Sep
10
2014My girls turn 5 today. I’m breathless with the weight of their childhood passing so fast despite the days (and nights) sometimes seeming to be so slow.
Photo by Rachel Accord
Photo by Rachel Accord
I don’t have a lot of words about these sweet girls… but I do have a ton of photos. So let me tell you a little about each girl and then let the images speak.
Aeralind Grace
My serious daughter. Love snuggles and affirmation. Introverted. Hilarious with her five year old logic. (“It’s okay, mama. We have to grow up. But when we do we’ll have babies and we’ll give you some to keep.”) Slowest eater on the planet. Perfectionist. Fearless on the bars at gymnastics. Daydreamer. Wants to know how the world works. Drinks life down with so much joy.
Photo by Rachel Accord
Bronwyn Hope
Vibrant. Serious leadership skills (“Mama, I just want to teach them how to play a new game, but they just won’t listen.”). Emotional. Dancer. Strong willed. Fierce hug giver. Learned to knit at 4 years old. Easy smile. Has never met a stranger and invites folks at the grocery store to her birthday party all the time. Compassionate: both of her siblings run to her for snuggles if they can’t find me.
Photo by Rachel Accord
Our Photo Session
The girls and I spent a morning at Taylors Mill, Due South Coffee, and Lake Robinson to capture them as they are right now. Then we finished with pizza with daddy. It was a very special day. 🙂
Our little foodies ordered shrimp and artichoke pizza. 😉
Jul
09
2014One of the advantages of my Greer SC Child Photography Studio being home-based is the opportunity to just take my own children down stairs to play.
Last fall I upgraded my lighting. While I have a pretty good handle on using it for my clients and their little ones, I’m still learning every day.
I believe it’s the photographers job to keep on growing to produce the best possible photographs. Since photographer is essentially painting with light, I do a little bit of light play in all of my sessions.
I took my little ballerina downstairs all dolled up in her recital dress and played around with lighting angles.
I’m beyond pleased with these results: especially on the black background.
I think I could shoot children in black and white all day long. I really just want to pull out my trusty Illford Delta 400 film and just offer child sessions here in the studio. I do miss film so much.
Interested in having an quiet photography session for your little one? Please contact me and let me know what you’re dreaming up.
Bronwyn Hope: my sweet ballerina girl,
Please keep that precious spark in your eyes. The one that whispers how you could conquer the world. The head held high on your shoulders with a confidence unshakable.
When you were just two, I held your face in my hands and told you not to go down the pool ladder. I looked up and there you were with that spark in your eye halfway down the ladder. I crashed into the pool half dressed and ridiculously thankful for my swim team days since you were already under water on the other side of the pool. You came up with fear in your eyes for the first time and whispered “Mama…I disobeyed.” It was the first time you grasped the concept of disobedience.
You’re still scared of the water though every part of being at the pool thrills you. Today I challenged you and left your Puddle Jumper at home. You faced your fear. I told your over and over again, that “Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. It means that you jump in and do something you know you should even when your’e scared.”
Before we got out of the pool for lunch, you were proudly lying on your back and supporting yourself with your hands on your back. “Look, Mama, I’m getting my ears wet.” Swim lessons are coming for you near the end of the summer and I have a feeling you’ll conquer the world.
I love you, baby.
Jul
07
2014So we went on a camping trip a couple of weeks ago. We stayed at Dreher Island State Park and took a day trip to the lovely Riverbanks Zoo. 
I mentioned this trip on Facebook and few folks wanted to know what we packed and what we ate. So the following is a group of tips followed by a couple links to download the simplest packing list ever and a sample menu plan for the weekend involving minimal cooking. I promise one thing: you’re about to laugh at our bravery and our stupidity in taking 7 kids under age eight on this sort of adventure 🙂
Tip # 1
Make sure you get to the campsite before the sun sets. 
Tip # 2
If you don’t heed the above advice make sure that you have set up your new tent in the daylight before you try to set it up in the dark. Not all tents work like your old double.
Tip # 3
If you ignore tip # 1 & 2 make sure you have adequate light and glow sticks to entertain the kids.
Tip # 4
You can forget any number of things with little to no consequence on a camping trip. Your lighter/matches and your cooking pot are not items with little to no consequence. Although a bowl makes a pot in a pinch. 
Tip # 5
Two year olds don’t nap well on camping trips… even in the car. Be prepared for this kind of crabby: 
Tip # 6
Two year old males who napped just a little become slap happy and will do anything to get the 3 girls in his tent to laugh. Including pulling his legs up over his head and tooting loudly while singing silly songs. 
This too late and too short car nap was our undoing…
Tip # 7
The thought that the kids will all fall asleep and you’ll be able to enjoy nice fireside conversation with the other adults is pretty much ludicrous when camping with 7 under eight years old. Dropping that expectation before you leave would be a very good thing. 
Tip # 8
Being as close to water as possible is highly advisable. Children love water. You will get quiet adult time if there is water involved.
Tip # 9
Camping with another family crazy enough to do this… makes it so much easier (and crazier in the best way).
Tip # 10
Somehow going camping in early June meant we avoided 99% of the bugs. The other 1% were ants and spiders and a giant 2″ bug: none of which bit us.
Tip # 11
Count on the kids to find something amazing. Deer, osprey, boats, minnows, heron, killdeer (a bird), and the aforementioned 2″ bug were all found by kids.
Tip # 13
If it’s going to rain all day long: head to the zoo. Stir crazy kiddos in tents with you all day… not likely a good thing.
Click Here to Download a Basic Car Camping Packing Checklist.
Click Here to Download a 2 Night Super Easy Meal Plan.
Jun
11
2014
A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting Emily. She’s such a fun and spunky 3 year old.
This precious girl lights up the room with laughter and smiles.
Her mama, Mary, calls her a “Prissy Tom-girl” as she digs in the dirt with her shovels and carries around her purse.
Emily can sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.” She loves to twirl and dance. She’s mostly a typical 3 year old.
Except Emily isn’t a typical 3 year old.
She has a rare disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis. EoE is an inflammatory disorder where most foods cause white blood cells to attack the esophagus. Most EoE patients can eat 5 or fewer foods and depend on specialized formula that costs over $700 a month. There is no cure for EoE and the treatment is incredibly invasive.
Emily’s brave mama is on a mission to help bring awareness and research funds to eosinophilic esophagitis. Right now at the Bi-lo on Hudson Road in Greer, Mary is hosting a fund raiser called “Hope for Emily.” You can donate with your cashier at check-out through June 18th. Here’s a short clip of Mary talking about this fundraiser.
If Emily’s story touches you, and you’re unable to go to the Hudson Road Bi-lo, you’re welcome to donate to the research fund here.
Nov
18
2013
I photograph babies and toddlers frequently. Sometimes on their own or with their family and sometimes as the proud big sibling of a newborn. I’ve noticed some commonalities between the ones who do very well and thought it might be nice to share with you what I’ve learned about preparing toddlers for a photography session.
Tips for Preparing Toddlers for a Photography Session
- Schedule the session for their best hours. Pick the time when they’re naturally happiest. Photographers love to schedule during the hour before sunset because of beautiful lighting, but if your baby is grumpy at bedtime rather than just silly/giddy schedule for an alternate time.
- Tell your photographer about your child in your pre-session phone consult. Share what makes them happy and sad. Tell about their favorite toys. Tell about their favorite TV or book characters. What are their favorite songs or games? The more your photographer knows about your child, the easier it will be fore them to connect with your child. I’m personally a fan of my toddlers showing up with their favorite toys, lovies, or even rain boots on. I sometimes run to the library to check out their favorite book to read to them before pulling out the camera.
- Talk to your child frequently about the upcoming photography session Tell them your photographers name. If you’re having an outdoor session, tell them about how you’ll play and tickle. If you’re having a studio session talk to them about how the lights flash and make noises. Even one year olds understand a significant amount of what you’re saying. Two year olds will be much more comfortable with the photographer and the session with this type of verbal processing. Three and four year olds will likely walk right into the session and start asking the photographer questions based these talks and your pretend play.
- Use your imaginations to play photographer Dress them up in their photo clothes and use your camera. Have them follow your instructions. “Climb up on this.” “Stand on one foot.” “Put your hands on your cheeks.” Practice getting them to smile with jokes or stories and refrain from teaching them to “Say cheese!” Show them the pictures and then allow them to play photographer with a pretend or child safe camera.If you’re doing a newborn session with a young toddler (under 3), practice having your toddler lay on her back with a baby doll swaddled over their arm. Once baby is born, let them hold baby on your bed in this same way.
With a child older than 3, have them sit criss-cross applesauce (Indian style for us old schoolers) or with legs extended, lay the swaddled baby on heir laps, and have them support the baby’s back. Always stay close to your newborn when practicing these scenarios.
- Talk about behavior expectations. Children don’t know what is expected of them unless you tell them. Tell them they’ll need to follow directions and not throw fits. Be silly and show them what throwing a fit looks like. Reiterate these expectations while driving to your session.
- Consider positive reinforcement. A matchbox car or a tube of Chapstick should easily do the trick for a younger child. Chocolate chips or a special treat after the session are also good motivators for older children.
- Bring food. There is nothing worse that a cranky hungry toddler. Enough said. Try to stay away from food that will leave marks or crumbs on your child. Cheese, cheerios, grapes, or raisins are all great choices.
- Once you arrive at your session, introduce the photographer by name and make them feel like the session is all about them. “Child, this is Melissa. She is so excited to take pictures of you just like we’ve been practicing. She’s going to be so excited to see how fantastic you are behind the camera!” Your excitement should be contagious.
- When the photographer is shooting, let him/her get your child’s attention and direct them. The only exception to this should be if the photographer asks for your help or if there is a discipline issue you need to correct.
- Know when to say that’s enough. The average baby/toddler attention span is 10-20 minutes. A great photographer will have any more formal posing done in that time or be wise about interspersing tons of play between specific instructions. When you bring an older child(ren) to a newborn session, have dad or grandma take the bigger siblings to a park or home after the family portraiture.
I hope these tips help to create a great child photography session for you.
