3 Things : playing with printing + a giveaway

I love photographing emotion. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to print mirrored journaling on 2 separate photos. Thanks for the boost I always get from the things you share!

My tip would be to always take your camera with you!! I have missed so many wonderful pictures because I forgot my camera.

I don't hand-hold my camera and shoot slower than the length of my lens. If I've got a 50mm lens, I don't use a shutter speed slower than 1/60 of a second. If I've got a 200mm lens, no slower than 1/250 of a second. If I want to shoot slower than that, I use a tripod.

I guess my most basic photo tip would just be to have it with you. I have mine ready in the car (the kids do funny things even when strapped in a car seat), at the grocery...and take lots of pictures

I need to work on getting more sleep :)
In picture taking I need to work on writing down the names and dates with each pix. Funny how easy it is to forget these details as the years roll on. Peace.

Hi Ali,
I love the vellum! A look that I have experimented with is printing my photos onto transparencies and then painting (on the back) with diluted acrylics. The vellum would be so much easier and I love the look of it over the lace cardstock.
I am really enjoying your words + photos week. For me, too, this is what it is all about.
Kelly

I love visiting your blog every day. You are so creative and seeing what you do re-inspires me to create and experiment. I love to edit photos to remove the color from all but certain details - makes the end product look somewhat like a hand-tinted photo. Then I print the edited photo on different papers (vellum is a favorite).

I have two tips. Turn off that flash. I turn it off all the time and get great results. And my second tip is to change your vantage point: get down low or way up high and don't be afraid to take shots over your shoulder. My fav. pic from our Disney vacation is of my 9YO who thought he was "too cool" for Disney. When he thought nobody was looking he had that look spread across his face of sheer wonderment. I happened to catch this out of the corner of my eye and rested my camera on my shoulder and snuck a shot. It's THE BEST photo ever!!! It's imperfect, I didn't get 100% of his face but it sure tells a story and preserved a memory. The other day I went for a walk with my 7yo and just held the camera out and started shooting. I got some great shots of us holding hands and some great shots of her face that I otherwise would not have had.

My favorite photography tip is to use natural light for stunning portraits. oh yeah, and to take LOTS of pictures.
Thanks for the giveaways,

My latest favorite thing to do with photos is to print them out onto index cards to make quick, cheap mini albums!

I just got the new Rebel XSi by Canon. I am excited to try out several different lenses on it. Mostly the 50mm. I love how the photos look so clear on the subject and blurry in the background. Can't wait to get the hang of it!

My photo tip is to take lots of pictures. I figure if I take a ton of pictures there has got to be a few of those that will capture what I am looking for!!! And if not there might be a portion of the picture that I can crop out and use!

A great tip given to me is when you photograph a moving object (our 4 year old) with a digital camara....press down the shutter button and hold and follow through with the subject. I've been practicing this and I'm getting some wonderful action shots.

I'd like to learn more about lighting conditions when photographing and how to find the best lighting for taking pictures. I seem to really struggle with having underexposed images that are super grainy. Maybe I just need a better digital camera.

My latest photo tip is to open up your lens as wide as it goes and shoot from your hip, hold it up high, hold it down low but shoot without looking through the eyepiece. Just fire away and see what fun perspectives you get;)

Hi Ali,
I love taking pictures but I need to figure out how to take clear photos in large rooms without the flash. I love the coloring better but I always end up with a slight blur problem. I'm looking forward to taking BPS Photography 101, and am hoping I can learn to capture the emotion of the situation/event I'm photographing and not just the surroundings. Your blog helps me with this, it really does!
The only tip I can share at this time is to have a camera with you much of the time. You never know when an opportunity to capture a moment will present itself! I try and keep my small Kodak in my purse for this purpose.
Thanks, Ali!
PAM

I recently decided I needed a camera small enough to carry in my purse at all times to capture those -if only I had my camera- moments. I now have a Canon PowerShot A590 digital on order!

My photo tip would be when taking pictures of people, especially your loved ones, get close. Lets see those beautiful freckles, the laugh lines, the adorable expressions both adults and children have.
I do know I treasure the close up shots of my family members who are know longer here on earth with me. Looking at the pictures I remember their personality, the good times we had and the love I feel for them.

I would like my two boys to work together for a great photo-without one or both complaining about having their picture taken! lol

As with some others, I don't use my flash, but need to work on the blur factor! I also somehow find I get better results with my pictures when taking them of things rather than people, but people (my kids) are my main subject these days, so I'm working on it and having fun in the process!
As for a tip, I would say experiment with perspective!!
Loved reading this! Thanks!