Hello!
Happy New Year! I hope 2015 has so far been a good year to you and the family.
This is NOT an email to ask you to book a session or anything like that. It is an email to share with you some tips and links that you might find helpful. As well as shooting, I have been busy blogging – which tends to take up so much time too. I have written a few blogs that perhaps you may find interesting if it’s something that applies to you at the moment. I am sending you this email because I have photographed you / your lovely family in the past.
If you are a parent of small children, you might find these tips helpful and interesting…
1. The ultimate stress-free parents’ guide to photographing your own children
2. The best time to have a newborn baby photoshoot
If you are thinking of having a photoshoot done in the future…
1. What to wear for a photoshoot
2. How to prepare for a photoshoot
Lastly, I haven’t blogged this and won’t blog so this is just served up as bonus text in a newsletter… I regularly get people {especially parents with small children) asking my opinion on what camera to get, what lens to use etc…
BONUS TEXT: How to buy a digital camera
Ready to buy a digital camera? Are you a little overwhelmed with talk of megapixels, memory cards, and optical zooms? Here are a few basic recommendations to help get you started on buying the perfect digital camera for you!
Megapixels:
To put it simply, the more megapixels the better! A 4-mega pixel pocket camera is fine for snapshots and small prints, though models with that resolution are becoming less common. If you want to produce 8-by-10-inch prints, you’ll need at least a 8 megapixel camera. 12+ megapixels cameras will yield even larger prints and allow you to blow up part of an image with less likelihood that the print will be blurry.
Social media:
On most social media sites now such as Fb, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, you would only need the images to be under 1 megapixel and they look good enough for on-screen viewing {with the exception of Pinterest where photos look good at around 1.5 megapixels}.
Batteries: To save a lot of money, look for a camera that includes a rechargeable battery and charger. Some cameras can use AA batteries of any type- disposable or rechargeable, which is convenient and cost effective as well. Getting a spare rechargeable battery is always a good option.
Optical Zoom or digital zoom?: Get at least 2X optical zoom. Most cameras offer digital zoom, but it results in photos that aren’t nearly as good as those produced with an optical zoom. Optical zoom adjusts the actual lens so that the lens gets up close and personal while digital zoom only adjusts the images, cutting the edges away and enlarging the middle area hence the image quality deteriorates.
Memory Cards: Memory cards are how you’ll store your images. While a camera may have on-board memory, additional memory cards can easily be purchased. It is best to store your images on these stand-alone memory cards s you can easily transfer images for back-up. The more cards or larger capacity cards you buy, the more photos you can take without having to erase images. The faster the card is, the lesser the lag time. You can get cards that write as fast as 60, 95 megabytes per second or higher!
Try before buying: If possible, hold the camera and take some pictures before making your purchase. Unlike film, digital cameras have a “lag time” between when you press the shutter button and when the camera actually takes the picture. Make sure the lag time is acceptable to you. Try out the zoom lens, and make sure it operates smoothly and quickly. And lastly, find out how long you must wait between taking pictures. Finding this out beforehand will ensure the camera you purchase will respond exactly the way you expect it to!
The digital revolution is changing photography… don’t get left behind by techno-speak! Just get out there and find your perfect match so you can start shooting!
You’ve come to the end of the email – thank you for your time. If you don’t want to receive an email from me like this, please just reply and let me know {no offence will be taken}.
If you think this email has given you some useful tips, you don’t have to do anything at all and I will email you again perhaps twice or so within this year…
….or you could sign up to my newsletter here and receive a free stationery printable as a thank you for the effort…
…or you can also reply to tell me briefly how this email has been useful to you. I would really like that too. I might even feature you (with your permission of course) in one of my future blogs.
Feel free to share this email if you think you have friends who would be interested in and benefit from the information above. You can also follow me on Facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest Google+
Coming up in the next news:
1. How to capture birthday photos, especially blowing out the candle on the cake
2. For ladies: how to look your best during a photoshoot
3. More camera bag reviews.
4. Bonus newsletter/email text: Take better photos now: a few basic rules
Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
Warm regards,
Lily x