Name: Erika Rigger Photography
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Spring Cleaning: 4 Creative DIY Projects to Try with Extra Prints

March 22, 2023

Good news, spring has officially sprung! But now it’s time for the annual spring cleaning festivities to commence. I know what you’re thinking. Cleaning in any way, shape, or form is never fun, nor should it be considered a festivity. But, that’s where you’re wrong. There are plenty of ways to make spring cleaning enjoyable for the whole family. Naturally, my favorite way is scouring old bins for printed photos that are just lying around and not in use. Instead of simply storing stacks of photos, why not turn them into beautiful DIY keepsakes?

DIY projects are a ton of fun, especially when you involve the whole family. Check out these fun projects to try with your extra prints!

Scrap-booking Projects

Scrapbooking for extra prints — photo sourced from abbymurphyphoto.com

Scrap-booking is a great way to keep family memories on beautiful hand-crafted pages! If you haven’t created a scrapbook in the past, now is a great time to start. If your kids are still young, this is especially true. They will be more than excited to get involved in the process. Scrap-booking is a ton of fun and all you really need to get started is a large book with a ton of blank pages! You can even get books that you can refill or remove pages that you don’t like. From there, just have fun with it! You can find plenty of fun and colorful paper and accessories at your local hobby store to decorate the pages. I find Michael’s has the best selection of scrap booking materials. I could spend a whole day in that store!

In the end, you’ll have a stunning work of art full of beautiful memories with the whole family. Use this as a conversational piece in your living room or collect more over the years and add them to your bookshelf. See? Spring cleaning can be fun!

Transfer your Prints onto Wood

Wood transfer DIY project — photo sourced from ssww.com

Yes, you heard right! You can totally do this in the comfort of your own home and it’s actually pretty simple. Not to mention, you will amaze the kids with your crafting skills with this project! You just need a few materials to get started on your wood masterpiece! You’ll want to have an unfinished piece of wood with a flat surface, a photocopy of your desired image, Mod Podge, water, and a hair dryer. You can find step-by-step instructions here.

Create a DIY Monogram Collage

DIY monogram letter collage — photo sourced from benfranklincraftsmonroe.blogspot.com

This DIY project is a personal favorite and it’s perfect to test out this spring. If you’re looking to create a decorative keepsake, this is the project for you. Not to mention, it’s a ton of fun and yet another great way to involve the kids. All you need is a solid base. This should be a wooden letter initial representing either your first or last name. I’ve seen them at Target, Michael’s and even JoAnn Fabrics. Once you have that, it’s pretty simple. Take all of your collected prints and glue them down in a way that matches your creative vision. If you’re looking for a nice neutral piece, try using only black and white images instead of lots of color!

Creative DIY Photo Hanger

DIY photo hanger to display family photos — photo sourced from simplelifeoflady.com

This trendy DIY photo hanger is the perfect way to display multiple photos at once, with minimal skills required. The main elements are a neutral-colored cord or string, and clothespins from your local craft store. The design options are endless: hang photos horizontally in a frame, or – my personal favorite – dangle them from any good old piece of wood. Let your kids help you pick out the perfect stick, and watch it turn into a beautiful and trendy photo display. Spring cleaning for the house and the yard, wrapped into one.

Spring is the perfect time for photos! If you’re interested in having me document beautiful memories for you, contact me or book now!

4 Reasons to Display Family Photos

February 24, 2023

Family smiling during portrait session with parents and children

We are all guilty of letting family photos sit in our camera roll or online galleries. “I will get these printed, someday,” we tend to think to ourselves. But, did you know there are major pros to hanging those memories up? Here are 4 reasons to display family photos in your home.

Family Photos Increase Self-Esteem

Mom, dad, and baby at one-year family photography session

Many studies have shown significant impacts on children regarding the presence of family photos displayed in the home. Children experience an increase of self-esteem when they are able to see themselves as part of the family unit through displayed photos. These photos provide a sense of belonging and value. In fact, experts say that if you display photos early, children hold a more solid sense of self by age five. Geoff Beattie, Head of School and Dean of Psychology Sciences at the University of Manchester says “By displaying photographs of our children at different stages of their lives, we are making a very public statement that we are proud of them.” This simple act of printing and displaying family portraits around the home has profound effects on the confidence of children.

Digital Doesn’t Do Them Justice

Parents and children smiling sitting on couch

Many of us store years worth of memories on our devices. While these photos are handy, they do not give the same impact as a framed photo in a living space. It is proven that portraits displayed in living rooms and bedrooms provide a greater sense of belonging and security in children and family members. With no scrolling or clicking necessary, these images provide a constant comfort.

Decreases Loneliness

Parents and kids sitting on dock smiling during photo session

Often a loved one travels, or a family member works out of the home. Therefore, it is easy to see why presenting family photos decreases loneliness. Photos hung around the home serve as a reminder to your brain that you are loved and cherished. Especially when your loved ones can’t be in the home psychically, displayed photos provide a sense of closeness to the people you love the most.

Family Photos Reduce Stress

In-home family photo session with parents and two children

It’s often not the house itself that feels like home, but the people who fill the walls with joy. Recent studies have shown that looking at photos of loved ones decreases stress levels. It is as if they were in the same room. Coming home from a long day to see walls filled with the smiling faces of they people you cherish most is priceless.

We are all guilty of sitting on a treasure trove of memories in our camera roll. I hope that these 4 reasons to display family photos have inspired you to take them from your device to your walls. If you are in need of some updated family portraits, contact me or book now! I would love to help you decorate your home with the smiling faces of the ones you love the most.

7 Christmas-Themed Photoshoot Ideas to Try with Your Kids

December 16, 2022

Kids in Christmas pajamas sitting in chair

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is only a handful of days away. But, it means now is the time to start celebrating all of the colors, festivities, and – above all else – the photo opportunities! If you love taking photos of your children, you’ve probably already dreamt up a few photo ideas for the holidays. But, if you’re in need of some inspiration, try a few of these 7 Christmas-themed photoshoot ideas:

Kids with milk and cookies from Santa during photoshoot

1. What’s Christmas without cookies?

If you have a little one who loves cookies, dress them up in a cute outfit (maybe an elf!) and capture them stealing a few of the cookies you’ve left out for Santa.

2. All that glitters

If your children are slightly older, you can capture some beautiful shots by simply adding a little glitter to the mix. To catch this unique shot, zoom in. Then ask your child to blow beautiful glitter out of their hand.

3. Create your own Christmas trees

Do you have a lovely tree outside or live near a park? Dress your kids up and decorate a portion of the tree with brightly-colored baubles. Then, you can pose them underneath it for some adorable shots.

4. Elves love pillow fights

For something more playful, dress your kids up in striped pajamas to fit in with the Christmas theme. Then, add some bunting to the room and treat them to a playful pillow fight while you capture the action.

5. Santa’s sleepy helper

If your child is still little, you can capture so many cute shots of them while they sleep. From placing them on top of a red Santa sack stuffed with pillows, to capturing them fast asleep on a children’s Christmas book, there are lots of ways to get some sweet, sleepy shots.

6. The Christmas baker

Of the many things that are great about Christmas, food is at the top! Try out taking your camera into the kitchen. Then you can capture your children baking in their Christmas hats or favorite jammies.

7. The reindeer and his friend

If your pets are a big part of your life, fit your children and your pets with a pair of reindeer antlers, then capture a few fun, giggly shots.

Christmas is such a fun, colorful time of the year that it’s almost impossible to run out of themes for your photos. Try a few of these 7 Christmas-themed photoshoot ideas to get the inspiration flowing. Once you get going, you’ll soon think of many more ideas that you and your children will love.

If do-it-yourself isn’t quite your thing, get with me for a fun family photo session! Contact me or book now to make sure you’re never missing out on savoring memories. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!

What Actually Happens During a Newborn Session?

November 29, 2022

Whether you’re thinking about booking a newborn session or already have a date on the books, I’m sure you’re a bit curious about what, exactly, goes on during a newborn session. How do you get those peaceful looking images? How involved are the parents for the shoot itself? Is it actually possible to “pose” an infant? Below I’m pulling back the curtain about what actually happens during a newborn photography session.

The Heat is Turned Up

Baby loosely wrapped during newborn session

It sounds bizarre, but I prefer to set the temperature much higher during a newborn session than what you’d normally have. This helps baby feel warm, comfortable, and– most importantly — sleepy.

I’ll Take Care of All the Newborn Poses

You don’t have to come up with poses or image ideas. I’ve got all that covered and know exactly how to set up an image to get great shots. I’ll also take care of all the prop setup and wrapping.

Mom & Dad Help Spot Baby

Though I do most of the work, I definitely need parents’ help during our shoots to help position the baby and work with me to help create images.

Baby’s Safety is Always My First Priority

No matter what, I place your child’s safety above all else. If we need to take a break, we will. If a pose isn’t working, there’s always another one to try.

I Have Tricks for Helping Baby Calm Down

I’ve done quite a few newborn photography sessions in my day, and I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help calm fussy babies. However, in the case of a baby who is very upset, I am more than happy to reschedule.

Sibling Photos Are Done First or Last

Big sister kissing newborn baby on the cheek

I know that having your kids at the shoot for the entire session may be a bit much for them. For that reason, I suggest having sibling poses done either at the beginning or the end of the newborn session, that way they don’t have to stay throughout.

Composite Images Are Key

I’ll sometimes melt a couple different images into one in order to create the perfect shot. Used by experienced photographers, this technique ensures beautiful newborn images.

No Need to Stress

Hopefully I have shed some light on what actually happens during a newborn session. It may seem daunting, but I can assure you, it will be as sweet and gentle as that new baby of yours. My top priority is making sure you and your little love can relax and have a good time.

If you’re expecting a new arrival, don’t forget to schedule a newborn session! Those first few weeks will fly by in a blurry haze, and it’ll happen faster than you can imagine. Contact me or book now to make sure you can savor those sweet days, forever.

Turn the Tables on Thanksgiving Stress

November 22, 2022

Grandparents and grandkids at a family holiday

If you love Thanksgiving but hate the stress, here are a few ways to avoid it this year. Thanksgiving is always a special time of the year but it can also be the cause of a lot of anxiety for many people. This year, turn the tables on Thanksgiving stress by remembering these tips:

Get started early. Planning and shopping early on in the month is one of the best ways to avoid stress closer to the time. Create a plan and a list of what you will need – shopping with a purpose is a lot less stressful. Also, make use of same-day pickup services and curbside services to avoid the masses.
Let others help. There is no rule that says you have to do everything yourself. If you have friends and family who are always willing to help, delegate tasks to make Thanksgiving more enjoyable on the day.
Don’t try something new the day of. If you do want to try a new dessert or side dish, practice it ahead of time so that it doesn’t stress you out on the big day.
Remember why you’re together. Sometimes we need to step back and remember why you’re coming together as a family. It’s not about the fancy decorations or the dishes on your table – it’s about spending real time together.

Family sitting around table looking at memories in photo album

The holidays can be a busy time, especially for the planners and the hosts. Keeping these ideas in mind when moving through your Thanksgiving week can make a huge difference. My hope is with these few simple tips, you can turn the tables on Thanksgiving stress and spend your energy on loving and enjoying your family and friends.

If you’re looking to capture some holiday memories this year, reach out! Christmas is right around the corner, so book now before the moment passes you by!