Choosing and creating a birth announcement is easy when you have time and a clear head—two things that sometimes elude a new mother. But, if you are not going to find out if you’re having a boy or girl or if you want to meet your baby before committing to a particular design, then you should at least narrow down the choices. Our Baby Card Finder can help. Just enter your baby’s name and we’ll show you designs that suit your name choices. Here are some other ideas to make the process short and easy, just like labor (in a kinder, gentler parallel universe).

Get the shot
Newborns, especially yours, are beautiful. That said, the perfect newborn shot is often as elusive as eight consecutive hours of sleep. So go for a sleeping pose or take a shot of post-feeding bliss. If you’re waiting for that first smile, remember, it won’t happen reliably until around six weeks.

Consider black and white
Black-and-white photography is very forgiving. Baby acne has you distressed? Turn your photos black-and-white and watch those little blotches fade. Natural light also helps.

Get close and personal
It’s her face that lights up the room so have that be the focus for your birth announcement. Crop in close for your baby’s debut. Or choose a collage design and add pictures of those cute fingers and toes or proud older siblings.

Start your birth announcement.