Happy Monday! Thanks to Momtographer Veronica for reminding us that even when they aren't so little anymore, they are still munchkins! :) Happy Labor Day, now go have a brownie!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Life is messy. As the mom of an 8-week-old and a three-and-a-half-year old, by this I can swear. So if I care about documenting the little moments that really matter, I have to recognize that I can't always pick the perfect setting to make the memories in.
This week, we had a sweet moment on the office floor between sisters. Stella was lying on her play mat and Sydney just COULD NOT keep her hands off of her. Since we've spent our fair share of time in the hospital and doctors office with a sick wee one, usually I panic. But when I turned around to find Sydney lying inside the playgym with her sister, my heart melted. After all, this was the very same playgym Sydney was kicking around on just three years ago. (Someone get the tissues!)
But photographically speaking, there's a WHOLE lot going on visually inside that little mat of wonder. Wild animals, wild colors and the general awkwardness of both children being under something made it difficult to capture the intimate details of their sweet interaction. This is one instance where a black and white conversion is particuarly useful! If we can take away all of the color distraction, we can focus our eye on the real action!
Here's my first image straight out of the camera. You can see it's sweet, but there's a whole lot of busy going on! I want their hands to stand alone!
I could just crop them tighter, but I feel the arc of the playgym tells the story of where they are, so we're going to have to leave it as is.
Next I'm going to convert to black and white (I do this in Apples aperture, but any black and white conversion of your choice will work). Normally I would adjust my exposure and contrast setting first, but I like to see the image in black and white before I start playing with those settings.
Okay, now that it's in black and white, I can see what needs adjusting. This image is very grey to me as is - it needs more definition between black and white, otherwise known as higher contrast. I'm going to address this two ways.
First, I'm going to adjust my black point. You can either do this in Aperture or Lightroom - or by adjusting the leftmost slider of the levels adjustment in photoshop.
See how much richer the darker tones are? But I still want a little more definition, so now I'm going to adjust the contrast.
That feels better to me. Finally, I want the attention on the center of the photo, so I'm going to add a vignette, darkening the edges so that your eye is naturally drawn to the bright hands in the middle.
And voila - the moment captured now focuses on what I was "seeing" when I took the photo!
So now I have this amazing memory of their precious time together... when it's good ya'll, it's really good!!!
For more in-depth black and white tips - learn from the master... Marc Javier! Check out his Lightroom tutorial.
Happy Monday! If this looker doesn't put a smile on your Monday Morning pout, I don't know what will! A big thanks to Momtographer Vanessa Segars for sharing her little poser with us! Watch out Tyra, 'Laney is coming for you!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
I am such a sucker for a baby covered in food, so when this shot made it's way to our inbox it had Monday's Munchkin all over it, quite literally! Thank you to Momtographer Ivana for sharing! Happy Monday!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
In my mind these three little tots are the best of friends and have been long before the first hug or kiss ever happened. And luckily for me earlier this week, me and their mama were able to put that theory to the test, when little Luna came across the pond from her native London, to play in the parks of New York City!
You tell me, friends for life?
If there are still any questions, I think these smiles tell the rest of the story!
Momtography 101: LIGHT, find the good stuff and you can't go wrong!
Momtographer Adina, is lucky enough to find herself living with a Poptographer who is pretty handy with a camera himself! It's a good thing too, because thanks to his handy Canon Rebel, beautiful lighting, and an eye for capturing the moment, Adina now how this GORGEOUS portrait of her sweet face daughter Nola!
Shot with his Canon Rebel XT and natural light:
and this time we can see where she gets her beauty from!
If you would like to submit a picture for our spotlight email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
OH-EM-GEEEE, look at this little heartbreaker! Thank you to Momtographer Olivia, for sharing her beautiful 4-month old Lorelai! Just looking at that head full of hair and and big beautiful eyes, puts a smile on my face! Hope it does the same for you! Happy Monday!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
If those sparkly eyes and perfect pucker don't get you, the big gorgeous bow certainly will. Happy Monday Everyone, enjoy this morning's little beauty!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
A warm hello from that island somewhere in between Timbuktu and Antarctica known as post-partum. We've had exactly one emergency a week in the first three weeks of our little one's life, and I gotta tell you, I'm ready for the new normal to emerge 'cause I'm not settling for this!
I won't get into the details of the first two, because nobody wants to read about a 30-something's trek to heal from childbirth, but I'll tell you, I'd have much preferred the third could be blamed on me as well. Stella began to run a fever Sunday afternoon. If you've ever had a newborn with anything over 100.4, you know what happens next. Blood draws, spinal taps and a minimum 3 days in the hospital. We couldn't kick the fever until day 4, so we're just getting home.
We're counting our blessings over and over, although I will turn into a primal club-weilding cave-mom should anyone try to touch her over the next five weeks.
So in celebration of her homecoming, and my first trip to my desk since her arrival, I want to post an unedited photo her Aunt 'Becca and I took when she was 4 days old. Pullbacks, tutorials and more pictures to follow!
I challenge anyone to find something cuter then a munchkin all wet wrapped up in a towel! Thanks to momtographer Anjali for helping make my point, with this adorable snap of her daughter Zia at the beach!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Thank you so much for today's mouthful of cuteness from Momtographer Jillaine Geary, rockin' her Canon G11!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Does this picture even need any introduction? Thanks to Momtographer Lindsay, for this super cute shot! My question, what magical super powers did she channel to get that baby to sit still long enough to put that 'do together?!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Welcome Baby Stella
Written by Adrienne GrayDear Stella,
And so it begins. And so it continues. It's the beginning for you, but to understand from where all this love comes, you'll have to understand about from where you come.
You came into the world at 11:12 A.M. the day after the 4th of July. Your big sister will always remind you she came two days after Christmas, also just after 11:00 A.M. Your mommy can remind you that her birthday always falls the week of Thanksgiving - you'll have to ask your grandmother at what time. Suffice to say, Gray girls have an inclination to attach ourselves to excitement.
In true Krista style, our very first "Monday's Munchkin" is a day late! (but c'mon it was a holiday, today REALLY is Monday!) :) Sorry... but trust me this one was worth the wait!
Meet two-year-old-jack, showing off his "big boy bead"... his mom says he needs a haircut, but we say it's sheer perfection! A big thank you to Momtographer Leslie (Mrs. C) for sharing her munchkin with us! And I can't forget her FABULOUS Momtographer tip: To get Jack to stand still, she puts her camera's self timer on and points the camera right at him. the flashing lights and continuos beep, beep, beep, are just the attention getters she needs for a picture perfect moment!
If you would like to submit a picture for our Monday's Munchkin email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
"One of the great things about using a point and shoot camera is being able to do just that - point and shoot"- Andrew S. Adler
If that's not Momtography 101, we don't know what is!
Browsing through photo albums on facebook (one of my favorite past times), I almost fell out of my chair when I saw this one! HOW FREAKING CUTE!!!! :) I absolutely loved the way sky was so bright and beautiful at the same time so was Violet! You can imagine how excited I was to find out that my good friend Julia's (you may have heard of her she started a totally awesome site, Planet Awesome Kid)photographer husband had taken this shot, not with his oodles of fancy equipment but with his trusty Canon S90 point and shoot!
Keep reading for a little bonus mini tutorial about shooting at the beach, straight from the man himself! Thanks Andrew!
It's almost time. Really, any time now. Seriously. Baby, are you listening? Mommy is ready.
I can only say this because I am finally ready. The bassinet arrived - which is pretty important since we decided to forego the nursery renovation decisions in favor of something much more simple like buying a new house. Still no name, but I'm resolved that we'll choose one after we see her, hold her, kiss her, see her big sister hold her... oh can you tell I am really starting to wrap my arms around this whole thing?
It wasn't that way for a while... a good while, actually. I think my list of to-do's was piled up between the sightline of my heart and the miracle of what's just around the corner. And, of course, the list of to-do's included having everything ready for newborn portraits. So here's my list of preparations on that front! Who knows, it may save you from doign something rash like, oh, hosting a real-estate open house while 38 weeks pregnant.
Momtography 101: Always Be Prepared!
Traveling late through the night Ivana and Maximillian found themselves in Paris in the wee hours of the morning waiting for a connecting flight. Exhausted from the many hours of traveling she had done already and the thought of the many more to come, Ivana wrapped her baby boy up and laid him down on the chair next to her. But rather then relaxing alongside little Max she realized the moment was to picture perfect to pass up. Thank goodness her camera was nearby to capture what is now one of her favorite pictures of all time!
Shot with her Canon EOS 500D, lens 50mm 1.8 and plenty of window light.
If you would like to submit a picture for our spotlight email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
One hot Sunday afternoon in a park in Harlem, three bored girls decided there had to be something they could do while their little siblings napped! "I've got it!!!" shouted one, "we'll have a scooter date!". "A scooter date?!" shouted the other. "No" said the third. The other two looked at her puzzled for a moment, and then she shouted, " THE GREAT SCOOTER RACE!!!!!". "YAAAAAAY" all three shouted and jumped for joy. And so it was, the afternoon of, The Great Scooter Race. :)
Ok, Ok, you got me, it wasn't at all that dramatic or sophisticated, but this is the story that came to mind as she her uttered those words!
In reality it was a scooter play date arranged by us mommies for the big sisters, while the little ones napped. But when my dear sweet Chloë said, "Mommy is it time to go to the great scooter race yet?", my hear melted and I said, "You mean the scooter date with your friends?" to which she replied, "YES MOMMY! The GREAT SCOOTER RACE!"
Now I really understand where that old Bill Cosby, "Kids Say The Darndest Things" came from! :)
And they're off!
Someone's getting GRUMPY, time for a chocolate break (they are such girls already... chocolate makes everything better!)
Momtography 101: you don't need a fancy camera to get great shots of your family!
Take Sharon for example, with her trusty canon powershot on hand, it was all about timing and composition. As her little Ace put her superior art skills to work, her mom waited for the sun to be in just the right spot, then it was all about composition. The framing in this shot ROCKS! GREAT shot Sharon!
Have a shot you want to share, send it to us
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tell us what kind of camera you used and a little bit about how you set it up!
Snap To It!
I'll spare you all the once upon a time drivel and get to the point. Okay moms of girls, admit it. We're all suckers for the tutu. It's where the dreams of little girls and their mommies colide into magic, whimsy and living-room twirls.
On the other hand, you've gotta admit, the tutu photo card has been played! I've caught myself thinking 'If I see one more newborn in a shocking magenta tutu...' well, I'll let you fill in the blank. That's why today I was so excited to see fellow Momtographer Megan's precious photos of baby "I".
Well y'all, the oil's here. I haven't seen it first hand, mostly because I can't bear to, but also because I know the epic battle that would take place if I went to the beach but told Syd she couldn't touch anything. Yes, I think anyone who's still letting their kids in the water needs a head check. I've heard reports of 'Mommy - there's black stuff on my feet' answered with 'Well go back in the water and wash it off'. Why don't you just offer them a towel dipped in dispersants, or better yet, just encourage them to slather the petrol like sunblock? SPF 150 with a side of carcinogen. (Forgive me, I'm a grossly uncomfortable pregnant woman taking my round ligament pain out on the internets.)
But that said, I promised I'd share the pictures that Sydney actually took herself of the beach. Rather than try to explain the gravity of what floated just offshore, I gave her a point-and-shoot camera with the instructions to take a picture of anything she thought was beautiful. What follows, to me, is equal parts amusing and beautiful... thanks for indulging me!
When I first gave her the camera inside, she said "I want to take a picture of the baby." Nice.
