[ez4me2remember]

I am trying to decide if I should bring disposable cameras for the FM....or just a regular camera and film (they aren't that expensive). Did anyone else bring a reg camera? Do you think they would understand how to use it? (Loading, unloading etc).

[WesieMom]

I sent 2 disposable cameras down and just recieved one of them back this past Friday. They are pictures that are priceless, that I would normally not have had. My own opinion is, the disposable is easier. They point and click and don't have to mess with all the bells and whistles of a regular camera. My plan was to take down a camera as a gift on my pick up trip, but in one of the photos, I can see that the Foster Father is holding a nice camera. So, I'll have to move on to something else.

Good luck,

[guatling1]

My vote is for the disposable camera. I asked the foster mother to take a photo of DS and me on my visit, and she quickly caught on to how to work it.

[tinaedmond]

Our foster mother had her own regular camera because she loves pictures....but her son tells me that he is always the one who has to load and unload the film for her

I do think that a camera as a gift is a good idea, though, if you find out that your foster mother wants or needs one.

Tina

[ez4me2remember]

Maybe I will bring disposable and a reg camera with film. If it seems like she might have trouble with the reg camera I wont bother with it....if she knows how to use a regular camera...she could keep the disposable ones for another family who I am sure would appreciate it!

[mommytoEli]

That is a good question. I didn't even think of that. I just brought 4 disposables when we visited and sent down two more in a package.

[Sandy Harboe]

We gave our FM 2 disposal camera's and came to find out her son took them. So we never got any pictures. The only pictures that we had of our son is one from referral and another that the lawyer took after a visit.

[Mindybeth6]

I personally sent down a Kodak disposable camera. I just figured that would be easier and truly if you get them on sale they are inexpensive. ALl the directions on how to use the camera were in English AND Spanish so I am sure she will figure it out plus I am sure she has many parents before me send one down since my daughter is in a Hogar. I asked for her to give it back to me when we go down for our visit trip so I sure hope she uses it up quickly and we are planning on taking down three more when we go on our visit trip...oh my....visit trip...the thought of how much I Have to do still for the trip makes me sick to me belly..I better get my butt in gear!

[waitingforthem]

We took a package of three on our visit trip. When we went for pickup, there was one camera with pictures on it, one that had not been used, and she told us that one of the cameras broke when she was trying to figure out how to use it! Oh, well! I did get some pictures of his doctor and a doctor visit, as well as some of the foster mom's kids! I was happy to have given them to her! There are no guarantees on the pics, like Sandy's experience, but if you do get a few pics out of it-they are priceless!
-Sabra

[Yelena]

Disposables rule! We sent two down and got one back, and the other one is supposed to be coming soon. Our foster mom has her own digital camera (and a cell phone and a computer, all of which surprised me a little!), so she was no stranger to cameras and how to use them. I LOVE the photos she took, not just of our baby, but of her family, too. She even took a photo of her TV, because sitting on top of it is a framed photo of my family that we'd sent down in a care package.

[tooskis]

Ya know, we have seen disposable video cameras now too! I think they tape for 30 minutes. You send it in for development and they send you a CD. Just FYI!

[mattecook]

I would say disposable would be the best bet. I toyed with sending a regular inexpensive camera down and the just adding film to each package (so it would take up less room) but didn't want to be disappointed if for some reason the camera didn't work. For our gift to the foster family we gave her a medium priced 35 mm camera and batteries and several rolls of film along with money. I wanted to be a bit different from the typical gifts and thought that this might be neat.

Ami

[Jett's Mama]

We left two disposables with our Foster Mom and got them both back. The photos are indeed priceless. I say go with the disposables unless you wanted to gift her a camera and some film.

[cheri25]

I'll jump on the disposable camera bandwagon. I just think it is the easiest way to go. We sent down 2 cameras before our visit trip and rececived both back when we went down. We then left her 4 more when wer were down on our visit trip, and we got all of those back when we went for our pick up trip. Definitely worth it!!!!

[MNStarr]

We brought down two disposables on our visit trip and left them with the foster mom. The only thing I advise is be prepared for what you are about to see. Nothing disturbing just huge culture shock as you will see the fistermoms home. We have pics of Olivia being fed cotton candy at 2 months and another one with 3 people right by her smoking and blowing it right over her. But just in general the floor was dirt with one 5X8? area rug that was filthy. Two walls were cement block and the other two appeared to be lath strips nailed over boards holding a dirt wall up. There were a group of mattresses on the floor where everyone slept...you get the idea. They are very priceless but I had a hard time looking at them at first.