Scrapbooking for the first time<br >Introduction<br > "Scrapbooking" is a hobby that not only<br >provides a creative outlet for the scrapbook<br >designer， but also promotes a strong sense of<br >self-esteem and belonging for those whose lives<br >and accomplishments are creatively chronicled<br >and compiled into an album or collection of<br >albums.<br > Great scrapbooks start with great Ahotos.<br >Although professional photos are wonderful<br >additions to a scrapbook， using a professional<br >photographer for all photos is not practical， or<br >necessary. Your own snapshots are going to<br >capture the most memorable moments in life.<br > The best times and conditions， as far as<br >lighting is concerned， for taking photographs<br >outside are before I0 am and after 4 pm and on<br >a slightly overcast day. The subject should be<br >positioned so the sunlight is hitting them from<br >the side instead of facing directly into the sun.<br > Add variety to photos by changing the<br >angles at which photos are taken. Try looking<br >through the camera viewfinder at the subject<br >from low， high， and normal camera angles to<br >see which will look best. Children s photos are<br >often better if the photographer kneels down to<br >the child s level before taking the shot. Many<br >older people find photos taken from a slightly<br >higher angle more appealing.<br > Get closer to the subject when you are<br >taking the photograph. The one comment I hear<br >most often is， "Your pictures are so close-up! In<br >my photos the people are always so far away."<br >At first， it is a little awkward to get so close， but<br >the results are great. The only exception to using<br >this technique is when you are using a flash--<br >especially indoors--as the subject can appear<br >washed out or over-exposed.<br > Try enlarging your photos. If you have a<br >photo where the image is very small and you<br >would like it to appear larger， either enlarge it<br >on a color copy machine or have the photo<br >printed larger from the negative. Then simply<br >crop the photo so the subject is the main focus<br > Good photos come from good photo<br >processing labs. Avoid the temptation to save<br >money by going with a lower-quality lab.<br >Incorrect developing can mean the difference<br >between a photo that lasts and a photo that<br >quickly fades.<br > Use both black-and-white and colored<br >photos in your scrapbooks. While black-and-<br >white photos last longer， the value of colored<br >photos cannot be denied. Many scrapbook<br >designers recommend taking colored photos for<br >the most part and taking a set of black-and-<br >white photos every six months to one year to<br >preserve family history， in the event that color<br >photos deteriorate. ~，<br > f~<br ><br >