Birth photo announcements are the ideal way to let your friends and family share in the joy of a new baby. Instead of selecting a common, boring announcement, consider making one that is personalized.

Making your own birth announcements is very easy and makes a treasured keepsake. We'll show you how to take your cute baby photos and make simple, yet classy designs that your loved ones will be impressed with.

baby photo birth announcement
No new parent should be without a digital camera. Take several pictures of your newborn in different settings so that you have a wide selection of funny baby photos to choose from when you make your photo birth announcements, or you could opt for professional baby photos.

If you've chosen a theme or color for your baby photo birth announcement, then use it in the clothing you dress your baby in. Just be sure not to use anything too busy or frilly because that sort of thing can be distracting. Be prepared with extra batteries, a memory card or film because you'll need to take lots of pictures so that you have a variety to choose from.

The details that you include in the baby photo birth announcements will depend on your personal taste and the space available. There are many choices on how to introduce your baby. The most popular options include "We welcome with love," "We are pleased to announce the arrival of" and "We joyfully announce the birth of our son/daughter."

baby photos
Traditionally, a birth announcement includes the child's full name, the date of birth, weight and the names of the parents. You can also include the time of birth, the names of the siblings or grandparents, or even a nickname for a new baby. Some parents also include a personal message.

Emailing your birth photo card announcement is a popular option in this digital age. The electronic announcements can be made using Photoshop or you can purchase software specifically designed for making scrapbooks. It's very inexpensive and they come with templates that you can personalize by uploading your baby photo gallery, changing fonts and selecting backgrounds.

cute baby photos
Be sure to include the baby's full name, the full names of the parents, and his or her birth date. You may wish to include the infant's height and weight, and the names of the grandparents. If you choose not to send the announcements electronically, then simply print the announcements you've designed and send them by post.

There really is no wrong way to share the news about a new baby, so don't be afraid to make your birth photo announcements funny and touching. If you're naming your child after someone special, feel free to share that. The important thing is that your family and friends share in the joy of the arrival of the newest member of your family.

Believe it or not, you can set up a simple, homemade photo studio in your house to take new baby photos for your photo announcements. It only takes a couple of minutes and will result in beautiful, professional-looking photographs.

We'll walk you through setting up the background, posing your baby and framing the shots so that you'll have cute baby photos you'll always cherish.

baby photos
To set up your home photo studio, choose a spot that has plenty of natural light. You can use lamps for additional lighting but avoid bright lights or overhead lighting. These create unattractive shadows and can make the images look washed out. Once you've chosen a location, place a solid-colored blanket or sheet on the floor.

If your floor is hard, then hide a towel underneath the blanket so that your baby is comfortable. Look through your camera and be sure all you can see is the blanket; not the stuff around it.

Make sure that your camera is completely set up before you bring your baby into the shot. Read the manual carefully so that you will know how each function works. Turn the date stamp off and set the camera to the highest possible resolution and compression. Make sure that the battery is fully charged or have extra batteries, and start with a fresh memory card so that you can take plenty of newborn baby photos.

baby photo gallery
A comfortable baby is a happy baby who will look great in photographs! Choose a plain outfit in a soft color. Stripes, patterns and designs can be distracting. Look through the viewfinder of your camera and make sure that your child looks his or her best.

Keep an eye out for stains on the blanket or baby clothes, and check your baby's face for stray bits of food, flaky skin or a runny nose. If the baby starts to get fussy, then take a break and try again later.

Once you're ready to take your newborn baby photos, get above your baby and point the camera downwards. Make sure the only things you can see in the shot are the baby and the blanket backdrop. Check that the blanket doesn't fold to reveal the floor and don't include items like pillows or stuffed animals.

cute baby photos
Try different angles and take lots of pictures so that you can save the ones with the cutest expressions and poses. If you are using a manual focus camera, then be sure to adjust your focus frequently. Once you have compiled a number of adorable shots, you can put them into your first, new baby photo gallery album. As well, you can choose one as your birth photo announcement.

If you're technologically savvy, then you can edit your pictures on a computer. Try changing the color to sepia, or black and white for a classy feel. If you really want to go all out, you can add digital effects and frames. Be creative but keep the focus on the gorgeous face of your newborn baby.