5 simple ways make the most of your pictures

Last year I teamed up with a group of my favorite bloggers and wrote 5 simple ways to improve your photography. This year I want to give you five ways to use those fabulous pictures you’re accumulating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Make a book. So many photography printing services offer books now and they are a great alternative to all those 4 x 6 prints you never got around to putting in an album. Make it your goal to print a book every season or every year. I promise you’ll be so glad you did. The easiest way to do this is to either save your favorite images in a folder named 2012 album on  your computer or upload your favorites to your printing company each month. Don’t wait till the end of the year and find yourself sorting through thousands of digital files. You’ll get frustrated and give up.

2. Make a calendar. I do this every year and I print several and give them as gifts to family members. We love seeing the new image every month.

calendar

3. Print canvases. I fell in love with the gallery wrapped canvas this year and I collected quite a few. They are so easy! They come ready to hang, no frames to worry about. And, they look great on your walls!

wall

4. Join a group project. I’m participating in Darcy’s project 52. It not only gives you a way to share your images, it motivates you to use your camera and practice what you’ve learned.

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5. Make a personal goal. Whether  you join a Project 365/52 or not, if your goal is to improve your photography, then no matter what level you’re at making a personal goal to learn something new or shoot in a different way is something you should do. Last year I made it my mission to learn to shoot fireworks. I accomplished that goal on July 4 and later, entered that photograph in my county fair and won best of show.

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I hope this gives you some ideas to put into practice this year. Enjoy your photography journey and don’t just let those files sit there on your computer, do something fun with them!

 

Check out the other 5 Simple Ways Blogger’s Posts:

  • Jen – beauty and bedlam

    Melissa  – I fall into the habit of never doing anything with the hundreds of pics on my photo card and you are full of great ideas for memory making. Thanks for sharing.

  • http://hikingtowardhome.com/ Sharon@HikingTowardHome

    I am determined to attempt to make several photo books. My goal this year is to focus more on my photography. :-) and actually get photoshop and LEARN TO USE IT!
    I needed this post to keep me motivated. Thanks!

  • http://hikingtowardhome.com/ Sharon@HikingTowardHome

    I am determined to attempt to make several photo books. My goal this year is to focus more on my photography. :-) and actually get photoshop and LEARN TO USE IT!
    I needed this post to keep me motivated. Thanks!

  • Carey

    Thanks for the great ideas! I too am guilty of taking lots of pictures and never doing anything with them. I’ve seen several friends on facebook post pictures in a folder named Project 365 and never knew what that was. Now I have some insight into that.

  • Amy

    I’m guilty of doing nothing with my thousands of pictures.  A couple weeks ago I spent about 20 minutes and made a 4 minute slideshow to music with pictures from 2011.  If you have a Mac it comes with software that is beyond easy.  So my goal is to go backwards and make slideshows/DVD’s for each year.  The kids love watching them.  Once I get those done I will move on to making slideshows of individual events like birthdays and such.

  • http://profiles.google.com/robyndstone Robyn Stone

    I need to order canvases for a few photographs from this past year. Thanks so much for the reminder!!! Do you have a favorite lab that you use?

  • http://afamiliarpath.com/ Melissa Stover

    i have canvases from easy canvas printing, white house custom color and color inc. my personal favorites are from color inc. but really they all look good

  • http://candoprinting.com/catalog/presentation-folders Nora Helens

    So many things can be done – postcards, calendars and even making personalized gifts like pocket folders that have pictures on them for the kids schoolwork or art projects. These are all great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing.