Unless you live under a rock you know that the Coronavirus (Covid19) has devastated parts of our globe. Here in the US, steps have been taken to lessen the impact to our citizens. These steps include protecting our children by closing the schools temporarily for cleaning, to lessen contact and to stop the spread of potential infection.
As we are nearing the end of this first week of the school closings, I have one important question.
HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP, MOMMA?
My other questions would be "Are you documenting this part of life in photos?" and "Are you giving yourself grace when things don't go as planned?".
While it's easy to come up with something electronic for the kids to do- streaming movies and content, educational (and not educational) activities & games, sometimes you need to disconnect to really connect with what -and who- matters the most.
The list below was created by the Spruce Pine Library and shared through Bakersville, NC Facebook page. You'll find that in this fabulous list of activities that there are also lots of opportunities to capture giggles and smiles while the kiddos are at play (and sometimes learning).
Take advantage of this!
Plan hikes. Take photos. Bake something in the kitchen. Take photos. Build a fort full of pillows. Take photos.
Are you sensing a theme?
TAKE PHOTOS! They don't have to be perfect and you don't have to have an expensive camera. Use your cell phone. It's in your pocket anyway so use it to remember the day. (Don't forget to store the images to a Cloud storage in case your phone memory is compromised.)
The photos that you see listed above are all images that I would cast aside as a professional photographer BUT as the Posey (grandmother) to this bunch of wild ones, I love that each image is imperfect because these show the personalities and interaction between these cousins.
If you need tips on how to improve your photos of your kids at play, keep scrolling.
Get on their level
This may sound like a silly thing to state but this is truly the greatest way to capture your child's best image. Sit down so you and your camera are at their eye level.
Timing is Everything
Children are rarely still for long so use a continuous burst shutter speed. Sometimes you need 15 images at once to get the one frame that captures the personality and the eyes open at the same time.
Watch your light
Having the sunlight kiss the highlights of your toddlers hair makes for a better image than having the sunlight shine on his face with such intensity that he can't open his eyes to look at you. Sometimes all you need to do is move a couple of steps in either direction.
When all else fails...
Call me so we can talk about a session in your home to capture the cookie baking, bread making, color book coloring, hike taking, pillow fort building that turns into pillow fights, memory making, good times that you are creating in your sanctuary-your home- when the rest of the world is in chaos.
