Photo Calendar Review: TinyPrints

We are on a journey to find you the best photo products to show off your digital images.  The latest:  a photo calendar created through Tiny Prints by Shutterfly.

There were a lot of things I loved about this calendar, and some things I didn't so much like.  Overall creating and ordering this photo calendar through Tiny Prints was a good experience, and I would probably rate the product I received a 7 out of 10.

One things that I particularly liked was the sturdiness of the calendar and the thickness of the pages.  When you schedule something on the calendar it does not indent onto the next page, which is a plus.  The print quality was also great.  The colors were vibrant and the contrast was just right.

I liked that you can customize the calendar with birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events.  I also find  their design choices and styles right up my alley.  They had great modern simplistic designs, as well as templates that are aimed for the crafty and traditional.  The website was great to work with, and the upload speeds were fast.

The only negative I had after receiving the final product was that the pages got dirty really easily.  Unfortunately I have this issue because I opened the calendar in front of my kids, who were eating a snack, and wanted to oogle all over the photos of themselves.  I admit some fault, but I wish that at least SOME of the remnants left on the pages would have cleaned off.  Instead, it is stuck there for good unless I want to ruin the cuteness.

I would definitely order from TinyPrints again, and I would recommend them to a friend.  Their prices are fantastic, and I can always find a coupon to work with.  The shipping speed was optimal, and the website was very user friendly.

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Studio 5 Sneak Peek

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Hope Your Day Is Full of Love!

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Photo Calendar Review: Snapfish

We are on a journey to find you the best photo products to show off your digital images.  The latest:  a photo calendar created through Snapfish.

Using digitized images to make this calendar, it truly was a blast from the past!  The top reason we loved this product from Snapfish:  The pages were so thick and sturdy.  It would be really hard to rip or damage the pages.  Next reason the calendar was a great buy: The print quality was fantastic.  I liked the slight sheen of the photos, but not too glossy that every speck of light shines off of it, hiding the imagery. 

Another reason Snapfish was a great vendor: Turnaround time was super fast.  We also liked their design options.  You could choose a theme to fit your personality whether it has a scrapbook feel, modern flair, or traditional touch- the options were great.  With Snapfish, you have the ability to personalize your calendar not just with the main photo for the month, but for holidays and birthdays.  Insert your favorite photos onto important dates to make this product complete.

We would recommend Snapfish for your next photo calendar.  The quality was superb and the look truly captured the feel we were going for.  It made old family photos shine, and was “awed” by all who saw it.

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What Type of Film Do you Have?

What Type of Film Do You Have?

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Capturing the Moment: iPhone vs Digital Camera

With so much new technology occurring in the convenience of your phone, it’s no wonder why some might ask, “Is it better to capture the moment through a digital camera or my smartphone?”  Well, as with most things, to each their own, but let’s go over some of the pros and cons to help those that are undecided.  For this article we are comparing the iPhone 5 with one of the best point and shoot digital cameras on the market, the Canon Powershot SX260 HS.

Digital Camera:

Pros	Cons
Higher Megapixels on the market	Over Twice as Heavy
20x Lens	Lower Frames Per Second
Depending on the iPhone you choose, the digital camera can be less expensive	Smaller LCD Screen Size
Unlimited Continuous Shot Mode
Image Stabilization
Predefined Shooting Options

iPhone

Pros	Cons
Much lighter than a digital camera	Lower Megapixels Offered
Easier to take traveling	Lens’ must be purchased separately
Same HD Video Quality as a Digital Camera
Higher Frames Per Second
Bigger LCD Screen Size

It may seem that there are many more pros for the Digital Camera, but the iPhone is definitely a competitive option.  With so many of their specs being similar to that of a Point and Shoot, and considering the convenience of the camera being a part of your phone (which most take everywhere with them no matter what), the iPhone is a great candidate to become your new digital camera.  It is there to capture the moment at all times and in all places that you carry your phone with you

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How to Copy Digital Images From a Disc to Your Computer

Getting files from a disc to your computer is easy!

Step 1

First, you want to put the disc in your computer. Once your computer has loaded the disc you should see a pop up asking what you want to do with the disc. Scroll down to "Open Folder View Files". This will allow you to see all the data files on your disc.

Step 2

You will want to select all the files on your disc. To do this, click once on the first file while holding down the SHIFT key and then click on the last file while still holding the shift key. Now all your files should be highlighted.

Right click with your mouse & select "COPY"

Step 3

Now you just need to locate where you will be saving your files.

Open Windows Explorer or go to "My Computer" you will want to select a spot on your hard drive to save your files. See below for instructions to create a new folder

To paste your files onto your computer you right click & select "PASTE".

Your files will start to copy to your computer. This may take some time depending on the size of the files & the speed of your computer.

Creating a Folder to save your files

You don't want to just "dump" your files onto your hard drive. You will want to have them saved in a folder with a title.

Step 1

Inside Windows Explorer or "My Computer" you will want to select a drive where you want the files saved. Once you have selected your drive, you will right click & select "NEW" & then select "FOLDER"

Step 2

Next you will want to name your folder - use a name that applies, don't leave the default title of "New Folder (1)". If you accidentally set the folder name and want to change it, click once on the folder & right click & select "RENAME". This will allow you to rename your folder.

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Photo Book Review: Mixbook

We are on a journey to find you the best photo products to show off your digital images.  The latest:  a photo book done through Mixbook.

We really didn't have any cons working with this company.  They had great templates, as well as fun designs and embellishments.  The print quality was awesome, and the pages were nice and sturdy.  The binding on this photo book was the best we've seen.  You couldn't even see the strings for the binding in the front and back of the book, but it had a seamless, professional look.  We were able to find a coupon as well, making this deal even sweeter.

If you are looking to create a photo book of your memories, we highly recommend Mixbook because of it's overall high quality, template and design choices, and their website's ease of use.  We are extremely happy with this product and look forward to doing more business with Mixbook.

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Larsen Digital Presents: Thursday Thought

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Photo Book Review: Lulu

We are on a journey to find you the best photo products to show off your digital images.  The latest:  a photo book done through Lulu.

Lets start with the cons:  The upload time was fairly slow.  Maybe it's because I had high resolution photos, and a lot of them, but I got a little impatient waiting.  That's about the only con I have with this experience.

Pros:  The designs were simple and perfect for the traditional minded.  When I received the photo book in the mail, I was so happy with the finished product!  The pages were extremely durable, and the print quality looked fantastic. My three year old has loved looking through the book, and has yet to wrinkle a page after her rough page turning, proving the good construction of the book. The hardback was well made and I loved the slight shimmer of the cover.

Overall I would recommend lulu for your photo book needs.  I was able to find a coupon to make the price amazing, and the design options and quality were superb.  

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Celebrate Your Life - Convert your Film to Digital

Preserve your life's best moments by converting your old photos, movies, and film to digital.

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Taking Pictures: Film vs Digital

Isn't this the truth...

Make sure you convert all your photos memories to digital!  Not only will you be preserving your memories, but you can have your images on your phone or computer to show off on your lunch break!

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Our Favorite Newborn Photo Poses

Seems like Spring is a popular time for babies to be born, and the trend is to take photos of your newborn days after their birth.  The best photos are those that showcase just how precious and tiny your itty bitty baby is.  Here are our favorite newborn poses that you might want to consider when planning your photo shoot.

Put your baby in something!  We love the crocheted slings that you can find on etsy.  Other cute ideas include a treasure chest (the child would lay on blankets within the chest of course), a football helmet if you are avid sports fans, pumpkin, Christmas stocking, or basket.  Posing your baby inside of something captures their small and precious size.  It's hard not to let out an "ohhh" when looking at one of these poses because they are just so cute.

We also like the poses that show love and family.  The ones where mom and dad hold the baby against their chest, or even holding the bundle of joy in their hands.  We've seen many photos where the parents are dressed all in black, but their hands are uncovered.  The reason they do this is so that their hands are the only objects the camera captures- giving the photo a magical feeling.  Another family pose we love?  Sibling poses!  Capturing the way older children feel about your new addition not only shows emotion, but it helps the brothers and sister feel involved and important as well.

Another pose we love when it comes to looking at newborn pictures- the fetal position, bum in the air pose.  Doesn't that just wreak of adorable?  Baby bodies are so delicate, small, and innocent that the photo capitalizes on the preciousness of your child.

The last photos being highlighted in this post are hospital pictures.  Hire someone to come to the hospital and freeze that moment in time with you.  There is nothing more intense than those first moments right after an infant is brought into the world.

Whatever poses you decide to implement in your photo shoot, just make sure you take pictures!  They grow so fast, and the moments of newborn innocence will be over before you know it.  Capture your new baby before those first months are gone.

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Self Portraits to Capture on Vacation

Let's just take it from the time you leave for your vacation till the time you get home.  As we go through your personal trip agenda, you will find several moments that you must capture.  Of course landscapes and skyscrapers are beautiful on their own, but having you in your photos will take it one step closer in making it more real and more personal.

Transportation Photo  Whether you are flying or driving, you probably woke up early to make sure you got everything ready on time.  Your anxiety is killing you as you longingly wait for your plane to board and get your vacay started.  Have someone snap a pic of you in this moment.  Take a photo with our luggage, or with your plane snacks.  Make sure you wear a huge smile on your face!

Then you arrive at your destination of slumber.  You are exhausted from a long day of travel, so you lay down on the bed to take a rest.  Where's your camera?  If you are anything like me, you will spend a lot of time on that bed and in that room, so you will want to remember it!  Take the iconic self taken picture of you in the room.

What do you go on vacation for?  Whatever your personal reason, make sure you are ready to capture the moment.  Take pictures wherever you can.  At a fancy or legendary restaurant, in front of a national landmark, enjoying a drink on the beach.  Stopping these moments in time will create a timeline for your vacation that you won't want to forget.

After you've had all your fun it's time to get back to real life.  You force all your clothes and extra items you've purchased since you've been gone in your luggage that instantly seems way too small.  Wouldn't that be a funny picture?  Insert your face wearing a frown, and that will capture two things.  How much you loved your vacation, and how sad you are to leave.  

There are two events that we see the most often when converting film to digital.  That is Holiday photos, and travel photos.  It's no lie that pictures help you remember the times you've had in your life, and even thought you have to go home eventually, the images will enable you to keep a piece of that time in your life forever.  I think I need a vacation now... or i just really want one.  Somewhere out of this negative degree weather in Pleasant View, UT please!

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Surprising Your Valentine With Film Conversion

So you've decided that you want to give the love of your life the gift of memories this Valentine's Day?  Want it to be a surprise? Check out these tips in making sure you can pull it off in secret.

The first hurdle you need to get through is to get the film out of the house and shipped to us!  Because your possessions might be bulky or take up a lot of room, you will want to remove the items while your loved one isn't home or in the vicinity   Is it all in a big brown box? Take the photos, reels, videos, or whatever film it may be out of the box, but leave the brown empty box there as a decoy.  If you want to know the best carrier in shipping your memories to us, there isn't one best provider.  Just make sure that whoever you choose offers a tracking program to put your mind at ease.

The next item you need to take care of is payment method.  We charge your card either when we upload your images or film, or when we ship your converted belongings, depending on the options you chose on your order form.  If your significant other is a hawk when it comes to monitoring your finances, you might want to consider initially putting the purchase on a hardly used card, or ask a family member to put the bill on their card momentarily.  Unfortunately we don't accept checks, and don't recommend sending cash through the mail.

Last base you need to cover is making sure the package arrives when the recipient isn't home, or ship it to your office, or a friend's house.  Make sure you check out our free shipping offer!  Then replace the film secretly, wrap the discs, or image carrying vehicle, and enjoy the reaction you get when your loved one opens their surprise.

Not only do we convert your film to digital, but we also have additional services to hit the emotions even harder.  With nostalgic slideshows and digital photo restoration, you can customize your gift to make it the best.

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Give Your Sweetheart the Gift of Memories!

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Photo Book Review: Walgreens

We are on a quest to find you the best products and ideas for your digital images, and have decided to review photo book providers one book at a time.  

Today:  Walgreens

Some things we really liked about creating a Walgreen's photo book is that they offer same day pickup, the upload process was extremely fast, it's easy to find a coupon code, and there are a lot of designs to choose from.

Basically if you want a photo book fast- Walgreens is a great option.  While they are convenient, there are some downsides to choosing them as your printer.

 1- The hardback cover quality isn't the greatest.  The corners of the book are smooshed, and you can peel off the wrapping.

2- The binding is terrible.  It hardly provides any support to the book.

3-In the front, as well as the back of the book, you can see the white threads used to bind the book, giving it a cheap feel.

4-While the print quality itself was good, the pages were really thin, and wrinkled with the slightest turn of the page.

Ratings (on a scale of 1-5):

Quality- 2

Website (Ease of Creation)- 4

Design- 4

Overall- 3.5

Need to convert your old family film to digital to make your own photo book to celebrate your past?  Check out our New Year's Sale ending Jan. 17!

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Discounted Larsen Digital Gift Certificates!

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Feature Friday: Video of 2 Year Old Dancing the Jive

This video made my day!  

Do you have home movies you want transferred to digital?  Check out our services- the lowest price for the best quality!

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Almost the Weekend! Thursday Thought

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What to Look for When Choosing a Scanning Company

Scanning Resolution

Resolution is everything when converting your old film to digital.  Resolution refers to how many pixels an image contains.  The higher the pixel count, the better quality the image.  Make sure the company you choose gives you a range of resolution options to make sure your photographic needs are met.

Color Correction

Chances are, your slides, movie film, photos, or other pre-digital memories have experienced fading and discoloration.  Some companies include the cost of applying digital color corrections to your images post scanning, and others either don’t deal with it, or charge extra for it.

Scanned in the USA

Do you really want to trust your precious legacy on a barge ship to travel across the sea so they can be scanned at a cheaper price?  Unfortunately, 10,000 large shipping containers full of packages get lost at sea every year.  Don’t let your memories be considered among that number.  Choose a company that will keep your personals in one location.

Online Viewing

A lot of people don’t have the time or patience to squint their eyes at tiny frames of film in order to organize them.  That’s why online viewing and organizing is an item you want to ensure is part of your scanning company’s services. 

Delete Un-wanted Scans

Not sure what exactly is on your film?  Don’t want the image of an accidental picture of the wall?  Choose the ability to delete the scans you don’t want- and better yet, don’t pay for it!

Scanning Equipment

You want a high quality camera to capture your memories, so you would definitely want a high quality scanner to preserve them.  Go with a company that uses professional equipment with the latest technology.

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Why NOT to Rely on 1 Step Photo Fixes for Your Digitized Film!

A lot of times, people don't want to spend a lot of time editing their photos, and I don't blame you!  It doesn't take as long if you only have to do a one step photo fix, and it takes approximately 5% brain power for you to select the photo fix and hit enter.  That's really about all it takes.  It seems nice, and with a term like "One Step Photo Fix" it sounds too good to be true.  Well, I hate to break it to you, but it is too good to be true.

 

Sometimes, One Step Photo Fixes work awesome, but it's usually not the last step you need to take in order to get your digital images to the level you want them to be.  Here is an example of an average photo that received the fix, but it just didn't do the photo justice.  It caused a greenish yellowish hue to cover the image, and it didn't get rid of the red eye.  More work needed to be done.

Now there are a couple of cases in which you should never ever use a one step photo fix because the results will just be so horrid, that it would take a lot of time, and a lot of small adjustments to get it to a pleasant looking result.  They include:

 

1- Professionally taken photos.  If you apply a one step photo fix to a professionally taken photograph, the contrast will most likely be sharpened above and beyond what it needs to be.  The colors will also go out of whack by creating portions that are over saturated, and areas that have lost their bold pigments.

2-Sunsets and under water photos.  Because of the rich coloring in these types of photos, a one step photo fix will often times throw the coloring off balance, creating a very unnatural and unappealing look.

Again, One Step Fixes can save time, however, it can also cause a lot of headache.  When in doubt- edit your digital images manually.

Larsen Digital offers free automatic fade and color correction to slides, photos and negatives when you convert them to digital.  Talented graphic designers bring your photo memories from drab to fab using professional software including Adobe Photoshop CS6.  

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What NOT To Do With Your Child's Photos and Memories

Has this happened to your precious photos and film?  Fear not, we can digitally restore your photos after experiencing water damage!

Still store photos, slides, movie film, video tapes, negatives and other film in a box in the garage?  Get it out!  Convert your memories today, and never worry about the "Leaves and Gook and Stuff" again.

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All About Movie Film

Did you know that there are different kinds of movie film?  Well there are!  We are going to go over the different kinds we transfer to help aid you in knowing what you have in your inventory.

8mm movie film: Designed by Eastman Kodak during the Great Depression to allow families to watch their home movies without the expensive cost.  The film strips are 8mm wide, as noted in the name.  

Super 8 movie film: This film format was meant to be an improvement to the original 8mm film.  It only has perforations on one side, rather than both, and those holes are smaller than the former product, allowing for a greater viewing space on the film.  On the opposite side of the movie film reels was a magnetic strip, allowing audio to be recorded along with the video.

16mm: Both silent, and well as film with audio exist in the 16mm family.  It was mostly used for non-theatrical films, or low budget productions.  The film is 16mm wide, and was used a lot to get news stories that were outside of the studio.  16mm film is still used today for select tv series and movies.  There are 3 types of 16mm movie film.  There is 16mm with optical sound, 16mm silent, as well as super 16mm silent with single sprocket.

Luckily for you, we transfer all these formats of movie film, and we do it with the bet equipment out there!  Some companies project your film onto a wall and record it that way, but we know your' memories deserve better.  That is why we capture your film from by frame, giving you the best quality possible.

The price for each type of movie film is the same, and we offer color correction, high definition transfers, online editing, and blu-ray options.  Larsen Digital is the most trusted name in the industry.  We keep all your film in one facility, rather than outsourcing it out of the country, and we treat your memories with respect, as thought they were our own.

Have any more questions?  Visit our website, or give us a call at 1-800-776-8357.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter to take advantage of special deals and tips!

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Thursday Thought: Happy New Year's

Make this year about preserving your memories.  Visit our website today to check out our New Year's Sale!

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Monday Makeover - Digital Photo Restoration

Often times your film gets damaged by being written or colored on, torn, burned, mold, etc.  At Larsen Digital, we offer Digital Photo Restoration to help you revive those memories.  We have extremely talented graphic design artists who will give you a free quote in your digitization project.  The after effects will make it look like nothing was wrong with the photo in the first place!!

Along with with digitally fixing wrinkles, scratches, and other blemishes, we can take people out of photos, add people in, and enhance your black and white photos with color!

Call us for more information at 1-800-776-8357.

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Favorite Engagement Photo Poses

1- A kissing picture.  You're in love after all, right?!  Nothing says adoration like a big smooch.

2-Staring off into the distance/future.  I like to call this one the model pose.  Serious faces.  Future in front of you.  Beautiful moment.

3- The "Armageddan pose"- laying on fiance's chest.  Tears stream down my cheeks every time I watch that movie...  Don't know what I'm talking about?  Imagine a park, a picnic blanket, and looking at the clouds.

4- Hobby picture.  Nothing brings two people together more than an activity you two enjoy together.  Play volleyball together? Try to steal the ball from one another.  It shows flirtation, all while featuring something you two have in common.

5- Play a game.  Put on your serious faces!  The couple that plays together stays together.  Pull out the chess board and get a match going.

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Photo Edition: New Year's Resolutions

This time of year can be wonderful, with all the giving, the family and friends, and the delicious food.  It can also be extremely hard as we realize that the year has come to an end, our resolutions have not been met.  Whether you wanted to lose thirty pounds or have $20,000 in the bank, often times we come up short handed.

New Year’s resolutions are meant to be productive. The purpose of them is to help us be happier or better off in some way during the coming 12 months.  While they have a bad reputation for being pointless or unrealistic, they can be attainable and very healthy when the reacher understands their limits and capabilities.

Now I know what you are thinking, "Why is a blog about photography, technology, family, and preserving memories talking about New “Year's resolutions?!"  Well fear not- I am getting there.  Here we will talk about New Year's resolutions you should make this year concerning your film, photos, and memories!

1- Convert your memories to digital.  Isn't it about time?  I can't stress it enough- the longer your old movie films reels, photos, videos, and other types of film sit in storage, the worse off they are.  They can become damaged by mold, unforeseeable events, children, being lost, etc.  When you digitize your old film, you gain freedom to do what you want with our memories.  Film is tangible and can be ruined in an instant.  Digital will last forever.

2- Sign up for a cloud service on which to store all your converted film.  This will enable you to view and share your memories anytime, anywhere with anyone you choose to.  Some vendors include Dropbox, SugarSync, and Google Drive.  Cloud services are also awesome because they help back up your files and images in the event that your computer crashes, or something else unfortunate happens.

3- Make a digital photo book of the previous year.  It is truly like a personal yearbook for you and your family. Not only are they super cute, but they are very reasonably priced as well.  The quality and look of them will go with any decor, and they are so fun to show to guests.  My favorite photo book companies include Shutterfly, Picaboo, and Paper Coterie.  You could also purchase digital scrapbooks software allowing you to do the same, but also enabling you to make entire scrapbooks to keep on your computer as well.

4- Get crafty with your photos!  Make a goal to be better at displaying your favorite photos in unique ways.  One look that I love is that of photos modge-podged onto stained or painted pieces of wood.  This look goes great with a traditional style home and adds a lot of warmth to the environment.  Another idea would be to transfer your family's past photos onto canvas or fabric and make drapes or curtains out of them.  What a statement piece!  Great for a modern or eclectic home.

5- Learn how to take better pictures by educating yourself in photography.  There are classes you can physically take, or even courses online.  We can talk all day about what you can do with past photos, but you also need to make sure you are doing the best you can with current happenings, and making sure you are documenting your life's greater moments regularly.  Knowing how to take better pictures will heighten the emotional response to your photos, and make them more pleasing to the eye.

Now you have a great place to start when it comes to planning your New Year's resolutions. Photos and memories are irreplaceable, and these suggestions will help you make the most of them.

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Thursday Thought

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Make sure to check out our after holiday prices at slidescanning.com

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Holiday Photo Game: Caption Contest

Seems like a picture of a kid crying on Santa's lap is somewhat an iconic photo.  Here we have a photo from the early 80's- but we need a caption!

Go to our Facebook Page, leave us your best caption, and the funniest one will win a $2 Gift Certificate!

Do you have old film from the 80's?  Send it in the Larsen Digital where we will convert it to digital, making it possible for you to post your beloved images on your own Facebook account!

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