LilSugar

Capture Baby's Growth With Monthly Photo Sessions

babysugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:00:30 -0800

A baby's first year of life goes by in the blink of an eye. While some days may seem like an eternity, by the time the lil one reaches her first birthday you will wonder where the time went. Many parents track their tot's first year with monthly photo sessions. Rather than taking the tyke to the studio at the mall today's digital cameras and photo editing software make it easy enough to capture a monthly pose that allows you to see just how much she's grown from month-to-month. For some unique ways to showcase the photos, check out what some mamas have done.

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Cool Idea: Alternative Art Hanging

Casa Community — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:00:00 -0800

Here's a post from CasaSugar Community member EarthPlusArt from the Su Casa group:

I wanted a unique way to hang some of my botanical photographs, and came up with this very easy and cheap solution. All I needed was a branch, some twine and a handful of alligator clips. Since they're not under glass, I sprayed the photographs with an archival varnish to protect them from dust and fading. Before I hung them up, I painted the wall a warm color to complement the sepia tones of the art.

Have you been hanging artwork of your own lately, or doing other DIYs? Be sure to post photos and tales in our Su Casa group!

Do You Photoshop Yourself in Pictures?

FitSugar — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:30:00 -0800

I feel like I've been hearing more incidents of Photoshopping gone awry - model Filippa Hamilton's size 8 body was digitally retouched to the point of inhuman proportions, Demi Moore allegedly lost a hip, and Kelly Clarkson dropped a few dress sizes after her Self cover was retouched. The editor of Self defended the magazine's practices, saying that women want retouched images and heavier models don't sell magazines. Heck, even Kelly Clarkson didn't mind that they messed around with her image.

I asked a few friends if they've ever retouched photos of themselves and I was surprised to find out that many of them have. Some played around with making their skin look clearer, others got rid of red eye (though I hardly think that counts), and one friend copped to making her arms look thinner in a photo that was being used for a family holiday card. This whole thing has me curious, and now I'm wondering . . .

Take the Guesswork Out of Monthly Photo Sessions

LilSugar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:23 -0800

No need to put a caption on these photos. The cost and ease of use of digital cameras allow new parents to photograph every first their child experiences. Gone are the days where moms would dress baby up and run to the local mall to have monthly photo sessions to capture their lil one's growth over the course of their first year. Now, mama can prop baby up on the couch and shoot endlessly, ultimately picking the single best shot to share with family and friends.

With Squigglybee's Today I Am onesies ($15), bibs ($10) and t-shirts ($13), there is no need to think about what baby will wear for her photo shoot, and no need to caption the photos for future reference. The spot-on pieces feature monthly and annual milestones making them great gifts for baby showers and hospital visits. Once a year's worth of photos has been taken, first-year photo frames can showcase just how much baby has grown. Check out some of our favorite frames below.

Best of 2009: Favorite Wedding Advice

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:24 -0800

This year, I shared lots of tips and tricks for planning a gorgeous wedding, including lovely photo tours of real weddings and advice from wedding planning professionals. Your favorite post, however, was my post on displaying wedding photographs at your ceremony and reception. Just goes to show you that all of the Casa readers are looking for unique ways to express themselves, whether it's on their wedding day or any other day of the year! Check out the post for lots of interesting ways to say goodbye to the standard album at your reception.

10 Tips to Taking a Grrreat Holiday Photo Featuring Pets!

PetSugar — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:15:38 -0800

For most of you, there will be at least one holiday photo with a furry friend. (I know North can't wait!) If you're thinking of sending a Christmas card to friends and family, check out my tips for staging the best shot with dogs and cats - step-by-step, I've got you covered!

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Will There Be Pets in Your Holiday Photos?

PetSugar — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:30:40 -0800

Source: Flickr User horizontal.integration

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?

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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?