Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Review

Technology

Organize, Edit and Share Images Like a Pro

As a blogger I'm always looking for new ways to improve the quality of the photos I use to illustrate MommyBlogExpert's content. In fact, I personally believe that image relevance and quality can make or break the kind of traffic any particular blogpost attracts. But, even if you just enjoy smartphone or DSLR photography as a hobby, you may want to edit your photo collection or need a little help with organizing your images and keeping track of it all.

Photo by Raphael Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

MBE partnered with Best Buy for this post

So it was a no brainer. When Best Buy asked me if I'd like to give Adobe Creative Cloud Photography a test drive I was more than happy to rise to the opportunity and challenge to try something new.

For years up until now I've been exclusively using Adobe Elements which is geared more to beginner or intermediate users. Adobe Creative Cloud Photography, on the other hand, caters toward more experienced photographers who are looking to grow like I am, professional content creators seeking more flexibility and functionality when it comes to organizing, editing and optimizing, and sharing our images. 

This online subscription software service is available as a one-year subscription and encompasses both Photoshop Creative Cloud and Lightroom Creative Cloud.

As I learned from special guest professional photographer Tim Grey during a special webinar co-hosted by Best Buy and Adobe for bloggers invited to work on this project, Adobe Creative Cloud Photography offers an impressive suite of tools to turn well composed good photos into great ones. Among the things that Tim showed us was the dehaze feature which is new with the latest release of this product, allowing you to get rid of fog and haze in images within Lightroom.

Before editing in Lightroom, MommyBlogExpert.com

Surprisingly it only took me a couple of hours of watching a few tutorials and clicking around to get set up and start experiencing this photo editing powerhouse. And the news gets even sweeter -- since the product is cloud-based, I'm able to access my photo library and various edited images I'm working on wherever I have WiFi access via desktop, laptop or even my iPad.

After editing in Lightroom, MommyBlogExpert.com

As you can see from the before and after editing examples above of the photo taken with a smartphone at University of Maryland on a beautiful fall day just a few weeks ago, the difference is impressive and noticeable. The before photo looks good, but not great because it lacks depth and vibrancy. After just a few adjustments I made within Lightroom the image now perfectly captures the you-were-there experience I saw with my own eyes. Now that I know the basics I'm going to check out some of the 1000+ Creative Cloud apps tutorials available that I'll be able to view with my iPhone or iPad.

About Best Buy
Best Buy is the place for all your home appliance, consumer electronics and entertainment needs year round. For more information visit BestBuy.com as well as follow @BestBuy on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo by Raphael Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

FTC Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. However opinions in this post are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

8 Halloween Costume Online Contests to Win Great Prizes for US & Canada Residents

Celebrations

Halloween is just a few days away. For those of you celebrating, if you haven't gotten your costume together for that party you're going to on Saturday night yet, you'd better hurry. Those of you who think you've already got the best costume ever, whether it's store bought or homemade, might also want to listen up. Either way, you have the chance to win some really great prizes and even some cold cash by electronically submitting a photo of yourself, your child and/or your pet.

Now's the time to make sure you have a camera handy or you've cleared out enough space on your smartphone so you can capture those great poses in full costume and makeup and submit them. Below are some fun Halloween costume contests you might consider entering, be sure to check deadlines for submissions because some contests end shortly after Halloween while one goes until 11/20/15. Also note eligibility for U.S. and Canadian residents varies.

Fandango My Movie Halloween Costume Contest - U.S. residents only
Grand Prize $2500 + $500 in Fandango tickets, TWO (2) Runner Up $500 + in Fandango tickets. When sharing your costume photo follow Tag @Fandango, Follow Fandango on Instagram and use hashtag #MyMovieCostumeContest

LowestRates.ca Halloween Contest - Canada residents only
Prize is an iPad Mini. To enter, take a photo of your house decorated for Halloween, share on LowestRates Facebook page or Tweet @lowestrates_ca using hashtag #MyHalloweenHouse

Mommy Blog Expert.com

Halloween ComicFest Costume Contest - F0r U.S. and Canada residents
Prizes for kids and adults include TWO (2) $500 shopping sprees and TEN (10) shopping sprees at participating Halloween ComicFest comic stores, TEN (10) winners will each get a costume valued at up to $1280 each. For rules and to submit your photo see this Entry Blank

What to Expect Kids Halloween Costume Contest - U.S. residents only
Prizes include ONE (1) $200 Amazon giftcard, ONE (1) $100 Amazon GC. Enter by submitting your child's photo in costume HERE

Ontario SPCA Pet Costume Contest - Canada residents only
Prize package includes a Rocky plush toy, flashing collar to keep your pet safe at night and SPCA gift bag. Find details to enter HERE

CostumeWorks Halloween Costume Contest - U.S. residents only
TWENTY FOUR (24) cash prizes ranging from $25-$100 each and totalling $1,675 in all. Prizes awarded for both homemade and store-bought costumes for babies, pets and adults. Entries accepted through November 20, 2015. Get more information and submit your photo entries HERE

Halloween Express DIY Costume Contest - U.S. residents only
$16,000 in cash prizes in eight costume categories including kids, pets and adults -- even maternity. Entries may be accepted until November 9, 2015. Everything you need to know and entry form can be found HERE

Savers Thrift or Treat Costume Contest - For U.S. and Canada residents
Prizes include a Grand Prize $1,000 prize pack, ONE (1) runner up $250 Savers shopping voucher and THREE (3) Honorable Mentions get a $100 Savers shopping voucher. Entries accepted until November 3, 2015.  Submit your costume photo HERE

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any payment or other compensation in connection with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Home Alone Kids Free Holiday Printables

Printables

I'm excited to present four more fun FREE activity sheets from Twentieth Century Fox Studios for kids. Not only will these get little ones into the holiday spirit but they're educational, too. Includes a movie themed crossword puzzle, maze, fill-in-the-blank story and word scramble all based on the blockbuster children's movie series Home Alone. 

These celebrate the release this month of the 25th Anniversary Home Alone Collector's Edition ($69.99) featuring all five Blu-ray and DVD movies in this iconic kids comedy collection. This is the first time all these films have been packaged together. Not only do you get many hours of family friendly home entertainment in this gift set now on sale, this also includes fun stuff like a McAllister Christmas ornament, Kevin's infamous tarantula and more.

Free Holiday Printables

Click, Download and Print the 4 Activities below

 

Don't forget to enter MBE's Exclusive Giveaway

Home Alone
Ultimate Collectors Edition
5 Movie Set
Blu-ray DVD Giveaway

Enter Here

Ends 11/17/15

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the industry leading worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox produced, acquired and third party partner film and television programming. Each year TCFHE expands its award-winning global product portfolio with the introduction of new entertainment content through established and emerging formats including DVD, Blu-ray, Digital HD, and View on Demand (VOD). Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.

Also Read MBE's Home Alone Collector's Edition  Movie Review

FTC Disclosure: I am a Fox Home Entertainment Insider brand ambassador. In addition, to facilitate this Blu-ray DVD special edition release, free movie printables and giveaway campaign, I received the featured movie package. Fox is providing the prize and shipping for MBE's Home Alone 25th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition 5-Movie Set Giveaway. Printable and all images in this post provided by Twentieth Century Fox. However opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.