The silly season is upon us, and we'd love to thank you, our wonderful bebe community for all of your support this year! We're giving you the chance to win a night out to yourself  at one of Medina Hotel's 21 locations across Australia. One lucky winner will win an overnight stay for a family of four in a One Bedroom Apartment at a Medina Apartment Hotel of choice across Australia!

 

 

HOW TO ENTER

To go in the draw to win an overnight's stay at a Medina Apartment Hotel of choice across Australia, plus $100 spending money to splurge on whatever takes your fancy, simply

a) Head over to our facebook page and follow the instructions on our Wall Post entitled "Share the (bebe) love & Win a Medina getaway plus spending money", and/or

b) Forward our latest bebeonline newsletter (6/12/11) to a friend for entry.

The giveaway closes Sunday 11^th December at and a winner will be drawn randomly and announced on this blog and via Facebook  Entry is open to Australian residents only.

 

 

In the event that, for any reason whatsoever, a winner does not take an element of the prize at the time stipulated by the Promoter, then that element of the prize will be forfeited by the winner and cash will not be awarded in lieu of that element.

 

Spending money will take form of $100 transfer made by bebe enterprises pty ltd into the nominated bank account of the prize winner. This transfer will be made within 3 days of winner claiming their prize. 

In the sea of toys and décor products for babies and children, every now and again a brand arrives that makes your lips turn up in a smile, your hand reach for your credit card, and then, most importantly, makes your kids room or play space one that they will cherish for years to come.

 

Mocka is such a brand. With a company mission statement of “providing contemporary and trendy furniture and toys from baby to adult at affordable prices”, Mocka are certainly ticking all the boxes!

 

Sure, some things are an extravagance when it comes to kids, but there are certain toys and pieces of furniture that are a necessity for both practical and, even more importantly, imaginative purposes. 

 

 

Starting at one of the very earliest purchases you will make for your child; the high chair. This will be one of the most utilised and most visible pieces of furniture you will buy, so it must be sturdy and look good too! The Soho wooden highchair has no tray, but instead a safety rail, used around the child’s stomach for up close eating at the ‘big people’ table*. Once the days of messy baby and toddler feeds are behind you, the high chair becomes part of the furniture; and grows with your child (capable of holding up to 60kgs.) Comfort for your little one is assured with free seat and back rest cushions included.

Around age 2, kids start to want to hide, to create little spaces just for themselves, for their teddies or toy cars. Keep the sheets and blankets in the linen cupboard instead of draped over the furniture as makeshift cubbies and create a play space with the amazing range of tee pees. Made from high quality canvas, the tee pees are suitable for use indoors or out and their ability to bring out imaginative play cannot be denied. Our tee pee has been a bed, a tent, a swimming pool, a tree house……all while sitting in the corner of our family room. Choose from any of the four fabulous prints: cowboy, blue stripe, pink stripe or the shabby chic inspired girly girl.

And then of course, your little one will need some wheels. Mocka has Australia’s largest range of balance bikes for children aged from 2 to 6 years. Each bike has 3 seat settings which can be easily adjusted as your child grows. With no less than six bikes to choose from, your kids will be feeling the wind in their hair (and doing their best siren impersonation on the Police bike!), in no time!

 

 

When they’re not racing around outdoors or playing in their tee pees, you’ll need a place for them to sit, colour in, do play dough and all those other activities that keep them out of your hair……I mean, provide them with artistic opportunities! Stackable stools, strong enough to support an adults weight and available in either a five piece combination of table and four stools or table and two stools and two chairs, the furniture is contemporary and practical. A must have.

 

 

Finally, at the end of a long day, you just need somewhere to stash all the stuff.  Where do you keep all the dress up clothes, jackets, nappy bags or umbrellas? Are they easy to find when you need them? (Think sun hats when your toddler is pulling you by the pant leg to get outside and the hat is nowhere to be found…) Continuing our love of all things natural, the Wooden Tree stand with its many branches is perfect for holding all the things we accumulate for our kids. Think outside the square and it becomes a nesting place for felt birds, a home for fairies; a big, shady tree for reading under.

 

 

How wonderful to have products for your child that will be enjoyed and cherished as they grow, not played with and quickly abandoned for the next best thing. How wonderful to know that you are creating opportunities for precious memories as you climb into their tee pee and into their imaginary world.

 

Inspired? Check out the full range of Mocka products here.

 

 

I live in a suburb where most kids walk to school, well actually, most kids scoot to school. In the morning and at 3:15pm, our quiet streets are over run with kids of all ages whooshing by on their scooters. On many occasions, my 23 month old son and I have been out walking when the scooter exodus begins and he watches, enthralled, as the ‘big kids’ propel themselves past us. Now, along with pointing out trucks and the Postman, he’s added the cry ‘Scooter!” to his vocabulary! 

 

Not a fan of the pram or parent steered trikes, Alex is determined to get from A to B under his own steam….which means walking…..which means there is no such thing as a quick trip to the shops! A scooter is the ideal mode of transport for an energetic boy, but an extensive search found that most scooters are suitable for children aged 3+. That’s where the ingenious people at Mini Micro Scooters come into play with the latest addition to their uber-successful range of scooters; a detachable seat!

 

While waiting eagerly for the scooter to arrive, we pondered how on earth they would add a seat to the T-bar of a scooter? Clearly we are not the design types! With the ease that will have you thinking “Why didn’t I think of that?” the seat simply slots into the chassis of the scooter in place of the T bar steering column, enabling walking children from as young as 12 months to use the scooter. As Alex ran around pretending the now removed T bar column was a hedge trimmer (more on that subject later!), we sat down to have a good look at his new wheels.

 

 

The first thing I noticed was the absolute quality of the scooter in look and feel and how light weight it is (a must have feature considering how often it will be loaded in and out of the car!). The 3 wheel design provides safety and stability as young kids learn how to use their balance and body weight to steer. The wheels themselves are made of premium polyurethane. A good quality wheel is vital to absorb bumps, such as stones on the footpath, making for a more comfortable, safer ride. The handle bars have rubber plugs on their ends to protect against injury and extend the life of the scooter by absorbing the impact (rather than the metal ends) when the scooter falls. Actually, the quality of the scooter is so good, you could eat it! Literally! The handlebars are made from non-poisonous components, which mean no dangerous toxins are ingested in the event a child puts the handle bar in their mouth, or swallows a piece of it. The detachable seat is designed to be comfortable and stable for the youngest of riders and is curved through the middle and wider at the base. For mothers like me who just can’t help but hover, there’s even a little handle for us to clutch if our little scooter daredevil gets too carried away! The oval handle is non slip and the perfect size for little hands to hang on to.

 

 

We piled into the car for an outdoor frolic at our favourite park with  our 12 month old friend Noah, and I was curious to see how he’d handle the scooter, considering the seat is marketed at being suitable for one so young. In all honesty, I think he enjoyed it more than Alex! Balance was no problem whether just sitting on it when the scooter was stationary, or when being pushed by his Mum. His face lit up as he scooted along the grass! 

 

 

 

His curiosity sparked, Alex soon re-claimed his ride and took off up the footpath. Turning the scooter was the only issue for him; he’s used to turning a steering handle, rather than using his body weight as is required with the scooter, though this is something he will master with practise. At the end of a lovely day, it was also a relief that the scooter is small enough to throw in the car boot along with the pram and other ‘out with toddler’ paraphernalia without needing dismantling; something that will save my sanity in the months to come!

 

 

There is little to no fault I can see with the Mini Micro Scooter and detachable seat. The quality is exceptional, and the overall long term use makes it a clever investment. Alex can happily use the scooter with the seat for another 6 months, then, at round 2 and a half, we’ll replace the seat with the T-Bar handle and he’ll have another 3 years or so of scooting fun (max weight 35kg). Even once he’s riding a bike, scooters seem to retain their desirability, so I’ve no concern of it being relegated to the garage with all his other outgrown equipment. We’ll also be checking out the adult range of scooters so Alex’s Dad can get in on the fun (he has scooter envy!).

 

All those trips I once dreaded making, or just stopped making altogether because they became too stressful, can now be fun and quicker! When provided with the right gear kids quickly become independent co-travellers, which really does mean stress free happy journeys for all!

 

Ready to scoot? Check out the range from Mini Micro Scooters here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There is very little I enjoy more that sitting down with a good book and losing myself in the world it creates. My love of books was shaped by my mother and father who, in my childhood were either always reading to me or reading in front of me. From picture books, to my love of Enid Blyton classics, I was always reading. I spent the majority of my pre-teen years lost in the world of “Anne of Green Gables”. The foundation of those early years of reading and being read to has stayed with me to this day and I feel at a loss if I haven’t a book on the go. Reading to my 2 year old son provides me with the same, if not more pleasure. Listening to him ‘read’ as he’s memorised his most well loved stories has had me reaching for the camcorder on many a night!

 

Sharing a love of books and reading with our children is one of the most important and beneficial skills we can give. Of course, there is the intimate, one on one time spent snuggled up reading aloud to your child, but expanding on that are the far reaching benefits reading provides, extending beyond the expected grasp of words and language.

 

Extensive studies have shown that reading can foster mental and emotional skills such as focus (the time it takes to sit and read a whole book, paying attention to each page), empathy (stories of characters different to us help form an understanding of diversity), and compassion.

 

From an education standpoint, the exposure to many and varied words, grammar and punctuation on paper as well as through the sound of the readers voice can expand even the youngest child’s vocabulary in startling ways, (hearing my 20 month old say “photocopier” was one of those!). In a rapidly expanding digital age, it is vital that children are still shown the tactile joy of opening a new book and allowed to feel the trill of anticipation at what adventures lie within. Readers are life long learners, both before and after their schooling years and tend to be better communicators amongst their peers.

 

 

“If you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.” A curious reader can find information about every subject under the sun and can become knowledgeable about any subject through more extensive reading.” A great quote from one of my favourite reading blogs “How to Raise a Reader”.

 

It needn’t be intimidating! The easiest way to foster a love of reading in your children, is to simply pick up a book and read it together. The very best kind of learning is that which happens organically. 

 

Much loved Australian children’s author Mem Fox, (I think I’ll know “Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes” by heart for the rest of my life!) is passionate about developing a love of books and reading in our children and offers these helpful suggestions to put you on the right track.

 

 

1. Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud.

 

2. Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read.

 

3. Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don’t be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot.

 

4. Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners.

 

5. Read the stories that the kids love, over and over and over again, and always read in the same ‘tune’ for each book: i.e. with the same intonations on each page, each time.

 

6. Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games.

 

7. Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are really short.

 

8. Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child’s name and yours, remembering that it’s never work, it’s always a fabulous game.

 

9. Never ever teach reading, or get tense around books.

 

10. Please read aloud every day, mums and dads, because you just love being with your child, not because it’s the right thing to do.

 

In times past, you’d find expectant mothers busily crafting away, creating and sewing her layette; a collection of clothing and bedding for her newborn baby. Thankfully, for those of us who are challenged in the domestic arts, Nature Baby has done all the hard work for us in creating their beautiful, organic layette and baby range.

 

Nature Baby is a family based business dedicated in providing families with quality, environmentally aware choices when buying textiles for their children. Babies are so precious and sensitive to their surroundings, so all Nature Baby products are carefully selected for quality, purity, design and are produced in such a way that cares for the earth and its workers.  Their essential cotton baby wear has been produced from cotton which is organically cultivated and certified. Fields of light cotton are produced from rich and fertile soils combined with clean air and clear water.

 

The huge array of products for newborns can be nothing short of overwhelming. Nature Baby has put together a list of layette clothing essentials, and how many of each you'll need, to make your shopping easier and see you through the first weeks and months.

 

The first thing most babies wear is a bodysuit. Easy snap bottoms which won't ride up and expose baby's tummy and back and make for easy nappy changes. For ease of dressing, they have an envelope neckline. Double stitched in natural cotton thread. Available in classic stripes of navy, mushroom, red or pink. Sizes 0-3 mths, 3-6 mths, 6-12 mths.

 

As babies spend most of their first weeks and months drifting in and out of sleep, they need comfortable clothes. Nature Baby pants look great with simple stitching at the waist and leg cuff. With non-irritating elastic at the waist these are suitable for day and night wear. Rompers keeps baby's feet warm which means easy dressing (socks and shoes optional)!  A comfortable design that is suitable for day and nightwear and allows plenty of room for nappies. 

Available in classic stripes of navy, mushroom, red or pink. Sizes 0-3 mths, 3-6 mths, 6-12 mths.

 

The design of the Nature Baby sleeping gown allows for easy nappy changing with a drawstring at the bottom to keep little feet warm and fold down mittens at the cuff to keep little hands warm and prevent scratching. Available in pink or mushroom. Sizes 0-3 mths, 3-6 mths, 6-12 mths.

 

A marvellous design that allows you to adjust the size of the bootie with the drawstring. Bundle those tiny feet and keep them warm in these cute cotton booties.

 

Keep those sharp little fingernails from scratching baby’s face with these gorgeous teeny, tiny organic cotton drawstring mittens.

 

Protect baby's delicate skin from the harsh sun with these great full brimmed Nature Baby sunhats. Made from pure, certified organic cotton which is incredibly fine, soft and strong. 

Extra Small: 0-6 months
Small: 6-12 months
Medium: 1-2 years
Large: 2-4 years

As every baby is unique, our sizing table should be used as an approximate guide only. 

 

Find the full range of Nature Baby clothing here.

Eye contact is an important element of parent child bonding and the development of trust between parent and child: your face is the most potent visual stimulus your baby encounters, and as you and your baby gaze into each other's eyes, endorphin levels rise in your baby's brain, producing feelings of joy. Your own endorphin levels will rise and, in turn, you and your baby become emotionally synchronised.

 

Sadly, much current infant sleep advice includes telling parents to 'avoid eye contact' with their baby. Not only does this go against all natural instincts, but it can have unintended negative consequences for infant development.

 

I have a beautiful statue on my desk: a black stone carving is the 'eye contact' between the mother and her child. Although the carving is rough and has no defined facial features, the two heads are perfectly aligned so that the connection between mother and child is unmistakable.

 

Sadly though, many parents and particularly mothers, are being given advice that interrupts this exquisite bond. I have had mothers call me knowing intuitively that something is amiss as they say, "my baby won't make eye contact." At first I was baffled –the baby concerned looked directly at me and smiled (so, thankfully, nothing was intrinsically wrong). I then discovered that the mother had a normal drug-free birth and no separation afterwards, so bonding at birth had been optimal – mothers and babies are biologically, hormonally primed to fall in love after a natural birth. Apart from distress about her baby's lack of eye contact, the mum wasn't exhibiting any symptoms of chronic postnatal stress or depression. So what, I wondered, had happened to create a breakdown in the connection between mother and child?

 

It turned out that this mother – and others I have met with a similar reaction from their babies since – had been religiously following a very strict sleep training regime that advocated avoiding eye contact with her baby. Although it is wise to keep bedtimes calm and gentle, imagine how you would feel if your partner repeatedly avoided your gaze. How do you feel when people avoid eye contact with you?

 

According to Margot Sunderland, Director of Education and Training for the Centre for Child Mental Health in London and author of The Science of Parenting (Penguin), face to face conversations between you and your baby and the subsequent release of optimal hormonal levels into your child's brain will help develop pathways in your child's higher brain that encourage social intelligence, the ability to form relationships. Ms Sunderland says, "the ability to 'light you up' is the very basis of your baby's sense of himself as lovely and lovable.

 

Fortunately, with a little time teaching these mothers to read and respond to their babies' cues and, with interaction such as baby massage and games that involve face to face contact, they and their babies are soon engaging with each other again. So, please be reassured, if you have been trying to follow a rigid baby care plan but feel it is interrupting the bond between you and your child, it is never too late to make changes. Above all, you haven't irreparably damaged your relationship with your child, but please, look into your baby's eyes and say, "I love you". And wait for her to meet your gaze.

 

Pinky McKay is an international Board Certified Lactation Consultant, runs a private practice in Melbourne specializing in gentle parenting techniques. A sought after keynote speaker and best-selling author and best selling author of ‘100 Ways to Calm the Crying’, ‘Sleeping Like a Baby’, ‘Toddler Tactics ‘ and ‘Parenting by Heart’. She’s an expert source for media appearing regularly on major network TV and quoted in various publications. Parenting resources and her free newsletter ‘Gentle Beginnings’ can be found on her website www.pinkymckay.com.au

 

My love of books and reading is nothing short of intense, and is vital to my sanity. Curling up with a book is my escape, my adventure, my calm, my ‘me’ time. Some people watch TV at night; I’ve been known to sit cross legged in front of my bookshelf and gaze lovingly at the spines of my books, remembering the unique places they’ve taken me over the years. When I found out I was pregnant, the first thing I bought my unborn child was a book, and I regularly lost myself in visions of snuggling up for story time in bed or in a little nook.

 

The romance of reading has perhaps been slightly dulled by the reality of life as a mother, although I always find time to read at least something everyday. However, what has become very quickly apparent is that sharing a love of reading with your child creates a storage issue! Until now, my son’s vast collection of books have been stored in baskets around the house (so there’s always a book available to him), but as his speech and development has thrived, he really needs to be able to have his books kept in a way that encourages him to select the story he wants easily, rather than having to dig through a pile to find it! 

 

 

I love the idea of a mini library for him; a way of displaying his books with the covers, rather than the spines, facing out, tempting him with their familiar pictures and colours. Here’s where the Kid Kraft 4 Pouch Sling Bookshelf stands apart from regular shelving. I chose the natural  fabric for our shelf, figuring the books themselves will provide enough vibrancy, and could not be happier with the look. Clean, simple, stylish lines will suit any room décor (as will the option of bright, primary colour pouches or soft pastels). My one and only, and very likely a result of attempting to assemble the shelf at 11pm, qualm, was the tiny Allen key provided for screwing in the pieces. I dropped it many, many times and was thankful my son was sleeping soundly in our bed, and not in his playroom listening to me put his shelves together! My irritation subsided as soon as I’d finished the assembly; it was gorgeous. 

 

 

The first week of its stay in our house, the bookshelf lived in my lounge room and housed my collection of magazines! When finally I moved them into my son’s freshly painted room, I decided to leave some books in our cube shelving, and select 12 to go into the pouches. This way, I can rotate the books to keep them fresh and interesting to him. Another fun thing I’ve done is move the bookshelf (it only weighs around 6kg) into our family room next to his tepee, so when he wakes in the morning, he’s greeted by a new selection of books to keep him occupied while I make coffee!

 

Encouraging a love of reading is a wonderful gift to give your child, so it pays to think also about how you present their books to them. Turn it into a magical experience, or introduce the element of surprise, and they’ll look to books to satisfy their search entertainment and imagination. The KidKraft 4 Pouch Sling Bookshelf is a simple, yet effective way to make finding and reading their books more accessible. At 2 years of age, I now get the joy of those daytime, night time, any time snuggles with my son as we escape into the magical world of children’s books.

 

 

Check out the full range of KidKraft 4 Pouch Sling Bookshelves here

 

 

 

 

We love that our bebe community are BIG on reading books to your little ones and are excited to be giving away a Kidkraft 4 Pouch Sling Bookshelf just in time for Christmas! Entering is easy;

 

1. Between now and next Sunday (Sunday 20/11/11)  post a pic of your little one on our "bebeonline" facebook wall with their favourite book. If your little one is a baby (or still ïn the oven) , we will accept any and all photos !

 

2. One entry (photo) will be selected by random draw on Monday 21th November, 2011 and the winner announced right here on our blog in the space below. Good luck!

 

3. This competition is open to Australian residents only and is not redeemable for cash.  If there are any questions regarding this competition please email us at competitions@bebeonline.com.au. 

 

 

 

Motherhood brings with it many challenges; the real and the imagined. Many of the struggles have more to do with our internal dialogues than reality. Perspective is an amazing thing with the power to help eliminate or at least quiet the negative/anxious voice in our heads. 

 

The mantra repeated over and over again by those around you of “your life will never be the same again” is a classic example of misdirected advice. Without question, this was the first comment I heard when I told people I was having a baby, and, it was generally said in a tone of smug negativity. Being well aware that my life would never be the same again, I chose a different perspective. “My life will never be the same again…….and I can’t wait to see what this new journey looks like!” 

 

Rose coloured glasses? Perhaps, but the work of birthing and raising children is hard enough without weighing it down with labels that promote the feeling that what we are doing is akin to domestic drudgery. If you focus on the joys, the amazing reality of teaching the art of living to your children, the dark days will be few and far between and lessened in their intensity.

 

Fears and anxieties of the unknown however, are going to surface no matter how much we’d like to keep them at bay, and the common threads of motherhood anxiety are guilt and self disbelief. There are some fears that are common to us all, but all may be eased with a shift in perspective.

 

Loss of ‘self’: For me, the thought of being lost to the role of ‘mother’ was the most anxiety creating aspect of pregnancy. Of course, now that I’ve made the transition, it’s a role I embrace with glee. There is no question; being a parent WILL change you. But, if you let go of the things that are no longer crucial to your sense of being and focus on the incredible skills and emotional development being a parent offers, you just might find your sense of self is stronger than it was before. 

 

Will I be a good mother? With advice and techniques coming at you from every angle, you’d be forgiven for feeling concern that you aren’t going to be ‘good enough’, or up for the relentless pace of motherhood. Here is where perspective is vital. Try and avoid comparing yourself to others as a way to gauge your successes as a mother. Raising children is fluid; constantly changing. You’ll be more confident with some stages, less sure with others. Be honest with your feelings, you’re only human after all. Whenever I feel a bout of uncertainty approaching, I stop and ask myself this question, taken from parenting author Pinky McKay, “Is it safe? Is it respectful? Does it feel right?” If I answer ‘no’ to any of these, then I know whatever it is, I’m best to leave it alone. This is how you tune out the static and tune in to your instinct.

 

Feeling trapped/time poor: As with anything else, when there is a limit to how easily accessible something is, we cherish it all the more; this rule applies to our valuable time all the more when kids come along. You will have moments when you feel literally chained to your home and child; that is the time to look for pockets of time in your day to find some space. I’ve been known to hide in the ensuite with the laptop, window shopping on ETSY, before starting the night time routine! Taking time out and doing what appears to others to be nothing, is vital in re-charging your batteries.

 

The end of Travel: “You’ll never be able to jump on a plane and take of to Paris at the drop of a hat!” Ah, that old chestnut! I wonder how many of us, pre-child actually did jump on a plane and head to Paris just because the whim struck. Not many I’d wager!

 

Financial Stress: This one IS tough – especially when the Spring/Summer collections start appearing in store! So yes, having a child does mean you have to think before you spend, whether you are a stay at home mum or in the paid workforce. But, you learn that you really, really don’t need that much ‘stuff’ to be happy. You learn to be a more responsible, and quite possibly a more ethical consumer when you purchase on a need rather than want basis.

Changes to your relationship: When two become three and partners become parents, change is inevitable. A strong parenting bond born out of a strong romantic bond adds an intense depth to a relationship. Be gentle with each other; remember that in the early years you will be pulled in more directions than you think you can handle. Be willing to adapt. Be willing to ask for help. Be willing to ride out the different seasons of your relationship, knowing that the strong foundation you are providing for your child is the best gift you can give them. In my experience, when the going gets tough, the best remedy is laughter!

 

 

 

 

 

How many photos do you think you’ve taken of your children over the years? Out of the thousands, how many are blurry, too dark, too light, have red eye, or worse, closed eyes? In the second in our series of capturing the best images of your family on film, AIPP Master Photographer Hilary Wardhaugh shares some insider knowledge that will have you snapping like a pro, even if armed with only a small digital camera!

 

“You may only have a phone camera, or a small digital camera but you can still take great shots of your kids if you know how to use the camera and use light!

 

With any compact digital camera, they have many different modes on them to allow you to do almost anything. Investigate the camera; have fun trying each mode to see what happens. You could read the instructions but if you are like me, that is way to boring!

 

If there is ‘portrait mode’, which is the little icon that looks like a woman’s head, then use that. But, to make sure that works you need to look at the light! What? You ask? How can I look at light? As you know from school physics, light travels in straight lines and is being reflected all around us. Whenever I do a family/baby/kids portrait session I always wear light coloured clothes like a white shirt because if I need to get up close I don’t want my green shirt being reflected into the baby’s face. Not a good look! You may not be able to see the green reflection but your camera will!

 

 

Have you got colourful playground equipment in your yard? Great for the kids to climb on as you photograph them because they’ll be interacting and happy, but because they are red, blue and yellow you will get light reflected onto their faces from the equipment.  If you want to use the equipment as a prop then the best way is to put a bit of flash on, even if it’s bright and sunny outside. The flash will get rid of the reflected red, blue and yellow.

 

The easiest light to photograph your kids in is when it’s overcast. There is no sun to create harsh shadows on faces and blown out bits on heads. It’s like if you are getting married and it rains a bit; not to worry the light will be fabulous, darling! It’s true!

 

When posing family groups you need to get them all to get in close! That’s what family is all about, isn’t it? Have their heads on different levels, not just all lined up in a row. Create a triangle shape and the composition is much more interesting! White shirts and jeans are popular when photographing families and they do look great because of the uniformity but also because white reflects back into the subjects’ faces, which is flattering.

 

Another good thing to create interest in your images is to do the portraits at times other than bright sunny days; like when it is a bit drizzly and the little ones can put on their rain coats and gum boots and splash in the puddles…They will certainly have fun and who cares if they get wet and their clothes get muddy! You’ll have great happy images!

 

 

I always say that you need to photograph babies regularly especially in the first few years as they change so much! Photograph little hands, fingers, belly buttons, feet, lips eyes…If you are going to get in close then maybe use your macro option on your compact or DSLR.

 

It’s great to capture those little dimples on the backs of their hands, the little sucking blister on their lips, things you forget when they get older.

 

Flash can be a useful tool when photographing kids outside and active. If it’s sunny and they are running around, put the flash on! It will freeze some of the movement but still have a bit of motion blur, which can look great! On many cameras you can over-ride the auto flash. Don’t be scared, turn it on and go for it!

 

When you have the family together and you want a great shot of everyone, maybe at a reunion or a wedding, try and use an area with a bit of light shade, so that everyone’s faces are in the shade to avoid the look of harsh shadows in eye sockets. If that isn’t possible, try putting the sun behind the group instead of them facing into the sun. Then put the flash on (even if its very sunny!) and you will be amazed at the results! Your family wont be squinting and the flash will fill the shades created by their bodies and it should look great!

 

Beware of grass when photographing the littlies as they may look green so it’ always great to use somewhere where there is a light wall nearby where the sun can bounce off or pop a bunny rug under them that is white or cream or use a little bit of flash.

 

Back lighting your kids in photos is like providing halos for your angels! It can be a hard thing to do and get used to. A good way to start is to make sure you are not looking straight into the sun.  Position your kids with their backs to the sun so it is shining on the top right or left of the heads. Over-ride the flash-off button and use the flash when taking the shot. Better still, use a reflector. A reflector can be a big white piece of cardboard or a sheet hung on the clothes line and a white or pale coloured wall that is nearby. Cardboard is easy to use as you can move it around and see the light being bounced around. When it’s shining towards their faces, that is what you want!

 

 

Lastly, for those of you who use digital SLR’s and can shoot manual exposures then the best way to make a great portrait is to have the aperture wide open which makes the background all out of focus. It’s always best to separate the subject from the background so to do that you need a large aperture or a big hole to let the light in. It is also good to use a long zoom lens and when combining the two you will succeed by getting the shot you want. An ideal zoom for portraits is about 80mm or longer with your aperture set at f5.6 or greater ( F 2 to F5.6 is best!). One way to make sure this happens is by setting your camera to Aperture priority and if you set the aperture the camera will set the rest of the exposure to get the shot.

 

Happy snapping!”

 

Hilary Wardhaugh is Canberra’s most awarded wedding photographer, having won the award five times since 2000. She captures beautiful family and baby photography. Hilary makes photographic portraits of everyday people, extraordinary people, happy people, people in love, family people and lots of little people. It is something she loves and thrives on capturing little bits of humanity!

 

To see more of Hilary’s work, head to www.hwp.com.au