Pattern Anthology Winter Collection: How to create the most AMAZING photographs of your children!!!

I was so excited to be asked to participate in the Pattern Anthology Winter Collection Blog Tour!!!!

(you can check out all the amazing other bloggers on the tour HERE)

So excited in fact, that I signed up to do a sibling set of clothing from the patterns (three items sewn in less than a week, no problem) .  So excited that I was blinded into gleefully saying - and I'll to a holiday PHOTO blog post.  Ummmm... in theory this makes sense, I am a professional photographer after all - I have the creds to write this post.  But the reality is that I am a 100 gazillion times better at taking photos of OTHER people's children.  The reality is that I have three toddlers under three and none of them have developed into a photo ham yet.  The reality is that taking photos of children is HARD!!!!  But never fear... I am going to give you some awesome tips to help you STILL get some amazing photos to use for your Holiday Cards this year!
....unlike these..... (sigh)

First I want to talk a little about Clothing (SAY WHAT!?!?!?)

• When it comes to clothing for pictures, I have one rule - Coordinate, don't Match!!! (now rules are meant to be broken, so occasionally matching can be gorgeous - but overall just don't do it, you will thank me latter when your photos do not show up on akwardfamilyphoto.com!)
• Pick a color scheme - you can easily work with anywhere from 2-5 colors, I think 3 colors is the easiest.  Pick two Base Colors (these are the colors you want the most of. I recommend that my clients stick to a color family - Warms or Cools, or prick neutrals).  Then pick one POP color - you are going to use this color more sparingly.

I went with 3 colors for this shoot.  Grey and Navy are my Base, and Yellow is my Pop.  I picked the Berkshire Blazer and the Juliet Capelet for this shoot.  I love outdoor photo shoots, so outer wear was the way to go for me!  I knew that both boys would get a blazer, but of course I didn't want them to 'match'.  I decided to keep A's more Classic and do a solid navy - his jacket has a yellow striped linen lining and matching elbow patches.  I added diagonal top stitching and did all the top stitching in grey to make it a littel more Mod. For B's I wanted to create a different feeling, so I made a contrasting lapel and pockets and went with a cool navy and white striped lining.  These Blazers are amazing - a tailored fit that just looks stylish and expensive!  Baby girl donned the capelet made in a gorgeous Silver Grey fabric I picked up in India and lined with yellow linen.  Capelets are so easy to make, and even easier to wear.  The amount of material and hood really keeps them warm too!!! I'm seeing an upcycled sweater capelet in my future!

• Accessorize!!!!  Make the whole look come together with great accessories.  I added a Navy hat with yellow bow for baby girl, a soft yellow infinity scarf for B and a grey and navy scarf for A.  Little touches that just pull everything together.

Next, lets talk about the photo shoot!

• LOCATION:  Pick a place that is going to look cool - you want to pick something that fits your style and that is easy enough to not have unwanted things in the background.  I love fields, parks and trails.  I could have given this look a more urban feel and taken my kids downtown - but I was slightly afraid they would be squished by cars and pedestrians alike.  Don't forget about safety!
• Props:  Give your kids something to do.  You might have hams that love to stand beautifully and smile for the camera - most of us don't!  By giving your child something to interact with you create the opportunity to get a great candid in the midst of chaos.
• When everything goes wrong - don't give up, but do REGROUP!

yucky grass, hmmm a ball, dude what am I supposed to do with this??

You will notice I have very few pictures with my 'Holiday Set'... this was a day that nothing was in my favor.  Baby girl was running a fever, the grass was wet and cold, the boys just wanted to chase imaginary squirrels.  It led to CHAOS and my doubting whether I would ever pick up my camera again!  Luckily, I have the most amazing husband who gently encouraged me and wouldn't let me completely give up on myself or my children.  We took a break - we went to a park where there happens to be a great walking path.  We let them play for a half hour then asked if they wanted to walk on the path - they were all excited... so I threw their 'shoot clothes' back on them , and onto the path we went.  Within the first 3 minutes I captured these shots (along with the one at the top of the post).

 We brought only one prop with us, and most of the pictures don't include it.  On a different day my original set up would have been perfect - this just wasn't that day.  Sometimes the most important tip is that you just have to let go of your expectations and accept what comes.

Thanks for joining me and don't forget to get your own Pattern Anthology Collection to use for your holiday photo-shoots!!!!

Happy November!!!!

I love Halloween - I love dressing up, I love candy, I love the fact that when I take my kids trick or treating or sit at the door and hand out candy, I am actively making the choice to meet my neighbors.  I live in an adorable and very friendly neighborhood, but we are all so busy and I rarely see any of my neighbors.  Last night I realized how many kids are in our little community - how many young families... I hope we get to see them again, and I hope it doesn't take until NEXT Halloween.

B: 'I NEEDS Candy'
Baby Girl: 'Please Mama'
A: I wonder what machines were use to make this genius box...

But on to November - I love November! The weather starts getting cold, it is a month of giving THANKS, it contains my birthday and Thanksgiving, and honestly it is the prelude month to Christmas - the month where you start making plans and seeing decorations but don't have to stress or worry that is is right around the corner.

I hope this is the start of a great month for you!!!!

Huge Hugs, 

The Winter Crew

Kids Clothing Week

Hey - It probably feels like I have disappeared since the end of the Project $0 series - I've been sewing up a storm, but a large part of it went off to Quilt Market and I can't share it quite yet...
But I have been sewing for KCW - I just love Kids Clothing Week.  I have been mostly sticking to the one hour each day because this is a busy week for me, but it is amazing how much you can accomplish in that little time.

Over the weekend I whipped up my baby girl's Halloween Costume (this is a modification of the Amelia Peasant Dress by 5 Berries using the tutorial found HERE).

Then On Monday I cut out two Norahs by Mouse House Creations and on Tuesday I sewed them both up (you can see my full review of them HERE)

On Wednesday I cut out some Peek A Boo Skinny Jeans and the Four Seasons Peasant Dress By Foo FOO Threads.  I got the Skinnies all sewn up on Thursday - they look so good on my boy (next time I will increase the rise of the yoke of the back for m boy's bubble butt)

I'm hoping I can sew up the dress today... all in all a successful week I think ;o)

What have you been sewing up for KCW?????

Blank Slate Patter Tour - and my last Upcycle from September

Today I am participating in the Blank Slate Pattern Tour - and you can read my full post HERE.

If the tour had been a week earlier -this would have been my submission to the PR&P signature style ;o)

This is also my final look from Operation Project $0.  The sweater was upcycled from a women's Small wool sweater - I loved figuring out how to adapt the pattern to include the original cuffs, waist, pockets, and button band.  The Jeans are an upcycled pair of old jeans.  The stripes, front pocket linings, and waistband facing are all made from scraps from the curtain panel that I used to line the Bova Jacket.

Operation Project $0: Day 23.. What YOU MADE!

First I just have to say THANK YOU to everyone who has participated and followed along in this year's journey of Operation Project $0.  I have had so much fun not only sharing my own creations, but getting to see all the posts by our guests bloggers and the entries into the flickr group.
Tomorrow I'll be doing a round up of all the things I created this month and how close I came to that elusive $0 goal.

But now here are some of my favorite items that people have entered to the flickr group over the past week!

Beth Being Crafty linked up her adorable matching dolly and girl popover dresses that she made out of a a women's skirt.  I love how she was able to work in the original embroidery.  Great Job!

Amanda H of Araneedesigns submitted this great sweatshirt - I an totally smitten by the colors and how soft and cozy it looks - I wish I knew more about how she made it!!!

With the Holidays quickly approaching, I am a huge fan of this skirt tutorial that Squiggly Twigs e-mailed to me.  Who doesn't have an old Formal dress (prom, bridesmaid, formal ball, etc...) that is just eating space in their closet?  A few easy steps, and voila - a gorgeous twirlable skirt for all the holiday events ahead!

HEre's one more from Beth Being Crafty (I'm just really in love with her blog, her photography and her sewing... you really need to check her out!).  This whole look was $0 and she has a great tutorial for keeping the profesionaly finished top of jeans when you up-cycle them!

Golf of GolfLuna submitted this SWOON-worthy hoodie that she made from the Peek-a-boo Hangout Hoodie using an old shirt as the base.  How adorable is it and her daughter!!!

The extremely talented Vera Luna made up one of my favorite patterns of all time - the Bubble shorts by Elegance and Elephants - using a pair of old lightweight jeans... that red piping just looks so cool!!!

And last  - but certainly not least - my gal Max.... I am gaga over her Poe inspired "Nevermore Dress'.  This features a FREE pattern: The Baby Slip Dress by Suburbia Soup

You can check out my other two features from the Flickr Group HERE and HERE - and make sure to go to the group itself to check out all the awesome sew along projects!!!