Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

I know it might seem early, but if you like to hire a professional photographer to take your holiday card photo, now is the time to book your session as they get booked up fast and the holidays will be here before we know it.  One of my absolute favorite OC family photographers, Kristin Eldridge (who is taking our family photo on Sunday!) wrote us a guest post on something I always struggle with – WHAT DO WE WEAR?! Planning the family ensemble for a photo can be confusing. Here are tips Kristin wrote on how to dress your family for your holiday photo card so that most importantly, you all look like YOU!

How to Dress Your Family for Your Holiday Card Photo
by Kristin Eldridge of Kristin Eldridge Photography

“So, you’ve secured a date with your favorite photographer. The location is set and all of a sudden you wonder WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR!?!

Before the panic settles in, break it down. You don’t have to go on a major shopping spree or dress everyone in white t-shirts and jeans.

Follow this simple formula to create a thoughtful look for your photos without looking too matchy-matchy.

First, choose two main colors.

In the example above, I chose red and blue. Each member of the family will wear something with either blue, red or a neutral. Black, gray, white, khaki, denim…those all qualify as neutrals.

Second, add accessories. Here’s where it breaks away from the matchy-matchy. Instead of buying every red and blue piece Gymboree sells, try to use pieces you already own and tie in the look with belts, hair accessories or trims.

Don’t be afraid of prints…they can help to liven up a photo!

Most importantly, wear things that look like YOU. A photo is documented forever, so you want to look back and remember the life you lived in 2011. Wearing something too formal or too casual will just make you feel like you weren’t your true self. And when you feel good, you look good!”

To look at Kristin’s amazing work and get more information, you can visit her website or blog. Kristin also has a few OC mini holiday sessions coming up (but they book fast!) You can call (562)980-6480 or email info@kristineldridge.com to book your session!

[Disclosure: Kristin Eldridge is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor]

How many of you have a gazillion pictures of your kids, your husband with the kids, the grandparents with the kids, but hardly ANY pictures of YOU with your kids?!

That is so true for me!  It is kind of hilarious when I look through my photos, as I really don’t have many pictures with them because I am the one that is always behind the camera!

When I saw this special come through in an email from Kristin Eldridge Photography, I thought it was a BRILLIANT idea and asked her if I could share it with you!

So, take this Mother’s Day to ask for the gift of documenting your love for your babies! You can also use this photo session as a way to surprise your husband with photos of you and the kids for his office or at home for Father’s Day! LOVE this!

Here are the details…15 minute sessions for moms and up to 3 children.   All photo sessions will take place on the gray backdrop and be in classic black and white.

Session dates + times:

May 19th from  3-5pm and May 23rd from 9-11am

Location: Long Beach studio

Rates: $100-session and one digital image

There will be other digital image packages to choose from and prints can be ordered a la carte.

Email info@kristineldridge.com  to book your session and receive info on the digital image packages.

{Disclosure: Kristin Eldridge is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor.  And I love her!}

I know we all have a few of our “favorite” photos. You know the ones.  A special picture that just captures the essence of our child’s personality or freezes a particularly sweet moment in time.  Well now you can showcase your special shot in the “Laura Rauch Favorite Picture Contest” and have the chance to win some AMAZING prices!

Beginning Saturday, Feburary 5th, 2011  you will be able to submit your “Favorite Picture” of your choice.

The First Place winner will receive a “The DVD Package” with Laura Rauch Photography. This includes all of the images from the session on a DVD and a $200 gift certificate to your choice; GapKids, Mini Boden, or Crewcuts.  {$575 value}

The Second Place winner will receive a “The Simple Session” which include a 1.5 hour photo session for up to 6 people and a professionally printed 16×20 Canvas Gallery Wrap. {$276 value}

HOW TO ENTER & CONTEST RULES

* One entry per family.
* You must have permission/rights to use the photo you enter.
* Photos will be accepted from Saturday Feburary 5th, 2011 until 11:59pm Saturday Feburary 12th, 2011 via e-mail.
* Please email photos to laurarauchfavpic@yahoo.com with the Subject line FAVORITE PICTURE CONTEST during the previously mentioned time to be posted on time.
* Include your name and contact information.
* Contest open to everyone, however if you live outside of Orange County, Ca, you must choose a location within Orange County, Ca  for your prize shoot.
* If you already have a session scheduled this can be used for your session.

HOW PHOTOS WILL BE JUDGED

* All entries will be uploaded into an album by Laura Rauch Photography at www.facebook.com/laurarauchphotography, no later than Sunday Feburary 13th, 2011, on the Facebook fan page.
* To vote for a photo you MUST “LIKE” Laura Rauch Photography
* Click ‘like’ (thumbs up) for the photo you are voting for in the Laura Rauch Photography album labeled ‘ The “Favorite Picture” Contest.
* Photo with the most ‘likes’ will be the winner. Comments permitted, but WILL NOT count towards the total number of votes.
* Voting will close Sunday, Feburary 20th, 2011 11:59pm.
* Official winner will be notified and announced no later than Monday, Feburary 21st, 2011.

WHAT YOU WILL WIN

* The First Place winner will receive “The Complete Package” with Laura Rauch Photography which includes a session for up to 6 people for a 1.5 hour session, all post-session enhancing 30-40+ images and a Full-Res. DVD with all of the images. Also the winner wins a $200 gift certificate to your choice; GapKids, Mini Boden, or Crewcuts. A $575 value

* Photo session must be booked within 30 days of winning, and completed before May 31, 2011.

* Prize retail value of $575 – can not be altered or changed in any way, and is not redeemable for cash.

* The Second Place winner will receive a “The Simple Session” which includes a session for up to 6 people for a 1.5 hour session, all post-session enhancing 30-40+ images and a professionally printed 16×20 Canvas Gallery Wrap.

* Prize retail value of $276 – can not be altered or changed in any way, and is not redeemable for cash.

Email Laura at laurarauchphoto@yahoo.com and she will be happy to answer any questions.

Laura would like to remind people to please remember this is a fun contest to possibly win a free session and some goodies. Laura wants everyone to have a good experience. In the past she has had a few people get upset with the final result and she just wants to remind everyone that she does not control the final outcome.  She thanks you for participating and can’t wait to see your favorite pic!

www.laurarauchphoto.com

{Disclosure: Laura Rauch Photography is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor}

I’m back!   And refreshed! And charged!  And EXCITED that I have a fabulous giveaway today for anyone who has not taken a family photo for your holiday card just yet (and time is of the essence mamas!)  Kelly Mendoza of True Bliss Photography, one of my fabulously talented OC kid and family photography sponsors, is offering an A-MAZING giveaway for a holiday mini session that includes {are you ready for this?} all of the following:

* One free 30 – 45 minute mini session ($100 value) for up to 4 family members
* 15-20 images to chose from
* 5 digital images on CD
* 25 5×7 press printed holiday cards
* 10% off a la carte

For a value of $275!!  And priceless, beautiful photos to wow your friends and family with this holiday season!

Just click HERE to visit and see her gallery of family portraits {and enjoy a little Jack Johnson music while perusing the site!} What is it about Jack Johnson music that automatically puts you in a relaxed, happy mood?

And click HERE to visit her blog and see some of the latest and greatest work!

OK, are you ready to enter to win? I thought so!  And just so you know in case you are not the winner, Kelly still has sessions available for holiday mini sessions, so contact her at 714.906.5166 or trueblissphotography@gmail.com  for appointments & pricing & more info.  But better be quick as it is already mid November!

Hooray!  It’s a Tiny Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive the package above!  Contest runs through 8pm PST on Weds. 11/17/10.  I will pick winner at random and email you on Thursday, so please leave your email address in your comment (won’t be published).

(Please NOTE:  Session must be booked and take place prior to 12/12/10 and is limited to Orange County, CA locations only.  Also, if winner selects a location that requires a permit fee, the winner will agree to pay for the permit.)

 Here are the entry options, please leave a separate entry for each option:

1. Click HERE to visit her website, go to a gallery, and tell me a photo that caught your eye – 1 ENTRY
2. {Like} True Bliss Photography on Facebook – 1 ENTRY
3. {Like} Tiny Oranges on Facebook - 1 ENTRY
4. Follow @TinyOrangesOC on Twitter – 1 ENTRY
5. Subscribe to our email updates – 1 ENTRY

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

It’s officially November and we are now only one month away from the holiday photo card season! So mamas, you cannot procrastinate any longer, now is the time to book your photo session for THIS year’s family photo.  And, the fabulous Laura Rauch Photography is offering an AMAZING special for one week only just for Tiny Oranges readers!  Here are the details…

Book your session with Laura Rauch Photography during November 3rd- November 10th, 2010 and receive this Tiny Oranges exclusive special pricing. Book either the Session for $75 and purchase your prints separately or you can purchase her Dvd Package for $300.

With the Dvd package you get all of your full-res images on Dvd so that you can get those beautiful images printed on a card for the holidays or super sized for your wall.

Email Laura at LauraRauchPhoto@yahoo.com with the Subject Line “Tiny Oranges Special” to schedule your session~but hurry! It’s has to be booked over this next week!

Thanks for giving my readers this opportunity Laura!

{Disclosure: Laura Rauch Photography is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor}