Professional Pictures

Now a days you have to spend 2 months salary just to get professional pictures taken of your precious little one. So instead of spending $100 per 8x10 of my little girl I have started taking my own pictures. Google offers lots of free ideas as well, type in baby pictures or Anne Geddes for many amazing ideas. Next go to your local craft store and pick up some cheap props to make the picture a little more special.

Once you have everything you need take a sheet and pin it up as the back ground, then shoot away. Digital cameras are key, this way you can take as many as you want and then go back later and see what ones turned out well. The younger the child, the more difficult it is to get that perfect picture. You know your child best, so pick a good time to do this - when they are happy and ready to play, also a dry diaper helps as well. Don't try this right before nap time or before feeding. Well rested and fed babies/children are best. If you do pictures with less clothing make sure the room is nice and toasty, babies love to be warm.

Here are a couple of pictures I took on my own and then edited for a final product. The more you play with the pictures and the editing software of your choice the better you will become.

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 I love this one, I didn't do any editing

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Pictures like these are great for gifts, there are many online websites that you can make birth announcments, holiday cards and really nice gifts for fairly cheap. Another way to save is to make your own announcement and print it off as a regular picture you can save a couple bucks per picture doing this. Here is the one I made. 

Please use all my ideas, however do you take my pictures. They are of my angel and I don't want her pretty little face all over. E-mail me with any questions you have and enjoy being a thrifty mama!