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Will you do me a favor? Look at these handsome little men-isn’t Mom going to have her hands full when these two grow up? Both of sets of those sweet boys’ eyes sparkle with mischief, and I can only imagine after our time together that they keep their Mom and Dad on their toes.
A boy is Truth with dirt on it’s face,
Beauty with a cut on its finger,
Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair,
and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket.
- Author Unknown
Today I attended a free decorating class at our local Pottery Barn. It was held at 10:20am this morning, and it was so much fun! There were about 15-20 people (only 1 man!!) there, and most were toting their liquid energy (Starbucks). We gathered around their “living room set-ups” that they have scattered throughout the store…you know the ones.
The class was about decorating with neutrals and naturals, and while nothing that I learned was earth-shattering, it was really fun to spend the morning being creative and watching people work at what they are passionate about. Pottery Barn holds these classes monthly at most store locations, and the next one is about holiday decorating!
Another great perk about attending these classes is that you get 10% off the merchandise that they feature in the demonstrations. And, when we are talking about a $3000 sofa, thats a pretty great savings! It was also nice because after the class was over, we got free reign to shop the store without the usual mall crowds (because it was still before the store opened for the day).
I don’t work for Pottery Barn nor am I being paid to endorse their classes, but I always love doing something out of the ordinary…and who can pass up a free class on anything?! Its great to learn from people more skilled than yourself, and its even better when its free!
Another great thing I discovered about Pottery Barn today is that their website has expanded and now includes more educational resources, articles, and tools. How fun! This is an informative piece about displaying your photos and memories. I’d love to help you find a way to do a “Pottery Barn-esque” wall display in your home!
Coming at you….the Photo Tip of the Week
Focus on the Details
It can seem like there are a million moments, firsts, and things to capture in your child’s first years. This fact alone is the reason I think my son was the most photographed infant on the planet. I was not a stellar photographer when he was born, but I did implement the few rules I remembered from my photo classes. One of these premises was focus on the details. Sometimes the little things get lost in the big picture when babies are new and kids are busy. Try filling the frame with something small, some forgotten little body part, or focus on a favorite toy. This helps complete the story in between your snapshots.
Below is an example of when my son was first starting to sit up. He has never been a chunky kid, but much to my delight when he started sitting up he got those cute little baby dimples on his butt. I wanted to capture that sweet phase in a baby’s life…and I’m sure he’ll appreciate that when he’s 16!
1. My favorite thing right now is strawberry freezer jam
2. Sally Shim is such a talent, and has been taking the blogging and design community by storm for a few years now. I first became acquainted with her work about two years ago when I was a brand new mom and had some late night nursing hours to surf the web. :) Check her out, her spare and modern style is really inspiring.
3. I have been reading about all kinds of creepy things in our soaps, shampoos, and lotions lately. It seems like nothing is safe from the far reach of manufactured chemicals. I just wish I would have known about this stuff (BPA, pthalates, etc.) when Noah was born! This makes me really happy! I can’t wait to get to Target to pick some up.
Those are just some of the things that have been on my mind this week, and I wanted to share them with you. Of course, the Olympics and Michael Phelps are on everyone’s mind, so I guess I should have thrown that out there. What an amazing feat of determination, hard work, and sheer talent that man possesses! Anyway, since no post is complete without an image…here’s one I shot at a sweet location in Downtown Davidson. I’m shooting a family there next week and can’t wait to show them the awesomeness!
Who said papas are the only ones who get to play the paparazzi?? Each Monday I’ll bring you a different tip to make your personal photos better, more impactful, more creative, and bolder. Hopefully by utilizing the information I post here, you’ll be able to make a dramatic difference in the images you capture.
So-off we go.
You don’t have to have a fancy camera to make the most of any photo opportunity. If you have a DSLR, you’ll be able to use more creativity, but a regular Point and Shoot (P&S) will do just fine. It is more about the artist than the equipment, anyway. Just as owning a pair of scissors does not a hair dresser make, the same goes for photography. Its all about knowing how to use what you have.
This week we’ll be talking about an often overlooked method for taking pictures of little ones or even pets.
GET DOWN ON THEIR LEVEL.
This tip makes a lot of sense when you think about it. If you are trying to best capture your child, why take the picture as you see the world? Getting down on their level means that you’ll be able to fill the frame better, you’ll most likely get better eye contact, and the connection with you will be much more apparent. If you were to take the image I’ve posted below from adult eye level, you’d get a photograph where the subject was much smaller (fills less of the frame) because you’d have to get further away to get his face visible. Otherwise, you’d be staring at the top of his head! You can also tell, he is really engaging with me in this image-because I got down on his level.
When I took this image, I was sitting indian-style and hunched over a little bit. I talked to him a lot from behind the camera, and often dropped my camera from my face so he could tell it was still Mama behind there! I find that he is much more at ease with me taking photos of him when I take the time to make him comfortable.
So, next time you whip out your camera to capture the daily lives of your sweet children…do yourself a favor. Get down on the ground with them, lay down if you have to…but make sure to see the world as they do. You’ll get a much more intimate shot that way.
Its good to be here. This is the place that I will share life, work, and the joys of motherhood with you. This is the place where my clients can check in and see their sweet kid’s images. This will be the place to share some of the interesting things I come across in my everyday life.
Enjoy your time here, I’ll make sure to do the same.
And because a post is not a post without an image-here is one of sweet little miss K.