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10 Tips for Taking Portraits of Your Newborn

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Newborn photography can be very challenging. It’s hard to keep a newborn calm and sleeping while you are trying to put them in a cute pose. Here are a few tips for getting that priceless newborn portrait. 1. Keep it simple and ditch the clothes. Take your newborn’s photo on a soft, simple solid colored blanket. Drape it over the couch and smooth out all the wrinkles. Your newborn does not need a special outfit since newborns look the best when they are just as nature intended them. 2. Crank the heat in your home to about 82 degrees so … Continue reading →

Snapping Sensational Snow Shots

I survived the Blizzard of 2010! I didn’t get a t-shirt; rather, I was gifted with roughly 14 inches of snow and 45 mph winds that created five-foot tall snowdrifts smack in front of our garage. In my opinion, snow in excess of three inches is not pretty to look at unless you are staring at it from inside a warm house… and you have someone else shoveling it from your sidewalk. I laughed when my mom, who called from Hawaii, asked if I had taken pictures of my daughter frolicking in the winter wonderland. HA! Frolic is far from … Continue reading →

Fall Photo Tips

Whether you photographing pumpkins, leaves or little ghosts and goblins, you’ll want to take note of the following tips to ensure your seasonal shots come out looking simply spectacular: Jack-o-lanterns After spending hours carving a prize-winning jack-o-lantern, you’ll want to document it in the best light possible. The trick to getting a stellar shot of your pumpkin is to turn off your flash. That may seem like an odd tip, but the problem with most cameras is that the flash pops automatically, especially if it’s dark. Since the tone of the flash is cold compared to the warm glow from … Continue reading →

Ginger: Not Just for Ale and Snaps!

Ginger has a long history in the kitchen AND in health care. Throughout Asia and Europe, the “root” has been a popular ingredient in cooking and a popular remedy for more than one ailment. Ginger isn’t actually a root, as it turns out — although we call it ginger root. The lumpy, bumpy “root” is actually a rhizome. What’s a rhizome, you ask? A rhizome is an underground stem from which plants grow. Shoots can form at the joints of the root as it grows horizontally. What can ginger do for your health? Settle your stomach. Ginger is great for … Continue reading →

Tips for Getting a Great Family Portrait

You can go and spend a fortune on a portrait sitting, get lots of different poses and then spend hours trying to agonize over which ones you want to order and which ones you want to include in your scrapbook. Or you can create your own portrait sitting and take the photos yourself and spend a lot less money. In addition, you can spend no time actually agonizing over the selection, because the negatives or original digital prints are yours to begin with. This allows you the freedom and flexibility to crop, resize, reprint and alter the photographs until your … Continue reading →

More Tips for Winter Photo Shoots

If you live anywhere near the Upper Midwest portion of the United States then I’m sure you would agree that Old Man Winter has hung around long enough. During the last four months we have been hammered with snowstorm after snowstorm; endured brutal wind chills and chipped off more layers of ice than most Alaskans do in a lifetime. Still, there are times when I have peered out my bedroom window and wished I was hearty enough to brave the elements in order to capture some frameworthy winter scenes. Alas, I have not made good on my New Year’s resolution … Continue reading →

Tips for Shooting Winter Landscapes

In a previous blog I mentioned that we experienced our first snowfall of the season this morning. It yielded little more than a dusting, but it sparked a flurry of activity for my 3-year-old daughter. She ran to the window to watch the fat flakes fall then ran to the closet to dig out her new winter gear. “Mama, it’s snowing. I gotta get my boots,” she told me very matter-of-factly. Regular readers of this blog also know that I made a pact with myself to get outside and capture more winter scenes this season. I didn’t start today, but … Continue reading →

Ready, Set, Shoot—-in the Cold

In my previous blog I provided tips on how to protect yourself and your equipment from the elements during winter shoots. I also pledged to get out and capture Mother Nature at her frigid best a bit more this winter season and I hope that I have convinced you to do the same. So, now that you know how to keep your equipment in tip-top working condition in the snowiest conditions here are some technical points to remember before you start snapping: LIGHTING I grew up in Hawaii, where unless you had access to a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you didn’t … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for October 22-28

I’m going to try a new format this week in the Pets Blog Week in Review. One fellow bloggers such as Michele Cheplic, Nicole Humphrey, Mary Ann Romans, and Karri Weathers use in their various blog topics. I’ll post the title of articles Aimee and I wrote under the dates and then summarize what the articles were about. Monday, October 22 Adventures with Murphy: Spotting Albino Critters It seems Murph’s a white critter magnet, as evidenced when we spotted yet another albino critter on a walk. This time a white chipmunk in our neighborhood. Tuesday, October 23 Welcoming Puppy: Throwing … Continue reading →

Cold Weather Fitness Tips

When the weather is bad, it’s hard to stay motivated. On a really cold, wet day, it’s hard to even want to leave the house to head for the gym or go for a walk. Don’t give up on your health during the colder months! These tips can help you stay warm when the weather turns brisk. Dress in layers for your workout. When you start your exercise, you’ll still be cold and will need the extra warmth. As you heat up, you can take off as many layers as you need to — and put them back on if … Continue reading →