If there was only one thing you should know about the upcoming grad year, this is it...Yearbook deadlines are sooner than you think. Seriously!
Read MoreSummer Activity Ideas Near Snohomish County - #1
Visit Skykomish for a Free Train Ride
If your crossing Steven's Pass, the kids will be thrilled if you make a point to stop off in Skykomish. Located just two blocks off Hwy 2, the Great Northern & Cascade Railway operates a Museum and miniature 1/8th scale train to celebrate the heritage and history of the rails. It's much larger than one would first think with nearly half a mile of rail that carries riders through realistic tunnels and over trestles.
Inside the museum, kids will learn about history through a touch-and-feel experience. They are encouraged to explore vintage items of technology like telegraphs, telephones, and typewriters.
Staffed by volunteers and model train enthusiasts, this non-profit organization is open every weekend of the summer through October. Kids and adults are welcome to ride as many times as they like. Donations are welcomed and will assist with future developments like expanded rail lines, small scale buildings, and other interesting pieces of history.
You might not have known it, but Skykomish also has charming diners and shops you can visit while in town.
- JMB
10 Tips to Improve Your Mother's Day Photos
This is the secret gift Mom REALLY wants for Mother’s Day! It is so simple…photographs of the ones she loves and cares for most. Unlike flowers, kitchen gadgets, home knickknacks, or even a card, photography is the one thing she is guaranteed to revisit for the rest of her life. If you will be providing the photos for this years family Mother’s Day gathering, here are 10 excellent tips to make them shine!
Instead of asking everyone to look at the camera, let things flow naturally as though you are an observer documenting the visual story of her special day.
Don’t always try to get everything in one shot. By focusing in on the minor details or smaller groups of people at a time you will actually achieve a more complete “big picture” of the day.
Remember that heads usually don’t belong in the dead center of the frame. Instead, try and move the frame of the camera so the heads are a little off center and include just a little more of the environment.
Turn your camera on its side. We tend to default to landscape orientation because it’s what feels most natural with the way we hold the camera or view TV. To add new variety to your photos, try frequently turning the camera on its side for portrait orientation. This is especially great when photographing people.
Take a meaningful single portrait of each person Mom loves! Better yet, have each one take a picture individually with Mom!
Mom loves to feel emotionally connected to the photos, so move in even closer for the shot! Physically moving in closer reinforces a deeper, more personal connection with the photography subject.
Mom wants a shot of everyone together, but large groups take more care. One or two shots of whole group won’t cut it because someone always blinks. A pro secret is to take lots of photos, hoping one will turn out right. If it doesn’t, then simply use an editing program to paint Blinky’s eyes back in from another photo.
Avoid the in-camera flash whenever possible. Turn off your camera’s internal flash and turn up the available light in the room. This provides fuller, more natural lighting in your images.
Don’t get too caught up in trying to find the perfect photo. What matters most to Mom is that you were there and engaged as a meaningful part of her day!
If you are not the photographer type, consider giving Mom the gift of portrait photography. Whether it is an updated portrait of her dearest family, your own family, just the children, or all her grand-babies, she will cherish it forever!
-JMB
15 Tips for Better Holiday Photos - Snohomish Family Photographer
1. Plan ahead! Before you leave for the holiday celebrations, replace your batteries, clear your memory cards, clean your lens, and at least make a mental check list of the events for which you would like to be most prepared. The only reason we ever miss the once-in-a-lifetime moment is because we simply weren't ready when it came.
2. The secret to taking uncomfortable, contrived photos is always saying, "Look over here!" or "Smile for the camera!" Instead, let things flow naturally as though you are an observer documenting a visual story and true reactions. If you desire to see more of your subject's face in the photo, move yourself and get in front of them.
3. Get down on the ground and take the photos of kids opening or playing with new gifts at eye level. You will cherish a photo at their level because it allows you to better relate to how they see and feel the moment. A photo taken at your comfortable standing position of the tops of their heads is one that will never receive a second look.
4. Rather than trying to always get everything in the shot, simplify and seek out the little moments, the minor details, and smaller groups of people at a time. The wonderful irony in focusing on the smaller pieces is that you end up with a more complete picture.
5. Photograph every gift being opened. You never know which gift will have a profound impact on a child’s development until years later. It will be a great family moment someday to rediscover the photo with that one forgotten gift and be flooded with memories of how significant it was.
6. Give the kids a camera and say, "Go take some pictures for me." It will be raw and many could be a waste, but there is something special about finding those glimpses of Christmas moments as seen through a child's own eyes.
7. Don't forget to photograph the preparations. The preparations and traditions we sometimes take for granted are made with great care and help set the scene of for these special memories.
8. Watch the Heads. Unless you are creating a photo dart board, heads usually don’t belong in the dead center of the frame. Instead, try and move the frame of the camera so the heads are a little off center.
9. Turn your camera on its side. We tend to default to landscape orientation because it’s what feels most natural with the way we hold the camera. To add new variety to your photos, try frequently turning the camera on its side for portrait orientation. This is especially great when photographing people.
10. Take a meaningful single portraits of every person celebrating the holidays like it is the last one you will ever take, because you never know how long you have with the ones you love.
11. Move in even closer, but not by using the zoom. I mean, when you think you are close, physically move in even closer for the shot to reinforce a deeper, more personal connection.
12. Large groups take more care. One or two shots of a large group won’t cut it because someone always blinks. A pro secret is to take lots of photos, hoping one will turn out right. If it doesn’t, then simply use an editing program to paint Blinky’s eyes back in from another photo.
13. Overexpose in the snow. This seems weird, but snow scenes trick the camera and make the images appear too dull and dark. Most cameras have a built in snow scene mode you can use. If yours does not, this can also be done by adjusting the exposure compensation settings up to take brighter photos.
14. Avoid the in camera flash whenever possible. Turn off your camera’s internal flash and turn up the available light in the room. This provides fuller, more natural lighting in your images.
15. Don't get too caught up in trying to find the perfect photo. Photography is really about the bonds we share with the ones we love at key moments in our lives. What matters most is that you were there, engaged, and part of the story.
What holiday photo tips do you have? Leave a comment and tell us about them!
-JMB