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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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. 

5 Tips to Take Better Family Portraits

If your family is preparing to take the annual family picture or you’re a photographer who wants to take more portraits there are some easy tips to incorporate into your style that will take your pictures from good to great and enhance your web photo albums.

Get Rid of the Matching Outfits

Not too long ago it was common to see family photographs that had each member of the family in an identical, or almost identical outfit. Please do yourself a favor and avoid this! There’s nothing wrong with monochromatic outfits, keeping with the same color scheme or finding similar looking outfits but let each person’s personality shine through in the images. You’re not posing for a clothing catalog!

Arrange People Naturally or Staggered

Also long gone is the standard staged studio shot. Make your appearance natural. Let the photo subjects spread out and act in a natural way. Some of the best pictures aren’t shot face on with everyone smiling. It might be a parent gazing at a child or children playing together and not even looking into the camera. If the family does want a more traditional portrait, don’t line them up. Instead put them at different angles and stagger their heads to create a natural looking picture. You could even have them all laying down and focus on just the faces. The options are endless.

Capture Expression and Interaction

Smiles are great but what if the children of the family are having a great time laughing and playing with each other. Avoid the staged smile and capture things as they naturally unfold. Your photo galleries will display a diverse range of emotions and images if you capture things as they happen. You may not even want to stage anything but simply follow around your subjects for a period of time, taking pictures as things happen.

Use Favorite Objects or Activities

Does the family love horseback riding? Are they board game enthusiasts? Let the personality of each person and the family itself come through in the pictures. Encourage them to do the things that they normally do and bring with them to the site those items they love. Capture dad and son tossing a baseball. Lay out a blanket for a picnic and take pictures of the event. Whatever it is that really speaks to them that’s what will make for a great photograph.

Have Fun!

This is the most important thing, especially when children are involved. No one wants to sit for an hour or more doing something they hate. You’ll never get the image you want if kids are tired or bored. Make the event fun and interesting. Move to different locations. You might even want to let kids be involved in choosing the places they want to be photographed. The easier you can make it the better the pictures will be!

Taking family portraits can be a fun and rewarding experience. You’ll be left with pictures that are beautiful and truly meaningful.

How Do You Share Your Photos?

Sometimes we can take so many photos especially in the summer as we travel, hit the beach and are having fun. But how do you share those photos with those you love? Sometimes the images lie stored on an SD card or on your phone and don’t get shared.

So how do you share yours? Many of today’s smartphones and even cameras are WIFI equipped making sharing simple across online platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Using Facebook or Instagram is an easy way to share your photos but sometimes not all of them get posted. So what do you do with all those photos?

Sharing is caring, especially where family members are concerned. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and even cousins love to share in the joy of your special moments so what are the best ways to share your photos?

There are several sites that offer an online website photo album. You can always store and share your photos from one of these. If a photo is worth a thousand words you really do want to be able to collect your photos are share them.

Synching your photos to an online photo album is now simple and easy and many of them allow you to email your photo album links to family and friends and some even allow for curating from already shared photos on Instagram and Facebook, and other social sharing sites.

There are lots of ways you can share your photos. Just make sure you upload them to your photo album. Did you know you once in an album it is easy to organize them. You can have one for a vacation, another for a back to school inspiration list, another for even your favorite recipes.

So what are some of your favorite ways to share your favorite photos?

EBooks: A Low-Maintenance Business that Can Deliver Big Profits

One profitable idea to make money online is through the sale of eBooks. They require very little cost upfront and can provide great revenue. You will need to invest time and energy to make it happen but once the book is written it can deliver income continuously with very little effort.

So, What are EBooks?

If you’re not familiar with EBooks, they are digital reading media that is easy to pass along to others. Many people are opting for electronic books over printed books for several reasons. EBooks can be long or short, and can be published by a publishing house or you could self-publish your own eBook. EBook files are stored on your computer or digital device and don’t take up physical space. You can have access to an eBook in seconds after purchase.

Do you like to write? Then this is right up your alley. But eBooks don’t have to be limited to the written word. Clear out your online photo galleries and set up a photography book. If you have a way with words or photographic talent for capturing readers, you can use eBooks to bring a profit to your blog or website.

You’re probably wondering what is this going to cost. The good news - the cost to you is negligible. If you already have a website, you have access to the Internet and likely the software that is needed to make an eBook. There are lots of websites and books online that can guide you through the process of writing, formatting, and publishing your eBook.

When it comes time to start thinking about pricing there are a few variables. You may be able to charge more for longer books or you may command a good price for shorter eBooks that provide very concise and valuable information. If your book is packed with high quality images and advice from your online photo galleries then people may be willing to pay more.

Selling EBooks

Now that you have gone through the hard work of writing and formatting your eBook you have to get it into the hands of people. Marketing your eBook follows the same lines as marketing your website or blog. Some ideas might include creating an article series for your website that are based around your eBook. You can also write guest posts for other websites or purchase advertising on other websites to get out the word. Don’t give away everything in your articles, give just enough information to have the reader wanting to know more. You want them to purchase the full book! So don’t forget to mention the eBook and link to your website in each article.

To make things easy for customers, link your eBooks with your checkout process. Once a payment is processed, they should receive a link via email to automatically download the product. It might seem daunting to tackle writing an eBook but start small and work your way up to larger projects.   

A Cooking Adventure for Couples

Looking for date ideas to share with your partner? One idea is to plan a romantic cooking adventure. It will allow you both to learn different kinds of cuisines, give you a project to collaborate on, and it will be a lot of fun! Keep your camera close by because you’ll want to add these memories to your web photo album.

How to Set Up the Date

You will need a few days during the week to complete your adventure. Scheduling it for every Monday and Wednesday, or every Saturday puts it on your calendar and makes it something to look forward to. On that night, you'll learn together how to cook one or two dishes from a specific kind of cuisine. One night could be sushi rolling or another night could be making fresh pasta from scratch. The basic idea is to select new meals that neither of you know how to make and learn it together.

You’re sure to have a lot of good (or maybe not so good!) food, laughter, and fun. You can take pictures while you’re cooking and after to remember the night. Create a special web photo album to store all the images from these evenings. You may want to include links to or typed directions of the recipes you used.

Who’s The Boss? 

For each evening designate who will be the lead chef and who is the sous chef. This can create an interesting dynamic for couples. One day one person is in charge and the next, the tables are turned! Having this division also helps keep things moving along. The job of the lead chef is to make most of the decisions like choosing the recipes, deciding where and which ingredients to buy, and direction in the kitchen. While the sous chef assists the chef in every step along the way.

Getting Started 

Before embarking on this challenge make a list of the different dishes that you've both always loved but never thought you could learn how to cook. Maybe you’ve always loved French food but making sauces is just overwhelming. You may have cast aside the thought of ever learning!  Taking the time to learn together will show you what you’re capable of alone and as a couple.

If you’re feeling like you’re not ready to try making things alone, look for local cooking classes that you both can enroll in. There are also a lot of YouTube videos that can walk you through recipes. Most importantly don’t be afraid to try!

Open Your Doors and Your Table

After you’ve mastered a few recipes together and are confident with your skills why not invite over others to join the fun. Invite others to cook with you and turn the cooking nights into a small gathering with friends. Or you could simply invite friends or family over for a dinner party to showcase your new skills. This can be an even bigger challenge for you as a couple.

10 Tips for Your New Pet

Getting a new pet is a big decision and a lot of responsibility. But, it is also a fun and rewarding experience for adults and children. Once you’ve made the decision and purchased a new pet consider some of these tips as you learn how to be a new pet parent!

1. Diet. It’s important that your new pet has the right nutrition through all stages of life. Do plenty of research online to discover what they need and be sure to talk with your veterinarian continuously as the animal grows so the right changes can be made.

2. Behavior. Some animals like lizards or birds require very little work when it comes to behavior. However if you have a new puppy or kitty there may be more effort involved. You may want to take your animal to behavior classes so that they can be trained how to act appropriately.

3. Medical Health. It’s very important that your animal receive the necessary care and attention it needs from a medical professional. Regular vaccinations and other treatments may be needed. Schedule these appointments as you would for a family member or child. It’s very important they happen regularly and on schedule.

4. Memories. Very quickly your animal will grow and you’ll forget what it was like. Create a special web photo album to save your pet memories. Begin taking pictures when they first became a part of your family and document their growth along the way! Soon your online photo galleries will be full of photos of your new pet.

5. Legal Documents. In many towns and cities animals are required to be registered. Be sure that you follow all local and state laws regarding which animals you can own and what documentation is needed for the animal.

6. Weather. Before you purchase a pet you should have done some research on the type of climate that animal lives in and whether they will be best suited to living where you do. For example a parrot may not be the best choice for someone that lives in Alaska. Even if your pet is a good fit for your climate it needs special attention when there are extremes like a heat wave or cold snap. Protect your animal from the elements as much as possible.

7. Poisons. Different animals react differently to foods and other elements. You should know what is dangerous for pet and take extra care to keep it out of the home and away from them.

8. Emergency Numbers. Just like with humans you need to know who to call in case there is an emergency. Be sure to have numbers to your veterinarian, animal hospital, and local animal shelter on hand. This way if your pet is sick or goes missing you immediately know who to call and won’t have to waste time searching for numbers.

9. Space. You’ll need to have enough space for your new pet. Some animals only take up a small space, like a cage. However others need a lot of space. Even animals of the same species have different needs so be sure you give them exactly what they need.

10. Love. Most of all give your pet the love and attention it needs!

6 Tips for Backyard Camping

Summer is here and that means lots of picnics, swimming, and vacations. If you find yourself a little strapped for cash this year, don’t fret. You can still enjoy the season without breaking the bank. One fun way to “take a vacation” is to set up a tent in your backyard and go camping! This is an inexpensive way to make memories to fill your online photo galleries, relax, and enjoy summer. Here are six ways to get started.

1. Set a Date. Yes this seems obvious but like all vacations if you fail to put it on the calendar chances are it simply won’t happen. Treat this just like a vacation where you’re headed out of town to ensure you have everything completed so you can enjoy your time. Take care to get everything out of storage ahead of the big campout. You may want to double check the weather too!

2. Meal Plan. What’s a campout without food? Sure you have your kitchen right inside but make this as real of a campout as possible. Set up a portable fire pit or use an in ground fire pit if you have one. Plan to cook your food over the fire just like you would if you were away cooking. Don’t forget to have plenty of marshmallows on hand for roasting.

3. Games. Shut down all of your technology and instead play games, sing songs, or share stories. This is a great time to disconnect and enjoy the people around you. What are some of your favorite outdoor games? Horseshoes, bean bag toss, and Frisbee are just a few ideas. You could create giant soap bubbles with your kids, build an obstacle course, take a photo walk and see who ends up with the best online photo gallery, or have relay races. The options are really endless.

4. Capture the Event. When you go somewhere on vacation you always make sure to bring your camera to capture the memories – well don’t forget your camera for a backyard campout! Sure you’re not somewhere exotic but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to remember this time. Create a new web photo album to share your summer at home. Who knows maybe you’ll inspire other family and friends to stay closer to home the next time they’re planning a vacation.

5. Don’t let the Fun Stop in the Dark. When night falls don’t crawl into the tents just yet! Spend some time star gazing or playing flashlight tag! Enforce a no bed time rule and let kids play until they fall asleep on their own. That’s what vacation is for right?

6. Rise and Shine. Good Morning! You made it through the night! Cook a hot breakfast over the coals or pack everyone up and head to your favorite breakfast restaurant to enjoy a hot meal. Even the cheapest vacation deserves a little bit of a splurge!

Now that your vacation is done have everyone help pick up the camp and pack it away until next time. Or, make a full weekend out of the backyard camping adventure. Just don’t forget to upload your pictures to your online photo galleries when it’s all said and done!

How to Select a Photographer for Your Family Portraits

You have to make a lot of choices every day, so when it comes time to pick who will take your family pictures it can seem easy to just choose the photographer with the lowest rates and run with it. You might luck out and get great pictures, or you could have sunk your money into a waste of time. To make your decision easier, here are some tips to find the best photographer to add to your web photo album.

What kind of credentials do they have?

There’s no official licensing that makes someone a professional photographer but there is training that photographers take. Does the person have a degree in photography? Have they taken any courses in photography? Some people are self-taught and naturally good. They should have a portfolio of work available and references you can contact. Do it if you’re unsure. Find out what the experience was like for that person and if their situation is similar to yours.

How long have they been working?

If the person is a relatively new photographer that is still building their photo galleries, then you may be able to get a better deal if you’re willing to take the chance. Maybe they did a different type of photography. If someone was a commercial product photographer they may have the technical skills to take photographs but that doesn’t mean they’ll be a great portrait photographer.

What is their Style?

You want to find a photographer that matches your style. Does the person shoot in a studio or do they prefer to work outdoors? Are they willing and able to shoot off the cuff or do they prefer to always use a tripod. Do they like kids or not? Do they prefer a natural feel or a more posed feel? Flipping through their portfolios will give you a good idea of their style and you should take the time to do this. Ask them lots of questions on their style as well as ideas they have for you and your family.

Are they invested?

Some photographers are very busy and crank through clients. While others may still be busy but take their time to get to know you and what you want. Chances are you’ll want the latter. They should spend time getting to know you and what you really want out of your photographs. This is a major investment and a good photographer recognizes this. They should want to form a relationship where you’ll come back for newborn portraits, special occasions like graduation and wedding photographs instead of just a one off opportunity.

Sometimes it will cost you more to get good quality. This is an investment and you should be prepared to pay a good photographer well for their time and expertise. Interview several different photographers that fit into your budget range and keep an eye out for any specials your photographer of choice may offer. You could get in on something great!