Photo-Canvas.com Giveaway and Backyard Photo Shoot Tips and Tricks

GIVEAWAY HAD ENDED.

Check out the Backyard Photo Shoot

Tips and Tricks below!

I love photos..and the walls of our house

are covered with them!

So I'm really excited to be teaming up

with Photo-Canvas.com for a Giveaway!

You have the chance to win a *30x40 cm* Canvas Print

*regular canvas, make your own montage canvas, Colour Splash or Message Canvas

I'm ordering a large canvas from them and can't wait to get it!

I really wanted to take some "professional" photos of the girls to use for the canvas..

but we are busy...and they are wild..

so I had to do a 2.5 minute backyard photo shoot to get some shots to pick from!

I am going to use the canvas at the girls' vintage circus party on the gift table..

then hang it up, after the party, in their shared bedroom!

Here are my 2 favorites.. I think I'll use the second one..What do you think??

Enter to win your own canvas from Photo-Canvas.com

and then check out below my

Backyard Photo Shoot Tips and Tricks

to get your own great photos to use on their site!

HOW TO ENTER:

GOOD LUCK! 

YOU CAN ENTER UP TO 6 TIMES!

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment for each entry

(with an e-mail if you don't have a google profile or blog)

1. Follow The Busy Budgeting Mama via Google Connect (top right sidebar)

2. Like Photo-Canvas.com on Facebook

3. Like The Busy Budgeting Mama on Facebook

4. Follow The Busy Budgeting Mama via Twitter

@thebusybudgetingma

5. Tweet "I want to win a canvas from Photo-Canvas.com

on TheBusyBudgetingMama.com! http://bit.ly/TddjZD @busybudgetingma"

6. Post about the Giveaway 

(Facebook or Blog.. Just include Link in comment)

The Giveaway will end on Sunday, August 12th at noon.

A winner will be chosen via random.org

I will announce the winner on my blog the evening of August 12th.

The winner will be contacted via e-mail(if left)!

Thank you for entering and good luck!!

I'm no expert photographer..

but I AM a Mom that likes to take photos

of my two fast moving children.

So here are my tips and tricks for getting photos

of your kids to frame and love forever!

My Backyard Photo Shoot Supplies:

--Oversized Lollipops.....Oriental Trading.com

--White matching dresses (that make them look angelic).....Target

--Camera......DSLR Canon Rebel T1i

1. Be mentally prepared that you most likely

will get them to sit down for 3.5 minutes..or less.

I don't care what other people tell you..if you are by yourself..with no one waving their hands or making funny faces behind you...you will have a limited amount of time before mutiny happens.

2. Have them sit in the Shade for good lighting..

Shade makes it so they aren't squinting.. and there is no harsh lighting.

Having them sit together helped contain them in an up-close shot..

which was what I was wanting.

2. Come bearing gifts. Or huge lollipops.

Bribery WORKS. and it's something they can hold...a "cute" distraction.

Use a prop of choice.. I had ordered a bunch of these from Oriental Trading.com for their birthday party.. and since I'm using these photos initially at the gift table It made sense to have the lollipops in the photos. I love a good theme throughout a space. :)

3. CAMERA: Know your camera and if all else fails..

use both Auto AND Manual mode..

and snap shots, FAST, look later.

GASP!!! I know... auto??! that's like the biggest no no of them all..

but for me.. I don't always have time to change my settings with these speedy little ones.

so If I need to grab shots quick..and the lighting is AWESOME..

I use auto. It's fail proof.. for the most part.

I edit my photos in Photoshop..so I can tweak them to make them just the way I want.

Would I prefer to always use manual? yes. and most of the time I do. But for a moment like this...I didnt' want to take a chance. So I took a bunch with auto..then a bunch with manual.

**I use canon rebel t1i**

4. Don't expect both children to be smiling at the same time.

I actually love the photo below..because it is totally their personalities at some moments.

It captures them..and those can make the best photos!

Sometimes if you say "cheese!"...you get a scary plastered against a window smile..

Sophie has given me plenty of those....haha.. so sometimes I'll say..hug your sister!! or "oooo lollipop!!"..and that gets them to react in a cute way and I snap away.

5. Just go with it and realize you probably

look/sound silly to people passing by.

I think the neighbors walking their dog probably thought I was insane.

I think my voice went up a few octaves for this photo shoot.. glad it only lasted 2.5 minutes.

I would have scared myself. But being silly can get super cute faces!

Be goofy..and you'll get better results..more natural kid faces.

this one below of sophie is SOO sophie. :)

I think that this is an obvious one.. but thought it should make the list.

Can't wait to share photos of how I used my large canvas at their party..

Enter the Giveaway up to 6 times and win your own canvas!

Good luck!