One of the most common email questions I get is what kind of camera do I use?
I was hesitant to write about it in a Sunday Love post because it is a bit of an investment piece & I like to keep these posts more everyday items but hey, if you guys keep asking then why not answer right?
A few years ago, Sam’s 1st Christmas actually, P & I decided it was time to invest in a really nice camera. After all, these moments with our kids are going to be images we cherish forever. I’m absolutely camera illiterate so P did all the research & we ended up with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital SLR Camera
I’d say there are three things I’ve learned since having this camera that are the key to getting shots like these…
1.) Never EVER use the flash. Just turn the darn thing off. Or better yet, buy one of these
2.) Use the macro mode (it’s the setting that looks like a tulip) whenever you want to take a photo with detail. For a crafting & cooking blog this is a must.
3.) Make friends with a photo editing program. I <3 Picnik in a major way. It’s just fabulous. And free. And did I say fabulous? So incredibly easy too, I’m sure one day I’ll learn photoshop but for now this if more than perfect.
So there you go, my photo secrets. Try not to burst with excitement, ok?
Those are good tips!
My mom bought me the Dummies Guide to the Rebel T2i. I initially balked at the idea, but it was actually very helpful. I almost read the thing cover-to-cover. I nearly exclusively use the manual mode because of the book. My pictures have turned out much better, too.
Oooo, that’s a good tip. I love the Dummies books, I’ve bought the one for sewing and the one for training a dog. (yep, I did)
I have a Rebel T2i, that book sounds GREAT! Also, do you have an external flash, I have been contemplating getting one–I have 3 lenses, so I figure that’s my next step?! I use manual at times, but fall back on auto more than I would like.
If you ever want to learn to break out of manual mode, I recommend the Clickin Moms forum. I stared blankly at the manual feeling like a total moron off and on for ages, but I learned more in the tutorials on that site in weeks than I have before or since! I don’t currently have a membership b/c I don’t have enough hours in the day to do everything I want so I kept finding that I wasn’t being an active contributor… but I credit them 100% for my understanding of my camera!
sorry, break out of automatic. ha. or break into manual. But not really break out of manual. Preggobrain. I also didn’t put a coffeecup under my Tassimo yesterday. Champion.
Oh what a fabulous tip! I HATE that I know my camera does so many more fantastic things that I just have no clue how to do, a blog with tutorials would be amazing. Am totally going to do that. And forgetting the coffee mug, yep, been there done that. UGH. Bless your heart.
Thanks for this post, because I was wondering the same thing. I really want to start taking better pictures of my family, and I always end up using my camera on my phone, which is not so great. Thanks for the information.
Also, through your site, I started following Lil Blue Boo, which has become one of my favorite blogs (besides yours). It is amazing to see her journey and how positive she is, and I just wanted to thank-you for posting her on your site. Every morning I religiously look at Little Pink Monster and then go to Lil Blue Boo 🙂 Thanks!
Oh good! I’m amazed at how strong Ashley is, you’ll have to let her know I sent you over! (:
I have the same one and I LOVE it too! You seriously have to get the canon 50mm fixed lens or “portrait lens” that lens made my pictures look good to great! And with that lens I used to always shoot on Av mode when I was learning and now I shoot totally on manual!
Really? Oh, you’re totally getting me psyched to learn how! And I’ll definitely look into that lens, you’re pictures always look so good!
I just got the 50 mm lens for Christmas! I need to take more pictures with it and play around with the manual setting!
a very, very, VERY inexpensive way to bounce your on camera flash is buy using a plain ol’ business card! I just recently did this to my Nikon d40 and our xmas morning pictures came out fantastic! Just take a business card, trim to fit into your external flash slot, bend upward towards the flash and tape it to it. Kinda like this http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQrkymgpc6BLYbu-V7aLdOzs8kS1kxGPeCPFJGu6-fbaQXfQGhb, but i tape my card directly to the flash itself.
This trick has worked magic! And you get soft, but well lit photos like this… https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/395397_10100676519931112_68100636_50801668_1456496864_n.jpg
I’m not photographer, and am not ready to shell out $$$ for fancy camera accessories…. so i go the DIY route. 🙂
What a clever tip! Thanks Nelly, I’ll be trying that asap
I’ve been following your blog for 2 years and I’m surprised you shoot on auto! Darcy explains how to get on auto in 31 days. One simple blog post at a time, go at your own pace. I think you’ll understand aperature since she equivocates it to a pregnant mama’s dilation 😉
http://my3boybarians.com/31-days-to-a-better-photo/
and after you get through those basics, she did another 31 days series of tips
http://my3boybarians.com/31-days-of-photo-tips/
Oh, thanks Mindy, that sounds perfect! I’m at alt summitt now with Susan from Crafterhours and she was shocked I use auto too, she’s giving me a quick schooling on how to use manual but I think those posts would be fabulous too…thanks!
Just got an email…Picnik is CLOSING in April!! :,,(
P.S. I am a picture fanatic…And also guilty of not knowing all the amazing things my camera can do and always shooting in automatic. And although I have literally thousands of wonderful photos…I am kinda scared that if I get to really know it, I will be depressed that I didn’t do it sooner and missed out on snapping some great pics of my now 8 year old daughter. Silly huh?
I know!!! I just heard Picnik is closing too, which makes me feel like a big dork for posting about it. /:
And don’t worry, I’m the exact same way about my camera, this week at Alt I learned a lot about how to use my camera in manual mode…perhaps now I’ll actually try!
Thank you so much for giving the tip on Picnik I added it to my Google Chrome and its Amazing LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
-Sheila 🙂