The Romantics Guide: Hundreds of Creative Tips for a Lifetime of Love

The Romantics Guide: Hundreds of Creative Tips for a Lifetime of Love

The Romantic's Guide contains hundreds of tips for the romantically impaired. There are unique ideas on gift-giving, creative dating, having fun with food, and all the little things you can do each day for increasing the romantic potential of even the most stoic of lovers. The perfect gift for anyone involved in a loving relationship.

Tips for Taking Great Halloween Pictures of Kids

Tips for Taking Great Halloween Pictures of Kids

Good candid pictures of children require active participation and putting them at ease.

1. Stop Posing - Halloween is not a formal affair. So don't bother with the wedding style shots. Engage the kids in the play associated with their costumes -- and then shoot the pictures. Candids reveal the smiles much more than a "Hold still, honey!" moment.

2. Shoot Early, Shoot Often - Film is the cheapest part of photography. And in this digital age, there just isn't a reason not to shoot several images. There are many good reasons for being trigger happy with the camera. First, if kids are used to you constantly firing away they won't bother with the plastic smiles. But most importantly, shooting more simply increases your chances for great pictures. With Halloween pictures some of the best images are taken while the costuming is in process -- don't wait for the finished product.

3. Get in Their Face - Halloween was made for pretend. Kids love to make faces, don costumes and assume a new personality. It is the ultimate form of exhibition. You just can't let the opportunity pass. They want to be noticed. Most point-and-shoot variety cameras have wide-angle lenses. While this helps them to get sharp results and to work well in lower light, they tend to move the subject matter further away. Most have a minimum shooting distance of around three feet. Don't be afraid to push that limit at Halloween. Get in close, have them make faces, ask them to talk to the camera. They will. It is, after all, Halloween.

4. Let Them Call the Shots - It's their party. Ask them what kind of pictures they want. Chances are your kids have an idea of the persona they are adopting. Let them call the shots to document the experience.

5. Use the set - Most of us decorate for the season. There could be haystacks, a bubbling pot, a roaring fireplace. Use these props, even if they don't fit the theme of the costume. Down the road the memories you cherish will include all the fun that went into creating the holiday environment in your home.

Halloween Party Ideas - Tips and Tricks

Halloween Party Tips and Tricks

PARTY THEMES

Consider the ages of the kids--one child's thrilling haunted house is another's chilling nightmare. If you will be hosting a mix of ages, be sure to set up the scariest events out of sight of the main party. A mad scientist's lab, for example, can be set up in a spare room so that younger kids can pass on the pleasure of watching others touch "brains" (cold spaghetti).

ACTIVITIES

Plan more events than you think you need (and plan for bad weather, too). Prepare easy activities: bobbing for apples, painting Halloween scenes, or marching in a costume parade.

MENU

If your party is in lieu of trick-or-treating, you can be more liberal with the sweets, but you still want to get something in your guests' stomachs besides candy. Search for Halloween recipes that are sure to "scare" up everyone's appetite.

DECORATIONS

Don't go overboard--mood lighting, creepy music and a few well-placed, homemade decorations will amply set the scene. Pass on anything with a flame, and keep in mind that kids are clumsy in their costumes--anything fragile or sharp should be well out of the way.