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Besides the barbeques and parades and spending time with family my favorite thing about 4th of July is taking pictures with smokebombs and sparklers! I think I have some version of them every year going back 7 years.  It’s seriously my favorite thing! We are doing a campaign with Popchips for 4th of July and thought we’d give some tips on how to do this for all your Instagram photos. The smoke bomb photos are pretty straight forward but the sparkler photos get a little technical (but still totally doable!) Find all the details below.

Smokebomb Photos! First off a disclaimer! Follow all directions from the smokebomb manufacturer for safety.
Materials Needed: Smokebombs, Cell Phone  Directions: This is pretty straight forward but here are a few extra tips. Make sure everything is in place for the photo before lighting the smokebomb. You’ll only have about 10 seconds to get the photos. We light a few at the same time in order to get the maximum amount of billowy smoke. The photos look cool and ethereal with plumes of colored smoke!

Sparkler Photos! First off a disclaimer! Follow all directions from the sparkler manufacturer for safety.
Materials Needed: Sparklers, Cell Phone, Slow Shutter App, tape, Flashlight (optional)  Directions: For this you’ll need an app that slows the camera shutter on your phone. There are lots of free ones, the one I have on my phone cost $1 and is called Slow Shutter Cam. Step 1: Tape the phone to something stationary like a chair to create a makeshift tripod. Step 2: Wait until it is dark and make sure everything is all set up for the photo before you light the sparklers (line your friends up etc). Step 3: To get the exposure right takes a little experimenting. We left the exposure open for 15 seconds. We tried a couple settings making it more light sensitive and less light sensitive until we were happy with it. If you want the people to show up a little shine a flashlight moving all over the subjects during the exposure. Step 4: Be sure to remember to spell the letters backwards for the letters to come out right in the photo! Et Voila! You’ve got some pretty snappy photos ready for the 4th.

This post is sponsored by Popchips!