Blog.Photobucket.com

Embracing SLR Cameras

by Tom Munro, CEO

With the holidays just around the corner, many of us will be eager to capture special moments by taking photos of friends and family. And with the popularity of SLR cameras on the rise, I thought I would provide a few tips to help you get started. Even though most SLRs feature preset shooting modes, transitioning from a point-and-shoot can still be quite overwhelming. Despite this learning curve, the results can be very rewarding, so just take it slow and be patient. You will love the pictures you can take!  

First, read your instructions. It may seem simple, but this is often something we overlook when buying new electronic ‘toys.’ Sure, some gadgets are self-explanatory, but your camera’s instruction booklet is an important one to read. It will walk you through all the features of your camera so you’ll be able to make the most of your investment.

Next – start exploring the menus and settings. Bloggers Kevin and Amanda say you should prioritize learning the concepts of Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority. This will go a long way in helping you understand lighting, depth of field and where to focus. And then you’ll be able to get those great, dramatic photos where one object is in focus and the background is blurred. Lifehacker also has some great tips to check out as you’re exploring, too.

Then, practice! Don’t wait until you are at the family Christmas party or the New Year’s Eve party you are hosting or you may miss those fleeting moments you want to capture on film. Instead, set up a time to try your hand at different techniques at home with your dogs, kids, friends, significant other – basically, anyone and anything you can use as a subject. The point of this is to just get comfortable with your SLR.

Finally, take off the auto mode training wheels and put your camera into manual mode – this is, in fact, why you decided to get an SLR in the first place. In part two of Lifehacker’s look at SLR cameras, they break down how to use your camera in full manual mode. The possibilities are limitless, so don’t be afraid to try new things here – you never know, you might stumble upon something amazing!

Don’t have a SLR or are hoping to get a one for Christmas? Here are the top SLR cameras of 2011 according to ZDNet. Good luck, and happy snapping this season.

-Tom

Tell Your Summer Story!

You took tons of summer photos, and want to make them look their best before showing off, so today we're going to show you cool ways to Share, Print and Edit your photos with those you care about the most!

Editing:

With a few clicks, you can turn your summer photos into creative projects.  Here's how:

1. Log in to Photobucket and click "edit photos" at the top of the page. Select the image you want to edit, which will then launch the image editor:
   
   
2. From here, you can make your summer photos pop with the "Color Splash" effect, or add a cool summery look with the "Cross Process" effect on the Retro Tab.  Don't forget to take a look at the other tabs on the page, as there are tons of sweet ways to edit your photo!
3. To watch a short tutorial on editing ideas, click here!

Sharing:

Sharing your summer photos or even a whole album is fast and easy with Photobucket! Here's a quick way to share a photo:

1. Log in to your Photobucket account and hover over the image you want to share.
   
2. Click the "Share" button. You'll see some options like these:  
3. Click the option that fits your need. You can share using Facebook, Twitter, email and more.   Add a message and tell your friends and family what your photo or video is about! 
4. Watch a short tutorial showing you how easy it is to share! 

Printing:

Printing photos is a great way to always have your stories with you. From simple prints to fun collages, we offer great options for you to print your summer moments. It's easy:

1. Log in and click "My Home" at the top of the screen.
2. Click "Order Prints & More".
3. We have partnered with the leading printing service, Lifepics, for all your printings needs.  You can order prints, make cards, calendars, photo books, and gifts of all sorts!
4. Click here to get some fun ideas on print projects and learn more! 

We hope you enjoyed learning about the easy and fun ways to share your summer memories with friends and family! Keep an eye out for further features we're bringing you at Photobucket!

Mother’s Day Gift Idea

With Mother’s Day around the corner, get a head start on giving Mom a unique gift with a scrapbook. We have partnered with Scrapblog to enhance photos by including personalized backgrounds, stickers, text and more. Try the new QuickMix feature that easily lets you select photos and automatically builds your pictures on the background and style of your choosing. 

Take advantage of free ground shipping for all print orders through Monday, May 10. Order your prints today to guarantee an arrival for Mother’s Day!

Try a Mother's Day Scrapblog kit! If you are in your album, click “Scrapbooks” to check out more themes!