Photo Taking Tips For Birth Announcements and Holiday Cards

Choosing the perfect photo is an important part of sending out birth announcements or holiday cards. Often times we have an idea of the photo we want to showcase but don’t know how to capture that special moment. Here is a helpful list of photo taking tips to assist you. I encourage you to try some of these tips to help you capture that special moment for your announcement, invitation, and holiday card as well as your everyday photos. I have no doubt that your pictures will be more interesting, better lit, and in turn, more fun to display!

1. Get Closer: Get closer to your subject. What are you trying to show in your picture? I guarantee there is ‘information’ that is distracting to the viewer, get closer and really emphasize what you want to show.

2. Think about Wardrobe: Lettering and logos can be distracting in a picture. Wear solid colors (and stay away from patterns if possible).

3. Look at your background: Are there trees or poles sticking out of your subjects head? If you are using a point and shoot camera, with auto-focus, you may notice that EVERYTHING is in focus… be mindful of your backgrounds! Why not shoot on green grass, at a beach, on a staircase, or in front of an interesting doorway? You’ll find as you look at the image, your eye goes to the subject - rather than the distracting object in the background.

4. Make your pictures really stand out: Get unique angles! Everyone can shoot from ‘eye-level’ but why not get on the floor and shoot? Stand on a chair and shoot? Shoot from outside a window, looking in? The possibilities are endless and great photographers are never standing in one place. Play around with shooting vertically and horizontally, don’t stick to just one or the other.

5. Shoot details: Of course we like to look at the overall picture, but why not focus on some unique details. A baby’s hands or feet, the cute shoes someone is wearing, a couple’s hands inter-twined together, pick details that tell a story.

6. Flash: There is a common misconception when shooting people outside. Bright sunshine is not the best spot! If you are in the sun, use a flash to get rid of some of the harsh shadows that are created under the eyes and nose… or better yet - move to the shade. In the shade, you will get more even light on the face, and a prettier picture all around, with or without your flash on. Try both. If you know your camera well, try reducing your flash strength a bit and see what that looks like.

7. Natural Light: Photographers love natural window light, it gives an amazing dramatic look to images. Try photographing someone next to a window -flash off! You’ll be amazed by the mood it gives the picture.

8. Babies & Kids: When photographing kids, keep them in a contained area -maybe a wheelbarrow, or even on a bed, when they have too much space to roam - they will! Give them something to do, maybe they can read a book, or pick flowers, something interesting - to keep them focused as you shoot around them.

9. Practice, Practice, Practice!

I hope that these photo taking tips help you to capture unique and quality pictures for all of your birth announcements, invitations and holiday cards!

Special thanks to Allyson Wiley Photography!

So Sweet Stationery is an online stationery store dedicated to providing customers with unique personalized stationery, invitations, birth announcements and much more! We have a wide variety of both modern and traditional stationery products that are sure to add a little “sweetness” to someone’s day!