5 photo tips for preserving your summer memories
By Elissa Brown
Who said summer days are lazy? Whether it's a wedding, a new addition to the family, or a fun-filled vacation, summer is often packed with activity. And if you're like many people, you'll be capturing memories on a digital camera. Here are some tips to help you have fun with those summer memories!
In addition to these tips, don't forget to back up your photos. Windows Live OneCare can back up all your important files automatically on a regular schedule so that you don’t lose valuable digital files in the event of a problem. OneCare also protects your computer from viruses, spyware and other threats.
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Do you need the bells and whistles?
The days of carrying around a gigantic camera bag with various lenses, flash bulbs, and spare rolls of film are over. Nowadays, there are a lot of compact or ultra-compact digital camera options that you can carry in your pocket. If you are new to digital photography or simply looking for a new digital camera, you don't need all the bells and whistles to take great shots.
There are several key elements to look for when selecting a camera, including the image quality. If you have an older digital camera, you may want to look at replacing it with one that's at least five megapixels. A pixel is a single point in an image. One million pixels equal one megapixel. The more pixels you capture, the better your image looks when you enlarge and print it.
Lower-resolution cameras (up to five megapixels) deliver sufficient resolution for attractive prints, even at sizes of 8 by 10 inches and larger. But if you're a serious shutterbug, a seven-megapixel camera provides more control over your photographic results. For example, you can crop shots more drastically without compromising image quality. Nikon and Canon offer compact point-and-shoot cameras that sport seven to nine megapixels and fit perfectly in a purse or pocket; you may even find you get many of the same features offered in more cumbersome models.
Experiment with software
One of the best aspects of digital photography is the ability to manipulate and enhance photos on your PC. A few years ago the options were limited; professional-grade software like Adobe Photoshop was available but intimidating to many novices, not to mention time-consuming to learn. These days you don't have to be an expert to enhance your digital photos on the PC. A good choice for beginners looking to learn and grow in the art of digital photography is Microsoft Digital Image Suite.
Here are some ideas for easily enhancing your photos:
| • | Combine black and white and color. Black-and-white images bring out details that may have been missed in traditional color shots. Or, create a stunning effect by combining black and white and color. |
| • | Fix camera phone pictures. Images taken on a camera phone are often blurry. Make the most of those shots with the one-click Camera Phone Auto Fix.  Enhance camera phone images in one click with Digital Image Suite. |
| • | See the big picture. When the view is too large to capture in your viewfinder, try taking a series of shots and stitching them together later on the PC. Learn how to create great panoramas.  The intuitive panoramic stitching tool in Digital Image Suite stitches both horizontally and vertically. |
| • | Erase unwanted objects from photos. Have the perfect shot of your family on vacation but there's another person in the background? Learn how to easily remove unwanted objects or people from photos with the Smart Erase tool in Digital Image Suite. |
| • | Straighten a tilted shot. Most of us don't carry a tripod wherever we go. Say goodbye to crooked photos with the Straighten Picture tool in Digital Image Suite.  Digital Image Suite makes it simple to straighten crooked shots with just a few clicks. |
| • | Turn photos into a calendar. Once you've enhanced your photos, try using your photos for a project like a photo calendar. These make great personalized gifts and you will be ahead of the game come the holidays. Not to mention, enjoying photos from the summer will be a great way to warm up the cold days of winter. |
Bind your images in a timeless photo book
Telling stories is an art. So when the summer has ended, why confine the experiences to a pile of photos? Display your album as a beautiful piece of art on your coffee table without the fuss of cutting and pasting prints into an album. There are a number of Web sites that make it easy to create beautiful photo books. Try Snapfish.com, which lets you add captions to help you remember your summer memories for years to come. Snapfish offers 11-inch-by-9-inch books (with a minimum of 20 pages) that are bound with a professional hardcover binding in linen or leather. Prices start at less than U.S.$20. Smaller FlipBooks, which hold 20 photos, are also available and make great keepsakes, especially for weddings or the birth of a new baby. Prices start at less than U.S.$5.
Use your images to tell the story
Another good way to help preserve summer pictures is to create a Photo Story and then burn it onto a DVD to send to your friends and relatives. They will love sharing the memories with you. If you have never created a Photo Story, it’s easy to get started. Friends and family will be able to view your Photo Story over and over again on the PC using Microsoft Windows Media Player or on their TV through a DVD player.
Make a video
An increasingly popular way to preserve memories is through digital video. Digital camcorder sales are on the rise all over the world, growing at a double-digit pace for the past two years (InfoTrends/CAP Ventures). In addition, many models of digital cameras also capture digital video.
But remember, most people won't want to watch three hours of footage from baby's first birthday. Try editing the party down to a five minute mini-movie that everyone can enjoy. If you're new to video editing, Microsoft Digital Image Suite PLUS is a great choice.
The package includes Pinnacle Studio version 10, powerful yet easy-to-use home video-editing software. With Pinnacle Studio version 10, it's easy to add titles, transitions, music, and special effects like pan and zoom, and then effortlessly preserve and share your memories on DVD and the Web. If you really want to make a movie quickly and easily, pick a clip and a music track and let the SmartMovie feature do the rest for you. Click here for more information on using Pinnacle Studio version 10.
Digital Image Suite PLUS also includes Microsoft Digital Image Suite for organizing, enhancing, and sharing digital photos.
The hot days of summer are busy ones filled with many wonderful events and experiences. Don't let your digital memories fade. With the right tools, you can help summer last a lifetime.
