My Newest Obsession: Actual Hardcopy, Hold-in-Your-Hand, Pictures

 

I hate to admit it... but my mother was right. She was just telling me how I need to start printing pictures or making picture books because the babes are going to want to see them some day. And, let's face it - by the time they're old enough for social media, Facebook and Instagram could be *gasp* a thing of the past. Shortly after my Ma was drilling this into my head, I came across Nowvel on Instagram. At first it just seemed like any other photo site like Snapfish or Vistaprint - but I was wrong... it was better, ya'll. Hear me out...

 

Nowvel is specifically designed to make it super-duper easy to create photobooks from the pictures you post on social media. They give you themed album ideas, or you can create your own - ALL on your phone. The reason I never create photobooks is because I don't have time to get on an actual computer, upload pictures to a website from my computer or social sites, and then plug in pictures and text. It takes HOURS - and ain't nobody got time for that {especially a twin-mom, amirite?!}

 

One of the themed-albums Nowvel had was a pregnancy journey—um, say what?! How perfect! I pulled in pics from my Instagram and dropped them right into the pages. I barely added anything because the wording was already so perfect. But when I needed to add text or switch around the page layout, I could just click & drag things around. Easy peasy.

 

Okay, so, the book was super easy to create in the app—awesome. But then I was worried about the actual quality of the book. What if it was flimsy, or the pics weren't clear, or the book itself was teeny tiny? But really, I love the quality of the book way more than any other I've ever gotten. The pages are thick - THICK, ya'll. And the book is perfect coffee-table size. I'm seriously obsessed {and already working on several more books}.

 

I mean, "Street Style"? How perfect is that?! 

 

My favorite page <3

 

Thick-as-thieves pages!

 

I'm gonna put on my new-mom hat & tell you that you must check out Nowvel & start putting all of your pics into photobooks. And I'll happily help you out...with a little giveaway ;-) Head over to my Instagram to enter for the chance for you and two friends to win a customized 8x8 hard cover gloss photobook! Go ahead and get snap-happy over the holidays with your fam & friends, because those pics will make the perfect photobook afterwards!

XO,

Nik

Psst...more of some of my favorite things:

Pregnant in the City: Maternity Date Night Style

The Perfect Maternity Dress for a Fairytale Baby Shower

Twin Bump Through the Months

You didn't really think I wasn't documenting that bump, did you?! C'mon now, who do you think I am? I just decided about halfway through to hold on to all pictures so I could make one big final reveal. Ya know, give you the full effect of how this puppy grew. 

When I first started scouring Pinterest for monthly belly picture ideas, I knew I wanted to steer clear of the usual fruit/vegetable or chalkboard trend. I'm not actually against these adorable trends, it's just that...I had already been there, and tainted that, with our first pinto bean that never was. 

The second I saw the silhouette belly pics, I was in love. So classic, so sweet, and so simple. Now, I'm no photog, so I had no idea how to actually achieve this, but I did some research, played around in Lightroom, and walla! All you need is a bright background {we did ours in front of a window that gets a lot of light}, preferably a light colored/sheer curtain, and a black dress {or shirt and pants}. I got my dress from Old Navy {no longer available, but here's a similar black maxi dress, and here's a maternity option} and it stretched along with me & my belly.

To edit in Lightroom I would simply turn up the Exposure, bump up the Shadows and Whites a bit, and turn down the Blacks. Again, I'm no photog, or graphic editor, so I don't really know what I'm doing in LR - I just play around until it looks good!

Even though sometimes we'd forget and go weeks without taking a picture, I love that we stuck with it {loosely} through the end. Something for the baby book{s} <3

XO,

Nik

Psst...more bumpalicious posts:

Second Trimester Fitness: Weekly Workout Schedule

 Pregnant in the City: Maternity Date Night Style