Tag Archives: photography

Aug10

3 Reasons Why You Should Take A Photo Every Day

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3 Reasons Why You Should Take A Photo Every Day

You’ve got to give it to people, they are pretty good at coming up with weird and interesting ways of spending their free time. The kinds of hobbies and pastimes which work their way into the public consciousness range from daredevil stunts to things like knitting and stamp collecting, on the extreme opposite end of the scale.

One trend which took off with a few vloggers some years ago, included taking a photo of themselves every day for a number of years, and then compiling the photos together into time-lapse videos. Here’s a slightly different proposition for you. Instead of taking a photo of yourself every day, why not take a photo every day of anything that you find interesting?

What you do with the photos is up to you. You could visit Setapp.com for a list of tips on how to edit photos on your Mac, and then set about turning them into pieces of art, or you could create a conventional photo album. Whatever the case may be, here are some good reasons why you should take a photo every day:

It forces you to look for the interesting in each day:

You know how a typical day goes in your life. You get out of bed, force down your breakfast, go to work, come home, collapse on the sofa, and space out, feeling deeply bored and unimpressed. Then, there’s that one friend of yours who has pretty much the same routine, but who always seems to light up a dark room and to genuinely have fun each day.

Taking a photo each day forces you to move a bit closer to that positive mode of being. Why? Because it inspires you to look for the interesting in each day, in order to take a photo worth having. It could be anything from a cool rock on the ground to a gorgeous sunset, but it makes you keep your eyes peeled all day for the perfect shot.

It gives you a great log of your life:

Journals are a pretty good way of documenting your life and experiences that you can look back on with joy and satisfaction. The thing is, a lot of people don’t really like journaling. It takes time, it can be hard to know what to say, and there’s always the issue of someone else reading it. Taking a photo each day can be a great way of documenting your life, and providing you with mental anchors to events and moments, years down the line.

It can help kick start new art projects and other cool pastimes:

Taking a photo every day can be a wonderful first step in exploring your more artistic side. Once you’ve amassed a good enough number of photos, you can create a display out of them, put them up online, or do any number of interesting things with them. This can, in turn, lead you towards other cool pastimes and hobbies, and can also be a great conversation starter or anecdote to share.

Having a hobby is important. Having a hobby that helps improve your daily life is even better. What can you capture with a photo a day?

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jul26

Butterflying Away

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Butterflying Away

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! We are so close to the weekend that I can taste it, but with that sensation can come a case of the blahs, because two sweet days off seems so close yet so far. So I decided to brighten up everyone’s newsfeed today with some pictures that my dad took of a big, beautiful Monarch Butterfly that was fluttering around the garden. And, soon, we will be Butterflying Away to the weekend in no time!

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^^^ Our butterfly friend isn’t in the sunflower picture, I just really like it! 🙂

There are so many different meanings that can come from spotting the gorgeous Monarch Butterfly. From good luck to a friendly hello from your guardian angels or a loved one that has passed on, Monarchs only carry the best vibes. That’s why it was so exciting for this little carrier of good news to be hanging around our garden, besides for the lovely pictures taken by my dad, of course!

I hope these pictures brighten your day and carry you to the weekend with a smile on your face!

What is one of your favorite surprises to find in nature? What is your favorite insect? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul19

Backyard Beauty

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Backyard Beauty

Hi hi everyone and a happy Thursday to all of you! If you follow my page, then you know that my beloved dad, CHARLES, is a gardening extraordinaire. He can literally make something grow out of nothing, and every year the splendor in our front and back yards multiples tenfold from his hard work and amazing talent.

Not only does my dad boast two green thumbs, but he has also gotten quite good at using his camera and enjoys taking pictures of his handy work and the wildlife that basks in its glory. I love featuring talent on my page, and it’s even more special when something so beautiful comes from a family member or close friend. So, without further ado, take a look at some Backyard Beauty compliments of my dad:

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It always touches me so deeply when my dad wants to share one of the photos that he was proud of taking with me, and it makes me even more proud to show them off to all of you! I love you, dad! Your talent knows no bounds! ❤

What is your favorite picture from above? Who else has green thumbs that they’re proud of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun21

Cleveland Zoo Fun

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Cleveland Zoo Fun

Hello! Last week, I got to enjoy some time at the Cleveland Zoo and it was such a blast. This zoo offers at least five major exhibits including the Asian Highlands, Australian Outback, African Savannah, and so much more. There is also a separate building that mimics a tropical rain forest for you to explore. It’s so cool! Here are some of the pictures that I snapped throughout the day for your viewing pleasure:

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It is always so amazing to take a trip to the zoo, especially a big one like the Cleveland Zoo, so that you can see all of your favorite animals up close and personal. I am a lover of all creatures big and small, but when I am at the zoo, I am incredibly partial to the monkeys because they all have such distinct personalities. It was a hoot to see one of the monkeys passed out in a cat nap and the tiny black one licking his fingers after a yummy treat. But, the orangutans will always be my number one favorite.

Orangutans are such fascinating creatures to me, and I could seriously watch them all day. You can genuinely see such human like traits in their eyes like empathy and humor and I would give anything to be able to interact with them. The baby orangutan seen in the last two pictures above definitely stole the show, though. You could tell that he or she was having the time of its life just monkeying around and making us humans laugh. He was doing yoga-like poses, snuggling with his mom and dad, and playing dress up with the burlap sack. It doesn’t get much cuter than that!

What is your favorite animal to see at the zoo? Do you have a zoo that you like to frequent in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun6

How To Organize Your Photography Portfolio

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How To Organize Your Photography Portfolio

Whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur snapper with ambition, it is sensible to have a portfolio of work that you can show clients, friends, and anyone else who shows an interest. These days, photography is mainly digital, so an online portfolio is the way to go, but even if you still develop your photographs the old-fashioned way, the same tips apply:

Quality Control:

The best thing about digital photography, is that you can take hundreds of photos in a very short time. The bad thing is, that you end up with thousands. Be honest: most of your photos are not worthy of a place in a portfolio. This is not to say that they are no good, but the whole point of creating a portfolio is that you are highlighting your very best work.

The first step in creating a portfolio is to curate your work. Go through your best shots and select the ones that you think are worthy of a place in your portfolio. Don’t just rely on your own judgment, as it will almost certainly be biased. Instead, ask a selection of people to choose their favorite shots based on artistic qualities and technical ability. The photos that make the grade should tick the right boxes for everyone.

Quality control isn’t just about your pictures itself but employing best practices at every shoot so you can continue to grow your portfolio. Come prepared to smile, be engaging, and have fun. Don’t forget backup equipment because nothing halts a photo shoot like technical problems. However, if you forget a spare film camera battery, it’s worth noting that many film cameras can still function, allowing you to take pictures even without a working light meter. Your clients have the potential to review you via word of mouth and online so you always want to put your best, most professional face forward.

Professional Portfolios:

If you are a professional photographer, or you have aspirations to become one, you need to organize your photos to fit your business model. For example, a Suffolk Wedding Photographer wouldn’t include images of edgy urban scenes, as clients are not going to be interested. Instead, he/she would make sure that there were plenty of wedding themed photos in the portfolio so potential clients know exactly what they are getting when they book the photographer.

Organize into Themes and Galleries:

Check out Virtualphotographystudio.Com to see how to organize your work into galleries. Themed galleries are very important, as they help clients and viewers find the images that they want to see.

Using our example of a wedding photographer, we might have separate galleries for couples’ shots, family portraits, and perhaps miscellaneous photos of kids, animals, and even wedding cakes. If you have several existing clients, you might choose to organize your work by the client rather than subject matter. This would be applicable to a fashion photographer. You could also organize by creative theme. For example, if you have a series of images of Tuscan villas or Canadian landscapes, add them in separate folders.

A portfolio needs to be easy to navigate. Use a main menu and sub-menus. The harder it is to find images, the more likely you are to lose a viewer.

Caption Images:

Images should be captioned with key details such as title, the year it was taken, etc. If you have an online portfolio, images also need an image tag so that search engines can identify what they are and include them in search results.

Choose the right portfolio design. There are many themes to choose from if you decide to create an online portfolio, so select the best one for your business model and impress the socks off of potential clients!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May31

Let Me Take A Selfie

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Let Me Take A Selfie

HELLOOOO! In the name of fashion and having more updated pics of me on the ol’ blog and social media, I have been taking a lot of selfies lately. Believe me, I’m even starting to annoy myself, but sometimes the pay off is worth it because I really like the pictures seen below:

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As you can tell, I was really FEELING MYSELF in these selfies. I am obsessed with my True Destiny Flower Power Top from TJMaxx and, of course, it wouldn’t be a Sarah Selfie without NYX’s Pure Red Matte Lippie being featured! I was actually in the midst of feeling really emotionally shitty the day that I took these pictures. But, sometimes all it takes is getting dolled up, snapping some pics, and getting compliments from strangers on social media to brighten up the day! 😀

Although taking selfies can be a hit or miss activity for me, when it works it works, and I feel like everything was working in the above pictures. My makeup, my eye color, and my favorite top all combined with the ideal natural lighting outdoors made for a perfect photo op, and I am so glad that I took it. And, trust and believe that I ate hella Mexican food immediately after I took these pictures. #success

What are some of your secrets to taking the perfect selfie? How many selfies do you take per week? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May21

Lovely Lavender

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Lovely Lavender

Howdy! Despite 75% of the weather that Ohio experienced this spring being crappy, the flowers and greenery have all been magnificent. One of the crowning jewels of our yard, and something that my dad is particularly proud of, is his lavender bush. CHARLES planted his lavender when it was just a tiny sprig years ago. And, this year, it really is at its biggest and most beautiful. Take a look:

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Our ginormous lavender bush, that looks more like a tree now, stands by our back deck and envelopes it in a simply gorgeous aroma. It provides the perfect amount of shade from the hot sun to make reading on the deck more pleasant, and it makes sitting underneath its blossoms feel like you are in your own secret garden.

It’s so crazy how something that was barely a foot high a handful of years ago erupted into such a magnificent focal point in our garden. This lavender bush/tree really showcases my dad’s green thumb and it makes me proud to have it as a main feature in our yard.

Is anyone currently preparing a flower or vegetable garden? What are you growing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar29

Spring Crocuses

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Spring Crocuses

Hello!! With hopefully the last snow of the season behind us in Ohio (But, who am I kidding, we’ll probs get at least one more!), the temps have been raising to a comfortable fifty degrees. With that increase and some extra sunshine, I found some more crocuses in my yard popping up when I walked the dogs this weekend. Seeing freshly sprouted flowers just makes me happy, and I’m sure that plenty of you are the same, so take a look:

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Instead of just the yellow crocuses that were sprouting up last time, I had the pleasure of seeing white and purple blooms peeking out beneath the winter debris. The white crocuses are happily embracing the sunshine, while the three purples ones are so close to opening up and doing the same. I can’t wait for when they do!

What is your favorite flower? Are there any blooms popping up in your yard? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan12

What It Takes To Take The Perfect Instagram Photo

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What It Takes To Take The Perfect Instagram Photo

If you’re all about spreading the love online and sharing your lifestyle with carefully chosen friends and followers, it’s likely that you’ve been trying to launch your Instagram profile already. Instagram offers a new perspective on social media content, as it’s a purely visual platform. In other words, it’s you’ve got something to share, show it instead of writing it. For anybody who believes that a picture can speak a thousand words, it’s the ideal place to build up a successful presence. Here are some tips on how to make that possible:

Social media is a platform of inspiration:

The main obstacle that you’re going to face when trying to develop your Instagram presence is yourself. Indeed, there is a constant and valuable discussion on whether social media enhances or hinders your life. The truth is somewhere in between. An engaging Instagram presence can be a form of lifestyle motivation or inspiration if the profile displays quality photos. However, you need to stay focused on your message and not lose yourself in the depth of a connection string or confuse a number of followers with your personal value.

Be patient and build a stunning feed:

Once you’ve got your head around the philosophical debate about social media and social value, it’s crucial to build your feed. Unless you’re especially lucky, you won’t gather a lot of attention with your first picture. Therefore you need to build your feed with 15 to 20 of your best images first. If you’re looking for a stunning visual, you may want to check this backdrop store to find the perfect backdrop for your portraits and fashion snaps. There’s nothing better to give your photos a professional finish. You will need to create a comfortable posting schedule, either weekly or twice a week, to accumulate visuals and build up a presence.

When getting your Insta up and running, your username is just as important as your feed itself. You want your name to reflect your brand so skip on the generic and use something unique to you. Of course, this can be easier said than done! If you are struggling to create the perfect username, try out this username generator Instagram for help. It’s also free! 😀

While patience is a virtue when it comes to anything social media, it can be a bit disheartening when things move at a slower pace. If you are craving the likes and communication, you can buy IG likes or pay to be featured on other people’s platforms. This can give your page a nice boost, especially if you are just starting out.

Embrace new stylish trends:

Instagram is a world of images. What this means is that only the best and most stylish images can get noticed. Don’t waste any more time and learn about the latest photo trends to create dazzling portraits. The color palette for this year gravitates around rosy, peachy, and golden tones, so make sure to update your makeup and wardrobe to create on-trend photos. If you work with a camera instead of a smartphone, you can be playful with the light presence to create a delicate mood around the main character.

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Oh snap!

Don’t click and post:

Finally, a winning Instagram presence is not measured by the number of photos you share, but by their quality. Take the time to develop your style and to find an angle you like. If, like Tilly and the Buttons, you prefer pastel colors, you need to create a decor that will reflect your palette. This can take a lot of time but, ultimately only the most stunning images get noticed. So it’s worth working on your visual personality before posting!

Becoming an Instagram sensation doesn’t happen overnight. Thankfully, it’s a fun process that enables you to define and perfect your online brand and style. You are what they see, so make every flash count!

Featured Image By: PXhere

Nov17

Perfect Gifts For Your Photographer Friend

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Perfect Gifts For Your Photographer Friend

Due to how Christmas has developed over the years, the holiday has become more about giving presents than anything else. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing – you can easily show how much someone means to you with a thoughtful and meaningful gift. You don’t have to spend millions; a smaller budget can actually make you think more about the meaning behind the gift that you’re giving.

It’s also a great opportunity to slyly slip forward your wish list for gifts that you hope will turn into reality. And for people with slightly more expensive hobbies, like photography, it can be a rare chance to get something you really really really want. Like some of the following:

Lens:

A lens can cost anywhere between fifty and five hundred dollars easily. And it really depends on the camera you have, the quality of the lens you want, and the type of lens you’re after. If you ask for a lens, maybe ask for a case for one, too. You wouldn’t want any breaks to happen immediately after you get your gift!

Cases:

Speaking of cases, a new case could really change the game for you. You might need a waterproof one, and that might just be for the camera while in use or for storage. You can get a branded case, which is designed to fit your particular camera or a generic one which is designed to house a range of sizes.

Tripods:

Ranging from large and traditional to small and versatile, a tripod is a great way to take your photography to the next level. Plus, they aren’t that expensive. Most tripods can fit a bunch of different cameras, so you don’t have to get the branded one. If you’re going to be shooting off in the wild, you might want to look a bit deeper into the specs before choosing.

Camera:

And then, there’s an actual camera. We all know how costly a good camera can be, and it’s likely that you’ve been saving for a while so you can get one yourself. Rather than asking one person to get you one this Christmas, why not ask it of multiple people? It will spread the cost, and it’ll be more likely that you can get the one you’d really like. Or you can always offer to go halfsies.

When looking for the camera you’d like, don’t just go for the flashiest model. Think about what you actually want the camera to do. Are you shooting outside or in? Will you be using a tripod more than going free hand? Do you need the best low light camera or the best portrait camera? Or even one that’s decent at doing both? There are many things to consider, and if you’re just starting out, it’s worth getting one that covers a lot of different options. As your skills develop, you’ll know exactly what kind you need when you get around to upgrading. Maybe next Christmas?

Featured Image By: Pexels