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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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. 

5 Ways to Improve Your Pictures Today

Tired of taking fuzzy images? Do you always cut off someone’s head in the pictures you’re taking? Is your foreground always out of focus? Many people give up on photography and claim they’re simply no good. But, like all things taking good quality images takes practice. Photography is an art and you wouldn’t expect to sit down and recreate the Mona Lisa would you? Of course not! It would take many, many attempts and you still may not capture it. While you work on expanding your online photo galleries take these five ways to improve your images into consideration right away.

1. Read Your Manual and then Find More. How many of us actually read the instruction manual when we get something new? Not very many. But this is your best resource while you’re learning how to operate your camera. Read through it front to back and practice what it’s telling you. Make note of the things you don’t understand or remain unclear and then search for additional resources to learn from.

2. Take Pictures and Lots of Them. The only way you’re really going to get better is to take more pictures. You need to practice photographing many different things in different lighting and situations. Look for new angles; stand on a chair, lay on the ground, shoot through a window. Whatever you choose don’t just stick with what you know – challenge yourself!

3. Use a Tripod. This a small investment to make but can go a long way to taking better images. Tripods stabilize your camera and allow you to adjust the settings without moving the camera itself. Even a small movement can change the settings. Not an issue with the tripod.

4. Look for Natural Light. A photographer’s best friend is good light. The right natural light can really make for the best image possible. However you’re forced to work with the light you have. Use shade, shadows and even a low cost reflector to play with the light and frame your image. Learning how to use natural light will be very helpful should you decide to ever shoot in a photography studio.

5. Limit Yourself. Just like taking lots and lots of pictures will help you hone your skills limiting yourself can do the same. Why not give yourself a month long, photo a day project. Allow yourself to only take one image each day. You’ll need to really focus on getting the shot right because you’ve only got one! If you think you may cheat, why not revert back to a film camera for the experiment? That way you’ll really only be allowed one shot! This could be a really great project for a scrapbook or dedicated web photo album.

Having all the best photo equipment in the world makes no difference if you don’t have any idea how to use it. But taking small steps every day to improve your photography skills will have you on your way to becoming a talented photographer.

Technology Activities for Kids

Lots of of parents today are looking for ways to get their kids away from technology.  Everyone is so connected it is important to take a break. However technology can really aid with learning. Instead of completely eliminating technology activities consider allowing children set amounts of time for specific activities. This way you know what they're doing, how long it is for and can be sure it's of value as well. Educational games, research projects based around their interests and watching short, educational videos are a few technology based activities worth considering.

If you have an iPad or tablet, select and download the games you feel comfortable with. Don't allow any apps or games you wouldn't want them spending time on. When they are permitted technology time they can only choose from the items available to them.  What interests do they have? Let them do research and create a web photo album to document what they have discovered and learned or put together a slideshow to share. If you're planning a family vacation out each child in charge of researching a destination and present it to the family.

With a web photo album they can also track things they want to do with an online wish or bucket list.

Finally allow them a short amount of time to watch educational videos. You'll be able to find many on YouTube but be sure to supervise that that is the only thing they are watching. There are other video apps that only show educational videos as well. You might also consider free time where they are permitted to do as they choose for a specific time. Let them roll over their unused time to a large chunk if theres something they really want to do like play a long video game or watch a full length movie. You'll need to make adjustments to these suggestions based on your child's age and needs but setting good technology guidelines early will make things easier later on.

Create a Grab and Go Emergency Pack

What do you do as soon as an emergency strikes? What if you only had a few minutes to get the most important things to you and leave the house? Most of us wouldn’t know where to start and would be grabbing at straws. Instead create a pack that is stocked and ready to go in case of an emergency or sudden evacuation happens. You can even prepare your documents ahead of time by creating dedicated online photo galleries where your important documents and photographs are scanned and saved. Here are some tips for things to remember when planning your own family's emergency packs.

Each member of your household should have his/her own pack with essentials, plus any specific items they need.  If you have children, prepare the essentials for their packs first and then talk with them to discuss any special items they would also like to include – items like a stuffed animal for comfort can be just as important as emergency survival gear.

Purchase or find a durable backpack for each survival pack. If you have small children you won’t want to over pack their bags. They won’t be able to carry as much weight as an adult. You may have to walk a distance, so it's important to plan for this comfort. Backpacks with lots of pockets are very handy to separate and store specific items.

Some of the items you should make sure to include are;

Water - FEMA recommends that each person have 1 gallon of drinking water per day. It’s important to be sure everyone stays properly hydrated. You may struggle to find clean drinking water. One gallon of water is 128 ounces, which is about 6 to 8 store-bought bottles depending on the size of the bottles. You can purchase portable small filters and water cleaning tablets which will take up less space.

Food - Pack nonperishable airtight packaged food. Things like granola, trail mix, snack and protein bars, beef jerky, nuts, dried fruit, or individually canned meat along with a manual can opener are good ideas. Plan enough to last several days.

Clothes – You’ll want to have a few options including plenty of clean socks, underwear, thin layers of shirts, a windproof and/or waterproof jacket, and a hat.  In a disaster situation you may have to walk for long distances, so, if your budget allows, pack an extra pair of good walking shoes.

Shelter - If you have a small pop up tent, this is the best solution. Include one small roll of plastic sheeting in each person's pack to form a waterproof layer on the ground for sitting and sleeping just in case you need to sleep outdoors.

What else should you pack? 

Besides water, food, and shelter, there are essentials that everyone should have access to when an emergency situation occurs. You’ll want to have a notebook with a list of all of your important passwords to things like your web photo album. If you’ve scanned your important documents you’ll need access to them.

Copies of identification, or any other important papers you may need, in a Ziploc plastic bag or waterproof containers can be very important. Write out and laminate one card for each person with important information.

Pack each bag carefully and mark with each person’s names. Regularly evaluate and update your packs. In the event of an emergency evacuation, each person can easily see which pack is theirs and will be able to grab it. You may never need to put these packs to the test, but isn't it better to know that they are ready if you do?

Think Beyond Food and Water When Planning Your Emergency Kit

The first thing we often think of when it comes to preparing for an emergency is evacuating our homes without the usual comforts and where we’ll be able to find food and water. However, there are times when an emergency situation lasts longer than a day or two. In those cases other skills and needs emerge.  When you’re preparing for an emergency keep these things in mind.

Along with food and water, shelter is a basic need that should be put at the top of your list. It’s hard to know what kind of shelter you’ll need as you can’t be sure what the emergency is. Being prepared with a variety of materials and supplies that work in different situations is the way to go. Some things that may be helpful include; tarps, rope, nails, hammer, and a handsaw. If you have the means purchase a pop up tent or two for your family. Don’t forget you’ll also want documents related to your home.

Keep a hard copy in a waterproof folder or bag. You also can scan your home owner’s policy, rental documents, and anything else relating to your home to a web photo album. This will live online and be accessible wherever you end up.

Tools make life easier and when a disaster happens knowing you have these already on hand will make everything easier. Make sure to have plenty of things that will let you move debris and cut through materials that may have fallen on your home. Consider looking into purchasing lightweight, multi-use tools that can easily be taken in the case of an emergency evacuation.

Unless you’re facing a very short term evacuation or emergency you won’t be able to carry enough water with you. This is where a filtration system comes in handy. You don’t need a top of the line system but you will need something. A large pot can be your best friend by allowing you to boil water you’re able to acquire.

People often forget the little things that make day to day easier and more comfortable. While priority should be given to the items needed to survive having personal care products will make life in an emergency situation easier. Put together a kit with things such as toilet paper, soap, toothbrushes, lotion, shampoo, a hairbrush, feminine care products, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit. Even though they seem like basic everyday items it’s very easy to overlook adding them to a survival kit.

When thinking of personal effects saving your family photographs and important documents can be overlooked. Take the time to save everything to a web photo album before disaster strikes. While it may be sad to lose the original copies of heirloom photographs you can rest at ease knowing the photos aren’t lost forever and you can have new copies printed. The same is true for things like diplomas, certificates, and other paper artifacts that can easily be ruined in an emergency. 

Visual Trends Not to Ignore

Digital marketing is important for every business and every year it becomes more and more important. A large part of a good digital marketing strategy is having amazing visual content. This is nothing new. Remember the adage, “ a picture is worth a thousand words,” well it’s still true! People tire quickly of line after line of text – especially when a single image can convey the same thing. Some statistics show that;

• images on Facebook receive 53% more Likes, 104% more comments, and 84% more click-throughs on links than text alone. (Kissmetrics)
• images on Twitter increases retweets by 150% and click-throughs by 18% (Buffer)
• Research on the human brain shows that almost half of it is involved in visual processing. Not only that but we can interpret a visual image in one-tenth of a second.
• Images are shared more often and appeal to a wider audience than text alone. 

It’s pretty evident that the power of an image not only makes a difference with digital marketing but in general!

There are constant improvements being made with visual images – that means plenty of ways to beef up your web photo album! Some general trends to consider;

• Let personalities show through
• Consider using infographics to convey information that would otherwise be presented in standard text
• Use editing tools to create the best quality and most appealing images possible. 
• More and more people are accessing information via tablets and mobile phones where reading is more difficult – this makes the power and need for visuals even greater. 

Social networks are placing more and more emphasis on images, increasing sizes and giving them more weight. Be sure your images are resized to make the biggest impact. Don’t forget to keep fully loaded online photo galleries so that you or your social media manager can access all of the images that are available for use in your web photo album.