I just realized I never blogged this week's photo contest winner. This is Jacob, 8 months, taken by his mother Stephanie Z. Stephanie definitely set the bar high for our contest, not that it's a bad thing!
It's been wonderful to see all the submissions, all the babies in goodmama diapers, and the love their parents have for them as they photograph them.
It's also been great to see how the photos has improved as everyone has tried to follow the photo tips that Jessica has provided. Even if they don't win the contest, there are lots of mamas who are becoming better photographers and making some beautiful photos of their children, and that alone is pretty cool.
This next photo was such a close second for me, I had to post it here. This is Elisabeth, 30 months old, taken by her mother Katie. Elisabeth was one of my diaper testers, so I have a special place in my heart for her. She is wearing a diaper I personally made. Unfortunately I don't have any more of that fabric -- I believe it was a Baby Lulu print. Another tester, whose username on Flickr is Talula Fairie had a photo of that diaper and I actually received an email from someone asking me if I could make her a Talula diaper. I wish I could! If I got a roll of that fabric, I would call it the Talula diaper.
This photo is different from the first. There is no one set thing we are looking for, but we are looking for quality photographs that convey the love for the child and the goodmama lifestyle. I want to feel something when I see your photo.
I am not a professional photographer, I don't even use a SLR for the photos I take for the store. My greatest advice would be to use natural light. Turn off the flash. It would not be too far for me to say if a photo was taken with the flash from the camera, it probably won't win. The more natural light you can fill the frame with, the better.
Also, afterwards adjusting your levels and curves are super helpful. In levels, just pull the right side in until there is no flat line left, and maybe a little bit on the left too. (Don't you love my technical explanations?) Curves are trickier. I was taught to fiddle with that diagonal line and pull the top right side up a little and the bottom left side down (so it looks like a sideways S). This needs to be done carefully. Nothing is worse than a photograph that looks like it was butchered by photoshop. :-D
Like I said, I am not a pro, but I will share a photo of my daughter Hazel from when she was about five months old. Technically this is not perfect and looking at it a little more dispassionately I would say it could use some careful blurring of the edge of the blanket so it is not so distracting.
Still, it's a super sweet image. Wasn't she beautiful? *sigh*
This photo also demonstrates my utter and complete love for all things wool.
That reminds me. I have had a crap-tacular week so far, which tonight included my husband not realizing what time he had to be home so the much-needed massage I had scheduled had to be REscheduled. I'm trying not to pout but really? I took to my bed like an old woman and demanded not to be disturbed. Everyone needs cave time, right?
Oh that and I'm going to knit. Knitting is my Great Escape. It used to be the gym, and I still wish it was because I am what you would call flabby thin. Too bad I hate the cold so much. Anyway, if you are on Ravelry, I'm wyckhurst there. Friend me and tell me you saw me here.
