What to Wear will feature different palettes providing ideas when you plan the wardrobe for individual pictures or your family images during the holiday gatherings.
What to Wear | November 2 features ideas for all family members: mom; dad; big brother; big sister and little brother and little sister. Have fun preparing your stylish look for family pictures!
It is not necessary to purchase new clothing for better images. When planning the wardrobe, do wash and dry the clothing. Immediately after drying, hang the clothes on a hanger. Or iron, if you like. The main goal is wrinkle free clothing.
Shoes do not need to be new either. New shoe laces is an inexpensive purchase to spruce up the look. Polishing leather or washing canvas shoes is another solution to brighten their appearance.
Have the socks match either the pants or shoes. This is important for anyone who may be sitting or squatting in the group. Imagine if the pants are navy blue, shoes white and you see bright green socks. Very distracting. Your eyes will go straight to the green socks and not the person’s face! However, if the socks were either white (matching shoes) or navy blue (matching pants), your eyes will flow over the person and land on the face/eyes of the person in the picture.
Hi, Welcome to Gma’sPhoto! All joking aside, family portraits are important. Autumn is just around the corner. One of the most desired season for family portraits. Then Thanksgiving and Christmas, both holidays the family gathers. What an opportunity for that family photo!
It is recommended while children are young, to have a family portrait taken at minimum, once a year. As children age, every other year. Once the children are adults, every five years. As a retired professional photographer, and as a senior aged grandma, I know how time does not stand still. Having these memories, priceless.
You may be thinking that professional portraits are expensive. Yes, it can be. However, this is not the only option you have. Other choices would include a friend taking the images. Setting up a tripod and using the camera timer. Even a selfie stick works! The important thing is, you have that family picture!
Let’s talk about the ‘professional’ portrait. What is a professional image anyway? They look nice. They can cost more money. The actual image quality is better. What if I can explain how you can achieve these qualities yourself? 🙂 One can create beautiful images on a budget or spend as much as you wish. Remember, it’s taking the shot that is important. I’ll be referencing past posts and images I have taken over the years as an example.
Kevin’s Siblings and Parents.
This image was taken because of the opportunity. Getting the shot was the goal. No planning. No clothing coordination. It was taken just this past Fourth of July. The family does not live close. Aging parents. Next year we may or may not be able to replicate this same shot. I took this photo with my iPhone. It was printed (at Walmart) and added to my family photo book.
Again, this image was taken for the opportunity. Kevin took the image as he is not one to like having his picture taken. It was with the iPhone. Printed at Walmart and put in frame bought at Walmart as well.
This next set of images, I had spent more time and money on the images and presentation.
Top image is of my grand daughter when she was five years old. Planning her clothing was not intentional. She wore her favorite color, purple. I did use my ‘professional’ camera. The image was printed thru Mpix.com. This is a pro-consumer photography lab. For the frame, I had Hobby Lobby make it using oak wood to match my dinning room furniture.
The bottom three images were taken at Kmart years ago. Again, the frame was from Hobby Lobby. Not custom, one already made and was bought at half price. Hobby Lobby has some of the best deals!
The next set of images were again taken with my ‘professional’ camera and lighting. It is the framing I would like to bring your attention to.
It was during Adam’s senior year of high school. The senior session time! His was taken on location. Erika’s image was while we were at my folks house and I was testing my new studio lights. It was taken during the time Erika attended college. Now the surprising fact regarding the frames. These were purchased from a thrift store. Yes, that is right! These were probably the least expensive frames I ever bought.
The next example is the one I did spend more time with planning. Planning the location, clothing, camera settings and time of day. The frame was planned as well. It was printed as a 30×36 wall print then custom framed by Hobby Lobby. The plans for the frame is reusing. Each new family portrait will replace the existing. So even though the frame was an expense, it will be used repeatedly.
It’s time for me to begin planning our next family portrait. It’s been five years since this one was taken!
Hopefully, with these examples, I have shown that no matter the equipment and price involved, nice images can be taken. What the images did not explain is how to plan for the clothing, what to wear. Check out the What to Wear series for inspiration for your next family photo!
Hi, welcome to the topic of Party Etiquette. I was thinking about parties with May having so many graduations. Summer holidays just around the corner. And of course, June is the month for weddings. For the online social bloggers, we have linkup parties! 🙂
Have you ever wondered how to behave? What you should or should not say? Below are party tips to make you the best guest, one who is always welcome to social gatherings.
RSVP let the host know if you will be attending or not.
Be On Time or 10 to 15 minutes after the start time. The host will most likely be doing last minute decorating.
Mingle visit everyone do not dominate a select few.
Be Present Keep the cell phone tucked away.
Engage actively take part in conversations. Look people in the eye when you speak with them.
Enjoy Yourself smile, do not stand in a corner.
Exit Graciously notice when guests begin to leave. The host provided an invite with start and end times. Be courteous and not overstay the welcome.
Say Thanks. The host took the time to plan a get together. Let the host know that you enjoyed the party and thank them for inviting you.
You may wonder with modern times post COVID, what are tips for the online social gatherings. I can think of two different types: family / friends via Zoom or some such platform and Link Up parties for the blogging sphere.
Zoom wouldn’t be too much different then in person physically. Even though we wouldn’t leave the comfort of our home, we are still attending in person.
The link up parties are totally virtual. Be present, mingle, enjoy yourself, say thanks. When doing these, we just need to make a few adjustments.
Be present. Make a list of the parties you wish to follow on what days. Use the InLinkz directory to search for desired parties to attend. Follow your routine on a regular basis.
Mingle and participate. Read the host guideline for the party. For each post contributed, visit one in return. Leave a brief comment.
Enjoy yourself. When visiting other links, notice what you like about the website. Even consider what is least liked. When reviewing your own website/blog look for these traits and make appropriate changes.
Say, ‘Thanks’. For sure, comment on the link party a thank you to the host/hostess. It does take time to create and maintain the link platform. Some even pay for the link service. The best way to say thanks is to acknowledge not just with words but with actions. Visit the host/hostess linked up link and comment there too. This makes for a gracious exit.
What to Wear will feature different palettes providing ideas when you plan the wardrobe for individual pictures or your family images during the holiday gatherings.
What to Wear | June features ideas for all family members: mom; dad; big brother; big sister and little brother and little sister. Have fun preparing your stylish look for family pictures!
It is not necessary to purchase new clothing for better images. When planning the wardrobe, do wash and dry the clothing. Immediately after drying, hang the clothes on a hanger. Or iron, if you like. The main goal is wrinkle free clothing.
Shoes do not need to be new either. New shoe laces is an inexpensive purchase to spruce up the look. Polishing leather or washing canvas shoes is another solution to brighten their appearance.
Have the socks match either the pants or shoes. This is important for anyone who may be sitting or squatting in the group. Imagine if the pants are navy blue, shoes white and you see bright green socks. Very distracting. Your eyes will go straight to the green socks and not the person’s face! However, if the socks were either white (matching shoes) or navy blue (matching pants), your eyes will flow over the person and land on the face/eyes of the person in the picture.
What to Wear will feature different palettes providing ideas when you plan the wardrobe for individual pictures or your family images during the Spring season.
What to Wear | April features ideas for all family members: mom; dad; big brother; big sister and little brother and little sister. Have fun preparing your stylish look for family pictures!
It is not necessary to purchase new clothing for better images. When planning the wardrobe, do wash and dry the clothing. Immediately after drying, hang the clothes on a hanger. Or iron, if you like. The main goal is wrinkle free clothing.
Shoes do not need to be new either. New shoe laces is an inexpensive purchase to spruce up the look. Polishing leather or washing canvas shoes is another solution to brighten their appearance.
Have the socks match either the pants or shoes. This is important for anyone who may be sitting or squatting in the group. Imagine if the pants are navy blue, shoes white and you see bright green socks. Very distracting. Your eyes will go straight to the green socks and not the person’s face! However, if the socks were either white (matching shoes) or navy blue (matching pants), your eyes will flow over the person and land on the face/eyes of the person in the picture.
