The Importance Of Taking and Keeping Photos

We are most definitely in a photo taking industry. One can snap 10 photos in one day with a smartphone or tablet,  upload them to Facebook and Instagram immediately, and then send them to a photo lab such as Walgreens to have them printed out for a song before the sun goes down.

I heard my best friend's wife once say it is important we utilize resources such as this and Cloud to save important photos.  A social media site could decide to shut down overnight, and a phone's memory card could easily malfunction.  One would eventually hate to lose these memories, just as the person who never took the time to capture them.

My late grandmother, Myrtle Lanier, was ahead of her time. She was basically the family photographer as she was always snapping pictures of her friends and family. Over the years, she accumulated numerous photo albums.  She willed them to my mother, and these mementos have come in handy.

Not many people on my mom's side of the family took a lot of photos, especially not before the 80s. Therefore, my mom and I are often the family source when it comes to family photos. We're always happy to send pictures to relatives, invite them over to view them, post them in our family group on FB, and often print them upon request.

This is fortunately something the generation behind me will not have to worry about. People now realize the value of photographs, and want to capture every special moment. Birthdays, family reunions, holidays, weddings, and simply random everyday happenings. The future will not have a shortage of photos.

A picture is often worth a thousand words. Also, photos can tell stories, and give insights into history. You can see how strong your family genes are, who resembles who, and even relive old moments through the power of the glass eye.

Photographers are paid well and get lots of work for a reason.  They capture memories, experiences, and give families priceless heirlooms. I'm very thankful that my grandmother took so many pictures.  It gives me a huge sense of history and joy.

Therefore, continue taking and posting your images.  In a few decades, your offspring will be extremely grateful.

Instagram: Review, Tips, and Tricks

It appears the latest (and currently hottest) social networking app is Instagram. It has been popular with the iPhones for about two years now. Two things happened last April 2012:  Instagram became available for Android phones, and Facebook bought Instagram. They thought it would be great to integrate the two networks.  So far, it seems to be a smart move

Instagram has really captured some of the greatest things about modern smartphones: taking and sharing photos, networking with others, sharing photos with and to other social media outlets, and the ability to simply express yourself. It is photo based, but people use other apps such as Textgram and Versagram to post quotes. Instachat is even available for the iPhone users, and should be available in the Google Play market before long. You can also geotag your photos, allowing folks to know the location of the photos/images posted. Consider it a combination of Facebook and Twitter, or even a more visual Twitter.

Here are some tips I've picked up in my short time on Instagram to help others just beginning, or those already on to improve their overall Instagram profiles.

1. Have a variety of images

Don't just have a bunch of quotes, self-shots of yourself, or pictures of food. Strike a nice, healthy balance.

2. Participate in monthly photo challenges and Throwback Thursday #tbt

This makes Instagram more fun, and makes your IG more diverse and exciting. It can be like a scavenger hunt completing photo challenges, finding unique photos to fill out the month. Also, Throw back Thursday is always nostalgic. You can even post photos of old TVs, shoes, phones, and memorabilia. I look forward to Thursday to see what appears on my news feed.

3. Interact with others.

This is self-explanatory, but show your followers love. Like and comment on their photos. Repost when they have cool images and quotes. Also, when a person likes four or more of your photos in a row, screenshot them in your notifications (if your phone has this feature) , post that as an image, and shout them out.

4. Keep the hash tags to a minimum.

One thing that can be messy and cluttered is those photos with about 30 hash tags, often these being long, random words. Choose your hash tags carefully, and keep them to a minimum of five or six.

5. Remember it is social media so,

Enjoy it and have fun.  However, be careful how you want yourself portrayed. A picture is worth a 1,000 words. Therefore, you want images that are unique to you, but present you in a positive light. You can attract the wrong type of attention, or turn away certain people for your posts. Yes it is YOUR Instagram. However remember there are decorum and a Terms and Conditions clause. You do not want your account being flagged.

Follow me at my popular nickname/handle @drewhouse74. As I say in my headline, mine is an Instagram like no other. I believe I have held true to that thus far.