One of the most important things to remember is to set your camera onto one of it's highest settings.

Whilst taking photos at a lower resolution are great for sending via email, this is about all they are good for. If you ever needed to enlarge your photo you may end up with a grainy enlargement. Most computers these days come with some sort of photo editing software making it easy to reduce the filesize of a photo if need be.

Remember, its easier to reduce the filesize of a large photo rather than enlarging the filesize of a small photo, you'll lose quality.

When we take photos we set our camera to auto focus, we like to let the camera do most of the thinking and the auto focus gives us the ability to shoot fast and often without having to focus each shot. Whilst we can do some pretty magical things with your photos a blurry photo will always be just that, a blurry photo.

Don't worry too much about your background as we can take care of that for you, however you may like to find a simple background, anything uncluttered, perhaps up against a blank wall, sitting on the floor or on a chair or lounge, perhaps even outside on the grass.

Lighting

Try to avoid shooting directly into your light source. If you are taking photos outside place your subject with the sun behind and to the side of them usually works well.

Sometimes taking photos in the early morning or the late afternoon make for the best photography, the sun can be less harsh.

Taking Photos

Take as many photos as you can from all different angles, capturing as many moods as possible. You'll have alot more to pick from when you have finished and the more options you have the better. Even some of the funniest faces that have been pulled or tears of frustration can lead towards a wonderful story being told through your invitation or announcement.

The most flattering of photos are usually taken from slightly above your subject or having their face turned at an angle.

Get down to their level, kneel on the floor if you have too rather than standing over your subject looking down.

Dont worry about zooming in, or framing that perfect shot. Try taking your photos from at least three different angles, a portrait head and shoulders shot, a full body shot and a funny angle shot.

Tips for making children laugh or smile

Get your child involved, tell them you are taking photos for their invitations and want to make them special. If you have chosen a themed invitation help your child get into character. Tell them to imagine themselves as a pirate, or holding a fairy in cupped hands. We've had little girls jumping around the lounge room in their fairy outfits trying to catch the little fairies flying around. We've had little boys pretending they are pirates for their pirate themed parties. Kids have the most wonderful imaginations so try and work with them.

Have someone to help you and have a ball handy. Whilst your ready to take photos have the other person pretend to throw the ball at the child for them to catch and catch it before they do, turning it into a fun tease game of "can you catch the ball".

Use a squeaker toy to make a noise so that a baby will turn their head towards the noise.

Have someone standing directly behind the camera person or to the side encouraging the child to smile, giggle or laugh.

Try pulling funny faces or making funny noises. Remember its not a video so you can be as silly as you can with no evidence!!

Make a silly puppet out of a sock.

Instead of getting them to say the traditional "Cheese" try getting them to say something funny like "Daddy has smelly feet!!"

For some reason whoopy cushions always seem to go down a treat with 5 - 10 year old boys.

Don't worry too much about being a photographer and getting that "great" shot. The great part about our invitations or announcements is that we can use "your" photos and enhance them to suit our designs.

Besides in the past our invitations have been created without offering any advice and we have created wonderful results from all of your photos.

Ooh and don't forget to have fun, remember this moment should be special as it is is the start of a great party!!