Search Results for: blog are you a snap happy parent1

Get Creative With Your Memories

How many photos did you snap of your Valentine’s Day celebration? Snap-happy parents likely have dozens of pictures of their little sweethearts bouncing off the walls after ingesting hardy helpings of chocolate hearts. In addition, there are probably many couples, who took advantage of the holiday to seal the deal on their relationship, or at least make the next step from dating to engagement. So, what should you do with all those amazing memories? You could display them in a digital frame, keep them in your phone for eternity, print them out and add them to a scrapbook, or select … Continue reading →

Tips for Taking Outdoor Photos of Your Kids

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If you’re taking pictures of your kids outside, there are a few things you can do to really make your pictures pop. My first tip has to do with the placement of the sun. Now most people make the mistake of having people look into the sun. The problem with that is it makes people squint and often casts unflattering shadows on their face. Ideally, you should make sure the sun is behind your subject or off to the side. The sun will highlight their hair and you can use a fill flash to brighten up their face if it … Continue reading →

Snap Photos WITH Your Kids

I’ve been taking pictures of my daughter since she was a few hours old, but rarely do we wield our cameras at the same time. My 6-year-old is a proud owner of her own digital camera, and this summer she has been putting it to good use snapping shots of the hydrangeas that border our patio, kids at the pool and numerous bugs she has collected. She loves getting up close to her subjects and using her body as a tripod. I love it too. Not only is she making the most of a fairly expensive camera, but also, she … Continue reading →

Do You Feel Obligated to Buy School Pictures?

There seems to be an unwritten equation when it comes to purchasing school photos: The more you buy = the more you love your child. In the old days (before the advent of digital technology) parents would purchase class photos sight unseen. Meaning whether your child’s photo made her look like a mini Cindy Crawford or Jack Nicholson in “The Shining,” you were stuck with whatever package you signed up for. These days some schools allow parents to view digital proofs of their student online and make their order selections based on what they see. Other schools, like my daughter’s, … Continue reading →

Tips for Taking Your Own School Pictures

Did you know that some schools allow parents to take photos of their children with their own cameras and submit them to be published in the yearbook? I had no idea. However, I’m not surprised that class photo day has come to this. After all, by handing off photography duties to parents, teachers have fewer squirmy kids to keep in line on picture day. If you are looking to cut costs on class photos or you simply can’t stomach shelling out hard earned cash for overpriced pictures of your kids that are far from frame worthy, then check with your … Continue reading →

Snapping School Photos

When I was in high school taking senior class photos was a big deal. Seniors were the only ones who had the privilege of appearing in the school yearbook in living color (the rest of the annual consisted of boring black-and-white shots). What’s more, the picture-taking sessions took place at a professional photo studio rather than in the corner of the school cafeteria. These days senior photo shoots are more elaborate than ever. Most professional photographers specializing in senior portraits offer packages that allow a student to choose from 15 to 40 different poses per session. In addition, students have … Continue reading →

Tips for Snapping Super Summer Photos at the Beach

Summer is here (unofficially) and that means many snap happy parents will be toting their cameras to the beach to snap frame worthy shots of their kids frolicking in the sand and surf. If you plan to document your kids surfing and sculpting sand, then consider the following tips: Bye-Bye Boring Shots: Liven up your scrapbook by taking action shots of your friends and family members. Bring a ball or a Frisbee to the beach, get a game going, and then snap away. Drop to your knees to get interesting angles of your loved ones in action. You can also … Continue reading →

Getting Rid of Clutter in Your Shots

When you view a prize-winning snap shot you are very unlikely to see a lot of needless clutter in the background. Unfortunately, dead space or undesirable objects often end up in many pictures taken by hobby photographers. The key to eliminating this unwanted space is to move in closer and position the camera in a way that cuts out the clutter or excess headroom. The challenge comes in deciding when to come in closer and when to step back. To find the answer first ask yourself whether the background is interesting enough to warrant being in the shot. Does the … Continue reading →

Photographing Your Family at a Theme Park

Think of the photo opportunities just waiting to be snapped at your favorite amusement park: your son’s first ride on the merry-go-round, your daughter posing with her favorite characters, your spouse dancing with a clown and your entire clan on a speeding roller coaster. If you are planning a family trip to an amusement park this summer, don’t forget your camera and once you are there consider the following tips to ensure you capture all the Kodak moments: Use your camera’s self-timer. I mentioned several photos ops in my opening paragraph, but don’t forget to get into some of the … Continue reading →

Your Dad’s Photo on the Cover of a Magazine

If you are looking for the perfect Father’s Day photo gift then you’ve come to the right place. While some men are more willing to admit it than others I doubt there are many dads out there who haven’t dreamed of seeing their photo grace the cover of a magazine. Some dads would kill to see their faces on the cover of Sports Illustrated or Golf Digest (or in my brother’s case—-SURFING Magazine). Heck, I know some dads who wouldn’t mind seeing their mugs on the cover of GQ magazine. Regardless of your dad’s preference in periodicals there is a … Continue reading →