How about you? Is it Fall yet there? How do you go about capturing that season that brings about the end of summer, takes us back to school, and is a precursor to all those holidays?

Favorite Photography Tips

1. Get the color.

Here in Colorado, our fall color is yellow and gold–and when I lived back east, it was all about the red. No matter where you live, there is some kind of color that means Fall, right? Be sure to have a few photos that are just splashes of color – make THAT the subject matter.

2. Get the veins.

You may have to find your “macro” setting on your camera (usually looks like a flower), but when the colors start changing, nothing stands out like the veins in a leaf. Get close and capture those fine lines.

3. Get the nuts and berries.

Go to the store and buy fruits of the harvest… make a place setting, either indoors or out and pull out your camera. Apple, nuts, pine needles, hay, all look lovely together for a still life photo that screams Autumn. Even better, bring the children in for an impromptu homespun portrait session.

4. Get the panorama.

Step back and look at the whole scene. What is special about Fall? The leaves (that people haven’t had a chance to rake up yet) that are gathered along the edge of the lane? The beginnings of Halloween decorations? Walk around your neighborhood and see what Autumn means to you, bring your kids along, and ask them! Or even better – depending on where you live, take a drive away from the city on a random Saturday afternoon and REALLY capture the big picture of Fall.

5. Get the angle.

Fall is playful. Remember to shoot from above, below, to the side and any which way from straight on. OK, sure you’ll want some from in front too – but you will be happier when you have shots from all over the place. Trust me on this!

6. Get the light.

Everything looks better in golden light… During the summer, we have oodles of time in the evening to play with the camera–but as time runs short in the Fall, we have to be quick. Be prepared for the fleeting light, pay attention to when the sun will be setting in your area and plan your photo shoot accordingly.

7. Get the bokeh.

This is for more advanced shooters–but bokeh is when you have small Depth of Field, which creates pleasing patterns in the blurred areas. Try letting leaves that are in front of the subject go blurry, or maybe the grass with nuts scattered behind the subject. Bokeh takes practice, but it’s a fun way to make magic with your Fall photos.

Any questions? Other tips? Let’s share your fun Fall ideas!

Aimee Giese is a graphic designer, web developer and photographer from Denver. You can find her online at Greeblemonkey.com.

A few years ago, my siblings and I gave my mom a picture movie DVD as a surprise. It included snapshots from throughout her life and moved us all to tears and laughter as we sat, gathered around the TV watching it. It was one of the most meaningful gifts any of us had ever received. A picture really is worth a 1000 words.

This Tuesday, May 4 from 9-11 ET (8CT, 7MT, 6PT), we’ll be chatting about motherhood and photography with Kodak at the #gno Twitter party. Details, including where to enter a Kodak giveaway, are included below.

• What: Girls’ Night Out (#gno) Twitter party (Click here to learn about #gno!)
• When: Tuesday, May 4, 9-11 p.m. EST (8CT, 7 MT, & 6 PT)
• Where: Party with us on our very own Custom Tweetgrid! Check back Tuesday for the link. (Use hashtags #gno and #kodakbogo.)
• Topic: Mothers and Photography
• Who: Brand panelists: @KodakCB @KodakCommunity Photography panelists: TBD Moderators: @jylmomIF, @Dadventurous, @troypattee, and @momitforward
• Party Favors: Check back here Friday for a link to enter this week’s giveaway. Deadline: 5/5.
• RSVP: Use Mr. Linky below (enter the twitter URL and your twitter ID (e.g., http://twitter.com/jylmomIF).

Note: Mom It Forward accepts paid sponsorships for most #gno Twitter parties. During the parties, brand sponsors provide tips, techniques, expert advice, and information on party topics. Mom It Forward is grateful for the giveaway prizes, coupons, and discounts that sponsors also provide to the Mom It Forward community in conjunction with #gno Twitter parties.

Giveaway Prizes

Kodak awarded two lucky winners from this site the following prizes: a Kodak digital camera (click here to see specs) or a Kodak wireless digital photo frame (click here to see specs).
Check out giveaway prize specs here.

Winners

These lucky winners were randomly selected and won, including:

• Kodak Digital Camera—Erica Mueller (@ericamueller)
• Kodak Wireless Digital Photo Frame—Kate Simpson (@momtrend)

Take a look at this photo….

You probably have no idea who those people are, right? Well, that’s my father-in-law. An amazing father to my husband, a perfect FIL to me, yes, I’m a lucky girl, and a man that my children are completely in love with. That was the day he met our twins and the last time we ever saw him. There is a beautiful deep story behind this photo, this man, and this day. It’s a story that needs to be told and shared so my children will remember and know who their grandfather was.

I could simply upload this photo with a few other snapshots into a photo book or throw it up on my wall in a frame. That would be easy, picture preserved and nicely displayed. But who will tell my children and grandchildren about him when I’m gone? What about my babies who won’t remember him? How do we keep his memory alive?

It’s simple…through story.

Story is powerful. When we start telling stories, we connect, teach, and often heal. We relate in a way that brings power and purpose to our lives. Stories change people’s lives. That is why it is so important to take the time to record and write the stories of our lives. Photos are simple beautiful images that help us relive single moments in our lives, but they’re subjective, they can be lost, and simply don’t tell the whole story.

Here are a few simple steps and tips to help you organize and begin storytelling through photos.

1. Get your family involved. Have your spouse, children, parents, everyone in your family begin writing down simple details of their lives.
2. It’s not always about dates, times, and places. It’s about lessons learned, traditions passed on, and leaving a legacy of who we are. Let everyone tell their story.
3. Break it up into bite-size chucks. Start with the now. Start with recording one week at time. Simple moments that define who we are….a sweet husband leaving a love note, a toddler whispering I love you for the first time, a child’s struggle to fit in.
4. Remember that it’s impossible to share every single picture we take. Pick out your favorite two or three from each event or memory and then put the rest in words.

Photos are priceless, but the stories that accompany them are a treasure. A treasure that will be worth more than anything else we leave behind for those we love. As you create your albums, scrapbooks, and photo books keep in mind one simple rule; if I wasn’t here to share this book would they know who the people in these photos and the stories behind them?

Looking for a re-cap of this week’s #GNO? See below and read these:

• College Surfing Insider
• Spa Beauty schools
• College Bound
• Holistic Junction