Baby Ideas

You've dreamed, wished and hoped for the day you'd get to hold your little love, so it's only natural to want to capture every moment with your camera. Here are some sweet ideas to make your little star shine—no fancy equipment required.

Get Ready

• Get your gear in order. Charge camera batteries, empty memory cards and set your camera's picture quality/file size to your desired setting. See photo requirements.
• Gather props. Collect a variety of soft blankets, toys and support props (think nursing pillows, baby baskets/bassinets/bouncers, large bowls, etc.). Keep your baby's safety in mind, and have a second person on hand to help.
• Pay attention to your baby's mood. A fed, well-rested baby is much more cooperative.
• Turn up the heat. Babies chill easily, so minimize drafts and keep blankets as warm as possible.

Get Set

• Clear a space in a room that has a lot of natural lighting. If possible, avoid artificial lighting (adds unwanted colors to pictures), bright direct sunlight and your camera's flash (both hard on baby's eyes). A white thin fleece or translucent blanket can be draped over windows to soften direct sunlight, and camera flashes can be diffused by covering them with a few pieces of a white plastic shopping bag.
• Keep the background and color range simple. Bright colors and bold patterns can distract from your little star. (This includes clothing.)
• Choose props that are meaningful. Find what's special to you, from wedding rings to heirloom toys or blankets, and figure out a way to include it with baby.

Go

• Photograph in color. You can easily convert color images to black and white or sepia later.
• There's more to your baby than an angelic face. Capture every part, head to toe, and don't be afraid to get really close. (All cameras have a minimum focusing distance. See your owner's manual for details, and consider using the macro setting if it's available.)
• Use yourself or Daddy to show contrast in size. It's a great way to remember the time when baby couldn't wrap a whole hand around one of your fingers.
• Take the good with the bad. That pout or scream just might end up being your favorite shot.
• Be patient. You might have a specific pose in mind, but it's just not working. Be in tune with your baby's personality and go with what comes naturally.
• Always have your camera on hand. The most precious moments happen when you're not expecting them, so keep your camera at the ready.

Make a one-of-a-kind Hallmark card

Once you've selected a photo card to personalize, the Hallmark Photo Uploader allows you to upload as many as 4 photos at a time from your computer or online. After placing an image on your selected card, you can choose to edit that image by adjusting the color to sepia or black and white, rotating or zooming in or out.

Photo Requirements for Personalized Cards

• JPEG files only
• Maximum file size: 6MB
• Minimum dimensions: 300 x 300 pixels
• (Anything less will look grainy or blurry when printed)
• Maximum dimensions: 2880 x 2880 pixels
• (Anything higher will not properly fill the photo space and get cut off)

How to check file size and dimensions

PC Users

1. Locate the photo file on your computer.
2. Under the View menu, select Thumbnails.
3. Position your cursor over the photo you want to use in your card. The file size and dimensions will display.

Mac Users

1. Locate the photo file on your Mac.
2. Right click on the photo or press Control and click.
3. Select Get Info.
4. The file size is displayed under General. Dimensions are displayed in the More Info section.