What you will need:

Camera, Child, Suckers, Editing Program, Razor blade, Photo Printer or Access to consumer photo lab

STEP ONE: GET THE IMAGE!

Getting the image “just right” can prove to be the trickiest part of this project. You’ll need to try different angles and focal lengths. The first image I thought about using was one with a shallow depth of field (DOF)  meaning  just my son’s fist was in focus. I liked the image you see on the left, but decided I wanted one where his face was in focus and his fist was slightly out of focus (read blurry). So, we will be using the image on the right. When you take your photo it will take practice and it is up to you to decide if you want your child’s face in focus or just their hand.

STEP TWO: CREATE YOUR VALENTINE!

The next step after you get the image for your Valentine is to process it in an editing program, and create your Valentine template. You can create this yourself if you are savvy with your program or you can find pre-made templates free or for purchase.  I like to use colors that correspond to the image and created our Valentine template around the golden yellow pulled from my son’s shirt.

STEP THREE: PRINT IN WALLET SIZE

The average wallet size is 2.25×3.25. You should check what dimensions your lab uses before creating your template.

STEP FOUR: CUTTING

Step four requires a razor blade to cut small slits above and below your child’s fist on each wallet sized print. Be careful not to cut yourself and protect the surface beneath the print.

STEP FIVE: ADDING THE SUCKERS!

When you begin to put the suckers into cut slits of the image you must be very careful not to rip the print. If you are having trouble sliding the stick of the sucker into the holes try using the razor blade to make them a little wider.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

DO NOT WAIT TO GET IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

Sandy spoke about a friend she had many years ago that planned a session with her daughter and how time and life got in the way and forced them to reschedule the session. Shortly after the third reschedule something happened, and as Sandy said, “Her daughter will never have those images to look back on.”

My family knows all too well that tragedy can strike at any minute to anyone. Just 7 years ago I was a new mother to a colicky 7 week old. Sleep was golden not only for us as parents, but also when Connor was finally sleeping. No one dared wake him up because they knew they would endure fits of crying. However, one day in mid August 2004, my brother-in-law, Jason, just 18 at the time, stopped by the house. I had just gotten Connor to sleep and told him he better not wake him up. But, what 18 year old is going to listen to their sister-in-law? Soon Connor was awake and Jason was holding him and talking with his brother, my husband, Shawn. The moment wasn’t planned, but as a photographer, and new mother I grabbed my camera and snapped off several shots of Jason holding Connor and standing with Shawn, all while in our drive way.

Just several days later, after a long night of being up all night will Connor, I received the call that changed our lives as we knew it. On August 24, 2004, Jason had been killed in a car accident on his way home. The next few hours were a blur as life went on. The only thing I remember while sitting there was that I felt I needed to go to make copies of the images I had just taken so shortly before, and found myself staring at a kiosk bawling while printing the images in a one hour lab. These images I was printing were ones that almost didn’t happen. I am so thankful that we have those images of Connor and Shawn with Jason. Of course Connor doesn’t remember that time, but we tell him that Jason loved him and held him. Without those images he could only imagine what was.

The preparation for tragedy isn’t the only reason you should make it your goal for today and not someday. Who doesn’t love to look back at old pictures of when you were young? Give that gift to your child, but not only of what he or she looked like, but what your family looked like at that moment.

Our last family portrait back in November 2007!