Tips to taking successful pictures

General tips

1. Proper lighting is key to taking great photos. Natural lighting is the best. When taking photos outdoors, try to take them early in the mornings or in the evening before the sun sets, and remember to use your flash for fill flash outside. When photographing indoors, try to do so in a room that has as much natural lighting as possible, and if necessary, you can use additional overhead lighting and lamps to brighten an area.

2. Keep the background as simple as possible. Too much clutter can be distracting and take away from the subject of the photo.

3. Ensure the subject of the photo is at eye level. This is especially important when photographing babies and/or toddlers - be sure to get down to their level and avoid photographing from an angle or from above.

4. Ensure your baby/child is fed, rested, and happy. There is no point embarking on a photo shoot if your baby isn’t in the mood. Choose a time when you can guarantee some smiles (for babies, morning is often the best), and have fun!

5. Take lots of photos! The beauty of digital cameras is that you can take lots and lots of photos and simply delete the ones that don’t turn out - so take as many photos as possible and you’ll be much more likely to get that perfect shot!

6. Get the camera all ready to go before the baby is!

7. Turn the date stamp OFF - date stamps can ruin your photos.

8. Set the camera to the highest possible resolution and compression- make sure your cute pictures can be saved forever in the best-possible quality.

9. Make sure the battery is fully charged.

10. Start with a fresh memory card so you can take plenty of pictures

11. Take lots and lots of pictures - that way you can save the ones with the cutest expressions and poses.

12. Don't worry if you take an out of focus picture - just step back, breathe deeply, and take another picture. If it's still out of focus, you might  need more light - move to a brighter location.  If you have gotten in   close, you might need to put your camera into Macro Mode (or Close Up mode). Not all cameras have this setting. If yours does, it usually has a button with a flower on it.  Just remember to go back to regular mode when you are done with the close-ups!

13. When including an older sibling, keep their faces very close to each other

14. Please remember to send  us the original color images straight from your camera. Do not crop them  or adjust them in any way. In order to fit your pictures into the designs, we must receive unedited photos.

Special tips for taking photos in which the background will be erased or faded

1. Use a simple, lighter colored background. In general, when a background is going to be removed or faded, the results are best if the background is plain and lightly colored. A lightly colored sheet or blanket (avoid patterns!) used as a backdrop will often do the trick.

2. Dress your baby simply. Please avoid dressing your baby/child in clothing that is patterned or busy, and avoid clothing with a extra frills or ruffles. Dress your baby/child in simple non-patterned clothing, or in just a diaper or diaper shirt.

3. Tame those locks! If your baby has hair, try to smooth it down as much as possible, or consider a simple hat. This is a VERY important step as it is nearly impossible to achieve good results with background removal if there is wispy or flyaway hair to crop around.

4. Make sure all important parts are visible. Ensure your baby’s entire body is in the picture - pay particular attention to hands, feet, and the top of baby’s head to make sure they don’t get cut out of the picture. Also, if your child is sitting or laying down on a blanket, make sure it’s not bunched up too much and hiding part of his/her body. Be careful as well with soft surfaces (such as a bed or sofa), that your baby’s entire body is visible and not hidden.

5. Try to minimize shadows. Take the photograph in good lighting to minimize or avoid shadows around your baby’s body.