Unexpected Destination

We abandoned the saw

2009-11-04T15:35:18-05:00

Do you grade on effort or performance?

This summer Carpenter ants felled a big tree in the river where we swim and launch our kayaks. Most of the tree has been under water until now. Now: Newmarket has opened up their dam for maintenance and the river has gone down substantially. We've never seen it so low. A good part of the tree isn't submerged any more--though there is a lot of tree top under the water.

Neil really wanted to go down and see if we could saw it up. Got down there and found that would require standing in 4 feet of freezing water. And even getting to the water required navigating a steep and oozy drop off (first challenge was pulling one of Neil's boots out of the mud). So he borrowed our neighbor's Come Along (we thought it would work--it pulled Neil's car out of a messy situation recently--another story ;) ). So I shimmied out and wrapped the rope around the tree and we tried. No luck. And the rope we had that was long enough wasn't real thick and we were worried about it snapping. Then we thought it would be good if we could cut the main branch to all the major branches under water. So I shimmied back out and sawed ---- for a long time . . . I think I must have been at least 3/4s of the way through -- and then the cut closed up on the saw and it wouldn't budge.

Neil said I made a great effort--that he really wanted us to at least try :) Unfortunately I've never graded on effort. I like performance!

Christmas is both a collective and an individual experience. Record that on your scrapbook pages.

2009-11-03T13:06:08-05:00

When you include memorabilia on your scrapbook pages you create an account of your culture at that time AS WELL AS your individual experience within that time. For example, take wrapping paper: the colors, images, and styles reveal: 1) the times in which the paper was designed; and 2) your choices and preferences in those times. Imagine creating and sharing an album that incorporates a variety of Christmas souvenirs alongside photos and journaled memories.

In a her online class "Souvenirs of the Season," Sharyn Tormanen is ready to take you on a holiday ride that begins with peeks at both cultural and personal histories of Christmas memorabilia. From there she’ll show you the practical and creative aspects of gathering your own Christmas souvenirs and then getting them onto holiday pages. Don’t miss this experience that’s sure to trigger memories of holidays past while inspiring rich memory-keeping of holidays future.

Class starts November 17th, and anyone who took this class last year is welcome back at no charge. You'll receive access to the private forum on the 16th.

Your mother will take a bullet for you - chatting with folks at Applecrest Farm

2009-11-02T07:19:40-05:00

Isaac has been talking about going to Applecrest since early September. After many busy (or rainy) weekends, we made it--and just in time. Bluegrass music, hayrides, pumpkins, apples, cider doughnuts---and being together. We sat for a while watching music near a man who told me about how my heart would be broken when my sons grew up and attached themselves more to their wives' families than to mine. He told the boys to remember their mother was their best friend--that she'd take a bullet for them before their wives would. So . . . it's always good to be reminded that every day is important and these times will pass so I need to treasure them now . . . and then it's time to move forward, so we excused ourselves and took a storybook hayride. It was fun, really.

I forgot the card for my camera. :( So . . . used my iphone. Which means low quality bluish photos. These I edited with Totally Rad Actions' Sparta and they were greatly improved. Love the shot of Isaac eating with the band behind him because I remember how he was moving to the music as he sat there. He was feeling it. Josh was just feeling tired and lousy. I guess a Friday night real-time sleepover and a Saturday night virtual sleepover (chatting on x-box live with 3 of his favorite friends til after midnight) will do that.

Would you participate in our memory-keeping survey

2009-10-31T22:00:41-04:00

click here to participate in: Memory Keeping: Do You?

I'm interested in the ways we tell and preserve our stories. Whether you consider yourself an active memory keeper or not, I'd love to hear from you. What's more, I'm happy to share the results with all who participate.

I've been offering online classes alongside 12 other teachers at Get It Scrapped! for two years now. The result is a heck of a lot of information about scrapbooking, photography, journaling, page design, product use, digital techniques and much, much more. We're in the process of making changes to the Get It Scrapped! website so that much of this information we've put together can be accessed for free. We want anyone who is inclined to "Get It Scrapped!" to be able to easily find the resources needed.

Collecting and presenting these resources has raised the question: what do current (and would-be) memory keepers need and want? Thus this survey. The questions are short, and all of us at Get It Scrapped! are appreciative of any time you're willing to spend answering them.

What's in it for you? We're glad to share the results with you AND we hope to build a better website informed by those results.

click here to participate in: Memory Keeping: Do You?

Cropadile + foam sheets + army helmet = triceratops head

2009-10-30T09:35:47-04:00

It all worked out much easier than I'd anticipated. Joshua went to party last week so he's all set with a camo-motif costume, but Isaac had a different dream --- and we'd (I'd) procrastinated out of worry that I didn't understand the dream: a Griffin-Triceraops dude. We took the cropadile to an army helmet and attached a foam frill and horns. The beak is what's really awesome and they boys totally did it. (Very little work went into Joshua's costume, so he pleaded putting off homework for the satisfaction of costuming his brother). He drew a pattern with tabs and fold lines and had Isaac cut it out and sew it up. I don't know what I was planning to do, but it was nothing like this beak (and they cropadiled some eyelets for the string to hold it on).

Isaac was thrilled with the random goofiness of his costume and danced and sang Eye of the Tiger cracking us up. As he settled in to write several homework assignments, Joshua put on a mustache and goatee (with glue-dots!!! ow!) (Also, I think this might be my first photo of Joshua with his newly short hair and new glasses.)

Stamping is a great technique for layouts, cards & other projects.

2009-10-29T09:35:10-04:00

Get It Stamped! 101 is the first in a series of stamping classes from Sharyn Tormanen.

Geared for the beginner, but packed with enough tips and secrets to delight an intermediate stamper, the lessons in this 6-week class will have you eager to add stamping to your layouts and projects.

Each of the 6 weekly lessons includes a step-by-step tutorial as well as multiple examples of finished products using the featured technique. You’ll come out of Get It Stamped! 101 understanding how to use and choose from a variety of stamps and inks, make good impressions, use masking techniques, fill your images, and do basic embossing. Plus, you’ll be ready to move on to the follow-on classes in 2010.

Start Here: with one piece of inspiration & the desire to play

2009-10-28T10:14:33-04:00

It's always fun to make a page with something new or inspiring in mind. This page, Harvest Time, was begun with just that: a little inspiration (and the desire to play with digital product to get something new).

Harvest Time | Digital Page

I looked through the November issue of Creating Keepsakes while waiting for my husband at an appointment. This page, "Shoes" by Amy Peterman, caught my eye -- first because of the awesome title--but, then, it was that mat with pinking on 3 sides and a torn notebook edge on one side that I kept looking at. I like to do a lot of layering and I'm always looking for good mats or foundations -- this would definitely add interest to a page.

And -- it provided a way to play with my digital product stash. I remembered Katie Pertiet had some torn notebook edge masks (they were one of my early digital purchases!) and I knew there were lots of border templates in the Designer Digitals store, too.

I layered and sized the edge and border masks until I had a good fit. I merged the two layers and then clipped this patterned paper from Lynn Grieveson's Fall Festival Kit. I had a great new piece to layer into a page--and I'm keeping that new merged mask handy.

start here: beginning a new scrapbook page

2009-10-23T09:23:50-04:00

A big part of the fun in scrapbooking for me is in coming up with a composition that 1) lets me include several photos and 2) looks good. Working this out is the equivalent of solving a puzzle (and many of you know that I love math puzzles). Solving the same puzzle, though, can get old so I'm always looking for new angles. My angle this week is to think about "the divide." I started each of these layouts with the thought that I wanted to divide the page in half.

"Autumn Outing" has a vertical divide and "To School 09" has a horizontal divide. They were fun to make. They include several photos. I like looking at them. Puzzle done. Scrapbooking enjoyed :)

All supples are from www.DesignerDigitals.com. Click on the page name to see supply links.

Autumn Outing

To School '09

Looking for other starts? Jane Howden will be posting a new sketch in the Get It Scrapped! public forums this morning and a challenge to go with it. Everyone who participates in Jane's Friday challenges this month is entered into a drawing for an October Work In Progress kit.

Other starts? Doris Sander's Product Pizzazz classes are available in self-paced form. Each includes detailed product, technique, and design lessons and then ends with a "Use It Now" challenge.

It's time to make some "Sweet Treats" for fall events

2009-10-19T09:01:58-04:00

My sons plan to get started on their Halloween costumes this week. While we're at the craft stores, I'm going to buy the supplies I need to make my favorite goodies from Trish Turay's Sweet Treats Fall class. She's collected 16 projects with step-by-step instructions including photos, recipes, and lots of fun printables into one download-now document.

We're going to make the Scarecrow heads first! Trish's instructions are full of great tips for awesome-looking finished treats--like how to successfully attach that carrot nose to the popcorn ball. For the tricker-or-treaters we'll use our crimper and Halloween-themed patterned paper to make candy containers--and then, in November, we'll make those containers again using different paper suitable for Thanskgiving table favors.

If you're looking for creative ways to surprise a party hostess, delight a classroom of kids, or just spend a fun Saturday afternoon with your children, check out Sweet Treats Fall.

Several guest photographers help you take better photos of your kids

2009-10-16T16:46:39-04:00

Are you ready to start taking awesome photos of your kids?

There's still time to get into Your Kids: Captured Through the Lens with Katrina Kennedy. You'll get written and video lessons as well as live chats with Katrina. Additional forum support, inspiration, and tips come from moms who are already taking fabulous photos. Photos shown here are by (from top to bottom) Katrina Kennedy, Sharyn Tormanen, Myra Cherchio, and Melanie Grimes. A smidge of their advice follows. You'll learn about lighting, props, approaches, camera settings and more. Your Kids: Captured Through the Lens covers techniques useable by both dSLR and point & shoot users.

Katrina Kennedy says: "Capturing your kids is about being ready when they are. Batteries charged. Memory card in the camera. Settings at the ready so you can grab the moment before they grow."

Sharyn Tormanen says: "I realized that with my kids this year I did something a bit different with each of them - which makes sense because they are different ages, and different things work for different kids."

Myra Cherchio says: "Don't make your kids perfect! Let them be themselves!"

Melanie Grimes says: "I have always used 'action and distraction' when photographing kids - if they are doing or thinking about something else, you get better natural pictures."

new sketch bundle - 3 coordinated sketches for scrapbook pages

2009-10-16T09:28:18-04:00

Every Friday at Get It Scrapped! one of the teachers posts a sketch in the Get Sketches Forum. Today is one of my Fridays and I've got a bundle of 3 coordinated sketches posted. Layered psd files are included for digi scrappers. We'd love to see your work in the Sketch gallery AND each Friday, Jane Howden posts a challenge that incorporates the sketch. She'll be doing a drawing for a Work In Progress October kit courtesy of Trish Turay at the end of the month from all who've participated.

My {digital} scrapbook pages inspired by Doris Sander's {paper} scrapbook pages.

2009-10-15T09:47:19-04:00

The last 10 months I've had the pleasure of reading (and studying) every one of Doris Sander's lessons for her classes at Get It Scrapped!. This amounts to hundreds of beautifully illustrated explorations of theme, design principle, and technique applied to the scrapbook page. Check out these layouts from Doris' classes and my own pages inspired by the ideas she presents. I love how Doris has helped me look at possibilities for using product and for approaching the blank page. Notice: all of my pages are digital; all of Doris' pages are paper. Her classes are fabulous for anyone who wants to get their memories onto pages thoughtfully and beautifully.

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Establish theme before you pull any product. This is the foundation underlying every one of the lessons in every one of Doris' classes. "Time 2008" is by Doris. "Time with Grandpa" is mine (click for larger pop-up of any layout).

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Cleverly executed titles are great thing. Check out the alpha detailing on "Shark Week" by Doris. "Heart of a Farmer" is by me.

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Try "Diagonal Pull" for your page flow. Doris uses this masterfully on so many of her pages. Here's one: "I got the Blues." "Hobos" in March" is by me.

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Use borders! In all kinds of ways -- here to divide a page in half. "Busy Bees" by Doris. "Airborne" by me.

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Use images that support your theme . . . and stitching is always a nice addition. "Sunbeam" by Doris. "Sunshine Math" by me.

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How can you study with Doris?

Product Pizzazz 201: Details is running live now. (earlier classes are not prerequisites). Product Pizzazz 101 and Product Pizzazz 102 are both availabe in self-paced form. You immediately receive links to the 8 lessons in each -- within 24 hours you'll receive access to the private forums and gallery where you can see the extra resources and chatter, ask your own questions, and see and share layouts.(On sale thru Oct 22.)

Starting the day happily -- LOVE this collaboration video

2009-10-14T08:14:30-04:00

Woke at 5 with a cold. Laid in bed sneezing and snuffling til 6:20 and realized the laundry with the boys' clean pants was in the washer. Got it in the dryer and nagged the boys to get out of bed. Checked my email and thought about how I was too tired to make breakfast. At 6:45 I started the French toast and the boys finally stumbled down at 6:50 (we need to leave no later than 7:20). Boring story short: they always crack me and each other up -- joking about their own slow space-cadet behavior and wild hair and inability to find a book. Then we're in the car with dry pants, still-wild hair, and two more boys from the neighborhood. And now it's four boys with wry early-morning humor.

Things just keep getting better. I get settled in with my diet coke and google reader and find THIS (via Chris Brogan)! Which is a perfect start to my day and confirmation of what I've been working on recently. I'm collaborating with 5 other designers on a project right now and the work they're doing is feeding my energy and taking the project to places I hadn't originally envisioned. Collaboration rocks!

Grandma Hugs Everyone

2009-10-10T09:53:13-04:00

Last Sunday we hightailed it down to Marlborough to "help" Mom at a cash and carry show. The show was a good one -- seems lots of store owners have put off buying their holiday items and now need to get their stores filled up. Julie was there, too! Got these photos of everyone breaking down at the end of the show. Isaac was into it. At the end, Joshua and I were sitting on bench watching Julie, Isaac, Mom, and Gary (a man who works at the trade center) load up the van. Mom paid Gary and hugged him. I said, "Look Grandma's hugging the guy who helped her." Joshua said, "Grandma hugs everyone!"

Before heading back to NH (and sending Mom and Julie on their way west) we had dinner at Longhorn with lots of good "catching-up" chat. Wish we could see family more often. Grateful for these days.

note: I'm finding the best fixes for low-quality photos taken on my iphone are these Totally Rad Actions: clarify + punch out + warm it up, Kris.

Ten things I learned from Pattie Knox (about digital scrapbooking techniques)

2009-10-10T08:41:54-04:00

I love working with and learning from Pattie Knox.

Her bright and cleverly-named digital scrapbooking products in the DesignerDigitals store are indicative of her personality: smart and fun. Pattie’s digital techniques lessons are envisioned, written, and taught with an intelligence and humor that is irresistible. I love watching the thrill her students get from learning cool (and useful!) techniques. What’s more Pattie’s excitement for those achievements usually results in a good bit of whooping-it-up in the class forums.

Even More Mad Digital Skillz starts this coming Tuesday, October 13, and is the fourth class in Pattie’s Mad Digital Skillz Series. None of the classes are prerequisites for others. I hope you’ll consider joining Pattie and an eager group of digital scrapbookers in this 3-week workshop. While you can always catch it in the archives, it’s a lot more fun to do it live!

In closing, I’d like to share 10 things Pattie has taught me
(and would love to teach you):

#10. Pattie took the mystique out of masking for me
(Mad Digital Skillz Lesson #1)

#9. Pattie showed me how to tear it up
(More Mad Digital Skillz Lesson #2)

#8. Pattie taught me a nifty dry embossing technique
(More Mad Digital Skillz Lesson #2)

#7. Pattie convinced me it was okay to bend things a little
(and fold and crease them, too)
(Still More Mad Digital Skillz Lesson #5)

#6. Pattie taught me how to stop and reflect
(Still More Mad Digital Skillz Lesson #1)

#5. Pattie revealed that it’s easy to get a little grungy
(Still More Mad Digital Skillz Lesson #2)

#4 Pattie helped me embrace the “dingbat” within
(Even More Mad Digital Skillz—coming Oct 13!)

#3 Pattie shared her best techniques for being a “cut-up”
(Even More Mad Digital Skillz—coming Oct 13!)

#2 Pattie showed me how to “get real”
(Mad Digital Skillz Lessons #5 and 6)

And, finally,
#1 Pattie showed me that as puzzling as life can be, it's always possible to put it all back together
(More Mad Digital Skillz Lesson #6)

We hope to see you in class next week!

Debbie Hodge

It takes a lot of software to make a website

2009-10-09T19:34:00-04:00

Guess what online message boards I hang out at when I’m not at Get It Scrapped! or Designer Digitals. . .

I wish I could say it’s a writing or scrapbooking board – but, actually, I’m at the forums for the various software packages that make the Get It Scrapped! website.

I go to get a little css, mime type info, instructions for customizing hooks. . . and help on installing the never-ending software upgrades. There’s Invision Power Board, Ad Butler, Parachat, Mailchimp, Xcart, Magenetic One, BKBackup, Hostgator, Squarespace, Typepad . . . and there are surely more I’m forgetting. While running a website is a lot less expensive than a brick-and-mortar business, it is still not free. And taking care of the technical stuff is a daily responsibility – and, for me, often a challenge. Thus, I am grateful for the kindness of those strangers who help me daily. In addition to all the other users in the forums who are generous with their knowledge, I get great help from Jason and Mark at Invision, Scott at BkBackup, Olga at Xcart, and a whole group of folks at Hostgator.

Have you seen the forums at Get It Scrapped! lately? Software is an awesome thing! I love the new features we’ve gotten with our Power Board upgrade (which I did a few weekends ago to try and alleviate the problems of a few people who were having chronic problems logging in or staying logged in). Not only did this fix our problems, it gave our community a whole new feeling.

At the top of the forums are the last four images uploaded to the public albums in the gallery (and if you’re logged in and taking a class—those are included). The result of this feature is more time spent by our members in the gallery leaving love for the many awesome layouts, cards and projects.

Top of the right sidebar is our shoutbox—a very cool feature. It’s a chat room that’s always open (and click on it for full screen shouting). Say good morning. Ask a quick question. Make a smart remark (that would be Tami and Torm). It’s an easy way to communicate with the group. Also in the sidebar are blocks with the newest threads, latest status updates from members, and our top posters. Plus – there are the actual forums, with several open to guests who aren’t registered; these have sketches, hybrid lessons, sample classes, and challenges.

Of course, the essence of this forum is in the people hanging out here. Our teachers put a lot of time into their class forums. There’s an ebb and flow to who’s hanging out in any month or season. People come and participate deeply, and then perhaps are less present as they take care of other aspects of their lives or concentrate on other creative pursuits (or maybe technical pursuits)---but then they come back! And what a treat it is to hear from them again, and how wonderful it is to have the steadies keeping the collective memory going.

So I started out to post about how much work it is to run a website and I’m ending by saying thatI love the community at Get It Scrapped! so much that I’ll keep going to those other resources to make sure it all continues to run smoothly.

New online classes starting: digital scrapbooking, photography, art journaling, and stamping

2009-10-09T09:38:16-04:00

Your Kids: Captured Through the Lens with Katrina Kennedy

October 12 – October 29

Cheesy grins and funny faces? Fast-moving subjects? Uncooperative teens? Capturing your kids in photographs can be tricky. Join Katrina Kennedy, and look through the lens to explore techniques that let you take kids’ photos with less frustration and better results. What’s more, you’ll get the advice of several guest photographers who happen to be moms with infants, toddlers, adolescents, and teens.

In six lessons you’ll explore methods to capture your children’s photos in creative ways while minimizing headaches you may have experienced before. You’ll receive step-by-step instructions for virtual assignments and supportive, safe feedback in our private online gallery. Three videos and one interactive chat provide additional support. Class is suitable for any camera type and all levels of experience.

Even More Mad Digital Skillz with Pattie Knox
October 13 – October 30

Pattie Knox has 6 new lessons and a great bundle of digital product ready for her next class, which starts October 13th. Even More Mad Digital Skillz is the 4th class in the popular "Mad Skillz" series from Pattie, who is a digital product designer at DesignerDigitals.com and former contributing editor to CK’s Digital Scrapbooking Magazine. Each lesson includes an advanced technique for amping up your digital pages and projects—explained in a way that any user of Photoshop can understand and use.

This class is designed for users of all versions of Photoshop Elements from Version 3 up to Version 7, as well as Photoshop CS through CS4. Some familiarity with your software is needed—but not much! As in all of Pattie’s classes, you get more than lessons: you get hand-holding and awesome company in the private class forum as well as a great assortment of digital products from her friends at DesignerDigitals.com. This class includes 8 full page kits perfect for the fall season.

The Grafitti of My Life (creating an art journal from loose pages to finished book) with Dina Wakley
October 27 – November 20

Are you ready for an artistic challenge? Do you want to take your art journaling to a new level? If so, then get ready to channel your inner “grunge,” and join Dina Wakley in Art Journaling 301: The Graffiti of My Life. In this project-based class, you’ll explore the words that are meaningful to you and put them in an art journal that you create on loose watercolor sheets and bind into an artsy, grungy journal.

Art techniques included are: color field wash backgrounds, manipulating stencils and inks, making inclusions to tip in, confined collages, and book-binding. Don’t worry if you’ve never bound a book before…there will be extensive written materials and how-to videos to help you every step of the way.

Get It Stamped! 101 with Sharyn Tormanen
November 2 – December 7

The lessons in Get It Stamped!101 will have you eager to get your hands inky and adding stamping to your layouts and projects. Sharyn Tormanen developed many of her stamping skills and techniques while designing for stamping companies Close To My Heart and Technique Tuesday. In this class, she’ll cover the basics of supplies and techniques while mixing in lots of tips and tricks that not-so-new stampers will appreciate. All of the 6 weekly lessons include a step-by-step tutorial as well as multiple examples of finished products using the featured technique. You’ll come out of Get It Stamped! 101 understanding how to use and choose from a variety of stamps and inks, make good impressions, use masking techniques, fill your images, and basic embossing. Plus, you’ll be ready to move on to the next classes in this series that Sharyn will continue in early 2010.

AND THIS ONE ALREADY STARTED . . . but there's still several awesome lessons left

Product Pizzazz 201: Details with Doris Sander

September 28 – October 22

Doris Sander knows how to make scrapbook pages that capture meaningful moments and look gorgeous. A part of her success lies in the attention she pays to details. Join Product Pizzazz 201: Details, and start playing with style and technique to bring out the theme and mood of your pages. Study design principles that give layouts structure and balance. Practice using product to polish your pages and give them a “wow” factor. Each of the 8 lessons in Product Pizzazz 201: Details ends with a "Use It Now!" challenge that is sure to get you motivated and inspired to scrapbook.

What I don't "get" and what I do "get"

2009-10-08T05:33:00-04:00

I don't "get" the fun in running around being shot at and shooting at others with airsoft guns. HOWEVER, I "DO" get the pleasure there is in finding friends who share your passion for an activity and then spending time with those friends.

Making It Happen | Digital Page & Supply Links at Designer Digitals

Joshua was SO EXCITED about having several friends over for airsoft games --- they kept trying to make it happen and FINALLY it did -- on Monday after school. Here's a scrapbook page from that afternoon -- and actually I need to fix it because the leaves are covering up Connor's gun (when Joshua saw that he was appalled!).

I'm also sharing here a layout of me with my writing friends from MANY years ago. Oh, how we loved to talk about our stories and writing techniques and books & stories we loved.

And . . . just one more layout of me with scrapbooking friends at Disney. Yep. We sure did like talking "shop."

Ah, to have hobbies and passions and good friends to share them with.

are you interested in taking your digital skills to a new, higher level?

2009-10-07T17:57:22-04:00

Pattie Knox has 6 lessons and a great bundle of digital product ready for her next class, which starts October 13th {and here's an awesome coupon: When you register for Even More Mad Digital Skillz and one other class from the the Mad Digital Skillz series use coupon code 2MADDIGI to take $15 off your total purchase. Use by October 12.}

Even More Mad Digital Skillz is the 4th class in the popular "Mad Skillz" series from Pattie Knox, digital product designer at DesignerDigitals.com and former contributing editor to CK's Digital Scrapbooking Magazine. The class includes 6 brand new techniques for amping up your digital pages and projects.

Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS offer so many possibilities that many times we don't even know what we don't know! Learning new techniques and putting them to use is satisfying for many reasons: there’s the mental challenge of learning and mastering new skills, the joy that accompanies creating, and the pleasing feeling that comes from having your memories and photos on great-looking scrapbook pages.

This class is designed for users of all versions of Photoshop Elements from Version 3 up to Version 7, and as well as Photoshop CS through CS4. Some familiarity with your software is needed—but not much! If you understand how to create a layered document and have a rudimentary understanding of the tools, you're good to go. All of the lessons include detailed step-by-step instructions!

As in all of Pattie's classes, you get more than lessons: you get hand-holding and great company in the private class forum as well as a great assortment of digital products from her friends at DesignerDigitals.com. This class includes 8 full page kits that are well suited for the fall season.

When friends or family ask for a photo of your kids --- do you have one you want to share?

2009-10-07T11:13:10-04:00

With school starting this last month for us, both of my kids have needed shots of themselves to use on posters. Then, last night, my husband asked for a shot of the boys together to send to his Aunt Sandy. Should be easy, right? I take several hundred photos a month. The problem is, I take candids and everyday life photos, but I shy away from portraits and posed photos. Why? Because everyone puts up a fuss ("I have to comb my hair?") and the photos never turn out as I'd hoped. Thus, I have no recent photos of my kids that show them in the best light.

This month, though, I'm excited about the outline for Katrina Kennedy's new class, Your Kids: Captured Through the Lens, and my kids are sure enough going to be in some great photos. I might even send out a holiday card this year! In addition to the topics listed below, Katrina's invited several guest photographers (who have kids of their own of all ages) to spend time in the forums sharing their knowledge, tips, and photos.

Class starts next week, so register now and get ready to capture your kids: through the lens.

Here's a peek at what Katrina Kennedy has planned for Your Kids: Captured Through the Lens

AVOID THE CHEESE
choosing a shooting mode
getting cooperation
6 tricks for a natural look

CANDID MOMENTS
seeing the light
6 places for great light
goofing it up

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
choosing a lens for the look you want
making do with what you’ve got
6 fun action shots

PROP IT UP
using depth of field to tell the story
7 props for smiles and laughs
using props to gain cooperation

FROM BEHIND
composing the best shot
seeing your photo before you shoot
6 important moments to grab

NO COOPERATION
shooting in unusual ways
7 details to photograph
getting everyone in the photo