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One Dad's Quest to Regain Control of his Kingdom

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How to Manage and Organize Travel Video Footage

March 26, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Recording videos when you travel can be a great way to document your trip, and truly capture the emotion of it. However by the time you’re done you’re likely to end up with lots of video files of the footage that you’ve captured, and the unenviable task of sorting through it all.

 

If you want to manage and organize your travel video footage more effectively, there are a few steps that you should take:

 

1) Come up with an organizational structure

The first thing you should do is come up with an organization structure that includes a directory structure and filename convention.

 

Both should be designed to make it easier for you to find the travel video footage that you need. For example a simple folder structure would be the Trip Name as the parent folder, and specific locations that you visited or days as subfolders.

 

The most common filename convention is year-month-date, but you can add location or other details to that if you prefer. Try to keep the chronological aspect of it, as it will make sorting it a lot easier in the long run.

 

2) Start organizing early

It helps if you start to organize your travel video footage early. In particular, you can skim through the video footage that you’ve recorded whenever you have any downtime, and delete any clips that you definitely won’t want to keep.

 

If your camera allows it, you may want to set it to save videos using the filename convention to save yourself from having to rename files in bulk later.

 

3) Add tags to video footage

One of the most useful tools available to you to organize your video files are tags. The information that you can add in the form of tags will be far more than any folder or filename structure can provide, making it perfect for travel videos.

 

That being said adding tags to videos can be time-consuming and you may not want to add tags to all your videos. Instead you can prioritize the videos that you want to tag based on which travel videos you feel require additional information.

 

4) Convert and backup videos

As a rule it is best to keep your travel videos in the original format and quality they were recorded in. However that isn’t always possible due to storage concerns or if you only need them in a specific format.

 

For example you may want to convert MOV to AVI to make it easier for further editing. So, you can do it easily with Movavi Video Converter.

 

In any case you should decide on a format, and also decide how you want to backup any important travel videos. That can be a challenge due to the space that they occupy, but at very least you should try to keep a backup on an external hard drive – just in case.

 

All said and done the steps above should help you to organize and manage your travel video footage more effectively. In the long run it will make it far easier for you to find the videos that you need quickly, and help ensure that you don’t accidentally ‘lose’ any important videos either.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: editing photos, editing video, family, family travel, Home video, photo, photography, photos, travel, travel videos, video, videos

ibi – Collect, Organize and Privately Share Photos & Videos With Ease

March 21, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

ibi, The Smart Photo Manager

How many of you take pictures? I would guess that 100% of you say that you do in some manner. For me, I have always taken a ton of photos even before it was cool to do so. I started with film and moved into digital as technology changed. I love being able to capture the world around me in so many ways, and especially since I became a father it was even more important to capture the moments with my kids, not only for me, but to share with them as they got older.
lewis family
One of the challenges of taking digital images has always been space. Where do I keep images so that I know where they are but also so that they are accessible and safe for others as well. I have used flash drives, external hard drives and more to be able to access this, but that did not mean that I could easily share them with friends or family.
This is where ibi,the smart photo manager comes into play. With ibi you can collect, organize, and privately share photos and videos with the people who matter most – all in one place. You can automatically collect all of your favorite photos and videos from your phones, USB drives and popular cloud and social media accounts.
ibi uses a simple-to-use app allows you to organize and quickly find exactly what you’re looking for anywhere you go. I loved that it will allows you to Privately share individual photos and invite others to add photos to shared Albums from vacations, weddings, and more. The inner circle tab gives friends and family a private space to instantly add and enjoy memories. This was extremely important as my mother was moving out of State and we wanted to make sure to be able to share pictures with her whether she was close or far away.
ibi, The Smart Photo Manager
As I received the ibi, I found it to be very easy to set up. All you had to do was plug in the ibi, download the app and create your account. The ibi works with iOS (10+), Android (ver 6.0+), Windows (7+) and macOS (10.9+), Wireless router for Internet connection).
The ibi has a ton of space and has 2 TB which is equivalent to 500,000 photos or over 200 hours of video. This is a ton of space!
ibi, The Smart Photo Manager
I am so happy that I found the ibi and if you take a ton of photos, you will be happy to have it as well. I highly encourage you to check this out today!
You can order an ibi for yourself on Amazon!

 

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Filed Under: product review Tagged With: ibi, photo, photo manager, photography, photos, product review, The Smart Photo Manager

‘Must Have’ Gear to Pack for Recording Impressive Travel Videos

January 3, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

'Must Have' Gear to Pack for Recording Impressive Travel Videos

Are you thinking of going all out and recording an impressive travel video on your next trip? If you are then it is important that you pack everything you need – and there are some pieces of gear that you simply can’t do without.

 

The most essential pieces of gear that you must have if you want to record impressive travel videos are:

 

  • Video camera

While essential, the type of video camera that you use is honestly up to you – and you should use what you already have rather than investing in a new camera initially. That being said if you are looking to buy a new camera anyway, you should focus on one that can capture high quality videos and is light – such as some of the mirrorless cameras.

 

  • Portable tripod stand

Tripod stands are arguably the best way to keep your camera steady while recording, which will make your travel videos look much more professional. Nowadays there are numerous portable travel options, and your focus should be on making sure it has the right type of head.

 

  • External microphone

Technically this is optional – but if you intend to record audio alongside your travel video, you really can’t do without it. In general a portable shotgun microphone is a good choice, though if you intend to record audio commentary then a lavalier or handheld microphone may be better.

 

  • Camera light

Another somewhat optional yet important piece of gear is a camera light. Relying on the built-in flash on most cameras is impractical, and so you will want to have a camera light of some kind with you in case the lighting conditions are poor. The exact type of light that you choose is up to you, but you should base it on what you feel the conditions will be like.

 

  • Spare batteries

Always bring spare batteries with you as you’ll go through them quickly on your trip. On top of that you may not always have the luxury of charging the batteries as soon as they run dry, so having spares is crucial.

 

  • Additional storage

Just as with batteries, having extra storage is always a good thing when recording travel videos. Ideally you should bring a few extra SD or microSD cards that you can swap in when needed, and an external hard drive that you can transfer the videos to whenever is convenient.

 

While these are the most important pieces of gear, there are others that you should pack as well – such as the lenses you want to use, a cleaning kit, and possibly a laptop or tablet. If you do pack a laptop or tablet, you will be able to convert your videos to the format that you want to store them in and for example could use Online Video Converter (www.videoconverter.com) for that.

 

All said and done if you pack the gear listed above you should have a much easier time recording impressive travel videos. As a final item you should try to pack it all in a sturdy and waterproof bag – so that it doesn’t get damaged while you’re on your trip.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: family travel, photography, travel, travel tips, travel with family, travel with kids, video, video equipment, videography, videos

New Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours

July 27, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

New Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours

Are you passionate about digital imaging and digital photography, then you need to check out the new opportunities that Best Buy has for you! Starting tomorrow, July 28 Best Buy is offering a NEW Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours. These tours will be taking place in Seattle, San Diego, Houston, Atlanta, Tampa, New York City and Minneapolis. There will also be tours October 20, 2018 and January 19, 2019.

New Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours

Tours are not the only way you can work on your photography, but read below to learn more about the tours and the new Free In-Store Photography Workshops.

New Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours

1.) NEW Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours – for Intermediates
  • Available in Seattle, San Diego, Houston, Atlanta, Tampa, New York City and Minneapolis on 7/28
  • These are half-day excursions where you’ll get the chance to work with pro photographers & our Camera Experience Shop experts to conduct 4 individual photo shoots.
  • You’ll get to test & try an array of lenses & accessories to truly unleash what’s possible with photography, learn to think like a pro & walk away with some amazing photos.
  • At the end of the day in addition to lunch you’ll get a bag of camera goodies + if you share your photos on social media with the #BestBuyPhotoWorkshops you’ll be entered to win Best Buy gift cards or a dream photography package!
  • The events cost $50 – but you’ll easily make this up with the giveaways, lunch, transportation, and the priceless opportunity to work with pros!
New Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours
2.) Free In-Store Photography Workshops – for Beginners
  • Do you want to improve your photo game but you’re not quite ready for the Tours? Start with a free in-store photography workshop!
  • Only 2 hours long, these will cover the photography basics & allow you 1:1 interaction with our Camera Experience Shop Experts to walk through your camera’s settings
  • Once you’re done, take the next step into the upcoming Photography Workshop Tours on 10/20 and 1/19. You can sign-up to be notified when these go live for registration in the fall/winter.
New Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours
3.) All of this is possible thanks to Best Buy’s Camera Experience Shop. 
  • It’s essentially like visiting a specialty camera store, right in the middle of your local Best Buy
  • They have expert help in the form of our Camera Experience Shop Experts who go through intensive photography training & are all photo enthusiasts themselves
  • There’s an expanded assortment of cameras, lenses & accessories that you won’t find in other locations. Plus you can get hands on with all the cameras & test and try them in the store

As someone that loves photography I know that I will be taking advantage of these great opportunities. What about you? Which of the two are you ready for and beyond that, what kind of camera do you take photos with?

 

 

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Filed Under: announcement, product review Tagged With: Best Buy, camera, photography, photography tour, photos

Green Screen Wizard Helps You Become A Part Of Your Background

January 18, 2018 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Green Screen Wizard

In a world where everyone has a cell phone camera it is harder and harder to impress your clients, family or friends with your photographs.

Green Screen Wizard offers you a chance to easily master the almost magical skill of green screen photography.

Whether you want to have fun with the kids or expand your photography business, Green Screen Wizard has software for every budget and need. The inexpensive Full version offers professional green screening at a low price. The Pro Studio version with its built in editor and amazing effects is the clear choice for the professional photographer. If you want to do events, or batch process your school or sports photos then the Pro Batch/Event software is for you.

The Photobooth software features live previews and Photobooth style output strips. Starting at $79.95 for the webcam version this software can turn any PC laptop with a webcam into a Photobooth. More expensive versions have full DSLR support. This software is affordable and fun!

 Green Screen Wizard

As you can see my daughter was having some fun with the software and you can too!

Green Screen Wizard

 

While the Green Screen Wizard software comes with a handful of backgrounds, you also can purchase more through the Green Screen Wizard site, or you can import your own images to use for the background as well. This worked well as I was creating the below images for the new American Girl Doll, Luciana.

luciana, American Girl luciana, American Girl luciana, American Girl

My Take on the Green Screen Wizard

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Filed Under: product review Tagged With: editing photos, green screen, photography, photos

Dads in the Limelight -Author and Beyond the Rhetoric blog owner, Michael Kwan

May 19, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Dads in the Limelight Series

Dads in the Limelight -Author and Beyond the Rhetoric blog owner, Michael Kwan

Our 647th Dad in the Limelight is author and Beyond the Rhetoric blog owner, Michael Kwan. I want to thank Michael Kwan for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Michael Kwan with all of you.

Michael Kwan is the 647th Dad to be spotlighted in the Dads in the Limelight series on the Dad of Divas Blog

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
I’m Michael Kwan, born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. I’ve been a self-employed professional freelance writer for just over ten years now. That’s the same length of time that my blog, Beyond the Rhetoric, has been around, though I’ve been writing and publishing on the Internet since 1999. Readers might know me from my work on sites like MEGATechNews, John Chow dot Com, Blogging Tips, LoveToKnow and 365 Days of Dining. I also have a book, , which explores a series of tips for people who are interested in freelancing and how to break into the business.
Michael Kwan is the 647th Dad to be spotlighted in the Dads in the Limelight series on the Dad of Divas Blog
Before I became a dad, I liked to play a lot of tennis and Street Fighter, though both have very much fallen to wayside since. I hope that when my daughter is a little older, we can partake in some racket play and hadoukens together.

2) Tell me about your family
I live in the Vancouver area with my wife (who was my high school sweetheart) and our year-and-a-half-old daughter Adalynn. My wife works outside of the home, typically in the afternoons and evenings, while I’m the work-at-home dad. This arrangement means that I am able to stay home with our girl and we can save on childcare costs. It’s not necessarily easy, but we make it work.
Michael Kwan is the 647th Dad to be spotlighted in the Dads in the Limelight series on the Dad of Divas Blog
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
You mean beyond the incessant insomnia? All kidding aside, apart from the necessity to adapt constantly to new circumstances and learn new things, the biggest challenge for me has been time management. As mentioned above, I work from home and I’ve had a hard time fitting “work” into my “home” schedule and responsibilities. More often than not, I get the majority of my work done during the “third shift” after the little one has already gone to bed, but I’m never able to focus fully on my work. I always have to keep an eye and ear open in case she wakes up. This sense of divided attention has been a struggle.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
In many ways, this is also advice I would give to myself. Be present. I’m not talking about just being physically there. I’m also talking about giving your kids your full and undivided attention. Don’t go reaching for your smartphone to skim through Facebook when you should be playing and learning with your child. Don’t worry about checking your work email. No one is going to look back, on their death bed, and wished they had spent more time in the office. They will, however, regret that they weren’t there for their children more. Don’t be that guy.
Michael Kwan is the 647th Dad to be spotlighted in the Dads in the Limelight series on the Dad of Divas Blog
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
What I am finding is that it is less about balance and more about integration, which is also a lesson I have taken to heart as a freelance writer. The line between “work” and “play” is blurred. What I do “for fun” these days oftentimes involves my child, like going out to eat at a new restaurant or playing at the park. My parenthood has come to define part of my outside life, just as my parenthood now occupies an increasingly large space on my blog. I was already a small business, travel and food writer. Now, I’m also a dad blogger.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
Everyone is different. We all have our struggles and difficulties, despite what the “Facebook version” of ourselves may lead you to believe. It’s not that life as a dad gets any easier as the kids get older. You’re just presented with new challenges and you’re better prepared to roll with the punches when you do.
Michael Kwan is the 647th Dad to be spotlighted in the Dads in the Limelight series on the Dad of Divas Blog
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
Becoming a father has been one of the most profound life changes I have ever experienced, far more than getting my first job, getting married, or buying our first home. It’s all encompassing. And being a dad to my daughter has made me much more cognizant of gender inequality, gender stereotypes and gender issues. I endeavor to be the change I want to see in this world. Dads are equal parents and my little girl doesn’t have to be a little princess.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
There are so many and she’s barely a year and a half old. I was there when she first started crawling, I was able to witness her first steps, and it positively melted my heart when she started calling me “baba.” I recognize I lead a privileged existence, working from home, and I look forward to being around when she reaches all sorts of other milestones.

 

If you have any questions for Michael Kwan, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

Dad of Divas, dadofdivas.com

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Filed Under: Dads in the Limelight Tagged With: Beyond the Rhetoric, dad, dads, dads in the limelight, family, family time, father, fatherhood, Michael Kwan, photography, tips for fathers

Creating Amazing Images With the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan!

October 30, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

adobe-creative-cloud
I have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

As most of you know I have been a photographer for a long time. I cannot say that I am a professional photographer in any sense, however I take a lot of photos and I tend to think that I take good photographs too.

While I say this I have not been super advanced at trying to take my photography to the next level in creating images that are truly amazing like the ones that I see on many photographers sites, but I know that it is possible.

As I say this, I recently learned about the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography software which offer a 1-year subscription and encompasses Photoshop Creative Cloud and Lightroom Creative Cloud. This online based subscription allows you to connect up to two computers and gives you access to enhanced photo editing and convenience with the multi-screen capabilities provided by the Cloud.

The 1 year subscription to the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography software costs $119.99 annually which really is not much when you consider the power that is behind the overall software itself.

So what does the software let you do? Well some of the features include:

  • Perfect your Photography: From everyday edits to total transformations, the Creative Cloud plan lets you retouch and manipulate images in just about any way you can imagine.
  • Organize, Edit & Share images from Anywhere: On your computer, on the web, on your iPad and on your iPhone or Android device. And when you make an editor flag a favorite in one place, it’s automatically updated everywhere else through Adobe CreativeSync technology.
  • Showcase your Work: Organize images in web galleries or share them on your favorite social sites. Then use the Adobe Slate mobile app to craft visual stories and animated videos and the Adobe Voice mobile app to add your own voice for narration.

I have been trying out the software over the past few weeks and while some of the features take a little bit of experimentation, it was quite user friendly and the amount of adjustment that you can do to perfect or change an image was simply remarkable. I took the following image and changed it just slightly and you can see the drastic differences. I wish I had started using this so long ago and now I do not think I will ever go back to using raw images!

Lightroom-Adjustment

Lightroom-Adjustment

 

So I encourage you to take your best shot and make it even better with the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan as I did, you will not regret the investment!

 

 

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Filed Under: fatherhood, product review Tagged With: adobe, art, creative cloud, graphic design, photography, photos, product review

Just a couple of Supermen in person! We had fun at Splitsville!

April 21, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Superman

Just a couple of Supermen – hanging our in persona t Splitsville! We had a great time and a great experience

Filed Under: photo Tagged With: #imagelogger, NX1, photo, photography

Capturing Graduation Selfies!

April 20, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Selfie Graduation-Selfies

 

Capturing Graduation Selfies yesterday at the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School Graduation in Tampa Bay, Florida!

Filed Under: photo Tagged With: #imagelogger, graduation, NX1, photo, photography, selfie, selfies

Through the chute #imagelogger #nx30

August 5, 2014 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment


via IFTTT

Through the chute . Image taken with the Samsung NX30.

Filed Under: photo Tagged With: #ditchthedslr, #imagelogger, #nx300, camera, IFTTT, Instagram, photo, photography, photos, samsung, Samsung NX30

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