Waterproof cameras – should you get one?
In my last post, I talked about getting a pocket camera to carry around in your pocket/purse to take family snapshots. I will admit that we have several of these “pocket cameras” sprinkled all over the house. That may be overkill for a non-professional photographer family, but it’s nice to have one handy when you need it!
And the whole “handy when you need it” concept it what I want to talk about today. Specifically, waterproof cameras. I have found that you can get an affordable waterproof camera. Let’s call “affordable” in the $150 – $300 range. But then the quality of the photos is lower than in a similarly-priced regular camera. That is, unless you go up in price to the $250 – $450 range to get a similar quality level of images with the waterproof feature. You can also get a waterproof housing for many of the cameras….for about $200. Those are great b/c they are usually waterproof to about 100 feet which means you can dive with them. Still, waterproof housings can be a pain to use. So, if you will use your camera in lots of wet but not deep water situations (kid’s swimming, beach trip, soccer games in the rain, etc), then go ahead an consider getting a waterproof one. They are also often more rugged and can handle a few falls.
I use this one, because I wanted something very rugged….but I would probably pick something different next time. Something with better image quality – like this one by Nikon. As a loyal Cannon shooter (you should see how many Canon cameras I have bought over the years), I feel disloyal recommending a Nikon – but I think their waterproof cameras seem better.
That said, I did make this image below with my current waterproof camera. And if I didn’t have a waterproof camera with me that day, I would not have had any camera with me at all – as I was in the pool at the time that I saw this great scene and just HAD to capture it. There is a saying, “The best camera is the one you have with you.”
3 Tips for Making the Most of Your Own Family Photos
Don’t loose your memories!
The New Year is a great time to make sure all your digital images are backed up – either to the cloud from your phone, and/or to a backup service from your computer. Your photos should always be backed up in at least one place, preferably two. You can use the autoback up feature on your phone (b/c chances are, most of your photos are there – right?), as well as an auto back up for your computer like Carbonite or Backblaze, or even Dropbox.
The power of touch:
Speaking of your digital images, how often do you print them out? January is a great time to review your photos from the last year, and print them out. Some people do books, and others make framed prints. Even if you don’t often print your images, at least print a few for your kids. They LOVE having physical prints of their family, parents, friends, pets, themselves. Print out a few small sizes and let your kiddos use them as bookmarks.
Gear up – Top 6 things to look for in your pocket camera.
I love my iphone for convenience, but a good pocket camera will take much better photos than your camera phone. Esp in low light situations like indoor, early morning, and dusk. (One exception – the new iPhone 7 Plus really does take decent everyday snapshots.)
If you don’t have that specific iPhone, I suggest a pocket camera like a Canon Powershot . Rather than recommend my favorite model (which changes frequently), that link will take you to a search function on Amazon.
You want a camera that:
1) has at least four stars from reviews AND has at least 250 reviews,
2) is available Prime (which means it’s fairly current) – even if you aren’t a Prime member, you can use that as a selection criteria
3) does video in 1080p,
4) has “image stabilization” for taking non-blurry photos in low light withOUT a flash. A flash (usually) just ruins the mood when you are taking low light photos,
5) has “wireless technology” to connect to your phone, so you can send/share/post the images right away, with just a few extra touches,
6) is between $200 and $400. This puts you in the sweet spot for decent quality, but not so expensive that you are a sad panda if/when it breaks or gets lost….and pocket cameras, if they are used frequently, do eventually get broken or lost.
7) optional: is a fun color! Although honestly, it seems the really good quality ones only come out in black, silver and white.
Broomfield meal delivery business, Jade’s Kitchen. Today we’ll hear about her, and her business. (BTW, I love her tagline: Delicious Food Made With Love.) Next time, I’ll share with you a bit about my process for working with business owners to create a “full marketing photo library” or “image bank” as they are sometimes called:
1) Jade, tell us a little about yourself, your family, where you live, what you like to do.
I grew up in Seattle, WA and moved to Broomfield, Colorado in 2008 with my husband and two girls. Broomfield has been a wonderful place to raise our children – we have a great sense of community and there are so many resources for families. Recently my family and I have enjoyed exploring the beautiful hiking areas nearby. For a weekend getaway we enjoy road trips around Colorado, capturing the beauty this state has to offer.
2) What is your business name & what do you do? How did you come up with that name?
My business name is Jade’s Kitchen. It’s a dinner delivery service that specializes in all natural, organic meals that are already prepared and ready to be reheated. The name came from the idea that my food feels as if it’s cooked out of my own kitchen – a place where my family and friends come together for good food, and always a lot of laughter! Jade’s Kitchen – Delicious Food Made with Love.
3) What made you want to go into this business?
The timing was perfect. My girls were both in school full-time, and I was ready to go back to work. My wish list was somewhat unreasonable, though, as I wanted a schedule that allowed me to be available for my kids. With some nudging and encouragement from my family, I decided to start a dinner service because of my love for food and cooking, focusing on what I felt to be important – organic, healthy and, of course, delicious!
4) What is your inspiration for your food? Where do you get your best ideas?
My inspiration for my food comes from the desire to eat well – high quality ingredients that are organic, and non-GMO. It goes beyond the flavor, and into the realm of foods that are made with ingredients that don’t have lasting negative effects. I wanted to create dishes that we all love, but made with ingredients we can trust. I consider my style of cooking organic comfort food – food that the whole family will enjoy!
5) What should someone do if they want to order (pricing range, go to your website, how far in advance, when you deliver)?
Ordering meals is so simple – just order from my website. At checkout you can decide your delivery time slot. My website is: http://www.jadeskitchen.net/
A new menu is posted on my website on Friday, and you have until the following Wednesday to place your order (for a Monday delivery). Subscribing to my website is the best way to stay informed on my weekly menu, as upcoming events or promotions.
Typical pricing ranges anywhere between $30-$40 per meal for a family of four, and you also have the option to order for two. You can include side dishes as well (broccoli, mixed greens, etc.) I deliver all my meals in a reusable bag, and my meals come in glass bakeware that can be reheated in the oven. All bags and glassware are returned to me (usually swapped during the next order).
I currently deliver to my surrounding area – Broomfield, and Westminster for a small delivery fee. Depending on the distance, I am open to other areas.
6) How have changed your approach as your business has grown and matured?
I am always trying to figure out ways to be efficient without taking away from the heart of my business – ingredients you can trust, and, or course, delicious food made with love. As my business has grown I have learned the importance of streamlining. I have been using the company, Door to Door Organics, to deliver my fresh ingredients used for cooking. They are a local company based in Lafayette. It’s great because they source their produce locally, it’s all organic, and it’s delivered to me, cutting out another trip to the store.
7) What’s the craziest or funnest experience you have had, running this business?
Learning to cook in a commercial kitchen where everything is bigger and better has been at times comical, intimidating, and definitely a learning process! The knives are so sharp that I feel as if I’m an onion-chopping pro… until I need to check myself before I lose a finger…
My favorite experience of running this business, though, is the continued support of my clients. Along the way, as I am learning to navigate this business, I have often wondered what in the world am I doing? But I feel a sense of support and loyalty, and I am so in awe and grateful for that.
8) What are your “secret weapons” or “helpers” for balancing motherhood of young children with running a business?
I am very fortunate that I have some flexibility in my work, but more importantly, a very supportive husband who is happy to take over when I’m gone (and when I’m home too!).
Finding the right balance is always a tricky thing. What I’ve learned so far is that regardless of how much or how little I work, I will never accomplish everything I feel I need to accomplish. I believe in simplifying as much as possible. I tackle one thing a day. I grocery shop online if possible (my secret weapon!), and I’m also happy to give my girls, ages 10 and 7 (almost 8!), jobs around the house.
Most importantly, I take pride in what I do. I believe it’s important for my daughters to see me in a different way. I am their mother, but I also go to work. I want them to understand and witness that you can be a mom, and you can have a career. I can run a household, but I can also run a business.
9) You use fresh, organic food – tell us a bit about that?
I use fresh, organic food because I believe it’s best for our body. The fruits and veggies are not grown with pesticides. The meats my family and I consume are not pumped with antibiotics, or hormones. It feels very unnatural to consume food that contains pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics, especially for young developing children, so I am very aware and conscientious of what I feed my family.
10) Who is your typical customer? What do they have in common (like: busy mothers, or people looking to save time but eat healthy)
My typical customer is a busy mom, because as we both know moms are busy! I think my service in general is very convenient. My philosophy of preparing meals with organic ingredients baked in glass bakeware, and delivered to your front door in a reusable bag makes it even more justifiable, not to mention not having to think about preparing dinner for your family during the most chaotic time of day! I believe that is the commonality of all my clients.
So, I have this great backlog of wonderful stuff I’ve been wanting to share…but just not getting around to it for much of last year. (Which really means I wasn’t making it a priority, right? And that’s actually true. I was playing around with Instagram a lot last year. I’m still there, but I miss the depth and richness of longer-form info like blog posting. Sure, I love to scroll through my IG feed while waiting somewhere – same with my Pinterest boards. But the online content that holds my attention and gives me things to think about – well, that’s usually videos or blog postings – like the one above from Marie.)
With the fun, family and friends-soaked holidays behind us, and the colder weather here now, I’ll have less distractions, plus, I’ll be inside staying warm a bit more! Perfect opportunity to share more of my work on my blog, as well as more tips for anyone interested in family photography. If you are client and see me finally share a shoot from a few months (or more) ago, I’m sorry it took me a while to blog it. Pls know that I def love it – that’s why I’m sharing it. (albeit a bit late)
Now, there is def a downside to investing time in writing blogs – and that’s the lack of feedback. It can feel like talking into a void. Esp. b/c most people don’t do blog comments anymore, and a “conversation” is so much easier on IG, FB, etc. If you read this blog and like it, or have questions, or just want to share your ideas with me – I would love to hear from you. Here are some ways:
Thanks and Happy New Year! I’ll leave you with one of my favorite recent art photos – from a trip along the California Coast last year, taken at sunset.
Teal
Ah, teal – both bright and melancholy, energetic yet relaxed. This popular color looks fabulous in front of the lens, especially set against cloudy skies and yellow-orange leaves. It also looks fabulous on just about everybody, making it a wonderful choice as the star of your outfit.
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