Using cheap props to make great photos

Using cheap props make for some great photos.  Especially when it comes to taking portraits of kids.  It's one way to get them to have fun which creates great smiles.

My personal favorite prop is the balloon.


You can use large industrial sized helium filled ones.  Instant fun.





OR, simple balloons you can get from the grocery store that you blow up yourself.

Just make sure you supervise the children, expecially babies with balloons.  Never let babies bite the latex balloons.  They can pop when they bite them and it scares the baby so he inhales quickly and ends up choking on them.  So this is a very short balloon portrait session.  Long enough to get the picture, then off to a new toy.


Other prop ideas:

1. Cardboard box-made to look like a car or airplane
2. long piece of fabric to make a cape-"Super Boy!"
3. tea sets for a tea parties
4. too-too's for little girls
5. anything that sparks their imagination

Until next time, happy snapping.  And be sure to visit www.miragesbymarilyn.com for more beautiful pictures.

How to make a pictured growth chart

I think every mother should start a growth chart early on in their kids' lives.  It's a great way to document how fast your child is growing, and have fun while doing it.  But more special is a growth chart that also shows the child's picture at the time the growth was documented.  Folow this step-by-step guide to making one so that one day your child will be able to enjoy seeing how he or she grew up.

Step 1: Pick a good spot

I picked the door to my kid's room.  That way we see it regularly and are reminded that everyday must be cherished because they won't be little forever.


Step 2: Make a colorful background

I used construction paper (pretty basic, huh?).  Just as long as it is a steady background, any colors or materials will work.

Step 3: Make a centered line to mark their growth on



Add more contruction paper to make a straight verticle line.  Choose a color that will stick out from your background.

 Step 4: Mark you kids growth

Step 4: Add a picture that goes with that growth period




You can add stickers to make it fun too.  The point is that you not only see how tall your child was, but also what they looked like at the time. 

 Hope you had fun with this momtography trick and stay tuned for more terrific ideas to documenting your childs growth, which lets face it, is the whole reason why we do this photography for mother thing.  Until next time, have fun and visit www.miragesbymarilyn.com for more beautiful photographs.