For the first Christmas after my first child was born, my husband bought me a digital camera. After years of developing film and not knowing what to expect, and having the occasional roll of film lost, it was a pleasure to switch to digital. It's so nice being able to preview and edit photos, and I can't forget how great it is to be able to delete the shots where one of the kids has a finger up their nose or someone has been accidentally positioned so that it looks like a tree is growing from the top of their head.
Another child and four years later, we have thousands of photos burned to disk and it's fun to look back at them, but one thing is abundantly clear.
I am no photographer.
It's definitely nice to have pictures of the kids doing everyday things, and to capture important events like preschool field trips and holidays. But for good quality, flattering, frame-worthy photos, that's something I need to go to a professional for. I've had the kids at a chain portrait studio before and the pictures were great and the staff was great. But you can only get so many shots in the fifteen minutes they allot you, and for really unique photos, it's best to have a photographer come to you.
When a photographer comes to you, you are able to get unique photos in a location of your choosing, in a relaxed atmosphere without time limits. You could even hold your photo shoot outdoors and get some shots that you won't find in a photo studio.
I'm pleased to be able to offer one lucky reader such an opportunity.
Kate at Katushka Prints and I have teamed up, and one commenter will win a photo session with her.
In addition to photographing kids, Kate is also available for weddings and special occasions. Visit her website for details on pricing and packages.
Another child and four years later, we have thousands of photos burned to disk and it's fun to look back at them, but one thing is abundantly clear.
I am no photographer.
It's definitely nice to have pictures of the kids doing everyday things, and to capture important events like preschool field trips and holidays. But for good quality, flattering, frame-worthy photos, that's something I need to go to a professional for. I've had the kids at a chain portrait studio before and the pictures were great and the staff was great. But you can only get so many shots in the fifteen minutes they allot you, and for really unique photos, it's best to have a photographer come to you.
When a photographer comes to you, you are able to get unique photos in a location of your choosing, in a relaxed atmosphere without time limits. You could even hold your photo shoot outdoors and get some shots that you won't find in a photo studio.
I'm pleased to be able to offer one lucky reader such an opportunity.
Kate at Katushka Prints and I have teamed up, and one commenter will win a photo session with her.
In addition to photographing kids, Kate is also available for weddings and special occasions. Visit her website for details on pricing and packages.
To enter this giveaway, leave a comment below and tell me what sort of experience you have had with photographing your children. This contest will be open for one week and I will choose and notify a winner on Friday, June 26, 2009. Please note, I must have a valid email address to contact you! If you don't wish to leave your contact information in the comments section, feel free to email me at greatwallsofbaltimore (at) yahoo (dot) com, but you must also leave a comment. This contest is only open to residents in Central Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.KATUSHKA PRINTS Photography GIVEAWAY
LUCKY WINNER WOULD RECEIVE:
**Photography session of up to 2 children (or parent and child) at a mutually agreed upon location of your choosing in the Maryland (Central), Northern Virginia or DC.
**At least 2 hours of Photographer's time......if we are getting some great shots, then we will keep going. :-)
**Photographs captured digitally with all Nikon equipment.
**Prints included - 1 8x10, 2 5x7 or 5x8s, and 15 4x6 pictures - chosen by you.
**25% coupon off your next booked photo session.
**If you are the lucky winner of this giveaway and want to have more than 2 people photographed during this session, there would be an additional charge of $25/per person.
Kate also sells prints of her landscape and scenery photographs. You can view them on her website.If you aren't the lucky winner of this contest, you can still score a great deal, because Kate has offered to extend a 20% discount to all interested families. Just mention this website when you make your appointment.
Good luck!
EDITED 6/26/09: Congrats to Mary@Notbefore7! She's the lucky winner of ther Katushka Prints prize package. Mary is expecting her fourth child anyday now, and I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of her tiny new one with her older kids. Congratulations!
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26 comments:
So I am commenting - enter me enter me :) But wondering can you pay extra for the other 2 kids to join in???
duh...just saw the last "rule"...thx.
OK, forgive my pregnant brain and contracting body, let me try this again. (thank goodness I am #1 on this so you can just begin from here down)
I just got myself a new SLR digital camera and began experimenting, but have had digital since babies came. In the past I have invested more time in some good video editing, but am getting into photography.
As for pros taking shots, I have only used the mall places for that.
I bring my camera with me everywhere. I got into this habit in college and then sort of lost it for a while. And when my son was born, it came right back. I try to capture the good, the bad, the ugly with my son. I have gotten some great shots but nothing is the same as a pro!
Great work, love it!
what a great give away! please enter me;) great write up, great photos!
We bought a digital slr before the baby was born and try to bring it with us often! We are trying to do a better job getting photos outside of the house, but have very few of us parents in front of the camera!
jaimezollars (@) yahoo.com
I am definitely the enthusiastic photo taker in the family now. I love trying to capture the new expressions, the chaos, the special days, the normal every day days. What that means is that there are waaaay more pictures of my son with his papa, his grandpapa, his aunts, etc. than there of him and me :( I learned very quickly that out of the gajillion photos that I take with my digital camera, only a few are really special and worthy of being printed. I borrowed a book from the library, "How to Photograph Your Baby" by Kelsh and tried to copy some of his suggested techniques... I still think only about 1 out of every 20-30 pictures ends up being the really cute, special, good one! Maybe I need an SLR, maybe I just don't have that photographer's eye - maybe I just need to take 2 gajillion photos and I will get better. I keep a folder called the "top 10" and put photos that I really like in that folder - it has been fun to go through those and I find that when it comes time to print or make a gift, I find that it is easier than browsing through the endless other photos that I have saved!
count me in the contest also! i think parents are all in the boat of not being in pictures until the little ones can hold still for the self timer to go-off. or passersby are available...
I am a stepmother of two boys 12 & 17 and am expecting my first child. I am currently three months pregnant and think it would be wonderful to have pics of the baby in my belly. I am an avid picture taker and have many pictures of my stepsons, husband, & family. I love going back and looking at the pictures which bring back so many memories of the past.
Heather
just purchased a canon eos xsi with a cheap portrait lens. finally getting the image quality i want. the bokeh is amazing and effortless with right equipment. having lots of fun practicing.
I love looking at pictures of our daughter, but the problem is she loves to be on the move and thinks it is hysterical to run away laughing and looking so beautiful, but in the opposite direction of where I am with my camera! It would be wonderful to have an opportunity where someone with natural talent could photograph her! Thank you for the chance to enter
i'm an avid photographer but can never get the shot i want of my son - too squirmy i guess! thanks for sharing this opportunity!
I've been taking tons of pictures since my twin boys were born last May, I still take at least a couple a day. Out of these hundreds (thousands?)of pictures I have a handful of both of them that actually looks good. It's been a real challenge getting both of them to look into the camera at the same time and to have both smile - forget about it! :-)
Thank you for the opportunity!
I'm 4 weeks away from my due date of officially becoming a mom. I'm looking forward to using not only our digital camera but also our new HD digital video camera for capturing baby's tiny moments and the little things in life. It might be ambitious but I have this little plan in my mind that I'm going to take at least one photo of her every day so that I can see how she grows and changes over time.
Thanks for including me in the contest for the photo shoot! I'd love to get some incredible newborn photos once she arrives.
kkmtong at yahoo dot com
My daughter always comes straight for the camera when I get it out - which means I have lots of pictures of about 1/4 of her face, usually an eye or her mouth!
I have 2 young daughters and a husband that thinks he can take professional photos. He does & can take great pictures. However... after our last photo shoot where we took 3 dozen photos and not one has both girls smiling & looking at the camera, I think I have a good case for hiring a professional.
Definitely enter me!
You know how much I like to take picture, just check out my blog! I ALWAYS have a camera with me, and I can get some good shots, but I usually end up with trash in the background or something like that! I'm planning on making an album that's Kylie's Fashion Book, because when she was a baby I took a picture of her in EVERY new outfit she wore, and she wore a new one just about every day!!! I've definately got thousands of pictures, but not too many great ones!
Missy - mdmoonstar@aol.com
We keep talking about getting a family photo shoot, but for some reason keep putting it off. This sounds lovely!
Please enter me in this great contest! I try to bring my camera around with me in my diaper bag as much as possible, so I can be ready for great kodak moments! I love to take casual, candid shots of my daughter. I have another baby on the way, due this summer. I am excited to hopefully have some great photos taken of him and our growing family.
I'll admit it......I have a photography obession! I am totally addicted to taking pictures and printing pictures! My husband thinks I'm crazy!!! My obession has only gotten worse since the birth of my precious daughter twelve weeks ago! The poor child probably thinks the camera is my third hand!! There is just something so special about that one captured moment....it's a moment in time to help you remember those little baby wrinkles or that first smile....truly priceless!!
The last time I took my kids to the mall to have their photos taken was an absolute nightmare. In fact, our 15 minutes was up and we were asked to leave and reschedule because the photographer was unable to get even one decent shot. If Collin was smiling Nick was melting down and if Nick was having a brief moment of calm, Collin was busy finding something else to do. I left frustrated and embarrassed and have never gone back. I take pictures everywhere and of everything because I love to scrapbook. I have layouts of completely ordinary unimportant things because I was able to get a cute picture of the kids. But a photographer I am not. I can get a shot good enough for a Christmas card but the kind you hang on the wall requires knowledge and skills that I just don't have. The last time I had pictures taken we used a professional and they turned out great. It was a lot of candid stuff that captured my kids personality in a way the stores at the mall just don't have the time or desire to do. The whole experience was great and I would definitely recommend using a professional rather than the mall unless you have the most tame and photogenic kid on the planet.
I confess - I have not had any pictures printed of my 1 year old son. The pictures from Jan to current are living on my camera. The others are dumped on my husband's computer waiting for me to "have more time". People ask to see pictures and my only option is to whip out the cellphone pictures. Oh the graininess.
I too dread the mall portrait studio. I would love to have professional shots by a "real" photographer, I just can never seem to plan ahead! I've been dabbling with the settings on my DSLR to try to take better photos of my kids, but I'm still learning. I'd LOVE to win a real portrait session for my beautiful girls! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
katy at passionspice.com
I leave every mall portrait session dripping with sweat and exhausted...
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