Monday, November 30, 2009

Santa is Coming to Pro Digital Photos

November's Photo Winners

Thanks to all that entered our November Photo Contest. The winners are listed below. The winners can pick up their prizes at Pro Digital Photos.

Keep taking pictures for next month!


1st Place (Erin Johnson)
$20 Gift Certificate to Macaroni Grill



2nd Place (Courtney White)
$10 Gift Certificate to Pro Digital Photos




3rd Place Winner/Viewers Choice Award (Eric Richards)
$10 Gift Certificate to Pro Digital Photos

Thursday, November 26, 2009

November Photo Contest Entries - LIGHTING

Below are the photo entries for November, with the theme of LIGHTING.

Viewers are allowed to leave their comment for a one time vote to determine the "Viewers Choice Award/3rd place winner". To vote, enter your favorite photo number in the comment section. Send your friends and family to help vote too. Our panel of judges determine the 1st and 2nd place winners. The top 3 winners will be posted on November 30th. Good Luck!



#1




#2




#3




#4




#5




#6




#7

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Due Today!

If you are entering our photo contest this month for the theme of "LIGHTING," please send your digital file to veronica@prodigitalphotos.com by midnight tonight. All entries will be posted to our blog tomorrow morning.

And remember, anyone can enter! The details are on the right column of the blog.

FumiStudio スタジオ
Model---Macy Lauren Chapman (my husbands cousin)
Make up---Melissa Petty
Hair---Fumi

Monday, November 23, 2009

Gift Certificates, Finally!


Tis the Season, and Black Friday is this week!
We are finally offering GIFT CARDS starting on Friday, November 26th, Black Friday!

It is time to start thinking about what to get those special people in your life. You can't give a more thoughtful gift than a gift card to Pro Digital Photos. Our gift certificates can be used towards any of our products we offer such as digital prints, photo books, calendars, accordion books, announcements, etc. This is the perfect gift and won't disappoint!

Give the gift of memories to your family & friends this year with a Pro Digital Photos gift certificate.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Clickin Moms

Clickin Moms is a community of women who have a passion for photography. Some of us are amateur photographers who just want to take better pictures of our family, some of us are hobbyists, and some of us are seasoned pros.

Clickin Moms is a great bunch of women that enjoy hanging out with people that have a common passion - photography!

Learn something, inspire, be inspired, and join the fun! If you aren't hooked on photography now, you soon will be!

Click here for more details.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Green Your Routine

This week is "Green Week." Below are some great suggestions that are easy to Green Your Routine. We encourage our readers to apply these suggestions to lead a more Eco-friendly life.



Shut down & unplug electronics
Wash your clothes in cold water
Drink out of a reusable water bottle or coffee mug
Jump into the (car) pool
Dad was right about those lights
Shop local (it saves on gas for transported goods)
Change to fluorescent bulbs
Use both sides of paper
Take showers not baths
Turn water off when you brush
Shorten your shower
Recycle glass, plastic, cardboard, newspaper, etc.
Turn down your thermostat
Cancel your junk mail
Cancel paper phone book
Stop paper bank statements
Use a Diva Cup
Wash car at car wash
Give things away
Buy rechargeable batteries
Do errands in bulk
Inflate your car tires
Plant a tree
Re-use wrapping paper
Get reusable bags

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Playing with Light

Our photo contest topic for the month of November is LIGHTING. I thought I would post some pointers for those that are preparing to enter the contest.

Light is always one of the most important components of a great photograph. But, as we all know, it can be a little pesky, too. Some light is controllable, while other times you are at the mercy of nature. In this post I'll talk about ways you can learn to become more familiar with how different kinds of light affect your photos. The main idea is to be aware of different qualities of light so you can use it to your advantage.



Direct Sunlight
Natural light is usually the best type of light source. Since the sun is the source of all natural light, it is important to understand that there is no such thing as "bad sun light" in a photo; you just need to learn how to use the available light rather than fight it. For example, direct sunlight is a very hard light that creates more shadows and extreme contrast levels between light and dark colors. This could be great for a black and white photo, but maybe not for a color portrait. So, if direct light will not work for you, you can try to diffuse the light by partially blocking it with a sheet or a diffuser, which is a piece of equipment most pro photographers carry. Or, you can find some shade to place your subject in.





Overcast Sunlight or Window Light
Contrary to direct sunlight, an overcast sky or light from a window will give a softer, more diffused light to your photo. You will see less of a contrast between black and white colors with this kind of light. Many photographers prefer overcast light to direct sunlight because it is generally easier to work with, especially if you are photographing people (people also tend to squint in direct light).





Experiment with Different Kinds of Light
The only way to really understand what different types of light does to your photos is to get comfortable shooting in all kinds of light. For example, go outside and take a shot of someone or something in the direct sun (no shade). Then, place the same subject in an open shaded area and take the shot. Try again on an overcast day, and try a shot in the direct sun but using a sheet or diffuser to block the light coming into the shot. Also, try "bouncing" the light by using light that is reflected off a building as your main light source. See how many different light scenarios you can photograph, then go back and examine the effect on each picture. This will give you a great understanding of what different light does to your pictures: how it affects the tone/mood, the color contrast, and other elements in the photo. Also, pay attention to how different light changes the color temperature of the photo. Is there a shift in color from one photo to the next? Does one look colder or warmer than the others? There is no right or wrong way; it's all a matter of what you are after in your shot.





Indoor Light and Flash
Indoor photography comes with its own set of lighting varieties and challenges. Try the same experiment I suggested above indoors: use natural light from a window with no flash, a direct flash in a dark room, a direct flash in a partially lit room, a diffused flash, a bounced flash, low light (candle), and so on. The idea is to experiment and get as comfortable as you can with as many light situations as possible. That way, you are prepared for almost every lighting scenario.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

2009 Utah Food Bank Donation Challenge


Pro Digital Photos is seeking more opportunities to contribute to our community through service. Every year for the holiday season we will pick a foundation to contribute to. This year, for 2009, we have picked the Utah Food Bank for our service project. We are in hopes of raising $2,000 through the efforts of our customers, community, and volunteers. We have listed the details of how this years donations will work.


WHAT IS THE UTAH FOOD BANK?

Utah Food Bank Services staff, volunteers, and agencies work together to gather and distribute emergency food to individuals and families experiencing the pain of hunger in Utah. Since 1977, Utah Food Bank Services has been the central hub for food collection and distribution in Utah. Utah Food Bank is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization - all contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Utah Food Bank distributes resources statewide and contributions will be used to help eliminate hunger across the state.

WELLS FARGO MILLION DOLLAR CHALLENGE
Maximize your donation by participation in the Wells Fargo Million Dollar Challenge. Utah Food Bank Services can turn a $1 donation into $5 worth of food and services.
This is only possible because of the wonderful support from our community, volunteers, and through generous food donations. If $200,000 is donated online (the equivalent of $1 million in food and services), Wells Fargo will donate $30,000 to Utah Food Bank. We don't anticipate receiving this much in donations, but figured we would post the details of what organizations are doing with the Utah Food Bank.

HOW IS PRO DIGITAL PHOTOS PARTICIPATING?
Pro Digital Photos will submit the total amount of donations it receives through its website and through its retail store front. We will submit the donations online January 1, 2010 to the Utah Food Bank. On this day, we will also post on our blog the total amount that was donated so viewers will be able to see the significant difference we can make when we all work together!

Thanks for your participation in helping eliminate hunger across the state!


HOW TO DONATE
Volunteers can offer their donation in our store or by mailing a check to:

Pro Digital Photos
46 E. State Street
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062

For mail in donations, please make your check payable to Pro Digital Photos. Make sure your mailing address is located on the envelope so we can mail you back a receipt.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

NEW & AMAZING Holiday Cards!

We are proud to show our 2 NEW holiday card collections! We are sure you will find a template you love and will be happy to send out to friends and family.

Beat the holiday rush and order your holiday cards today!
Our online ordering system is fast and easy to use. You just drag and drop your favorite pictures into your favorite template, it's really that easy! All holiday cards include envelopes. Click on the links below to see all the templates in our "Holiday Sweets" collection and our "Winter Wonderland" collection. We know you'll be impressed.