For Parents
For Photographers
    • Erin ZahradkaErin Zahradka

    A Mom’s Creation: Damsel In Dress!

    November 14, 2011 | Posted by Erin Zahradka

    We all know the importance of preserving our memories through photographs, but Kayle Lamar, creator of Damsel in Dress, discovered a way to create new memories out of their old clothing, bringing adorable one-of-a-kind fashion statements to tots everywhere!   All you do is send Kayle an old t-shirt.  Whether it’s from a gift shop at Disneyland from the 70’s, or your alma mater, she will create a fabulous dress for your daughter or an awesome NEW t-shit for your son!  I can’t remember exactly how I found out about Damsel In Dress, but my daughter has five of them, & I wanted all of them when we did their boutique session.  Check out their online shop before Kayle takes my advice and raises her prices drastically!  These are amazing! www.damselindress.com”

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Fridays: Paper Wreaths!

    November 11, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    In the spirit of Fall today’s post is all about a popular new decor item: paper wreaths! They are perfect for all the right reasons: can be reused year after year, cheap to make and create little mess, plus you may already have the materials you need just lying around. They can also easily transition from Fall to Winter and maybe even on into Spring if you are lucky. I have spotlighted a few of my favorite finds below as well as links to a couple of tutorials!

    My absolute favorites are the two on the very bottom! The one on the bottom left is made from painted toilet paper rolls…isn’t that crazy?! The one on the bottom right is made from old sheets of music and is the perfect vintage accent piece for any home. Tutorial one can be found here, and tutorial two here! I have actually made a few based on the second tutorial already, so let me just warn you now…they can be a little addicting :)

    Happy Friday everyone!

    Stephanie BuckmanStephanie Buckman

    Newborn Safety Week!

    November 9, 2011 | Posted by Stephanie Buckman

    I’m thrilled to have been asked by the NAPCP to contribute to their blog for Newborn Safety Week (November 7th – 11th). I truly hope that contributions such as this one will inspire photographers near and far, inexperienced and experienced alike to give a little extra thought to their newborn subjects and begin or continue to photograph with safety first and foremost in their minds.

    Newborn safety has been a much talked about topic within the industry as of late. With the recent explosion of new photographers and the mounting popularity of newborn portraiture, it’s now quite common to visit popular photo sharing and social media sites and encounter questionable setups or prop choices for little ones. Partly, some photographers and parents alike simply are not aware of the dangers to the newborn and so, if you are a photographer, aspiring photographer, a hobbyist or just really interested in babies, I urge you to head over to the Learn Shoot Inspire Blog to read the article on Newborn Safety. I’ve included many tips and thoughts on keeping your tiny subjects safe during your photoshoots. It’s not a bad read for expecting parents or those with new babies either. It’s just as important that you know what to expect and allow at your newborn’s first session!

    I’d also like to share the idea of composite images right here on the NAPCP Blog. A composite is in fact the merging of two or more images to create one seemingly impossible setup. Occasionally, parents will arrive to their session with a request for a special setup they have seen in which baby is balancing precariously or suspended from some type of apparatus. As a stickler for safety, I take any and every opportunity to keep babies safe during their sessions. Enter the composite image. Composites are a great way to ensure newborn clients stay safe regardless of how the final image appears and that hands remain on baby at all times in poses that may compromise their safety or lead to a fall.

    Revealing these techniques is a bit like revealing how the magician saws his assistant in half. But unlike magic, photographers out there ARE trying to pose newborns using unsafe methodology without investing in learning the proper techniques for doing so. Can you imagine sawing your neighbor in half because you saw David Copperfield do it on TV? Unfortunately, that’s where our industry has been heading lately. I’d rather reveal a few tips and tricks than see a baby injured at the hands of a photographer. Even one injured baby just isn’t worth it in my books.

    I challenge ALL photographers to consider ways in which they can deliver amazing imagery while keeping babies safety a top priority. It just DOESN’T MAKE SENSE to subject a baby to potential dangers for a picture. Ever. Newborn Safety Week is all about exposure and I look forward to viewing everyone’s contributions right here on the NAPCP site and forum, on other online forums and social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter!

    For more on choosing the right photographer for your sweet precious new life, please also feel free to head on over to the NAPCP Blog posting here!

    Ardelle NeubertArdelle Neubert

    session share – newborn fresh and sweet

    November 7, 2011 | Posted by Ardelle Neubert

    Inspiration: I love capturing the everyday real moments.  My inspiration always comes from wanting to tell the stories about our lives.  I had no expectations before arriving, only that I wanted to capture newborn Eric just as he was, fresh and sweet.

    Favorite Element: I love the simple, serene room, with its soft white bedding and beautiful window light.  It made a perfect setting for capturing newborn Eric in a natural and simplistic way.

    Biggest Challenge: Most newborns sleep for a portion of a session.  Eric was not sleepy even with all our efforts.  With a full belly he had some quiet time on the bed while I photographed him.  I was pleased that he was such a sweetheart.

    Photographers’ Final Words: Having a newborn in the home is such a precious time in a family’s life.  I am happy to have given this family these memories, memories of this new love in their life.

    Julie MillerJulie Miller

    Session Share: Autumn!

    November 3, 2011 | Posted by Julie Miller

    Inspiration: I always talk to my clients beforehand to get a feel for what sort of family they are. I always ask them if they have somewhere that is special to them. This family left the big city a few years ago to decompress in the country so I definitely wanted to capture that feeling for them. So where do I get my inspiration? The family of course! The farm however was a nice accessory :) “The Big Rock” in the background near the end of the session series is the world’s largest known glacial erratic–rock transported far from its place of origin by glacial ice about 10 000 years ago. So that was pretty cool to capture alongside this family as well.

    Favorite Element: My favorite element in this session from a structural point of view would be the eclectic and “earthy” farm with roosters running rampant and colorful zucchini, beets and squash on display. My favorite element for an emotional point of view would of course be this gorgeous family and their playful and loving attitude toward one another. Look at how expressive this little angel is!

    What Clients said: The men always confess that it wasn’t a painful photo session and that they actually had fun! The mom wrote, “We are so in LOVE with all the pictures you took” and “We look forward to having you do another photo session for us next year once we are, our completed family of 4.  I can’t thank you enough for taking such amazing photos.”


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