lions, tigers, and bears oh my

Tonight I want to personally take time to promote two separate thoughts to you. The first is to share with you my reader a wonderful family adventure opportunity that is waiting for you at your local zoo. The second is to inspire you in taking photographers of your own family while out on the adventures for the 2012 year. I hope that you will find some inspiration in spending time with your loved ones and to archive that time in a very special way. I know my recent break to spend time with family has inspired me and left me wanting to share a bit of our adventure with you.

Spring is here what better time to go to the zoo, or even to buy your family an annual membership to the zoo. I just took a few days off from anything work related to spend time with my family enjoying one of our favorite Christmas Gifts an Annual Membership to the Detroit Zoo! If you love going to the zoo but cringe at paying the gate price more than once a year, do your family and your zoo a great service get an annual membership. This can save you money, to give you an example taking my family of five once to the Detroit Zoo  would cost $65.00, an annual membership cost $89 plus comes with many added benefits such as major discounts to other zoos and aquariums nationwide. Buying memberships help zoos in setting up their annual budgets for the upcoming year, and spring is definitely a time to look into getting your family a zoo membership to enjoy the rest of the year. I know we will be exploring the zoos in Michigan and surrounding states this year as a family, who knows maybe we will see you there too!

On Sunday we headed out for our first zoo adventure of the year as a family. The majority of the animals were out and really putting on a show for zoo guest this early spring day, much like my toddlers they were ready to show off a bit on pleasant Sunday afternoon. Of course taking days off from the business with family does not mean I go to the zoo without my camera, and I was not alone as it seemed to be a great day for zoo photography.

Taking all the photos at the zoo also inspired me to begin a personal project for my children this year. From all our zoo trips this year I am going to put together a very special zoo animal alphabet book to give them at Christmas time. Sure you can buy books at the store with animals pictures and the alphabet but why not make one that is personally designed from their own personal zoo adventures and the animals that they have seen in real life. You don’t have to be a photograph or even a scrap-booking queen to make a special book from your adventures this year. Its something that will make your kids smile because its something you did for them and they were involved in it too.

Now my teen well she is getting something besides an alphabet book, but since she is a reader of my blog I will have to wait until she gets her gift at Christmas to share. Most important to remember about those adventures you take this year is to not keep them stuck on a little card, or in trapped in a computer. Print them out, if you have the pictures and don’t know what to do with them ask your favorite professional photographer for ideas or to create a special book of your adventures using your images. Many professionals will give you tips on how to best archive your images, and many may be hired on to edit or create a specialty item for you. Even consider calling your photographer to find out if they can be hired to  join you for a family day doing something special, most have a daily rates or can quote you what their hourly fee is. As professional we know we cannot be there for your all special adventures,  so many of us are willing if we have time available to be hired for more personal projects. Don’t be offended if your photographer doesn’t  have the time just ask them for recommendations of services that might be available for you to hire.

Get out there start taking adventures with your family this year, and make sure you are capturing it all in photos. Personal and professional images will mean so much  to your loved ones for generations to come. Keep watch for further inspiring ideas to do with your family, tips on selecting a photographer, how to archive and so much more as we journey together in 2012!