Make Beautiful Dress Up Memories With These 5 Simple iPhone Tips
The Mardi Gras festivities were in full swing this past week all over the world. I love seeing the photos of the purple, yellow and green colored costumes and decor.
It brings me back to when I was in my early 20s and visited New Orleans for the first time. The festivities were held in the beautiful French Quarter with its whimsical balconies, romantic street lamps and yummy Creole French southern cuisine.
Of course this was way before kids, husbands or major responsibilities. It was a time in my life when having fun with my girlfriends was at the top of my list. We’d take off from work for a few days and venture on mini trips. Our Mardi Gras adventure was no different…well maybe a little more celebrating than usual, lol.
Fantastic family fun
Although we didn’t get dressed up in carnival costumes on that trip I was able to enjoy my own kids dressing up years later. We’ve always had a dress up trunk that they’ve gone to when friends come over. Costumes get taken out on cold winter days and they find some magic in that trunk that transforms their imaginations to another place and time.
Today with our iPhones it’s so easy to get some good video clips or photos of these blissful moments when they’ve become princesses, pirates, chefs, storm troopers, fairies, bears and the list goes on.
Even though taking photos during these moments might not always be what you’re thinking about, getting in the habit of photographing these times will be priceless in the future. You’ll find some true gems in those images that you’ll fondly look back on years from now. I know I do.
As families we need to have more fun. And what better way to do that than through the lens of your kids while they’re at their happiest.
Here are five tips to making some lasting dress-up memories:
1. Props, props and more props
Have plenty of props around for kids to play with and transform themselves before their own eyes. You can have old clothes of yours, old Halloween costumes, garage sale finds, vintage store buys and more.
It’s always good to have glasses, sunglasses, vests, capes, dresses, swords, shields, slippers, necklaces, tutus, bracelets, wings, boots, among some of your essentials. And of course all sorts of head gear, like cowboys hats, fedoras, crowns, flower bands, masks, and animal ears. If you can imagine it then add it to the pile. Have a trunk full of them.
This works great with boys and girls alike. Kids regularly using their imaginations develops their problem solving and language skills. It also encourages creativity and builds their self confidence. They get to create their own worlds and scripts fostering their independence.
2. Plan it
Be sure you’re sharing in the revelry at least once a month and documenting it. Put it in the calendar for a certain day every two weeks or once a month. It’ll be something you can all look forward to as a family.
There might be other times that they’ll play with the trunk of goodies with their friends but you’ll make it up as it’s closer to your dress up day and celebrate their creativity and imagination. It’ll soon become a cherished tradition.
3. Get inspired
Have your iPhone ready and charged. Be flexible on taking photos indoors or outside.
If you’re indoors make sure you’re near open windows and take photos in the middle of the day for optimal light. Outdoor pictures are also fun perhaps in a nearby wooded area, near a rock park or just in your backyard. Kids’ inspirations seem to get heightened in the fresh outdoors.
Be prepared to take a bunch of photos both in regular and portrait mode.
4. Kids in on it
Get the kids behind the camera photographing themselves and taking video of their play as well. It could become a little mini movie creating time for them.
It’s the closest thing to truly seeing through the eyes of your child. They might surprise you with the angles they choose to film and the subjects they pick. You can always help edit their creations later.
Afterwards, it’ll be a treat for the kids to join you in watching the videos and photos you’ve taken together. Make it a special event and tradition after your dress up time. It’ll also serve as inspiration for them and it’ll give them new ideas for the next dress up day.
5. Compile the Pix
Save the images and the videos on your iPhone in special albums on your camera app.
You can find out how to do that by getting my free guide 6 Successful Ways To Organize Your iPhone Photos With Albums and you’ll get quick tips on how to make, move and manage your albums.
Once you get all the cute dress up pics in one place you can go to an online photo service like Shutterfly or Snapfish and you can create a stunning album. They’re both fairly easy to navigate and they’ll give you design suggestions and curated layouts to make it easier and quicker. You can also auto populate your photos with one click and viola you have a finished album!
If you’re more like me and want to do it manually then you’ll be able to add a little more of your own flair and humor into it. The dress up albums you create will surely become treasured keepsakes.
In conclusion
The kids’ years at home should be full of wonder, imagination, fun and laughter. By making sure you record the moments of your kids in role playing and merry making you’ll capture some of the true essence of their childhoods.
You’ll never regret taking these wonderful images and neither will they. If they’re anything like my kids, creating and viewing these dress up photo shoots, videos and albums will be some of their favorite pastimes from their lives growing up.
Having documented them in photos just adds to the magic and the memories.
Enjoy those costumes! 🩰👑👒🎓🥼🦺
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Bonus Video
Just when I was going to share some new iPhone photography tips those darn kids stole my phone, used Tip #4 and made their own dress up video!
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