#1 - Get up Close, then take several Steps Back

"Fall-ing for You" by Paije Potter - Pattern #565
At the zoo, you can take lots of photos from far away! The up close pictures are the detailed carvings in the center of the page. Here the tiger is taken from very far away in each shot and she fits perfectly in the center of the 3x4 Strip Frame Dies.
The corner pictures are taken from a distance but much closer than the tiger pictures which adds interest to the page. Paije has three distinct distances of photos and she put them in a balanced way on the layout. Up close in the center, far away on the sides and top, medium distance on the corners.

"Tiger Trek" by Paije Potter - Pattern #438

"Best Friends" by Jodi Benson - Pattern #335 (rotated)
Here, sweet BoBerry bunny is up close and personal! To fill in the little corners of the Horizon dies, Paije was glad she took photos of the rabbit from further away. It's a great way to show him off more! Having different distanced shots not only allows you to fill the small spaces but it creates interest to your page. It is nice to see the bunny from far away just as it is interesting to see the bunny close up. Did you notice that her pictures are balanced as well? Very close in the center, medium distance on the top, bottom and sides and the corners are from very far away. It is not always possible to create your page like this but it looks really good here!

"BoBerry Bunny" by Paije Potter - Pattern #344

"Soccer" by Paije Potter - Pattern #371
Sporting events are a great opportunity to get distance shots. And if you are like us, you take a ton of photos where you can barely see your favorite player! Placing the distance shots in small places gives this particular player more attention, plus it creates a great filler. That’s one of the reasons that makes the X Factor Dies such a favorite for customers. It is great to use the X Factor when you making pages about your love of the game, whichever game that may be!
Paije chose a soccer paper that was a dark color so it doesn’t clash with the busy action shots. The green of her 12x12 grid blends with the grass on the field. Even though most of these pictures are from a further distance, Paije still adds variety to the length of the distance. She used the X Factor 2x4, X Factor 3x4, the Basic Die Bundle, and the Layering Die Bundle.
#2 - Take Vertical and Horizontal Photos
It only takes a few seconds to take shots both vertically and horizontally and then you will have lots of photos to work with! Try to get in to this good Mosaic Moments habit. In this digital age having more photos than you need is not a problem. Having a mix of both horizontal and vertical photos mean you have more photos to fit on a layout! You never want to be missing one or the other when crafting your layout.
In “Pop Century”, Tami used two horizontal photos and four vertical photos to make this page. The center is from a long distance and is square so either might have fit. Numbers Set Die, the Basic Die Bundle, and Layering Die Bundle were used to create this page.

"Pop Century" by Tami Potter - Pattern #143

"Hike to Tent Rocks" by Paije Potter - Pattern #434 (slight adjustment)
We live on an awe-inspiring Earth and that makes for fabulous pages! Landscape pictures are one of our favorite photos to use in our layouts.
Look at this example of a Pinwheel Pattern #434. Pinwheel Patterns are a customer favorite! They usually use horizontal and vertical picture spots. They rotate around the center of the page.
Here, they rotate around the Southwest Die. Paije used the Strip Frame 3x4 for her long distance shots of her hike in between her matted pictures.
We all have those special times in our life and we want to use our specialty dies on our pages! So many of the specialty die page designs have spots that go both horizontally and vertically. You want to have enough photos to fill these spaces.
Here Paije used Pattern #344 with the Sweetheart 3x4 Die, Sweetheart 3x3 Die, and the Sweetheart 4x4 Die as well as the Basic Die Bundle and Layering Die Bundle. She needed both horizontal and vertical shots to make this layout. She placed her focal shot on top of the Sweetheart 4x4 Die in the center. The result is gorgeous.

"Reception Details" by Paije Potter - Pattern #344

"Newport News Park" by Jodi Benson - Pattern #431
Dial Dies and Pie Dies create one big circle on your paper. The spaces go all around the layout - therefore it’s best to have a variety of photos to choose from. Take many shots horizontally and vertically as well as from different distances. That is the secret to success when using these dies. Easy as Pie!
Jodi made sure she had both vertical and horizontal shots when making her page, “Newport News Park”. She used pattern #431 from the Mosaic Moments Pattern Gallery. She used a dark brown card-stock for the Dial Die to mimic the browns in her pictures.
#3 - Take Panoramic Photos
If you are at a location with wonderful scenery or a cityscape, it is a must to take photos for a panorama! You never know when you will need them to create a stunning layout and you will want to capture those vistas!
Tip: To take panorama shots, first point your camera toward the furthest left side of the scene. After that shot, take a look at the right side of your lens. Now rotate your body so the left side of your lens lines up on the edge of the previous shot. Keep doing this until you get the entire scene.

"Liberty Island" by Tami Potter - free-styled design
It would have been very difficult to get this entire New York City scene in just one shot. So, Tami took multiple shots and blended them together on her layout to create this amazing panorama!
This free-styled two page design looks cohesive because of the panorama spanning the top of the pages made with the 1x3 Strips Die. Tami also used the One Inch Grid Die and the Basic Die Bundle.

"Cedar Breaks" by Paije Potter - Pattern #286

"Double Arch" by Paije Potter - Pattern #588

"Maine Landscape" by Tami & Paije Potter - Pattern #472
Panoramas are not just for the strip or mosaic dies. Here, Tami used the 2x4 and 2x2 Clover Dies. In the top row, she also made a panorama with the Basic Die Bundle! You don't have to leave out your favorite people from your panoramas either. Take some panoramic shots with your subjects in the distance with the sight you are trying to capture.
Don't forget the great close up shots of the terrain. The texture always adds to the story of your page and shows where you are.

"Fall Kayaking" by Tami Potter - Pattern #368

"Welcome to San Juan" by Paije Potter - Pattern #196
You may not have enough photos for a long panorama - but be sure to scrapbook your photos of the scenery. A small panoramic still has a big impact on your pages!
Here Paije used these scenic photos of Puerto Rico to fill in the strip sections. Most of the layout shows details within the city, but Paije also likes to give the big picture of where she was. We love how she used bright colors to tell the story of her travels. She used the Basic Die Bundle and the Strips Cut 1x3 Die.
#4 - Capture All of the Details!

"Visit to Yorktown" by Paije Potter

"Cactus Garden" by Paije Potter

"House Tour" by Tami Potter

"Fall Flowers" by Lauren Jones
Look up and down! Many people assume the brick is a pattern paper - but it's actually a photo Tami took in New Orleans. Thankfully she looked down at her feet to get this beautiful shot and it made an excellent mosaic. Walkways, grass, sand, and everything else at your feet can help tell your story and bring texture and dimension to your pages. Photos taken of the sky and trees can bring interest to your pages as well!
Tami used Numbers Set Die, One Inch Grid Die Set, Basic Die Bundle to make this page.

"New Orleans" by Paije Potter - Pattern #118

"Pisa & Florence" by Tami Potter - Pattern #232
Architecture is not a little detail, but we wanted to show how wonderful buildings look as mosaics. Many times these photos are left in storage boxes, but there is room on a Mosaic Moments layout to show more photos from your trip!
Pictures of buildings tell the story of your page. Creating mosaics of these pictures is super easy with the One Inch Grid Die!

"Happy Sadie" by Paije Potter - Pattern #545

"Chicago Trip" by Tami Potter - Pattern #103

"Fall Beach Trip" by Paije Potter - Pattern #368
