Big Changes
The new school year has started and has brought with it a huge change for me. Both of my girls are off to school full time, for the first time since my youngest is now in kindergarten. And since the girls have basically being home for most of the time the past 18 months, it feels like an even bigger change.
It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling for me to have them both off to school. I love hearing about their day when they come home and seeing how happy they are being able to learn and socialize with other kids, but I definitely miss them! It’s also so nice to be able to be more productive during the days, I feel like I am actually able to think straight and focus on things. This past year and a half in particular with all of the virtual learning made things so difficult to focus on photography or anything!
As sad as I get from time to time about the girls growing up, I really do enjoy each stage as they grown. Right now I just love their two, completely opposite, personalities and how much fun it is to see them develop as their own individual. We are past the stage of them being high maintenance toddlers that you can never take your eyes off of, and now they get to explore different interests and activities. Although I miss them during the weekdays, I’ll make sure to soak up all the time we do have together. I’m so thankful that as the girls grow I will have all of our stages and memories documented to look back on.
Enjoying the Present
Last week when someone asked my 7 year old if she was excited to go back to school she responded by saying, “I’m enjoying the present,” and I thought that response was just awesome. I think so many of us can learn from that, myself included.
Every year, more and more, it seems like there is a race in stores and on social media to go onto the next season or holiday. But honestly I feel like we all need to just relax and focus on and enjoy right now. The one problem with this is though that life is busy and does actually require some planning, and to be honest I personally really enjoy looking forward to upcoming things and planning ahead a bit.
So I guess the important thing is to try to find the balance between planning ahead and taking the time to be present in what is happening now. Because life, especially with kids, goes by way too fast.
And so as much as I do not want to wish away our summer I am opening up my fall dates to start scheduling sessions for all those planners out there. So reach out here to schedule your fall session.
Documenting our Summer in South Jersey
As you can see I am a bit behind on blogging my 365 project since I’m finally sharing June. But I think that just means we have been enjoying our summer! It seems pretty crazy to think that we are almost halfway through the summer when I feel like school just ended!
One of the nicest things about this summer for us has been getting to see some family and friends that we haven’t seen in so long. I always stress the importance of parents getting in the pictures with their kids, but having nice photos with grandparents and extended family is so nice as well!
It's also been so nice to just take photos of our day to day life and adventures, whether that’s on vacation or right at home. I can’t wait to share more of our summer, once I catch up to my July 365.
And as we can see with how fast summer is flying by, fall will be here before we know it. So make sure to reach out to me here to schedule your fall session!
Summer Photos in South Jersey
It’s that time of year when things are winding down from school and we are all anticipating summer! As we are getting into summer mode, I’m finally getting around to sharing my May 365 photos. I have definitely noticed that during May it was getting more difficult to be inspired. So many times I would wait until the end of the day and realize I hadn’t gotten my picture yet and would have to snap one quickly. I also found that my younger daughter who was home more of the day ended up being my subject most days. I’m really looking forward to having both of my daughters home more this summer and being able to document our fun summer adventures. I love being able to capture all of their summer childhood memories.
Typically with photography, fall is usually the busiest time of year, as everyone seems to want fall photos. I have to agree that fall is a beautiful time of year with the foliage, but if I had to choose, I think Summer would be my favorite time to shoot. The warmer weather provides so many fun possibilities and locations. And I just love all the beautiful greenery and flowers that we have in the summer! I’m also a big fan of including water in photos, which makes summer the perfect time for that!
You can continue to follow along on my 365 project to see the fun we have this summer! And click here to schedule your own summer photo session!
Washington Township In Home Newborn Session
In home sessions are some of my favorites for so many reasons and especially for newborn sessions. The day of little Aubrey’s session was so cold, rainy and dreary, but you would never know it from these photos! From my own experience having newborn, I know what a process it can be getting a new baby and their siblings out of the house in those first few weeks, so having photos right in your home definitely simplifies the process. I also love how in home sessions really allow you to capture the memories of having a brand new baby at home.
Newborn sessions can really vary in length because we work around the baby’s needs and moods, but little Aubrey’s session went so quick, she was such an angel. But since that’s not always the case and for the sessions that take longer it is nice for the siblings to be able to go off and play when they aren’t needed in the photos. I also find that young kids tend to warm up much quicker in the comfort of their own home. Aubrey’s big sisters were just adorable and certainly didn’t mind being in the spotlight!
I also love including pets in my sessions and being in home certainly makes this easier. Being a dog lover I definitely fell in love with their Dalmatian Daisy!
It was so clear how loved baby Aubrey is. Being the youngest of three girls myself I know how special that is and how lucky she is to have two sisters to always watch over her. I’m sure these girls have so many years of fun ahead of them!
The Value of a Photo
Doing my 365 project this year has really helped me to look at what I photograph differently. I find it so interesting how photographs are one of the very few things in life that actually become more meaningful and valuable as time passes. This idea becomes extremely transparent to me when I look back on old photos of my girls. Even quick iPhone snaps bring me right back to that time in our lives. It’s funny how in the moment we always think that we could never forget the cute or funny things our children do on a daily basis, but as time goes on we do.
This 365 has really pushed me to take photos of things that I may have previously seen as insignificant and I am so thankful for this! Years from now we will look back on the moments that happen on a daily basis now and miss them. But when I look back at the photos I've been taking each month, all of these seemingly insignificant moments creates a story of our life.
Enjoying a Slower Pace in Life
While editing my March 365 photos, since they coincide with the one year mark of this pandemic, it really made me reflect on this past year. This year has felt so long and difficult in so many ways. I know that I miss being able to see so many of my family and friends and to not have this constant stress weighing on us all.
Being a "glass half full" person though, I see some positives that have come out of this past year as well. I for one have appreciated being able to slow down. Instead of constantly running from place to place I have been enjoying more time at home with family.
This past year also helped me to find new ways of finding joy and stress relief, whether it was painting, baking or long walks outside. I have also been able to take the time to do this project and document all of these things as well as our day to day life with my daughters. Slowing down has helped me to notice the beauty in things I may not have before.
As much as I struggle with this new reality that we are living in, some days more than others, I am feeling thankful for some of the positives that have come out of this past year and hopeful that things will start to get easier for us all in the coming months.
Letting go of "Perfect"
When I set out to do a 365 this year I knew it would be tough to keep up with taking a picture every single day. With two young kids and the crazy school schedule we have had this year, thanks to COVID, it can be difficult. It's only been 2 months and I've already missed a few days. But I'm ok with that! Going in I knew that in order for me to be successful with this project I had to let go of the idea of doing it perfectly.
At the end of the year I won't care if I took more than one picture one day and none another. I'll care about all of the memories I have to look back on and the year I documented. That's what is important.
So many times in life we say things like "Once I get a new job I"ll be happy," Or "I'll get those family photos done once I lose a few pounds." But we end up letting life pass us by while we wait for things to be perfect, which really just isn't possible.
So this year I decided I would give myself grace and do my 365 the best I can and focus more on enjoying my imperfect life, now.
My 365 Project
For the past few years I've really wanted to do a 365 photography project, which basically just means I'll take a photo everyday for a whole year. I made my first attempt to do one last year, but quickly became sidetracked when we had to pack our house and move out of state. So this year I am committed to finishing.
The purpose of doing a 365 project is to push creativity. I also love the idea of documenting our day to day life.
With everything that's happened this past year I had noticed myself picking up my camera less and less. Starting this project has definitely gotten me back into photographing my daughters and helped me to remember why I got into photography in the first place.
This project has made me realize that I want to help other moms, or dads, to be able to capture these same everyday moments. I decided to share a few simple tips to help you take better photos of your own kids. You can download a copy of these tips by joining my mailing list here.
What Should I Wear for my Family Photos?
I know from my own experience that deciding what to wear for a photo session can be stressful! Here are some tips that can help you to plan your outfits.
1. Coordinate outfits without having everyone match. Having everyone in the photos wearing the exact same outfit can give off a very dated vibe and it’s certainly not very natural. It’s helpful to choose two or three coordinating colors to base everyone’s outfits around.
2. Mix patterns and solids. Adding one or two patterns can definitely add some interest to the outfits. It’s important not to go overboard with patterns though so it’s not too busy.
3. Avoid graphics, writing and neon clothing. Clothing with graphics or writing on them can distract and take away from the photos often date them. Wearing colors that are too bright can sometimes cause unflattering colors reflect onto skin and it’s helpful to avoid this.
4. Add layers, accessories and different textures. All of these things can help add visual interest to your photos.
5. Decide what you’ll do with the photos. If you’re planning to print your photos to hang in your house you may want to take into account the colors and decor of your home when planning your outfits.
6. Be comfortable. As important as all of these other things are, I think the most important thing is to be comfortable in what your wearing so you can feel confident and like yourself! Comfort is also a very important thing to consider when planning the outfit of kids. We all know how big of a deal an itchy tag can be to a toddler.
I know that even with these tips it can still be overwhelming to plan out outfits, so I am always happy to assist clients in helping with this process.
Tips to Have a Successful Photo Session with Kids
Preparing for a family session or photo session with kids can definitely cause some stress for parents with all of the planning that goes into it. Those of us with young kids also worry about our children cooperating and if they will smile for the photos. I thought I would share a few tips that may help to make your photo session with kids go smoothly.
Prepare them
Kids tend to do better when they know what to expect. You can explain to them that they will be getting some photos taken and how much fun it will be. It may be helpful to show kids photos of me from my website or social media so that I’m a familiar face when they see me.Keep it positive
Try not to stress too much during the session if it’s not going perfectly. Kids definitely pick up on our emotions and usually do much better when parents aren’t stressing.Keep it fun
I certainly don’t expect kids to sit still and have perfect behavior during our sessions! The best photos are often when kids are being silly, so don’t worry about them not behaving. Relax and have fun with your kids like you would any other day.
Other helpful tips:
Share some information about your kids and family with me before the session. It’s so helpful for me when I know a bit about personalities, interests and even favorite songs.
Make sure the kids are not hungry for the session. Sometimes bringing snacks to the session may even be helpful, especially for toddlers.
Make sure your kids are well rested. Try not to schedule too much before the session so the kids are rested and ready to go!
Sometimes bringing along a favorite toy or activity can be helpful for young kids.
Making Time for a Family Photo Session
Back in March 2020 my family made a big move to South Jersey from New York. It was such an exciting move, however, moving during a pandemic is not the best way to settle in to a new area!
Thankfully it has allowed us to have so much quality time together as a family. I decided to take advantage of all of this time we had together. I brought out my tripod and we found a great location for family photos.
I take so many pictures of my daughter, and often with my husband as well, but we definitely don't get enough of us as a family. It was so nice for me to get in the frame for once since I really wanted some nice photos of me with my girls. I even handed my camera off to my daughter to get a picture of my husband and I. And I must say, I am very impressed with how she did!
I am so glad that we took the time to take some family photos of us. I can't wait to get some printed to hang around our house!
Precious Moments in Motherhood
One of my favorite things to photograph is the love and connection of a mother for her child. Mothers are usually the ones with the greatest desire for the photos, and are typically the ones who take all the photos of their family, which is why I feel photographing mothers is so important. I also think this is so wonderful for children to have and cherish when they are older.
I recently decided to update some photos that I had taken of myself with my daughters last year. After finishing the photos, my oldest daughter requested that I take some photos of her with her dolls. She posed herself and would tell me when to take the photos. At the time I just quickly snapped the photos not thinking much of it since she does this kind of stuff all the time. However, once I began to go through my photos to edit I looked back on the ones of her and realized how adorable and sweet they really are.
Sometimes in our day to day life we forget to reflect on or appreciate what we have. But looking back at these photos made me see how much she looks up to me and tries to be just like me. Even by looking at how she posed herself I can see how closely she watches what I do. Since having kids I have realized that all the sayings about how fast time goes are so true! These may seem like little things now, but when she’s a teenager and she doesn’t want as much to do with me, I’m sure looking back on these photos will be even more special than they are today. I just love that photographs allow me to freeze a moment in time and preserve that feeling and experience that we may never have again
I feel so fortunate to be able to capture precious memories like these for other moms as well.
