Monday, September 5, 2011

:REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Don't Say Cheese from Ella Publishing [CONTEST CLOSED]

What is the most personal element that you can add to any scrapbook layout?

Photos, of course!

Isn't it all of our wonderful moments and memories caught on film that got us wrapped up in this wonderful hobby of scrapbooking, after all?

Well, I don't know one scrapbooker that doesn't strive to make the most of their photos and Ella Publishing has a great new eBook available to offer you all the tips and tricks you need to really make your photos shine called Don't Say Cheese! written by family and children's photographer Rebecca Cooper.


Description from Ella:
In Ella's longest eBook to date, Rebecca Cooper is back with a new photography guide that's all about taking photos of kids. This 52-page downloadable eBook is packed with 247 tips, tricks, and ideas to help you capture your children's real smiles and authentic expressions—images that show who they really are (and go far beyond asking a child to just "say cheese").

Drawing on Rebecca's years of professional experience with little kids' photography, this eBook is divided into sections specifically for children, toddlers, babies, and newborns. With all this, plus the bonus Photo Games and Checklists section, you'll be capturing real smiles in no time at all—and having a great time with your kids along the way. Save the cheese for your pizza and try Rebecca's tips for photographing children instead!

Here's a few pages to give you an idea of all the wonderful ideas (and photo samples) inside:




There are five sections: Natural Newborn Photos, Beautiful Baby Photos, Terrific Toddler Photos, Authentic Kid Photos and Photo Games & Checklists.

Each section starts out with an amazing list of tips and tricks and is followed by an array of amazing sample photos. Each sample photo include a "How I Got the Shot" commentary from the author and specific camera specs.

At the end, there are four checklists of 25 shots to take of your kids...one for each season!

GIVEAWAY:
I have a free copy of Don't Say Cheese! to give away to one lucky reader. Simply leave a comment answering the following question by 5 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, September 8, 2011 and you'll be entered for a chance to win.

Do you have difficulty getting natural expressions out of your photo subjects? Do you have any tried and true technique for getting a 'keeper'?

Random.org will choose and I'll announce the winner on Friday.

GOOD LUCK!!
:REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Don't Say Cheese from Ella Publishing [CONTEST CLOSED]SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
Posted by Jill Marie Paulson at 6:41 AM
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katie b's avatar - Go to profile

katie b · 708 weeks ago

The minute I pick up the camera my son (and most everyone else in my family) goes into "pose" mode. Unnatural grins and overly dramatic stances. I would love to get those natural shots of everyday but it just doesn't seem in the cards. I don't have a tried and true method for getting keepers. I have just gotten to the point where I scrap goofiness as the way of our lives.
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Melinda Wilson's avatar

Melinda Wilson · 708 weeks ago

I totally agree with Katie's comment above. There are times the "pose" mode is fine but so many times I just want a more natural pose so I have to walk around with my camera in my hand a lot at events and usually will get a few of these.
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kimberly · 708 weeks ago

I always have a hard time getting natural shots from my daughter. She is a teenager and instantly poses or hides from the camera. The only nature shots I continue to get of her is sleeping and she hates that... lol.
thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to win this eBook.
Kimberly
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royce's avatar - Go to profile

royce · 708 weeks ago

nice giveaway....... its so difficult to get a good picture of my 5 year old daughter , her smile looks so artificial . but she looks really pretty in natural shots when she has not been informed of photo session.
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jo h's avatar

jo h · 708 weeks ago

would love to win! I tend to click click click in order to get a number of choices to find the best natural look. The more often people see you w/ your camera hopefully it'll make them more comfortable so you can end up w/ some good un-posed shots.
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Barbara's avatar

Barbara · 708 weeks ago

I've got a first grandbaby on the way and would love tips and ideas for getting great pix! Thanks for the chance to win!
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denise2855's avatar

denise2855 · 708 weeks ago

I tend to take candid shots in the hope of getting a natural pose. I would love to win this eBook--thanks for the chance.
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Janine's avatar

Janine · 708 weeks ago

This ebook sounds wonderful! It's difficult to capture people in a natural pose. I have way too many photos of my son with the "cheese" smile. I'd love to win!
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Jenny McGee's avatar

Jenny McGee · 708 weeks ago

This ebook sounds great. I usually take photos of my kids, sometimes they pose, but other times I get a more natural look. It just depends on the moment. Thanks for a chance to win.
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Sherry's avatar

Sherry · 708 weeks ago

My grandchildren are always giving me fake smiles...but if I get them to talk to each other (and forget about me) I have been able to get amazing candid shots of them. I would love to be able to own this book for more ideas.
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sammie's avatar

sammie · 708 weeks ago

Yes I do have difficulty getting natural expressions out of people! I have better luck with kids, because it's easier to get them to forget the camera is there.
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Sherry G's avatar

Sherry G · 708 weeks ago

Ella has some good books! I especially love their photo writers. Thanks for the chance to win.
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nicole's avatar

nicole · 708 weeks ago

my daughter is getting to the age where she has the 'fake smile' when she sees the camera, so I usually switch it to video, she gets relaxed, and then I switch it back to camera and she doesnt realize it and I get some great shots that way!
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stinkydudette 15p · 708 weeks ago

My subjects are my niece and nephew. My nephew always runs away, or looks away when he sees the camera. And when he does, he just gives me the craziest faces, and I have only one decent (and I mean proper) photo of him. I definitely need tips! lol..
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Vicki Wilson's avatar - Go to profile

Vicki Wilson · 708 weeks ago

Do you have difficulty getting natural expressions out of your photo subjects? Most definitely. I get backs of heads and hands over faces.

Do you have any tried and true technique for getting a 'keeper'? I have found that if I act like I'm taking a picture of person #1 I can get a good picture of person #2 who is in the background. Hard work sometimes.
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ava-j · 708 weeks ago

My DH hates having his photo taken, but since he's almost always with me, he doesn't have much of a choice,hehe! But would love to learn more tricks to get more natural photos of him. I follow Rebecca's blog and she always has awesome photos, thanks for the chance! :)
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Monica's avatar

Monica · 708 weeks ago

The trick with my kids is getting them to forget the camera is there. If I can get them playing or focused on something else, I can sneak up on them!
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smfsprout's avatar

smfsprout · 708 weeks ago

I would love to get natural pose pictures of my granddaughter. She is such a cutie when she smile naturally but she is such a ham that if she sees the camera she launches into 'cheesy' mode. This book sounds great since I'm sure the source of the problem is the photographer and not the subject!
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Mary Klepac's avatar

Mary Klepac · 708 weeks ago

With dozens (literally) of grandkids and great-grandkids I need all the help I can get to capture those wonderful, crazy, spontaneous moments that can happen in a large family. Most all of my offspring suffer from "camera freeze" or "stiff posing" while staring straight into the lens!
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Anne's avatar - Go to profile

Anne · 708 weeks ago

Looks like an amazing book! I had no problems getting my boy to smile for the camera and look natural when he was younger, but as he grows bigger, it's harder. I could definitely use some tips and tricks!
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michelle's avatar

michelle · 708 weeks ago

i can only repeat what everyone else has said. I know I freeze too when a camera is on me, so I'm sure there would be better family pics all around.
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ladywing's avatar - Go to profile

ladywing 4p · 708 weeks ago

I've been pretty good with being unobtrusive but am always looking for new ways to get in with kids who always seem to give a "cheesy" smile when they see a camera - or even the dog who sees me with camera coming & runs the other way!
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Shannon P's avatar

Shannon P · 708 weeks ago

I just always have the camera around taking pictures, so my kids are used to it. They, of course, will often do something they consider picture worthy and demand I take a photo. That is when the posing comes out. I will just keep taking them after they are bored and that is when I get the best pictures!
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Raina's avatar

Raina · 708 weeks ago

I have such a short window with my kids in getting pictures. I think it's honestly been discouraging me from taking pictures. I could use some great ideas!
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Deanna's avatar

Deanna · 708 weeks ago

I have so many pictures of my now 5 y/o's uvula that it's the norm for most of our pic's! She always has her mouth open! I find it very difficult to get nice pics of her. Her older sister who will be 11 next month is however, the classic model, she takes wonderful pics! I could use some help with the little one!

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