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Archive for the ‘More Than a Hobby’ Category

Zazzle Link Referral Program

Store links that you build will link to the store of any seller that you choose. When a customer clicks on your link, you will earn a referral fee on anything that visitor buys in that shopping session.

This is an example of a store link. Click the link to see how it works.

ONimages Vintage Designs

When visitors to your website use this new home page link, you will earn a referral fee on anything they purchase in that visit! I have chosen many different Zazzle stores to visit with amazing products that you can purchase. Or if you wish you can join Zazzle and leave a comment with the name of your Zazzle store on my blog and I will create a referral link to your site.

Here are some Zazzle stores to visit:

Christianphotogirl Boutique
Prawny
The Candy Store!
Noteworthy
OddBob
Perfect Postage & Cards for your special occasions
clean_world
Cards | Postage | Gifts | More
Katie Tormala Photography
Brooklyn Born Productions
The Jason Mraz Store

Any suggestions, ideas? Feel free to comment on this article!

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Publish your creativity on real U.S. Postage

Make every letter a special delivery with your own customized photo stamps printed by Zazzle! Add your own photos, designs, business logos, and text to design your own postage that can be sent through standard U.S. Mail. Perfect for wedding announcements, birthday invitations, holiday cards, and promotional advertising. Makes a unique and useful gift for friends and family.

POW!! postage

POW!!

Innocent postage

Innocent

Pink Delight postage

Pink Delight

Butterfly Beauty postage

Butterfly Beauty

Choose from 7 denominations:
  • $0.26: postcards
  • $0.41: First-class, 1 oz
  • $0.58: 1 oz mailings, unusual shapes
  • $0.58: 2 oz mailings
  • $0.75: 3 oz mailings
  • $0.92: 3.5 oz mailings
  • $1.31: 4 oz mailings
  • $4.60: Priority Mail (up to 16 oz)
Zazzle Custom Stamp Sizes:
  • Large
  • Horizontal: 2.5″ x 1.5″ (image: 1.7″ x 1.2″)
  • Vertical: 1.5″ x 2.5″ (image: 1.2″ x 1.7″)
  • Image aspect ratio: 5×7
  • Medium
  • Horizontal: 2.1″ x 1.3″ (image: 1.4″ x 1.1″)
  • Vertical: 1.3″ x 2.1″ (image: 1.1″ x 1.4″)
  • Image aspect ratio: 3×4
  • Small
  • Horizontal: 1.8″ x 1.3″ (image: 1.1″ x 1.1″)
  • Vertical: 1.3″ x 1.8″ (image: 1.1″ x 1.1″)
  • Image aspect ratio: 1×1

Any suggestions, ideas? Feel free to comment on this article!

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Create Stock Photos

If you look at the sort of shots that get printed in travel magazines and expensive coffee-table books, they tend to share similar attributes. Look for pictures that you admire and try to analyze why you like them. These are some of the features I like:

Include People
Magazines in particular always like people in the shot. It gives the viewer a human connection, a sense of being there, and a sense of scale. Photographs evoke emotion and empathy comes with someone’s face. Avoid crowds and simplify the shot down to one person. The young and old are preferred subjects, with their innocent expressions and weather-worn faces respectively. People make your shots warm, friendly, and personable. Just like you are.

Simple, Clear Layout
A good shot focuses your attention on the subject by using a sparse background and a simple but interesting composition. Always remove clutter for the picture – this is a real skill. Like a musician, it’s always difficult to make things look easy. Zoom in, get close, get to eye level, find a simple backdrop, look for balance.

Bold, Solid Colors
‘Stock-quality’ images make great use of color. Look for solid primary colors: bright ‘sports-car’ red, emerald green, lightning yellow, and ocean blue. Use a polarizer to bring out the colors. Avoid patterns – keep it simple. Bright afternoon sunlight will add warmth. Alternatively, look for ‘color harmony’ – scenes restricted to similar tones and colors, or even a single color. This presents a calm, restful image where the eye plays with the differing shades and intensities. Look for pastels, cream, or delicate shades.

Depth
Always include some pointer about depth. A photograph is two-dimensional but we want it to appear three-dimensional. If you’re shooting a background (mountains) include a strong foreground (people). If you’re shooting people (foreground), add an out-of-focus blur behind them (by using a wide aperture – small f-number).

Use a wide-angle lens for exaggerated depth. With a 20mm to 28mm lens, get just a few feet from your subject and, with a small aperture (large f-number), include an in-focus deep background too. This exaggerated hyperfocal perspective is used in a lot of magazine shots. What impact!

Alternatively you can remove all depth by using a long, telephoto lens. This compresses or compacts the image, making your 3-D subject appear flat.

Dramatic Lighting
Photographs that win competitions are often ones that make interesting use of light. Look out for beams of light shining through clouds, trees or windows, long shadows, and the effect of side- and backlighting. Shoot in the warm golden “magic hours” of early morning and late afternoon.

Preparation
A great shot takes time. Scout out the area, make mental notes of important features, unusual and interesting angles, and changing crowd levels. Take time to prepare the shot. Get there before the best time of day, clean your lenses, set up a tripod or mini-tripod, add a cable release, try out different filters, wait for a good foreground, and talk with people who may be in the shot so that they’re comfortable and will pose well.

Any suggestions, ideas? Feel free to comment on this article!

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