Dear ,

We all get birthday invitations.

But, I'd be willing to bet that you see a lot of your birthday parties through your camera's viewfinder.

That's what family photographers do!

These photo tips come from our friends at Kodak...plus some based upon my personal experience. 

I hope you'll find these ideas useful.

Tip #1: Consider A Photo Book - An Ideal Way To Preserve Family Memories

Front Cover of Our 8" x 8" Book

Birthdays are markers in your family's continuing story. Photo books are a great way to record your history ... one event at a time.

• In a photo book you can dramatically bring a series of pictures together to tell the story of a special day.

  One of Dozens of Photo Book Designs We Provide

• For an impressive book try mixing & matching your layouts.
  
• Include multiple pictures on some pages and
  
• Use individual shots on single pages and
  
• Incorporate a few panoramic spreads covering two pages.
  
• Be sure to add text to identify people, their ages and relationships. (Really important when you try years from now to remember who the other children at the party were!)
  
• Order additional photo books for other family members...especially grandparents!
• Organize Your Photo Memories
• Consider storing your photo book, a CD-R copy of your still shots and your video DVD together.
• Keeping the DVD's and the CD's envelopes with the photo book is a simple, foolproof system to prevent losing valuable memories.
• Having the images immediately available is also convenient when you want to order reprints ... even years later.
  

You've seen plenty of photo books. They're nice. But, ours are better.

Why? We use archival Kodak photographic paper...not plain printed paper. The color saturation on any plain paper book is limited. The color...at best...is so-so.

When you order one of our photo books your color pictures will really pop! These are real photographs; not photocopies.

Best yet, our books cost less.

Online Ordering of 8"x 8" Books

1. Click here to learn how to use our free online design software.

2. Follow the easy instructions. All you have to do is drag-and-drop your images into our pre-designed templates. Then, by clicking Options you'll be able to change backgrounds and borders to add pizzazz to your photo book.

3. Place your order online. Your beautiful, finished photo books will be mailed to you. Local customers can pick them up at our lab.

If you have any questions please call us at (800) 327-1776. We're here to help!

Tip #4: Avoid Red Eye

Red eye is easy to remove these days with picture editing software or at a Kodak Picture Maker. But why not prevent red eye in the first place?

• Turn on the computerized red-eye reduction in your camera if it has that feature.
• Don't use the bright light or the flickering pre-flash on some point-and-shoot cameras.
  
• These lights cause people to blink and "telegraph" when you're about to take your picture.
• Consider using a dSLR with a pop-up flash instead of a point-and-shoot. These SLR flashes rarely produce red-eye.
• Get closer to your subject if you are using a point-and-shoot rather than zooming in from a distance to minimize red eye.
• Ask your subject to look at your shoulder rather than directly at the camera. 
  

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Tip #5: Stay Within Your Flash's Range

Typical digital point-and-shoot cameras have a flash range of from 6 to 10 feet. Digital SLRs may go up to 15 feet.

• Subjects that are outside the flash range will be either too dark or too light.
  
• Try to keep your subjects in the same focusing plane (as in this example.) This will give your lighting a more even look.
• Use a supplementary flash if you own one. You'll expand the range of photographs you can take.

Tip #6: Review Your Pictures As You Shoot

The beauty of a digital camera is that you have the ability to immediately see your pictures. Use it!

• Check your subjects for closed eyes or poor expressions.
  
• Look critically at the exposure and focus on each of your shots.
• Shoot a lot.
• Reshoot...when you can... any pictures that aren't 100% to your satisfaction.
  
• At the same time, keep your eye on the party. Delete any "misses" later.

Tip #7: Don't Forget the Basics

A birthday shoot is not a wedding. But, if you're the family photographer your reputation is still on the line. Wouldn't you be crushed if your camera stopped?

Here's a check list for the night before:

• Is your battery fully charged? (Can you bring a spare?)
  
• How about your memory card? An extra card...in case your primary one fails...is just a few dollars. It's worthwhile insurance!
  
• Clean your lens.
• Snap a few test pictures to be sure everything is working right...before you get to the party.
  

Tip #8: Put Your Pictures Online Today. Think Archival For Tomorrow.

Facebook and Online Storage -

• Facebook and other sites are great for sharing immediate images.
• Just remember that today's birthday is yesterday's news. It will be "buried" as time moves on.
  

• Back up your pictures with CDs and online storage.
  
• This can save your pictures in case your hard drive crashes.
  

Preserving Pictures For the Future - 

Printed pictures are the best way to preserve your special events for future generations.

• The only way to insure that your images are there for your children's children is by printing at least the best of your photos onto real photographic paper.
  
• Prints on today's Kodak photo paper will last 100 years and viewing them will not be dependent on ever-changing computer technology.

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