A little bit about a lot of things
Suddenly 10 on 10 is here! This is a post to share ten photos from the previous month on the tenth day of the month, or ten photos from the same day posted on the tenth day of the month. Follow the circle around. (which I think is only two of us this month!) by continuing to Anna Hurley.
When I look at this photo of you I see a little boy who has my heart completely and has since the day I first learned you were growing inside me. I see your brilliance, your wit, your charm, your amazing ability to look at almost any situation in a positive light. How hard it must be for you to have been given parents who sometimes lean too much toward the negative yet God gave you the gift of compassion and encouragement because he knew we would need to be reminded.
You wanted to cross the entire bridge that day but daddy and I were tired and said “no.” I wish I had said yes. I don’t ever want to limit you in your dreams or your goals. I don’t ever want to slow you down.
Your future is so wide open and though I often want to keep you close to my side, tucked under my arm, I know I’ll someday have to let you walk the path there on your own.
Before we know it it will be spring and I hope we go back to that bridge because we are going to walk all the way across it together.
My one year old has decided her diaper is an option.
She has also decided she should be taken outside, no matter how cold it is starting to get. And if her brother is outside when she is, she shall follow him and look for him and possibly try to do what he’s doing, even if her legs are too short to accomplish her goal.
Winter is going to be tough on this little girl, who is so used to being able to going out the door when she’d like to, so she can explore.
Luckily we were able to explore outside a little this week and it isn’t yet as cold as it usually is this time of year here.
Over the years I have had people ask how I capture the personalities of children in my images. The answer is much more simple than you might imagine. I’ve pulled five quick tips together for capturing authentic images of your children.
1) Always Have a Camera
I rarely leave my house without a camera. I say rarely because it has happened, but if it does, I feel very incomplete. I’ve been known to even carry my camera on a trip to the store, simply because I never know when a great moment is going to happen. It’s like the Boy Scout motto “Always Be Prepared.” While I’m not a huge fan of the images my cellphone creates, at least having that to capture an image can make sure you capture a moment as it happens.
I’ve rarely asked my son or any child to smile for the camera. It’s so easy to capture the real person when they aren’t being asked to think about how to smile. Capture them as they are, doing what they love to do, in the place they love to do it in. That can be at home, at a park or surrounded by some of their favorite things or people. If they are asked to look at the camera, they have to stop and think about how they look, what they are doing and if you want them to smile or not.
For me some of my favorite photographs of my children are of them engaging in a favorite activity for that time in their life. Years down the road, I can look at those images and see in them, not only my child, but what they liked to do at that age.
I follow my children as they play. I stalk them throughout various times of the day. I essentially become their personal paparazzi.
Of course it is important to put the camera down and be in the moment sometimes, but other times I have fun following my son and daughter around and snapping images as they play, rarely asking them to stop what they are doing and pay attention to the camera. The less they think about the camera being there, the better, when you are looking for candid images.
4) Keep snapping.
Don’t take only one photo of the moment. Keep clicking the shutter to capture the perfect image of the event or activity or moment. Children move fast and constantly. You have to do the same and never miss a shot. You don’t have to keep every image you take but at least you’ll have several to choose from for the family album or to hang on the wall. This doesn’t mean you have to snap away during and entire event or time together, but definitely take more than one or two images if you really want to capture authentic images.
4) Focus On the Moment
Don’t think about photography perfection but about perfection in moments. When taking authentic images of your children, don’t be so concerned about her hair being out of place or chocolate on his face or her shirt being ripped. Is she laughing? He is sticking his tongue out while concentrating like he always does? Then that’s what matters the most
5) Let your children to be children.
This goes with the previous tip. If you truly want to capture who your children are, then let them BE children. Let them play. Let them climb trees.
Let them splash in mud puddles and lick ice cream cones with their church clothes on and even pick their noses.
Let children be real and your camera will capture who they really are.
Here we are at the last week of summer and I can’t even believe how fast it went by. My son is entering third grade this week and my daughter, husband and I will be figuring out how to spend our days without a crazy 8-year old to entertain us. Here are some of my favorite images from this past week.
Grace is a climber and apparently she thought she was going to climb the fence into her brother’s little haven he’s set up for himself. I took her down seconds after taking this photo, to avoid her falling on her face.
My son is growing up too fast. He also has one of the most expressive faces. I can’t remember what this one was for but it had something to do with a story he was telling me about Minecraft.
Grace likes to try to sit right next to her brother when he’s drawing and I mean right next to him.
Grace has loved exploring our backyard with our puppy this summer, especially since our mini garden of pumpkins and tomatoes has been taking it over.
Jonathan was thrilled he could finally climb all the way around this particular playground equipment.
Grace has started leaning into her brother for hugs each morning.
Our second living room has become his Lego/Art Room. Somehow. It’s where he creates now.
