Add Text to Pictures to Create a Milestone Picture for Baby or Child

I (Rachael) am not a photographer, but I am kind of obsessed with capturing my girls’ baby days with pictures before they change (again!) and grow up (even more!).

One way I do this is by putting together a milestone picture for each girl every six months or so. Several people have asked me how, so today I’m sharing a quick and easy tutorial for how to add text to pictures using FREE photo editing software. (That’s right, no photoshop for this girl! Not yet at least…)

milestone pictures for baby

Photos not your thing? Skip over the tutorial to find links to some of my favorite not-picture-related posts. 

Add Text to Pictures Using FREE Photo-Editing Tools

1) Choose your picture. Make sure your background is clean and uncluttered and that your subject (your child) is off-center. That way you have plenty of room to add your text on the side.

2) Choose your text/words. My pictures are always a list of “loves.” I try to consider favorite foods, books, people, songs, and activities.

3) Choose your software or editing program. If you don’t want to download software, there are tons of free programs available online that will allow you to upload your pictures and add text. A few popular choices are fotoflexer, pixlr, ipiccy, and picmonkey.

I do a lot of my editing with picasa, and that’s the program I’ll be featuring in this tutorial. It’s free, but you have to download it. You can do that here.

Got Picasa? Great, let’s keep going!
4) Select the “text” option. (This is really so simple I’m embarrassed to call it a tutorial.)

Add text to pictures using Picasa5) Customize your font and start typing.

Add text to pictures using picasa

6) Crop, adjust the color, add fun effects, and SAVE YOUR WORK. 

Wasn’t that easy?

For this recent milestone picture of our baby, I used our snazzy Canon 40d with our Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens (both purchased used from a friend). I also downloaded special fonts. You can find some of the ones I use on my “printables” board on pinterest.

However, this can be done with a point and shoot camera and stock fonts. That’s how I made this “Age 1” picture of our oldest daughter.

add text to pictures

Don’t let the equipment intimidate you. Anyone can do this!

Now that you know how to add text to pictures, make a personalized picture book for your baby using this oh-so-easy tutorial! 

Like what you see? We’d love for you to like us on facebook, subscribe to email updates, or follow us on pinterest! Check out our“photography tutorials” board for more picture ideas!

milestone picture

 

20 thoughts on “Add Text to Pictures to Create a Milestone Picture for Baby or Child”

  1. Pingback: Improve Your Pictures with Free Photo Editing Tools | PFS
  2. I love your pics.. Your pictures are as good as many I’ve seen people pay loads of cash for.. better than some of them too.
    I use Picasa since its the fastest & easiest photo program out there.. its my favorite.

    1. Aww, thanks for the sweet compliments! I’ve learned a TON since we upgraded to a DSLR a year and a half ago! I’m checking out your blog now! I love finding new blogs to explore!

  3. I havent added anything to my blog in over a year but I figure if I start adding it to my comments, Im going to have to soon I have a couple posts I want to write up & share but havent done so yet. 🙂 Thanks for checking it out.

  4. Pingback: Constantly searching for the best Free Digital Photo Software?
  5. Pingback: Milestone Pictures for babies and kids : hands on : as we grow
  6. i sell on crags list , e-bay , amazon , and other sell programs , i used to have a ‘ my picture program , then one day it crashed , i need help which one to choose program ???

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