What would scrapbooks be if it weren’t for photographs?  Words and other elements help us tell a story, but nothing produces the same impact as a great photo.

What makes a great photo? Some may be quick to answer that it is an expensive camera, the right light, a degree in photojournalism, knowledge of your camera and so on.

All these elements will for sure increase the quality of your photos, yet to me the main element is vision.  The vision of a photographer is not simply to look through the lens of a camera, but it is to learn to visualize what makes a good photo before you take. It is to capture the essence of the moment.

By just pointing a camera doesn’t mean you will be able to tell a story.  Great photos are the ones that inspire, touch and best embody precious memories. They are truly the photos that make you go….wow, or become speechless.

I have always loved photography and I am known to have a camera with me ready to go at all times. Since I became a scrapbooker, I decide to study photography and I have had great professional photographers share their tips and techniques with me.  Some of the greatest tips I’ve gotten were to become “invisible”...  create a relaxing, fun atmosphere and look for candid shots.

There are occasions when getting people to pose for a shot is required. Family or group portrait are an example.  Still it is the photographer’s job to “break the ice” and create a great photo opportunity. I get the best photos by making my subject be themselves, instead of giving me their best pose.

However, often the best shots are not posed. They are the candid spontaneous moments in everyday life.

I also photograph nature, which is a whole other story. You have to be ready at all times, on the look out, become part of the scenery and have a lot of patience. 

And then there are kids and pets… Can I “make” them do what I want for a good shot?  Not really, but I engage, play and simply observe them. I make that “big black object” between them and I become almost unnoticeable. 

Here are a few shots I have taken through the years.