To Get Started:
- If you are using a digital camera, please turn the date stamp OFF.
- If you are using a digital camera, please make sure the camera is set to its highest resolution.
Lighting:
- Natural light is best. Try to take the photos during peak daylight hours.
- If you are using a flash, stay in the flash range. Pictures taken out of flash range will be too dark. If you do not know your camera’s flash range, then take the pictures no further than five feet away.
Picture Backgrounds:
- It is best to use blankets and outfits that are solid in color. Patterns can take away from the baby’s features and be distracting.
- You can create a better shot by buying a couple yards of black or white fabric that is not sheer and does not have any shimmer. Put your baby on the black/white background with natural lighting, it creates a beautiful shot!
- Capturing the moment, instead of posing, makes great photos. Taking the picture while the baby is sleeping, stretching, being cuddled, or having their diaper changed can be an opportune moment for a great picture.
- Other great photos for an announcement are of parts of your baby. Little hands, feet, ears, the bare bottom, holding your finger. Try the same pictures of your baby taken at different angles. Also try holding your baby close to you, skin to skin, these pictures can be very sweet!
Taking the Picture:
- Get in close to your baby. Stand directly over him/her. But don’t get too close, or the picture could be out of focus.
- If your baby is able to support himself/herself, get down on his/her level. He/she doesn't have to look into the camera, but being at his/her level makes very cute pictures.
- Try several different angles.
- You can take several delayed shots of the same position. This can give you a sequence of expressions that the baby can make while he/she moves around.
- Focus on the baby in the picture; your goal is to fill the picture area with your baby's body.
Sending the Finished Pictures:
- When using a scanner, please clean the scanner top first. Any dust on the scanner will pick up on the picture that you send. Scan the pictures at 600 dpi, in color, for the best resolution/type of picture.
- The file sizes of the pictures should be large. Try sending only 1-3 pictures per e-mail to prevent the e-mail system from shrinking the pictures. E-mail photos to photos@announceitgraphics.com.
- Please send the pictures in natural color. We can change them to black & white or sepia.
