So, it’s official. We will have one little princess and two tough boys running around our house. I couldn’t be more thrilled! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for a boy. He and Lincoln will be almost exactly two years apart; which means they can share a room, have the same friends – maybe. At the very least they will attend school together, and hopefully, just hopefully, they will be buddies.
Will Parris is a professional photographer in Southern California (www.parris-studios.com) and a good friend of mine. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him well enough to know what makes him tick – and those things are also what make him an amazing photographer. HIs playful spirit and creative mind come through in his photos, and he is one who knows how to perfectly capture the moment – just check out the awesome family photos he shot for us last year. He was kind enough to agree to be a part of this series and I love the encouraging and inspirational words he came up with when it comes to picking up your camera – whether you’re a beginner or a pro. So, take his advice, get up off your chair this month and shoot, shoot, shoot. The only way to learn is to practice!
One of my goals in doing this “Capture the Little Moments” series was to emphasize that you can still get great pictures with a camera phone or a point-and-shoot digital camera. It’s not necessary to have a fancy DSLR camera (though for some of us, they are certainly fun to play with), but it does help to have some knowledge on what makes a great picture.
I’m so excited to be hosting Candace Moss today, owner and creator of Mom and Pop Photo School. As a photography instructor and also a mom, Candace knows what it takes to get the perfect photos of your kids. But after years of experience, she also knows that not every photo will be perfect, and as moms, we tend to hold ourselves to an awfully high standard!
It’s almost February 1, which means our “Capture the Little Moments” challenge is about to begin! Each day in the month of February, I am challenging all participants to take at least one photo a day. Why? To get you in the habit of documenting life as it is, capturing the little moments you often forget about and bettering your photography skills.
Mom and Pop is graciously giving one reader their 101 Set, which includes lessons for both Portraits 101 and Camera 101 (a $99 value). It is a combined set that will teach you the basics of using your camera (ISO, mode, White balance, etc.) and well as some tips for how to get the perfect portrait (including an all-important lesson on proper lighting) – essential for any mom trying to snap some pro shots of her kids (aren’t we all??).
Friends, I don’t often make resolutions – probably because I know I will just break them. But this year, I have already committed to (without really planning on it being a “resolution”) learning new things. I took a step back from a job that I had been doing for the past 5 years so that…
Ah, the dreaded family photo. Remember how awful they were when we were kids? It was pretty common for mom to order everyone to wear their red sweater and march outside to stand awkwardly by a nice autumn tree (two standing, two crouching) just so you could get a shot of how you’ve grown this year to stuff inside the Christmas letter printed on Christmas stationary. Just me? Oh.
Perhaps your mom was a stickler for matching outfits. Like, say, one of you decided running shorts and a white polo was a good idea, so you all had to follow suit…
So a few months ago, I decided maybe it was time for some new family photos… you know, since I hadn’t gotten any since our son joined the family over a year ago (oops). So I employed the fabulous Will Parris of Parris Studios to take some shots of us.
Ah, another long holiday weekend come and gone. It seems like just when I am settling in to the slow pace and enjoying the relaxation, Monday strikes again. Bummer.
At least we had a nice 4-day weekend, since my husband had both Thursday and Friday off. We celebrated the 4th, started packing for our move to Colorado, ran a bunch of errands, dedicated our little man at church, and spent time with friends and family. It was pretty perfect, come to think of it.
