I was so excited to get my hands on this book because, though I love to take pictures of my girls, and I do have a nice camera, I don’t exactly know what I’m doing. I hope that’s ok to admit. Yes, I’m outing myself – My name is Lindsay. I have a dSLR camera. And I don’t know exactly how to use it.
But with that being said, I have been working really hard to learn more about photography and how to take good pictures, so this book came at the perfect time! I find so many photography books are way to technical for my liking. I am a visual learner, so I love pictures and examples and many of the books I’ve picked up are just filled to the brim with text. I want to take good pictures of my kids, but I am by no means looking to become a true professional.
Mamarazzi by Stacy Wasmuth was written with a casual, friendly tone and addressed all of the issues I have with photographing children. She covers a wide-range of topics that will interest many moms who just love, love, love taking pictures of their little ones.
Here is what the table of contents looks like so you can see what all the book entails:
This book goes into some detail with how to use your dSLR camera but it also has other great photography tips for those that use basic point-and-shoot cameras as well. I love that the author goes into some detail in regards to photo editing as well because I end up doing a lot of that with the pictures that I take.
She talks about shooting different children of all ages, what to have them wear for photo shoots and how to get those winning smiles out of them without them saying “cheese” (which if you’ve ever photographed kids before, you know that never looks attractive).
Mamarazzi has some of the best eye candy of any photography book I have ever seen. The sample photographs are amazing and there are TONS of them. Besides being very informative, who doesn’t love looking at photographs of adorable babies, cute toddlers, beautiful children and happy families?
Here is some additional information from Amazon.com about Mamarazzi by Stacy Wasmuth:
Moms, if you can’t seem to take enough great photos of the children in your life, this is the book for you. Now you can learn how to photograph children with the style, clarity, color, and beauty you see in professional photographs. This fun guide combines humor with solid know-how to show you how to compose shots, handle cameras from basic compacts to advanced dSLRs, take portraits or candids, create prints that impress, and even work with kids! Packed with beautiful examples and written in a down-to-earth style from one mom to another, this book will help mamarazzis everywhere take better photos.
- Moms are one of the fastest-growing segments of the camera-toting demographic, and the blogosphere has a term for them, mamarazzis
- Mixes information, inspiration, and fun for women who want to take better photographs of the children in their lives
- Explains how to set up a camera and use the controls on basic compacts up to advanced dSLR cameras
- Covers shot composition, determining settings, exposing images correctly, the essentials of printing images, how to process for clear and bright color, and more
- Includes stunning examples of portraits and candids of children
Here’s how to enter:
Please use a separate comment for each entry (enter all three times or just once….it’s up to you).
1. Tell me who you love to photograph or why you need this book.
2. Become an official follower of The Cottage Home blog.
3. Become a fan of The Cottage Mama on Facebook (click HERE to do so).
Giveaway will be open until Friday, July 15, 2011 at midnight (CST).
Lindsay Wilkes is the owner and designer behind The Cottage Mama. She creates timeless, vintage inspired sewing patterns for children’s clothes. She is also a fabric designer for Riley Black Designers / Penny Rose Fabrics, author of the book ‘Sew Classic Clothes for Girls’ and can be seen teaching nationwide and online in her video series ‘Lessons with Lindsay’ sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing and Embroidery machines.
I love to take pics of Reese, but I have no clue how to use my DSLR camerea either 🙂
Already a follower
already a fan
I take pictures of my twin girls, Abbey & Neave. I have a dSLR and I can do SOME with it, but I really need some furthering education! Thanks so much!! I’m excited!
What a great book idea, I love the photos especially the Christmas shot! I would like to take better photos of my bub and her cousins. Thanks!
Already a happy follower!
Already a fb liker : )
I’m looking forward to my first baby and would love to be able to take great pics from the start!
And I’m a follower!
I love to photograph my little boy and soon my little girl!
I’m an official follower!
I’m a fan on facebook!
following!
I’ve got two precious little ones that I take tons of pictures of – anything that helps me take better pictures would be fun to have! (including a new dSLR camera 🙂 ah well… one of these days!)
My daughter bought a new dSlr camera to take photos of our gorgeous granddaughter and I would love to give her this book. It looks great!
I am a follower.
That looks amazing, I mostly photograph still life – stuff I’ve made, but occasionally 1 of my 3 children creep in, I wish I could take good photo’s, it’s more my husbands thing, but with this…I could improve! thanks for the giveaway
I would love to take better pictures of my 3 little grandchildren! Looks like a great book to have!
Evin5 at aol dot com
following too – thanks!
I am a follower!
Evin5 at aol dot com
My favorite subject is my almost 2 year old daughter, Olive. But she won’t ever look at me. I have a dslr but definitely need some good tips!!!thanks for the chance.
I absolutely LOVE to photograph my 3 year old TRIPLETS. Like you, I have an eye for photography, a great Nikon w/ some fabulous lenses but I don’t have the technical aspect down yet. And again, like you, I am a visual learner. The technical mumbo jumbo sends my head spinning in to outer space!
Astrid
http://scbyastrid.blogspot.com
Already a follower!
I am a faithful follower of your blog! I really enjoy reading & seeing what you have come up with.
And finally, I have now become a follower on FB! Thank you for the opportunity to win the book!
Astrid
http://scbyastrid.blogspot.com
signature.creations at hotmail.com
Oh my goodness, I neeeeeeeeed this! I have 10 month old twins and the cost for having them professionally photographed keeps going up.
I am already a follower and really want to win!
I am now a FB follower!
I love to photograph my 3 year old and 1 year old. Sarah skubinski at mac dot com
I love photographing my sweet kids, daughter 6, son 5 and soon to be baby #3. I would love to win this book.
I am a follower of your blog
I am a follower on facebook.
I love to photograph my 5 and soon to be 6 grandchildren. It would be great to know how to capture those “unposed” poses!
I am already a follower of your blog.
I follow you on Facebook!
I love taking pictures of my little brother and sister. They are super cute!
I follow your blog.
I follow you on facebook
That last pic is hilarious!
I love taking pictures of my kids but I have no clue how to use any but the simplest settings on my camera.
I am following your blog
I am following you on fb
I love to take pictures of my baby, of course! And I have idea how to use anything but auto… 🙁
I follow you!
I like you on FB!
I love this blog, and just mentioned on FB how I am currently making one of your adorable bonnets for one of my little beauties. The only problem – I have NO CLUE how to use my camera, and would love to learn, so I can photograph my “Cottage Mama Creations” and pass them along. You might enjoy seeing how inspirational you really are!
[email protected]
I love the book’s name!
I love taking pictures of my son and my cats, if they are together it’s even better.
I’m a follwer!
I’m a follower 🙂
I need this for my husband. His birthday is coming up and this is perfect. He loves taking pictures and this will help him with our kiddos.
While I do not have kids (yet…I’m in college, so a little early!) BUT I plan to take lots of photos of my kids later, you know, once I have them. Not only that, I love photography and I’m sure I’d use the knowledge gained much sooner than that.
I am a faithful follower!
I take gobs of pics of my three girls, but the littlest one…she is SO hard to shoot! She is always moving, and I have a million blurry shots of her ear b/c she always turns her head when she sees the camera. I need help 🙂
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! My two babies are so sweet and I want to capture my little man’s crazy curls and my sweet girlie’s BIG smile.
I’m a fan on facebook!
I’m a fan on Facebook, and love reading your blog! I like to take pics of my twin girls (who are 1), but it’s hard to actually get a picture of them together (both looking at the camera, smiling, etc). I need some tips! 😀
I love taking pictures of my kids, my dogs, my quilts, and nature. Thanks for the giveaway opp!
I follow the Cottage Mama in google reader. Thanks!
I love to photograph my niece Elliot. She has the most beautiful blue eyes and makes the most hilarious faces. She’s 10 months old and we just found out she has a new sibling on the way. I don’t have any kids, so Elliot is the sparkle in my eye!
I’m a follower! 🙂
I’m a very happy fan on facebook! Thanks for all your wonderful posts.
I love taking photos of my children and the simple everyday things that make up our lives.
This book seems great, I love that it offers tips for those of us who do not have a DSLR x
ps – I am an international follower, but would be happy to pay for postage if I was lucky enough to win x
I am a follower x
I follow on FB x
I am a fan on FB! I love your blog 🙂
Christy
[email protected]
I have had a DSLR for a short while but have not learned much past some of the auto features. I would read and study and wear out this book figuring it out!
Thanks for a great giveaway!
Christy
[email protected]
Facebook fan!
Cottage Home blog follower!
Please please please let it be my number for this book! I am totally one of those moms that takes a million pictures, yet I, too, don’t actually know what I’m doing with my really nice camera. 🙂
Thanks for the chance! Fun giveaway!
I love photographing my 14 month old daughter and would love to learn some new things from this book. I usually just take a million pictures and hope one is the perfect shot!
thanks!
Already a follower! I love reading your blog!
And I’m a fan too!
I have 4 kids to photograph and could use any help I can get! :-0
I am a Cottage Mama Follower! I love your ideas and blog. 🙂
I think I need this book, my kids call me Grandmarazzi! We have another one due at the end of August! Close to when you are due!! Great recommendation thanks.
Cindy
Thanks for a great giveaway!
I am your follower 🙂
We bought a nice dslr camera before our baby was born and just haven’t taken as many of the amazing pictures we were hoping for! Our daughter is now 8 months old! I hope I win!
I’m a follower!
I like you on FB!
I take lots of pictures of my daughters and dog and I could definitely use help with my dslr.
I follow thecottage home via google reader.
I have two little ones Pepper and William and would love to know more about taking pictures of them Thanks!
I follow your blog it is so beautiful.
I also follow on Facebook! Thanks
I’m learning to photograph my brand new baby and this would help immensely!!
And I’m a follower! 🙂
My name is also Lindsay, I have a DSLR camera and I don’t really know how to use it either. I love taking pictures of my one year old daughter, but it’s getting harder and harder because she never stops moving. I would LOVE to have this book.
And I’m a follower…
I love taking pictures of my sweet two year old daughter, and now newborn baby.
I like you on facebook
I take photos of my very active and deliciously cute fifteen-month old, Noah! …but, right now, the auto setting on my dslr is getting worn out. I need help!
I also like you on FB. Fingers crossed!!
I also follow you! Fingers crossed again!
goode dot rachel at gmail dot com
I need this to learn my (new) camera for photographing my kids (duh!)
I follow the blog – love it!
I love to take pictures of my kids, 11, 8, and 4. Thanks for a chance to win!
I am a follower!
I am a fan on FB!
I love to photograph my 2 handsome guys (ages 1 & 3) and need this book because it’s SO hard to get a picture that’s good of both of them together.
Already a follower 🙂
I would love to win this for my best friend. She has two little boys that she just loves to take pictures of.
This is cool! I would take pics of my boys–2 1/2 and 1 1/2 as well as my new little one who is set to arrive in Oct!
I follow this blog (and love it)! 🙂
I am already a follower on facebook 🙂
I am already a follower of your blog 🙂
I LOVE to photograph my kids–I have a 4th on the way in 6 weeks AND I am in the process of buying my first dSLR camera!!! I totally need this book. If I don’t win (pick me! pick me!) I will buy it anyway =)
I would love to win this book for me (the Grandma) to share with my daughter(the Mama) so we could take super pictures of Breck (the cute subject of the photos)!
I love to photograph my kids and my doula clients!
Already a FB follower!
I would love to take better pictures of my girls.
I get your daily email
Just became a fan, LOVE the blog!!!
Now a fan on Facebook as well!!!
Love taking photos of my little Sophie Bee… I actually purchased the camera this past December right after she was born, so I need some serious help. I purchased two books and they are way too technical for me!!!
I love to take photos of my two girls but I can never quite get them right!
Already a Follower!
I absolutely need this book! We have the fancy camera, and I don’t know how to do anything but point and shoot!
Already a FB Fan
I am a fan on FB, I am also a grandmama of the most beautiful little girls ever…..they are 2 and 4 and LOVE to be photographed….I would LOVE to have this book so I could show them off properly
I have 3 little brothers that I would LOVE to learn how to take adorable pictures of!
I’m a follower. 🙂
Liked you on Facebook
I always mean to learn more about my dSLR…but everything seems too technical. I love to photograph my son!
I love to photograph my kids for my shop, http://www.theblueladybug.com, but camera skills are definitely lacking. I’m always ready to learn a new trick!
I have been an official blog follower quite awhile! I love your blog!
First ~ I have to say that little girl on the cover of that book is just adorable.
This looks like an amazing book judging by the index shown. My husband and I have in the past photographed a couple of weddings which was our present to the brides (and groom too by default LOL) Since then however, most of my photography has been our Granddaughter when we get to see her or most of the time, my Ragdoll cat who is a clown and just an awesome cat.
And I am a fan of the Cottage Mama on facebook as well!
I am already a follower of your blog.
I’m already a fan on your FB page as well.
I’m already a FB follower! I have been wanting to get better with the pictures I take of my Daughter, Son and of course Husband. I truly have thousands of pictures, but I just point and click, I want to learn more!!!! Pick me!!! A Mom of a 1 and 2 year old!
Hey Lindsay…it’s Lindsay! : )
I love taking photographs of my 4 month old, Jackson. His smile is amazing! Loving your blog and following you on FB, too!
I would definitely take pictures of Hazel my 2.5 year-old. Hopefully she will not inherit my crazy photo smile which if she does I definitely need all the help I can get. Love your blog and following you on facebook.
This book looks fantastic! I love to photograph my 2 year old son and my 6 week old daughter.
I’m following you on facebook!
I take pictures of my four children but know I am not even close to utilizing my camera to the fullest!!
I am already a fan on facebook!
I am already a follower of your blog!
Sounds like a good book. I too got my dSLR to take pictures of my kids and still need some serious help.
I am a follower
I am a fan!
I like to take pictures of my daughter, but I usually take several and get lucky with one or two. I’d love to learn more!
I am a follower.
And I like you on facebook.
Your photos of your girls are pretty nice already!
I’ve got two little busy girls and I am such a mamarazzi (great word!)! But I would love to be able to take some nice formal, but spontaneous looking (lol) photos for all occasions!
Thanks for the review and giveaway!
I absolutely need this book because I don’t have a clue of how to take good photographs and my girls are growing up so quickly! I need to capture it all. Thanks!
Kim Vojacek
I follow via GFC
And I’m a FB fan too! Thanks again
I follow your blog and love to read each entry!!!
Kim Vojacek
I love to take pictures of my family and family events. I have a DSLR and I am clueless with it. I have three children who are whizzes with their DSLRs and I would love to show them that I can use mine and take beautiful pictures like them! (And not have to rely on them for photos I love!)
I am a follower!
I am now a follower!
I already follow you on FB!
I love to take pictures of my kids! I received a new camera for Mother’s Day. I need to learn how to use it.
I’ll love to photograph my two little ones!!
would love this book!
am a follower!
follow you on facebook too.
I follow you on facebook
My favorite thing to take photos of is my son and husband together. They are just so sweet together I would love to really be able to capture that.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE to photograph my three little princesses – Izabella, Sofia and Ivana. In about 5 weeks we are welcoming our 4th and YES it’s a boy. I would love to learn how to use my camera and get better pictures of them. Also, excited about the editing section since I enjoy doing a lot of that as well!
Not sure how to become an official “follower.” I’m guessing that since it won’t let me click on the link to “follow” that I’m already a follower.
I’ve already liked the fb page! 😉
I’m a follower via my google reader =)
I don’t have children yet (hopefully soon!!!!) , but I love to take pictures of my little cousins. =)
I have five grandchildren and I would love to learn how to take better pictures of them!
I’m already a loyal follower of your blog 🙂
I have already liked you on your FB page
I have 3 adorable daughters to photograph. I got a DSLR for Christmas, and this book would help me big time!!
I am a follower of your blog.
I am a fan on FB.
I would use this book to help me figure out the editing tips. I tend to post most of my pics SOOC. I don’t even know where to start with the editing. 😉
I am a fan on Facebook!
I am a follower of The Cottage Mama.
I just got a DSLR with the agreement that I wouldn’t spring for pro photos of Baby #2 due in Oct. and I am NERVOUS! Still learning how to take better photos and would die for this book!
I’m a follower of The Cottage Home!
I follow The Cottage Mama on Facebook! Jennifer Van Meter DeShazer
I just got a new DSLR camera and would love to learn more about taking great photos! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love taking pictures of my two beautiful girls…though I’m not very good! Tis wannabe mamarazzi needs more detailed instruction.
Kelli
[email protected]
I’m a follower of The Cottage Home!
Kelli
[email protected]
Liked you on facebook as well!
Thanks for this great giveaway!
Kelli
[email protected]
I would love to win this book to learn to take better pictures of my 13 month old Audrey! I always get pictures that are almost perfect but have no editing skills. This would definitely help!!
— Julie
I like you on facebook!!!
I’m a follower of your blog now!!
I’ve got a very active 3 year old that I love to take pictures of!
I’m a follower!
I liked TCM on FB.
i love to take pictures of my daughter and she loves being photograph too. although I don’t know much about photography I just click the button.
gustosagiveaways atymaildotcom
gfc follower
gustosagiveaways atymaildotcom
gustosa giveaways like The Cottage Home on fb
gustosagiveaways atymaildotcom
I’d actually give this to my sister for them to take awesome photos of my nephew.
I follow this blog.
I’m your fan on FB.
My two little munchkins are the smiles I see through the lens, but I certainly need some tips for getting good pics!!
I liked ya on FB too
And I became a true follower too
I love to take pictures of my 5 children! j-j-s AT juno DOT com
I’m already a fan on Facebook! j-j-s AT juno DOT com
I am a follower and I love your blog…have for a while!
I’m a follower on facebook!
I have 3 glorious children that are camera shy now and I would love to learn how to capture their total cuteness on film.
Opps! I posted a the hubs on accident. But I’m a blog follower and love it!
I would love this book! I have 2 boys and another on the way, so I splurged on a dslr. I’ve been meaning to sit down and teach myself how to use it properly, but time is running out. Can’t wait to see this book!
I’d love to read this book….always looking for inspiration!
I am a follower of the blog from the beginning: )
Facebook fan as well!
Like every other mother out there, I love to photograph my 13 month old daughter. But before her, I photographed my dog just about as much.
I have been a follower of your blog for a long while. I love it!
I follow you on facebook.
I LOVE taking pictures of my 4 adorable kids (all under 5). I got a super nice DSLR from my father-in-law and am still struggling with how to get good enough shots to put on the mantle. This book would be perfect!
jlharcus(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’m a fb fan too!
jlharcus(at)yahoo(dot)com
I have a new baby girl and am definitely NOT the greatest photographer. I want to really be able to get some fun shots of her!
[email protected]
I am an official follower of your blog.
[email protected]
I am already a fan of yours on Facebook.
[email protected]