Photography — Easy DIY Holiday Photos

When paying a true professional isn't always an option, recruiting talented friends or family to snap some quick holiday pictures is a great alternative. This year, my little sister and I exchanged holiday photo services with one another. Here are some quick tips on how to ensure your photos turn out great.

Lighting. Take your photos outside so you can utilize the natural lighting. It really depends on the season as to when a good time to take photos will be, but the times that worked for us were around 9a.m. and 4p.m. Keep in mind that an overcast day is a photographer's best friend, because an overcast sky doubles as a giant light diffuser, ensuring all your photos turn our flawless.

Dress the Part. From head to toe, make sure you're on point with the outfits the models are wearing. It's also important for them to coordinate colors, because you want the picture to look uniform. It also doesn't hurt to add in props that relate to the theme.

Location. If you want an easy photo shoot that feels as effortless as possible, choose a photo shoot location that is close to home. Always be on the lookout for cool photo opportunities, especially in the most obvious places. If you're not feeling creative, textured buildings and greenery will always be great backgrounds.

Shots & Angles. The last thing I do before going on a photo shoot is look up inspiration poses online. I remind myself of the key shots that I want to get, and it helps give me the direction and confidence I need in the beginning of the shoot, which also builds confidence in the models. Be sure to take a lot of shots . . . some up close, take some further away, and experiment with different poses. Don't be afraid to direct your models and get hands-on if necessary.

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Baby's First Holiday — Ideas and Traditions for Your Family's Celebration

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year! . . . Did I miss anyone?

Whether or not you grew up with strong traditions in your household, adopting customs during the holiday season that your children can look forward to each year is not only fun for the little ones, it makes for a more meaningful experience for your entire family. Here are some holiday traditions that you can adapt for your clan to make December that much brighter. There is nothing that warms the heart like nostalgia, and incorporating your old traditions with some new ones will be a lot of fun.

Commemorative Decorative Piece. It doesn't matter what holiday your family celebrates, most cultures have items that hold meaning spiritually, socially or symbolically, while others are for simply aesthetically purposes. For those who celebrate Christmas, buying or making custom tree ornaments, stockings and batches of cookies for Santa are among common celebratory practices. On the first day of Kwanzaa, many families make time to create handmade gifts that often contain educational messages about African traditions and history. Menorahs and dreidels are two very symbolic items that can be given to a baby who is getting ready to celebrate their first Hanukkah.

 

Attend Festive Celebrations. Look into your community's events to see which winter celebrations would be fun for your family. We attended Upland's Annual Christmas Parade & Holiday Faire last weekend. We enjoyed the parade, and we plan on coming back again every year. 

Document It. Those chubby thighs and pudgy toes won't stay that small forever, and you can never take too many pictures! If family pictures aren't your thing, snap a couple shots of your baby in front of holiday decor or while you participate in your customs, new and old. If you have the time, schedule a shoot with a photographer or convince a friend to take some pictures of you in exchange for dinner or something.

Click here to learn how-to take your own holiday photos!

Give in to the Cheese. Even if there are some traditions that seem pointless with a baby (they're not going remember their first holiday celebration, anyway), it's still fun going through the motions of traditions for you and your family.


What cheesey holiday customs are you giving into this year to celebrate the holiday season? Please share your ideas and traditions in the comments below!! :)

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Our Favorite Things — 3-in-1 Bounce, Stride & Ride Elephant

Like anyone who has spent time with a nine-month-old knows, babies are extremely busy during this stage. By this time, many infants have already began to crawl, and some are even in the early stages of walking. This can only mean that new and creative forms of entertainment are a constant need around my house.

Charlotte's kitchen set was a real hit for at least one or two months. She would pull herself up to stand at her little kitchen, instantly gratified by the alarms and songs she set off as she played with its many built-in activities. Unfortunately, the last couple weeks Charlotte has grown bored with her kitchen set . . . and everything else in her room full of toys. Luckily, we were chosen to be the lucky recipients of a brand-new toy from Fisher Price that grows with us, the 3-in-1 Bounce, Stride & Ride Elephant.

One of the Fisher Price Insiders gave us the choice between three awesome Fisher Price Smart Stages Toys! As a lover of elephants, I knew the Bounce, Stride & Ride Elephant was the toy for us. Today, the large package came in the mail, and we couldn't have been more excited. After taking a couple photos of the box, we quickly opened the packaging. While some assembly was required, it took about five minutes and was really easy overall. Charlotte even joined in on the construction process!

Once we finished the quick assembly, Charlotte's elephant didn't waste any time singing songs, playing tunes and encouraging her participation in all the light-up, musical fun! Serving as three different toys depending upon a baby's ability, Charlotte immediately had fun bouncing on the seat, only to then start using the toy as a walker! While she hasn't quite mastered walking yet on her own, getting around the house was a breeze with this toy. It has a wide base and a low center of gravity, which makes it the perfect companion for an early walker. It's also neat, because once Charlotte is a little bit older, her elephant will be perfect for cruising around the house as her first set of wheels.

We are grateful to our friends at Fisher Price for helping us find our newest favorite thing! Do you have any favorite toys that encourage a child's development throughout their different stages of growth? If so, please share them with us below!