Best Indoor Photography Ideas

3 Simple Tips for Great Indoor Photography!

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On January 7, 2016

In Photography

We recently shared some exciting tips on how to take a family portrait, now let’s head indoors to get the best advice on capturing photos with your phones or DSLR!

Indoor photography can be intimidating because the lighting is more difficult to deal with than shooting outdoors. If you are ever faced with under exposed, blurry photos, here are 3 easy indoor photography ideas to use to help you capture a great photograph to showcase on your Nixplay cloud frame!

(1) Step out of the comfort zone of the Auto World

If I could tell everyone about indoor photography in two words, it would have to be white balance. First of all, what is a white balance? It’s as easy as it sounds! It’s all about the color temperature and keeping it “balanced”.

Tip for your Phone: Instead of using the auto settings, use your Instagram filters when taking a phone to approach indoor photography in a creative manner!

Tip for your DSLR: Our eyes are used to adjusting to the different hue of light sources provide, however our DSLR’s are not able to do this as well as our eyes can. Hence our tip is to step out of the Auto comfort zone, and to adjust the white balance manually to get the colors in your photographs as accurate as possible.

(2) Use one source of Light 

If you choose to shoot during the day, the best option for you is to use window lighting! You will be surprised with the results you can get with just natural lighting. It’s advised to avoid flash photography as much as you can as it replaces soft shadows with harsh shadows. This may make your photography lose some details. Whilst working with real light, you are able to learn more about controlled lighting and about your camera functions.

Tip for you Phone: If you are shooting a dimmed indoor area, the flash may be required to avoid blurry photographs, especially when your using your phone cameras. I’d also recommend using the Camera + app on your iPhone to edit settings.

Tip for your DSLR: If the photos are not bright enough, try to bump up your ISO settings until you achieve a satisfied result.

(3) Think outside of the frame. 

Be aware of what is in your photograph. There’s nothing worse than taking a great photo and noticing unnecessary objects in the photo. It is encouraged to photograph your subject the way you would want to see it on your cloud frame. Look around before you take the photo to check if there are little objects behind your subject. Make sure you get rid of those unwanted objects. If you are not able to remove the object, just simply move somewhere else!

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There it is: 3 quick indoor photography tips to take great photos indoors for your cloud frame. We hope these tips will give you confidence to experiment with more photos indoors! Enjoy clicking away!

Best Photo Sharing Gadgets

Best Gadgets of 2015

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On December 31, 2015

In Photography

When it comes to the year’s best gadgets, you know we’ve got the real deal on the must-haves to make your life easier—and add a bit more fun in some unexpected ways (hello, photo sharing gadgets).

We may not have flying cars or personal jet packs just yet, but we do have the down-low on playful, memorable items that top our must-have wish lists from 2015.

Best Gadgets of 2015

Flower Power — Having a plant is easy: it’s remembering to water them that’s hard. Worry no more with the H20 Smart Pot. This nifty gadget attaches to a water bottle. Then, it accesses a database containing a staggering list of 7,000 plants. It will then provide the perfect amount of water for your rooted darling. In fact, the H20 Smart Pot monitors four basic aspects of plant health (temperature, sunlight, water, fertilizer), and will send you an alert when your plant needs a little extra TLC.

Breville Grind Control — Single cup or whole pot, the Breville Grind Control turns a cup of coffee into something more. It begins with the air-tight burr grinder that evenly grinds fresh coffee beans whenever you need them, keeping those essential oils in and staleness out. Aligning with SCAA (Speciality Coffee Association of America) standards with its 200 degree temperature ensures the perfectly fresh coffee you never thought you could have at home. Whether it’s poured into a carafe or on-the-go, Breville Grind Control makes tasty coffee, period. Bonus: the brushed steel base is a cinch to clean and flatters any decor.

Nixplay WiFi Cloud Frames — Share the fun! Keep friends and family close with Nixplay WiFi Cloud Frames, the best photo sharing gadgets you can find (we won’t lie!). Easily upload new images via smartphone or computer for family and friends to enjoy without any hassle. The smart motion sensor plays images for you, not the dog. You have choices. Not only does it connect to all of the social networks, but you can email photos, or use the Nixplay Mobile App for iPhone and Android. Enjoy the fun of constantly updated photos with Nixplay Seed Frames or Nixplay Edge Frames. Hint: it makes a great gift, too!

NIX Digital Frames — Dusty photo albums and static photo frames are a thing of the past when you have the innovative NIX Digital Frames. You can finally put those images to good use! It’s a smart way to update your home décor in a more personal way while highlighting those special moments. We love a gadget that does double duty (though we could be a little biased). The USB Drive/SD/SDHC Card Ports provide plenty of uploading options. Whether you use it at work or at home, you can remember the fun anytime, anywhere with NIX Digital Frames.

Gadgets for Your Home

As you can see, 2015 brought with it some amazing advances in the form of playful, neat gadgets to fit any home. We are sure that 2016 will be even better!

Make sure to stay on top of all the photo-sharing fun by liking Nixplay on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and reading more exciting news on our blog. We always share the latest news, special deals, and useful tips.

 

Travel Photography Ideas

How to approach your photography when traveling

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On December 30, 2015

In Photography

“Have you packed the camera?” must be one of those things that’s always asked when people are getting ready for some traveling. But more often than not, that’s as much considerations as people give to what or how they want to take photos whilst away on a trip. Here are a few travel photography tips to help you come home with something you’re proud of.

1. Check your gear
It’s a frustrating situation to be in when you are missing that vital bit of kit. Arguably, the most common thing to be lacking in is storage. So make sure you transfer those old photos off your memory card or phone and give yourself plenty of chance to be snap happy. If you’re taking a power hungry camera then consider extra batteries, it’s always a worthwhile investment in my opinion (eBay can be a good source for some third party batteries at little cost).

2. Landscape, street or something else?
Think about where you are going and what scenes you’re likely to encounter. A trip to New York might lead to lots of street photography, most cameras will work well for this style (for the geeks of you out there…something offering you a focal length of 35mm-50mm will be perfect). If you’re off to somewhere like Iceland or Canada then something capable of wide-angle shots will be essential. It must be said that wide-angle shots are extremely versatile, so try working on those wider shots and you’ll find it useful for future travel photos.

3. Get to the right place, at the right time

Do a little research into sunrise and sunset times so that you can capture those golden moments. If you’re on a city break try and see if there are any local markets or events going on during your visit. You might only visit these places once, so make sure you don’t miss out on any once in a lifetime moments.

4. Give it a quick tweak
One of my aims when taking photos is to give the photo viewer a sense of what it was like to view the scene with my own eyes. Sometimes your photo might not come out just how you remember it, so go ahead and bring it back to life in the digital darkroom. Try out a few simple editing softwares, if you’re a phone shooter then go for Adobe Photoshop Express or Flickr (it’s had an amazing update recently). If you’re more adventurous then go for Adobe Lightroom, it’s a wonderful tool for any photographer.

5. Don’t get obsessed by “getting the shot” and enjoy your surroundings
Above all, enjoy your trip! There have been many a time where I’ve not looked up from the viewfinder enough and enjoyed my surroundings. You’ll enjoy those photos more if you have fond memories attached to them, so make sure you have a good time and know when to put the camera down.

There it is: five quick tips to capture great travel photographs for your Cloud Frame. We hope these tips will help you proudly display amazing photos on your frame! Enjoy exploring and clicking away!

Gift Ideas for Photographers

Great Gift Ideas for the Photographer in Your Life

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On December 22, 2015

In Gifting Guides

Photographers can hard to shop for–after all, beauty is in the eye of the lens holder. So, what do you get for that photographer in your life? Don’t think too hard – we’ve put together a list of great gift ideas for photographers.

1. Digital Frames — $59.99

What better to get a photographer than a digital frame—to display the images they’ve taken over the years? By adding multiple photographs to a single frame, they can display their work in a compact place, regardless of whether they’re a professional looking to impress clients or an amateur looking to entertain family and friends. A high-quality digital frame can display a large number of images with a small amount of desktop real estate.

In addition to simply displaying digital images in rotation, you can create digital playlists (similar to a music playlist in iTunes). These playlists will empower them to sort their images into groups that make sense to them. For example, they may want a frame filled with portraits, wedding shots, landscapes, or architecture to display their work to prospective clients. You can read more about playlists and other digital frame features here.

2. Wifi Cloud Frames $59.99 to $249.99

If you’ve got a techie photographer in your life, then Wifi Cloud Frames could be the perfect gift. A Wifi Cloud frame is a digital frame with the added touch of being connected to the Internet and the cloud. With this online connection, it can instantly display images that your photographer uploads via an app on their smartphone. You can also download images to the digital Wifi Cloud frame from social media profiles—handy for photographers that market themselves via platforms like Facebook.

These high-tech frames truly are one of the greatest gifts for photographers, especially with their IPS display—which displays high-res photography beautifully.

4. Photoshop Keyboard Shortcut Skin – about $30

This may surprise you, but digital photographers spend more time on Photoshop (a digital image manipulation software program) than they do behind the lens! The endless hours they spend adjusting light levels and getting rid of pesky blemishes and other imperfections could be sped up significantly by learning the keyboard shortcuts for Photoshop. With the Photoshop Keyboard Shortcut Skin, they can learn how to more quickly navigate the program, and save hours slaving away at their computer.

The above goes double for amateur photographers, who may want to improve their Photoshop skills by learning about new features and capabilities!

5. Tickets to a Photography Show –$20+ (prices depend on event)

Depending on your area, you may have an upcoming photography show that you could purchase them tickets for. At these events both amateurs and professionals alike can learn about new techniques and technology that could take their photography to the next level.

Other special gift ideas include touch-screen friendly gloves (for outdoor winter photographers), a large (1 TB+) external hard drive (for storing the super-large image files on), a book from their favorite photographer, a photography-gear-storing backpack, a tripod, or even a photography course. Getting your favorite photographer one of these thoughtful gifts will make their days brighter – and maybe in return they’ll feature you in their next series. So head on over to Amazon to get started shopping today.

Christmas and Holiday Gift Ideas for Family

How To Bring Your Family Closer Together This Christmas – Without a Plane Ticket

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On December 15, 2015

In Holidays

“Home for the Holidays” isn’t just a sentimental song. When the holidays roll around each year, just about everyone wishes they could gather their entire extended family together in one spot to celebrate. And while some families are lucky enough to be able to do just that, others have members spread all across the country, or even the globe, who can’t make it for a Christmas visit.

If that’s the case in your family, what can you do to bring everyone closer together this Christmas, in spite of the distance? And if you’re one of the lucky ones, how can you maintain that Christmas closeness all year long? We’ve put together a list of ways to bring your family closer together, and keep them that way.

1. Share family traditions year-round.

Traditions are an important part of family identity and bonding, especially during the holidays. But it doesn’t have to be Christmas to share a tradition with family members, no matter how far away they live. Does Grandma have a legendary cake recipe? Distribute it to everyone in the family and have a long-distance bake-off each year! Points can be awarded for appearance, creative twists, and, since virtual tasting isn’t an option, most vivid taste descriptions from spouses and kids. Is your family into fishing? Hold a virtual fishing derby each year, measuring fish to see who wins the prize. By sharing a tradition, even long-distance relationships can be strengthened.

2. Write letters.

Writing letters may be old-school, but that just makes it even more special. It’s so rare to get a letter in the mail these days that when one does arrive, it makes a lasting impression. And that’s why it’s perfect for tightening those family bonds. Assign each family member a regular pen pal, or have everyone write to everyone else on a rotating basis. Encourage pen pals to include drawings, pictures, or even small gifts in their envelopes, as well. Looking forward to the next letter is a fun way to keep family on everyone’s mind.

3. Share photos via Nixplay Wifi Cloud Frames.

If you currently rely on email or social media to share photos with your extended family, they’re getting a glimpse into your life – but only a fleeting one. With your pictures sandwiched between their friends’ posts about their children, and updates from their favorite organizations, they just don’t have much staying power. When each household has their own Nixplay Wifi Cloud Frame, however, all that changes. Family photos can be sent directly and instantly to each frame from family members’ smartphones, and even customized with captions, so that an uninterrupted stream of family photos is displayed. Having that constant reminder of family in your home is the perfect way to keep in touch, keep up-to-date, and share experiences – which is exactly what it takes to bring family closer together.

So if you’re looking for ways to strengthen those family bonds at Christmastime and throughout the year, try these tips to jumpstart your efforts. And since Christmas is just a few short weeks away, why not get the ball rolling by presenting your family members with their own Nixplay Wifi Cloud Frames as gifts? You’ll be setting the stage for a closer family relationship, and getting your Christmas shopping out of the way, all at the same time! Check out our selection of frames today.     

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