29 For the First Time

Picture Quilt

Photography Links

For the past six weeks I have had the chance to take a photography class that I have absolutely loved! I have owned an SLR and have learned here and there but have never "studied" it. It's something that I have really wanted to learn more about for a really long time. I have found myself the last few weeks thinking about it, a lot; rule of thirds, still life, candid vs. portrait, white balance, poses, ways to get natural light in the house, food pictures, the list goes on and on.

I was pretty excited about last weeks assignment, portraits. I thought I would share.
(Remember, I'm just learning and I don't have a very fancy camera.)

I have found myself reading online and in books in most of my spare time. There are such great articles and posts out there that are available to anyone that wants to learn! Everyone could use a few tips on how to get better pictures because we are all taking them, right? With Halloween parties, darling kids in costumes, and beautiful fall leaves and sweaters we all could be taking some precious and priceless pictures and maybe even do a little better with some tips.

Here a few of my favorite photography sites that have some great tips and tricks about taking pictures.

Click It Up A Notch

Digital Photography School

Picture Correct

Kodak. com

Better Photo .com

Lacy Davis Photography- Great article on what to wear for pictures.

A really good tip with taking pictures is to do a search on poses before you take pictures and find a few you want to use before you go out to take some pictures. For instance if you want to take some pictures of your kids in their costume type 'kids in costumes' in a search engine and see what you like and don't like. After finding what I like I even put them in a word file and print them out so I have them on hand when I am taking pictures.

Do you have a site you like and have found helpful? Please share!

Capturing Grandma

My kids are SO blessed to have so many grandparents! They have 3rd and even 4th generation grandparents that they get to know. I am not sure how long each one of them will be around. I wish forever, but I know that things don't work that way. I want my kids to remember how great all of them are, and how much each one of them LOVES and adores them.

I want my kids to be able to look back when they get older and have a photograph help trigger a memory, a thought. Something that they can see, smell, and remember.  I want them to remember that they have a big support group cheering, hollering and rooting for them. They are not alone; they weren't when they came and they aren't when those tough times come.

Some of the best pictures of my kids are capturing them when they are having fun. I had planned a game trail at a couple grandma's houses. In advance I took a game to their house along with a treat for the end for the grandma's to hand out. We gathered up the kids and took them to their first stop. Grandma was waiting with the game set out. The kids had a blast and so did the grandma's. I also was able to capture some of these great memories through photographs as well.

Here are some tips to capturing great pictures of your kids with their grandparents:

Lighting: Outside in the shade is the perfect place to take pictures. If you are doing them inside, take them in a room that is lit up with natural light.

Angle: I tried to focus in on the Grandma's faces. If they are playing games most likely they will be in a circle. I wanted to show how happy these Grandma's were playing with the kids.

Get close: If you take a high mega pixel shot you can crop in close, but if you are not don't be afraid to get in there. Most cameras do a great job with blurring the back ground when you get up close and take a picture. Don't let your camera capture to much back ground as that is not what you are trying to capture and it drowns out your focus.

Grandma playing chase.

What do you get when you go to Grandmas? Root beer and ice-cream.

I can't wait to do this with the rest of these special grandparents!

Outdoor Week: Photo Tips

As I was thinking about outdoor week I thought of two things; camping and photography.  For a long time now I have wanted to be a photographer, but I only have a simple point and shoot camera.  One day I will have an awesome camera, I promise.  I absolutely LOVE pictures of nature.  I love being outside and enjoying this beautiful earth that we have been given.  I thought I would share some of my tips for taking good pictures outside.

Oahu, Hawaii

The first thing you have to remember is your camera.  This may seem obvious but you have no idea how many times I have been without my camera and the perfect picture comes along.  I have a small camera that I keep in my purse at all times.  It is just a point and shoot but I think it works pretty well.  All of the pictures in this post were taken with the same point and shoot camera.  The next thing you have to remember is an extra set of batteries.  Yet again, many times with a dead camera!! So frustrating.  



Hawaii/My backyard

All of the pictures above were taken using the my macro setting on my camera.  This setting is great when you want to get up close and personal with your subject.  I really like to use the macro setting when I am taking pictures of plants and flowers.  I am amazed at the detail I can accomplish with just my simple camera.



Maui, Hawaii

Another thing I love to get pictures of are sunsets.  Both of the sunset pictures above were taken in Hawaii.  Now the lovely location might have something to do with the outcome of the pictures, but I think they turned out incredible!  I love scoping out new locations to take sunset pictures.  Don't you just love that tree silhouette?  The sun shining through turned out amazing.  The next tip is to take as many pictures as you can.  Thank goodness for digital, right?!  The more you take the better chance you have of getting a really good picture.



Clockwise from left; Moab, UT; Oceanside, CA; Bear Lake, UT; My backyard (cute puppies!)

 Even though nature scenes are my favorite to photograph.  You definitely have to document your vacations with pictures of you and the people you are with.  My husband always complains that all of our vacation pictures are of just him,  I told him that is because he never takes pictures, it is just me!  The next tip is to learn how to work your timer on your camera.  This helps so much when there is just the two of us.

I found a few places online that have some awesome tips for taking pictures.  Martha Stewart has five simple tips that are good to keep in mind.  Photo.net has 10 tips to improve your vacation photos when using a point and shoot camera.  Both of these sites are awesome! 

Do you have any tips you would like to share?  We would love to hear them.