OS Christmas Support thread & timetable

Sallys_Savings

I babysat for my niece yesterday and have taken lots and lots of photos. (She's 4 months old and gorgeous)

Well I had seen all the lovely calendars that are made (Anne Geddes)...the ones with babies in flower pots etc...and intend creating my own version for my brother and sister in law for christmas.
I have done this a couple of times before and I have been really pleased with the results.
Keep an eye on the background though......not a good idea to have a christmas shot done in the garden with the summer flowers . If you want a plain background either use curtains/fabric draped or as i have done used a plain blind that I have just hooked up on the wall. A background of plain shrubs in the garden is good too. Also dont forget what they are on....white towels are good..or sheets.

Depending on how often you are able to take photos depends on what sort of calendar to make up...either one that has shots on when you go out places etc which would take all year or one you wish to make up in one sitting.

With my neice I have done them all in one day I did have my teenage daughter help me with her, but we had all the props etc ready to use.

I've just been through the pics and I have some great shots (makes me sound professional lol but I'm not). I just took so many photos (took 10/20 of the same position) I was bound to come out with a few good ones lol
Take lots of close ups, different angles etc.

I think as long as you have some good ideas you can create some really lovely photos. I took a look in the library, internet (anne Geddes) and the calenders in the shops too for ideas.

I've made some photos black and white, some sepia etc....just on the normal photo programme.

Heres a few examples of what I have taken...obviously it would depend on the age of the child/baby to what you would do.

Lots of the photos are either in the nude/just a nappy (I think a terry nappy looks really cute)/simple white all in one vest/jeans and white t shirt etc. etc.


1. Make a pile of white towels and lay the baby on the top

2. on an outstretched hand.

3. In a flower pot.

4. Amongst a group of teddies

5. Wearing a rudolf ears/santa hat

6. For May I made a mini wooden pole with ribbons coming off and sat her beneath it amongst the pile of ribbons hanging. (I had lots of ribbons already but could use florist)

7. June - I brought some strawberries smeared a few around the face and put a basket with just one fruit left in it.

4. November - made a simple fancy dress costume of a firework...tube of paper/card around body (get child to decorate if old enough) and make a cone hat for the top with pretend sparks flying off

5. October - dress up in outfits...pumpkins etc

6. October - Photograph sitting on a pumpkin

7. December - The obvious christmas fancy dress ...angel, f christmas etc.

8. Easter bunny for April

9. Make a prop of easter eggs/fluffy toys relevant to easter

10. For a summer pic, sit them in a sand pit with a bucket and spade (uumm I actually popped to a friends for this pic)

11. January ..New Year....Party streamers and party hat with an empty bottle

12. Photo with a computer and keyboard (for my brother who is always on the computer)

13. Sitting with a huge workboot (the bigger boot the better) or if they're old enough wearing the work boot.

14. I have a great photo with my neice just laying on the floor (cushion under chest to pull her up a bit) and a cotton blanket draped over her head and her just peeping out.

15. Bring in a pile of leafs (pick them and let them dry out if its not really autumn) and sit them in the centre.

16. Its my sister in laws birthday in August so on that month I have my neice sitting in a huge box which is wrapped in birthday paper and a ribbon

17. With a pet?...even if its a rabbit lol

18. In a baby bath

20. I quickly sewed a basic bikini for my neice and sat her under a sun umbrella with a huge pair of sunglasses. (which she took off but the shots with her holding them are just as good too)

21. Another one that I've seen is with a huge straw hat on and a set of white beads and a nappy (looked great when they are about 8 months onwards in black and white.

22. Really cute if they are just wrapped in a blanket (swaddled)

23. If old enough let them loose with an icecream wearing just a nappy/swimming costume.

...........oops I've rambled on a bit.

Just wanted to say if you've got the time to make a few props etc. you can make some really good shots....obviously not the photographers standard but still fun anyway.

moggins

It's a nice idea but I wouldn't advocate taking a nude photograph of someone else's child in this day and age, I have one of my DD1 (who is now 22) when she was a baby but I wouldn't have dreamed of taking one of DD2 who was born 16 years later.

CAFCGirl

moggins wrote:

It's a nice idea but I wouldn't advocate taking a nude photograph of someone else's child in this day and age, I have one of my DD1 (who is now 22) when she was a baby but I wouldn't have dreamed of taking one of DD2 who was born 16 years later.

I can understand the sentiment there, but its awful to think that this is what the world has come to........:mad:

surely as long as areas are covered, theres not a big problem?

Sallys_Savings

Gosh,...I do not what you mean it is so sad that you do need to be this way.

My neice is only a few months old...but then you hear about unspeakable things happening to even that age

Best to keep at least a nappy on

MoneySavingSapphire_:D

I think that if you know which way the parents will take it then it's fine... understandable with non family but so sad that people feel like that nowadays. I understand why though, of course, but...:( Nice idea!

Went into Cancer Research today and bought a simple little wooden jewellery box for £1 that I'm going to decorate for my sister (maybe for her bday in October actually...), three lovely whisky glasses for £1.50 to go with my nan's flavoured whisky (that I'm going to start making in the next week or so - once I've been paid!) and a basket for 75p for random basket-pressies!
Have seen a beautiful basket, proper sort of red-ridin-hood style, that I really want for my nan's present. It's £6.99, so I think I'll buy it come paydy, but I'd like to find a cheaper one! I want to spend money on my nan while I can, so don't begrudge spending of course, but the cheaper things are the more I can get!!

LizD_2

I've started on a scarf (practice one, so better get cracking). Will give my Mum one and set of novels from The Book People. My Dad and Brother will get some sort of embellished wooden boxes for fly-tying bits and bobs.
OH sorts out his side, but I'm working on a cross-stitch picture for our niece, which was meant to be last year's present, but wasn't ready!
I have a book for one of my friends, but not sure about the others. OH is a bit of a nightmare, although i did suggest we make each other something, as we're getting married in April and money's a bit tight!

Think i'll cook some things, I'd like to make it a cosy Xmas, just the two of us (and the Guinea Pigs)

QueenB.

I am getting a little stressed, everywhere i look i am seeing sales and some good deals that would be great to put away either in the pressie box or for the kids chrimbo pressies.

But i don't have anytime to really have a good rummage and i certainly can't buy anything i see as everywhere i go i am followed by all 3 kids:rolleyes: The idea of all those bargains so close yet so far is really frustrating but i suppose it can't be helped.

The problem is that i am sure by the time they all go back to school all the sales will either have ended or will be winding down with only rubbish left:mad:

As for the calender idea i have decided to one for my IL and my parents but i will only be using normal pics as i have plenty of those and it will make it quicker and easier. But next year i will be doing the seasonal idea, with a single pic on the month of each childs birthday as a little reminder;)

LizD_2

QueenB. wrote:

I am getting a little stressed, everywhere i look i am seeing sales and some good deals that would be great to put away either in the pressie box or for the kids chrimbo pressies.

But i don't have anytime to really have a good rummage and i certainly can't buy anything i see as everywhere i go i am followed by all 3 kids:rolleyes: The idea of all those bargains so close yet so far is really frustrating but i suppose it can't be helped.

The problem is that i am sure by the time they all go back to school all the sales will either have ended or will be winding down with only rubbish left:mad:

As for the calender idea i have decided to one for my IL and my parents but i will only be using normal pics as i have plenty of those and it will make it quicker and easier. But next year i will be doing the seasonal idea, with a single pic on the month of each childs birthday as a little reminder;)

Could you leave the children with relatives or pack them off to friends' houses? Surely they want things to do?!

QueenB.

LizD wrote:

Could you leave the children with relatives or pack them off to friends' houses? Surely they want things to do?!

Unfortunately there is no one who can take them and i have kept them busy with lots of fun things all summer, this week has been a bit different as we have been getting all the bits for school, which is thankfully all done tomorrow so i am taking them off somewhere nice for them behaving so well.

judi24

Help needed please! I need ideas for cheap prezzies for 3nephews aged 16, 12 and 6. They are my ex husband nephews but my kids like to give them something. I never know what to buy cos we live far away and i don't know what they're into.
this year i am realy trying to keep costs down so any cheap or homemade suggestions would be good.