foto gifts now available on foto depot!

Taking Family Portraits

Looking for some tips on creating perfect family portraits? Here are 7 elements for a successful photo:

Location – Choose a location that is large enough for the number of people. Also consider what kind of background you are going to see in the photograph. A treed area, a garden, a gazebo, a fountain or a fireplace can provide a great background. Ensure that you think about this when choosing your location. For large groups, you may want to place people on the front steps of a building to ensure that you capture everyone. Keep your background simple so that it doesn’t take away from the people in the photograph.

Composition – It’s important to establish a connection with your subject and to ensure that you have a focal point. People don’t always have to be positioned in the center of the photo. Look at your background. If there is a significant element in the background, such as a tree, you may want to position it to the left or right of the photo to create a more pleasant photo composition. Review last month’s article on the elements of good photo composition.

Posing – Don’t have everyone pose exactly the same. This would be boring. You don’t want everyone just standing there. Family members should be placed in many different positions but ensure that everyone’s face is visible. Arrange people in a circular or oval pattern with smaller people in front and bigger people in the back.

Props – When necessary, plan your photo by using props that are not seen. For example: If you have eight people, you can use a table to create a resting place for the arms of the four sitting in the first row while the four in the second row can be standing.

Lighting – If you choose to take a picture indoors, you want to avoid standing in front of a window as this causes reflection. Take your photograph during the brightest part of the day so that you can take advantage of natural light. Open all the curtains to get the light in. If needed, use overhead light or a lamp. If taking photographs outdoors, position the sun at a 45 to 90 degree angle to the group. Make certain that all members of the group are either in the sun or in the shade. This will ensure that the brightness of the photograph is more consistent.

Angle – Try taking the photograph from different angles. The camera should be placed at the correct distance and at slightly above eye level with the tallest person. Everyone’s eyes will look more open and it will minimize the effect of double chins. Remember to take lots and lots of photos!

Cropping – Try cropping photos to achieve different results.

By following these guidelines, you will begin creating family portraits that will last a lifetime.

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest

Travel to Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, and experience one of the largest Bavarian festivals in North American. Kitchener, formerly named “Berlin”, has a long history of German roots including a large population of people with a German heritage.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest began in 1969 and was based on the original German Oktoberfest. It is held every October starting on the Friday before Thanksgiving and running until the Saturday after. This nine-day festival attracts over 700,000 visitors annually.

Enjoy beer-based celebrations and other cultural and entertainment attractions. Events and activities include a Pancake Breakfast, Barrel Race, Fashion Show, Treasure Hunt, Car Show, Oktoberfest Idol, Rocktoberfest concert, Hip-Hoptoberfest, games and competitions for families with dogs, and much more.

On Thanksgiving Day, experience the greatest Thanksgiving Day Parade in Canada featuring bands, traditional dancers and floats. You’ll also run into the festival’s mascot, Onkel Hans, a rotund man in Bavarian dress with a thick moustache and traditional felt hat with tassel. Another icon of the festival is Miss Oktoberfest. There is something for everyone!

For more information go to http://www.oktoberfest.ca.

foto source in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

If you visit Kitchener-Waterloo area, be sure to stop by one of our foto source stores:

Bent's foto source, 96 King Street South, Waterloo, 519-886-1320. Open Mon. – Thurs. 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fri. 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sat. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., closed Sundays.

Japan Camera Centre J054 foto source, 550 King Street North, Conestoga Mall, Waterloo, 519-746-7528. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 9:00 pm; Saturday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm; Sunday 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Photo Master foto source, 385 Frederick Street, Kitchener, 519-744-9581, Open Mon. – Thurs. 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fri. 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Sat. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., closed Sundays.

Click here to find a store near you!

$2.00 Off foto source Pink Ribbon Memory Cards

Receive $2.00 off when you purchase a foto source Pink Ribbon Memory Card between October 1 - 31, 2009 at a foto source store near you.

Click here for your in-store coupon

foto depot backgrounds

You now have the option of choosing backgrounds when creating foto books and calendars on foto depot. You can choose a solid colour or even insert a photo as the background. Our foto books just keep on getting better!

Wish your family and friends a “Happy Holiday Season” by creating personalized foto cards. Simple and easy to make! Choose from a variety of templates. Place your order by going to foto depot today.

What is it?

Can you guess what this image is? Click here to send in your answer for a chance to win a $25.00 foto depot gift certificate. Answers must be submitted by October 20, 2009.

Optical and Digital Zoom

Optical zoom uses the optics (lens) of the camera to bring the subject closer. Optical zoom lenses “move” you closer to the subject without sacrificing quality. The higher the optical zoom rating on a camera, the farther away you can be to take a photograph and still get a clear, close-up image.

Digital zoom, on the other hand, crops the image and then digitally enlarges the portion you zoomed in on. The result is a loss of quality.