every parent of every generation has things to worry about specifically relating to the time in which they are raising their kids. the things our parents worried about when we were children are different than the things we have to worry about. just like the things our children will worry about when they parent will be completely different than what we worry about today. while our parents didn’t have to worry about social media when we were younger, today parents are finding it a constant struggle to balance the fun of sharing on social media with the necessary privacy their children do deserve. as you are posting on social media, be mindful about the way in which you share. here are 5 things you should constantly be thinking of to protect your kids on social media.
are you trying to build up a following on social media? here are 8 tips to grow your instagram following.
5 Mindful Ways To Protect Your Kids on Social Media
.jpg "5 Mindful Ways To Protect Your Kids on Social Media | Bethadilly Photography")
it is important to start off this post by saying that i am not telling you that you have to do all of these things, but these are things that you definitely need to be aware of when considering how to protect your kids on social media. when social media first began, it was in the form of Facebook where you knew everyone you were “friends” with. today, we have gone from “friends” to “followers,” which widens our audience to people we don’t know. it is more important than ever that we take these things into consideration. it’s also wise to remember that not every little detail of our life needs to be shared with everyone. less is more.
1. Be Mindful of Details
while sharing photos of your children on social media, be sure to be mindful of the details in the surroundings of your photo. make sure you aren’t posting photos of the front of your home, your address, schools, school bus numbers, or any other information that shows your exact location. this is not only a safety thing when it comes to children, but a safety tip in general. on the same note, when leaving for a vacation…do not post that you are leaving for vacation. you are telling your audience not only where you are going, but you are also telling them that your home will be empty and unoccupied. instead, begin sharing images after you come home from vacation. sharing is sharing, it doesn’t have to be on the exact day you take the picture.
2. Make Your Concerns Known
if you are concerned about having your child on social media, be sure that your friends and family are aware of that and understand your stance. for our child, we made it clear to our family and friends that we did not want her freely posted all over social media without our permission/approval. because we set our expectations from the beginning, our family and friends happily ask our permission before sharing photos of our child. remember, you are the parent and it is your choice. having everyone on the same page is simple if you just speak up.
3. Consider Faceless
do you follow a bunch of people on instagram and know exactly who their kids are the instant they show up in your newsfeed, yet you don’t know them in real life. think about that for a second. we are making our children familiar to people who don’t know them. consider posting faceless images of your children, or even photos of their profile instead of photos of them straight on. faceless portraits are just as beautiful and you can still share fun images of your kids, while limiting information. sharing whole images of your kids is okay, from time to time, but doing in all the time just makes them too familiar to others.
sharing faceless images is easier than you think. check out my instagram to see how i rarely share faces of my child on social media, yet still share.
4. Limit Information
limiting information is another easy way to protect your kids on social media. instead of freely sharing their name online, omit their name or maybe give them a nickname. i have seen so many people give their kids cute nicknames online, as a way of protecting their given name. limiting information could be as simple as using their first initial instead of their whole name.
5. Consider Going Private
sharing images of your children on social media is really fun because, to be honest, it is the easiest way to share with friends and family. however, does the whole world need to be in the know? when it come to your children, probably not. consider placing privacy restrictions on your social media to only allow people you know access to your photos.
it is important that we stop and really think about what we are posting to on social media. to protect your kids on social media, simply be mindful. really think about their privacy and honor that. more than anything, i want my daughter’s privacy to simply be respected. her privacy is hers and i want her to have a choice in how much of her life is shared with others. when she grows, i want it to be her choice to share her life and so, today, i do all that i can to both respect her privacy but share our daily life in a more mindful way on social media. to protect your kids on social media, be sure to keep these 5 tips in mind as you think about each and every picture you post.
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Letters To My Little One | Ten Months Old
.jpg "Letters To My Little One | Ten Months Old | Bethadilly Photography")
monday, february 13, 2017
dear sweet baby doll,
you have officially turned double digits this morning and mama is in denial. i can’t believe that we have a ten month old baby when it truly feels like it has only been ten days. often after you fall asleep, we scroll through our phones looking at pictures of you. it is then that we realize just how much you have grown. little by little you grow and it’s hard to see it day by day, but when we look back at the months of photos taken, we can see just how much you have changed since those first days.
it’s hard to remember that there were days when we weren’t getting any sleep at night because today you are such a wonderful sleeper. i want to remember these days forever, our day to day. i know that you are truly one happy little baby because you laugh all the time, even when not prompted. you will be sitting in your high chair with a fist full of bananas, giggling. i love that you find happiness in the littlest of things and that you laugh so much on your own. your daddy and i can’t help but laugh when you laugh because you have a really sweet chuckle that started a couple weeks ago. it is so infectious in that once you start chuckling, we start laughing and telling one another how cute you are. you are so good for a laugh and you easily remind us how wonderful laughter really is.
at ten months, you and mama are super busy. we have a fairly concrete schedule that we like to abide by, but only because mama knows how much babies thrive on schedules and you seem to love a routine. our mornings consists of waking slowly and having a cuddly feed before mama gets ready for the day. once we are dressed and pretty, we eat breakfast together. you are really great at feeding yourself now and love to have bananas and broccoli. you will eat broccoli by the fist full and we can’t serve it to you fast enough, you inhale it! broccoli is your current favorite.
after breakfast we usually play and read books before a morning nap and then have lunch together before going on an outing. we love going to swim class and story time with our friends at the library. we love to shop, especially at target and hobby lobby. you are always such a fantastic little baby, and when people aren’t telling me how simply gorgeous you are (we get that A LOT, while out and about), they are telling me how incredibly patient you are. and you truly are. you just love to look out the stroller and take in your surroundings. you look at all the things on the shelves, and play with your baby cell phone. i am so thankful that we can have such wonderful and fun outings together, we really have a wonderful time.
we love it when daddy comes with us on the weekends and we take turns cuddling and kissing you, we just can’t help it. yesterday a couple told us just how endearing it was to see a mommy and daddy love a baby so much. and we do love you so much. you are our everything. daddy took us on a date on saturday night and, as you played sweetly in the high chair, we talked about…you. we always talk about you, it’s our favorite thing to talk about. more specifically, we talked about just how crazy it is to love someone so incredibly much and to find happiness in simply watching you learn and grow. you are our entertainment these days and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
but, about the growing. you are growing too fast, miss. i am always having to buy you need pajamas because you grow out of them so quickly! when i bring a new pair home, daddy will say, “yay! we will use these pajamas for awhile,” only to say the following tuesday, “i think this may be the last night we wear these pajamas, they are getting too small!” it much be all the broccoli!
this month you got your first stamp in your passport as we went on a family vacation to cabo san lucas, back to the place mommy and daddy honeymooned. when we landed in cabo we couldn’t help but say to one another, “last time we were here, we were married for only hours!” and now, there we were, bringing our baby back. you proved to be the best traveler and surprised everyone on the plane with how quiet you were. you were just happy to be along for the adventure and you really enjoyed being on vacation. you slept well, swam with daddy, loved playing with grandpa’s reading book, and loved watching videos on mama’s iPad with grandma. you have made traveling so easy and fun that last night we began planning a couple more vacations for this summer! daddy said you are going to have flown on an airplane more times before your second birthday than most people do in their life. but it is important to us that you experience, see and do.
and you are doing a lot of seeing, experiencing and doing as you have learned to crawl! you are not crawling super fast just yet, but you can definitely get around the living room fairly well! you love to sit up and play on the rug on your own, while the puppies come lay down by you and lick your toys, making you giggle. it’s amazing that i can simply set you down and you can entertain yourself for quite some time! one thing we have done very right is to teach you independence. you are completely comfortable and confident playing on your own, while we are close by. (you love it when daddy comes home from work and gives you kisses, but cry when he walks out of the room to change out of his business suit.)
ten months has us in a state of bliss. you are a happy little human and very expressive. you love to slap your hands on the high chair tray and love it when people clap their hands and say, “yay!” you love to fly in the air and you love to read stories. we have read 205 books to you so far and you love to turn the pages. your sweet personality has us constantly saying, “oooooh” and “ahhhhh!” we are so very thankful for all of the moments we have had with you so far and for the many moments that are to come. we love you so much and can’t believe how truly perfect you have made our life.
as i sit here, waiting for you to wake up from nap so we can go shop for more pajamas, i smile and miss you, hoping you will wake up soon.
love, mama
to read more of my mama bee adventures with #babyadilly, be sure to check out the posts that are trending below!
having taken on photography clients for a few years now, i have made a habit out of preparing for sessions in a way that ensures that they are successful. as i was driving to my newborn session yesterday, i noticed how excited and confident i felt going into the session. if you were to see me a few years ago, as a new photographer, i would be white knuckling the steering wheel and be a complete nervous wreak going into a session. now, i excitedly get in my car and can’t wait for the session to start and, more importantly, feel great knowing that it is going to be a great session. if you are finding yourself nervous before sessions, it’s okay…we have all been there. over the years, i have found that doing the following 5 things has really helped me to prepare for a successful photography session and, even better, helped me to relax before the session starts.
need some help deciding what to bring to the session? here are 10 things you should pack in your photography bag.
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5 Ways To Prepare For A Successful Photography Session
.jpg "5 Ways To Prepare For A Successful Photography Session | Bethadilly Photography")
1. Pack Camera Bag The Night Before
packing my camera bag the night before the session is one of those small things that really helps me to prepare for a successful photography session. when i pack my bag the night before, i help to calm my mind for a good night’s sleep. should i wait to pack it at the last second right before i need to leave for my session, i find that i tend to forget something important and the feeling of being rushed before leaving starts me off on the wrong foot. also, i tend to worry overnight about remembering to bring something with me to my session, so packing the night before helps me simply relax and feel that much more prepared. it’s important to get a good nights sleep so you are refreshed and ready to be creative during your session.
2. Reread Client Emails
to prepare for a successful photography session, i make sure to spend a few moments rereading the emails that have gone back and forth between my clients and myself. because i take on a lot of clients, it can be easy to mix them up. taking a moment to reread my client emails and get to know my current client again helps me refresh my memory and get in the right frame of mind for the current client. i will make sure i know how old their children are and their names and, if a newborn client, when they were born. refreshing my mind also helps me to ensure that i am bringing the correct gear and, if a toddler is involved, i am sure to throw my shutter hugger in my bag to help as backup, should i need to help create some comfort.
3. Leave For Session Early
if there is one thing that is very unprofessional, it is being late. i have never been late for a session and make a habit out of leaving early to make sure i make time for any barrier that would make me late for a session, such as traffic, getting lost when finding the client’s home, etc. i generally arrive for a session about 30 minutes before the session is to start and i just count that as “me” time. i know this 30 minutes is 30 minutes that i am not spending with my family, but being early is better than being late. i use this time to either read a book to relax before my session or to walk around the location get an idea for the light. sometimes i grab myself a coffee and use this time for enjoying some time to myself.
4. Dress For Success
feeling good about myself is one of those small things that really helps me to prepare for a successful photography session. i find that when i am dressed thoughtfully and feel good about myself, i am more confident. and feeling more confident trickles over into being more successful. being sure that i dress nice and take some time to feel good about myself is not only professional for the client, it is a self motivator. yes, i understand that as photographers we tend to lay on the ground or climb things to get the perfect shot. i understand the need to want to dress comfortably. but there is never an appropriate time to dress unprofessionally when someone is paying you to be a professional. ditch the yoga pants and dress the part.
need help deciding what to wear? here are some tips on what photographers should wear to a photo session.
5. Turn Up The Music
a fun habit that i have to prepare for a successful photography session is listening to fun music on my way to the session. putting on a fun playlist and turning up the volume really helps me drown out all the worry so i don’t allow myself to overthink the session. when i just relax and have fun, i feel like any stress that i may have goes unnoticed and i am encouraged to just breathe and have fun. find whatever music really makes you happy, or listen to a book on tape. (well, not tape. do tapes even exist anymore?) whatever takes your mind off of the what ifs, (what if the toddler starts to cry, what if i forget the poses i want to do, what if the light is awful) and lets you focus on being happy. and when you show up to a session relaxed and happy, it encourages your clients to feed off of your energy and take on a relaxed and happy feel as well.
sometimes it is the littlest of things that really helps you to prepare for a successful session. being sure that you dress appropriately, bring the right gear, have a positive attitude, know your client and ensure that you are on time are all things that are going to set you up to have a wonderful session. what are some of the things you do to prepare yourself before a client session? be sure to leave your tips for us in the comment section below!
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choosing to convert a photo to black and white can be the decision that takes your photo from just an okay photo, to a great photo. sometimes a photo containing color is necessary when telling a story or creating a compelling image, while other times removing the color makes the image so much stronger. while editing your images, be sure to be thoughtful when making the decision to edit in color or in black and white. if you are unsure on when it is the right choice to convert a photo to black and white, check out what 5 times it is an obvious choice to make the conversion.
are you behind on editing? it’s okay, i’ve been there. here are some tips to catch up on editing when you’re really behind.
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5 Obvious Times To Convert A Photo To Black and White
.jpg "5 Obvious Times To Convert A Photo To Black and White | Bethadilly Photography")
editing in color is definitely my favorite, but there are times when it is very necessary to convert a photo to black and white. i love that a black and white image can enhance the emotion and feel of an image and take on an entirely differently feeling, by simply choosing to remove the color. here are five examples of why you should convert a photo to black and white and the noticeable change that it brings to the image in mood and appeal.
.jpg "5 Obvious Times To Convert A Photo To Black and White | Bethadilly Photography")
1. When Your White Balance is Just…Off
let’s face it, sometimes our white balance is just plain off. during times like this, you can either try and correct your temperature and tinting in lightroom or you can choose to convert the image to black and white. for the image above of the self portrait and coffee mug, i felt that the white balance was off and the tones in the table were not appealing to my eye. by converting this image to black and white, it took on a more simple feel and instead of the eye moving around the frame in the color image, the eye is immediately drawn to the hands on the coffee mug in the black and white image. where the color image was really flat in light, the black and white image took on a little more depth by showcasing the shadows in a more noticeable way.
.jpg "5 Obvious Times To Convert A Photo To Black and White | Bethadilly Photography")
2. To Create A Mood
black and white edits are really fun in that they can help to create a certain mood in an image to portray emotion. in the image above of the two puppies staring out the door, i was trying to capture a sad moment of them watching my husband drive away on a business trip. by converting the image to black and white, i felt that the melancholy mood was enhanced and, by removing the distracting green reflection from the trees on the glass door, i was able to place the viewer’s focus back on the dogs and their expressions.
.jpg "5 Obvious Times To Convert A Photo To Black and White | Bethadilly Photography")
3. To Showcase Shadows
if you have an image that has really great shadows, it is really fun to edit in black and white to showcase them more. color images are wonderful for shadows as well, but a black and white is really great too. in the image above of the baby, i loved how the light was coming into the crib and creating distinct lines on the sheet. by converting the image to black and white, notice how the lines are more pronounce as the shadows were darkened. this makes for a really visually pleasing image, in that there is a very distinct difference between light and dark, creating balance.
need help learning how to edit in lightroom? check out how i learned to edit in lightroom and photoshop!
.jpg "5 Obvious Times To Convert A Photo To Black and White | Bethadilly Photography")
4. To Remove Surrounding Distractions
there will be times when you are photographing in an environment with a lot of distractions, whether that be a busy public area or a living room full of toys on the ground. for moments like these when there is a lot of visual clutter, you may choose to convert a photo to black and white to tone down the surrounding distractions. in the image above of the my dog and i, i found the surrounding color to be too distracting. i didn’t like the distraction of the red door or the colors in the reflection on the floor. while i really love a good reflection image, i found this to take away from the sweet moment that was occurring between the subjects. by removing the color, i was placing the viewer’s eye back on the subjects and the subjects now pop in the scene better instead of blend into the scene in the color version.
.jpg "5 Obvious Times To Convert A Photo To Black and White | Bethadilly Photography")
5. To Make An Image Timeless
simply put, there is something so very timeless about a black and white image. we all know that editing styles come and go, but a black and white edit is fairly timeless. i find that timeless black and white edits lend well in images that showcase a timeless moment, such as a newborn. in the image above of my daughter and i, i really loved the color edit but i also wanted a classic black and white edit as well to create a more timeless feel. it is important to note that, when i edit images for my clients (family and newborn clients), i edit each image in color and black and white because i want their images to be timeless and to be enjoyed for many many years and wouldn’t want an edit that is popular in 2017 to distract from the image’s beauty in years ahead.
choosing to edit an image in black and white instead of color can really help to make an image more powerful whether you are removing distracting elements, encouraging a timeless feel, creating a mood, covering up bad white balance, or really bringing out the shadows of an image. have fun playing around with your edits in lightroom and try converting some of your images to black and white to see what a difference it really makes and if it makes you fall in love with your images in a new way.
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there are so many ways to tell a story with your photograph and the thoughtful use of a shutter speed should not be overlooked. your choice of shutter speeds places an important role as you are photographing movement and can set the tone for your photograph. if you choose to portray movement in your photograph or choose to stop movement, you are creating two entirely different images that will tell two completely stories. as you pick up your camera with the goal of photographing movement, first ask yourself if you would like to freeze/stop the movement or if you would like to embrace the movement in your image. think about the power behind the shutter speed to tell your story.
did you know there are 4 things i do each and every time i pick up my camera? be sure to read what 4 things to do before you take a photo.
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Photographing Movement : The Power Of A Shutter Speed
.jpg "Photographing Movement : The Power Of A Shutter Speed | Bethadilly Photography")
if you look to your surroundings, you will see movement almost everywhere. there is movement in trees on the windy day or movement on the legs of a little one as they pedal their bicycle quickly down the driveway. when you see movement, you are given the opportunity to choose what story to tell. you can either freeze the motion, by using a fast shutter speed like 1/125 or faster to completely stop the motion in your frame. or you can choose to portray more movement by using a slower shutter speed to create some moving blur within the frame. it will be up to you, as the storyteller, to choose which shutter speed tells your story the best.
.jpg "Photographing Movement : The Power Of A Shutter Speed | Bethadilly Photography")
this photo was taken with a nikon d610, sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens at ISO 100, f/1.4, 1/80ss
Slow Shutter Speeds
sometimes we get nervous when we think about slow shutter speeds because we think of blurry photos. while you will want to be mindful of your shutter speed at all times, sometimes it’s okay to choose a slower one to tell your story. in the photo above and photo below, i chose to use a slower shutter speed to capture the motion of the moving liquid and the flipping book pages instead of freezing them in place. using a slower shutter speed to embrace movement can bring realism to your image and make your viewer feel like they are right there, waiting for you to hand them that refreshing glass of cider or make them feel like they can hear the pages flipping.
.jpg "Photographing Movement : The Power Of A Shutter Speed | Bethadilly Photography")
the book image was taken with my nikon d610, sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens at ISO 100, f/1.4, 1/30ss
.jpg "Photographing Movement : The Power Of A Shutter Speed | Bethadilly Photography")
flower photo on left: nikon d610, sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens at ISO 400, f/1.4, 1/2000
bbq photo on left: nikon d610, sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens at ISO 200, f/1.6, 1/200ss
Fast Shutter Speeds
more commonly used is a faster shutter speed to completely freeze the motion and, at times, create some really interesting photos. for example, in the photo of the flower basket above, my shutter speed was so fast at 1/2000 that i was able to capture drops of water as they fell past the flowers. in the BBQ photo on the right, i also chose a faster shutter speed because my husband was moving within the frame and i didn’t want his arm to depict movement. if you are photographing a child it is recommended that you choose a shutter speed of at least 1/125 or faster, as children are so quick!
photographing movement can add so much interest to your photograph, as you decide to either portray movement with a slow shutter speed or freeze it completely with a fast shutter speed. have fun with both, as you are photographing a moving subject. try using a fast shutter speed first, than a slower shutter speed second to see the differences between the two photos. you will be amazed at how, by just changing your shutter speed, you create two entirely different images of the same subject.
need help taking more control of your camera so you can play around with shutter speeds? if you are like me, manual mode may have you going cross eyed. but i finally conquered manual mode and now shoot confidently in M! check out my how i finally began to understand manual mode.
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