Pixel-perfect photo gifts- Handbags

Every once in awhile we all come across the perfect present for someone. It's the present you just can't wait to give them; the one you anticipate throughout the gift-giving ritual and the one that they talk about for weeks afterwards. Photo bags are one such present- the perfect gift for anyone obsessed with something you can catch on film. There are a number of ways to do this, and price ranges to match. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

- Grandma: An image of her grandchildren- a great conversation opener and a way to keep the kids with her always.
- Mom: An image of her children- a way to remember how happy her children can be, even as they're throwing tantrums on the floor beside her!
- The newlyweds: An image from their wedding- a way to literally carry their memories
- Dog-lovers: Boomer's face on their bag to carry in all those "dog free" zones.

The how is dependent almost exclusively on your budget. There are websites which will print the image directly on satin and stitch it into a bag (the most beautiful-- also the most expensive), as well as bags with plastic sleeves you can slide images in and out of (the most versatile) for the gift that keeps up with the times.

Regardless of how you do it, remember that there aren't many ways that allow you to- literally- carry your fondest memories with you.

Holiday Cards- a photo is worth 1,000 words

Holiday cards are an American tradition- very few other countries in the world send out annual updates to friends and family with the same dedication we do. The annual note ranges from a single line "Happy Holidays from the Swansons" to a 4-page brief updating people on new jobs, new babies, vacations and projects. It is a way to wish close friends a happy holiday and also a personalized way to stay in touch with people you may not always see or hear from. One of the latest trends in holiday cards is to have one or more photos printed directly on the cards. This enables people to see your trip to Mexico, your child's first day of school, and your newborn without having to read the whole letter. As the saying goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words.

There are a number of websites that help you create photo cards (of varying quality and style). Within the sites are a number of different ways to design the cards- from a single picture covering the whole face of the card to a collage of images in a pre-designed card. Martha Stewart has even gotten in on the act, designing several cards for kodakgallery.com. Here are a few of the available options:

Cardstore.com
The newly-redesigned CardStore is special because this is all they do and they do it very well. Kodak used to outsource their cards to Cardstore, but now do it in-house. For top-of-the-line quality printing with a high-gloss sheen, this is the best bet.
Price: ***
Quality: *****
Available designs: **
Ease of use: ****

KodakGallery.com
KodakGallery is good if you have your images already housed there, making it a very easy transaction. They used to use CardStore (see above) to create their cards, but since starting to do it on their own, the quality has gone down. They print on photo stock, which is durable, though the "sheen" of a high-gloss print simply isn't there. KodakGallery has upgraded it's variety of cards, though, and now has hundreds of desgins to choose from. Watch for sales, which can reduce the price considerably.
Price: ****
Quality: **
Available designs: ***
Ease of use: *****

Shutterfly.com
Shutterfly seems to have the widest variety of designs available and many of them allow you to incorporate more than one image. This is the only site that allows you to the cards' finish- matte or satin. Sign-up for emails which will let you know when discounts are available.
Price: ****
Quality: ***
Available designs: *****
Ease of use: *****


In short, the sites are easy to work with and will generally even mail the cards for you, if you like (note that this means adding all your addresses to the site). You also create your own greeting for the interior of the card, so it is a completely personalized note. The one piece of advice when ordering a large quantity of cards is to first order just one. That way, if you aren't happy with any part of it, it is still very changeable- and remember, you don't have to write a 1,000 word letter because, even if you just have one picture, it says it all for you.

The how, when + where of digital photography

Digital photography provides the opportunity to incorporate the stories of your life into your life in brilliant, vivid color. It also creates creative outlets for handing down the stories that are important to you. As daunting as it can seem, a little forethought will help you navigate the path. Here are the three most important things to consider when getting started... the how, when, and where of digital photography.


The where...

Images should be stored in two places. First, when you download the images from your camera, they are transferred to your computer which is where they should stay. From there you may organize them and edit them, but you will always have them at your fingertips. The second place they should be is on a website- which website depends on how you want to use them, but having them online enables you to share the images with friends and family, create prints and gifts, and ensures that the images are safeguarded from the cup of coffee you spilled on your computer this afternoon.

There are a number of websites that will host your images for free. They generally require that you purchase at least one item per year, but will keep your images as long as you continue to do so. Here are a few of the most popular:

KodakGallery: http://www.kodakgallery.com
Picasa: http://www.picasa.com
Shutterfly: http://www.shutterfly.com
Snapfish: http://www.snapfish.com


The how...

As I mentioned, which site you choose depends on exactly how you want to use the images. You may, of course, print them at home, but you should know that most printer images will last 5-10 years (there are special printers whose prints have significantly longer shelf lives, but they also have somewhat higher price tags), whereas professionally printed images will last approximately 100 years or more. Each of the popular sites provide a variety of photo gifts including cards, coasters, aprons and playing cards, so the most important thing is to choose a site you trust.

The when...

One of the problems I see frequently is how often to download images to the computer- and then upload them to the Web. The best seems to be downloading at least once a month and, then, uploading to the web (Note: Name your web folders with the same name as your computer folders-- that way the original is easy to locate). While this means you won't see the images of your holiday party the next day, it also means that you'll be able to find the images two years later because they will be in the proper folder.

Download the images, edit them and then place them in a folder titled with the name of the month and year. From there it is easy to upload them to the web, because they are all in one place. Also, keep a special folder for the "best of" images. This makes it easy to find the shots you'll most likely want to use again and again-- in a holiday card perhaps!

Snuggling up with a JPEG

I spoke with a mom the other day who was commenting on her collection of JPEGs. She's been taking digital pictures since her children were born and, like many of us, they are now in a heap on her hard-drive, much like they would be thrown together in a box if they were actual photographs. The hard thing, she said, is to snuggle up with a JPEG. I couldn't agree more.

The beauty of digital images is that it is so easy to capture the important moments in your families' life- you can shoot 100 images of a child blowing out birthday candles and then delete all but the one where she looked right at the camera and smiled. Then, after the image is downloaded, you can edit it- make the lighting better, the atmosphere warmer and delete out the crabby kid in the corner if you like. The images we are now able to capture are exceptional, but if they stay tucked away on the hard drive, you never get to "snuggle up with it."

This blog is set-up to help you sort through your families' memories. From digitizing grandpa's images of World War II to organizing the photos you took yesterday, the information here will help you capture the important moments, explore the maze of products to help you organize and then review the best photo products on the market. Perhaps, at the end of the day, you'll even print that image of your child's birthday on a fleece blanket (it's really possible!). Now that is a JPEG you can snuggle up with.