Creating Keepsakes' Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking -- Blog Hop and GIVEAWAY

Creating Keepsakes' newest special issue is out! Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking:

Increase your photography and photo-editing skills and discover new ideas for sharing your photos with the tips, tricks, and tutorials in Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking, a special issue from Creating Keepsakes. Whether you're a traditional scrapbooker or prefer to create pages digitally, you'll love how this issue will help you better capture your family's stories. Whether you use a point-and-shoot, a DSLR, a cell phone camera or a mixture of these, you won't want to miss out on this essential photography and scrapbooking guide!

Here's a sneak peak at a photography tip I contributed to this special issue.  When taking portraits outdoors, try to avoid the harsh midday sunlight.  A great time to take outdoor portraits is just after sunrise or right before sunset.  To illustrate this point, I took photos of my daughter at different times of the day.  This first photo was taken in the early afternoon when the sun was shining brightly.  The sun caused my daughter to squint, and it also cast some shadows on her face.

This next photo was taken of my daughter in the same spot just after sunrise.  Her skin looks evenly toned and nicely lit.  You can see the beautiful color and detail of her eyes.

If you happen to be photographing your subject in the midday sun, there are some things you can do to minimize the negative effects of the harsh sun.  Try to find a partially shaded area where the sun's bright rays are blocked by a tree, a wall, etc.  Or position your subject so that the sun is shining down from the side of you both (rather than behind your subject or behind you).  This will avoid squinting and unflattering shadows.

Here's the link to the paper edition: Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking - Paper Edition
Here's the link to the digital edition: Better Digital Photos & Scrapbooking - Digital Edition
And as always, I get to giveaway a copy of this special issue to one lucky blog reader!  To be entered to win, simply leave a comment here before the end of the day on Tuesday, September 11th.

For more chances to win a copy of the great special issue, be sure and visit the other blogs on this blog hop:

Autumn Baldwin - http://itsalwaysautumn.com
Joey Manwarren - http://everydayimagination.blogspot.com/
Laina Lamb - http://www.lifeonthelamb.blogspot.com/
Adele Beck http://dleebug.wordpress.com/ 
Erika Hayes http://www.thinkingthroughdesign.typepad.com
Jana Morton http://janamorton.blogspot.com/
Mou Saha http://collagecollagecollage.blogspot.com/
Gretchen McElveen http://www.gretchenmac.blogspot.com
Iris Uy http://www.irisbabaouy.typepad.com/
Ashley Harris (The Scrap Review) http://www.thescrapreview.com
Lain Ehmann http://www.layoutaday.com
Susan Mintmire http://www.designteamcalls.com
Patty Cieri http://thegreenhouseonthehill.blogspot.com/
Ashley Horton http://ashleyspaperdoll.blogspot.com/