Preserving Memories and Strengthening Bonds: The Benefits of Doing Family Photos
We all have those family photos that we’ve had hanging in our homes for years. You know the ones I’m talking about – the ones that are tattered and torn, but we still keep them close because of the memories they hold. Well, family photos serve a lot more purposes than just filling up wall space. Here’s why you should consider booking a family photo shoot today!
Today, we’re going to talk about the benefits of doing family photos. We all have those family photos that we’ve had hanging in our homes for years. You know the ones I’m talking about – the ones that are tattered and torn, but we still keep them close because of the memories they hold. Well, family photos serve a lot more purposes than just filling up wall space. Here’s why you should consider booking a family photo shoot today!
Capturing Memories
Life is always changing and moving forward, and it’s easy to forget how much our loved ones have grown and changed. Family photos capture a moment in time that you can look back on for years to come and remember just how tiny your kids were, or how much your grandparents have aged. These photos are a visual diary of your family’s history and growth.
2.Building Connections
Family photos bring everyone together and help strengthen the bonds between family members. During a photo shoot, you’ll have the opportunity to share laughs, jokes, and special moments with your loved ones. You’ll also have the chance to create new memories together that you can look back on for years to come.
3. Improving Communication
In today’s world, we’re all so busy that it can be tough to find time to connect with our loved ones. Family photos can serve as a reminder of how important it is to stay in touch and make time for each other. Looking back at photos from a family photo shoot can also spark conversations and memories that may have been forgotten over time.
4. Celebrating Your Family’s Unique Personality
Family photos are a great way to celebrate the unique personality of your family. Whether it’s silly faces, special poses, or just capturing your family’s love and affection, a photo shoot gives you the chance to showcase what makes your family special.
5. Heirlooms for Future Generations
Family photos are a great way to pass down memories and stories to future generations. Your kids and grandkids will love looking back at the photos and hearing about the memories behind each one. These photos become heirlooms that can be treasured for generations to come.
In conclusion, family photos serve as a visual diary of your family’s history, help strengthen bonds, improve communication, celebrate your family’s unique personality, and become heirlooms for future generations. So what are you waiting for? Book your family photo shoot today!
Strategies for getting your newborn to sleep
One of the biggest concerns of new parents is getting their baby on a regular sleep schedule—and getting some sleep themselves. Check out these tips for starting good sleep habits early.
One of the biggest concerns of new parents is getting their baby on a regular sleep schedule—and getting some sleep themselves. Check out these tips for starting good sleep habits early.
1 Develop a routine.
As babies learn about the world, a sense of routine can help them feel safe. Creating a bedtime routine helps them learn and understand when it’s time for sleep. Try to do the same thing every time you put your baby down and make sure your routine is gentle and relaxing.
2 Expect complaints.
When your child is first learning to fall asleep alone, don’t be surprised if they cry and protest. It’ll help you and your baby if you have a planned response to those nighttime cries. You may decide to check in on your child every few minutes after putting them down, or you may want to avoid checking in at all. Talk to your partner and decide together what your plan for bedtime will be.
3 Watch for signs.
Your baby will do their best to let you know they’re getting sleepy. They may yawn, act grumpy, or have a particular cry to communicate their tiredness. Pay attention to these hints and start your bedtime routine in response.
4 Don’t wait until baby’s asleep.
Once your baby is about four months old, you can start laying them down for bedtime when they get drowsy. This will give them the chance to learn to fall asleep on their own and sets the stage for better sleep patterns in the future.
5 Stick with it.
Consistency is everything when it comes to teaching children. If you change up your routine or response from night to night, your baby will be confused and struggle to develop a regular sleep pattern. Being consistent will help your child learn how to fall asleep more easily.
6 Know your child’s personality.
Every child is different, which means they develop sleep skills at different times and in different ways. The more intensely your baby reacts to loud noises and other disturbances, the harder it will be for them to self-soothe and fall asleep. Babies with more laidback personalities may find it easier to fall asleep on their own.
7 Think about your circumstances.
If your baby is regularly having trouble sleeping, consider whether there’s any recent changes that could cause them to be upset. Maybe a new babysitter or your return to work could be causing the problem. Even milestones like learning to crawl or walk can cause sleep disruptions. Just be patient and stay consistent with your bedtime routine.
Tips for photographing your kids
It’s so important to capture as many moments as you can as your kids grow and change. As a professional photographer and mum, I wanted to give you some key tips on how to take better photos of your kids.
It’s so important to capture as many moments as you can as your kids grow and change. As a professional photographer and mum, I wanted to give you some key tips on how to take better photos of your kids.
1) Get down low
The angle that we take photos makes a huge difference in the way we view them. Being at an angle where you are looking directly into kids' eyes totally changes the way we connect with an image. I am sure you have heard the expression that the eyes are the window to the soul, and this is never more true than when photography kids
2) don’t ask them to say cheese
We all grew up with the school photographer who asked us to say cheese, to try and capture a smile. But it was a different time when photographers worked with film, and could only take 1 photo, and by saying cheese they had the best chance to capture something resembling a smile
Times have changed and with digital photography we can take a number of images to make sure that we get a real smile. When I am photographing kids I ask them questions or tell them silly joes that I know will make them laugh or smile. I’m always ready to snap away to make sure that I capture that perfect moment. It means that you end up with photos that have real & authentic expression , that really capture a true special moment of that age.
3) understanding light
I can’t tell you how often people think that being in full sun will enable the best photos, but nothing could be further from the truth.
The best places to get done are actually in the shade, or near a window inside your home
a) photographing outdoors
Try to get your ids playing in a shady area. The middle of the day is the hardest to time as finding shade can be hard, sp try to find the time in the early morning or late afternoon to concentrate on photographing your kids
But the reality is that the best moments happen at any time, so if you are watching your kids play and you want to get the best shot then put yourself in a position that the sun is behind your kids. This will stop them squinting if they look at you, and the sun will not be as harsh..
b) photography indoors
You want to stand so the window is behind you. If you are facing the window your camera will struggle with how to expose correctly and there will not be enough light on your kids. SO look at where your kids are playing and move yourself around so that the window is behind you.Light is the most important factor in every photo. Look at where it's coming from and how strong it is. If you're inside, try to get close to a window and turn your child's face toward the natural light. I usually leave indoor lights and flash off, especially now that iPhone 11 Pro has night mode. Artificial lighting changes the white balance (warmth) in a photo and messes with skin tones. But if you happen to capture a shot you love and the lighting is tricky, try a black and white edit.Another tip for indoor shooting: Look for interesting light patterns made by things like blinds or drapes and pockets of light streaming in through windows that help create eye-catching portraits.
When outside, light on an overcast day is good all day. On sunny days, the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset is the most beautiful and flattering light to take photos, but life doesn't always happen in perfect lighting! If the sun is high and strong, I look for shade or bend low to the ground to put the light behind my kids. Smart HDR makes it easier to take a shot and expose it correctly even in harsh overhead light, but know that the shadows will be harsh so you'll have to work with it as best as you can.
Capture emotion
It's so important to tell the story with feeling. To do this, rely on candid moments, like a recent one between my dad and my daughter enjoying a quiet morning of reading stories. Because I had my phone handy, I was able to capture that special moment while sitting across from them.
But don't be afraid to create some candid moments of your own. Ask your kids to give hugs, hold hands and jump, play with water, pick flowers, build a sand castle, or have them twirl or dance. Give them a toy or snack like ice cream or hot cocoa. Sit back, watch, and snap the in-between moments of silliness, giggles, and beauty.
You can bend or crouch down to be at face level to get the most of their expressions. Let them stick their tongues out, be goofy, and have fun. Tell them jokes and laugh with them and their faces will light up even more.
Throw the rules away
OK, not really, but don't get hung up on them either. With time and practice, you won't think about lighting and framing so much because it will start to happen naturally, and you'll be able to focus on storytelling and capturing that raw emotion. Remember, you're telling the story of their lives, you're not limited to a certain number of photos, and your kids don't always have to strike a pre-planned pose.
The photos I end up loving most are the ones where my children aren't looking at me and smiling, but instead are interacting as I capture their actions. Nothing compares to the ones where they are laughing so hard I can remember what their giggles sounded like days later. A lot of times, these shots aren't technically perfect, but they're perfect to me.
Join in on the fun
And last but not least, if you're the designated family photographer, use that selfie mode! You were there too; you're part of that story. Go by how a shot makes you feel and capture the moments that matter to you because, in the end, your photos of your kids are for you.
Top tips to help your baby sleep
As parents, we all want our baby to have a peaceful nights sleep and hopefully sleep through the night, but sometimes this can feel somewhat impossible.
In the first weeks with your new baby, when you are sleep deprived and struggling with learning how to look after your newborn baby, this can seem such a challenge.
I wanted to share with you, as a mum of three, some top tips of things that I did to help get my babies to sleep. that I hope will be helpful for you:
Sleep…..fuel for our body, and our mode of function for the day. Sleep can impact how we start our day and how we parent our kids, and this is the same for our babies.
As parents, we all want our baby to have a peaceful nights sleep and hopefully sleep through the night, but sometimes this can feel somewhat impossible.
In the first weeks with your new baby, when you are sleep deprived and struggling with learning how to look after your newborn baby, this can seem such a challenge.
I wanted to share with you, as a mum of three, some top tips of things that I did to help get my babies to sleep. that I hope will be helpful for you:
Have a set time to start your routine and a time that you would like for your baby to go to bed.
Have a set time for a warm bath for your baby. It’s a great way to start and for your baby to relax.
Massage your newborn with a baby safe oil or cream, and massage using gentle, soft strokes. Softly touching their face, ears and toes can be very soothing for a baby.
Bedtime Story. Reading a book with your baby can be a very special time for you both. To this day it is still part of our routine.
Play soft music in the background. You will be able to find so many options on you tube..
Singing a lullaby to your baby. I'm not a singer and far from it but when your baby hears your soft voice before they fall asleep can have quite a calming effect. I had some favourite songs that I loved as a child, & I regularly sang them to my babies.
Diffuser - lavender oil or a soothing blend that is calming but not overpowering.
Cuddles. You and your baby can never have too many of these. It’s such a special bonding time for you both.
Swaddling. Being comfortably swaddled makes a baby feel secure and safe while sleeping. As the months went on I found the baby sleep bag was a great option too, as they start moving around and move away from the swaddling phase.
I found that having an established a routine from the beginning when my baby was a newborn and then being consistent, as much as possible was key. Remember every baby is different and every parent is different.
I'm a big believer on doing what works for you and for your baby. What may work for one family or baby may differ from the other.