With holidays on the minds of so many, I thought today would be a great day to roundup the 5 professional tips & tricks for creating amazing photo greeting cards that I shared last year on the CHP Facebook page. With preparation and a few simple steps you can create a beautiful card for your family this year.
TIP #1 GET CLOSE
Don't be afraid to snuggle up and get close. Getting close allows more natural expressions to shine through and creates a beautiful tight composition to your image.
TIP #1 GET CLOSE
Don't be afraid to snuggle up and get close. Getting close allows more natural expressions to shine through and creates a beautiful tight composition to your image.
TIP #2 USE GREAT LIGHT
Pick a spot in your house with lots of indirect natural light from a window or doorway. Using flattering soft light creates gorgeous pictures!
Pick a spot in your house with lots of indirect natural light from a window or doorway. Using flattering soft light creates gorgeous pictures!
TIP #3 SKIP THE GROUP PHOTO
Taking a group photo of the kids can be rather crazy and produce less than great results. Why not take great photos of each one them individually? This not only can be more successful but also shows each child's unique personality.
Taking a group photo of the kids can be rather crazy and produce less than great results. Why not take great photos of each one them individually? This not only can be more successful but also shows each child's unique personality.
TIP #4 WEAR COMPLEMENTING OUTFITS
One of the most common questions I'm asked is "what should we wear for out photo shoot?" I recommend wearing items that complement each other but don't match exactly. Try to have everyone in the same tonality. I encourage you to have different outfits and textures, but keep within 2 or 3 common colors. Most of all, wear what you love because it shows in your expression!
One of the most common questions I'm asked is "what should we wear for out photo shoot?" I recommend wearing items that complement each other but don't match exactly. Try to have everyone in the same tonality. I encourage you to have different outfits and textures, but keep within 2 or 3 common colors. Most of all, wear what you love because it shows in your expression!
TIP #5 PRINT WITH THE PROS
You've gotten all the great family shots that you need for your card, now comes the really fun part: designing and printing. I recommend Minted for those who enjoy choosing a layout themselves and ordering online. Prefer personal service? Adele at The Write Touch will expertly guide you through the process of selecting and printing beautiful custom photo cards. No time to wait for custom-printed cards? See the fine folks at Huron Camera to get professional-quality prints made, then simply pop them into store-purchased holiday cards designed for this purpose (available at most department and stationary stores). Huron Camera prints photo cards too, and is a great option for keeping your printing business local.
You've gotten all the great family shots that you need for your card, now comes the really fun part: designing and printing. I recommend Minted for those who enjoy choosing a layout themselves and ordering online. Prefer personal service? Adele at The Write Touch will expertly guide you through the process of selecting and printing beautiful custom photo cards. No time to wait for custom-printed cards? See the fine folks at Huron Camera to get professional-quality prints made, then simply pop them into store-purchased holiday cards designed for this purpose (available at most department and stationary stores). Huron Camera prints photo cards too, and is a great option for keeping your printing business local.
Voila! Your holiday cards are now ready to go forth and spread holiday cheer to family and friends.
This past weekend, my family and I enjoyed our traditional autumn getaway to South Haven, Michigan. Situated on the shore of Lake Michigan just a couple hours west of our home in Dexter, Michigan, South Haven is particularly gorgeous at this time of year. We always look forward to revisiting our favorite spots and discovering new sights along the way. Here are 4 must-visit places that top our list.
STOP #1: Gene the Pumpkin Man
A trip to South Haven would not be complete without a stop in Kalamazoo along the way to visit Gene the Pumpkin Man. Gene's 130 acre farm has been in his family since 1885, and according to the eye-catching sign on his barn, he's been in the pumpkin business for 56 years.
STOP #1: Gene the Pumpkin Man
A trip to South Haven would not be complete without a stop in Kalamazoo along the way to visit Gene the Pumpkin Man. Gene's 130 acre farm has been in his family since 1885, and according to the eye-catching sign on his barn, he's been in the pumpkin business for 56 years.
Gene is a very kind soul. Over the years he and his family have given freely to others in need by providing food and shelter and looking after people who just needed an extra hand. It's that sort of hospitality and giving spirit that bring customers back year after year. I met someone there that has purchased pumpkins from Gene for the last 42 years!
Add us to the list of loyal Gene the Pumpkin Man customers. It is such a sweet place!
Add us to the list of loyal Gene the Pumpkin Man customers. It is such a sweet place!
STOP #2: Crane Orchards
There is a ton of fall fun to be had on the rambling farm property of Crane Orchards in Fennville, Michigan
There is a ton of fall fun to be had on the rambling farm property of Crane Orchards in Fennville, Michigan
Crane's has a huge fruit farm with U-pick apples, a great restaurant with every variety of pie you can imagine, and a wonderful corn maze that we love to wander through.
You can test your knowledge of corn trivia with ten numbered stations throughout the maze. Did you know corn silk makes the perfect material for a DIY mustache disguise?
STOP #3: Fall Festival at Stokes Homestead Farm Market
New to our autumn weekend tradition this year was the Fall Festival at Stokes Homestead Farm Market in Grand Junction, Michigan. We found lots more fun for the kids there - pumpkin painting, a donut toss competition, mining for jewels, and even a spooky nighttime Halloween hay ride through the apple orchard.
New to our autumn weekend tradition this year was the Fall Festival at Stokes Homestead Farm Market in Grand Junction, Michigan. We found lots more fun for the kids there - pumpkin painting, a donut toss competition, mining for jewels, and even a spooky nighttime Halloween hay ride through the apple orchard.
STOP #4: South Haven Farm Market
This is my favorite farmer's market of them all. At the South Haven Farmers Market, local farmers come together right in downtown South Haven to offer everything from apples to homemade maple syrup. What a treat for the eyes to walk through this market on a chilly fall morning!
This is my favorite farmer's market of them all. At the South Haven Farmers Market, local farmers come together right in downtown South Haven to offer everything from apples to homemade maple syrup. What a treat for the eyes to walk through this market on a chilly fall morning!
Our girls' favorite is Happy Jack's Kettle corn. They enjoy watching him make the irresistibly salty and sweet treat right in front of us. We always stock up on Happy Jack's when we're in town.
Our annual family road trip is something we look forward to each fall. What are your family's must-visit places at this time of year? Please share in the comments!
Warmly,
Cheryl
Warmly,
Cheryl
When photographing newborns and babies, I love to find all the small special things about them - long beautiful lashes, a cute curl in the back of the neck, a sweet cowlick in the front. When my first daughter Emma was born, the first things I noticed were her beautiful big dimples and her curly toes. With Lydia it was her large soulful eyes. For Ava, it was the swirl of hair on her forehead. I love these sweet little gifts every little one comes with.
Earlier this month, I was invited to help raise funds for a wonderful local nonprofit, the Lamaze Family Center Ann Arbor. They hosted a "Mommy and Me Tea" at the center to celebrate Mother's Day. Guests arrived for the event in their best tea-time clothes. What better time to have a little taste of what a complete CHP custom portrait session is all about? I've recently been processing the images from the day and thought I would share a few of them here. Thanks to the happy moms and little ones, the gorgeous spring weather, a well-placed stretch of grass in the center's parking area, and my trusty 70-200 mm lens, capturing these portraits felt like a walk in the park. Such fun!
Do you see any special faces here? Post a comment and share this post with your friends!
Do you see any special faces here? Post a comment and share this post with your friends!
May 13, 2013
filed in Babies
filed in BabiesSweet family
Love this sweet family..Such a pleasure to watch their family grow!
