Hey bloggers! My name is Marcie Jessee and I am a wife to a fabulous hard-working hunksband and a mom to three incredibly energetic children ages 4 to 7 months :)
When I’m not cooking, cleaning or crafting you’ll find me taking pictures – I’m a semi-professional family, child and newborn photographer in Utah County, Utah. I LOVE my job :)
Hopefully you all have been following the recent posts from Kristen Duke, and have been brushing up on your photography skills, because now we’re going to put them to work.
I want to talk about one of my favorite subjects: Cheap DIY wall art. I’m currently a renter (boo!) surrounded by boring white walls. I dream of my future lime green kitchen and rustic red living room … but until then, I plan and scheme wall art (you know, the only landlord-approved way of adding color and personality to my boring perma-white walls!)
The easiest way to add interest and pizzazz to your walls is using a tool I’m pretty sure you all have: A camera. Point and shoot or DSLR, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is your subject and your set-up. So let’s get started!
Picking a subject:
I want you to look at that blank wall in your house and ask yourself:
What inspires me in this room?
What is the feel of this space?
What do I want to surround myself with here?
For me, in my kitchen, my inspiration is fruit. I love fruit and I love to cook with fruit. I love the colors of fruit. So guess what I’m gonna do? I’m going to take pictures of fruit. Yep. Me and fruit are having a photoshoot.
See:
Maybe, you’ll say you’re inspired by pictures you have from your family vacation. They don’t have to be perfect professional pictures. You won’t care about the imperfections, what matters is that he subject matter inspires you.
Here is another way I could decorate my wall, this time using pictures from our summer trips to the berry farm:
Try this in every room of your house. Choose pictures of your family
for the living room, pictures of sewing supplies in your craft room,
architecture for the office and flowers for the kids room. Taking the
time to creatively arrange some everyday items into something
beautiful will create one-of-a-kind wall art that showcases your
family in a way that no store-bought picture could do :)
Now that you have your subject chosen, and you’ve had a personal photoshoot with the cakes, fabric or family that you will be framing for your wall, let’s talk about the set-up.
You have basically three different (affordable) options
when hanging pictures on a wall: My personal favorite is to have them
mounted on either gatorboard or foam core board. This gives a classy,
modern appeal and is surprisingly affordable (not to mention easy to
hang since you’re not dealing with heavy picture frames).
Here is a psuedo mock-up of a living room with mounted pictures:
Or you could go the picture frame route. This could be a great
solution for those of you who don’t feel confidant behind the camera.
Printing smaller pictures (say 5×7) and placing them in frames with
large mats gives an instant high-art appearance to what would
otherwise be normal snapshots. This works especially great with black
and white pictures.
See what I mean:
Just a design note: Unless you are going the large mat route you
really do NOT want to put a picture smaller than 8×10 on your wall.
Even then only use 8×10’s when combined with other larger prints.
Trust me on this one. Bigger is always better in photography
wall displays.
And your third (affordable) option is to get creative. I’ve seen walls
covered with magnetic paint with fabulous magnets for picture hanging,
or wire strung along the wall with clothespins for photo holders. Use
your imagination and think outside of the box :) If you’re still feeling stuck and you’re unsure of what to photograph and then how to arrange it on the wall, check out these helpful links for some inspiration:
Decorating with Photos
DIY Network
Better Homes and Gardens
HP Tips
Thanks for sticking with me to the very end! Now for just one more thing about me: I heart giveaways! SOooo I’m offering a **free** photography session to anyone in the Utah County area (or anyone who might visit the area or anyone who would like to gift their win to a friend/family member local to Utah County). You can book either a child, family (up to 8 people) or senior portrait session, to be taken before October 2010. I’ll give you a hi-res CD with all of your edited photos, with copyright release for printing. And since I would feel bad about leaving out all of you outside of Utah, I’m offering a secondary giveaway: A CD with copyright release for 25 of my photographs that you can use for decorating, crafting … you name it! Pictures vary from flowers to buildings to fruit to landscapes.
SO, here’s how it works:
One comment telling me what you would like to win (what type of session or the CD of free-use pictures) Another separate entry for blogging/tweeting or facebooking about the giveaway :)
And just so you can get a feel for my
photography style, here are some pics of my favorite people:
Thanks Amy for letting me steal your blog today, and good luck everyone :) This giveaway will close on Saturday, May 1 at 11:59 pm PT.
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Midwestern Gone Idahoan says
I live in Idaho, but come down to Utah to visit my sister – I would LOVE to win a family picture!!! We haven't had one done for 3 years – and have added one since then:) We have 5 kids – just to give you an idea about how crazy it will be!!!
Such great ideas! I live in Mass. and don't have any trips to UT planned, but I would love a CD. We are renting, too, and I have been struggling with decorating ideas. This may be the solution!
we live in utah county and would be SO excited to win a photo session for our family. it has been a while and some recent pictures hanging on our walls would be perfect! your ideas were inspiring.
oh what I would give to have you do a photo shoot of my famiy!! But I live on the east coast so that won't happen!!
I would love to win a CD of your photos!
Alecia
I live in UT County and the only photos I ever get done are the ones where I set up on the tripod and use a remote. Needless to say, they turn out fine, but sometimes its just not enough. Right now its just me, my husband, and maybe our dog. But if we get lucky I will drag my fam along making 7–phew, still elligable.
We will have a new addition to our cute little family of 3 in June and would love to get a new family picture to show how excited we are for her to be in our family!
My grandson (he is now 4 months)is coming to Utah this August – He needs a photo shoot!!!!
I'd love to win a photo shoot! I don't live in Utah, but travel there a couple of times a year! Thanks for the giveaway!!
Your work is lovely. We live in Virginia but will be visiting Utah this summer and we'd love to win a family photo shoot…just us two and our little daughter. Thanks!
We live way up in Alaska, but I would love for my Sister-in-law and her family to have a photo shoot. They had 4 children and had to wait 5 years to have more. They were recently blessed with identical twin girls! They are so sweet and I'm sure they could use new family pictures.
I just had ababy 3 months ago and would love to have an updated family pic!
Oh Yea…lucky me that I love in Utah county! I would love to win. We are in desperate need of family pictures…before I get pregnant:) Love all the ideas for hanging portraits…thanks for sharing!
Your photography is amazing! I live in UT county and would be so excited to be able to get new famiyl pictures!
I would definitely come down to Utah County for a session. I would love, love to have my family photographed. I have always wanted to have a beautiful photo of my favorite people on the wall (husband+4kids) but we have always just gone with the snapshot, so please pick me!!!
I love your style and I would make the trip to Utah County for some pictures of my family. We still don't have any pictures of our almost 1-yr-old!
I would love a CD. I love your style of pictures! Thanks for the great ideas, I rent as well. :)
I live in Utah County and I would love a session! I'm a descent photographer, but it's hard to get myself into the shot. :) I would love to win.
My sister lives in Utah County and I would love to win this for her.
I would LOVE to win a family session. Thanks for the photo hanging tips
I would love to nominate my sister-in-law for this giveaway. She lives in Green River, UT (Emery county) but I'm sure she wouldn't mind traveling north for a shoot.
Yeah, I would love to win a family photo session with you!! I live in Davis County. I have a family of 6!!
I would love to win a family photo shoot. That would be awesome!!!
matthfam at gmail dot com
I would love a family session and would drive there for it!
I live in Utah county and would LOVE to have a session with my little family of 3!
Oh so fun…I'd love to win a family session to include our new baby boy.
heatherdemke(at)gmail(dot)com
I LOVE this idea!! I actually showcased it on my blog. Hope you don't mind- I gave you full credit!! Love it!!
I would love to win a family picture!
Fun ideas! I would love a session! Love your style!!!
Great ideas and lovely photos. One question: where could I get photos mounted on either gatorboard or foam core board?
Thanks,
Steph
I live in Idaho, but travel to Utah often (family). I would LOVE to win the family photo session! Thanks for the giveaway… and PLEASE pick me! :)
I live out of state, but have family in Utah County that we visit regularly, so I would love the photo shoot!
Would definitely enjoy a photo session for "Family Pictures"- my three girls aren't entirely sure what those even are:)
I would absolutly LOVE a family portrait. We live in Rock Springs but we are in Utah very often!
I would LOVE to win pictures of my girls! They are 8 and 6! What a fun giveaway! The CD is a great option too as I just got a new house, and I have NOTHING hanging on the walls!
I live in Utah County and would LOVE to win a photo shoot for my 2 girls. I don't have any professional pictures of them, (just the ones I snap here and there.) My baby is having her 1st birthday this week and needs some pictures taken. Please, please pick me!!!
I would really love to win either…but I think I would rather the shoot. We are in Idaho but go down to Utah somewhat frequently.
I would LOVE, LOVE to win this session. We live in Ohio but will be spending the summer in Utah. Out here we just can't find good photographers willing to give you a CD of pictures and I would love to use the pictures for a christmas card this year!!
Your wall art is amazing and I hadn't thought about taking pictures of fruit for the kitchen. What a cool idea! Thanks for the fun, new summer inspiration, especially with a trip to the strawberry fields coming up soon! ;-D
We are moving from Virginia to Utah next month-what good timing! I would love to win a family photo shoot.
you betcha! I would love to some down for some photo fun. We have three zestful boys, age 5 and twins age 2.5! What a kind thing to do and what a great idea!
I live in Texas, so I would love to win a CD of your pictures. Your photos are beautiful.
[email protected]
I'd love to have a family shot done. It too am a photgrapher and find that I don't really exist in our family…as far as pictures go at least. :-)
WoW! Seriously could this get any better? Thanks for the wonderful idea! I live in Las Vegas and would love the cd with your prints on it.
Thanks
I just added you onto my blog!
~laura bliss
I live in Washington – but I would come down for a visit. I would love to win the family picture – I have a 4 month old and I haven't even had her pictures done yet – Does that make me a bad mom? :)
Thanks so much! Your pictures are great!! [email protected]
I live in Utah county and would LOVE to win the free session!! Probably with our family.
And I love you photography style! Very cute! Hope I win!
Liana55(at)msn.com
Our newest addition will be turning one in June. Sitting up, smiling and ready now for an updated family photo!
I would love a photo session…we are planning a visit to Utah this summer. Thanks for all the ideas and you have wonderful pictures!
I live in Connecticut, but will be visiting family in Utah County in July :) We just had our 5th child and would love a new family picture to include her! Thanks for the chance to win. This is fun!
How fun!! I would love to win a family portrait session! I have 3 girls! We have usually done the JCPenny route and this would be so fun to try something different!!
jeanette_kirkham at yahoo dot com
jkmade.blogspot.com
LOVE photo shoots and am oh-so-close to Utah!
Thanks for the tips! I would love you to take some pics of my little family! We haven't had a real "session" since my newest arrived who is now 3 months. So that would be so fun! Thanks for your giveaway!
I would LOVE to win a shoot. I livce in SLC but head to Alpine every week. (family there).
I would like to know where you would get the large styrofoam matting done. And to print a good square print.
Lisa
Thanks for the ideas! I have tons of pictures and am always wondering how to best display them!
I would love to have you take our family pics!
I wouldn't be able to win, cause I'm way up north (unless you plan on visiting the middle of Canada soon?)
But I do want to share that you are totally right! Every year my hubby goes on "Man Trips" with his friends, 5 days of football, hockey, beer and driving too far in a mini van. they take tons of photos
We recently finished our basement (or "Man Pit" as the man likes to call it) and I needed some good inexpensive wall art.
I looked through all his photos, printed a bunch in black and white for a uniform look and printed many with coloured borders (in black and orange, his favorite teams colours.) I found an old speed limit sign at my Grandfathers farm (out in the bush) and mounted it on the wall, then surrounded it with framed 4X6s, 5X9 and 8X10. some are in glass frames, some are in matted frames, and I put them all in random spots around the sign. It looks great! (It was a smaller wall, so I could get away with smaller photos.)
you have an amazing idea! Thanks for sharing! The winner of your photo shoot will be very lucky!
i love these ideas! we are going to BYU currently living in an apartment (that can use these decorating tips) and just barely had our new baby boy!! i would love to have some awesome newborn pictures taken of the cute little guy.
I would love a family portrait session, or since the cut-off is right before my daughter's birthday a photo session of just her. Not sure which but I would love the photo session!
I would love a family photo session! Thanks for the great ideas!
What a cool giveaway! We're coming to Utah this summer and this would be great! Love your ideas. :)
I would LOVE to win family photos! As a photographer myself, I have NEVER had a family photo with my in it! (And I have 3 awesome kiddos!) I hope I win!!!!
I would love pictures of my children. I have a daughter that needs to get pictures in her Baptism dress and a 3 month old that needs to get a picture in his blessing outfit. This would be wonderful to remember their special days.
i think it would be fun to win your cd of photos that i can use for decorating, what a great idea!!
I would love to have a family sitting! I don't live in Utah, but I visit every summer. Thanks for the chance to win! You're pictures are fantastic!
I would love a family session and I'm only 15 minutes from UT County so it's perfect!
Dee
Great ideas! I would love to get a family or children session. I got a baby turning one in July and need pics!! Thanks for the giveaway.
Yea! I'm in Utah County and my family is in desperate need of family photos. I love your style and really hope I win this!
I would love to win a family session. We need new family pics so bad!! Your pictures are beautiful . You are very talented!! Thanks for the chance to win.
Stacey
We live in Idaho but go to Utah to visit- would love the photo session! Thanks for the great ideas and giveaway!
I would love to win a family photo shoot! My husband and I have been married for 7 years and we have NEVER had a family photo. It would be really nice now that we are a fmily of 6!! Thanks for the chance to win.
Danielle Wong
[email protected]
Oh my gosh, I want to win so baaddd. :) I'd want a family session.
I posted on facebook.
Oh my heck I would LOVE this! I need a family picture soo bad!
Tweeted!! http://twitter.com/allyvc
Love the tips and I love your photography. We are definitely due for some new family pictures, and I do live in Utah. Thanks for the chance to win. :) ~lindsey
I'd like the photo session for my sister who lives in Utah County! They've got 2 adorable little girls.
We would love the family photo shoot. we live in Vegas, but all our extended family is in Utah county and we will be there this summer. Thanks!
I would love to win a shoot for our little family!
Yeah for living in Utah County! I knew moving here would be good for something. I would love this photography session. My little guy is turning one in October and oh how I would love for you to snap some one-year old pictures of him (I promise he is so cute and so much fun to take pictures of)! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I would love a new family photo! And I just happen to love in Utah County! [email protected]
Please, please, please let me win the photo session!
And I "facebooked" the giveaway for an extra chance to win!
I am dying for a photo shoot of my family. we had one with extended family in the fall. I hated ALL of them. I need some new ones!
I tweeted!
I don't know how to leave the link. I'm not twitter savvy yet.
I would like to win the Utah County photo shoot. We are having a new baby soon, it would be the perfect time.
Would LOVE a family photo session. You do amazing work :)
Oooo, Ooooo!
I am in Utah County, and since I am always the one *behind* the camera, we haven't had a decent family photo since, well, forever.
The last one, was a self-timer/tripod fiasco.
I would LOVE a photo session! :)
A photo session with my kids would be so fun! My baby will be one Sept. 2nd, so it will be time to take his pic!
Would love to win! Love your style in pictures and we need some updated ones!
I'd love to win a photo session for my family too. I love the outside shots that you take. It would be super fun to have a family picture with an outside setting hanging on my "rental" walls too. We have a family of 4 kids- ages 7 to 1 years old. We live in California, but we are coming out to Utah for a family reunion this summer. Thanks for the ideas and the giveaways!
I live in California, but I would love to come to Utah for a photo shoot! We have 3 kids and we don't have any pictures with all of us in them!
I want the session, your work is great, and I live in Ut Co.
I would love a photo session. I have 4 kids and we are relocating to Utah from California this summer.
I live in Utah County and would love to win a family picture! Loved reading your post and getting ideas on what to do with that blank space in the family room!
Um, my walls are absolutely barren, so not sure which one I'd pick… I'd love either!!
Missy
wooooooow
i live in united arab emirates…Dubai
so I would love to win a CD of your photos!
[email protected]
Thanks for all the tips. I would love to win the giveaway and then I could win hte best sister in the world award and give it to my sister. Thanks again!
I would love LOVE to win a photoshoot with my family. I live south of Provo, but would gladly make the drive. You take beautiful pictures!
We will be in Utah this summer for a wedding and would love a family picture since we just added a new little one 1 month ago. I hope we win!
I LOVE decorating with food prints !
By the way, I just had a lime green kitchen and I LOVED it! Some people thought it was crazy though…more of a kelly green? ANyway…I'd love to see more of your fruit/food images, do you have a gallery of them? In my new home I want to take pics of limes, oranges, and lemons for my kitchen and need inspiration.
I love all your ideas. I too am a fruit lover so I love your ideas of taking pictures of fruits and hanging them.
I live in Iowa so I would love to have a CD of your prints.
Thanks for sharing all your tips. So great ideas.
I tweeted about the giveaway!!
OH MY Gosh! Marcie Jessee has given me inspiration for a life time. I have lived in my home for 2 years now and the walls in most of the house is a really drab grey, I detest it but I really don't have the time or energy to paint. So I have left my walls prety much bare not knowing how I wanted to proceed with the decorating. Well not any more! I am going to figure out which photos I want enlarged. and go for it. My kitchen is supposed to be a farmer's market theme and a year ago I took tons of Farmer's market photos. Now I am going to enjoy choosing the ones I want in my kitchen. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS POST!
Put me down for the photo shoot! I live in Utah county and really need new family pictures; I'd be thrilled to win!
I love your wall art ideas. They are such a good idea when you're not able to paint your walls, and when your walls are painted. I would LOVE to do family pictures! All my kids's birthdays are in the summer (Aug & Sept) and Sept my baby will turn 1. It would be so AWESOME to capture the memories (since I'm so bad at making my own photos look good).
I would love a family session for my family of 6. We are way over due for a family picture!
My husband and I live in Idaho and go down to Utah to visit my mum often. She lives in Provo and has three beautiful girls at home. We would love, love, love a family photo session. She is the most deserving woman I know and this would be such a treat for all of us! Thanks for sharing your talent with us all.
I Don't live in Utah, but I would LOVE the CD of pictures! I could use some new living room decor. =)Thanks so much!
I would love to win a photo session, we haven't had a new family pic since the addition of our wee twiners.
I live in San Diego, but we are going to Provo to visit family next month. I would love to win a family session!! I love your wall ideas!!
I live in Draper and would love love love the family pictures just had my 2nd baby and would love to get a good family picture!
Beautiful! I've been looking to have new family photos taken. I'll cross my finger to win!! Thanks.
We'd love to have a family session!
Brandon (at) parentsareimportant (dot)com
I really, really, really would love a family photo shoot for me, my husband, and my daughter!! Please pick me!
jalisamcdaniel (at) gmail (dot) com
We live in Utah County and need a new family picture done. I really want a good one that I can blow-up for my family room. Thanks for the chance to win!
i would love to have some photos of my 4 kids, especially my newborn twin boys. :)
WOW! Pick me!!!! Pick me!!! PICK MEEEE!!!! A session for my family would be amazing. My husband has been nagging (isn't that the wife's job ;)) me for a year to get our family picture taken. This would really help me check a big one off the to-do list.
PS: FABULOUS wall art ideas.
I would love to win the family session. Our last family photo was when my oldest who will be 4 soon was 3 months old. My 2 year old son isn't even in any of our pictures. Its time for some new ones!
[email protected]
I would LOVE of photo shoot of my family, a total of 5 of us. It has been way too long since we have had a family picture taken. The main reason was I didn't have hair for the longest time because of chemo… but now I DO! YEA! So pictures have been on my mind. I live in Davis County.
I live in Utah County and would love the photo session. I do a little photography myself and am always looking for more pointers from others. Thanks for the post.
I don't know if it counts or not, but I would love to have pictures taken at my bro-in-laws wedding. My father-in-law is coming back from Iraq for R&R so he can be there for his son. It's a really low budget wedding and they want some pictures and I think it would be SOO cool if I won so they could have some of your beautiful pictures.
I tweeted about the giveaway!
I love your photography style – and would love a family photo session!
Love your work!! I would love to win a family session before baby number 4 gets here!
I Live in Texas but im from Utah and I will be coming to Visit in August so I would love to get my family pictures taken. Thank you so much!
[email protected]
I live in UT County and would love a new family picture!! I have a 2 and 4 year old and no family picture for our wall…what a slacker I have been. Please enter me in the drawing!
Is it a family if there's only 2 of us? I would love to win the photo session, and yes I live in Utah County!
Yay! A family session giveaway! We are a family with 5 bouncing boys, and haven't had a portrait done since we were a family with 3 boys. Thank you for the opportunity, you do BEAUTIFUL work!
I live in Nebraska, but am coming back to Utah County in June. I would love to get family pictures, or at least one of the kiddos.
I live in Davis County, but would totally be willing to drive to Utah County for a photo shoot with my family. We have 3 children. Thanks so much!
[email protected]
I would love to win a family photo shoot since our family just grew from 2 to three with our new baby boy. Your pictures are gorgeous!