8 Simple Tips for Taking Great Holiday Photos from Nikon Canada

Most families have someone who is eager to document festive family fun. If this person happens to be you, here are a few photo tips to help in your quest to capture important memories for the perfect holiday photo album.

Get your gear in order
Nothing is more frustrating than missing that perfect holiday shot because you’ve run out of battery power or space on your memory card. Your child’s excited reaction to opening his or her gift is priceless and fleeting. If you miss that moment, it’s gone forever.

Tip: Charge your battery the night before. Most point-and-shoot camera batteries will allow you to take around 300 shots, while digital SLRs will capture anywhere from 600-900 shots. For many of us, this is plenty of juice to get the job done. If you think you need more, consider investing in a spare battery (and make sure it’s charged). That way you won’t waste time scouting for a power source or waiting for your battery to recharge.

Invest in a memory card that will meet your photo and video needs. Deciding which size of memory card to purchase is dependent upon many factors including the size of picture files, type of camera, and the number of megapixels on the camera’s sensor. For example, an 8GB card will store approximately 1,600 medium-sized “JPEG normal” images when using a 24-megapixel digital SLR. As a precaution, it’s always a good idea to keep a spare memory card in your camera case or purse.

Get that perfect food pic
Many people love taking and showing off pictures of their holiday feasts. However, making foodlook as delicious as it tastes can be tricky. You’ve invested significant time into perfecting your dishes, so take the time to capture great photos.

Tip: Play around with natural and artificial light sources to achieve the best light to make that plum pudding look as scrumptious as you know (or hope) it is. Consider using a camera with incredible low-light performance, or even adding a flash unit that allows you to manipulate light by bouncing it off of nearby walls or ceilings. With the right lighting, the colour and texture of food will be captured with everything you remember. For a twist on a traditional “food pic,” get the kids in on the fun. Capture their faces enjoying their favourite treats. Their smiles, and the icing smeared on their faces, will leave no doubt that your sugar cookies are scrumptious!

Get that perfect group shot

Gathering the little ones in one place and keeping them still is tough. And, the more people you have posing for a photo, the more likely it is that you’ll catch someone with their eyes closed or in mid-sentence.

Tip: Make life easier by using a camera with a high-speed continuous capture mode with a full AutoFocus (AF) mode to track fast-moving subjects to increase your chances of capturing that perfect shot with everyone’s eyes open and focused on the camera. Consider using Smart Photo Selector mode onNikon 1 cameras. This feature helps capture critical moments other cameras may miss by taking 20 shots with a single shutter press and presenting you with the five best shots. It’s also important to shoot at a high frames-per-second (fps) rate to capture as many shots as possible, ensuring your subjects get back to the holiday revelry ASAP.

Get that perfect angle
Capturing photo subjects at eye level can really transform a photo. Pictures of your kids playing in the snow will become even more dynamic when a camera lens is placed in the middle of the action.

Tip: When taking pictures of kids and pets, get down to their level. This vantage point will evoke a sense of intimacy in your images and make the action pop. Consider using a camera equipped with a swivel monitor that can tilt, flip and turn to just about any position so you can feel comfortable shooting from almost any angle. Perfect for “selfies” too!

Get that priceless reaction 

Sometimes, a still shot just isn’t enough to capture the emotions of moments like trimming the tree or performing in the annual holiday concert at school. Many digital cameras are now built with video-recording capabilities to capture the joy and excitement of the holidays.

Tip: Capture videos to complement your still images. This mix will allow you and your loved ones to re-live all those pleasant memories of the holiday season. Or, consider blending still images with a short video clip by taking advantage of Motion Snapshot technology, exclusive to the Nikon1 line of digital cameras. This function captures moments by combining motion, stills and sound to create a short, slow-motion video that ends with a single defining still image.

Get the kids snapping!

The holiday season is especially exciting for the little ones – let the magic of the season be seen through their eyes.

Tip: Give yourself a break and let the little ones take the photographer reigns for a bit. You may be surprised by the moments they capture. A durable, easy-to-use point-and-shoot is your best bet (you may not want to hand your HD-SLR over to just anyone!). Consider providing them with a shockproof and waterproof camera like the Nikon COOLPIX S31 as a worry-free, kid-friendly option that will preserve their memories for years to come and add a unique perspective to your holiday album.

Get sharing
All too often, we capture amazing moments just to have them sit on our memory cards or home computers. Looking through old and new photo collections is fun year-round, but the holidays really make us yearn to share those priceless shots with loved ones.

Tip: Why delay? Share your images with friends, family and your social network on the spot, so they can enjoy your holiday photos while still in the season. Sharing will ensure that your aunt living across the country and your brother halfway around the world feel like they’re a part of your festivities. There are a number of digital cameras with Wi-Fi capabilities that simplify the process of sharing high-quality images on Google+™, Facebook and Twitter, and sending shots directly to your smartphone or tablet. The Nikon D5300’s built-in Wi-Fi makes sharing a breeze, allowing you to wirelessly transfer photos to a smartphone, tablet or PC.

Savour the moment!
Don’t let the holiday season pass you by because you’re too busy looking at the LCD screen on your camera. Keeping your eyes glued to that screen might cause you to miss out on other photo opportunities or more importantly, precious holiday moments.

Tip: Review your shots after all the action is over! Avoid making a habit out of looking at every photo right after you take it. Simply soak in the moments and take photos when it feels natural.

Nikon COOLPIX AW110: Actively Outdoorsy!

OK, so I think that Nikon Canada has completely spoiled me. I have had the chance to try the COOLPIX S30, the Nikon1 J3 and now the COOLPIX AW110!


I always try and look at each camera from a mothers perspective. I am by no means a professional photographer, I simply see with my heart and try and capture that moment so I can remember it forever.

The Nikon COOLPIX AW110 is a great family friendly camera. It is not only shock proof...so when tiny fingers find it and decide to play with it and then drop it, you are worry free! Or when you are trying to juggle a diaper bag, car keys, and a tired fussy and teething toddler...if the camera happens to bump into the door you are trying to open, no harm is done!

It's also Waterproof, though we never got a chance to try this feature (insert sad face here) and freezeproof. I can't believe I'm about to put this out into the universe, but that feature almost makes me wish it was Winter so we could play outside with the camera in the snow!

This camera truly would be an amazing outdoor camera! Great for going on hikes, bike rides, swimming, camping, really any outdoor activity that you need a durable camera to keep up with you!

 I must say though, after trying out the the COOLPIX S30 and the Nikon1 J3, the COOLPIX AW110 wasn't my favorite camera. Not that I'm complaining, this camera was still great, but I felt like it wasn't the most user friendly camera. Though there are a lot of different preset settings you could use to capture that special moment, I found that trying to find the correct one for that particular moment not only took time, but some of the settings also took some time to "process" the picture. I guess sometimes more is not better.

I also found that it was hard to focus on an object and, for whatever reason, just could not get the zoom to "super zoom in". Which would have been great while we were on our walk and say an Osprey perched in the trees!

But while at the butterfly garden, the sharpness and clarity of the pictures were amazing! I just love the way the COOLPIX AW110 picked up on the various shades of color and the textures! 

I also loved the panorama option too! It was perfect to see the apple orchard when we went apple picking!

It also had a neat built-in slide show. At first I was taken a back by it a bit, because I didn't understand why my pictures kept changing while trying to view them...lol...but then I realized and was able to take advantage of it while showing the pictures to my grandmother, who is not tech savvy in the least!

And though I prefer photography over videography, Samantha seemed to enjoy capturing her toes against our wood floors. Not the best example of what this camera's video is capable of, but with the Full HD camera, you can see just how cute those piggies look!

All-in-all, for the price range this camera is a great family-friendly camera that I would suggest for the amateur mommy photographer. Play with the camera and then find your favorite features before you try and capture those precious moments of your family.

Here are a few more of my favourite moments I got to capture with the Nikon COOLPIX AW110!

So from my family, to yours I truly hope you enjoy your Nikon COOLPIX AW110! 

For more information on it click here! 

Thank you again to Nikon Canada and Strategic Ampersand for helping me to 

capture and preserve my families memories, smiles and laughter! 

Now I understand why Nikon is "at the heart of the image"

Nikon1 J3 Review: The Hardcore Mommy Cam

After some determination, emails and not taking no for an answer, I was blessed to have been asked to test the Nikon COOLPIX S30 a few months ago. This was a great camera and I got some amazing shots.

Then, I was blessed again to be asked to test the Nikon 1 J3. This opportunity came at the best time too, as Samantha's first birthday was just around the corner, and as you all know, I am obsessed with taking pictures of her. So, to be able to get professional quality pictures of her at this special time in both our lives was amazing! And though it was Samantha's birthday...I know what I want for mine!

Now, I'm not going to go on about the itty bitties of this camera, but will use some technical terms. I'm going to review this camera from a mother's perspective. I am not a professional photographer, but do try and see the beauty in everyday life! But, to be frank...this camera was AMAZING! It is what I would call the "Hardcore Mommy Cam" and brought my vision to life with remarkable speed, image quality and the creative features!

First, let's talk about the quality; the quality of the pictures, the quality of the video and the quality of the all important zoom. The NIKKOR VR 10-100mm lens offered an amazing zoom with the most amazing quality of picture and color! Though I can't compare lenses, this manual lens was easy to use and easy to focus. The 10x zoom and built-in vibration reduction also made it super simple to take landscape shots with shakey mommy hands. I was even able to take some self portraits while holding Samantha in one arm!

I was also blown away by the clarity and color of the pictures! When I zoomed into Samantha's face, even the tiniest features were visible, like the twinkle in her eye and the wrinkles in her lips! I can't wait to print my favourites and show them off around my home!

I also took full advantage of this camera and had a DIY cake smash session with a friend! (blog on that coming soon!) The pictures were definitely of a professional quality and turned out absolutely stunning! This super fun morning was full of cake, laughter and icing! 

Even the action shots I got weren't blurry or fuzzy! Just clean and clear! I did learn to save time and get even more great shots was to take off the preview function after the picture was taken. After Samantha was in bed, and the house was quiet, I was able to go through them and edit, crop or delete the pictures.  

The only thing I wish I would have done more was take more videos! The HD video camera that the Nikon1 J3 had, took such clear videos, even at night! There is even a cute motion snapshot that would take the picture and turn it into a mini video with music with just one snap of the button! Man, technology is crazy! 

Though this lens was a little big and heavy (but there are many NIKKOR lenses to choose from) and the camera did get a tad warm while using it, it was super easy to throw into the diaper bag and carry along every day! The only thing I had to get used to was wearing the camera around my neck and not in my back pocket. At first it was a little bit awkward, and I'll admit Samantha got a few camera bumps to the head when I tried to pick her up. But with a little bit of practice and some adjustment to the strap, it was just like carrying my purse around with me!

The Nikon1 J3 was also very user friendly. For the first few days I played around with the auto settings, since I am not used to having more than one auto option! But, once I had those figured out I started to experiment and play and truly give this camera a good mommy work out! The only problem I found was that I couldn't zoom into a close object, such as a flower. But at the right distance from the flower the petals turned into a work out art. I'm sure there is a setting or feature to allow this, but I didn't really have enough time to learn about the manual shutter speeds and aperture. (please refer back to me being a mommy and not a professional photographer) I also found that some of the features did take some processing time, which sometimes felt like it was taking forever, especially when you have a 1 year old running around. But, in return, the picture almost always came out beautiful!

The large screen was also great and as I scrolled through the camera options, details on each feature popped up to help me along. Using features like the color select and panorama were easy to find and easy to use. Though this is definitely an advanced camera, it was incredibly user friendly, and I quickly forgot how advanced the camera really is. Plus, I looked really good using it. (Insert wink here)

I have SO many favorite features on this camera! Like taking pictures WHILE using the HD video camera! How many times have you taken a video only to see a certain image and think..."I would love to keep that moment". Or the "Best Moment Capture" where the camera takes 5 pictures at the same time and you can choose which picture you like best! Even a fraction of a second can make a huge difference while photographing children!

All in all, the Nikon1 J3 is an amazing camera, but is on the more expensive side. But, to me, pictures last a life time and a good camera that will catch those memories is a good investment! The Nikon1 J3 helped to ignite my creativity and allow me to catch the moments that matter!

Thank you again to Nikon Canada and Strategic Ampersand for giving this amazing opportunity and I can't wait to see what to test the Nikon COOLPIX AW110!

Here are some more of my favorite memories I was able to catch with the Nikon1 J3!