My Latest Favorite Camera Setting

Most of us keep our "point and shoot" camera on the automatic setting as we take our photos.  I do the same because, after all, it is a "point and shoot" camera and the whole point is to keep photo taking easy.  I never read my camera's owner's manual, but every once in awhile, I discover a feature that makes it worth shifting from the automatic setting.  My latest favorite camera setting is the "macro" setting designated by a flower symbol.  It's great for close up photos.  Most of us think of close up settings for nature, but there are also great opportunities for close up settings in family photos.  Here are just a few photo opportunities that would be great for the "flower" setting: a birthday cake, the face painting artwork on a child, a child's masterpiece, a holiday ornament, your child's note to Santa, Thanksgiving turkey on a platter just before carving, and many more.  If you're taking a photo of a baby, try using the setting and take a photo of your baby's toes or fingers or the back of her neck.  Good luck and have fun!

It's All About the Photos

We all enjoy looking back at photos.  Who can resist looking at their grown child's baby photos and fondly remembering holding that precious little bundle?  My kids love looking at their own baby photos.  They love looking at photos of past birthday parties and holidays.  It truly is a gift to your children and to yourself to take photos.  You don't have to be a great photographer or have a professional style camera.  You just have to have a camera and be able to pull it out and click away.

I wholeheartedly recommend having a small point-and-shoot camera that you carry with you all the time.  We've all experienced the regret of not having a camera with us when we wished we had one.  If you're in the habit of carrying a small camera with you, you won't have to worry about remembering to bring the camera along.  I have a Canon Digital Elph camera that's small enough to fit in my purse or in my pocket.  A lot of people have camera cell phones, which could serve the same purpose (if the photos are high enough in quality to use in photo albums.)

Taking photos is a lot of fun, even if you're not a "photographer."  The more you click away, the more likely you are to find that jewel of a photo that just perfectly captures a child, a beautiful scene, or a wonderful experience.  When that happens, you'll be excited to take even more.