Taking a Solo Summer Camping Trip

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

Your First Time Camping Alone?

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

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

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

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

Make It an Unforgettable Experience

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

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

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

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

Preserving Old Photographs

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

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

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

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

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

Prepare For Roadside Emergency

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

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

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

Some items for your car kit can include;

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

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

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

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

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

Make Lunch Fun This School Year

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

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

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

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

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

How to Take Great Outdoor Pictures

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Planning a Picture Perfect Picnic

Do you want to pack a picnic worthy of the coveted cover shot for your web photo album? It's much easier than you might think. Taking a little time to plan and select items to complete  your delicious food will ensure a picture perfect event you won't soon forget.

First, decide how many people will be in attendance and what if any food and drink restrictions they may have. Create a list to keep on hand as you menu plan and shop so that you don't forget. Next make a menu plan. What you pick for food may depend on the time of day for your picnic and the time of year. Try to choose foods that can be kept at room temperature instead of items that must be kept cold or hot. It is difficult to regulate temperatures when you are outside and you don't want to deal with the hassle of keeping lots of ice at hand or finding electrical plugs to keep things hot. One other consideration is to choose foods that can be eaten with hands instead of needing utensils. This is not the time or place for fancy items! Sandwiches, food on sticks, cut up fruit and vegetables, and dips are good ideas.


After you have the menu set it's time to consider the presentation. For a traditional picnic gather plenty of blankets to lay on the ground. You may also want to first cover the ground with a tarp.  Nothing will ruin a picnic faster than a soggy bottom! Next find some cushions to lean or sit on. Outdoor dinnerware, cups, and utensils that coordinate are a nice touch. You may decide to arrange some low tables with pitchers and cups for drinks. A radio or MP3 player with some soft music is a nice touch. If the picnic will stretch into the evening, have some lights like candles or tiki torches to provide light and keep away insects.

If your picnic will be  held in a park pavilion or another structure, you can be a bit more inventive. You may have access to electrical outlets so that some more hot items can be included in your menu. If your guests have tables to sit at, the food choices can be a bit more creative and use more utensils.

During the picnic invite your attendees to take pictures with a digital camera you provide. You can always curate the photos taken and shared for your web photo album. Consider setting up an outdoor photo booth with props to dress up. You won't be stuck as the photographer throughout the event and will still have lots of pictures to remember the event.

When you're finished encourage everyone to help clean up by providing plenty of garbage and recycling receptacles. To thank them for a nice evening, send thank you cards with a link to your online photo galleries with pictures from the event. It may take a little more  planning and work to set up a picnic party in comparison to a house party but it's one sure way to have lots of unique memories.

3 Cheap Summer Vacation Ideas

If you want to take a vacation this summer you don’t have to plan for a far flung getaway. There are many ideas that will cost much less and still guarantee you will have a lot of fun and a chance to escape your day to day life. Making long lasting memories to share and preserve in your online photo galleries is right around the corner!

Here are three ideas for the kinds of vacations you can take.

Camping

This is THE summer vacation isn’t it? All you need is a tent or two (or even borrow one from a friend or family member). Invest a little money in food, an expense you would have at home anyway, and rent a camping spot. Kids will love sleeping outside, cooking over the campfire and maybe even swimming in the lake. Who knows it might become a regular family activity!

Take a Road Trip

If you have a large family you know driving is cheaper, often much cheaper than flying. It also gives you the chance to enjoy the journey and see things you’d otherwise be flying over. Take lots of pictures along the way for your web photo album.

Try to make frequent stops. Kids can get a little antsy if they're asked to sit in a car for many hours at a time. If you can find fun things to do every few hours rather than drive for long distances at a time, that'll go a long way towards preserving your sanity.

Visit a Family Member

Today’s families are spread out all over the world. Get in touch with some of your family members and see if they would be open to a visit. Hopefully they’ll be willing to open their home and allow you to stay with them. Not only will you be able to have a nice visit, your kids will have the chance to get to know this part of their family and the place where they live.

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!

Tips to Capture Wedding Memories

It's one of the most memorable days of your life but the time goes by very quickly and without a good plan and an excellent photographer those memories may fade faster than you would like. Along with creating photo galleries after the event here are a few ideas to make sure your big day is documented and remembered for years to come.

1.Hire a Good Photographer. It is really true that in most cases you get what you pay for. Begin looking for a photographer well ahead of your big day and get to know them. Make sure they share your vision and you're clear on what they will do leading up to, on your wedding day, and deliver afterwards so there are no surprises. If you can't afford a professional photographer talk to friends who may be amateur photographers or get recommendations for photographers that might work for an exchange. If you have a skill or service to offer they may be willing to trade or give you a discount.

2.Encourage Guests to Take Pictures. Your photographer can't capture everything and some candid shots from your guests may end up being your favorites.  Create a web photo  album that has access for guests to upload their pictures after the event. This way you can have all of the images in one place.

3.Think Outside the Box. There are standard pictures that are taken at every wedding but if you want something different discuss this with your photographer and come up with some new ideas. Think of things that are important to you and your fiancé and what captures your personalities.

4.Take the Pictures. Even if you think you don't want the hassle of posing for pictures you may look back in a few years and wish you had spent more time documenting your wedding day. Parents and other loved ones may also want nice photos to remember.

5.For years ahead you will look back at your web photo album to see all the captured memories of your special day. 

Bedroom Organizing Ideas

Doesn’t it feel like when your bedroom is organized, your whole day starts out better?  Not only is it easier to rest, but you’ll feel more relaxed and peaceful when you come home. Let’s face it a room full of clutter is not comforting! It might seem daunting to tackle a disorganized and cluttered room but once you do, you’ll be much happier.

Toss the Trash

It should be so simple to toss the receipts and scraps of paper that quickly takeover the dresser but what if you’re saving them for tax time or need to return something? For those receipts you need, place them in a basket or box and regularly scan and upload them to an online web photo album. That way when it comes to be tax time you’ll have a digital record of your receipts. Regularly sort through your papers and toss out anything that you truly don’t need or have already been recorded. Keep a trashcan close by to make this task easy.

Have a barrage of photos laying around the bedroom? Why not create an online web photo album.

Revenge of the Clothing Piles

Dirty laundry should immediately go in the laundry basket and once it’s full don’t hesitate moving it to the laundry room. Once the laundry has been washed and dry fold it while taking it out of the dryer or place it on hangers. If you immediately put it away it will be out of sight and out of mind. Avoid the temptation to “do it later.” We all know that time rarely comes!

Closet Organizing 101

Are your dresser drawers cramped with clothes? Do you have a pile of shoes in the corner of your room or filling up the floor under your bed? Does your closet look more like a tornado came through than a cohesive space? If this is the case then you’re certainly not going to find a sense of peace in your room. Closets are a space to tuck everything away neatly so it’s not causing you unneeded stress. There are many different closet organizers available, just like there are lots of ways to set up your closet. Choose something that is simple and fits all of your needs. That way you’ll be most likely to use it properly! Not to mention that by hanging things up and keeping them tidy, clothes and other items will likely last longer.

Drop and Run

When you’re in a hurry it’s easy to toss things on the bed and run. How many times have you changed your shirt and left the first one at the end of the bed? Or last nights’ jeans sitting on the bedspread after you crawled under the covers? Take the extra minute to put things in the proper space to keep your living space nice and neat.
By keeping your room organized and clean you will be on your way to a more restful nights’ sleep. Not only that you may discover you enjoy spending time with your loved one in the bedroom or time alone relaxing in your room.

Craft Ideas Using Pictures

Your online photo galleries are overflowing with images that you have been taking over the years. Sure you open up the files and look at them from time to time and maybe even print some. But there are some fun crafts that you and your kids can do using these pictures!

Picture Puzzles
Let your kids pick out some of their favorite pictures and print them out in a large size. Place the picture onto a hard object like cardboard or even an old cereal box. Then cut out the shapes into a puzzle. Kids will have a blast putting the picture back together!

Family Coloring Book
Take some of your favorite pictures and resize them to a sheet of paper. Adjust the balance so that it displays as a sketch. You can do this on most photo editing programs. Print and color!

Magnets
Magnets are quick and easy to make. Simply purchase heavy duty magnets and hot glue. Select the images that you like and adjust the size. You will likely need to back them with something sturdy before cutting them out – like cardboard. Glue magnet to the back and you’ve got unique magnets!

Calendars 
Every year you might sink a big chunk of money into a new wall calendar. Use your own images to make them this year. This also makes a great gift. Pick a different picture for each month and have them printed at a copy shop or through an online company. You’ll typically be able to do this for less than purchasing a calendar and if you order several get a discount too.

So don’t let those web photo albums sit full of unused images! There are plenty of ways to make use of your pictures. Plus, you’ll enjoy them much more when you can see them

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! 

Budget Dorm Decorating

Heading to college this year? It’s an unwritten rule that dorm rooms are boring. Typically the 12 x 12 boxes are plain with bad lighting and if you’re lucky you have a bed and a desk – oh and maybe a closet too. But think of it is a blank canvas to add your own touch to. Start by creating a web photo album now with ideas of styles you like. You can pull up the images while you’re shopping to get inspiration and find the right pieces for your room.

You won’t be able to paint your walls, but you can add reusable decals, posters, or other wall art. Add the items that speak to you – but don’t forget you may need to check with your room mate before you go overboard. If you want to make an investment your bed may be the place to do it. Dorm beds are not known for being comfortable. Buy some bedding that you love, throw pillows, and maybe an accent rug to dress things up.

Ask if you’re allowed to loft your bed. Make sure to include images in your online photo galleries that show rooms in this style. You’ll get a lot more room by raising your beds. Don’t forget storage is at a premium so buying organizers or a dresser is something to consider.

Floor lamps and mirrors are a few other pieces that can really make your dorm feel homier. Don’t forget to bring items which remind you of your family or life at home. Pictures and plants are a few things that may help you with homesickness but also make your dorm feel more like a home than a hotel room. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to achieve these things. Watch sales during the summer and hit up thrift sales to find great deals.

Creating Books Using Your Images

Have loads of pictures taking up your online photo galleries? Why not turn them into a book? There are many services that will help you turn your digital pictures into a printable photo album but what I’m talking about is a little different. There are many ways to take web photo album to physical book. Here are some great ways.

Alphabet Board Book

If you have a little one you can create a unique board book that will not only help them learn their alphabet but also recognizing family members or other objects. Purchase a board book, they’re often sold at craft stores or can be purchased online. Then scale and print the images you’ll be using. Use craft seal to adhere them to each page. You can either hand write or print each alphabet letter onto the picture. Try to have them correlate to something in the picture. Let the book dry and you have a unique and wonderful book!

Picture Book

Have you looked at the cost of picture books lately? A hardcover book can easily cost $20+.  Instead why not make your own? Take a series of images, maybe it was your last trip to the zoo or vacation. Sequence them together and add text onto the pictures just as you would find in a picture book. Print and have it bound or do it yourself. Your child will have a truly unique book. If your children have names that aren’t often found in books this can be a great way to give them a story that has a character with the same name!

There are lots of other ways to turn your images into books. In fact you may be able to sell your creations to publishers or others looking for something similar! A great money making opportunity to consider. 

Be Prepared For an Emergency With The Proper Tools

When an emergency or disaster strikes, people often first think about the manual labor they’ll need to do to deal with the situation.  Clearing trees, branches, dirt, snow, ice, and debris from your yard or living area may be your first chore after a disaster.  It’s impossible to prepare for every emergency imaginable, but if you know the types of possible natural disasters that can happen, you can plan and prepare wisely for those events. This preparation includes having the right tools available. This includes preparing all your documents for an emergency by putting them somewhere like a web photo album.

You may have to move around to different locations to help yourself or others, so it’s a good idea to have some lightweight, multi-use tools on hand. You'll find many styles on the market that provide several functions in a single tool.  A basic list of tools for emergency use would include:

• Shovel
• Hammer
• Handsaw
• Utility knife
• Crowbar
• Wire Cutting Pliers
• Wrench
• Flashlights

You may have many of these tools already.  However, the problem with relying on tools that you use every day, is that they may not be with your emergency preparation gear when the time comes that you need them.

Instead of having them scattered all over your property, store your tools with your emergency disaster supplies. This may make the regular use of these tools a bit frustrating, so it may be worth the investment to buy an extra set of the items.

Consider purchasing emergency specific tools to avoid the headache. In the short term, this may seem like a waste of money.  You don’t have to go out and buy everything brand new. Look at garage or estate sales to buy second hand items that are in good condition. Most people do take some time to build up their safety “bank” because to do so overnight would be too much of a financial drain.  Be frugal and fit tools into your family budget by checking out the resale and thrift shops too.

Tools may not be first and foremost on your mind when thinking about planning for an emergency. But don’t limit yourself to tools for manual labor. You also need tools to manage your documents and other important materials. Online photo galleries are a great way to save precious items that can easily be destroyed by the elements. In the event of a natural disaster, you will have all of the tools in place to help remove debris or clear paths. You’ll also have the tools in place to recover important documents like your homeowners insurance policy. If you don’t like the idea of having these document online invest in a safety deposit box to keep everything safe.

As you can see, tools are very important to survival in the short term as well as in the long term. You may think it will never happen to you but it’s simply impossible to predict what will happen. 

Tips for Capturing Motion Shots

One of the most difficult images to catch is of people and things in motion. From sporting events to race car events and everything in between, no one wants to end up with photo galleries full of blurry images. It’s not a secret that you’ll need to practice to get the pictures you want but with some effort you’ll fill your album in no time.

1. Focus elsewhere. Don’t’ just focus on the action at hand. For example instead of focusing on the action of running, move your focus to the expression on the runner’s face, or a glimpse at another racer over the shoulder. Get creative and look for ways to capture the moment without needing to directly capture the motion at hand.
2. Shoot close. If you have a long lens it will be helpful in situations where you don’t have direct, close access. The closer you can get the better your images will be.
3. Rapid Shooting. Most cameras have settings that will take multiple pictures over a period of time. Set your camera on a tripod, and anticipate where the shot will go and set it to rapid shot. You won’t use all the images but you’ll have a better chance at capturing one!
4. Shoot wide. Just like shooting close brings emotion into the photograph, shooting wide expands the focus and brings in a different feel. Having a broad view can also help your viewers get a feel for the overall environment.
5. Angle. Adjust the angle you’re shooting from. Instead of straight on try shooting up or shooting down.

Not everyone will have a great web photo album full of action shots but when you work on some of these techniques and use a little creativity and innovation you’ll be on your way to live action success! 

What to Look for When Selecting a Web Photo Album Program

Not all things are created equal and web photo albums and online photo galleries are no exception to the rule. If you’re interested in creating your own albums then spending some time finding the right program is important. Here are a few things to look for;

Ease

How easy is the program to use? Can you upload multiple images at one time or can you only add a single image at a time. If you have many pictures than having a bulk upload option is going to save you a lot of time and hassle.  You’ll also want to know how easy it is to share your images and get the images out of the albums for things such as printing or sharing on social media.

Cost

This is the bottom line for many people. Before deciding understand all of the costs of a program, even if it’s free. Is it truly free or are you given a certain amount of space for free and then required to purchase more space. This might not be a problem for some but for other people this may not be desirable.

Limits

How many web photo albums are you permitted to create and what is the maximum number of pictures that can be in any album? Having a small number now may not seem like an issue but when you’re trying to save your 1000 holiday images and only allowed 500 it can be a big issue.

Security

What types of policies does the company have in place to protect your photo galleries? Read the agreement very carefully to make sure that it is completely in line with how you want your images to be accessed and potentially used. If you have any questions call before signing up and adding your pictures. You’ll also want to know what kind of backup policies they have so that your pictures and information aren’t lost. 

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.

4 Ways to Use Online Photo Galleries in your Office

You’re familiar with having picture frames and maybe even albums in your office, but what about web photo albums FOR your office? There are lots of web sharing options and apps available for every purpose but sometimes all you need is a simple way to share images across the office. This is why using online photo galleries can be so powerful. Today’s companies are spread over large spaces, and often include many people who telework from home. They need a way to share without having to come into the office.  Here are a few ideas.

Share Project Documents

How many times have you been working on a project with another team or even a single individual and needed a piece of information or an image that they have on their computer. Today more and more people telework making it much more difficult than just walking down the hall to retrieve the image. Create a web photo album for each project you’re working on and upload the shared documents there. This way both people have easy access to the information.

Create an Image File for Social Media Manager

Your social media manager plays a pivotal role in your organization. The role often needs input from all of the different departments, not just one. In order to provide them with stories and information to share, there needs to be a central repository to gather information. Create separate photo galleries for each department or team and be sure to keep it loaded with fresh images and information that they can pull from. This will make everyone’s job easier and keep the public and potential clients excited and interested in what is going on at your office.

Employee Directory

Do you have a large office this is spread out either on different floors, in different areas, or in different geographical locations? People don’t often have the opportunity to meet those who work with the organization. If they had a place to get to know people, or search for those with the skills they need for a project it might make the business run even better. Create an employee directory using a web photo album! Each person can share a brief biography in the comments and provide a contact email.

Integrate into Presentations

Studies have shown that more and more people gravitate to visual images instead of text. For your next project build up photo galleries to illustrate your points and highlight your findings instead of relying on a long-winded written report. Images can make any report stand out and have a bigger impact. When materials are available for everyone it makes creating these visually appealing components of a presentation easier.

These are just a few of the ways that businesses can use web photo albums to make their businesses work better. Whether you use a remote service or one that is only accessible via a private intranet connection, sharing means more than putting together photo galleries of your latest vacation. They truly can make day to day operations run more smoothly and effectively.