Beginner Photography Essentials

Photography is one of the best ways to capture and preserve moments. As a photographer myself, I know that a few of the right tools can make all the difference. These are some of my favorite basics that will help take your party photos to the next level.

*This post contains affiliate links.

A Great Camera- You can definitely use your phone for your pictures, but I would highly recommend getting a camera if you’ve been on the fence! I personally have the older version of this Canon EOS Rebel (mine is the T6) but this newer one has such great features! Touchscreen is a newer feature, which is great for selecting your focus!

Lightroom/Photoshop - these are my go-to apps for photo editing! You can do so much with these apps for only $10/month. If you want a more budget friendly option, try the Lightroom phone app! It has tons of free features.

Lightroom Presets- These party presets from my shop are perfect for editing all kinds of indoor photos.

Tripod-  If you want to take your own photos, I would highly recommend this tripod! You can tilt the head so that you can take landscapes or portraits. It's light, compact and folds up small. It's perfect for taking on the go and storing in a closet when it's not in use. This is the exact one I use for my photos!

Phone Tripod Mount- If you want to attach your phone on the tripod, you'll need a special adapter. I use this one, which does the trick! You just swap out the head it comes with and then expand it for your phone. The great part is that it's adjustable, so you can use anyone's phone. I'd recommend checking the measurements if you have a newer iPhone though. Those things just keep getting bigger and bigger.

Mini Tripod- If you want a tiny tripod for a tabletop or even easier portability, try this one! I haven't used this one personally, but it had great reviews on Amazon. I'm considering getting one myself. If you want something more affordable, try this one instead.

Box Light for Flash- These are a bit of an investment, but I honestly can't recommend them enough! I use them for practically all my blog photos and occasionally whip them out when the lighting isn't ideal for portraits. Another option is these umbrella lights, which aren't quite as bright. Both of them fold up super tiny and can take up just a corner of a closet! It's actually pretty remarkable how mighty yet tiny they are. Just a note that these won't make a dark room bright, but they will assist in compensating when the room just isn't bright enough for a good picture.

Screen Wipes- If your phone photos are not great, I have news for you- CLEAN YOUR CAMERA LENS! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been handed someone’s phone to take a photo and the very first thing I notice is the blur of an oily fingerprint on the lens. These wipes are lint free, and I love using them for my camera and phone.

SD Card to Phone Adapter- If you’re using a camera for better pics but want to post to your phone immediately, invest in a simple adapter. There’s lots of options for both iPhone and Android. Using them is simple- plug them into your phone, pop in your SD card, and view/save your images to your device. Easy peasy, and great for on the go!

Selfie Light- Many party venues are poorly lit, and a lot of parties happen at night. By using a selfie light, you’ll get better photos without having to use your on-camera flash. This one attaches to both a phone and a camera. You can also adjust the warmth of the light, which is helpful for achieving the perfect white balance (color) for your images. If your images look yellow, use a bluer tint to counteract it, and vice versa. I’ve never used this one personally, but it seems like a perfect device for a beginner photographer.

Instax Camera- Make sure you have lots of film on hand. You can also invest in a variety of cute cases, but I think this one would be perfect.

The DIY Holiday Photos Toolkit

Ho Ho Holy Poopsicles, the holidays are coming! If you're thinking that it seems like just yesterday you put that Christmas tree away, you're not alone! The holidays seem to sneak up on me every single year. I am definitely excited for them, but somehow never quite prepared. One thing that definitely gets pushed off is my holiday card photos! This year, I decided to take matters into my own hands and get those pictures done before Halloween even rolled around! If you're unsure how to even go about taking your own photos (that don't look as pathetic as a homemade gift that you whipped up at the last second) then I've got just the thing for you! I've rounded up 12 items I love using for my family photos, so you can shoot for success. Ya see what I did there?

*This post contains affiliate links

1. Tripod- If you want to try and take your own photos, I would highly recommend this tripod! It folds up really small, plus you can tilt the head so that you can take landscapes or portraits! It's light, compact and folds up small. It's perfect for taking on the go and storing in a closet when it's not in use. This is the exact one I use for my photos!

2. Phone Tripod Mount- If you want to attach your phone on this tripod, you'll need a special adapter. I use this one, which does the trick! You just swap out the head it comes with and then expand it for your phone. The great part is that it's adjustable, so you can use anyone's phone. I'd recommend checking the measurements if you have a newer iPhone though. Those things just keep getting bigger and bigger, so I'm not sure if this particular one will get big enough.

3. Mini Tripod- If you want a tiny tripod for a tabletop or even easier portability, try this one! I haven't used this one personally, but it had great reviews on Amazon. I'm considering getting one myself, especially since I like to take videos of Hailey doing cute stuff. She always stops when she sees me holding the camera, so with this I can go into stealth mode! If you want something more affordable, try this one instead.

4. Box Lights- These are a bit of an investment, but I honestly can't recommend them enough! I use them for practically all my blog photos and occasionally whip them out when the lighting isn't ideal for portraits. Another option is these umbrella lights, which aren't quite as bright. Both of them fold up super tiny and can take up just a corner of a closet! It's actually pretty remarkable how mighty yet tiny they are. Just a note that these won't make a dark room bright, but they will assist in compensating when the room just isn't bright enough for a good picture.

5. Holiday Blanket- You always need a great blanket for holiday photos! Use it for an accent on the couch or bed, to add warmth to a photo, or to snuggle and wear in your pictures. Either way, you really can't go wrong with a holiday blanket! I used one in my photoshoots, then towards the end my sister wore it on her head to try to get a laugh out of Hailey. She did smile, but not nearly as much as I did. I truly wish I had taken a photo from my angle. It was quite comical. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, try this more seasonal snowflake blanket instead or try this fun puppy blanket if you like something more whimsical!

6. Stockings- Some cute stockings hung on the chimney with care, or held as a prop, are essential for a fun Christmas photo! I also love seeing them hung at the foot of a bed. I love these because they' look so soft and cozy with the knit pattern and fur. For a little added sparkle, try a set of these!

7. Small Tree- If you're not ready to whip out the giant Christmas tree and the whole shebang, get a smaller tree that you can put in the background of your photos! This one is a nice small size but also decorated, which means less work for you! After the photo session is over, you can place it near your fireplace for some fun festivity, or put it in your kitchen, dining room, or kids' room to keep the holiday fun going in the whole house!

8. Antler Headbands- I love holiday themed accessories and I cannot lie, you other sisters can't deny. When a girl walks in with an itty bitty babe, and some antlers in your face you get sprung. Ok, things got a little cheesy there for a moment #sorrynotsorry but I love Christmas antlers. I can be found sporting them for every holiday themed event, from Holiday photos to Christmas parties to actual Christmas day. Oh, plus trimming the tree, seeing the holiday lights, baking cookies... They're my favorite! I just bought this fun pastel set but you can always go more traditional with a gold set.

9. Christmas Book- This makes a great prop and distraction for your photos! If your kids won't sit still, try giving them a brand new or favorite book to read. Maybe even add something silly on the pages to get a laugh out of them! Hailey loved this book because Santa has furry beards! You can also go more traditional with The Night Before Christmas, a Disney book, or a Hanukkah book.

10. Wreath or Garland- Whether you're holding a wreath for a pop of color, or place a garland at your headboard, they're perfect for adding some holiday spirit without much effort! I used a white garland from Michael's for my holiday photos, and didn't even have to attach it to the wall. I just stuffed it behind the headboard and made sure it was as close to the wall as possible! The best part is that adding these wreaths or garlands can really help you to bring in or enhance your color scheme. I knew I wanted my photos to be colorful and airy, and my garland did that! You could also go more traditional or fun and festive.

11. A Great Camera- You can definitely use your phone for your pictures, but I would highly recommend getting a camera if you’ve been on the fence! I personally have the older version of this Canon EOS Rebel (mine is the T6) but this newer one has such great features! Touchscreen is a newer feature, plus this set includes a remote which means super easy shooting!

12. Stepstool- If your friendtographer is short, you’ll definitely want to have a tripod! This one is SUPER light but also very sturdy. Perfect for taking on the go and being super safe while you’re at it! Why do you want a step stool, you may be asking? Because taking a photo from slightly above= very flattering. Taking one from below means all the chins. You’re welcome!

With these items, your holiday cards are sure to be a hit at the dinner table, unlike Aunt Sally's figgy pudding. If you're unsure how to even go about planning and executing your holiday photo shoot, I have a treat for you! I've developed a course that gives you my step by step system for planning, shooting, and editing your holiday photos! It's called Sleigh Your Holiday Photoshoot, and it's a game changer for the "I'll just do the photos myself, thanks" crowd!

It's the exact method I use for taking my blog and family photos, which I've perfected over the years. You'll be able to take your holiday photos in 5 days or less, with step-by-step videos and checklists to help you along the way! Everything is short and sweet, but super actionable and helpful. You'll be able to match those Pinterest inspiration photos in no time.

What's an essential for you when taking family photos? Is it a toy, a gadget, or maybe snacks for bribing the kids? Let me know in the comments below!

DIY Cake Smash (& Milk Bath) Photoshoot

Last week, Hailey turned one year old! It was a rough week because she had a cold or was teething, poor thing! There was one day that she was feeling slightly better, so I decided this was the day to do her cake smash session. You see, I had originally had these grand ideas of setting up a backdrop indoors, adding all this colorful stuff behind her, creating an amazing cake topper and making it an experience. However, life is what happens when you’re busy making plans. So, I took what I could get and figured if she was feeling slightly better right now, this was the time to do the cake smash pics!

Hailey was in a pretty good mood until I left her to set up the cake smash. By the time I was done setting up (which by the way I did in a super fast manner and totally different than my original plan) she was completely snotty nosed and red in the face. Instead of playing with all her toys in the playpen, she decided that she wanted to cry because she kept seeing me walk by her and not actually interact with her. All this to say, it doesn’t have to be perfect when you’re setting up your shoot. All that matters is that you get it done and have those memories to cherish. I could’ve given up in that moment, because let’s let’s face it I was READY to. But I kept it on, lived to tell the tale, and decided to share what I learned because it really isn’t as hard as it looks. I was even able to throw in a bonus milk bath photoshoot afterwards!

Setting Up For Your DIY Cake Smash Photoshoot

For starters, you’ll want to find a well-lit spot for your cake smash session to happen. Things can get really messy, so make sure that it’s somewhere that you don’t mind getting dirty. Doing it on your carpet would not be wise unless you have a tarp or plastic tablecloth of some sort to protect it. I have a backdrop stand that I was planning to use, but as I had mentioned there was no time for such shenanigans! Because of this, I took a look around my home (which by the way, was dark because it was cloudy and not the day I planned to take the pictures originally) and then took a look outside. I realized that taking the pictures outside would not only provide me with a natural backdrop stand ( the fence around our deck) but also had much better lighting than there was inside the house.

Lighting for Your Cake Smash Photoshoot

On that note, let’s talk about lighting. If you’re taking pictures outdoors you’ll want to make sure you do it either in a shady area or during golden hour, which is when the sun is going down. Make sure you don’t take the pictures right in the blinding sun, as your baby will be very cranky with the sun in their eyes and the pictures really won’t come out so good.

For indoor photos, keep the session near a window or a large sliding screen door. You want to find a room with the best lighting at that time of day so that the pictures come out as magical as possible. If your room is dark, your pictures may turn out OK with a cell phone or on automatic mode. However, when you go to edit them you’ll notice that they came out pretty grainy. That’s because your camera is struggling to find the light within a dark room. So, to avoid that, always find the best, most well-lit area for your photo shoot.

Cake Smash Backdrop

Next up is the backdrop. There are tons of options for what you can use as a backdrop. On Amazon you can find backdrops that you can purchase for this purpose, but very often those are filled with wrinkles. Make sure you reserve some time to remove them with a steamer or an iron. Personally, I absolutely loathe trying to get wrinkles out of things, especially the deep folds that always ends up on backdrops. For this reason, I would recommend either using a rolled-up vinyl backdrop (which you probably wouldn’t know unless you read the Amazon reviews or asked how it was shipped) or a paper backdrop. I have these at home and love them. Just know that as the baby is moving, the paper may end up with wrinkles or folds. If you have a very active child, this may not be your best choice. Another option is to use some fabric that you purchased at the store. But, I think the best way to do it is to use a tablecloth! For my pictures, I used a sequin tablecloth that I had on hand and I covered it with a piece of tulle that I had left over from trying to make a wedding veil and used at Hailey’s half birthday party. The tablecloth was the perfect length for the backdrop and added a little sparkle, while the tulle kind of diffused the shine and created a more matte surface that was less reflective. To prevent the backdrop from moving, I used backdrop clips that I had on hand and attached them to my deck railing. Then at the bottom, I used blocks from Hailey‘s baby shower. The wind was blowing and everything was flying up, so you want to make sure that everything is stuck in place so you don’t have to worry about it while you’re shooting. An important note to make, make sure that whatever you use to hold up the top part of the backdrop is not heavy. If your baby moves or pulls the tablecloth, you don’t want it to come crashing down on their head. It’s for that reason that I used a clip, but you could probably also use some other sort of clip like a hair clip, although it wouldn’t work as well. You could probably also tired up in someway with a knot, but I recommend investing in a pair of these clips as they’re the most effective route and won’t fall down. 

Cake Smash Cake

I had gone to the grocery store and picked up a cake, but it had this very ugly dark purple icing all around the top edge. I bought it because I wasn’t sure if I would have time to find a better cake or make one, but I knew I didn’t want the cake to look like that. So, I went to my local home goods which is right next to the grocery store and picked up small cake pans. I wasn’t sure what I’d have time to do because I intended to do her photo shoot earlier in the week. However, since Hailey was so sick I had a few extra days to create the cake. I ended up making a strawberry cake and just used box cake and premade icing to cover it. I used a flat spatula to smooth out the edges so that it didn’t look totally horrible. While I was going to BJ’s looking for Hailey’s birthday party cake, I noticed that they actually have a lot of small “cake smash” cakes that actually come in a variety of colors. I managed to get a pink one for her party, but this is a great alternative if your grocery store only has hideous cakes like mine did.

Cake Smash Cake Topper

The cake topper was another funny part of it. You see, I was so concerned about having the right cake that I forgot all about the topper! So, I was scrambling around the attic looking for the right craft supplies to very quickly make my own cake topper while she was still in a good mood. This was, of course, before she started being very upset with me. I may do a blog post on how to create the cake topper I made, but overall it was really simple. I used wooden skewers, wood balls and a fringe embellishment/ribbon that went across it. Then I used wooden letters that I glued on to spell her name. To add a little more sparkle, I added some paper punched glitter card stock and put those on toothpicks. To be honest, the smaller sparkly stuff was totally unnecessary, so I’d recommend skipping it altogether. As soon as the baby starts eating a cake, hand over fist, you won’t want to pokey things in there and you’re going to remove them. I’d recommend picking one great topper or keeping it towards the front of the cake, letting them really feast on the cake towards the back.

Cake Smash- The Little Details

Now let’s talk about the little details. I went to her closet and picked out a dress for the shoot. I knew that my cake did not have any dyes, so I wasn’t too worried about it having a lot of staining. Either way, I figured that this is probably not something she would wear every day and wasn’t too concerned about it getting messed up. If you are worried, you can just do a tutu with a necklace on top or an affordable dress. Another option is to add a cute bib that will protect her dress or his little outfit, but also matches the theme. So anything about cake or it being the baby’s birthday is ideal. Then, I added a little hat that came with Hailey’s birthday party outfit. You can purchase a similar one on Amazon or Etsy, or you can make your own crown. I knew I wanted a little extra color in the photo shoot, since the background was just silver with that light peach overlay. So, I grabbed a tassel garland that I had left over from Hailey‘s half birthday party. I also attached the garland by sticking it under those backdrop clips so that everything was kept together nicely with no risk of falling. I put Hailey‘s cake on a plastic plate, because I was worried about her possibly knocking over a cakestand and breaking it. However, she actually was fairly tame the whole time and probably could’ve been fine with a glass plate. Use your discretion on that one!

DIY Cake Smash Photos

Now that your scene is all set up, it’s time to commence the cake smashing! All that’s left to do stick your little baby at the back of the cake, grab your camera and get ready to take pictures. I recommend taking all sorts of angles and distances. For example, you want to take a picture of the cake before I get smashed, a picture of the baby with the cake before they smash it (if you can!) and then a picture of their full body. After that, you want to get in on some details. The little hands grabbing at the cake, the little foot covered in icing and cake, and their little mouth. Take all sorts of angles and get in on those little details! This is how you would have a nice, well rounded session. Try to make your baby smile, but also acknowledge that they may just be so into eating the cake they don’t even bother to look up at you. For my shoot, it was difficult because as soon as she saw the cake she was happily eating, although she still mad at me for having ignored her. Because of that, her face is still a little bit blotchy from the crying and I feel like her eyes say it all.

How to Edit Cake Smash Photos

Once you’ve taken your photos it’s time to edit them! I always say it but I’ll say it again, the magic is in the editing! I really want to make sure that you take the time to go in and edit your pictures. Pick out your favorites, And load them into your favorite editing program. My favorite is Lightroom (or the LR app),but you can also use a ColorStory, Snapseed or PicMonkey. From there, you want to do things like lift the shadows, add some brightness, and increase the vibrancy (if you like your photos bright and colorful like I do!). Then you want to export them from there and save them into a folder on your computer somewhere you can easily access them in the future.

DIY Milk Bath Photoshoot

After the cake smash, you can also do a really cute cleanup session! Keep everything set up as it is, just add a milk bath and a few flowers, fruit, toys or rubber duckies. I used warm water and heavy cream to get a nice, milky bath without using a gallon of milk. We used her regular bathtub, but I would say that a round tub would probably be nicer. Then, I added a crown and placed her in the tub. At that point, I added in all my pre-sliced fruit (oranges and grapefruit) plus my flowers. I trimmed the stems and they floated nicely at the top of the water. The fruit was perfect because Hailey ate it while I took pictures. She LOVES citrus, especially lemons!

So, that’s all there is to it! It’s actually really simple to do a great DIY cake smash session with your baby. Even if you cannot hire a professional photographer, I think it’s really important to capture the special moments with your baby. If you’re interested in improving your pictures further, I have an extremely affordable class for moms so they can learn how to take professional photos of their baby. It’s called Dreamy Baby Photography and teaches you how to set up a great shoot, how to make sure you got the best lighting in your home or outside, and how to keep your baby happy. Additionally, I go over how you can sort your photos with ease and edit them in a flash. I’ll even teach you how to “copy and paste” your edits! You can find that right here.

How to Improve Your Photography on any Budget

Hey guys! It’s been a really exciting summer so far. I’m hard at work doing something I’m really passionate about- helping other bloggers, Etsy shops, and small business owners with their photography. As you may know, I struggled with my photography when I first started my business and I made it my mission to improve my photography in the easiest, cheapest and fastest way possible. You can check out the before and afters here to see for yourself!

As you probably know, having good photos is so important for your business. There are tons of options for stock photos out there, but nothing compares to having your own unique photos. This is especially true for most bloggers and shop owners, where it’s allll about the visuals! There are a lot of excuses that bloggers and business owners have about photography, but the reality is that photography doesn’t have to be complicated. If you develop a system, anyone can do it!

 To show you how true this is, I’ve created a 3 different offerings that will help you to improve your photography. They’re all super affordable, ranging from totally free to $149. Pick the option(s) that work best for you, and get those gorgeous photos online!

Starting Small

If your budget is non-existent but improving your photos is still important to you, I have a free e-course that you can take! This course is an introduction to photography and will teach you the very basics to take your photos to the next level. It goes over the basic principles of a good photo, and why it’s important for your business!

Cost: Free

Getting Some Guidance

If you’re just looking for a little bit of guidance on your photography, or to see if you’re headed on the right track, invest in an Instagram photography audit! I’ll take a look at your Instagram feed and let you know your strengths, weaknesses, and some recommendations to bring your A-game! Tons of businesses use Instagram as a marketing tool to get leads, clients, and sales. Now you can get some feedback and see if you’re on track with your goals.

Cost: $49

Become a Pro

If you’re looking to improve your photography pronto, look no further than Weekend Photo Academy. You’ll learn everything you need to improve your photos- lighting, composition, AND editing- within a short period, like a weekend! This is an online course, so you can take it any time at your own pace. But it doesn’t have any fluff, so you can learn what you need to know quickly and get back to your business. With step by step instructions, you’ll see immediate changes to your photography and editing process. Weekend Photo Academy is currently open for enrollment!

Only $149

No matter what your needs are, I can help you get your photography to the next level- quickly, easily, and affordably! Be sure to click the buttons above to get the photography service you need!

What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to taking your own photos? Is it lighting, editing, composition? Let me know in the comments below so I can help!

FREE Webinar: Picture Perfect Photos in Just 3 Days!

Update: The webinar has passed BUT I compiled all the info into a free photography e-course! Learn more below.

I’m stepping outside my comfort zone to drop a little knowledge on you guys- I’m teaching a LIVE one-hour webinar next week!

As you probably know, I struggled with my photography for years, trying to take professional quality photos and falling just short- or miles away- from the intended result. I did a whole lot of trial and error until finally I developed a system that worked for me- and it can work for you too!

Before perfecting my system, I was spending hours trying to get my photos to look good. First, I'd have to struggle with the lighting and battle my lamps. Then came uploading the photos and sorting them manually with either a notepad where I'd write the names of the best photos (IMG-346) or a system of "yes, no, maybe" folders where I'd sort the photos into the appropriate place, going back and forth trying to find the best ones. And then there was the editing process, where I would spend tons of time getting my photos "just right" but then have to go back and edit them again and again to make them all match. It wasn't a fun process, and I hated how long it took- and the fact that even when all of this was said and done, my photos STILL were not good enough. I was getting rejected from craft sites due to "grainy texture" and "awkward shadows" that I just didn't know how to fix.

At the end of 2016, I'd had enough. I could continue to wish that my photos would be better, and wait for enough success to hire a photographer... or I could do it myself. After all, tons of people took their own photos every day. I could too, right? I dug deep and found the easiest solutions to improve my photography. Taking photos was now quick, easy and FUN. It's been over a year since I developed this system, and it still works magically for me. So, I decided to share this knowledge! Starting with my free photography e-course, Picture Perfect Photos.

So, save yourself the time and hassle of trying to hack together a system that works, and give my proven system a try :) 

What you’ll learn:

This webinar will cover the very basics you need to learn to improve your photography. Things like...

• Photography Equipment and Editing Tools

• Finding Your Style (& Why It's Important)

• Depth of Field, Sharpness, and White Balance Basics

• Lighting Basics & Composition

• Editing Techniques & Basics That Take Your Photos from Meh to WOW

• How to Save Time on your Photography–and STILL Have Better Photos!

The main takeaway for this webinar will be how (and why!) creating a system for your blog/biz photography is THE way to go. Honestly, the amount of time you'll save and the improvement of your photos will truly be life changing! Imagine what you could do with more time AND better photos?!

Who it’s for:

Although this webinar will teach anyone the very basics they need to know to improve their photography, the content will be geared towards bloggers, Etsy shop owners and small business owners. However, if you’re looking to step up your Instagram game, this webinar will be helpful for you too! 

Although the webinar has a particular audience in mind, I think the skills are transferable for anyone who would like to improve their photos. Plus, it's totally free!

So, sign up for this webinar and you too can have better photos in a fraction of the time!