Digital Photography - Smart Tips for Recording and Preserving Family
History for Generations to Come
By Brandon Baumgarten
Family Portraits
Recently my friends, parents home burned to the ground. As tragic as it
was insurance covered almost everything. But there were some things that
money just couldn't replace. Like the antique furniture passed down from
family. Like an emerald ring from his great, great grandmother. And the
photography, the beautiful glimpses of generations in action. Time
capsules from the past, our family roots.
These are some of our most valuable possessions, if not the most valuable!
My friends mom says what she really misses most is all the family
photography they lost.
Let's rethink the way we go about our photography. Look at it from a new
perspective, one that places the proper importance on these family
treasures. There are many things that we can do to ensure quality images
for generations to come.
Digital Family Photography
First of all always use the highest quality setting your camera has to
offer. The more megapixels you shoot with the better your photos will look
when they are enlarged. Even if you like 8x10's today fine, in 211 years
they may want to make a 20"x 24". Shooting at the highest resolution also
allows greater flexibility editing your photos. You can crop and zoom more
to compose a better picture without the image becoming to pixelated.
Use high quality long lasting photo paper and inks. When putting photos in
albums, always use archival quality materials. Also display your photos
under glass and out of the direct sun to protect them from fading.
You don't need a fancy camera to record your families heritage. Today
there are several compact and ultra-compact point and shoot cameras
available that approach the quality of the digital SLR.
These new little cameras From Casio, Nikon, Canon, Olympus and other
companies sport from 7 to 9 mega pixels and fit perfectly in a purse or
pocket. Many of the features are the same ones offered on their bigger
models. If you have an older digicam replace it right away, with one
that's at least 7 megapixels your ancestors will thank you and you will
notice the difference too.
Back Up Your Photography. Set aside a saturday and scan every photo you
own, even the ones on the wall. These images are what make a house your
home. Pull out all your old negatives and get those in the computer
immediately and preserve them. They are way too valuable to be
deteriorating somewhere in the house. As you did with your framed family
artwork carefully take apart your photo albums and scan those too. Next
time you are visiting a relative, call ahead and ask if you can bring your
photo scanner with and scan some family photos while you are there.
If anything were to happen to their photos, they would be able to replace
their cherished memories with a simple call to you. Also give them a cd of
the family photos that you scanned on saturday to hold as a backup for you
just in case.
After you have your photo collection together, look for a photosharing
website such as smugmug that lets you upload every photo you own, no
limit. Once you've uploaded to your own private gallery at your own web
address on the internet (Ex. johnstonphotos.smugmug.com), family members
can order copies online anytime and any size they want. You can even order
a burned cd of all of your photos and have it delivered. Having your
family pictures in a few locations is very smart.
Use either link below to compare several different online photo sharing
providers. Some are free like Kodak EasyShare and some are not, they all
have different features to compare.
Take your camera with you everywhere you go. Bring it out and use it. Take
it to the kids sporting and scouting events and capture them participating
in activities. The only thing more tragic than losing a photo you love, is
missing the shot to begin with. It's not like you have to pay for film and
developing anymore. Shoot it up!
Read books to learn more about photography, a few tips here and there will
really improve your photos, which will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Have your families photo taken professionally on a regular basis. Every
photographer has their own style including you. It's always good to
sprinkle another artists interpretation of the family into your photo
collection. It makes it richer and more interesting.
Get one of the new photo viewers, like the Archos AV500 with a 100 GB hard
drive. Store all your family photos on it and when you visit family, they
can look at your photos on the built in screen or hook it up to the TV,
for a show everyone can enjoy. Then exchange photo files. Upload your
files to their computer and download their images to the Archos.
A photo from the photographer at the scenic overlook in Vail Colorado, of
your family skiing together, is $35.00. The same photo, 20 years from now,
framed on your wall, is worth more than money! In the long run, the
investment in professional photography services is worth it.
Instead of washing the car on saturday, take control of your photos. It's
really much more important. Our photos are our most valuable family
heirlooms. Great photography enhances your family's legacy.
Visit KISSERreviews.info to compare several online photo sharing plans,
and multimedia photo viewers. Read our review of the 5 best digital
cameras over 7 megapixels. Read actual customer reviews or find
accessories. You will also find KISSER reviews for digital cameras and
inkjet Printers.
Family Photography
For helpful information about, How to Become a Freelance Photographer,
visit our unique Freelance Photographer Jobs website at:
FreelancePhotographerJobs.com for There's a lot of free photography tips,
tutorials and travel information there along with more great ideas. I have
been a professional photographer at many western ski resorts. Starting out
in Wyoming. Where I landed my first professional photography job, taking
action photos of skiers on the slopes at Grand Targhee. I am currently a
freelance photographer in Lake TahoeCalifornia.
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Family Portrait Photographer |
