LilSugar

Does Your Family Take Professional Photos?

babysugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:00:08 -0800

'Tis the time of the year for professional photographers to make their bundles of cash. Families are taking to the parks and beaches in their ironed shirts and their coiffed hair in hopes of taking the perfect photo for their holiday cards. While they make for gorgeous cards, the glossy black and whites also make ideal gifts for grandparents and they may make the spot right over the fireplace more attractive than ever. Those not willing to pay extra cash on the shutterbug have learned how to use the self-timer mode on their own camera and jump into the shot at the last minute often making their family portraits more realistic and even entertaining. (If you do take your own, make sure you read these tips!)

So tell us, do you hire the professionals to do the job or do you click away yourself?

Source

Photographer Sets New Standard For Newborn Portraits

LilSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:30 -0700

Show me a new mama and I'll show you a woman with a brag book filled with precious photos of her newborn. There's no denying that parents love to show off their kids, be it via images on their phones, albums in their Facebook accounts or photo albums bursting out of their bags.

While snapshots on the ol' digital camera may work for some moms, others turn to the professionals for a portrait that can become the centerpiece of their rooms. For years, Anne Geddes' whimsical shots of babies incorporated into nature were the standard by which photographers shot their subjects, but following an appearance on The Today Show, a Nebraska shutterbug with a knack for photographing sleepy newborns in some adorable poses is creating a stir. Tracy Raver's calming photos of weeks-old babes are the result of warm studios and bellies full of milk, allowing the artist to carefully maneuver the tots into her signature poses. Raver told viewers her trick was to photograph babies before they turned one month old, because that's when they get a bit feistier and can throw off a session.

Did you turn to the professionals to photograph your newborn, or did you stick with family snapshots?

Photo courtesy of Tracy Raver and Kelley Ryden Photography

Baby Photos Bring Wallets Home

LilSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Your baby's picture may save you a bundle. At least that's what some researchers in Edinburgh are saying after they scattered wallets with photos of either a baby, a dog, a happy family, or an elderly couple in several high-traffic areas around town. Eighty-eight percent of the wallets containing baby photos were returned. According to the researchers:

The result reflects a compassionate instinct toward vulnerable infants that people have evolved to ensure the survival of future generations. "The baby kicked off a caring feeling in people, which is not surprising from an evolutionary perspective."

Before heading out the door, it might be wise to put a picture of your tot in your wallet because who really wants to go shopping for a new one anyway?

Holiday Photo Style: Getting the Perfect Picture

LilSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0800

Lights! Camera! Family! It's time to snap that perfect shot. We looked to the professionals at Classic Kids to get some tips for taking the most memorable photos. According to the company's founder, Julie Floyd, the key is to keep your subjects relaxed and remember that children do not need to be perfectly posed in order to get a great image. She also recommends:

Never say “smile” or ask the children to say “cheese.” The mouth will smile, the eyes will not. You must work for your smiles by entertaining your subjects.
Get down to their level. The photographer needs to bring the camera down to eye level. Even lay on the floor if necessary.
Fill the frame with your subject. A nice close shot is far more interesting to the viewer than seeing a lot of background.

To read more of Julie's tips, including some to keep in mind when going to a professional photographer, read more.

Leave props out of the photograph unless the object is something your child can’t live without.
Make the shoot fun. If your family of four kids has to sit still for the picture, be sure that you are very entertaining. Enlist help from another adult if necessary.
Let kids be kids. Don’t stress about Band-Aids, braces, bruises, and black eyes. Imperfections are charming and make kids look real. Don’t insist that hair is perfectly styled. Natural truly is timeless.

If going to a professional photographer, Julie offers two additional tips:

Choose a photographer who loves kids and will make the experience fun for your children. Don’t give your kids instruction on how to behave during the shoot. Tell them they are going someplace to play and let the professional control the kids and the shoot.
Choose comfortable clothes the kids like. Give them a choice of several outfits preapproved by you.

Source

Putting Your Lil One Behind the Lens!

LilSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:00:43 -0700

If you think your lil love is the next big superstar, take a gander down to GAP for their Casting Call. Here are some tips on how to handle the day!

Make sure your child is well rested. If they need to nap, let them. A bright eyed child will be more inclined to smile for the camera.
Dress your kid comfortably just as you would on any other day. Make them a part of the process by allowing them to help select their attire.
Bring a snack and small toys to occupy them in line. In case there’s a wait, it’s nice to have something to entertain or distract your tot.
Kids are hams, when they get in front of the lens, let them do what comes naturally. Children take the best pictures when they are being candid.
Don’t pressure your child, encourage them.

For information on how to submit your photo, click here.

Pimp Your Crib: Paint Your Life

babysugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700

The days of sitting for an oil portrait may be long gone but that doesn't mean you have to forgo the beauty of a canvas hanging on your walls. The magic of the Internet and Paint Your Life allows parents to take a digitally uploaded photograph and convert it into an oil painting in just over three weeks. With a team of professional artists on staff, the company recreates your photo using the medium of your choice - oil, watercolor or charcoal - and uploads a photo of the piece for your review. After approval, the canvas is finished and you receive the portrait in the mail.

Prices start at $120 for the smallest oil painting so you may want to start working your way through Summer photos to get a head start on some holiday gifts for the grandparents.

Do You Carry Pictures of Your Children?

babysugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:00:23 -0700

Back in the day, moms didn't dare leave the house without their brag books. These days, parents carry their cell phones, which often have cameras included. At a moment's notice, they can whip out digital evidence of their wee ones adorable mugs.

For months now I have been meaning to buy a book and fill it with snapshots of my daughter's various stages. As number two quickly approaches, I better get on it sooner than later.

Do you have a brag book?
Source

Pimp Your Crib: America At Home

babysugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:00:22 -0700

In this age of digital photography, we capture our children's every move. For a unique way to share your favorite memories, there's a popular coffee table book. America At Home ($40) features hundreds of photos, taken by professional and amateur photographers, of people in and around their homes. The book's publishers are offering the public the ability to personalize the book by uploading their own photo to be printed into a custom cover. So your prized photo of junior eating a bowl of ice cream or your baby's first steps can turn into cover art.

At What Price Would You Sell Your Baby's Pics?

LilSugar — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 06:00:56 -0700

There's a lot of money riding on Tinseltown's tots these days and their first photographs are no different. Speculation has priced the much anticipated Jolie-Pitt baby's first shots at $10 million.

And, with celeb mamas from Christina Aguilera to Nicole Richie to Jennifer Lopez cashing in on their kids, it seems to be the latest fad in the very lucrative baby biz.

Would you accept cash in exchange for images of your child?
Source

Burdened by Brag Books, Sonogram and Pint-Sized Pics?

LilSugar — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:00:23 -0700

In the 1980s, families forced hour long home videos of junior taking a bath on their helpless victims. And, while that is truly something only a mother can love, the latest trends for showcasing kids are a bit less time consuming.

It seems everyone has a sonogram snapshot, Flip cam clip or brag book to browse. Along with the easy share capabilities that companies like Shutterfly have opened up for emailing milestone pictures by the hundreds.

And, it's not proud parents, toting and transmitting images of the tykes, it's grandparents and other relatives.

Do you think these methods are awesome or overkill?

Source