Creative Uses For Your Digital Photo Frame

Memories are indeed precious. In our time, nothing can save a memory better than a photograph. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Even with the advent of video, people are still using photos as the main medium for saving memories. The latest way to display photos is through the use of a digital photo frame. This new technology allows users to display more than one photograph in a single frame. This makes it very easy to display several photos all at once. Before, you needed to have multiple photo frames to display different pictures. Now, you only need one.

A digital photo frame is more useful than you might think. There are actually many creative uses for then, and some of the great ideas will be discussed here in this article. Do you know that you can even use one for work? Read on to know the different creative uses for them.

It is a wonderful gift idea. A digital photo frame can serve as a very unique yet practical gift for all types of occasions and individuals. And even if the recipient already has one or more, you really cannot have enough of them. They are very useful and for sure the person whom you will be giving them to will very much appreciate your gesture. It is just one of those gifts that almost anyone is sure to appreciate.

For presentations: You can use a digital photo frame for presentations either for personal or professional purposes. Instead of using a computer to present photos, you can simply store your photos in one of these frames and use is to show these photos to others. It is a creative way to present photos and you will be surely set yourself apart if you will use this gadget in your next presentation

For homemade musical sideshows: Some digital photo frames can play music. This type of frame is perfect for musical slide shows. Just store your favorite mp3s in the frames and let it play alongside your photos. This is a very creative way of storing and displaying photographs.

You can use it to entertain kids. Instead of letting them watch TV or play computer games, you can entertain kids using a digital photo frame by putting together fun yet educational photos. You can create a slide show about different kinds of animals or you can arrange photos of different famous places all over the world. You can then keep the frames in places that your child frequents. For sure, his curiosity will be piqued, and soon he will be asking you all sorts of questions about the photos.

These creative uses for your digital photo frame are proof of the value and usefulness of this relatively new type of gadget. They are indeed more than just glorified picture frames.

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8 Ways to Take Better Photos of your Children

1. Don't let them say "CHEESE" ever. I'm not even kidding, get this word out of your life (except when you're making sandwiches on whole wheat to serve with tomato soup and maybe some goldfish). I have no idea who thought this was a good word for kids to say, or why, but don't ever use it... Silly words work great, I'm a fan of 'pickles', I know, who'd of thunk? but it's other, and it makes them stop thinking about trying to smile... A friend of mine used 'fuzzy pickles' but that's a little disturbing to me, makes me think they're moldy! We all have silly sayings and inside jokes in our families that work fabulously, you can even say the same thing every time (although I think it's better to change), make something up, take something from Dr. Seuss, a line from a movie, Shel Silverstein...

2. Get closer. Those beautiful faces, those gorgeous eyes, they should fill the frame once in a while, more often than not even... My favorite photos of both my daughter, and my dog, are ones where there is no background at all, just those sweet faces...

3. Let them be themselves. When my daughter was really little she had these great froggy boots, and she never wanted to take them off, not even for the bath! We'd dress her in these darling little outfits, and she'd go get the crazy boots. It's who she was. I, as an artist, embraced that, and have such fun images of her in that stage. Often, as parents, we think they should be dressed a certain way, or look or act a certain way, but let them be themselves and your portraits will shine.

4. Let them play. Don't make it all hard work. I know sometimes we want a perfect photo to send to grandparents, or for a special occasion, but often, if you let them play and be silly, dance around, dress up, twirl, play with a hula hoop, you get the photos you want during, or after the silliness... Last summer I had a few of the neighborhood kids in my yard, I took photos of them squirting me with those super-soaker water guns while I was behind my storm door (yes, there is value to being slow to change your storm doors!). The photos are such fun, and the expressions on the kids are amazing...

5. which continues into... Let them make faces. I don't think I've ever met a child who can make lots of different goofy faces and not burst into peals of laughter at some point. So you get the great smile, and all of those fun silly faces to create a super panel picture out of, or cards to send to cheer a friend or relative up...

6. Use natural light. Indoors use the window or doorway, outdoors get into the shade, you'll get more natural photos if you use more natural lighting...

7. Don't just take one photo. They're kids, they move, they blink, they are quick... take a few images if you want to be sure you've got it... That's probably one of the greatest features of this digital age, you can capture a bunch of pictures, and just print the one you love, how great is that?

8. Surprise them. The element of surprise is the most important tool in my arsenal. Children don't expect adults to talk in funny voices, burst into a silly song, wear washed up horseshoe crab shells on their head, stick shells on their nose or wear just about anything as a hat... It's so easy to catch them by surprise, imagine if dad took off his shoe and put it on his ear, or mom started dancing a jig (yes, this is while they're young, and most likely in the privacy of your backyard, but imagine the possibilities...). They're only young once, keep all of those precious memories safe.

Sarah J. Thornington, photographer of life at The Studio by the Sea on Cape Cod

visit our website at: http://www.thestudiobythesea.com

Choosing from the Wide Array of Adobe Photo Shop Tutorial Selections

There is no doubt that Adobe Photo Shop plays a major role in the world of technology today. It is the most popular and perhaps most important photography and graphics design software available. As such, it is highly important for anyone who wants to venture into the visual arts, digital at least, to have at least some level of familiarity with the software. Not surprisingly, several kinds of Adobe Photo Shop tutorials have sprouted in the market, each serving a particular purpose of instruction for those who want to learn how to use the program

With the many different options, it can be quite confusing to select the correct Adobe Photo Shop tutorial for you. A good way of narrowing down the list is by looking at the different types of tutorials and seeing if they fit one's particular need. It may also be helpful to take different kinds of Adobe Photo Shop tutorials to gain some knowledge about different functions, which may be probably be useful in your eventual Photo Shop experience. Here are some of the usual types of Adobe Photo Shop tutorials available. Check out which one could cater to your need.

1. Basic Adobe Photo Shop Courses - these tutorials are for those who are totally unfamiliar with the program. A good basic tutorial would show any novice how to use Adobe Photo Shop for general purposes. It should instruct the user how to use the most common tools in the program and the power of each tool in manipulating or enhancing images. There are even some basic Adobe Photo Shop tutorials that teach a little of the more advanced topics that may be eventually useful.

2. Color Courses - as implied, color tutorials focus on the powerful color manipulation capabilities of Adobe Photo Shop. This is very useful for those who want to play with tints and hues of photos. Many digital photographers use this tool very often to make the colors of their photos take life.

3. Photo Scanning and/or Editing - these tutorials are very helpful for photographers, whether those who use digital or film cameras. This type of tutorial tells the best ways of scanning printed pictures so that they would turn out well on screen. It then teaches how to make changes with photos, whether to remove or to add something to them, for various purposes.

4. Text Effects - this type of tutorial unleashes the great text-making capabilities of Adobe Photo shop, which can be very useful in making labels, advertisements, promotional and instructional materials. This can definitely make words pop out.

5. Special Effects Tutorial - Adobe Photo Shop is known for creating many astonishing effects and this type of tutorial unlocks the mystery of astounding graphics. This can help users go beyond normal photo processing by manipulating images to heights limited only by imagination.

6. Texture Effects - Adobe Photo Shop can make pictures look as if they are the real thing and this is done by playing on textures. This type of tutorial teaches users how to make their picture appear as if they can be touched and felt.

Other kinds of Adobe Photo Shop tutorials are available, some are even so specific to particular features of this remarkable program. It is best to try them out for size to discover the great powers that the software can provide.

Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For a free photo shop tutorial and or to purchase a video photo shop tutorial checkout his website.

Photo Bar Mitzvah Save the Date Cards - 7 Top Trends

If you're looking to send unique bar mitzvah save the dates that stand out from the rest, nothing beats photo cards.  Let your child's pictures tell the story.  But before you decide, here are the hottest trends.

1. Multiple Photographs - Traditional one-photo cards get an updated look by featuring several of your child's pictures on his bar mitzvah save the dates. You can choose pictures from different stages of his life.  While you're asking your guests to mark their calendar for his spiritual coming of age, they can see first hand how he has grown.  Another approach is to use a variety of current snapshots that reflect your child's personality.  Take a picture of him with his favorite pet, playing a sport, strumming the guitar, laughing, hugging his sister or anything else that gives a glimpse into what makes him tick.

2. Unique Designs - Cards containing multiple pictures are a great innovation, but you can take that concept a step further by incorporating them into a cool design.  Browse online and you'll find all kinds bar mitzvah save the dates in every imaginable style.  How about a card that mimics a bulletin board that pins up your message and pictures?  Or you could go with a filmstrip design that includes one photo per frame.  There are cards showing personalized tickets with all your information. Take your pick of flowers for a girl or sports style for a boy.  Or if you want to choose something a little more religious in tone, you can find them with the Torah or star of David.

3. Themes -  Is your child planning a theme for their bat mitzvah or bar mitzvah party?  Shop around and you'll come across photo save the date cards that highlight just about any theme party.  If you come up empty with your search engine results, trying searching for the specific theme, such as winter wonderland, Hollywood, Mardi Gras, jungle or luau.  You can also try looking at websites that include theme birthday invitations.  If they offer their own original designs, they can probably adapt it for your child's event.

4. Think Small - If you want to save some money on your cards, without sacrificing any impact, they don't need to be very large.  In fact, a 4 x 6 inch card is just as stunning as one that is 5 x 7 inches and it's less expensive.  Yes, you can still add multiple photos to a smaller card, because you don't need to also crowd a lot of words onto it.  Your message breaks down to asking guests to save the date.  Include the day of the event, the words "invitation to follow" and a website for updates if your child has one. 

5. Scratch-Off Cards - If you want your save the dates to get noticed, try this novel approach.  On some of these cards, just the date is scratched off.  You can find others that even go further than that.  The card teases your guests with hints that include some of your child's likes, things he's good at, a baby photo, a toddler picture, and then the big reveal when they scratch off to see your child's photo and name. This one will get people talking!

6. More than a Card - Another option for photo bar mitzvah save the dates is to mail personalized photo magnets or bookmarks.  These are also relatively inexpensive and will grab your guest's attention.  An added advantage is that a bookmark or a small magnet are lightweight enough to mail with just one stamp. It's something that people are likely to hold on to, so they will be continuously reminded of your child's upcoming special date.

7. Do It Yourself - You can scrapbook a page with photos of your child with your message.  Pick out nice 12 x 12 inch scrapbook paper for the background and trim to 8 x 12 inches.  Add your pictures, title and journaling.  Then take a photograph of your page.  Make sure that the entire page is displayed in your camera's viewfinder or you might have to crop it with software later.  Then, simply make reprints and mail.  You can also use greeting card software on your computer, add your snapshots and words, and print them on your computer's printer.

With so many options available, you are sure to find just the right photo bar mitzvah save the date cards for your child.  Whether you make it yourself or hire a professional, you can discover inexpensive and unique ways to announce this important event.  Whatever you choose, they will turn out to be exceptional announcements that everyone will treasure.

Linda Kling is the owner of Photo Party Favors specializing in photo favors and invitations since 1992, and she recommends these photo bar-mitzvah save-the-date cards, featuring your multiple photos.

Powerful Online Dating Photo Tips For Men

Creating an online dating profile sounds simply enough-upload whatever photos you can find of yourself or take some with your cellphone, scribble a few words about you and voila you are ready for action.

It can be that simple, but if you want to give it your best shot and get better results than the average guy, start by paying special attention to the photos that you choose to use for your main profile picture and in your online dating profile.

When you create your online dating profile or ad, think of it as marketing yourself. You will need to be able grab the attention of someone who may be viewing hundreds of other profiles pictures and you will have just seconds to do it. Therefore, your main photo that is displayed on your dating site(s) will need to be your best and most flattering close-up of just you.

Review the tips that follow and see how many of them you can put into play to improve your online dating profile.

Use Recent Pictures

Recent does not = three years or more ago!

When you select your online dating profile pictures- the more recent the better! Ideally, the majority of your pictures will have been taken within the last year. Remember: Newer= better. You do not want to misrepresent yourself in looks, age, or weight as it can lead to disappointing your date when you do not appear live in person as you did online.

Go Naked From the Neck Up

Lose the sunglasses and hat mister!

Your main profile picture is your chance to make a great first impression. So use a picture without wearing your hat and sunglasses. Women who are profile surfing will want to look into your gorgeous eyes, and if you are wearing a hat, we may wonder what may be missing under that hat. Besides you can always include pictures with your favorite hat for example, in your other pictures.

Sell it with a Smile!

Smile and laugh- it is just online dating.

It is a fact, that people are more attracted to happy people, so wear a smile in the majority of your profile images and especially in your main profile picture. Believe it or not, I have seen profile pictures displayed where the person appeared angry, disgusted, or unhappy. Furthermore, many times, the profile said that they were easy going or happy people- yet that certainly did not come across in their dating photos. Needless to say you will attract less people to your profile if you select an incongruent picture. So smile silly!

Make it a Genuine Smile

Fake smiles can make you appear less human.

Some people easily smile and look natural in their photos and others who try to smile on queue end-up looking staged, fake, or awkward. When you have your picture taken for your dating ad, make sure your smile looks legitimate Consider thinking about something that is funny to you or makes you laugh a little. This way your smile will come off as genuine and will attract more people.

Make a Solo Appearance

Kick your friends, family and pets out of your primary picture.

Be sure that you are the only one on display in your main profile picture and in the majority of your other pictures. If all of your pictures have other people or animals in them, it will be tough to get a good look at you- the main feature. So even if you love your family, dog, car, or fishing more than life itself, avoid including them in your primary picture and feature yourself exclusively in the majority of your supporting dating pictures.

Tell a Tale

Let your pictures tell a true story about you.

Be sure that a few of your pictures tie-in with the copy that you have written in your profile and/or help tell a story about who you are and what you like to do. For example, if your profile says that you like to play tennis, then display a picture of you playing tennis; if you like to travel, then show a nice photo of you at your favorite location. You may find that you get contacted simply because someone saw a picture of you doing something that they could relate to which gave them something to talk to you about in an introductory email. Snap!

Use Good Quality Pictures

Blurry, fuzzy, out of focus-oh my!

Be sure that the images that you use were taken in focus and are not blurry or fuzzy to the eye. Even pictures that look good on your PC can sometimes look distorted once you have uploaded them to an online dating site (Cell phone pix are notorious for this). So once you have uploaded them, test them by viewing your profile as the public will see it. If you know the photo is out of focus already, then resist the urge to use it and select another one or have more taken.

Crop them in Close

Are your pictures ready for a close-up?

Another photo "do" is to ensure that your images are zoomed-in and cropped closely enough so that the viewer can see your face, even in action/travel shots. They will want to be able to see that it is really you and feel your personality coming to life through the photos you share.

Quick tip: Start with pictures that are of a high resolution (1 MB or more) so when you zoom-in and crop them you are not left with a tiny thumbnail that will not display properly.

Follow these tips to help you make the best first impression you can as an online dater and one that wants to stand out from the rest of the pack in a positive way!

Kathy Marlor- a.k.a. the "Self-Empowerment Sensei" is an experienced online dater, self-improvement coach and seminar presenter.

Dating Profile Coach - http://www.datingprofilecoach.com specializes in helping good guys make a great first online dating impression by offering a variety of dating photo and profile services.

Visit our site to get online dating photo services or dating profile services starting at just $19.00. http://www.datingprofilecoach.com/get_photo_editing.html

Unique and Interesting Photo Baby Shower Invitations

When we think about throwing baby shower parties for our loved ones, you might want to keep in mind the type of babyshower invitations you would select or design. While browsing the online websites you will come across different types of baby shower invitations, but the most popular ones are the photo baby shower invitations. A good presentation of the invitations will allow you to set the mood for the celebration.

You might want to start off with the guest list. In order to get off on the right note, you need to decide whether you prefer a for couples or a party involving only the women. If in doubt, you can ask for the advice of the guest of honor since it is her party you are planning. Traditional invitations for babyshowers can be arranged and formal baby shower photo invitations can be sent out accordingly. Once you have decided on the guest list, you need to start looking out for unique and special photo invitations. You might come across a lot of online websites that offer baby shower invitations based on a variety of themes, designs, patterns and colors. There are any invitations that can be personalized or customized according to your needs and specifications.

Creating and designing your own photo invitations is fun since you can add you own creative designs, wordings and photos. While designing such invitations, make sure you have a lot of baby photos of the expecting mother. You can either go in for single portrait, where the picture is pasted at the center of the invitation or go in for collages. Wordings can be kept simple and precise. You can even add your own quotes or poems. There are a number of templates that can be downloaded from websites and use to design the background of the photo baby shower invitations. If you have a word package installed into your computer, you can even play with different fonts and styles to give an appealing look to the invites.

After the invitations have been created, make sure that you have included all the essential information like the date, time and venue so that there is no confusion from the guests side. Invitations need to be sent at least 3 - 4 weeks in advance so that the guests can make the necessary arrangements or take leave from their offices to attend the special event. To add more uniqueness to the invitations, you might even be interested in decorating the cards with small beads, ribbons, seals etc. These supplies can easily be purchased at affordable rates from any nearby stationery stores. You might even be interested in taking the advice of your friends and relatives who will be happy to share tips and advice on how to make the cards more appealing.

If you are on a tight budget, then these photo baby invitations can also be downloaded from the online websites absolutely free of cost. All you have to do is pay for the postage stamps at the time of sending out the invitations to the guests. The effort put in by you for the baby shower invitations will be cherished by the entire family of the mother to be for the rest of their lives.

Make your friends baby shower a memorable occasion with photo baby shower invitations. At photobabyshowerinvitations.com we bring together the best collection of personalized baby shower invitations available from quality online suppliers.

Photo Blankets Make Unique Gifts

It seems that each year around the holidays and birthdays, it becomes harder and harder to find the perfect gift for someone on your list. There are so many gift options out there that it makes it impossible to really choose from all that is available. When most individuals are looking to purchase a gift for someone, they want it to be unique and personal. They want it to be that one thing that the person will appreciate and enjoy. For a gift that is unique and personal as well as practical, many individuals turn to photo blankets.

This particular gift is practical because many individuals use blankets to not only decorate their home but also to keep warm on a cold winter night. What makes photo blankets unique is the fact that individuals cannot go to the store and simply purchase the gift. They have to be special ordered and they are pretty much one of a kind. The personal aspect of the gift comes into play because of all the time and effort the gift giver puts into the gift. Photo blankets are completely customizable so it is up to the gift giver to put the thought and effort into making it something the recipient will love.

When it comes to photo blankets, there are many different styles to choose from. For a traditional style, individuals can choose a blanket the features one particular image. The one picture would take up the whole surface of the blanket. Another style for this particular blanket is a collage. Instead of using one rather large image, the blanket can be made up of a series of different images to show a collage of pictures. Depending on the size of the blanket, individuals can put up to 16 images on a blanket to make the collage.

In addition to the photos that are included on the photo blankets, individuals can also add other features to further personalize the blanket. One addition that can be added to the blanket is wording. Individuals can add a title or a caption to the photo. A nice way to personalize the blanket is to put the recipient's name and the date on the blanket in order to commemorate the event. In addition to adding wording to the blanket, individuals can also add a border. Gift givers can choose from numerous types of boards to accentuate the photos in the blanket. There are numerous types of styles and colors for the boards to choose from, making the photo blankets even more unique.

When it comes to giving photo blankets as a gift, there are many different reasons and occasions to give them. One popular time to give this particular gift is at a wedding. Giving a bride and groom a personalized blanket with their photo and wedding date on it is something that they will cherish for a long time to come. In addition to wedding gifts, photo blankets are also perfect gifts for anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas. Photo blankets are also a great gift for individuals who have just become parents. Many parents would love to have a blanket that has their child's picture on it. Many grandparents would enjoy this gift as well. Each holiday or special occasion provides a reason to personalize the blanket when giving it as a gift. However, gift givers do not necessarily need to wait for a special occasion to give this particular gift either. This blanket is something that can be given to an individual at any time just to say thank you or to let the individual know that you are thinking of them. Whatever the reason, this gift is something that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Andy West is a writer on a variety of topics, including blankets. Consider giving a set of personalized blankets such as photo blankets the next time you want to commemorate a special occasion.