Photography

The Best Photos Start with Best Buy: Nikon D3300 DSLR Rocks

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Nikon D3300 DSLR camera from Best Buy at a reduced price or for free. All opinions on the product are my own.

I’ve always loved photography. I took a few years of photography classes back in high school…. Back with old school SLRs and actual film we developed ourselves in the dark room. {Do I sound super old yet? Please tell me someone else remembers SLRs before they were digital?} I really enjoyed it – but of course, times change. When I was in my early 20’s I went through a few different point and shoot cameras. They worked fine for fun pics of nights out with friends. But now, as a mom, and a blogger, it’s important to me to get more serious about the quality of the pictures that I take, which means I totally needed to upgrade to a better camera.

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on January 7, 2015 Filed Under: Featured Tech | No Comments

This Will Change How You Take Photos from Your Phone Forever

Big thank you to the Best Buy WOLF Blogging Network and the peeps at Sony for giving me the chance to try out the new lens style camera, the Sony QX10, and share the awesomeness with you! I received a complimentary product, but you know my opinions are my own, as always.

There are a few things that describe me well: Social media junkie. Photo addict. Tech lover. Memory capturer. Which is why I’ve always loved photography. Sure, I’m no pro – although I did take a few years of photography back in high school. Back when we had this weird stuff called film in our SLR cameras. {Notice the lack of a D at the beginning of that?} We developed our own film in darkrooms. Printed our own photos too, testing out different exposure settings. Do I sound old yet? :) But obviously these days photography has changed – drastically – in just the {let’s just say “slightly over”} 10 years I’ve been out of high school. Not only do we have DSLRs, smart phones, awesome point and shoot options, and more – but now, there’s a totally awesome new way to take pics. It’ll blow your mind. Check it out….

I love tech gadgets, but I’m not the most “technical” type of person. I don’t pay as much attention to things like megapixels and stuff, as I do to how the product actually works in my real life. So, for the details, you can check out the Sony QX10 at BestBuy.com. But I want to show you how this will totally change how you take photos – from your phone, or anywhere – forever. [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 5, 2014 Filed Under: Tech Tips, Featured Tech | 25 Comments

6 Simple Newborn Photography Tips

Newborn photography tips – by Lori Epstein, senior photo editor, National Geographic Kids. This is not a compensated post – as a #NGKidsInsider, I love being able to share cool tips and info from their amazing team with you guys!

As moms, we love taking pics of our family. And some of the most amazing photos are the ones we capture of our babies when they are just brand new little ones, right? There are a million amazingly talented photographers out there that can do professional photo shoots for you, but it’s also awesome to be able to snap those little everyday moments on your own. So, I’m excited to bring you some amazingly smart newborn photography tips from National Geographic’s senior photo editor, Lori Epstein. If you have other tips to share too, leave them in the comments!

6 Simple Newborn Photography Tips
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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 6, 2014 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Family | No Comments

Learn Something New: Craftsy Perfect Match Flash Sale

Heads up to all of my amazingly creative Craftsy fans…This weekend only, it’s your chance to get up to 50% off perfect matches {for Valentines Day, get it?!?} of 2 Craftsy online classes. You choose your favorite pairing, and save big by bundling them together! But you’ll have to act fast – this offer ends at 11pm PST on February 16, 2014.

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on February 17, 2014 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution |

How to Self Publish a Book

I’m a big supporter of women in business. It can be a tough job balancing business, babies, family commitments, and life in general. But it’s so worth being in business for yourself. A favorite quote of mine sums it up perfectly: “Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.” – Dale Carnegie. Starting or running any type of business is a lot like motherhood – you work too much, but you’re part of building something special, and that hard work is personal, and pays off in so many ways.

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on February 13, 2014 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Online Photography Classes that Rock

Do you want to take better pictures? Whether you’re a blogger who wants to take better food photos, an Etsy shop owner wanting to present your products in the best possible light {literally!}, or a mom who wants to capture beautiful photos of your family – learning to take better pictures is a skill on my women’s “to learn” list. I’ve put together tons of tips lately on my Take a Better Photo board on Pinterest – most work for anyone, even if you don’t have a fancy DSLR camera. And, one of my favorite sites, Craftsy, has some really awesome new online photography classes you might like too.

Online Photography Classes for Any Skill Level

You can choose from a ton of different online photography classes on Craftsy – things like Landscape photography, taking better portraits, shooting intimate close-up environments, or this one above that I’m excited to take -“Shoot It: A Product Photography Primer.” I often have trouble getting good photos of items for product reviews, and hope to start an Etsy shop in the next year, so this is a big help for me! Knitter and photographer Caro Sheridan explains it all – from planning before the shoot to editing afterwards, and all the details in between. Here’s a taste of what you’ll learn:

How to plan and execute a photoshoot from start to finishMaking a storyboard and shot list to create the story you want to tell
What a pro keeps in her tool kit – from lipstick to legal forms
How to capitalize on the fancy features of whatever camera you have
Directing your model and getting the hero shot
Photo fundamentals like composition and color
The basics of digital editing – without expensive software

What is Craftsy? Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes. With over two million members and counting, Craftsy has something for just about everyone, in categories ranging from quilting, sewing, knitting, painting, photography, cooking, and more. [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on October 21, 2013 Filed Under: Crafty | 4 Comments

What Tools Do You Need to Capture Your Spring Memories?

“If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.” – Linda McCartney… Spring is so full of things that need to be photographed… The garden is in bloom. There are events like graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and more. You’re on the go, it’s a season of change, it’s a time full of moments to capture. And that means you need something a little better than just your smartphone to photograph all of those amazing memories.

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