Mommy Has to Work

9 Golden Rules for Taking Stunning Social Media Photos

June 20, 2022 By Anne

Social media provides crucial opportunities for garnering audiences for a small business’s site. Pictures are critical for conveying messages to potential customers. Unfortunately, many people struggle with creating the perfect picture for their social media sites. Learning how to take the best photographs will help small business owners showcase their talents.

Tips for Taking Quality Photos for Social Media

Multiple tips help businesses create the perfect pictures for their social media pages. Those interested in a photo shoot need to book one with a professional photographer. The following tips will help ensure social media photos look stunning.

One of the most overlooked aspects of taking a beautiful photo, especially on a cell phone, is cleaning the lens. Camera lenses get dirty, clouding a picture and making it look less professional. Clean the lens before every photo session for the best results.
Whether a company is using an expensive camera or a cell phone, they need to secure the proper lighting. Lighting is essential for any photo. Lighting not only conveys mood but also ensures the subject matter is showcased clearly. Avoid using flash since it can create a yellow or dull light on the subject.
Use the rule of thirds to keep the subject matter interesting. Do not worry about centering the subject. Use the rule of thirds to align the subject with the intersection of where the other items reside in the photo window.
Make sure to use horizontal photos instead of vertical ones. Landscape photos are much easier to edit and crop on social media. Using the landscape setting will ensure the photos display properly on all social media sites.
Try to avoid zooming, especially on a smartphone. Instead of zooming in, get closer to the photographed subject. Zooming in often causes blurriness that makes pictures look less sharp.
Just before hitting the button to open the shutter and take the shot, click on the subject. Tapping tells the camera where to focus so the picture will turn out clearer.
Backgrounds are important but should not detract from the subject matter. Simple sets are more beneficial than elaborate ones. The outdoors or a colorful background will be perfect for most shots.
Do not pose for all images. Candid shots of people get more likes on social media than other types of photos. Allowing some candid snaps will keep the photos interesting and more down-to-earth.
Businesses should ensure they are using editing tools. Many editing tools are free and uncomplicated to use. Using these tools will take photographs to the next level, making them look more appealing and professional.

What Shots Should Businesses Post on Social Media?

When small business owners want to make a splash on social media, they need to post multiple photos to keep their audiences engaged. The following are some of the shots business owners should consider posting.

User-generated images
Photos of employees
Photos of products
Behind-the-scenes images
This-or-that photos

Try These Out Today

Small business owners have an excellent opportunity for customer engagement using social media. Sharing photographs on social media is essential for business owners.

Try the above tips to become a professional at taking shots for social media platforms. With the right subject and lighting, photographs are more engaging. Pictures tell your business’s story, so make sure that story is told in the right light.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Easy Ways To Live A More Sustainable Life

June 16, 2022 By Anne

It’s clear to pretty much everyone that we have to make some changes if we’re going to avoid the worst of the effects of climate change. While the bulk of the responsibility lies with the big companies that emit carbon into the atmosphere, we should all do our bit to ensure that future generations get to enjoy the planet as much as we can. If you haven’t yet begun the transition towards living a more sustainable life, then fear not: it’s not as tricky as it sounds. In fact, there’s a host of extremely easy things that anyone can do that’ll have a positive impact.

In this blog, we’ll run through some of these easy-to-enact options. Make them part of your life, and you’ll be well on your way to living an eco-friendly life!

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Ditch the Car

OK, when we say ‘ditch the car,’ we don’t mean ditch it forever and ever. We just mean reconsider if you need to use it as much as you currently do. Many people automatically get into their cars as soon as they leave their homes, but there will likely be other options available. For instance, could you walk, cycle, or take public transport? All of these options will have additional benefits, too. If you walk or cycle, you’ll get fitter. If you take public transport, you’ll be encouraging investment in the infrastructure, which will mean more people will use it, too.

Invest In Your Home

Most people’s biggest carbon footprint impact comes from the energy they need to run their house. We all want to be warm in winter and cool in summer, after all. However, it’s important to ensure that you’re not using more energy than is really necessary. All too often, the cool/warm air we pump into our homes ends up getting lost in the atmosphere, all because of the home’s infrastructure. Switching to solar, or solar-powered energy providers, could also result in being a hugely beneficial step to making your home a greener space in the long-run. Among all energy sources, solar energy has the least detrimental effects on the environment. It does not damage the water or release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In contrast to nuclear power plants, for example, which need 20 times more water, it also uses a very little amount of water for maintenance. Since many solar installations, including household solar panels, are located in metropolitan areas, the fact that solar energy production produces no noise is a significant advantage. On top of that, you will need less electricity from the utility provider if you generate it yourself. Your energy bill will immediately decrease as a result of this. Additionally, you can profit by returning the excess electricity you’ve produced to the grid: the more energy you produce, the less you will need from the supplier which will increase your energy self-reliance. If you can add double-glazed windows and insulation, you’ll find that your home conserves energy much better — and that your energy bills are cheaper, too.

Your Meals

The food that you’re eating may be having a bigger impact on the environment than you think it is. It’s always important to buy ingredients that you know have been produced with a care for the environment in mind. For your meat and dairy products, look at getting them from a company like Superior Farms; they always keep one eye on sustainability. You should also avoid food that contains palm oil; that’s one of the most environmentally destructive products out there!

Reduce Consumption

Finally, perhaps the best way to push yourself towards a more eco-friendly way of life is to reduce your consumption. Every product you buy has a footprint. The less that you buy, the smaller your carbon footprint will be! If you do have to buy things, then take a look to see if you can buy a second-hand version first. That’ll have next to no environmental impact and it’ll also be a lot nicer for your bank balance, too.

Anne

What Could Happen If You Don’t Maintain Your Car Properly?

June 16, 2022 By Anne

Maintaining your car is essential. Not only does it keep your car running smoothly, but it also helps to prevent expensive and extensive repairs in the future. The following blog will discuss some of the most common problems that may occur if you don’t maintain your car correctly.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

1) Uneven Wear On Tires

One of the most common problems that can occur if you don’t maintain your car correctly is uneven wear on tires. This can happen for several reasons, but the most common cause is improper alignment. If your tires are not correctly aligned, they will begin to wear down prematurely. Not only will this cause your tires to need to be replaced more often, but it can also lead to other problems such as losing control while driving.

Another common cause of uneven tire wear is incorrect tire pressure. If your tires are not inflated to the proper level, they will also begin to wear down prematurely. In addition, driving on underinflated tires can be dangerous as it can lead to blowouts. To avoid these problems, check your car’s alignment regularly and check the tire pressure often.

2) Engine Problems

Another common problem that can occur if you don’t maintain your car properly is engine problems. Over time, the oil in your engine will begin to break down and become contaminated. This can cause several problems, such as decreased performance and increased fuel consumption. In addition, contaminants in your oil can damage other engine components, leading to even more expensive repairs or even possibly having to replace the car by paying a visit to websites like edmunds. To avoid these problems, be sure to change your oil regularly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

In addition to changing your oil regularly, it’s also essential to have your car’s filters changed regularly. Engine air filters help remove contaminants from the air before entering the engine. If these filters become clogged, it can lead to decreased performance and fuel efficiency. In extreme cases, it can even cause engine damage.

3) Cooling System Problems

If you don’t maintain your car properly, it can also lead to cooling system problems. The most common issue is a coolant leak. Coolant leaks can happen for several reasons, but the most common cause is a cracked radiator hose. These cracks can occur from age or from debris hitting the hose while driving.

If you suspect that your car has a coolant leak, it’s essential to have it checked out as soon as possible by a mechanic. Coolant leaks can lead to engine overheating and severe damage if left unaddressed. To avoid these problems, be sure to check your car’s hoses and fluids regularly. Then, if you notice any leaks, have them repaired immediately by a qualified mechanic.

In conclusion, it’s essential to maintain your car correctly. Not only will it keep your car running smoothly, but it will also help prevent expensive repairs. Be sure to have your car’s alignment checked regularly, check the tire pressure often, change your oil regularly, and have your car’s filters changed regularly.

Anne

When You Feel Your Love For Cooking Vanishing, Try These Tips

June 15, 2022 By Anne

Cooking is a passion for a lot of people, but sometimes it’s hard to hang on to our passions. You may have more than one passion, but that doesn’t mean that you want to let any of them slip at any given time. If you can feel your love of cooking vanishing by the day, then you need to do something about this as it’s one of the most useful skills that anyone can have. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can try if you feel your love for cooking vanishing, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

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Cook With Someone Else

Have you thought about cooking with someone else? We know that some people prefer to cook by themselves as they find it calming, but it might help bring some joy back into your kitchen. This could be a member of your family, it could be a partner or even a friend, whatever you feel will help you bring some joy back into your cooking. It might be tough at first, and you might really struggle to share your space, but we know that this could be the very thing to kick start your love of cooking again.

It might even be helpful if you watch someone cook. A lot of the time, we don’t like it when we watch someone do something differently to how we would do it. As such, you feel the need to take over and do it your way, reigniting your desire to cook again.

Try Something New

What better way to bring back some excitement into the thing that you love than to try something new? There are some absolutely fantastic recipes online that you can try out, see how they work, how they taste and this might make you feel more inclined to start cooking again. For example, you can look into a lobster rolls recipe, a new recipe for chicken or pasta, or something that you love. The idea of trying something new might be scary to some people, but we promise you that it is one of the best things that you will ever do for yourself. You can’t live your life doing the same things all the time anyway, so this is as good a place to start as any.

Go Back To What You Loved

The final thing that we recommend is that you try going back to what you loved about cooking in the beginning. What made you fall in love with it? What brought you to cooking in the first place? These are the kinds of questions that you need to be asking yourself.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do if you feel your love for cooking vanishing. It’s hard to maintain a love for something when you are doing it every single day, and doing it for the ungrateful a lot of the time. Just remember that if it’s something you love, you will always find your way back to it.

Anne

How to Step Up The Quality Of Your Meals

June 15, 2022 By Anne

If you’re going to do something, you may as well do it right. And this is especially true when it comes to the food that we eat. All too often, people have low standards for their dinners, and we think that’s a shame. While preparing meals is something that we have to do, it’s also something that can be deeply enjoyable and rewarding. But that’ll only be the case if we do things correctly.

In this blog, we’re going to look at some useful tips that’ll help to step up the quality of your meals. Take these on board, and you’ll find that you feel much better about getting into the kitchen!

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Research New Dishes

Looking to make your dinners more interesting? Then look at researching some new dishes. All too often, people tend to fall into the habit of making the same old recipes over and over again. While there’s something to be said for having some comfort dishes, it’s also recommended that you branch out from time to time! In doing so, you’ll be expanding your range of cooking skills and diversifying your food, too.

Quality Ingredients

You could follow the same recipe twice and get two different results. The influencing factor would be the quality of the ingredients that you use. If you use the best that you can get, then your dish will taste a lot better than if you used the lowest quality ingredients on the market. This is especially true when it comes to sauces. If your meal requires tamarind paste, then look at making it yourself, rather than buying it pre-made from a store; it doesn’t take much effort yet will make your dish taste much better. Don’t assume that you’ve got the best ingredients in your pantry. There could be another option out there that makes your food taste even more delicious.

Focus on Presentation

You’ll have noticed how restaurants put a lot of effort into not only the taste of the meal but also the presentation. So why not incorporate some of that thinking into your own meals? Making your plate look nice doesn’t take much time — in fact, it can take as little as thirty seconds — yet it will help to set the tone for the meal. It’ll make it feel like you’re having a restaurant-worthy meal, which, in actual fact, you are.

Taste Critically

You should be proud that you’ve put together a great dish. But that doesn’t mean that you should give yourself a massive round of applause each and every time, at least not automatically. You can improve your cooking skills by thinking critically about the quality of your meal. When you eat it, try to really taste all the flavors that are coming through. You might find that you’ve added too much salt or not enough. There could be one ingredient that doesn’t quite work. Whatever it is, you’ll know for next time, which means you’ll be able to steadily improve as you continue your cooking journey.