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Five simple tips for taking memorable vacation photos

By Tom Munro, CEO

It’s hard to believe that winter break has already come and gone. I managed to sneak out and take my son skiing last weekend, and I hope you had a chance to squeeze in some family together time before the kids go back to school. Not only do vacations provide families a much-needed break from the daily grind, but I also think they’re a great opportunity to capture some special moments together. And because of that, I wanted to share a few of my favorite quick tips to help you capture those memories while traveling:

1. Make a plan for power. Not it’s not as fun as thinking about cool backdrops or funny poses, but the simple fact is that dead batteries ruin great photo opportunities. Learn to manage power with spare batteries and chargers (plan ahead with a power adapter, if you’re going international), and you’ll never miss that epic “shot that could have been.”
2. Protect your gear. Cameras and smartphones are particularly susceptible to damage from moisture and falls, so take proper precautions, especially if you’re active. Invest in a padded, waterproof camera bag, keep memory cards away from anything with a magnetic field while going through airport security, and consider picking up a pack of silica gel to further reduce moisture, if you’re headed someplace humid.
3. Avoid clichéd shots. Resist the urge to pose people awkwardly in front of landmarks and monuments. Not only will your family’s patience wear thin (I speak from experience), but it also makes for generic pictures post-vacation. Instead, make it a game to challenge the group to create clever poses and compositions that haven’t been done before.
4. Plant the seed. Usually one person assumes the role of unofficial family photographer, but don’t let that be the default on family trips! They don’t have to be expensive – even a drugstore point-and-shoot will do – but giving kids cameras is a great way to keep them entertained as they capture the vacation from their perspective. You may be pleasantly surprised at what they can come up with!  
5. Remember the three B’s: Bring storage, Back up files – and above all, Be creative! The first two are pretty self-explanatory; there’s no use in taking the time to take great photos if you run out of shots the second day of the trip or – I hate to even say it – accidentally delete everything. So pack ample storage, and remember to regularly transfer photos to your online account (Photobucket!) to make sure those memories are safe. But, bottom line, enjoy your camera, experiment with new lenses, functions and features and just have fun with photography on your trip. Whether it’s an international excursion or a short staycation, you’re making memories that are worth capturing.

If you have any other tips to add, please feel free to share them in the comments below.

-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!

Create Cute Valentine's Day Greetings

Get creative this Valentine’s Day and send your special valentine cute greetings and messages! Whether it’s showing love to your BFF, boyfriend, girlfriend, mom or dad, we have launched a bunch of features and tools to help you create your perfect greeting.  Here are some ideas for your Valentine’s Day project:

Create a slideshow!

Turn your favorite photos into a video-like slideshow with a heart themed border and transition! Slideshows are a fun way to bring movement to your photos and remember them in a unique way.  Click here to start!

Add cute stickers and icons

 From scene-looking smiley faces to adorable “I love you” stickers, add something fun to your photos! Look for the Valentine’s Day tab in the image editor or click here to start creating!

 

Want to be cupid?

You can! Insert your face into a cupid body and send it your friends! Get started here! (Or click "edit" on the photo you want to use and click the Valentine's tab)

 Have a huge crush on some cutie? There’s no time like the present to show them you like them, type a cute little message and see what can happen!

 

Want to get really fancy?! Try a neat effect of chopping up your photo and making a cool collage out of it.

1.       Select the photo you want to use and click “edit”.

2.       On the “Basic” tab, click “crop”

3.       Crop the photo in 4 equal parts (or as equal as you can get). Select the first area and click “save a copy”.

Select your original photo again and crop it again, but this time in the middle of the photo. Click “save a copy”.

 Do this 2 more times so you have a total of 4 photos.

 Once you are back in the album, Click “edit photos” and “create collage”.

 

Select the “1x4” portrait layout and load each photo that you just created.

Optionally you can change the background color to a festive red.

Once you are happy with your photo, click “customize” and type a message, add stickers or anything you want to add to the photo.Voila!

Fall Photography Tips

Fall is a great time to experiment with your camera and capture some beautiful colors. From gorgeous landscapes to intimate close-up shots of leaves, here are some photography tips and ideas on how to photograph fall foliage:

Composition: This term is used when talking about how objects are positioned in a photo. How you compose a shot is telling a story of what you want to focus on. In the photo below, the focus is on the red leaf compared to the neutral colors of the rocks in the background. Try off-centering objects in your photo to show what you want to focus on.

Perspective: This is similar to composition but is more about the photographer's position in relation to the shot. Are you standing above a leaf looking down on a leaf? Or do you want to catch a sunset behind a tree? Where you are in relation to the object affects the perspective of the photo. In the photo below the photographer got to eye-level with the leaf to get a level view.

Macro: Macro photography is a style of shooting images super close-up where you see lots of texture and detail. Check out our previous tutorial on how to turn on the macro feature on your camera. Most all cameras have this feature and it's a great setting to experiment and play around with. Try turning on your macro setting and get great leaf and pumpkin textures.  

Color Adjustment: After you have uploaded your great fall shots to Photobucket, try enhancing them with simple and easy color adjustments. Select the photo you want to edit and on the "Basic
 tab, click  "Adjust." Slide the modules to adjust the coloring and saturation you like best.

Before:

 After:

 

Color Splash: Apply the fun and eye-catching color splash effect to your fall photos and get a unique look! Click here for directions on how to make a color splash photo.

 

Fireworks Tutorial

Happy 4^th of July! If you are planning on taking in some fireworks this year to ring in the 4^th, here are some easy tips on how to take great looking shots.

 Point-and-Shoot Cameras:

• Turn off the flash of your camera. (Flash is a lightning bolt looking icon.)
• Use a tripod – It will eliminate camera shake which causes your photos to be blurry.
• Change your camera to Night Mode. Refer to your camera’s manual on how to navigate to this mode.
• Low ISO (80-100) - You don’t need a high ISO because the fireworks won’t stand out in the photo like you want them to with a high ISO and you don’t want a grainy looking photo.
• Don't press the shutter as soon as the fireworks explode. Instead wait for the trails to appear and take your shot. Play around with timing to get a shot that you like.

  

 

SLR Cameras:

• Use a tripod
• For best results use a remote release, it will reduce camera shake.
• Switch to bulb mode and the shutter will remain open as long as you hold the shutter down. 
• Shutter: Slow shutter to around 3 seconds.
• Aperture: A small aperture F8 will make the firework trails thin and dark, whereas a larger aperture such as 2.8 will make them thicker and lighter. Experiment with your aperture setting to see what you like best.
• Low ISO (80-100), you don’t need a high ISO because the fireworks won’t pop in the photo like you want them to with a high ISO and you don’t want a grainy looking photo.

 

Check out our Fireworks category and enter your photos in our 4^th of July Contest!

Create Funny Father's Day Greetings

Father's Day is June 20th and instead of giving the gift of a tie, grill or slipper set, make Dad something he will remember. Easily create a fun and free Father's Day greeting card with our Image Editor features. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Click the "Edit" link above the photo you want to edit. Hint: Try experimenting on an old picture with funny expressions.

2.  Click the "Decorate" Tab, then click "Text" to add funny text. Type in your message, and select the font size, color and for the message.

 

3. Explore the other editing features such as adding stickers or borders if you want to add additional unique effects. 

4. . Click "Save a Copy" after you are satisfied with all your edits, and you have yourself a funny and personal Father's Day greeting!

 

Check out our Father's Day Category for more inspiration and ideas!

Create a Graduation Collage

Create a fun collage with all your memorable graduation photos! Here are a few simple steps to create one:

1. Navigate to the album that you want to use to create a collage. Click on the "Edit Images" link at the top.

2. Click "Create a Collage" on the dialog box that appears.The Collage Creator launches.

3. Select the layout that you want.

 

4. Click "Load Photo" to select the photo you want programmed in that spot. Repeat as necessary.

5. Click "Customize" at the top of the Collage Creator after you fill all the spots.The Image Editor appears.

6. Add a border, add text, add stickers, etc. all to your collage. 

7. Click "Save a copy" to save your collage.

Voila! You now have a great keepsake for all your fun graduation photos!

Create Mother's Day Greetings

Your momma is so....WONDERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL! Show Mom you love her with a unique greeting on your favorite picture. It's simple to create a personalized and memorable photo card that Mom will always remember. Here are a few tips:

1. Click the "Edit" button above the photo you want to edit:

You are now in the Image Editor.
2.  Click on the "Decorate" Tab, then click "Borders". Select a border that you'd like to add to your photo. You can adjust the width of the border, color, etc. at the top of this page so be on the lookout for those options. The photo below uses the "Daises" border.

3. Add a special message! On the "Decorate" Tab, click on the "Text" box. Enter a message and select a font, font color, and size. 

4. Add some stickers! On the "Decorate" tab, click on the "stickers" button. Browse through dozens of stickers and select any that you like.

5. After you are satisfied with all your edits, click "Save a Copy" of your photo and you have yourself a lovely  unique Mother's Day greeting!

Log in your account and start editing! Not sure what to say? Head over to our Mother's Day category and find a greeting that fits your personality!

New Color Splash Effect

Try our new Color Splash effect!  Transforming your photos with the Color Splash effect just got easier with our brand new effect in the Image Editor. Color Splash allows you to keep certain areas of your photo in color while the rest is black-and-white. Here’s how it works:

 

1)    Click the “Edit” link on the photo you want to edit. This opens the Image Editor.

2)    Click the “Effects” Tab, and select the first option: “Color Splash”. Your photo turns black-and-white.

3)    Drag the brush (black dot) over areas you want in color. You can select the brush size to apply the effect to both small and large areas.

4)    Click “Save a copy” when you are satisfied with all the areas to create your new Color Splash photo!

Share your fun Color Splash photos in our Color Splash group album, or check out our Color Splash category!

Adding Borders to Your Photos

Add a professional touch to your photos with the "Borders" feature in the image editor.  Choose from a handful of fun styles to make your photos stand out and give it an authentic feel. Here are some simple steps on how to add borders to your photos:

1. Click the "edit" button above your photo.

2. Click the "Decorate" tab and select "Borders". A menu with border options will appear. Play around with each border to see which is the best fit for your photo. The photo below has the "Vignette/Matte" border applied because it has so much extra space around the edges.

 

3. Voila! You have yourself a great professional looking photo!

 

Bokeh Tutorial

Have you checked out our cool light photography category Bokeh? Bokeh refers to blurred areas of a photo where only a certain portion of the image is in focus. It’s a very unique and beautiful effect that’s fun to experiment with. The holidays are a great time to experiment with Bokeh with all the fun festive lights hung up.  Here are some tips on how to create a Bokeh effect:

 Point-and-Shoot Cameras:

• Make sure the room you are shooting is dark and not too bright to get a better effect.
• Turn off your flash (the lightning bolt looking icon  )
  
• Select the Macro setting (the flower looking icon on your camera, see macro tutorial for more info.)
• Stand a few feet away from some lights. (Any kind of Holiday lights work well)
• Hold your finger out in front of your camera and hold the shutter button down halfway so your finger is in focus. (Remember not to press the shutter button all the way down)
  
  
• Now your camera is focused on the object in front of you and the lights are blurred in the back. Take your finger away from the shot and press the shutter button all the way down.

 

Voila!

 

Hint: After your pull your finger out of the frame, mess around with the zoom on your camera to play around with the size of the Bokeh. The more you zoom in the larger the circles will be.

 

SLR Cameras:

• Set your camera to AV mode.
• Select the smallest possible aperture. (f) number should be <f/4
• Place and object in the foreground and focus on that object so the background of lights is blurred out.
• Press the shutter and voila you should see hexagonal shapes on the background.

  

If you really want to experiment, try using cutout shapes and taping it to the lens of your camera. Test shapes, hearts, stars, anything you want to see in blurred lights.

Macro Photography

  Ever wonder what that little flower looking icon on your camera did?

It’s actually a really fun and impressive mode to shoot photos in.  The mode is called “Macro” and is commonly known for shooting close-up photography. When shooting in Macro mode, you can get really crisp and detailed photos of the object you are photographing. Depending on your lens you can get a small portion in focus while the rest is blurred to make the object you want to focus on stand out. It’s a great mode to shoot flowers, insects, food to show texture or anything you want to see details of. Try it out and check out our Macro category!

 

Jack-O-Lanterns Photography Tips

 

Share your creative and spooky Jack-O-Lanterns by taking memorable and fun photos. Here are a few tips on how to take photos of your Jack-O-Lantern masterpiece:

1. Use a tripod, or place your camera on something that’s sturdy, like a table.
2.   Place your pumpkin in front of a plain background or outside with a cool backdrop of plants or vines. Avoid putting it in front of a congested area as the design won’t capture as well.
3.    Light your pumpkin with at least 2-3 candles inside. The more candles you use, the more the pumpkin will glow. 
4. Turn off your flash to maintain the spooky glow of your pumpkin and keep your photo from getting washed out.
5. Use a manual setting or the TV mode to slow down the shutter speed if you are using an SLR camera.  Try a shutter speed of 0.8-2.5 seconds.

Take a few shots and experiment! Show off your Jack-O-Lanterns in our group album: