Christmas Photography Tips and Tricks

With Christmas right around the corner, I thought I would share some tips and tricks to ensure you get some great pictures to remember Christmas 2013 for years to come!
Tip 1: Take pictures when people aren't paying attention.

You get the most genuine expressions when people aren't trying to look good in front of the camera. The pictures I have when people aren't looking become some of my favorites.
Tip 2: Take pictures of the ornaments that are important or sentimental to you.

Take pictures of ornaments that mean the most to you, and write down why they are important. For example, in the top picture, the ornament with the white lace? My grandma made that before she died. And it was on my mom's tree. My first Christmas in my new house my mom gave it to me to put onto my tree. Someday, I want my children to know why it is so special to me.
Tip 3: Take pictures of your tree.

This may be an obvious one, but I think its very important. I have started taking pictures of our tree every year to see how it changes. My boyfriend and I don't have children, but when we do I expect that our tree will change very much. Right now it is a lot of store bought ornaments with a few sentimental ones. I expect that ratio will change after we have children. I think the tree is a good indicator of how your life has changed Christmas to Christmas. 
I hope you can utilize these tips to capture some of your Christmas on film (err.. on memory? What do we say now that we use digital cameras?!) whether you use a DSLR or a point and shoot.  And I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

5 Reasons To Use StumbleUpon

Okay, so don't kill me, internet, but I actually haven't been pinning a lot lately. Don't get me wrong. I love to glance at the app every now and then, but I haven't been hardcore like on-the-actual-computer pinning.
(That's the technical term. You know what I'm talking about.)
I have been using StumbleUpon. Have you heard of it? It's kinda like Pinterest. Except, more men use it. And me, apparently. 

Reasons Why I Think You Should Use StumbleUpon

1. (Better) Creative Content. Pinterest has a Design section, yes, but to me, it just feels like an awful lot of inspiration, rather than tutorials. I can Stumble through the Graphic Design interest (my favorite) and see TONS of tutorials, freebies, and other articles that aren't available on Pinterest. I think the reason that some aren't on there is some just don't have pinnable images. (I try to keep my favorites on both, if possible.)

2. You actually read the articles. I don't know about you, but I rarely click through on Pinterest. And when I do, I'm often disappointed that it is linked to a picture, or worse, to a website that just  repins things and doesn't give the source. Or worstest, TUMBLR. Ahhh. I love StumbleUpon because I actually read the articles. And comment. And give love to the original writer.

3. You find the best stuff from all over the internet. Stumble all of your interests. It will find you some awesome, funny, and sometimes weird things from all edges of the internet. Because you aren't limited to using pictures, like you are on Pinterest, you can find some really cool articles. Or Javascript games. Like this one called Incredibox that lead to Dakota and I fighting over who could be the better mixer.

4. Lots more interests to choose from. 512! :) And if you "Like" (or Thumbs Up) enough pages from a website, SU will ask if you want to see more pages from this page, essentially adding it to your interests list!


5. Channels. Channels are like Stumbling a certain website. For example, recently, Dakota and I have been very into watching TEDTalks. They are very interesting, and make you think. TED has a channel on StumbleUpon. So I can stumble through TEDTalks and learn some new things! Some other channels I follow: The Beauty Department, DeviantArt, Food Network, and Cosmo. I just recently got into using the channels feature and can see how it will be VERY ADDICTING. Have you tried reading The Beauty Department? That is one of those websites that I can just keep clicking links all day long. 
I know StumbleUpon won't replace Pinterest in the blogging world, but at least give it a chance. You never know what kind of fun, interesting stuff you will come across!

Graduation Photo Dump

I am officially a college graduate! Well, not officially, because I have to wait until AUGUST for my diploma, but whatever. I participated in the ceremony, therefore, in my eyes, I am a college graduate.
It makes me kind of sad to be done, now that it's over. I feel like a whole part of my life is over. Most of mine and Dakota's relationship took place in college. Now that it's over, we will be spending far less time together. But really, we aren't one of those couples that are together 24/7. I will admit that I like to be home when he's home.. but I usually do my own thing. Anyways.
My graduation day started with lots of being lazy. We were both off  for the day, so we slept in. We went shopping. And then, I got my hair done. First time dying (erm, bleaching) in four years! My appointment was made for 1 PM to allow time to do everything, but my stylist didn't realize I didn't have any dye in my hair. The bleaching took like 20 minutes. Also, I didn't realize my hair was soooo long until Christina posted these pictures on Instagram later. I love her. If you are ever in the area, stop by and see her! She is seriously the best.Check out her Instagram of all the cool stuff she does! I really want some bright colors in my hair already. And its been blonde less than a week haha.
And what is really cool is she just left my natural hair the color it was.. so that it will grow out better than if she had dyed my hair darker. 

(Image Credit: Christina Steelman)
And she curled it for my graduation.. these curls lasted til after I got home.. like 10 PM. My hair is notorious for letting go of curls. But those stuck. Now I need to figure out how to use a curling iron.. Dakota loved it curled. (I use it and nothing happens. No curl. Tutorials, anyone, for dummies??) 

(Image Credit: Christina Steelman)
Close up of the color transition.. this is Ombre, folks! I love it!

(Image Credit: Christina Steelman)

And after waiting TWO HOURS for instructions, the graduation commenced, and I managed to find my parents afterward... (it was a MADHOUSE!) Forgive the cheesy smiles that will commence.....

My dad pretending to be short like us...

I obviously did NOT get the tall gene.


My mom wanted a picture with just us... :)




And of course one of my man and me.... First picture together in a long, long time. I definitely need to get in front of the camera more!

And here I am with my big smile..officially a college graduate!

Well, that's all folks. I'm done with college. Time to be an adult I guess.

But what if all I really want is a Capri-Sun and a fort with some coloring books?

Growing up is scary. But so exciting to start a new phase in my life!