Search Results for: blog taking great pictures outdoors

Summer Shooting in the Great Outdoors

Summer weather is finally here; time to celebrate with outdoor family adventures. Whether it’s a trip to the beach, a picnic at the park or a backyard barbeque with family and friends, there’s no time like the present to get your camera out of hibernation and start shooting a slew of summer memories. However, before you take aim in the great outdoors, there are a few tips to remember so that your photos don’t come back underexposed, overexposed or blurry. For starters, most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a preset white balance setting. If you are shooting on a cloudy day, … Continue reading →

More Tips to Consider When Shooting Outdoors

It’s summer and there is no better time than now to take as many outdoor shots as possible. Whether you are capturing your daughter’s first swim lesson or your son’s first t-ball game you want to make sure you get the best photos possible. And since these summer activities take place in the great outdoors it’s important to learn how to use the sun to your advantage. For example: FLASH Turn off your flash. This is especially important if you have a moderate priced point and shoot digital camera off. Most cameras in this category have overpowering flashes that turn … Continue reading →

Tips to Remember When Shooting Outdoors

If you are going to experiment with outdoor shooting techniques now is the time to do so. Summer is when most families spend the bulk of their days in the great outdoors and snap happy parents are getting a workout trying to capture all of their children’s adventures with their cameras. To avoid spoiling those spectacular outdoor summer shots (who wants a ton of shots featuring squinting faces or raccoon eyes?) consider following these tips: MADE IN THE SHADE When the sun is blazing seek out shade. Not only will the light be softer, but you will also avoid having … Continue reading →

Family Travel: Taking Your Children To A Strawberry Farm

I was going to title this blog “A Trip To The Strawberry Farm—A Parent’s Survival Guide,” but I didn’t want to send the wrong message. Yesterday my 3-year-old daughter and I finished off the last two pieces of a very tasty strawberry rhubarb pie. It was a pie we made together with the fresh strawberries we picked earlier this summer at our local berry farm. (I froze a few pounds and have been adding them to recipes throughout the summer.) Nothing says summer than fresh strawberries, right? That was my thinking about two months ago when I loaded my daughter … Continue reading →

Taking Fantastic Beach Pictures

Beach pictures are one of the most common type captured by photographers. Beaches are commonly the site of family vacations, weddings, honeymoons, intimate getaways, etc. Beaches are beautiful, that is why they are so often photographed. Beaches are also the site of many common photography mistakes. Here’s how to avoid them! First of all, avoid clichés. You don’t want beach pictures that look the same as every other beach picture out there. Forget the standard sunset shot….buy a postcard for that. Don’t make the mistake of taking a picture of the posed family members with the shadows blocking out their … Continue reading →

Perfecting Summer Shots

What’s your idea of the perfect summer shot? Is it a photo of your children frolicking in the whitewash during your annual trip to the shore? Maybe it’s a picture of your pup cooling off in the sprinkler. Or, perhaps, your ideal image is capturing a brilliant sunset as it dips below the horizon. For me, it’s any shot of my daughter chowing down on summer picnic food, from red, ripe watermelon to juicy mangos, a dripping ice cream cone or a super-sized hot dog. However, I’ve learned from experience that whether she is licking a Popsicle or inhaling a … Continue reading →

Park It

Spring is the perfect time to become one with nature. After a long winter battling cabin fever, now is your chance to bond with family and friends in the great outdoors. The United States is teeming with picturesque parks that make for amazing vacation destinations, including: Shenandoah National Park Located in Virginia, Shenandoah National Park features uncompromising beauty that will take your breath away. Set within one of the country’s most famous natural playgrounds, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park offers a plethora of family-friendly activities, including hiking, biking, fishing and camping. The park is especially noted for its … Continue reading →

In the Dark

In my neck of the woods sunset is at 7:12 p.m. For now anyway. Whereas I don’t enjoy losing an hour of sleep when we spring ahead, there is something to be said about the extra hour of sunlight in the evening. The later sunset, coupled with the record-breaking high temperatures we’ve been blessed with the past couple of weeks have made it look and feel a lot like summer in the middle of March. Our neighborhood sure looks like summer. Kids are running around in shorts, parents are out sprucing up their yards and I’ve finally been able to … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Vacation Snaps

Where will you be spending your spring break? Whether you plan to drive to the beach, jet-off to a ski resort or opt for a more affordable staycation, you’ll want to capture all of the action with your digital camera. Family trips provide amazing photo ops and even better images that can be placed in digital frames, shown off on Facebook or inserted into a traditional album or fancy scrapbook. Of course, you’re not going to be able to brag about your trip unless you produce stellar shots. In order to capture memorable pictures of your family’s spring break adventures … Continue reading →

Softening the Look of Your Shots

You don’t need to drain your wallet purchasing a high-end DSLR and loads of expensive accessories in order to snap photos with a soft appearance. The eye-pleasing look can be achieved by following these simple tips: Manipulate Light: When it comes to capturing images with a soft appearance, lighting is a major factor. Before you start shooting, adjust the brightness of your camera’s flash so it won’t cause harsh shadows on your subject’s face. One trick is to combine a soft flash with natural light to create a smooth, soft look. Another option is to use a light diffuser. Whether … Continue reading →