Category: Summer

Document your life.

I said this in the first post too: When Families look back at photographs and memories from years past, there is a much richer story to the little details than there is when you see a picture of everyone dressed pristinely with smiles directed at the camera. Those a lovely images. But what makes a memory come back is when you can see the details. I’m adding a little more examples into each post I’m doing in this series, to try to help families. Help a mom or a dad capture the ordinary, everyday moments.

The details make a memory come to life.

The chubby little fingers. Scrawny legs. Summer scratches on their summer knees. Remembering the smells and sounds of those days… that’s what we want. When you document your every day life, you’re going to capture those memories clearer! Keep snapping pictures of the little things.

THIS IS PART OF a FOUR PART SERIES exploring examples in storytelling. Be sure to click over and read the other three posts with photographs documenting life at home in the little years.

In the FIRST post, I shared with you some photos from the couch of the elusive toddler NAPTIME. 

TODAY, I’m sharing with you a NATURE WALK WITH THE KIDS.

 

I wanted to share a nature walk for a few reasons. Primarily, Getting kids outside is always a good idea. Next, taking a walk down the driveway or through the field is something we do every day. I want to remember the kids in their element, doing things that we do! Lastly, Watching children delight in the exploration and discovery that nature affords is just a really easy way to get some distance, boost their interest in what’s a hand, and get natural smiles, moans or other emotions. As a bonus, you feel better and learn something every time you go on a walk in nature. Enjoy!

 

A walk at home, looking at bugs, and spiders.

Swinging on scraggly tree limbs wet with dew.

Running with the dog.

Snatching up handfuls of too-short-stemmed “flowers” for you.

These are the little details you want to remember and will be capturing if you focus on letting your kids do their thing, not saying “Look!” “Hey, over here, Smile!”     

 

Nope.

 

Just walk behind them a ways, letting them explore.

Wait for moments when the squat down to inspect a creation.

Watch for the little squeals of delight when a butterfly flutters by.

Catch the moments of “in-between” but try let the  moment happen naturally, without creating the moment.

 

 

****Additional Thought:  Oh, and did you see those pictures of me here, too? Getting in the frame with kids is quick and easy if you learn how to set your timer. (on my canon it’s just two clicks away to the 10-sec timer.) But this step also got easier when I taught my kids how to handle the big camera. They’re better at it than with a phone. No more fingers in the way and more likely to focus on the subject. Oh, and they usually take it more seriously when I give them the real camera, and don’t snap nine hundred images in bursts like they would on my iPhone. Insert eyeroll emoji.

 

ENJOY!

 

 

 

As I mentioned in the previous post, it is so helpful to have a goal in mind in taking pictures, but you don’t have to have it just right, you just have to have it! Capture it as it is.

Don’t get caught up trying to make it look different than it is. Sure, you can pick the angle and the composition to simplify it, but any picture will be better than none!

 

So, whatever you do to document the little years, just document it. It’s fast, fleeting and so full of beauty and learning! And remember, even something as simple as a walk outside does a wonderful job canning those memories up for you to enjoy again and again!

 

Again, this is part of a four-part blog post series focusing on parents documenting their life with kids in the little years. Each of these posts offer a quick tip to just take the picture, each post focusing on a different tip.

Be sure to check out the others in this Document Life series with examples of how to take pictures of your kids when they aren’t looking!

PART ONE In the first post, I shared with you some photos from the couch of the elusive toddler NAPTIME. 

PART TWO Here I shared with you a NATURE WALK WITH THE KIDS where we hiked out and found some raspberries.

PART THREE I shared with you some photos and ideas of ways you can capture their actual THINGS LIKE TOYS, CLOTHING and SNACKS.

PART FOUR I shared with you some ways to document the ordinary everyday things like chores and household things.