If you have a small child or grandchild, take time to do something CUTE with photos. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to take out that camera and get creative.

I know I wish I had done more of that when my son was little, because now there is NO WAY I can get him to do my cute poses anymore or wear something adorable. Boo!

For example, you could set up a silly kissing booth as a photo booth. Of course moms are doing all of the kissing right??

Nancy from A to Zebra Celebrations came up with this fun idea for a photo booth for a Valentine’s Day Party. We’ll show you the all of the amazing party details on Monday, but here is a sneak peek at the photo booth.

Photos © 2012 by Beba Photography.

Really, just wearing some lipstick and kissing your child’s cheek makes an adorable photo! That’s if they’ll let you do it:-)

We rounded up some awesome photo ideas for kids on I Heart Faces. 

Here is a fun idea from our round-up. Craftomaniac incorporated Snickers into her valentines. How cute are these!

Be sure to check out all of the fun ideas for great Valentine’s Day photos on I Heart Faces.

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Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

I have a $100 Target giveaway today and some first day of school photo tips!! YAY! What better way to ring in the school year, but with some new clothes! Thanks to Cherokee USA and Cozi, just by leaving a comment here, you’ll be entered to win.

I’m so thrilled to be back to school! Each year, I like do the same 1st day of school photos to watch how my kids are growing. Doing the same pose in the same place, makes photos extra fun to look back upon when the kids are older.

I came up with this idea of using a small chalk board several years ago. It’s fun to see it used by so many other moms these days! Not only is it cute, but it helps me remember later what grade they were in that year.

It’s also fun to see how old the chalkboard gets each year as well! I started this tradition three years ago…

Tips for Taking 1st Day of School Photos

A good tip for a first day of school photo is to NOT take it on the first day, but stage it to seem like it was their first day. This way, you can take your time, there is no stress and the kids have more fun posing with their new outfits. Or if you insist on it being the first day, you can always take a photo after school.

See the kind of photos I get the first day of school? Cute, but not great.

You might wonder why I think this is not great?

My son was itching to catch the bus, I was arguing with him because I didn’t want my daughter to have a meltdown about riding the bus the first day of kindergarten, and she wouldn’t stop doing her fake “cheese” smile.

My goal was to hurry into the car so we would have plenty of time to walk to our class before anyone started crying. So I quickly snapped a photo fast without looking at the background, getting down on their level, or doing any of my usual tricks to get them to look natural.

I really love planning ahead because I like to hang these photos on our wall. Photos on your wall, which will likely be there forever, should be your best. It’s also good to have a memory of a nice time with your kids… not a stressful hurry up and snap the photo moment.

Win a $100 Target Gift Card

To enter to win:

Leave a comment below letting me know what grade was your favorite back to school photo. Could be of you, or your kids.

To get extra entries:

• Like Cherokee USA on Facebook. (While you’re there, let them know what you do for the first day of school photos.)

• Tweet this:  Hope I win a $100 @Target gift card for new @Cherokee_usa clothes! http://bit.ly/q1cV86 #giveaway via @LivingLocurto Tweet

• Like Living Locurto on Facebook

• Like Cozi on Facebook

Please leave a comment for each item you do above to get those extra entries!

Giveaway ends Friday, September 2nd at Midnight CST.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. WINNER WILL BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL.

Congrats to Bethany!! If your name is Bethany… check your email:-)

Don’t want to settle for $100? How about $1,000???

Share your best 1st Day of School photo on Cherokee USA’s Facebook Page for a chance to win big prizes!

Prize package includes a $1000 shopping spree from Cherokee and $300 smart phone from Cozi. FUN!!

Thanks to Cherokee USA and Cozi for sponsoring this giveaway!

Be sure to join Amy on Facebook for more fun!
Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

You started Kindergarten today. It’s hard to believe you are five years old and going off to school with your brother. You are the most independent, brave girl I know. I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about you being afraid. I have to admit there were a few things I was worried about though.

First of all, you are like your mommy and NOT a morning person. I was so thankful that you woke up in a great mood and excited for school. The only pouting was with your big brother because he wanted to ride the bus with his friends. I think later, he was happy that he waited with us and walked into school together.

Even though your brother acts like he’s Mr. Independent, he’s always happy to have us around! He was excited for 3rd grade and the fact that we got to walk him to his room, probably, most likely, secretly made his day:-)

As I figured, you were not one bit scared to walk to your class. Not even the crowds of parents in the hallways seemed to bother you!

After squeezing through the parents in the kindergarten hallway and putting your Hello Kitty backpack in your locker, you walked right up to your teacher to hand her your folder. What impressed me the most is how nice and well behaved you acted when you had to wait your turn!

Brave yes, but a patient girl, you are not. This is the part that concerned me the most about you going to school. Would you throw a fit out of the blue? Would you scream your louder than a dinosaour scream, because something didn’t go your way? As one of the youngest in your class and knowing how loud your voice can be. Yes, I was more than a little worried. What if you just laid on the ground and started kicking everyone? (Yes, it’s been known to happen:-)

But no, you were so sweet and talked to your teacher like such a big girl. Way to go!!

I giggled as you sat in your seat by your best buddy and listened as you two talked. Little does your teacher know, you two have known each other since birth, been in preschool together since you were two and will probably be chatting it up most of the day!

I giggled even more as he apologized for saying he didn’t like girls last week. You accepted his apology and understood that it was just his older brother teasing him about having girlfriends that made him say that. All was well again in your world as you introduced your stuffed friends to each other.

How cute are you two getting out your journals?  I can’t wait to see what picture you drew on your first page!

As circle time came around, it was time for me to go. I tried to hide behind the file cabinet, but you still knew I was there. I hope you know that I will always be there for you no matter what. One of these days when you go off to college, I’ll be hiding behind a tree instead of a cabinet for photos. Just get ready because mom loves you a ton!

You’re probably having a blast at school right now. I will miss our days at home together, but really, I’m so excited for you! I had not one tear, but a giant smile on my face as I left the school. You make me smile so much.

I love you! – Mommy

P.S. – Here is your brother’s kindergarten letter. It sure is fun to look back and see how much you both have grown!

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Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

Photo by davedehetre via Flickr.

Today, I am taking a break from posting my usual fun creative ideas. I just can’t stop thinking about the storm that hit Missouri. I grew up close to this area and so saddened by the devastation and loss. I’ve been in several tornadoes before, but nothing like what is going on lately with these monster storms.  It’s really unbelievable when you see the footage on the news. I want to do whatever I can on my blog to help.

Photo by Mike Gullett – AP

A reader Lori from Joplin said:

“My family is all safe, but many of our friends are badly hurt. Some are homeless. It really is awful. It is very frustrating to not be able to help but they are asking people to stay out of the way and let the S&R and emergency folks do their work. Tomorrow my son and I are headed to a sit with a friend who is shell-shocked, and then to a shelter to see what we can do…it may not be much but it’s something!”

Photo by Macahanc6r via Flickr.

As we brace for more storms here in Texas. My prayers go out to the people of Joplin.

How to Help Tornado Victims in Joplin

• The Joplin United Way is a great place to start. 100% of donations will go directly to Joplin United Way, with ZERO overhead. Follow this link to donate via PayPal, call 573-443-4523 or text “Joplin” to 864833.

• The American Red Cross has a page for Missouri tornado and flood relief.

• The Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery Facebook page is dedicated to aid efforts and contains the latest, up-to-date information on news and how to help.

• The Animals Lost & Found from the Joplin, Mo Tornado Facebook page is tracking lost and found pets.

If you are from the area or if you know of anyone there, have stories, etc… please comment here and so we can keep you as well as your friends and family in our prayers. Forward this to your friends who might want to help as well.

Thank you! -Amy

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Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

You know that old song by Whitney Houston? “I get so emotional baby, every time I think of you… u… u!” We’ll that’s how I’m feeling about a little blog my friend and I started a few years ago. I Heart Faces. It’s turned into an amazing community with thousands of talented women who love photography. It’s not only a blog, but a place where women create lasting friendships, get support and best of all inspire each other to achieve their dreams.

I don’t know… maybe I’m emotional because I’m surviving on just a few hours sleep. Yes, I’d say that has a little something to do with it! ha! I’ve been crazily working on all of our events, collaborating with vendors, models, designing a new website, planning our summer tour, along with art directing and styling FOUR photo shoots for our workshop this weekend in San Antonio. Eek!

After being with a fun group of women and teaching them what we know, it’s all worth it in the end. I’m happy to loose some sleep to be helping other women gain the confidence they need to reach their goals for success.

I’d love to show you what I’m working on for our photo shoots this weekend in San Antonio, but I want it to be a surprise!

Just for fun, here is what I did for our last event. This is the inspiration board I made by piecing items and colors I liked together in Photoshop:

Here is the final product:

How fun is this behind the scenes look at our other session? Our models Paul and Arden were so fun to work with at our last event.

Behind the lens… WOW!

I’ll be doing a lot of this over the weekend…. (that’s me in red).

I never have many pretty images of models to show, because I’m busy art directing (bossing people around! ha) and taking video and photos of other people taking photos. It’s crazy while it’s all happening, but such a rush and super fun!

Thanks so much for reading along on my emotional journey today!

I am very passionate about what I do and hope it rubs off on some of you who might be thinking of trying something new. When I started I Heart Faces, I was pretty clueless about blogging and especially camera settings!! Now that seems like ages ago and an entire new chapter begins with teaching and helping women at our events across the U.S.

Come check out the new site we just launched and see where we’re headed next. Maybe you can join us!!

Photo credits: All other people besides me! Yes, I’m lacking sleep and memory for that matter. See the water mark on the photos for credit. They are all awesome photographers! Oh, Bridget made those amazing cookies. I sketched them and she went to town. My friend Christel made the adorable outfits.

**Thanks to my husband and mom for helping take care of my kids and making sure they are fed and bathed. I get to hang out with my friends and amazing photographers this week… that’s priceless!

Be sure to join Amy on Facebook for more fun!
Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!