I love taking photos of Dexter & Heidi. When I catch them just right they’re simply stunning and I can’t believe Craig & I made them. Yet, they’re growing so fast and with everyday that passes, their little chubby faces are morphing into the teenage ones that will soon sit moodily across from us at the dinner table. Taking photos is my way of preserving the memory of them as they pass through each stage of their lives - from baby, to toddler and beyond.
I took such a photo the other day that perfectly captures Heidi. She looks like she’s stepped right off the set of Breakfast at Tiffany’s with her amber teething necklace and over-the-shoulder Hepburn-esque pose. She just looks positively angelic and I knew I had to make a canvas out of it. Having identified a large wall in our dining room that needed something interesting, I decided to play with the image and use it as a centrepiece.
At first glance, it’s not perfect. You can see the mess in their playroom, and she’s off-centre. The colours would also look out of place in my dining room (duck egg blue and white). So I popped the image through a photo editing suite, fiddled with the brightness, cropped it and changed it to black and white. There wasn’t a lot I could do about her toys, but I like to think she’s so stunning that the background becomes obsolete.
I used PhotoBox this time around, and have to say I’m seriously impressed. Everything from editing, to ordering, right on down to the email communication was pretty much perfect. Having reviewed for tons of photo-to-canvas services over the years, the PhotoBox experience has definitely been the most professional.
THE WEBSITE…
… is slick and very user-friendly. There’s no fussy & complicated editing suite that has become synonymous with ordering canvasses. The upload function was fast and simple. You can pull images from Instagram, Facebook, G+, your computer or your iPhoto (for Mac users) using their new super fast uploader. This gives you free unlimited secure storage for your JPEG photos on the PhotoBox site - ideal for regular customers or those designing calendars or photo-books.
You then simply select your image / album from your profile, and select create a product. A product menu will then pop up (complete with pricing) so you can turn your image into something special - be it a gift or treat for yourself.
Editing from there on in is simplicity itself. You can adjust the size, select your orientation and opt to wrap the image - all from one screen. You’ll then go on to order. My only slight niggle was that if you choose a solid block colour wrap, your only option is white. This was exactly what I wanted for my canvas, however for colour canvasses I can imagine it would be nice to pick out a colour contained within the image to make the edges less of a contrast.
ORDERING…
… is just as straightforward.
You can choose to pay via PayPal or all other major card services and check-out super easy and well explained.
My canvas at 100cm by 76cm is the largest size available and is currently priced at £45 (+ £15 for “classic” 3.8cm thickness, although you can opt for a “lite” 1.8cm thickness at no extra cost). Knowing canvasses as I do, this is an insane price and the cheapest you’ll find online. This means you can update a room inexpensively with a statement piece. Delivery prices are also very reasonable with my mammoth canvas arriving in just 2 days via courier for £6.95. You can also opt for special or tracked delivery for a small fee if you’re in a rush.
Throughout every stage of my order, I received an email (it was being made, it was being dispatched etc) and I knew exactly when it would arrive. It arrived safe and sound and perfectly packaged via a national courier service - what more could you ask for?
QUALITY
It’s stretched and secured better than others we’ve come across before, with heavy duty staples that won’t scrape your paintwork. It’s also tightly wrapped and incredibly neat on the underside. The staples are proportionately aligned making it easy to hang with poster stickers should you not want to drill into your walls. Ours also arrived with wall fixings, but as we live in a rented house we opted not to use these.
The colour is great and the image is nice and bright. There’s no blurring or bleeding of the print - it’s completely crisp and makes a huge statement. I’m just completely delighted with it and it has completely transformed our dining room.
You can stay informed about special offers and deals via social media:
Twitter: @PhotoBox / Facebook: @PhotoBoxPBX / G+: @PhotoBoxcouk / Instagram: @PhotoBoxUK
Or… you can win one right here!
PhotoBox have very generously given me a bestselling 60cm x 40cm canvas to give away! Entry is, as always via Rafflecopter so best of luck!
Terms and conditions
UK entrants only – you must be over 18 too (sorry)
The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 3 days of having been emailed (I’ll try all known avenues to contact them) or a new winner will be drawn
When the giveaway is closed, Rafflecopter will select the winner completely at random
The winners name will be published on this site
There is no cash alternative
UK competitions at ThePrizeFinder
A photo of our dog!
I have a lovely photo with my kids with Mickey and Minnie mouse in Disneyland Paris
one of my kids on holiday!
I would pick one of my grandkids
it would have to be one of all four of my girls x
chantelle hazelden recently posted…Junk Food, Lazy Days and No Motivation
a family picture
i’d be nice and get one of the hubbies fishing pictures for him
i think my wedding day x
A family portrait of the three of us
I would take an up to date photo of my boys
Louise Fairweather recently posted…The Furchester Hotel DVD Review And Giveaway
one of all 4 of my monsters now the babies here well id atempt to get one of all of them looking anyways x
A family photo
A picture from our wedding
an image of the pet dog and cat snuggled together
A picture of my daughter on her birthday x
I’d use a picture of my daughter
I’d choose a picture that was taken on Mother’s Day this year of me, my gran, my mum, sister and my niece - so it features all the women of the family
Angela McDonald recently posted…Tesco Finest Cookies - Salted Caramel and Belgian Milk Chocolate
My dad
one of one of my dogs eating an ice lolly
of photo of my husband and I
I would get one of our first baby, who we are expecting soon!
a photo of ur new family when my princess hopefully arrives on time next week eeek!
One of my dogs playing poker
Loads of family pictures so would love one of the cat!
I would get a nice photo of me and my partner.
A family portrait
A picture of my son
My youngest is due any day now so once she is here I would get a lovely pic of my 2 girls x
My daughter
Id use of us all at our wedding =D
Probably a photo of my girls x
Beth recently posted…Make The School Run More Fun and Less Stressful
A photo a my gorgeous ginger cat, who I miss lots!
xx
A photo of my kids x
a family photo
Our daughters just turned one so it would be one of her at her birthday party!
One of my mum and brother who both passed away this July within a week of each other.
A photo of one of my lovely pets.
My granddaughter just being the most wonderful granddaughter in the world
We recently had a underwater shoot for our youngest so one of those images
Mummy Fever recently posted…Win a family ticket to Peppa Pig Live
I would choose one of me and my wife on our wedding day as we don’t have any up
A family portrait
My five grandsons
a photo of my 2 kids
My niece and nephew
i would choose a family portrait with my new baby boy
I’d make an effort to get a up to date family photo of the 3 of us
I’d get an updated massive 3 generation pic taken and use that xx
A photo of my niece in the cathedral, it’s a lovely photo.
Mine has got to be one of my 2yr old son with our 2nd newborn son who is 1week old. Like your photo above I didn’t mean to capture such a stunning photo it just kind of happened. My 2 yr old has our newborn on his lap and he is kissing his head and looking down. I obviously done some colour enhancing just to make it brighter. It’s just perfect! Thank you xx
Our Wedding Photo x
I would choose one of my daughter smiling while at a festival listening to daddy’s band in the sun.
I really want one of my four kids together.
My youngest daughter
My brother just got married and I would love to pick one of their wedding shots
I think I would like to get one of our wedding photos done, the house is covered in photos of my son and daughter.
Robyn Logan Clarke recently posted…Cardboad Dream House Competition - Ocean Finance
Would choose a photo of our favourite holiday place
A rare nice photo of my two girls together
A photo of my children having fun on holiday. Thanks for the lovely giveaway.
I’d choose a favourite holiday snap x
Sarah Bacchus recently posted…And the Award Goes To…
I have a gorgeous photo of my almost 13 year old daughter standing against a brick wall. Its stunning and totally canvas worthy!
I’d love to get one of my adult children with their new baby brother. Thanks for a great giveaway! x
A nice photo of my grandaughter x
I would chose a photo of all of the grandchildren together for my mum.
I’d get one of my dear cat who passed away 2 weeks ago
a family photo of all 3 of us.
E brought the copy right on a recent photo shoot so I’d print a photo from that
Of my lovely daugther
I’m in the process of selling my house to buy a house with my partner. My partner has 2 daughters I have 1 daughter. The photo I would like would be a merging of 2 families to make 1 family photo
one of my kids all together
A picture of my nephew
one of my wedding photos xx
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A natural grouping of my kids - maybe in the woods or something like that
I would try and get all 6 of my children together, its hard as 3 have left the home and live miles away.
Me and my family captured jumping
A picture of my two boys on holiday in Majorca
One of my three year old son holding his newborn baby brother.
my boys
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A landscape shot I’ve taken
Becky @lakessinglemum recently posted…Happy 1st anniversary Fell Foot Parkrun
I have so many lovely pictures of my kids that I would love on canvas!
A picture of my dog, niece and three nephews.
It would be a hard choice but I have some cracking pictures of my 3 year old son from the summer holidays.
Kate Davies recently posted…Silent Sunday 27/09/2015
My baby daughter
I’d get me and all my closest friends at my best friends wedding, we dont get together often so would be nice to have the reminder
We’ve got a gorgeous photo of our daughter on the beach and it’s taken just at the right time!
One from my recent holiday in Scotland
I’d pick a picture from our last holiday!
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A picture of our wedding day on the beach in mauritius.x
A photo of our 2 little boys playing in the garden
a family holiday photo
Our holiday sunset pic
I have a great family photo that I would love to have on canvas.
One of all the children in the family, my own children and my nieces and nephews
A Family portrait photo.
any picture of my babies , love photos
One of my niece!
I’d choose a picture of my three boys
Fay Smith recently posted…Fashion frustrations!
my dad and my daughter
Beautiful!
I’d choose the first sibling photo when my youngest was born to put in the lounge.
A photo of my little baby boy
It would be a photo of our favourite beach on a sunny day. Summer may be over but that would get my through the winter.
My late father, for my sister.
an image of my husband and I with our baby niece
My son and dog together they are the best of friends x
One of my newborn son would be lovely xxx
I would love to get one of our recent engagement photoshoot with our pug!
The grandchildren, I would look at it and think yes I can hand you back
An up-to-date family picture
A family photo taken on holiday in the summer
I would use my in laws wedding photo
A picture of my little girl
A lovely family portrait - including our puppy of course!
I took a lovely snap of my little boy just outside our back door in the summer just as he worked out how to attach the water hose to our garden tap and turn it on. The picture captures his cheeky smile and the delight of figuring it all out by himself.
I’d wait until my bump is born and have a nice shot of new baby with toddler!
a phtoto of my 5 children together x
A photo of my 2 boys
I want one of my kids with all their cousins x
I’d pick a lovely picture of my daughter for our living room x
I would have a picture of all the 4 kids from a wedding we went to x
I would choose a photo I took of my daughter and nephew - They were both born on the same day and have the most amazing bond as shown in the gorgeous picture I took <3 x
A photo of my local beach
A photo of my gorgeous family
ive recently taken a photo of erin in a tiara and its my new fave pic - definitely that!
Rebecca Phillips recently posted…Oxelo B1 Scooter - Review
A family group - probably one taken at Xmas
my 2 beautiful children
Need one of both my girls.
A picture of my three children - I haven’t got a big picture of all three yet!
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My little man
x