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Posts Tagged ‘Digital Photography’

So many different people have asked us about fixing the built in lens covers/barriers/flaps on their Canon Powershot SD series digital cameras that I’ve gone ahead and written some instructions. The barrier kit on most Canon PowerShot SD series cameras is a little tricky but not impossible to replace yourself. You will need patience, a good eye and a steady hand as well as a small screwdriver. We use dental picks, they work great!

To get things started, turn on the camera to extend the lens and then open the battery door and remove the battery so that the lens stays out. This allows you to easily work on the lens barrier assembly.

First the part we need is the ‘barrel drive ring’, it’s the ring with the small piece that sticks down into the lens. Some cameras don’t have one, so if there isn’t one in your kit then your camera doesn’t need it. Be certain that it will rotate slightly after installation, otherwise it is probably not installed properly and can cause the lens to get jammed.

Next are the springs and flaps. There is a small little tab that holds the spring in place when you put it on the ‘flap’ or ‘barrier plate’ as they are actually called. They are TINY, they are hard to hold and if you drop it… please take my advice and don’t drop it, ok? We do have just the springs available for purchase, but please try not to lose them.

Carefully put the cover or ‘flap’ in the hole with the spring pointing towards the post where the other end will connect, and then with something with a tiny and pointy tip (we use dental picks!) gently grab the loop of the spring and stick it on its post.

If you do this with the lens covers or ‘flaps’ in the open position they will stay in place once you get them properly seated. If everything pops off, just start again. Try not to stretch out the springs, they need to remain tight for the assembly to work properly.

Then gently put on the barrier cover, it’s a flat plastic ring. The tabs on the outer barrier cover match up with small slots in the lens housing and it will lock into place. Be gentle, don’t force anything too hard or you will break it and the parts will not hold it place.

Now it’s time to test your skills! Now we put the battery in and while crossing our fingers, turn the camera on! Did it work? Did it go *SPROING!* and all the parts flew across the room? Yeah I hope not, but I’ve been there myself so you’re not alone.

Once you have it working smoothly …you’re almost done with your first camera repair!

Next put the dual sided tape on the barrier cover. VERY IMPORTANT: Peel the tape off the yellow backing paper but DO NOT remove the paper from the side that is cut to match the shape of the tape!! If you take off the small paper part it will ruin the tape because it will fold and stick to itself. Bye bye tape!

The tabs fold over the edge, don’t let them stick out or the lens cover won’t fit and the lens will jam. Line up the tape tabs, starting at the 11 o’clock position and then fold down the tabs and press them in.

Now put on your chrome or black lens cap, line up the cap with the small indentation at the bottom, you’ll see how it goes on easily.

Fire up the camera again and admire your handywork! Good for you! You now know how easy… and yet still hard Canon digital camera repair can be, and the “Geek Squad” said that it was either unfixable or would be two hundred dollars and take several weeks to complete. Whatever Geek Squad… Whatever.

Hmm… I think I’m seeing the beginning of something big here; affordable do it yourself Canon digital camera repair

Technology and innovation has placed digital photography into the forefront in such a fast phase. Today the price of cameras are better, meaning it very common for adults and children to own digital cameras. This is due to their ease of use but also with the price coming down over previous years. They are also much more convenient to use and kids now become computer literate at a very early age. Due to the big number of consumers of digital cameras and prospective aficionados of digital photography, the number of companies and manufacturers of various brands of digital cameras has become quite numerous. It is no longer a problem of ‘where to buy’, but ‘what to buy’. The huge selection available on the market can make your choice quite confusing. When choosing the best digital camera, here are some important tips to take into consideration.

• Price

When buying anything, it is usually the price that is first considered, unless the buyer is filthy rich. as there are a large number of various brands of digital camera available, you should find it fairly easy to browse within your budget. Needless to say however, the more costly the camera is, the better its over-all quality is more likely to be. Therefore, if you intend to make a living out digital photography, putting more money in it becomes an investment and will be more beneficial to you in the long run. Otherwise, perhaps less features and cheaper prices may be a more attractive purchase.

• Intention for Buying

In connection with the price, you need to first think of your main reason why you wanted to buy the camera. As mentioned already, if it is to seriously take up digital photography, a good quality one will be the ideal choice. When using for everyday basic photographs then possibly a cheaper choice would be a camera with lower megapixels.

• Durability

If buying, whatever amount of money is involved, you will of course want something that is durable. Technically, the more money you spend the more durable the camera should be. Always check this by feeling the camera in your hands and talking to a store clerk. Always try and get a money back guarantee.

Aside from the abovementioned factors, there are still a lot of other important details to consider when buying a digital camera. Digital cameras can seem very ‘technical’, but you have to consider each technical aspect carefully. Below are some of the most vital features for consideration:

• Megapixel

Many of today’s camera is bought according to the number of megapixel the camera is capable of handling. With a wide range of megapixel cameras available, some thought into how you want to use the pictures must be considered. If you are into professional digital photography, then you may opt for the higher megapixel types since you may enlarge the photos taken without compromising the integrity of every shot. While for hobby and fun, there is no need for high cost, high resolution cameras.

• Lens Quality

Optical zoom lens of various cameras of today range from about 3x to 18 times optical zoom lenses. Largely, it depends really on your future intentional use of the camera.

• Feel of the Camera

It is important to make an actual test of the camera by putting it in your hands and testing its familiarity. You cannot rely simply on looks of a digital camera. It is best that it will feel right in your own palms to ensure great shots when already doing some digital photography.

• USB Capability

Today’s gadgets are now almost always linkable to the computer, making it easier to transfer, modify, print and do many other things with it. Today most cameras are already fitted with USB capabilities but always check. Be sure this feature is included for the sake of convenience.

• Manual Focus

Although optical zoom features are highly important, it would be handy to also have one with both zoom lens and manual focus. This makes adjusting your lens easy with full control given to the user.

• Tripod Feature

Although some may not find it important, it would be useful to have a camera that can be screwed to a tripod. This prevents pictures with blurred images. You won’t always need to use this, but it is convenient to have it when needed.

• Macro Setting

This feature, most especially in digital photography, will allow you to take photos of anything at a proximity of 3 to 4 inches. If you do not have this feature it may be rather frustrating, particulary for a photographer.

Other important features can be considered before buying a digital camera that will surely help you produce great photos. You individual needs will depend on how you use the camera. In order to fit within your budget you may be required to lose some features, so you may have to prioritise.

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Digital cameras have become phenomenally popular and have fast replaced conventional film reel cameras where personal use is concerned. The popularity of these cameras is in relation to how easy they are to use, less expensive for consumables, etc and the host of features that are present. A digital camera can be understood to be one that captured photographs and/ or videos by recording them in a digital format. The electronic image sensor is responsible for this process. There are some significant advantages digital cameras offer over conventional cameras- 1. High storage capacity per memory drive 2. Cropping capabilities 3. Basic image manipulation 4. Recording video with sound 5. Image display screens Digital Camera Bundles can be purchased now containing all of the components together. Of course, a solo digital camera may be purchased but there are cost advantages to getting the bundles. Digital Camera Bundle Packages are made up of the digital camera along with a number of other devices and accessories that are normally used along with the camera. Most people make the mistake of buying only the camera and then end up buying the accessories later individually as when the need arises. The separate costs of these goods add up phenomenally and you will end up spending more money than you actually need to. Since it is understood that you are going to need these devices sooner or later, it makes sense to purchase them all in one go and save money on the total. A major disadvantage of buying these accessories in bits and pieces is that you will have to be very careful that all your gadgets are compatible with one another. You’ll find that mismatches components to be a waste of money. When you buy a digital camera bundle you are assured of the quality of the products and also of their compatibility with one another. One of the most popular examples of digital camera bundles in the market today would be the Kodak EasyShare Bundle. Several additional accessories are included with the Kodak Bundle Package. Some of them include battery chargers and the actual chargeable batteries, printers and cartridges and cables. The geo tagging enhancement of some newer digital cameras is one of the more exciting features of late. As photography has crossed the limits of its conventional definitions of capturing moments and memories for family albums or that of professional pictures and gone onto become a popular passion and an exciting means of communication and expression, people across the globe are using their photographs to send messages, get across ideas or simply publish records of their experiences. Geo tagging attachments allow you to record and print the precise location of your whereabouts on the photographs you take. It is a great feature for travelers because they can store important information like: time and date, location, etc. whilt capturing important moments at the same time. Best Travel Camera

Ever since the introduction of the digital camera, a war has raged within the photography community. There are those that would claim 35mm film is the one true “professional” media, and digital its casual, amateur counterpart. Conversely as costs go down and quality increases, there is an ever expanding group of professional photographers who shoot only in digital. So what’s a consumer to think? Is 35mm still the way to go, or is it time to trade up for a new digital model? It’s time to break each format down and seal this deal, once and for all.

Digital:  Amateur?
It is true that there are many digital cameras on the market, and like their 35mm counterparts there is an endless supply of variables that can impact the images each one is capable of producing. Image quality (in terms of depth of field and color contrast) has always been a major concern for those that choose digital and is still one of the most common excuses heard from the opposition. Add to this the fact that finding a digital camera that could match the sheer raw data contained in a photograph on film was both arduous and incredibly expensive, and the 35mm enthusiast has a fairly solid argument.

Fortunately for the consumer, the price of an high quality digital camera has dropped sharply in the last few years. Canon’s popular “Digital Rebel” line of SLRs has given people an affordable (under ,000) entry-level camera that produces near professional results. And since Canon isn’t the only camera company, it’s a safe bet that consumers can look forward to even better cameras at lower prices in the near future.

35mm: Is it Antiquated?
In these modern times, why even use film at all? It’s certainly no secret that film has an unforgiving and often expensive learning curve, and recent trends show professionals leaning heavily on digital for precisely those reasons. After all, when shooting a big event like a Super Bowl, would it be better to have the potential for thousands of shots, or just the film in the bag? Sports photographers answered that question by taking over 10,000 digital images in a single Super Bowl game.

However, just as some music enthusiasts claim that everything sounds better on a record, there are still photographers who think that nothing compares to a fresh roll of film. In fact, developing film manually and printing photos in a darkroom is for some one of the most rewarding photographic experiences a photographer can have. Sure, photos can be endlessly edited and re-edited using fancy tools like Adobe Photoshop, but clicking a mouse is just very different than the tactile sensations of the darkroom. And of course, having someone else print up a roll of film only takes an hour or so.

And the Winner is…
Neither! Based on the accessibility of technology and the vast educational resources devoted to the topic, there’s really no defining point that wins this battle one way or the other. As with many debates, the winner here is going to be entirely up to the needs and desires of the individual. Families wanting to take pictures and share their memories on the fly often choose digital due to its instant gratification and convenience, while others like having photo prints to display them in a picture frame or album. Thanks to powerful yet affordable innovations in digital and the classic, do-it-yourself familiarity of film, the choice is now directly in the hands of the consumer- right where it belongs.

If you’re looking to improve your photo-taking, picking the right digital SLR can be hard; especially considering there are so many to choose from. Here are the top 5 rated budget DSLRs you should consider.

Should I buy a new DSLR digital camera?

The decision to buy a DSLR camera is a major one because DSLRs are so much more expensive and the equipment is filled with features that can easily confuse you. Keep in mind, however, that if you want to take photography seriously, then it is important that you have your own DSLR. It gives you greater flexibility in your shots because you will be able to manipulate the settings of a DSLR. Here are the other features of a DSLR which you can’t find in a point and shoot:

1. Interchangeable lenses. Do you wish to try macro or sports photography? Now you don’t have to worry about buying a separate camera to do this. By changing lenses, you can now shoot different subjects,

2. Manual controls are important if you want to explore your skills but if you don’t wish to be bothered by settings, then you can use auto controls which are already built in with many digital SLRs being sold today.

3. Digital SLRs also have higher ISO settings so you can have better images in any shooting situation.

Of course, you also need to remember that DSLRs have their disadvantages. Make sure you read this article about the pros and cons of a DSLR to determine if DSLR will fit your lifestyle.

Most people put off buying a DSLR because these are bulky and would need understanding of the basics of photography. The single largest factor though is price. To buy the latest and greatest Digital SLR camera you will have to be ready to spend thousands of dollars. Thankfully, there are several low-cost cameras which have full DSLR features.

What are the best entry level DSLR cameras today?

1. Nikon D60

Everyone loves a Nikon and those who were not satisfied with the D40 can opt for a more feature filled camera – the Nikon D60. It works the same way as a D40 so upgraders won’t have trouble using its features. The good thing about the D60 is that it has its own dust reduction system so you don’t have to worry about image quality even when you need to change lenses often. The kit lens produces great results and are the biggest improvement in this model.

Buy a new Nikon D60 Camera with Lens for $640 on Amazon

2. Canon EOS Rebel XS

Also known as 1000D or Kiss F, the Rebel XS is said to be a reheated version of the 400D. This camera comes with a 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, an autofocus system and its shooting capacity at 3.5 frames per second. It has Canons newest technology – their Digic III processor. The box inclues a Canon EF-S mount 18-55mm zoom lens so that you can start taking pictures after you open.

The Rebel XS has a built in CCD cleaning system to help remove dust so that you don’t have to try doing it yourself. Through this cleaning system, you can be sure that the quality of your images will always be at its best.

Buy a Canon Rebel XS Camera with lens for only $475 on Amazon

3. Olympus Evolt E620

When it comes to entry level DSLRs, the first name that will come up is Olympus. Often referred to as the “500D killer”, the E620 is more compact that its predecessors, but don’t let its size fool you. It is feature packed and is considered the best in its class. The camera has live view and several “art modes” that are featured on the much more expensive E-30. The best feature of the Olympus E620 is its Image Stabilization. Now you can change lenses anywhere but still get great shots without trouble!

Buy a new Olympus Evolt E620 Camera with two lenses for $652 on Amazon.

Digital photography can be great fun and also a refreshing exercise. Time-consuming darkroom processes are no more necessary to get decent photos thanks to digital photography. But you still need to learn those tricks which produce a good photograph. And the first thing will be to choose the tools that is best suited with your needs and tastes. For example if you want to record only your business and home events or your family holidays and not have much time to do that either, then choosing a full featured DSLR is going to be a waste of money and what is more you may not have time enough to master the numerous controls and end up taking hardly any or no good shots.

If you are a very busy and heavyweight person like a company GM you probably won’t be able to carry about a big flashgun or a tripod. Pick a basic DSLR model or a good quality compact. However if you want to be more creative in your free time you could go in for a light tripod and a good flashgun as well and possibly an extra tele or wide lens if you are making use of a DSLR. But if you want o truly get down to the thing then you have to do a bit more thinking.

If you feel you would like to travel out into the wilds and shoot a flowing rapid, or a soaring kite or a playing dog, invest in a steady and hardy tripod. Buy a hardy DSLR as well and one with a good frame speed and minimum shake and low camera noise during high ISO and low light shots. Maybe you can get a few lenses like a good a couple of good wide lenses a mid range zoom and a tele. If you are shooting animals then you must get a couple of good teles. Absolutely invaluable is a polarizing filter.

If glamour is your way, get a light weight camera and light lenses. Sometimes only one good range zoom lens is enough. Don’t make it too bulky or you can spoil your shots. Also get a strong flash, a studio flash system and special effect filters like soft tones and diffusers. Usually a single apartment room is enough for most of your indoor shots. Don’t neglect the outdoors and the sun. But don’t forget to pack in sufficient thermocol and butter paper to act as reflectors and diffusers otherwise excessive sunshine or else deep shades may spoil your pictures. Take a basic, medium weight, steady tripod.

It is very important to get protective gear for both you and your digital camera and you. Just as your camera needs to be in the best condition so do you. If you are feeling uneasy during a shot it can well be lost. Get a water-resistant travelling bag for your camera as well as sufficient silica gel. Silica Gel is a compound which absorbs any moisture close to it. Carry waterproofs so that you can hide yourself during a spell. Do not neglect to wear gloves in freezing areas. If your fingers get numb you can’t click.

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Digital photography can be awesome when once you have the perfect camera, the proper color and the perfect lighting. Even if you have with you the latest model of digital camera, your photos will not be the best if you are not making use of the right strategies in obtaining correct exposures.

Experts in digital photography have come to realize that the digital camera is only one of the things you need to have outstanding photos. There are also other objections to overcome so that you will not be disheartened by the result. One of them is the digital lighting technique.

Have you ever seen digital photos that seem to blur and totally unworthy There are a lot of occasions like this. Even if you try and edit them using Photoshop or any other software, you cannot seem to get the perfect exposure you want.

This is because you have not thought of having the proper lighting when the photo was taken. You were thinking that the camera and its cool abilities will be able to do that for you. Yes it can. But they may not allow you to be happy.

The course to obtaining that perfect picture is to do it right the first time. By doing it right, it simply means that you need to think about how good or bad the lighting is in the action of taking the photo.

Below are some of the natural sources of digital photography lighting that will make your pictures look wonderful.

1. After sunrise and before sunset.

It is during certain occasions that portrait photography is at its peak. Meaning, photos turn out great when they are shot after sunrise and before sunset. Why does this occur?

This is because the orangish colorization that shows in the sky during these times adds to the colors that your digital camera is capable. Most of the time, some photos appear mottled and unrealistic when they are printed because of the appearance of the colors when it is printed.

The color of the terrain can add a sort of brightness to your photos. In addition, it will make it easy for you to edit them on your computer once you feel that you want to put in some combination in the natural placement of the image.

2. Harsh Sun.

Sunlight is one type of lighting that is very effective once you know how to analyze your exposures. Keep in mind that you are not capable of filtering the harshness of the sun or the shadows that it can create on your photos.

It is your choice to choose the proper posing wherein you can make the most of the light that is shown by the sun. Work them to your advantage. Get into a unique posture and see if they look perfected once captured.

You can also make the most of the drop shadows that is created by the sunlight. Just make sure that they will not blur your photo. From minor adjustments, you can just edit the photos straight from your pc.

Snapping pictures is not only about having the most advanced digital camera. It is also about looking for strategies and techniques that will benefit your shots. Try to shoot your photographs with pristine lighting and you will see that you do not need to edit or add some more adjustments to them.

Author:Richard’s Photography San Antonio Texas Photography

Boudoir Photography in San Antonio

In any job, you will have what many believe of as “the purists”.  Perfectionists are those who revere the way things have always been done and view new technologies in the field as upstarts and obviously of poorer quality than the tried and true methods.

This is nowhere as true than photography.  For many years the film and chemical processing method has undergone continual refinement to get bigger and higher levels of sophistication and to find better ways of quality.  Small wonder that when the digital revolution came along, “the purists” were, to say the least, a little cocky about the idea of professional photography moving in this direction.

But there are some pure reasons to at least incorporate digital technology into your professional photography game plan.  These reasons are suprising enough that more and more we are seeing the big studios going all digital.  So if you are running an independent photography business or if you are “just” a photography hobbyist (and thank God for the hobbyists), you may have to think through the reason for converting to digital processing yourself.

Ease of Use.

The amount of frustration and pure “stuff” of taking a portrait digitally is dramatically less involved than using the old technologies.  See how how the digital revolution in photography has changed the personal camera world.  Now photographers can take as many pictures as they want and have them to review virtually instantaneously.

Probably the biggest leap forward in the use of digital photography is that you can do re-shoots quickly, easily and for virtually no cost.  If you have a photo shoot with a customer, you can have the “stills” of the session available almost as soon as the session is done.  If a shot was good but not perfect, you can correct it and re-shoot immediately saving huge amounts of time and improving the chances you will get the portfolio you want and that the customer wants on the first session.

Great Customer Service.

The immediate thoughts we get when a technology delivers so much value to the public is that quality will go down.  But, suprisingly, this is not the same with digital photography.  If anything, the quality of the photographs is as good or better than any we could do with initial technologies.  And the cost both to you as the photographer and to your customer declines so dramatically that the age old complaint the customer has had about professional photographs costing too much can be taken away making the customer want to use your photography services more often.

Digital photography, being a young person of the www and the digital revolution that has entered our lives through personal computers, can be delivered in a variety of ways and at a speed that was unheard of prior to the coming of this technology.  We can deliver the photos through email, by posting them to an website photo montage or by burning them to a DVD or CD so the customer can order lots more shots for the same price and have them delivered in a unique way that easy to view and store.

Editing has vividly moved from the realm of the dark room experts to something any of us can do due to the sophisticated computer programs, such as Photoshop, that we can use to greatly improve the pictures we snap we take.  It is really amazing the effects that can be imposed on a photograph with this software.  But more importantly we can so much more easily correct minor problems with a photograph so what might have been a unsucessful portrait session can be improved to become good enough with some clever use of photo software editing.

In virtually every way, digital photography, delivery and editing is superior to the way “the purists” would have us hold on to.  It makes our lives as photographers easier, faster and more profitable.  But most of all, this is something our customers want us to use.  They get to enjoy their photos really fast, at a more cheaper price and the pictures can be emailed to friends and posted on their family web sites which is fun for everyone.  So despite our desire to be “purists”, every reason we need is there to convince us that digital photography is the way to take photographs.

Author:Richard’s Photography Portrait Studios in San Antonio

Providing professional photography in San Antonio for 18 years.

The holidays are fast approaching and soon family and friends will be gathering to celebrate the season. So this week’s digital photography tips are all about capturing the magic of the holidays with some picture taking pointers.

1. Play with the Depth of Field – Instead of snapping a picture in front of the tree, place your subject in the background, increase the aperture on your camera to the lowest setting (like around f/5.6 to f/1.4).  Focus on your subject in the background and the tree in the foreground will be twinkling and blurry.
2. Work in the background – Candid shots are more natural and can be amazing.  Stand back away from the holiday festivities for a few moments and capture those un-rehearsed moments.
3. Accessorize -  Clever props are a great way to spice up photos during the holidays.  Think Santa Hats, wrapped presents and even large ornaments.
4. Capture the Action – Gift opening can be hectic enough without worrying if you got the shot or not.To make the whole experience smoother put the camera in “Auto” mode or even “Burst” mode and just start taking dozens of shots.
5. Avoid the flash – When it’s possible, don’t use the flash to help eliminate red eye.Try using the red eye reduction setting for the flash.  And some cameras even offer a “Auto Red Eye Correction” mode these days.
6. Embrace the darkness – To get a sharp photo of twinkling tree lights or candles, turn off the house lights and turn up the ISO setting on your camera.  An ISO of 800-1600 should do the trick.  You’ll need to hold the camera steady so your photos don’t come out fuzzy.  Either use a tripod and your cameras timer function or try setting your camera down on a solid surface.
7. Head outdoors – To get crystal clear pictures at night use a tripod. Turn up the ISO setting to 800 and lower the aperture so lots of light gets in.  And don’t forget to turn off the flash.  A word of caution if its really cold outside.  Cold temps tend to drain the juice out of your batteries rather quickly.Be sure that you charge up your batteries.  And if you are going to be outside for a while, be sure to keep your camera warm.Try to keep the camera warm inside your coat while setting up for the picture, and take it out when you are ready to start shooting.
8. Let there be peace – Don’t forget to photograph the quiet moments this holiday season.Nothing can be more magical than watching a child listening to their grandparent reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
9. Know when to use the flash – Sometimes you just need to use your camera’s flash.Try to stand about 12 ft from the subjects of your photo so that the flash is bright enough but not so bright that they are blinded by it or overexposed.
10. Capture the preperations – We sometimes forget to record the experience of everything behind the scenes while preparing for the festivities.  Do include the baking of the treats, shopping for gifts, decking the halls and the wrapping of the presents.
11. Try a new angle when taking photos – Stand off to the side and zoom in to capture the moment.
12. Get in the picture – If you’re like me and your always behind the camera, hand the camera off to someone else and enjoy the holidays with your family.  Remember your family won’t care how you looked but they will remember you were there, not only in their memories but in the photos as well.

I hope these tips will go a long way to helping you improve your photos and getting the most out of your camera!

If you ever notice that your camera isn’t working properly and you are in need of somewhere reliable specializing in Sony digital camera repair or Canon digital camera repair; look no further than a quick Google search to point you in the right direction. For example if you need a Sony digital camera shutter button repair you can get it done right with little effort.

First cameras became simple and cheap and many decided to be their own amateur photographer. Then digital photography took over and the average person can now take the pictures and print the results cheaper than they formerly let others do it. Yet, here are some reasons why being the chief photographer isn’t always best at all.

The first problem with being the chief photographer is that you must always be looking for the ‘perfect shot’ instead of enjoying what is happening. If you’re going to do a good job, you must think like a photographer. Yet, when you get done, you have a set of good pictures but no memories of what happened? Recently we got a call to watch a TV station to see our granddaughter in a parade. I spent the time trying to get the camera to focus on the TV and missed seeing her. I wish I had just enjoyed the moment and waited until they sent the pictures.

Agreed, the electronics in cameras make them very versatile. However, it can be difficult to keep straight how to make the camera do what you want. What do all the icons on top mean? Do you know how to turn on or off the auto focus or flash? What does P, TV, Av, or M stand for? Of course you can look them up in the manual but unless you keep using the features, you will forget and then they are as if not present on the camera.

Then too, if you are going to be the photographer, you will have to get behind people, stand up when others are seated, and basically make yourself obnoxious at times so you can get the perfect angle. Further, you can lose a lot of friends by sticking the camera in their face every time they smile. You may well be required to prod and cajole them into smiling just once more. Why not let someone else be the bad guy for a change?

All right, you do become the chief photographer at an important event. Now you are the hero whom others figure has all the time in the world to send them CDs filled with all your good shots. Or you might spend your time sending the pictures to others via email or posting them on a webpage.

It is not just a matter of time either. Though digital photography need never be printed, some friends simply don’t have access to this media. For them you will need to buy photographic paper and lots of ink for your printer. Are you without a printer? If not, be sure to get one that has multiple ink cartridges so that they can be replaced individually when all the relatives keep asking for more prints.

You won’t have any trouble being identified as a tourist if you hang a camera around your neck and take plenty of shots. And don’t be surprised if people decide your pictures are more important to you than they are.

If you have a plugged toilet, you get a plunger and fix it. But if you need a new water heater, you call the experts. That is also true of photography. Of course you don’t want to throw away your camera. But also relax and enjoy life and, at least sometimes, let others make the photo recordings.

When you want your photos done right, choosing the best photographer for your needs is worth the investment. If you follow the principles above, you will likely be glad you had it done professionally. Del Haven Studio is the location of a proven Virginia Beach Wedding Photographer who is experienced in expertly capturing professional portraits.