fun times you had.

Preserving Your Summer Harvest

Summer is a time of abundance and if you have a high produce yield this year you will want to save as much of it as possible from going bad. You also may want to replicate your success this year to following years. There are several ways you can do this. First, keep copious notes of what you have done. When did you plant your seeds, what did you sprout ahead of time and what went right into the ground? How often did it rain or when did you water your plants. Take pictures and add them to a web photo album as your plants grow so that you can see the progress year to year. Don’t forget to label and date all pictures! You will love the fact that you can go back and review your web photo albums.

Once you begin to pick fruits and vegetables decide what you’ll use right away and what you might want to preserve for later. Many fruits can be made into preserves or frozen. There are several different ways people do this. Try a few different methods if you’ve never done it before. Then stick with the way that works the best! For vegetables pickling and freezing are two of the most common methods for putting up items. For root vegetables like potatoes, beets, and onions a dark, cool cellar may be all that is needed to keep vegetables several months to use in their natural state. You can also make your produce into things like breads or muffins that can then be frozen and pulled out to use later on.

If you still have more than you know what to do with, chances are good you have a neighbor or two that would love to have some of your excess! You might consider setting up a road side stand and making a small profit on some of the food you have remaining!

Last Minute Summer Road Trip Ideas

If you’re still hoping to get away this summer consider a last minute summer road trip as a fun activity and a way that you can actually save money on your vacation. You often don’t have to look very far to find something fun to do and depending on where you live summer can actually be the low season, allowing you to snag great deals.

First, do a little research to look at nearby areas – within driving distance – that are of interest to you and your family. Many websites allow you to put price alerts in for different locations. Do this for your selected spots. You’ll now get an email whenever a hotel is available at or below your listed price. Each week set aside some extra money to purchase gas cards. This way when it’s time to hit the road you will have a good chunk of money set aside for gas, one of the biggest expenses. You can even store photos of the places you want to visit in an online photo gallery.

When it’s time to hit the road don’t forget your camera or smartphone to capture memories for your online photo galleries. You’ll also want just the essentials so that you’re not weighed down with lots of luggage. Contact the tourist office at your chosen destination to find out what there is to do in the area and hopefully pick up some last minute discounts on attractions and food. Along the way stop in the small towns or interesting restaurants you see advertised. Make the trip as much about the journey as the destination. You won’t be going out of your way and you’ll have a great time exploring places you normally might not visit.

If you’re still not sure where to go, a local lake may be just the thing to see. Or perhaps there’s a waterpark nearby that you’ve never visited. Be creative!

Preparing Your Child for College

For many parents, this is the time of year that they start to prepare for their newly graduated student to go off to college. It can be stressful for parents and children. While there’s no way to alleviate all of the worry there are some things you can do to send them off on the right foot.

A lot of time and attention is paid to registering for classes, securing housing, and purchasing items to decorate a dorm or room. All of these things are important but parents can also take time to create something for their children to have after the dust has settled. Spend some time putting together a web photo album your child can pull up when they get homesick – because they will get homesick. Gather some of your favorite pictures and memories and organize them. Write notes and captions that are memories of the time or place. When your child is homesick or just needs a little bit of something familiar this will be an easy way for them to be comforted.

Along with all of the physical preparations for school you also will want to take time to prepare your child mentally for this new change. Different children are at different places of maturity when they prepare to go away to college. Some may be more than ready while others are more apprehensive. Reassure them that everything will be fine and give them solid, honest advice about the situations they may find themselves in. No longer are they under mom and dad’s roof but they are largely on their own and need the knowledge and skills to make the best decisions possible. Most importantly let them know that no matter what you’re still there for them and that they can always call you when they are in need and when they are just missing you a little they can glance at their photo album.

How to Throw a Camping Themed Birthday Party

If your child or children have a summer time birthday party having a camping themed party can be a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate. It’s a great non-gender theme and can be easily and affordably tailored for your child’s likes and interests. You won’t need to spend a lot of money renting space – your backyard or a local park could be the location. Imagine all the great pictures you can add to your web photo albums!

Invitations

There are many ways you could create invitations from a plain off the rack style simply stating time and place to something more elaborated like one designed to look like a tent or star. Within the idea of camping there are plenty of sub-themes like tents, stars and moons, campfires, or food to name a few.

The Tent

The central theme around any campout is the tent. Set up a large tent to be the center of activity. This is where the eating happens. You can set up food stations and craft stations under the big tent. But kids will want to play in a tent too. Either pick up several tents from garage sales or why not have kids build their own tents? Pull out all the extra sheets and blankets you have along with chairs and other items to build fort tents. Outdoor pillows, blankets, or even carpet remnants make great ground cover. Make it into a game and place the kids into teams to see which will build their tent first.

Activities

Traditional outdoor games like bean bag toss and sack races are always a lot of fun for all ages. You could also design and decorate pillow cases with fabric paint or tie dye. What activities you choose to do may depend somewhat on the age of the children playing. If the weather is warm and you sent notice to parents add a water element into the fun. Set up a slip and slide or have a water balloon toss.  Small wading pools can be great fun for younger kids and no matter what age children are sprinklers are always lots of fun.

The Food

If you’re wary of having a campfire with lots of kids around set up your grill in an “off limits” area for the kids. Grill out hamburgers and hot dogs. You can have the children take turns, supervised to roast their marshmallows over the grill. Have chocolate bars and graham crackers ready for s’mores! Another food idea is walking tacos. Buy small bags of corn chips and have all the ingredients for traditional tacos set up in a buffet. Each child gets a bag of chips and adds their desired ingredients to the chips and then eats right out of the bag!

Be sure to take plenty of pictures through the event and upload them to a special web photo album. After the party send children home with the link to the pictures. This way parents can decide which images they would like to have or share.

How Technology Can Improve the Lives of Those with Disabilities

Technology is an amazing thing. It has allowed things to happen that previous generations of people could only imagine. It has done the impossible; sending a man to the moon, putting amazing computing capacity into the palm of our hands, and even creating electronic robots that can perform highly precise surgery. It also has made life much easier for those who have disabilities. For people who were born without the ability to see or who faced an injury later in life, technology has made a big impact on their quality of life.

For those who have mobility issues electronic devices like joystick controlled wheelchairs have meant a new found sense of independence. Parents of children who have autism or other sensory processing issues have found that technology has meant breakthroughs in their child’s ability to communicate. Children who cannot speak have also found a voice through technology. Type to talk programs mean they can type what they want to say and have the program speak their words for them. For children who can’t quite type yet, having online photo galleries available on a touchscreen device allows them to point to what they want to say.  Web photo albums are a great way to store point and say word cards.

Every day new advances and solutions are being invented. Technology like EyeMax systems take communication to another level. Those who can’t talk or use their hands to type are able to communicate what they want to say through eye tracking through text and picture prompts. Cars are being developed that will allow those who can’t see to safely drive. In fact there might be a completely driverless car in the near future – in fact it’s already street legal in Nevada. Maybe you’ve seen videos of children receiving cochlear implants? This technology advance has delivered the gift of hearing to many and further technology advances are making it even better.

Using Photo Galleries to Help Organize Your House

When you first move into your home it seems like you have so much space.  You quickly set everything up but there’s always the inevitable box of “things” lurking in your basement or garage. Not to mention that one junk drawer, and there’s the cabinet in the laundry room.  Well let’s just say things don’t stay as organized as they once were and as time passes you accumulate more and more things.

Home organization is a step-by-step process.  It will take more than a day or even a week to get everything to a manageable level, but once you do staying organized is an easier task. Using tools like a web photo album can help you remember what is where – especially if you have a lot of things or a big home.

1. Start with the Busy Areas.  The two most used rooms in the house are typically the living room and kitchen. This is where everything gets dropped on the counters or furniture or shoved in the closet. Before you move on to less used rooms, concentrate on getting these areas in order first.

2. Use Containers and Storage Spaces. You’ll need to invest some money on the right tools to organize. There are hundreds of options on the market for storage boxes, organizing racks, and cabinets. For any boxes you plan to store in your garage, basement or attic – namely things that aren’t used that much – make a unique mark on the box and photograph it. You’ll also want to snap a picture of what is in the box and finally where you place it.  Upload these images to your web photo album.  Create a different album for each box and use labels for the items.  The next time you’re looking for something access your albums and search for the item by name. You’ll be able to see what the box looks like and where you put it. No more rifling through boxes!

3. Divide and Conquer.  Get out the bags! Sort through everything you find and place in a pile labeled: KEEP, THROW AWAY, or GIVE AWAY.  Items that will stay in that room are to keep.  Things that you don’t need like loose scraps of paper or garbage can be thrown away.  Clothes or furniture still in good condition can be donated.

4. Use the Space You have.  You know that space above your kitchen cupboards? Store extra containers or rarely used appliances there. Storage bins that slide under the bed are good for storing out of season clothes or shoes. There are plenty of ways to add storage to your garage. Take an inventory of all the space you have and think of the best ways to use it.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. By taking time and using organizing tools you can turn your house around in no time. However, once you’ve done it once the upkeep is much less stressful than fighting the daily mess!

A Water Themed Birthday Party

Throwing a birthday party during summer months means there are lots of ways to have fun without spending much money. Try a water themed birthday party for a wet and wild good time! No matter what age your child is, this is a fun theme for all ages.

Start by sending out invitations shaped liked a water drop, and let parents know to send their children with their swimming suits, towels, and water shoes as well as an extra change of clothes. You can host the party in your backyard or at a park. Just be sure there’s a good water source nearby. Older kids might enjoy a water balloon fight while this may be too hard for smaller children. A water balloon toss or other challenge games using water balloons may be a better fit. Set up a water obstacle course using small pools, a sprinkler, or other water and land elements.

Be sure to cover your smart phone or camera with a waterproof shield so that you can still take pictures for your birthday online photo galleries without wrecking your equipment. You’ll be sure to capture some really fun images if you’re not worried about your camera getting splashed.

For the meal you can stick with classic picnic food or develop a menu around the water theme. To make it even more interesting why not have a meal where no utensils are used. It won’t matter how messy everyone gets because they can hose off when they’re all done!

Send your guests’ home with a liquid inspired goodie bag. You might include a new water bottle, a favorite drink, a jar of bubbles, and other items that fit the party theme. This party is sure to be one to remember for a long time and you’ll have the photo memories for years to come!

After the party you can always share your created online photo gallery with the guests so all can enjoy the memories in the years to come.

Tips for Throwing a Neighborhood Block Party

The sun is shining and everyone wants to be outside enjoying the weather. A great idea to get your neighborhood or even just a group of friends together is to throw a block party. In large cities these are common but not as much in smaller cities and towns. It’s an easy way to share a meal, get together with old friends and make new friends. You’ll want to save all your pictures to a web photo album to share with everyone that attended!

First, ask around and get an estimated count of who is interested in attending. You’ll want to know so that you can allocate enough space. Then get a little more organized by creating a group email or even Facebook group. Let people sign up to bring food items or leave it blind and let people bring whatever they wish. A potluck is the best way to do this so that no single person or family is stuck with all the work.

You may consider having each family pitch in a set amount of money to rent tables or purchase drinks, or you can rely on everyone bringing their own. It’s up to you! No party is complete without some music or entertainment. Maybe you have a DJ or an amateur musician in your circle of friends that would take over the lead for this. Lawn games are another fun activity for kids and adults. You don’t have to add a lot of structure but having a few things to do is a good way to break the ice and get people interacting.

When the event is over send everyone a link to the online photo galleries to upload their pictures. You’ll have a great collection of images to remember the event year to year!

Taking a Solo Summer Camping Trip

When things start to get hot during summer time it’s time to turn off the computer, step away from work and escape to nature for a few days. Spending time with loved ones is great but why not take a solo summer camping trip? Taking time to focus on yourself and relax is important. But don’t think this kind of trip isn’t worth photographing. You can create an amazing web photo album sharing your experience.

Your First Time Camping Alone?

Like with most things, the first time you try camping alone it may be slightly scary proposition. The reality is, there’s really not much to fear. Overall, the "horror stories" you hear about just never happen.

That said, you can take a few safety precautions to put you at ease. First, you should always tell a friend when you expect to be back. Let them know if you don't contact them within a certain time, they should alert authorities to come and find you.

Second, you can carry a phone with you. If you're not going too far off the beaten path, you should still be able to get reception. If you’re making regular updates with images of wildlife and scenery to your online photo galleries your loved ones will see all is well.

Always carry a first aid kit in case you become injured or sick and make sure you have water purification pills just in case you run out of clean water. It’s also a good idea to take things slow. Keep your trip short and camp in places that are not too far off the grid. Having other people around, but not too close, can help you ease into the concept of solo camping. It’s a good idea to avoid secluded locations until you're comfortable camping on your own.

Make It an Unforgettable Experience

Take some time in silence. Listen to the wilderness around you. Whether it’s the quiet of the forest, the sound of waves lapping at the shore, or birds chirping in the trees. Having time to listen and be one with your thoughts is a great experience. It may be hard to disconnect and not have the sounds and voices you’re used to but once you get past the initial difficulty it can be a very enjoyable experience.

Bring a journal and write. It can be very hard to set aside time to write when you’re at home. But when you’re out in the wilderness with nothing else to do, it’s the perfect time and opportunity. Don’t forget to bring a camera. Take pictures of all the incredible things you're witnessing and show them to friends, and add to your web photo album when you get home.

Even though you’re camping alone, it doesn’t mean you can’t make friends. Get to know some of your neighbors. Sharing stories and even meals with strangers is a wonderful experience.

Camping solo is a fanatastic way to recharge your batteries and reflect on life. Even if it’s just a night on a local lake take advantage this summer!

Relaxation Tips for Busy Moms

Does it seem like your day never ends? One minute you’re waking the kids up, making breakfast, and running in a million directions and before you know it dinner needs to be on the table, baths, and you’re collapsing in bed. You barely have a minute to yourself. Busy moms need to take the time to take care of themselves! Constantly caring for and being in the service of others can take a major toll.

There are many ways to relax – the trick is finding what works for you.  Some people just need a quick nap every now and then to recharge. Others find a hobby like photography that recharges their batteries and helps them unwind. Whatever it is, finding something to help you de-stress is important. Mom time refuels the tank so that you can give to your family as well as yourself in equal measure.  Don’t be ashamed to sit for fifteen minutes doing nothing.  If going outside and photographing the birds nest in your backyard to add to your web photo album makes you smile – do it! Reading a book for 30 minutes can also seem like heaven to many moms.

Here are a few tips to help you fit in some relaxation time:

1. Get Up Early.  This might sound like the opposite of relaxing but if you have kids you know as soon as they are awake your day is off to a hurried pace. Getting up 30-60 minutes ahead of time gives you time for quiet solitude to sit, read a book, or meditate.

2. Turn Every Activities into Major Events. Everyone needs to bathe. Next time you take a bath light a few candles, use a special bubble bath and turn on some music. You’ve just taken something you would be doing anyway and made it a little extra special.

3. Ask for Help.  It can feel like you’re expected to be super-mom but it’s important for kids to spend time with other people as well. Ask your spouse, or other family members for help. Maybe they can head to the park for an hour or two. Or maybe grandpa would love to take the kids fishing. Your children will benefit from making web photo album worthy memories and you’ll get the much needed time you need.

4. Always be Prepared, and Your Time won’t be Spent Rushing but in a More Relaxed mode. Pack lunches for the next day while you’re putting away dinner leftovers. Iron clothes and set out outfits ahead of time. Small things like this mean your day will be calmer.

5. Laugh! Study after study has shown that laughing reduces stress levels. Keep a funny calendar on your desk, subscribe for daily joke emails, or take 5 minutes to watch that funny YouTube video.

You must take time to care for your emotional and physical wellbeing so that you can be the best mom possible!  You owe it to yourself to take a break and relax!

Money Saving Tips for Photographing Kids and Family

Taking yearly pictures is a tradition in many families. This year instead of investing in a professional photographer and paying for expensive prints, try another route. By creating a web photo album for sharing your pictures, asking friends and family with a keen eye, and having a print it yourself motto you’ll have family pictures without breaking the piggy bank.

The most important part of the equation is having a photographer who can take good pictures. Ask around to see if you have any friends or family with photography talent. You can offer them dinner out or some other (though smaller) financial compensation than a professional. They might be interested in a barter if you have a skill that you can trade.

Next, create a web photo album for the pictures. Once they are done shooting the images they can upload them to your album or share the memory card allowing you to upload them. Use online photo editing software to adjust any problems or add highlights to the pictures. Remember even professional photographers rely on retouching tools to get the final product you see!

Finally share the address of your online photo galleries with family and friends who may want to see or have print pictures. Allow them to make the choice about which image they want and let them print the picture at their favorite printing shop. This way you don’t end up with lots of pictures that you won’t use. You can of course select any images you like and have them printed or add them to your digital scrapbook. In the future you can go back to the photo album and make reprints anytime.

This is a great way to still have nice pictures taken of your family without the sometimes excessive costs of professional photography.

Making Memories Close to Home

If taking a summer vacation isn’t in your budget this year, you can still have a great time close to home. Play tourist in your own city and discover some unknown corners. No one wants to sit at home all summer so get out, explore and make memories for your online photo galleries!

Everyone loves water, check out local pools, lakes, and rivers for places to swim or just relax near the water. Make a list of all the different places and spend all summer exploring what’s nearby. You can create a web photo album to save all of your pictures. At the end of the summer take a family poll and decide which your favorite was. You may even consider submitting your list and suggestions to your local tourist board to share with visitors.

Are there museums or historical monuments in your city? You probably overlooked them as points of interest but take this opportunity to visit. Learn a little more about local history and have a good time. Some may even offer day camps for kids that are low cost or free. Parks are another great thing to explore. Visit your local and state parks nearby and see what they offer. Pack a picnic and make a day of your adventure.

While you’re rating things why not have an ice cream eating contest? Make a list of all local ice cream parlors or shops that sell ice cream. Then tackle one each week. Vote on your favorite flavors and make notes about what you did or didn’t like. This is a low cost way to spend time together and enjoy a snack. You could do the same thing with restaurants or another local specialty.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money or go far from home to create fun summer memories!

Unique Angles to Consider When Taking Pictures

If you’re looking for ways to take your online photo galleries from so-so to stellar than one way to do so is to mix up the angles you’re shooting from. You can take a regular, everyday image to something completely new and unique by just making a small switch. Here are some different angles to consider.

Straight Up – Lay flat on the ground (or use a tripod) and shoot straight up at your subject. While this may not work for every situation it’s a great way to get a different perspective on mundane subjects.

Tilting – You can tilt the image towards or away from you (this is especially helpful if you’re shooting food). It invites the viewer into your shot. If you can’t tilt the object itself, tilt yourself so that you have the same visual representation.

Above – Stand above your object and shoot down. This provides a view you may not have ever considered. Many of the objects or decorations that may be a part of the side view will no longer be visible.

Diagonal – Are you photographing multiple things in a line? Shoot at an angle as well so that you catch a corner of each of the objects instead of a straight line. This is a fun shot to do with a group of people or even a lineup of cars!

Emphasis – Instead of a straight on shot of an object, select one portion of it and focus on it. Exaggerate that aspect and let the rest of the object be the background.

Creating fun and interesting photos for your web photo albums not only sets you a part as a photographer but is fun! You’ll be challenging your creativity and photography skills all the while you’re capturing amazing pictures to share with the world.

Preserving Old Photographs

Have you recently stumbled across or inherited a box of old images. Maybe you have a shoebox in your attic gathering dust. Over time images degrade and break down without proper care and attention. Today it’s possible to easily transfer physical images to a digital format and store in online photo galleries. This should be your first step.

Pull out all of your images and take the time to scan them and upload them to a web photo album. Take the time to copy over any writing that is found on the back of the images, especially if it relates to who is in the picture. You may still want to preserve the original images. This can be done very carefully.

First store pictures in a stable environment. It should be cool, dark, and dry with low humidity. Don’t use tape to secure the pictures to anything. If a picture tears place it into a clear envelope instead of trying tape it back together.

If you want to arrange the pictures into an album to keep them all together buy an archival quality album that is acid free. Look for pages that are polyethylene. You can also store them in acid free boxes with acid free paper dividers. If images are dirty do not attempt to clean them yourself. A professional photo restorer can do this work. Pictures are made using different types of chemicals and to an amateurs eyes it’s not generally clear what has been used.

If you have really old photographs (100+ years old) don’t display them in the open –the air and light can destroy them quickly. Instead make a reproduction to put on display. Most of all don’t keep the pictures hidden away in boxes for future generations to deal with. The longer they are left unattended the more damage can be done.

Prepare For Roadside Emergency

If you drive at all, at some point in time you will be faced with a roadside emergency.  A flat tire, broken belt, overheating engine or dead battery are just some common occurrences when traveling. You probably have a cell phone on hand to call for help but it won’t work in all situations. There are some steps you can take to ensure you’re safe and on your way in the event of a major roadside emergency.

First take the time to create a web photo album dedicated to your car. This may sound funny but it can be an important tool. Upload things like your insurance policy and any other special documents you have relating to the car. Make the album private or even password protected to guard your information. You can store pictures here after you have an accident. Simply snap them and upload them on the spot so you have proof for your insurance company.

But preparing needs to go even further so that you’re safe in the moment. Take time to prepare two emergency kits. One that is a car kit and another that’s a personal kit.

Some items for your car kit can include;

• Sturdy work gloves
• Jumper cables
• Flash light with extra batteries
• Multipurpose tool
• Paper towels
• Windshield washer fluid
• Tire pressure gauge
• Road flares or warning cones
• Gallon jug of water
• Motor oil
• If you live somewhere that winter weather is an issue; Small shovel, ice scraper, kitty litter or sand
• Spare tire (filled), jack and lug wrench

Your Personal Kit will vary some depending on each person but should include at a minimum;

• Walking shoes or winter boots depending on the season
• A pair of socks
• A bottle of drinking water
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Shelf stable foods like granola, snack bars, nuts, etc.
• A blanket
• Warm gloves
• Coat
• Hat
• Rain poncho and/or umbrella
• First aid kit

If you’re traveling with children you will want to pack the items they may need if you are stranded for a period of time.  Items like formula, baby food, snacks, extra clothes, diapers and winter weather survival gear are imperative.

When preparing your kits, imagine that you’re stranded for hours and unable to get home. You could be without heat (or cooling) and many other comforts. Even a minor roadside emergency can be difficult.  Take the time to regularly review what you have in your vehicle and saved in your online photo galleries. Update the information regularly and before each trip, especially long trips look over the items in your car and adjust based on the season. You may think you don’t need things like hats and mittens in the summer months but if you’re stranded overnight temperatures could easily drop very low, leaving you exposed and cold. This can seem like a big waste of space especially if you have a small car but having these items in your vehicle can literally mean the difference between life and death in some situations.

Make Lunch Fun This School Year

Back to school is right around the corner. For many parents this means packing a lunch every day. While some kids will eat anything without complaints others simply won’t. Before school starts create a web photo album to save your favorite ideas. You’ll have a great resource to pull up when you’re feeling less than creative. Here are some more ideas you can use to make school lunches tempting and nutritious.

Most kids would love to find chips and candy in their lunch but parents would rather their lunches to be nutritious. To make it work, find ways to make them fun and your kids will look forward to a healthy lunch each day.

Sit down with your kids ahead of time and ask them what they’d like to eat. Better yet have them help you build online photo galleries of lunch items. Sure they’ll ask for things you’d prefer them not to eat but try to allow some of their favorite things- they’ll be more likely to eat the other items as well.

Dropping a note in your child’s lunch bag or box to let them know you’re thinking of them is a nice way to remind them you care. Another motivator is choosing a lunch box they love or trying bento boxes to separate their food.

Most children love to dip their foods so try and include some dipping options with vegetables and fruit – you may find they eat more when they can dip it. Give your child rolled-up sandwiches, or wraps instead of regular sandwiches. You can cut them into easy to hold pinwheels. Or use a special cookie cutter for normal sandwiches.  All of these ideas can help you take lunch time from boring to an event that kids look forward to and you know they’re eating well.

How to Take Great Outdoor Pictures

There’s a huge trend now of photographers taking outdoor portrait images, and why not? There are so many amazing scenes to take images and showcase not only the person or people in the image but the scenery as well. Taking pictures outdoors can be much more of a challenge than indoors. Your settings will constantly be changing and the light can drastically change from one moment to the next. If you’re building up your outdoor images web photo album consider some of these tips to take better pictures.

Avoid Direct Sunlight – Not only is it hard (and hot!) on your subject but it can lead to blown out images and rough edges. You don’t’ want to avoid natural light all together buy look for partially shaded settings or shots that don’t have full on sunlight. Taking pictures in the early morning or early evening can help give you the right amount of natural light without too much.

Avoid Distractions in Your Shots – Things like power lines or road signs can get in the way of taking really good pictures. You want people to focus on your subject, so unless your subject is the sign or the picture avoid them! Though wouldn’t it be fun to have a dedicated web photo album of distraction shots?

Use a Tripod – A tripod can really help you capture images when the light is low. Low light means the camera needs more time to capture the picture. It’s hard to hold your hands completely still in that time. This is a small investment to make but it will make your pictures that much better.

Compose Your Shot – To create a really great image, especially when shooting landscapes, have a foreground, middle ground and background. Also make sure it’s clear how they relate to each other. For example you want to include the beach, the water and the rocky cliffs behind them in your shot so that whoever is viewing the image sees how they all relate to each other. This is much more powerful than just shooting the water or only shooting the cliffs.

Don’t Put the Horizon Smack in the Middle – Looking back at the ocean example if you took a shot that had a sliver of the beach and a sliver of the sky and the rest of the picture was full of the ocean it would be lacking. The picture would be much more powerful if the focus was, for example, more on the water.

Emphasize Size and Scale – There are some amazing outdoor scenes that can be captured. But photographs have a way of losing the scale of things without some way to compare them. Did you see a giant scale on a leaf during your hike? If you simply snap a picture then you have no way to know it was a giant snail, it’s just a snail. Likewise a mountain doesn’t look as big if there’s nothing included in the image to show scale. When you’re composing images this should be taken into consideration.

Online Gifts for Friends and Family Far Away

If you’re like millions of other people who live far away from their family and friends you know what a struggle it can be to give gifts to them for special occasions. If you want to mail something you need to plan far in advance to purchase and ship it in time, not to mention how expensive this can sometimes be. There’s also no guarantee that your package will end up at its destination – meaning lost time, money, and opportunity! Instead consider gifting one of these virtual gifts.

Gift Cards

There are lots of online gift cards that can be used around the globe and only require an email address to receive. Amazon, multiple restaurants, flower delivery services, and other online retailers allow you to purchase gift cards to their store and then deliver them automatically through email. The transaction will take you only seconds!

Pictures

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Put together a web photo album for your loved ones packed full of your memories together. Not only will this gift only cost you the investment of time, your loved one will be able to select any images they may not have a copy of and have it printed to keep.

Recipes

Maybe you’re too far away to make your special batch of chocolate chip cookies but you could send the recipe to your friend, along with a few others in a digital recipe book. Think of a few different recipes that they’ve been keen to have or you have tried and think they would enjoy too.  Put them together in a small digital book and send it with a nice note, maybe expressing how much you wish you could be with them to enjoy the food.

Vacation Vouchers

Is your loved one planning a vacation or someone that just loves to travel in general? Many websites offer gift certificates or travel vouchers for their products. Maybe you can’t afford to buy a plane ticket to visit you but you can afford to buy a portion of the ticket. You can even gift your frequent flyer miles to someone else. What could be a better gift for both of you than the chance to get together? Be sure to watch specials with cruise lines and sometimes airlines that offer a 2 for 1 deal. You might be able to snag a great vacation for the both of you. Surprise them with the news!

A Letter or Card

Of course maybe the most personal and touching thing to send might be a handwritten letter or card. So few of us take the time to do this, thanks to technology that allows instantaneous communication however, people still love getting a handwritten note. Sure it’s not a big gift, but it might be the sentiment that means the most.

Whether you purchase a gift card, create a web photo album, or send a letter just knowing that you made the extra effort to remember someone even though you’re far away will mean a lot!

Inexpensive Ways to Show off Vacation Memories

You’re home from an amazing week in the Caribbean or month in Europe. Now it’s time to unpack and sort through the hundreds of images you took to remember your time. Don’t fall victim to leaving the pictures for months on a memory card or stuck in your camera! Instead try one of these ideas.

Upload Them

The easiest way to save your pictures is to upload them to online photo galleries. You can create your own web photo album quickly and easily. Break down the pictures by destination or event. Add as many notes as you can so that you won’t forget what was happening. As time fades, so will your memories!

Shadow Boxes

Even though printing photographs has decreased in a big way, why not print off a few of your favorite pictures and include them in a shadow box. Add in shells, receipts, tickets, and other odds and ends that remind you of your vacation. You can then hang this on your wall and have an instant reminder and conversation piece.

Hardbound Album

It is possible to order a printed photo book of your vacation pictures for a lot less than you might think. Sort through your online photo galleries and pull out your favorite images. You can either print them and add to a traditional photo album or you can use an online program to create a physical book. Some programs give you a lot of options on how you want to set up and edit the pictures, what text you want to include, and even more. Your imagination is the only limitation!

Whether you opt to put together a web photo album, hardbound photo album, or a shadow box be sure to take the time to preserve your most treasured vacation memories.

How to Take Better Pictures of Food

Taking pictures of food has become increasingly popular with the wide use of mobile phones that have great photography capabilities. With dozens of online photo galleries dedicated to showcasing the best food photography and recipes, it’s no surprise this has become a popular activity. But some pictures are really terrible. No one wants to see a picture of something that resembles slop. Poor lighting, generally unappealing dishes, and a shaky hand are some of the things that can lead to poor quality images.  If you want to take and share your food pictures here are some tips to help you.

Lighting

One of the most important things to consider when taking a picture of anything is the lighting. If you’re in a dimly lit restaurant at night, you may as well just put your camera away. You don’t want to be using a flash in this situation and taking a bad picture is worse than no picture at all. If you’re taking pictures at home, use as much natural light as you can find. Move your plate or bowl close to a window or a spot where there’s plenty of natural light. Adjust the white balance on your camera to indicate which type of light is in the frame. Avoid using a flash as much as possible, typically it casts a harsh light and blows out whatever is in the frame.

Composition

Chefs spend a lot of time creating not only the food that you’ll eat but arranging it in a way that makes it appealing. Remember we eat with our eyes first. At home you can do the same. Use dishes that compliment your meal, not take away from it. The same should happen with the surface the dish is on and the background that will be in the shot. You can include props to enhance the picture. Utensils, cups, and anything else that really sets the scene can make a big difference. You’ll also want to experiment with taking pictures at different angles. Shoot from above, straight on, at an angle. Don’t be afraid to take many images to capture the right one for your web photo album.

Some other ways to create really great food pictures is to include what’s around. If there’s a multi course meal spread out on the table, try to capture as much in your shot as possible. This will bring viewers into the moment so they can experience a depth to the picture. You’re telling a story and seeing a full display will be much more telling than single shots of each of the components. Don’t forget at the end of the day the food is meant to be eaten! Show people touching, eating, and interacting with the food. This will help bring it to life and again help to tell a story.

If you’re eating in a very high end restaurant or taking pictures would be inappropriate then trust your gut and keep the camera put away. Enjoy the meal before you and maybe snap a picture of your cleaned off plate when all is said and done!

First Day of School Checklist

Will you be experiencing a first day of school this year? Maybe your child is just starting school or maybe they’re old pros. Whatever the case it’s always an emotional time for parents. Be prepared for the big first day with these tips;

* Does your child know their teachers name? Spend time getting them prepared especially if they’re just starting school. You may even be able to take them to school for the first day or an orientation day ahead of time.

* Purchase the items on the back to school list and have them labeled and ready in your child’s backpack before the first day of school.

* Sit down with your child and explain in simple terms what the first day of school is going to be like. You might show them your school pictures in your online photo galleries. Allow them to ask questions and answer them the best you can.

* Fill out and have on file an emergency contact card for your child. This is critical for the school so that they know who to contact in case something should happen.

* Get the school lunch menu ahead of time and talk to your child about what lunch time is like. You may want to send cold lunch with them if you’re unsure if they will eat. Or, if you’d rather don’t make it a choice off the bat and see how they fare with hot lunch.

* Take pictures of the first day for your web photo album. It can be easy to forget in the excitement of the first day but you’ll want to save these memories for the future!

You can help to ensure your child gets off to a great start by making sure they are prepared.

7 Tips for Beginning Photographers

If you’re just getting started in the field of photography you have likely found yourself overwhelmed with all the choices. Just choosing which camera to use can be a headache, and a heartbreak on your wallet. Believe it or not you don’t need to purchase an expensive, fancy camera. But there are some helpful tips to keep in mind while you begin to fill your web photo albums.

1. Carry Your Camera. Yes this sounds like a no-brainer but the best way to get better at photographer is to practice, practice, practice – and you can’t do that if you’ve left your camera at home. Having it with you at all times will make sure you have it at the ready should a great opportunity present itself.

2. Don’t Max Out Your Card on Equipment. There are a lot of very expensive cameras on the market. Don’t go out and buy top of the line equipment if you’re not sure yet what you’re looking for. Spend some time getting a feel for the practice so that you know what you want and then make the purchase.

3. Don’t Neglect Everyday Objects. You don’t have to travel to exotic places or have only unique images to take. Practice your skills of composing pictures and learning your camera functions on everyday objects you find in your backyard or in your home. You might be really surprised to find what amazing images you can capture.

4. Know What You Like. Not all people like to take pictures of the same thing. Maybe you really love landscapes or you have aspirations to become a wedding photographer. Whatever you enjoy shooting is what you should spend your time doing and practicing. For example if you want to be a portrait photographer but all you take pictures of are flowers you might struggle when your human images sit down to be photographed

5. Understand Composition and Staging. Sure some photographers are able to capture the perfect image as it unfolds, but many others rely on basic techniques like composition and staging to take their pictures from good to great. Take some time to research and learn more about these two techniques and begin to apply them in your photography.

6. Lighting. The photographer’s best and worst friend is lighting. Too much and you’ll have images that blow out, not enough and they’ll be dark and lifeless. Learn how to adjust your camera for different types of lighting and learn which angles are best to work with the natural light you have.

7. Keep Track of Your Progress.  Those first shots you took may be awful but ignore the urge to just delete them. Create a web photo album that’s devoted to uploading a few of your images every week or every month. Don’t just add your great images but a mixture. Spend time looking through them to see what you do and don’t like and how you can improve them. If you have a friend who is a photographer or know someone that would be willing to sit down and look at them with you even better. Two eyes and opinions are better than one!

6 Tips for Photographing Babies

The newest bundle of joy is one of the most popular objects to photograph. But also one of the most difficult! The little guys aren’t too keen to be posed and aren’t very responsive to being moved! But you can capture the joy and excitement of a new baby and fill up your baby’s web photo album quickly with the help of these tips.

Make Baby Comfortable

For newborn shots the first few weeks after birth are ideal. Babies are pretty chilled out at this time and still tiny. They quickly start growing! Make sure that the room you’re in is warm, especially if you plan to take pictures of baby with little or no clothes. Have soft blankets and/or pillows for props. Avoid putting on clothing that they’ll be uncomfortable in.

Be Prepared

The last thing you want to do is waste time setting up shots after baby is ready to be photographed. Have everything set up. Your camera charged, lights adjusted, tripod set up if you’re using it. Any changes of clothing should be ready and nearby. Don’t forget extra diapers and blankets in case there are any accidents.

Simple, Natural Shots

Stick with pictures that show a baby as a baby. Sure babies dressed up as flowers are cute in calendars but that doesn’t mean you’ll want those images to remember your baby. Keep low to the baby and get close so that you can really focus on the subject instead of the space around him or her. Of course some pictures that show size differences can really make for good images but limit them.

Black and White

Babies are normally a mixture of colors when they’re first born. They may have flushed skin, small blemishes or scratches. Try changing to black and white images to cover up some of these blemishes. Black and white pictures also have a dramatic effect and can make up for lighting that is less than perfect.

Group Shots

Taking picture of your baby’s first visits with family member is a beautiful addition to your web photo album. It also is a great gift to give the family member. Document these firsts! You’ll also want to take pictures of baby with siblings and the parents. Try to capture images that show natural interactions with baby instead of trying to sit baby up in an unnatural way.

Sequence Mode

Instead of shooting a single picture at a time, set your camera to shoot in sequence mode. You’ll capture 3 or more images in a short time. Because babies move so subtly (and yet so quickly!) this may help you capture the “perfect” image that you would have missed if you were only taking a single shot at a time.

Having a newborn is a lot of work but you’ll quickly forget these early moments. Taking the time to capture as many pictures as possible will help ensure that the first moments don’t escape! Don’t forget to get out from behind the camera and have someone else be sure you’re in the picture too!

You’ve Made a Web Photo Album…Now What?

You’ve been diligent about keeping your online galleries updated with images and descriptions and have created a wonderful gallery that you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come. But, what else can you do with these images and photo albums?

Share Them!

You may want to keep these images all to yourself but you surely have family and friends that would like to see them as well. Send them an email and share the link to your web photo album so that they too can see what you’ve been up to and how the kids have grown!

Gifts

Use your images to create personalized gifts. You can design your own photo book and have it printed – be sure to include lots of text and personalization as well so that the recipient has all of the back story of the images.  You could additionally include quotes that you like or scripture verses – whatever speaks to you and you know the recipient would love. Calendars are another great way to use photographs that you have taken. They don’t have to be of people, they could be landscapes you loved or food that you made. Select high quality images in a high resolution that will print well in a large size.

Start a Business!

Do you take excellent pictures? You could have them printed onto paper, t-shirts, key chains or other items that can then be sold at a local market or art shop. There are many places online that also offer a space to sellers who want to sell their artwork. You may need to invest some money to have items made before they’re sold but if you start small you may soon begin to see a good profit!

Whatever you do don’t let your web photo albums lay idle! Make use of them so that everyone can enjoy your hard work.

Great Image Editors to Help You Enhance Your Online Photo Galleries

Few of us possess the natural talent to consistently take amazing photographs. Even the best professional photographer’s user editing programs to make their images even better. There are many different programs for all levels of comfort with digital editing and what you want to accomplish. Take your online photo galleries from good to great by using one of these programs.

PicMonkey

This is a free service available online. You’ll be able to upload only a single image at a time and it has basic services like resizing, recoloring, and retouching. You can overlay text onto the images, include frames, and “stickers” to make your pictures enhanced even more. Even those brand new to image editing will be able to easily use the program. It also offers a royale option for a small fee of $4.99 a month for even more editing tools and options.

Canva

Many people who want to do more than simply edit their images but add an additional dimension to them such as posting the image and text online, or creating a brochure or other type image enhanced item like canva.  This program is also free but there are some paid templates and options included. The program still has a few bugs but is a good option.

Adobe Photoshop

This program is not online, making it a good choice for people who want to edit photos without needing to be online. The downside is that it does have a fairly steep learning curve and a high price tag. While some people find it easy to use and quickly learn how to make it work best for them, others struggle with the terminology and plethora of options. If you simply want to do basic photo editing this program is probably overkill – not to mention you’ll have to purchase the program, it’s not free. However, if you want to do a lot of retouching or are interested in learning how to retouch photographs this might be an option worth considering.

GIMP

GIMP is a free, open source photo editing program that is similar to Photoshop. You download this program directly to your computer and do not need to be online to use it. Just like Photoshop there are a lot of options with this program and it has a steep learning curve. The plus side is the program is free so if you don’t like it, you aren’t out any money. If you want the options of Photoshop but aren’t ready to make the big purchase give GIMP a try.

Apple Aperture

If you’re a Mac fan then Apple’s editing software should be of interest to you. This program integrates into the Apple suite easily and costs much less than Photoshop. The plus sides of this program is the quick loading and editing times, and that it efficiently organizing your images until you are ready to upload them to your online photo galleries.

Whichever program you select, spending a little time touching up your pictures for your web photo album will be worth it in the long run.