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Capturing the Moments on Your Family Vacation #AlamoDriveHappy {Giveaway}

Capturing the Moments on Your Family Vacation #AlamoDriveHappy {Giveaway}

Capturing the Moment on Your Vacation

Alamo Drive Happy Disclosure

Family vacations are all about having fun, new experiences, and making memories. So often it’s about the little things and those unexpected moments. How do you capture them? As a member of the Alamo Chief Travel Moms Council, I have had so much fun discussing family travel these last few months. You might recall in previous blog posts we chatted about planning for a unique vacation and preparing for a fun journey. For July we are talking about Capturing the Moment, and I can’t think of a better time to kick off this discussion than right before the 4th of July holiday weekend when so many of you will be traveling.

I am no photography expert, but have done my fair share of traveling over the years and have taken a ton of pictures on our family vacations. Here are my thoughts on capturing the moment on your family vacation.

Capturing the Moment at Six Flags

Take LOTS of pictures, all of the time. In this digital age it’s so easy to snap a few hundred shots in one day. There is no such thing as making a mistake with digital photography. If you snap a bad photo, you can simply delete it at no cost to you. Most of us carry a smartphone with a camera, and most of them have pretty darn good cameras these days. If you are not traveling with a DSLR or point-and-shoot camera, you can still get some nice photos with your smartphone or iPad. We spent a weekend in Atlanta a few weeks ago, and I used my Samsung Galaxy Mega to snap this pic of my nieces on a ride at Six Flags, just as the ride was taking off. I loved that I was able to capture that moment of both terror and delight in their faces.

I love this picture of my Mom, captured while we were on an Orlando food tour. She clearly saw something in that case she really liked!

Capturing the Moment on Your Family Vacation

Forget the poses. There are appropriate times for posed photos, but my favorite shots have always been the candid ones. You don’t really want all of your vacation shots to be of your family all lined up saying cheese do you? Try to capture those unexpected and candid moments when your family isn’t totally aware they are being photographed. There is nothing more precious than capturing genuine laughter or that shot of your sleeping child, totally exhausted from a day of fun.

Posed Picture at Six Flags

Posed pictures like the one above can be very cute, but you don’t want them all to look the same.

Avoid visual clutter in the background. This is something I have been working on. When taking a photo, keep an eye out for visual distractions that might take the focus away from your subject. It might be as simple as shifting slightly to the left or right to get a less cluttered background.

Capturing the Moment on a Beach Walk

My family is big on creating travel scrapbooks, and journaling while on vacation. I helped my two nieces put together an inexpensive summer vacation scrapbook. They have been having fun working on it and going through pictures from the last two trips.

Vacation Scrapbooking Kit for Kids

I added a zippered pencil pouch to hold all of their supplies so that they can take it to the beach later this month, and work on it while at Hilton Head Island later this month. The Polaroid Instant Camera that Chief Travel Mom, Jennifer, added to last months Alamo Drive Happy Box has been a fun scrapbooking tool for the girls.

DIY Travel Scrapbook for Kids at About A Mom

All you need to make this DIY Vacation Scrapbook is an inexpensive 3-ring binder, some notebook paper, some clear page protectors, colored pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, tape, and stickers. I found some really fun travel, beach and vacation themed stickers at my local Walmart in the scrapbooking section, for just $1 a sheet. I also found a small roll of tropical print Duct tape. You’ll of course need some vacation pictures and a little creativity.

Capturing the Moment on Your Vacation

This month the other Alamo Chief Travel Moms and I have come up with a few ideas to help you capture the moment during your family vacation and summer travels.

July’s Alamo Drive Happy Box Theme is Capturing the Moment

July Alamo Prize Package

About a Mom (@aboutamom) recommends the My Life Digital Photo Album

Angela says: “This pocket-size album stores up to 4,000 images and can easily be carried in your bag or purse, so you can enjoy your vacation memories anytime and anywhere.”

A Nut In A Nutshell (@blueviolet) recommends the Smash Book Style Journal

Liz says: “Capture your family travel adventures as you’re experiencing them! Live it up, jot it down, smash it in, and your favorite travel memories will turn into a forever keepsake.”

Dear Crissy (@crissy) recommends the Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens

Crissy says: “Sometimes the best camera is the one you have with you! Boost your mobile vacation photos to the next level with the 4-in-1 lens from Olloclip.”

The Divine Miss Mommy (@stacieinatlanta) recommends the Sharper Image Telescoping Selfie Arm

Stacie says: “Don’t wait to ask a stranger to snap a photo of you and your family – use this telescoping selfie arm! Bring it with you on your next trip to easily capture vacation memories – just point, smile and shoot!”

The Rebel Chick (@therebelchick) recommends the XCSource Bluetooth Remote and Mini-Tripod

Jennifer says: “This fantastic tripod allows you to capture the moment – and everyone can be in the photo! Just put your smartphone on the tripod, set the timer and say cheese!”

I am so thrilled with all the goodies in the newest Alamo Drive Happy Box! You know how I feel about scrapbooking, so I am loving the journal Liz picked out. As the person who is always behind the camera taking pictures, I can’t wait to try out the XCSource Bluetooth Remote and Mini-Tripod. If you have ever seen one of my selfies, you know I will greatly benefit from the Sharper Image Telescoping Selfie Arm that Stacie recommended. I don’t always like to travel with my big camera, so Crissy’s 4-in-1 lens from Olloclip is going to come in oh-so handy. These items will surely help anyone capture those special moments on vacation!

Alamo Chief Travel Moms - Capturing the Moment While on Your Family Vacation

Capture the Moment #AlamoDriveHappy Box Giveaway

One of my readers will win their own #AlamoDriveHappy Box filled with all the goodies shared here, to help you capture the moment on your next vacation! It’s so easy to enter.

Follow @aboutamom on Instagram. Share your favorite family travel photos on Instagram with a brief description of why they’re your favorite. Be sure to include the #AlamoDriveHappy hashtag and tag me, @aboutamom so I can find and count your entry.

You can share up to family travel photos for more entries, just make sure to use the hashtag and tag me as instructed above. The giveaway ends on July 11th at midnight EST. One winner will be randomly drawn. This contest is open to the U.S.

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What are some of your favorite family vacation moments and how did you capture the memories?

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