Maria’s days seemed to run together. She had a pile of laundry taller than Pike’s Peak and a department filled with employees anxious after hearing news of a merger. And her home life? She preferred to call the layers of chaos ranging from scattered toys to piles of unfiled paperwork: “evidence of past and current adventures.”

Her children were growing out of their clothes almost as soon as she purchased them, and the worry she carried in the back of her mind about all the things she still hadn’t gotten done nagged her worse than Aunt Francine. Dry cleaning? Needs to be picked up. Groceries? Always out of something. Oil change for the car? Definitely overdue.

Printing photos from digital camera?

Don’t even go there.

Once Maria decided to trade in her film camera for a digital model, she took more pictures than ever, excited about seeing them on the screen and enjoying the fact that she could view them immediately. She just didn’t expect to feel so lost when it came to what happened next. She had tons of great memories stored on her hard drive, tucked in various folders marked by a couple of random attempts at organization. She’d remember certain shots she wanted to print to send to her father or to frame for her home, but she could never get those tasks completed.

She loved all the benefits her digital camera provided, but she longed for simpler days when she could just drop off her film and get her pictures. At least with film, she could open up the shoebox and rummage through the pictures until she located the one she wanted.

Why couldn’t digital be this way?

–Excerpted From Digital Photography for Busy Women

Let’s face it. When it comes to juggling the countless tasks required of parents these days, it’s a miracle that our shoes match when we leave the house. As the mother of a first grader and young twin boys, I’m constantly looking for anything that promises to save a bit of time, or more important, my sanity. At first, digital cameras seemed to be one of those time savers—no more waiting for film to be processed to see the results and no more duplicate trips to the photo shop.

Alas, many find that’s where Easy Street ends.

Digital cameras allow us to take more pictures than ever, which means our hard drives are filling up faster than a kindergarten class at a candy factory. These silver gadgets also don’t seem to come with clear recommendations about what to do AFTER the pictures have been taken.

We’ve got digital pictures. Now what?

Here are a few tips designed to help you quickly find your favorites and protect them for the future:

Filter First: Whenever possible, make sure to delete the less-than-stellar shots before downloading the files to your computer. There are usually a number of other things going on when we’re in the midst of taking photographs, but whenever possible, scroll through the images as soon as possible and delete the blurry or off-center pictures. By doing this now, you’ll save yourself hard drive space and lots of time later when you start searching through your digital pictures. Save the best and delete the rest.

Creating Folders Before You Need Them: Consider creating folders for your digital pictures in the same way you create folders for your documents. For example, you may wish to create a ‘2007’ folder, and then create folders for each month or each season. Having these folders created ahead of time takes just a minute or two and will help you stay organized every time you download pictures since they’ll have a specific place to go.

Finding Your Favorites: When it comes to organizing your digital pictures, you’ll find that an image management program can be one of your best time-saving tools. While these programs range from extremely simple to complex and powerful, a little searching will give you several options from which to choose. Many programs will scour your hard drive and automatically organize your digital pictures by date (if your camera date and time settings are correct). This step alone will save you a tremendous amount of time.

You can find these programs by typing in ‘photo organizing software’ or ‘image management software’ in your favorite search engine. Many have free trial programs, which is a wonderful opportunity to try before you buy. Don’t forget to check the ‘About Us’ section to make sure the company has been around for awhile and has been reviewed by reputable PC or photo magazines. After all, we’re not going to trust your favorite memories to just anyone who can bang out a bit of code!

Basic Back-Up: This topic could fill several articles, so let’s just hit the basics. If you haven’t backed up your digital pictures recently (or at all), pick up some blank DVDs at the store. If you’d like to use the best media available, there are ‘gold archive’ grade media designed to better withstand the elements than traditional DVDs. The important thing, however, is that you start somewhere and make sure that you have your favorite pictures stored someplace other than just your computer’s hard drive. One-touch external hard drives are another easy alternative; they are quick to set up and are more affordable than ever.

Taking a couple of simple steps will mean less time searching for that memory and more time enjoying it!

***********************

Laura Oles is a photo industry journalist and the author of Digital Photography for Busy Women: How to Manage, Protect and Preserve Your Favorite Photos (Compass Trade Press, ISBN 0-9774727-2-8).

As the mother of three small kids, she spends so much time running that she’s considered asking Nike® for an endorsement. She is grateful her husband has a sense of humor.

Laura offers free information, checklists and tips on her website at www.gotdigitalpictures.com.

Season Moore has had an interest in photography for about as long as she can remember. That interest was piqued with her role as high school yearbook editor and again when a studio hired her as a photographer soon after graduation. “I worked closely with their experienced photographers and was just in awe of them. I traveled to schools all over the state of Georgia and would spend all day shooting cheesy, posed yearbook pictures. When I got lucky, I would get to go to a sporting event or dance and shoot candids. At that point I already knew where my real interest lay; not in posed or forced pictures, but in capturing real expression and moments as they happen.”

Season went on to work as a technical editor and web designer, but her two children renewed her interest in photography. “I would take my kids to chain studios only to have an stressful experience that usually resulted in crying kids (and sometimes parents!) and I realized that there had to be a better way.” And with that Season Moore Photography was born.

Season’s style – natural light, natural settings, casual and fun environment – helps make the photography session enjoyable for everyone. “A “natural setting” doesn’t limit you to outdoors, it can be in your home where you spend the majority of your time as a family. While outdoor sessions are always beautiful, there is something about a family shot on the parents bed that I just love,” says Season. “The memory of chilly Saturday mornings, when the kids pile in your bed and and you watch cartoons together; those are the moments that are real and honest, memories you never want to forget. That is what I love about what I do, taking moments from this fleeting time in your child’s life, little things like the way that they crinkle their nose when they smile or the look they get when Mommy gives them a snuggle. Natural, everyday moments captured forever.”

Season shoots in digital format and doesn’t limit herself to color or black and white. “Every family is unique and your photos will reflect that. As a custom photographer I get to know my clients and cater my sessions to suit their personalities. I usually end up with a mix of color and black and white, but it depends on the child and the feel of the session. No two sessions will ever look the same, even if they take place at the same location.” And if you’re having a group photo session, the clothing you select will set the tone of your pictures. Season recommends thinking about what best represents your family. “You can’t go wrong with classics like khakis, denim or white. But maybe khaki just doesn’t really describe you – so go for the color! The main thing to watch for is that the colors are in the same tone, and coordinate. You also don’t want competing patterns, or logos on clothing. Keep in mind classic lines, you’re going to be looking at these portraits for years to come and we all remember our 1980’s family photos – yikes. And Mom’s, while the lines of v-necks do look nice, keep in mind that you may be leaning or bending to play with your child in some of the photos. Do a quick mirror check before leaving to make sure no more is showing than you intend!”

“Shooting natural light is challenging, and that is part of the reason I enjoy it. There is never a constant, you are constantly watching and working with the light you have at any given moment. And of course ready to try something different when it changes the next minute. It also means shooting at the prime times of day, morning and evening, and of course being limited by the weather. Indoors you do need some available light to have a successful session, even if it is only one room with large windows. The beauty of natural light makes it worth any inconvenience.”

Her first memory of taking pictures? “I remember my first 110 format camera when I was a little girl. It was pink, I believe, and it took the absolute worst pictures you can imagine, but I loved it. I would package my completed rolls of film up in the mailer bags and send (them) off, and excitedly check the mail every day in anticipation of my pictures. It was mostly pictures of our cat or plants from around the yard, occasionally a neighbor or two. I still have most of those pictures boxed up somewhere!”

Photographing children can be challenging and if parents are stressed about getting the perfect shot, your children are going to pick up on that stress and react to it. Season’s solution? “My number one request of parents at a session is to be relaxed! I am a mom so I know this can be tough when it doesn’t seem like your child is cooperating, and most people have had stressful experiences in the past when having their child photographed. But kids are going to pick up on your stress and it effects their behavior and mood. The better spirits you’re in, the happier your child will be. Usually just stepping back and letting me get to know and play with your child opens them up quickly. I try to avoid telling them where to go or what to do at a session but instead let them explore and play. After all, my goal is to capture them just being them!”

And Season is all about having a fun photo shoot and it sounds like there’s never a dull moment. One little boy found a three legged frog and scooped it up another time the sprinklers turned on in the middle of a session. “Having a sense of humor is key. I love what I am doing and I love being with children. I am having fun, and it shows!”

Visit Season’s website at www.seasonmoorephotography.com or visit her blog here.

Photography is a great way to get the kids involved in the family vacation. And the benefits exceed a newfound sense of responsibility. Taking pictures provides children with means to share an adventure, places visited and new things discovered, and helps kids observe what may have gone unnoticed as well as recall their travels with greater ease and spontaneity. It opens up a new world to explore.

Yet it is important that photography remain a game, and not become a bore.

The right equipment
Simple means can result in interesting photos. The single use or disposable camera has several advantages:

• They are light and easy to use and can be worn, on a string, round the neck or carried in a backpack.
• They are not as delicate as their parents’ semi-professional model and thus facilitate freedom of use whenever and wherever they decide to play. They come equipped with film and many have a built-in flash.
• High sensitivity film, 400 asa and up, and a flash will ensure a result even in a setting with little light.

What to snap
A few suggestions may help children spot an opportunity and provide the necessary stimulation to get them started. But refrain from making choices for them: A strange hat or curious animal may hold more appeal than a static scene.

Suggest they capture their story on film, a story through images to recount to their friends back home. Help them establish a time frame, for example capturing the family adventure from take-off to landing.

Propose photographing everything that is different. A unique building or habitat can teach children much about people, places and foreign culture.

Place value on their personal interests and you will spark their curiosity. Animals, children, musical instruments, strange geographic shapes and colors are a great way to begin.

Allow them to record the world as they see it. This will ensure they weave a personal tale.

Ready, set, click
A few simple tips and soon even the wary will be engaged each and every time an image sparks their interest to click.

• Avoid fuzzy photos.
• In low light situations, set the camera on a flat surface such as a rock.
• Keep your back to the sun and the light will fall directly on your subject rather than the camera’s eye.
• Keep your eye on the horizon, it can give shape and add quality to the story.
• Get close to the subject, it will ensure others are able to follow the tale.
• Center the photo. Avoid chopping off mom and dad’s head!
• Keep your fingers away from the lens.

Resources
Additional Reading
eHow.com
YouthLearn
RLROUSE Directory
The Academy of Natural Sciences
CDS Project

Disposable Cameras
Kodak
Fujifilm

Copyright © more2explore S.r.l. All rights reserved.

Nicoletta Marconi is a photographer and regular contributor www.kidscantravel.com an emergent website for families intent on making the most of their leisure time together.

ORGANIZING PHOTOS: Digital and Film
Got photos? Are they organized? Decide which photos you want to organize first: film or digital then follow these steps.

STEP ONE –Develop (film) or Download (digital)
Develop all canisters of film OR download all pictures off the digital camera.

STEP TWO-Edit
Overview:
Duplicate photos should be given away/deleted! The ‘give-away’ system can be as simple and economical as using envelopes or Ziplock baggies labeled “Grandma” or “School*”. There is no reason to hang onto 30 pictures of your child’s first day of school. In contrast, photos become lavish gifts when presented in a leather photo envelope or inserted into glass bookends. A nice gift for grandparents is to insert a photo into a pre-matted frame and let little ones sign their names on the mat.

*The school envelope is for that time of the year when your child is “star student”. During this period teachers often ask you to submit pictures and a brief write up of interesting tidbits about your child, family, pets, sports, etc. Film and Digital

• Get rid of blurry, out of focus photos.
• Do not keep several copies of the exact same subject matter.
• Pick the best and get rid of the rest.

Digital

• Delete all photos you don’t love.
• Remove Red Eye
• Crop and Rotate
• Adjust Color
• Resize

STEP THREE–Categorize Your Photos
Regardless of which method you prefer, film or digital, its best to stick with a logical naming convention: I suggest year first and then subject. For example digital photos could be grouped like this:

1st option: Group by Category/Topic

2006 Vacation to Midwest

• Illinois
• Chicago
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Detroit
• Traverse City
• Mackinac Island
• Wisconsin

2nd option: Timeline
Create a folder for each month (2006_07, 2006_08,). This way your computer does the work for you (putting them in chronological order.)

Film photos could be grouped according to topic like this:
School Pictures—Chris
School Pictures—Cole
Or by season:
2006–Spring
2006–Summer
2006–Fall

(Tip: Write on the back of each photo with a pigma pen; the ink is acid-free, and won’t fade. Pigma pens are found at craft stores.)

STEP FOUR–Handle With Care and Keep Secure
Film: Have a safe place to keep photos; invest in an archival-quality photo box or album– one that is lignin-free and acid-free). These are sold at scrap book stores, craft and hobby shops, or on line.

• Store the box in a cool, dry place – not the basement, attic, or garage. Humidity, heat, and light will destroy photos.
• Note: Make copies of ultrasound photos, they are not acid and lignin free.
• Boxes are easier and faster than albums. They offer order without the inconvenience of an album in the event you want to add or subtract photos often.
• If you want to save negatives a box is best. Make sure the box is sturdy and acid-free. Slide the negative sleeve into a “negative envelope” and label it with a pigma pen.

Digital: Upload your edited photos to an online service like Snapfish, Photobucket, or Shutterfly. Make sure you label these files the same as your folders to avoid confusion when retrieving photos.

Back Up! Once you’ve added your photos to a third-party site it is a wise idea to order prints (if you want them). Last and certainly not least, back up your data! Most online services will let you order a backup CD of your photos or you can back-up on your own.

In the words of U.S. lawyer and civil rights activist, Florynce R. Kennedy, “Don’t agonize. Organize”. With the tips above, your photo collections will be looking great in a snap. Now, SMILE and say, “Cheese!”

Photographing kids can be tricky- they don’t sit still very long, if at all, and if you ask them to smile, they give you that cheesy grin with scrunched-up nose and no eyes in sight! So my advice is to try to capture them more naturally by following these five tips…

1. Turn off the flash. Capture your kids more naturally by first turning off the flash, using available light and photographing candid moments where they aren’t necessarily aware of you.
2. Do something unexpected. If you want them to look at the camera and smile- don’t ask them to say cheese or ask them to “smile” … do something unexpected to make them laugh, or say something silly to get a genuine smile.
3. Don’t be afraid of a little movement- it’s ok. They move a lot!
4. Capture them having fun. For vacation photos capture them having fun doing what they love- and don’t worry about them looking at the camera for every shot.
5. Photograph different emotions. In everyday life, photograph different emotions. Children show so many different emotions, from happy, to sleepy (a baby’s yawn is one of my favorites!), to an all-out meltdown.

So….Take lots of photos, you don’t have to print them all. And most of all, have fun!

- Elizabeth Galecke, www.elizabethgalecke.com, Elizabeth Galecke Photography is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and specializes in fine art portraiture with an emphasis on black and white. Elizabeth’s portraits capture the subject in a casual, comfortable environment using the outdoors, your home, or her studio as a backdrop. Elizabeth photographs a wide array of subjects ranging from children to bridal portraits.