Hey mommas! It is so important to capture your everyday.  These will be the photos you cherish more than any others.  Trust me, I just became an empty nester & I am so thankful for the photos I documented from our everyday lives. These are the memories you will treasure. So I am here with a few tips to make sure you don't miss documenting those everyday blessings. 

1. Capture moments as they play.  Get their genuine expressions.  Don't make them pose and smile.  

2. Use natural light when possible, turn off overhead lights and find your favorite window light

OR use light from their devices to help light their face. Yes, kids have a lot of screen time don't beat yourself up about that. it's OK & you will definitely want to document that.  Who knows what their devices will look like in a few years. 

3.  Try different angles.  Get down on your child's level, shoot from above.  Each angle tells a story.  

4.  Use your timer and get in the photo with them. When you look back on that photo in 5 years you will be amazed at how skinny you actually are. 

5. Document your rountines, their favorite toy or pajamas. AND don't forget to get the background in some.  You will want to remember what their room looked like even with legos and dinosaurs everywhere. 

Here are a few ideas to get you documenting today:

Breakfast time Be sure to capture that bedhead!

Bedtime routine Brushing teeth, reading a book. 

Going to the library or the store.  ONE Of my favorite photos is of my then 7 year old picking out her cereal in the grocery isle. 

Waiting in the car to pick up big sis from school

After school snack

I hope this helps you become more intentional about documenting your everyday! I would love to see what you capture today.  Head over to my insta @catinamichellephotography and share on my DMs. 

ENJOY! Happy Clicking!

     Catina 

Fireworks, parades, sparklers & family cookouts....this is the perfect time to have some fun and take some creative pictures of your family writing with light.  Even your teenagers will want to try this out.  Here are my tips and camera settings you can use to do this.  Experiment, have fun & remember the delete button was invented for a reason.  Take lots of pictures and see which settings are best for you.  I can't wait to see your favorite shots. 

1. Use LONG sparklers or even glow sticks

2. turn off your flash-trust me, you want the sparklers or fireworks to light the scene

3. find the firework mode or long shutter speed on your camera

4. stabilize your camera on a solid foundation or tripod, you may even want to use your self timer so minimize camera shake, this will keep your photos from being blurry

5. If you have a DSLR let's try Manual mode,  turn your camera dial to-M. Don't be scared you can figure this out just follow these steps.  

           - set shutter speed to 3'' (seconds)...if your picture is too dark move to 4 secs, too bright then move to 2 secs

           - adjust your apeture and ISO as needed...I would try out aperture of 3.4 and ISO of 200

This slow shutter speed will allow you to take pictures of your kids playing and writing with light. Have a blast & get creative.

Summer goes way too fast and I believe it is so important to document your everyday.  You don't have to have big summer plans or great vacation destinations. Just capture your loves doing their thing this summer.  

Here is a list of ideas to photograph this summer so you will have those memories documented. 

Photography Bucket List 

1.  Water fights....turn on the hose or fill up some balloons.  It will be great fun! 

2. FORTNITE time or any other game your kiddos enjoy

3. What are they reading 

4. Farmers market or summer snacks....fresh fruit, ice cream or popsicles

5. bubbles

6. Pool time, goggles, splash pad, wrinkly fingers after a long day at the pool

7. Capturing lightning bugs or butterflies

8. sidewalk chalk 

9. Camp fire & s'mores

10. Summer sunset after a great day with your family