Should You Upgrade Your Camera Body or Buy a New Lens?

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Valerie Goettsch

Should you upgrrade your camera body or lens first?Have you been shooting with a crop-sensor DSLR camera and kit lens for a while now, and  wondering what to do next? No doubt you’re getting frustrated with that 18-55mm kit lens, and have even thought about upgrading to a full frame camera. Should you invest in a new camera or buy a new lens? What lens should you get?

The answers may depend on what kind of photography you like to do most, and of course your budget. For the most part, though, I think you will be happier with upgrading your lens. There are actually some pretty good choices available for surprisingly reasonable prices.

Certain types of lenses are a must for specific kinds of photos. There are also situations where a different camera might be preferable but not required. Let’s look at a few popular types of photography and some suggested options.

Portrait Photography

Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Cameras | Tagged 35mm, 50mm, crop sensor camera, DSLR, full frame camera, mirrorless camera | Leave a comment

21 Things to Love About Lightroom

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Valerie Goettsch

Top 21 Reasons to Love Lightroom

Have you been thinking about trying Adobe Lightroom for your photos, but wondered if  you should be using it or Photoshop, or something else for your image editing? I’ve been working in Lightroom for a number of years now and have come to rely on it so much that I can’t image not using it. It’s greatly sped up my workflow, plus it’s fun to use! Here are my favorite reasons for using Lightroom to manage and process my raw and jpeg images. If you’re not yet using it, hopefully it will convince you to give it a shot. Continue reading →

Posted in Photo Editing Software | Tagged Adobe Lightroom, keywording, photo books, photo editing, presets, watermarking, workflow | Leave a comment

Xara Photo & Graphic Design Review

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Valerie Goettsch

Xara box shotDon’t let the low price fool you. This all-in-one software offers strong photo editing and vector illustrations, desktop publishing and customize-able pre-built graphics.

With the latest trend toward subscription-based software plans, many of us are looking for a more cost-effective all-in-one solution for photo editing and graphic iullustration, yet one that’s robust enough for our needs. I came across Xara Photo & Graphic Designer  and I was quite impressed, especially with all you get for the price ($89). Don’t be  fooled by the low price. Xara is not as widely known in the U.S., as in Europe, but hopefully that will change because it has a lot to offer. In addition to strong photo editing and graphic design capabilities, you also get desktop publishing features and a library of pre-built graphics and templates. In fact, the more I use it the more I discover what I can do with it, and the more I like it. I think it’s a good fit for both home users and small businesses, no matter your skill level. Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged desk top publishing, graphic design, photo editing software, software, templates, web graphics, Xara Photo editor & Graphic Design | Leave a comment