GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - Canon #BabyMoments - Capturing Those Precious Moments Like a Pro & a Giveaway!

Every once in a while you are introduced to something that you can't wait to spread the word about. You guys, if you have children, are expecting or know someone who has kids, then you are going to love today's post!  AND!  There's a fabulous giveaway for an amazing Canon Selphy Printer (oh how I wish I could enter! ha!).

When we first became parents, we did what almost every parent does.  We invested in a fantastic camera with the intention of capturing all of those amazing milestones and precious moments in our children's lives.  I have to admit, we were pretty giddy about the camera (a Canon Rebel).  We totally envisioned ourselves getting up close and personal with our kiddo, click, click, click...moment captured...best parents evaaaaa.  Then we would load the pictures onto the computer and realize that we had completely failed at taking a great photo.  Horrible angle, terrible exposure and blurrier than blurry.

So then we took the time to read the manual.  The problem, it totally did not sink in for us.  We didn't have the time it took to really invest in learning how to use the camera, so, we did what most parents do and turned the dial to automatic and that's where it stayed for years and years and years.  You get the point! ha!

Fast forward to the end of October.  I receive an email from Canon, asking if I would be interested in helping them spread the word about their Baby Moments app (found on their Facebook page) that has been created together with photographer, Stephanie Robin.  I take a peek at the app and immediately write back telling them that I'm in.....because I've been there!  And I have a feeling that many of you have been too!

I honestly think that this will encourage so many of you to capture those wonderful moments and inspire you to move past the automatic setting!  What I love the most about the app:

The app is grouped into age groups from 0-12 months.  Click on the group that applies to you and you're then given several photo shoots to recreate.

The app clearly guides you from start to finish, from how to set up for the photo (get a white sheet ready!), to which camera setting to use and which lens would work best.  No guess work needed.

The app encourages you to try different camera settings, in time, this will make you comfortable to move away from the automatic setting that so many of us stick to.  

But what struck me is that though the app is intended for babies 0-12 months, many of the poses can be adapted for your children's current age (more on that in another upcoming post!).  I also love that they have seasonal and holiday themed shots, so you can recreate them on a yearly basis and you can see how much your little one has changed and grown!

I was able to test out the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 to recreate a couple of the shots from the Baby Moments app.  Can we talk about this camera?!  As I mentioned before, we have a Rebel, it's nearly 11 years old, so technology has changed just a bit since then, but I still loved it.  That being said (didn't want to hurt the old camera's feelings, ha!) you guys, this one blew-me-away.  I literally gasped after I snapped the first photo and checked it out on the screen.  Easy to use, the colours were outstanding, the picture was crisp and the screen itself didn't require me to squint or zoom in to see if I "got the shot".

For the first shoot, I got to work with the cutest little 15 month old kiddo!

We decided to shoot the Seasonal Fall scene, since, well, it's fall and little kiddos bundled up, surrounded by pumpkins and covered in cozy blankets is pretty much the cutest thing ever.  We found our location and got to work.

After capturing the above images, we decided to play around with different angles, while sticking with the original instructions.  A little flip of the camera was all it took....tada:

So absolutely adorable!  Our little model was such a champ!  We chanted and whistled and made other crazy noises to grab his attention, and we also brought a small pumpkin and apple for him to hold.  The quilt was a wedding present, given to hubs and I, we thought it would be perfect for the fall theme.

I definitely did learn a few things from this shoot.  One of them, be sure to schedule the shoot on a day that you have time and aren't in a rush to be somewhere, this will allow you to really take the time to get the shots you need.  Also, the "golden hour" is a great time of day to shoot outdoors, just as the sun is getting ready to set.  Focus on your subject, but then move the camera to center it or get the angle you prefer.  You do this by pressing down only 1/2 way on the shutter button to focus on your subject and then you keep the shutter button 1/2 down until you are ready to shoot.  Don't lift up your finger though, because then you'll have to start again!

Okay, super exciting part!  After you've taken your photos inspired by the Baby Moments app, you're going to want to print them out, right?  Well, Canon wants to help you do that....from home!  Yes.  One lucky winner is going to receive the Canon Selphy CP910 Printer.  Go check it out, you really want to see this beauty!  Gid-dy-up!

Here's how you enter:

Visit the Canon #BabyMoments page on Facebook, come back here and leave a comment telling me which pose you are loving the most. (please be sure to leave your email address if you don't have a blog, I want to be able to reach the winner!).

(open to Canadian and US residents. contest closes Nov. 19, 2014 at 9pm EST)

That's it!  Good luck!

Be sure to also check out Canon's Baby Moments Pinterest board for more inspiration.

Cheers,

**this post was created in partnership with Canon Canada.  However, please know that all opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any which way.