4 Tips for Photographing Special Needs Children

Last year, I realized something extremely disturbing. You see, at the end of each year I go through all our photos and compile the "best of..." Yes, there are generally still hundreds, but at least I clear out the obvious bad pictures. I usually choose my 12 favorite pictures of both of the girls and create a calendar for my parents. Well, Samantha has always not been super easy to photograph, but as she has gotten older, it has seemed even harder to get a good picture of her. And last year, as I went through our pictures, I couldn't even find 12 pictures of Samantha that were "good." I was heartbroken. Devestated. Her future, like many of our kids, is so uncertain. What if all I have left one day are these pictures? And I can't find even 12 to sum up an entire year? I immediately save up money from my tutoring jobs and went out and bought a much better camera!

Yes with a camera that takes 7 shots a second, I have gotten a lot more pictures of Sammy that I adore. But she's still not all that easy to photograph.

Today on Pinterest (let's all give a prayer of thanksgiving for that wonderful little location on the web), I came across a fantastic article: 4 Tips for a Successful Session with Special Needs Children. The article is written more for professional photographers, but I these 4 simple tips can be useful to all of us...especially to those who have a DSLR or something similar to it. It's worth reading.



Again, it's hard to get pictures of our kids -- any kids really. But when you have a child who won't/can't smile on demand or won't sit still in a posed position, doing the whole picutre thing can be sad. (After leaving a JCPenney photo session one time, I felt so discouraged believing that I would never get a picture with Samantha and Callie together. Not one turned out. The only picture I bought was one when Sammy was crying as Callie hugged her. Not what I'd call a "successful" picture, but memorable nonetheless.) But when I do get a picture of Sammy that is good -- so good that it's like seeing her real self -- her eyes shine and her smile is so full of joy...my heart swells up. And those are the pictures I want to hold if a time ever comes that I can't hold her.

So, read the short article, get some tips, and if you don't take the pictures yourself, ask your photographer to use some of the tips. It'll be worth it.

Back to School Photo Ideas

Illustration from maren-celest's flickr photo stream

Back to School Photo Check-list from Simple as That

Love this wheelchair/school bus shot from our very own Bree

She has lots of genius photography ideas on her blog, Bugg's Special Life

Adorable school book idea from Mandy Lynne Photography

SMILE :) Banner idea from lilpuddlejumpers' flicker photo stream

Oh the never-ending possibilities of sidewalk chalk pictures

"I love her" picture from Enjoying the Small Things

I also really love the tips, tricks, actions and textures available at Paint the Moon.

Happy Back-to-Schooling, everyone!

Shape Collage

I recently found out about Shape Collage
and simply had to share this great resource with all of you!
Free download + a few clicks = a great decoration, gift idea, etc, etc!



The first things that came to mind were an apple for teacher appreciation:



And a collage in the shape of the 3elove logo:

The possibilities are endless!

Here's how it works:



What shape are you going to use to create a collage?

Tar Heel Reader

Have you heard of Tar Heel Reader?
You need to check it out!


It's a collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics. The books may be downloaded as slide shows in PowerPoint, Impress, or Flash format. The books are adapted for easy accessibility (for switch users). And you can add voice with just the click of a button.

There's also an option to register for a free account and create your own books -- or have your child create his or her own book.... with just a few clicks!

Think of the possibilities!

Go here to find out how to create eBooks via PowerPoint.
Go here to find out how to add narration to your PowerPoint eBook.

Special thanks to If Only I Had Super Powers for sharing this resource!

Get Grounded

I love this idea from Ohdeedoh....
Let your imagination run wild and use the ground as your backdrop.
I think this an especially fun idea for our special needs children
who can be hard to pose for pictures.

Think of how many ways you could pose your child
if you didn't have to worry about trunk strength, head control, etc.!

North Pole Magic

This is a repost because I'm on vacation and don't have time to come up with something new. It's good, though, so enjoy!

I want to share some fun ideas that will help bring a little bit of North Pole whimsy to your house and the little believers in it!

First of all, have the kiddos sent a wish list to Santa? Once that's done....

Wouldn't it be fun if the kids could get a custom reply back from Santa? The North Pole Secretary is just the place to go. Just let them know your child's name and other info unique to your child (due date is the 18th), and Santa will send a personalized letter that will bring excitement, but the letter will also remind of the importance of things like "caring, sharing, and the Baby who made it all possible." Cute.

And oh my am I excited to share the second idea. My friend Mel was the one to tell me about....

Carol at Elf on the Shelf explains this fun tradition:


This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Plagued by their desire to know how Santa really knew who had been naughty or nice, I searched through the Christmas decorations for a plausible explanation. Nestled among them was the answer; a small elf doll from my own childhood. With that discovery, the idea for the elf tradition was born.

At our home the elf would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch my children's behavior and report it to "Santa" each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the "North Pole" and was hiding in a different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position.

Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were even introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him; however, they were allowed to talk to him. For obvious reasons, he was not allowed to reply. Eventually, my children even gave him a name - officially adopting him into the family.

Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf was watching" for errant behavior to be modified.

I never dreamed this simple tradition would lead to so many Christmas memories for our entire family. It is my earnest desire that The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition will bring as much joy to your family as it has to mine.


Mel's family named their elf Buddy, and he has been spotted throughout their house this season....

Buddy hangin' out in a stocking

Buddy chillin' in a doll house

I can't wait to get a little elf of my own and create this tradition. I think it is a fantastic idea!

Elf Magic is a site that gives other ideas for your little elf.

Have you ever heard of Magical Reindeer Dust???


According to Kelly tells you how to make it and shares the legend behind it:

it has once been said,

that right before you go to bed.

you should sprinkle magic reindeer food,

to quickly bring Santa and his brood.

for many years the legend has been told,

to boys and girls, both young and old,

sprinkle the food throughout your yard,

then finding your house won’t be so hard!

the reindeer can smell the food for 100 miles,

just do not leave it in big piles!

after you do this you must go to sleep very fast,

so Santa and his reindeer will not pass!

I think this is such a fun idea. Go visit Kelly to get the recipe and tell her thanks for the idea!

Speaking of reindeer, doesn't everyone leave cookies for Santa to nibble when he stops on Christmas Eve? I think he might appreciate chompin' on these little guys.....

photo found on Big Oven.com

We made these little nummies for our neighbor gift last year. We put nine reindeer on each plate: eight had brown noses, and one had a red nose. I don't think that needs an explanation. They were a hit! They are made of peanut butter cookies. Pretzel bits are used to make the antlers. M&M's used for the noses, and we just used squeeze frosting to make the eyes. Yummy, easy and cute!

One last North-Pole-ish idea. This was a gift I got from a neighbor last year and I think it is so cute....

I put this little sign next to Santa's cookies on Christmas Eve last year, and I think it was appropriate. I decided to attempt to replicate it for a few gifts this year, and I was shocked at how easy it was! I just got an 8x8" plain white tile, a small black easel, and then created the vinyl lettering on my Cricut. They turned out pretty darn cute, and it only took me about ten minutes to make. Easy. Cute. Voila.

If you need any ideas for neighbor gifts, here are some easy ideas that the whole family could help put together....

Bag of M&M's

As you hold these candies in your hand, and turn them you will see
The M becomes a W, and E and then a 3
They tell the Christmas story, It's one I'm sure you know
It took place in a stable a long, long time ago
The E is for the East, where the star shone so bright
The M is for the manger where Baby Jesus slept that night
The 3 is for the wise men, bearing gifts they say they came
W is for Worship, Hallelujah, Praise His Name
So as you eat these candies or share them with a friend
Remember the meaning of Christmas it's a Love Story that never ends.

Bounty paper towel roll

This season may the "absorbing" spirit of Christ "blot" out your problems, "soak up" your sorrows, and "wipe" away your difficulties and may the new year bring you "bounteous" blessings all the year through!

kitchen tea towel

At first glance, one looks at a kitchen towel and thinks, "Wow! A towel! I needed a new one," or Wow! A towel! The old ones are getting stained and worn. But have we ever stopped to think that for years, even thousands of years, the towel has not just been used in the kitchen, but for a variety of reasons?

Take, for example, the mother who wipes the tears of a little child to soothe the physical and emotional hurt; The physician who binds the wound of a bleeding patient; The woman in her home wiping hands as she moves from task to task; The weary traveler who wipes his sweated brow.

Notwithstanding all of the above examples, perhaps the most significant use of the towel was about 2,000 years ago when our loving Jesus took an ordinary towel in his hands and dried the feet of his disciples only hours before his crucifixion. Sure, the towel is a handy item with a myriad of uses, but it also has deep symbolic meaning when seen in the hands of the Savior during a work of kindness for his fellowmen.

So, take this towel, knowing it is given with love, and do works of goodness with it, as the Savior worked with His so many years ago.

I got all these ideas at a boutique, and I'm sorry, I don't know where the poems originated from. Just know that these are not my ideas. I am not nearly so clever!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season and lots of fun with your families!!!

Your Lucky Day

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow! Here are a few last-minute ideas to take your lucky day up a notch.....

My friends and family shouldn't be too shocked if they get a St Patrick's Day card that was inspired by BHG's simple sentiment ideas.

This collage shamrock is so cute! Go to Busy Bee Kids Crafts to find out how to make it.

No Time For Flash Cards teaches how to make this shamrock garland.

Kids Crafts Magazine gives this rainbow/pot o' gold door hanger idea.

Bring the rainbow to you by making this necklace from Activity Village.

I like this shamrock pretzel from Family Fun.

I like Parents' sweet shamrocks made out of pound cake.

I really like this Green Eggs and Ham wrap idea from The Passionate Cook.

Do you have any St. Patrick's Day traiditions (other than wearing green, of course)? My mom usually made something green for breakfast. I remember one year we had green pancakes with glasses of green milk. =)

Playing House

I've recently come across these adorable ideas to help the kids play house. I have to admit, my inner toddler shrieked with excitement with all of these ideas, so I had to pass them along....

Katherine Marie Photography created this play kitchen and shares other links for play kitchen inspiration. If you truly want to create a play kitchen, you definitely want to go visit her site!

Martha's cardboard-box oven craft is adorable!

And what good is a toy oven if you don't have a toy pie to go along with it? Check out this link from Martha to find out how to make this felt cherry pie.

Zoho gives an entire how-to guide to create cardboard furniture.

UK Lass in US gives a tutorial on how to make this CUTE portable fabric dollhouse.

Thrifty Fun gives some thrifty and fun ideas making dollhouse furniture out of everyday household objects. You've gotta check this out!