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For most occasions, our own point and shoot camera is sufficient to record an event. Yet there are special occasions, like family reunions, when you will probably want to pay a professional to be sure it is done right. Of course, it will cost more than taking it yourself and having your own pictures enlarged. But the enduring quality of a good portrait will be worth it. After all, you are investing in the future by recording a memory of the past. Therefore, selecting the right photographer will be important. Consider these eight principles in making a wise choice.

1) Location- Is the studio a convenient distance from your home? Remember that you may well have to go there at least three times. You will need to get the picture made, then perhaps have to return to select a pose, and then, of course, pick up the final product. Ask too, is the building easy to access in terms of traffic and parking?

2) Facility- A family with several children got up early on a Saturday morning to be on time for their appointment for a family portrait. But once they arrived, they learned that the studio was too small to get everyone in. Is the studio a store front or an established facility that is prepared to photograph whatever size group you have?

3) Punctuality- Are they on time for the appointment you made with them? Have they allowed enough time to get the picture right? Are the promised results available when they promised? Check with others who have used their services to see if they are punctual.

4) Personality- Do the employees handle themselves professionally? Are they friendly and personable? Do they treat you with the respect you deserve? How do they manage with small children and babies? Are they able to accommodate special needs people? Often portraits can be stressful times to get everyone clean and dressed and in the car on time. Smaller children will not hide their tiredness or irritation. A good photographer should be able, under most circumstances, to handle these everyday occurrences.

5) Skill- Is the lighting shadow free? This is often the one area amateurs are least able to imitate. Also, a skilled photographer should be able to arrange the group so it is balanced, key people are highlighted, and everyone can be seen. They should be able to quickly arrange the group to make an attractive photograph.

6) Choice- A good photographer will take enough pictures so that you have ample choices from which to pick your favorites. How long do you have to wait before the proofs are available? Some companies will allow you to select your favorites while you are there. Are their recommendations motivated by money or what is best for you? Are they able to present the options without making you feel under pressure?

7) Integrity- Is the company honest? If they promised you one free picture or your unchosen proofs, do they keep that promise? Do they have the pictures ready when they promised? How would you estimate your overall experience in working with them?
Price- Obviously, professional photography will be more expensive than taking the pictures yourself. After all, they must pay for quality cameras, staff, and facilities. Just be sure that their price is competitive. If you call several firms and compare prices, you will at least be sure you are not cheated.

From our experience, getting a good family portrait can be a stressful time, but is worth the investment. If you follow these principles in selecting a photographer, you will likely be glad you had it done professionally.

It is common for anyone who is picking a tattoo to have to go through a series of tattoos which were traditionally tattoos which belonged to many different tribes. For tattoo artists, who know what is often popular among their clients, having tribal tattoo designs is extremely important.

But why are they so popular? Once tribal tattoos were not universal. They were given to members of a certain tribe in order to show that they belonged. The design differed from tribe to tribe, sometimes including extra designs to show position in a tribe too. Now they are not only popular within tribal communities, but with everyone.

For tribes, these tattoos where an important part of any ceremony. They were given when someone had their first hunt, when another was promoted, or became a man, or a mother, and when people got married. The marriage tribal tattoo design is usually a tattoo arranged to form a band, a circle that never ends, obviously a symbol of their love.

The most popular form of tribal tattoo in today’s society is actually the Celtic tribal tattoo design. Or, to be more specific, the tattoos which were commonly used by druidic practitioners in Celtic tribes.

Obviously, not everyone who now sports a Celtic tribal tattoo design is a druid. But once, these tattoos were steeped in a tradition of magic and ritual. The tattoos were said to have hidden meanings and powers, actually the key to a lot of druidic spells.

Perhaps the most popular Celtic tribal tattoo design today is the Celtic cross, which can be seen quite a lot.

Custom plush toys abound in the retail market. But what sets Child’s Own apart is that we get the inspiration from the drawings that were made by your child and customize it as a one-of-a-kind soft toy to be cherished for a lifetime.

Child’s Own understands that childhood is a onetime life stage when children play and explore the world with their unique child’s view. As busy parents concerned primarily with making sure that our children are eating enough, keeping safe and meeting milestones, we sometimes miss their precious moments of self discovery. Creating a soft toy from your own child’s drawing is a great way to celebrate an important creative stage in their life while providing an opportunity for bonding with your child by showing him how much you appreciate what he does.

Stuffed toys have been made as presents for young children for centuries, using whatever scraps of homespun fabric and yarn were on hand. Little rag dolls and soft toys with simple shapes are very easy and fun to make. To guide you on this activity, here are the materials and steps on how to transform your child’s drawing to a custom plush doll:

Materials:

Child’s drawing Tracing paper Fabrics (any fabric scraps will do.) Stuffing, such as polyester fiberfill or beads available at fabric and craft stores Buttons, sequins, rhinestones or beads for accessories and detailing Thread and needle Ribbons, tassels or any fabric trimmings Scissors Glue Kid’s photo (optional)

1. Have your child make a drawing or select one from your collection. Some children go through drawing phases, where they will constantly draw the same character, such as a mermaid or a dinosaur. These drawings are great for remembering these times. For special occasions such as your child’s birthday, you can choose their favorite animal or character.

2. Select and lay out the material for the soft toy. You can use or re-use any material, such as leftover scraps, an old blanket, table cloth, linen, an old favorite piece of clothing, etc. The softer the fabric, the softer the plush toy will feel. Kids are enticed with bright hues so use “pick-me-up” colors such as yellow, red, pink, green, blue, and so on. If you use felt, there is no need to hem edges. The important thing is to keep shapes simple and to find the right materials to help lend character to your creation. 3. Trace your child’s drawing onto the tracing paper, or redraw your child’s drawing to a larger scale if desired. Put aside your child’s drawing, and use the tracing paper drawing as your pattern.

4. Transfer the pattern to the fabric, cut out and sew the pieces together, right sides together. Leave a gap in the seam to flip it inside out and then stuff with fiberfill. The more you stuff the better. After stuffing, sew the gap closed.

5. The stuffed toy is now ready for you to sew on the eyes, mouth, nose and any other details that were drawn by your child. You may use buttons, colorful sequins, rhinestones, beads, etc. You can also embroider the details using thin wool or embroidery floss.

6. If you would like to further personalize the doll, you can add a little photo on the doll. You can paste the photo on a separate fabric and frame it using ribbons or fabric scraps before sewing it on the doll. If you are good at embroidering, you can embroider your child’s name on the doll. Another good idea is to embroider a message on the doll. Sew “I love (your kid’s name)” on the doll’s body and see your kid’s face instantly light up!

There you have it, your child’s very own custom plush doll! Enjoy the satisfaction of creating a toy that your child will truly appreciate for its sentimental significance. And of course, you might want to make one for yourself!

Singers need to have the proper posture if they want to sing. Remember your body is the channel through which your voice comes from. So while you sing, be conscious of the way you breathe, how you hold your self, and be aware of how you look to the public by trying to connect to the audience.

Posture is basic to the development of a singer’s skills. It is vital to have a relaxed upper body with the feet planted firmly on the ground. Make sure the knees are not stiff, but relaxed with one foot slightly forward. A singer should always be thinking about whether the posture is correct with muscles relaxed, and spine lengthened while standing.

Posture and breathing support are dependent on each other, so voice students should be made aware of the significance. Voice instructors tell their students to stand up straight so that they stretch out their spine and lower the chin as if to tuck it in. By doing this they will make room for air to flow through their lungs more readily as they inhale and exhale.

With bad posture, you can get back pain and muscle strain which will extend from the upper body to the back, which could result in back pain. As a result, the vocal cords will become stressed so your voice will not be completely full or at it’s best when you perform. Vocal cords are sensitive, so remember that relaxation is the key to a fuller, more expressive voice.

If you are going to sing in public, make sure you think of your spine as you prepare to sing. It’s important that your diaphragm is working in conjunction with your lengthened spine as you begin singing. Excellent posture with meaningful eye contact present an aura of confidence and willingness to communicate with the audience.

While singing, you should be standing with each foot resolutely on the ground with no stiff knees. If you do stand with tight and tense knees, you may have an interruption of your breathing as you sing. Keep in mind that with a proper stance, the way you stand and hold yourself will help give you the confidence you need for your performance.

A singer who holds themselves with the proper posture looks very self-confident and secure as a performer. Your goal as a singer is to look directly in the audience and communicate your music. So always be aware of the knees because they support your body, and observe yourself in the mirror so you can see how they look and learn how to bend them slightly so it becomes routine.

Remember that the voice is an extension of the body as you use it to express how you feel and think. And when you perform, it is doubly important because how you hold yourself and your spine will help you look like you really are a performer. Posture and breath support do work together, and will help you sound like a singer if you practice regularly.