AboutScott Valentine Expertise Most anything about digital post processing (Photoshop, etc), effects, and image restoration, some technical information about digital imaging systems, light and electron microscopy, optical physics and image analysis. I can help with shooting basics, lighting setups, and getting the most out of your digital camera. I am also an 'expert' here for Photoshop (Computers/Technology > Software > Graphics Software > Photoshop).
Experience I've been an image analyst and advanced amateur photographer for over 6 years. I run an Adobe user group, focusing on digital media, and have lectured on digital image capture systems. Currently, I am an administrator for a rather large instructional Photoshop forum
Organizations Adobe User Groups, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Advanced Imaging Specialists
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Physics, University of California, San Diego
Awards and Honors Winner: Best in Show and several category first place awards - Imaging Professionals of the Southwest Print Competition (multiple years)
Question during our christmas program we take pictures with kids and santa. we would like to snap a digital photo and have it print right than and not have to move the memory . is there software special printer and camera?
Answer Hi,
You will need to find a camera that supports tethered shooting. Many dSLR models can do this, but not many point-and-shoot cameras can. Check with your camera manufacturer to find out what you need for your specific camera.
Event software ranges in price from a few hundred dollars (US) to a few thousand, and offer a stunning variety of features and quality. Dedicated setups can be found for a few thousand, which include camera, lights, computer and printers, as well as editing, printing and point-of-sale software. It doesn't sound like you need something that sophisticated, though.
I'd recommend looking at ACDSee and Picasa, as well as Qimage...
ACDSee is very good for managing and editing your photos, and has a variety of printing options. You can add FotoSlate for unique print ideas, like calendars, borders, etc.
Picasa is much more limited, but is a free download. It is primarily designed for organizing and a little editing, but you can't beat the cost. It also has some print idea options for posters, collages, and even allows for making movies or screensavers.
I've not used QImage, but it was recommended on a few photography forums that showed up during a search for software. Take a look and see if it meets your needs.
Once you have the capture software appropriate to your camera, you will need to figure out how best to manage your workflow. I suggest you shoot into the capture software, and then have an assistant save the image to a folder with the child's name. That way, the photographer can keep shooting, the assistant can copy/edit/print, and the kids don't have to wait too long.
One last note; I know some printers can print directly from a memory card. This is fine if you are comfortable with shooting good pictures without editing, but does typically require moving the memory cards. In this case, you would be well served to simply get a handful of small memory cards (the least expensive, compatible cards you can find), and just keep rotating them out after each child. This is not ideal, but may be a low-cost and easy solution.
If you have further questions, please feel free to ask =)
