We have high standards for the photos we will accept because we
want your announcement to be beautiful! Getting a great shot is not as
easy as one might think .
Why only black and white? We want the final to be wonderful, and colors will often
conflict with the design colors, and it is tough to get a true match of skin
color, plus we love the classic elegant look of black and white, and we hope
you will too!
IMAGE/CAMERA QUALITY: Photos from a high mega pixel digital camera
only (scans will only be accepted if the original picture is of excellent quality
and scanned at a min. of 300 dpi) Please take the photo in color, and we will
convert to black and white.
CAMERA SETTINGS: The camera MUST be set to the very highest setting
BEFORE you take your picture, in order to provide the quality of picture we
can use. The pixels should be close to 1600X1200 (1200X680 only if a very
good picture). If you are not familiar with "pixels", no problem, just make sure
the camera is on the highest setting, and the image is not re-sized. The
(print) quality setting should be in the menu section of your camera.
Now that your camera settings are ready for you to take your
photo, you should set aside some time to for your baby's "photo
shoot".
These important photo pointers will guide you in achieving a photo that we
can use to create a beautiful birth announcement featuring your baby:
CLOTHING: Your baby's clothing should be light colored and not an
overly busy pattern.
BACKGROUND: Make sure that the "backdrop" is not cluttered, busy,
dark, or a strong pattern (patterned couch, busy background, etc.) A
light backdrop is important, not only for the overall picture quality and
feel, but your camera will want to focus on any pattern or object it sees,
and the focus may very well end up not being on your baby. Try draping
a light colored blanket, towel, or sheet, over a couch, bed, changing
table; maybe place a pillow behind the baby if on the bed, and drape
the blanket over the pillow, creating a light backdrop. If someone is
holding the baby during the photo shoot, you can drape a blanket over
them as well; sometimes putting a blanket over a highchair or stroller
and then snuggling your baby in, allows your baby to be slightly
propped (even especially cute if your baby is snoozing), and allows the
surroundings to be light. Remember to keep the majority of the camera
frame in your "photo shot zone". The goal is to have a light colored
neutral backdrop so that it does not interfere with the true star of the
photo - your baby!
FOCUS: MOST important! Pick a focal part on the face, eyes
(eyelashes) are best, lips are great too, and make sure the camera is
sharply focused on this part of the face, before you snap the picture.
Keep trying until you get a crisp focus, if your baby keeps moving, try
again when he/she is sleeping. We know achieving the focus on the
face, and not the blanket or arm, etc, can be difficult, but don't give up!
Your picture needs to have the focus on the facial features or it will not
print well, and you will be so happy you stuck with it! We promise!
LIGHTING: Natural light is ideal, but if you are inside, you will need to
use a flash in order the get a sharply focused, well-lit image (poor
lighting is the number one problem for being unable to achieve a sharp
focused picture, and producing grainy, dull images). Remember, when
using a flash, there IS such thing as getting too close, so it is better to
use your zoom lens and step back just a little so the flash does not
wash out the baby's face.
ZOOM IN: If you want a closer final image, rule of thumb is that the
image you provide should crop about mid-torso, providing enough room
around the head so that we have some room to crop, this will ensure
you are not too close. Leaving room around the baby is important, each
individual design requires us to crop the image in a particular way.
However, beware of being too far away, if you are, then when we crop,
your baby's features will be grainy. Please, let us crop your image. If
you have special requirements about how you would like your photo
cropped, just provide them in the body of the email when you send your
photo.
VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL: If you haven't selected the card you
want, then take the photo with horizontal orientation(holding your
camera traditionally); however, if you have selected your card, you may
want to look at the image in the card, and copy the layout (if it is shown
with a vertically favored photo, you should take it vertically (holding your
camera sideways)); or you can email us and ask what type of photo is
best for your design choice.
AWAKE OR ASLEEP?: Usually the very best result is a sleeping baby,
often with a flash, there will be a lot of light reflection on the eyes and/or
red eye. A sleeping baby usually means a still baby and you can get a
close up, sharply focused picture of the baby's facial features, and this
is the goal. A baby's face is usually more relaxed and natural when they
are sleeping (and the parent's are too!). We do highly recommend
taking a photo of a sleeping baby. We can also work with "less then
perfect" images if the baby's eyes are closed. If you really want your
baby's eyes open, make sure that your baby is not looking directly at
the camera, and that you are not overly close to the baby.
SENDING YOUR PHOTO: Now that you have captured that perfect shot,
how do you send it to us? Please send your RAW image; this means send
the image directly from your camera, without any editing or re-sizing, which
generally means you can by-pass your photo software. Your best result is to
download the image from your camera, to your desktop and then attach that
image to an email and send. This is your best bet to make sure you do not
accidentally send the "thumbnail" version (small size). * If your picture is not
on your camera and already in a file in your image software, just make sure
you are selecting the option that ensures you are sending the original size
image. WE WILL CONVERT to black and white, and we will crop.
* Please remember that your printed image can only be as good as the
picture you provide, and we will need to reject photos that are not printable
quality. Printing onto card stock and not photo paper, is a less "forgiving"
media, and is a softer effect. The elegance of printing on cotton paper is
wonderful and much more traditional and elegant than photo paper, it does
mean that because the image is softer in the final card, the original we begin
with needs to have a clean sharp focus. We print with ink, and not toner; we
do not use laser printers (toner based), but instead print with professional
grade photo printers, which print with ink, for that maximum print quality feel.
