Letters To My Little One | 28 Weeks In My Belly
.jpg "Letters To My Little One | 28 Weeks In My Belly with bethadilly photography")
tuesday, february 2, 2016
hello sweet baby!
we have officially entered the third trimester, you and me! only 11 more tuesdays until you are with us, and we have the cutest chalkboard countdown in the kitchen. you are taking over more and more every day. and by that i mean, you are growing so much! your once tiny little kicks are now moving my entire body and i can’t help but giggle as i am typing and you shift me a little to the left and right with your mighty punches. you are a strong little one and that makes me so happy.
with so much excitement, your daddy and i sat cross legged on the floor of your nursery, opening up baby gifts from all those who love you. it was one of those moments that i will always remember, just me and your daddy. we did the exact same thing when we got married. we sat on the floor of our very first home, opening up the gifts that would help us begin our new life together…laughing and dreaming and simply being blissful. it seemed like life couldn’t get any better, but here we are sitting together on the floor again…preparing for another wonderful adventure. just us and you.
and well, and your little puppy brothers were there too. they went a little ballistic when we pulled out a stuffed giraffe toy from one of the boxes. you see, before today everything that is stuffed and adorable was considered something they could chew on. we will all be learning a new way of life when you arrive, even the puppies. i am sure they will capture a toy or two of yours from time to time but promise me you will forgive them, okay? i promise you we will always buy you a new toy and this phase won’t last long, for they no longer chew my wedges so we will teach them that your toys are yours.
you are sure loved by everyone already, as we traveled back home to celebrate you at our baby shower last week. you were spoiled from the second we walked off the plane and everyone simply adores you already. but daddy was so ready to have us back home and, as we were flying back, he told me he hoped you would still be awake when we arrived home. even though you were a tad bit shy and quiet during our travels, you instantly knew you were home once daddy put his hand on my belly. i think you two missed one another, it was so heartwarming to see how you happily respond to him already after being gone for a few short days. and after trying for a couple weeks, your daddy can now hear your heartbeat through my belly and even your little heartbeat is darling.
i better head up to your room to unpack all the lovely gifts we just unwrapped. you were spoiled with everything from cute tiny clothes to a baby wipes warmer to keep your tushie happy during diaper duty. bye for now, sweet little.
love, mommy
if there is one thing that i love spending money on, it is a good photography magazine. i love having photography tips, tricks, advice and inspiration show up in my mailbox and, to be honest, i stalk my mailbox when i know a great photography magazine is on the way. there is nothing better that getting a hot cup of cocoa or pouring a glass of bold red wine, then cozying up to a great magazine and soaking up the inspiration. i love what a good photography magazine does for me and my photography. after browsing and reading, i always feel a boost of inspiration that leads me to pick up my camera and challenge myself. and challenging myself leads to amazing things.
want to know what books i recommend to every photographer? check out my post about the 10 ten books every photographer should own.
>this post contains affiliate links. thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography!<<
The Photography Magazine Every Photographer Needs
.jpg "The Photography Magazine Every Photographer Needs - bethadilly photography")
and i have really done it this time, peeps. i have been published. even better, >>the bethadilly challenge<< photo a day challenge that i launched last year will be featured every month in design aglow’s magazine AGLOW. i literally met my mailman at the front door yesterday, as they hand delivered my copy of AGLOW. i have been patiently waiting to see this amazing magazine and…it was so worth the wait. of course, i opened it immediately and, first things first, read my article. then i looked through the magazine from cover to cover and have decided…you must get a copy of this magazine. right now.
.jpg "The Photography Magazine Every Photographer Needs - bethadilly photography")
whether you are looking to go into business, need advice when talking to clients, want to boost your photography creativity or simply need a new boost of inspiration, AGLOW is exactly what you are looking for. plus, i am going to be writing a helpful article for you in every single issue this year! yep, every single volume of AGLOW in 2016 will be featuring me! pretty sweet, huh!? you must join me as i help to inspire you to pick up your camera and practice your skill. it’s going to be way too much fun, so don’t miss out and get your subscription going so you can join me in the fun! it’s been less than 24 hours single i received volume 1, and i am already way too excited to see the next issue be delivered!
to follow along with me on my daily journey with photography, be sure to join me on instagram! and to make sure you don’t miss out on all of my upcoming photography tips + tricks, click subscribe so you can get all of my upcoming photography advice emailed right to your inbox!
i am a lover of photography books and have had many that have greatly influenced my journey with photography. whether they have taught me how to successfully pose my clients, use the buttons on my camera or how to feel confident with editing my photography, here is a list of the top 10 photography books that i think every photographer should own. trust me, you are going to want to write these down.
>>this post contains affiliate links. thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography!<<
Top 10 Photography Books Every Photographer Should Own
.jpg "Top 10 Photography Books Every Photographer Should Own - bethadilly photography")
whether it is browsing the photography that fills the pages or getting inspired by tips and tricks, there have been many books that have inspired me to pick up my camera over the years. here are the 10 ten photography books that i think every photographer should own:
1. a beautiful mess | elsie larson + emma chapman
2. the design aglow posing guide for family portrait photography | lena hyde
3. the design aglow posing guide for wedding photography | lena hyde
4. your family in pictures | me ra koh
5. the unexpected everyday | courtney slazinik
6. the styled photographer | bethany deschamp
.png "Top 10 Photography Books Every Photographer Should Own - bethadilly photography")
7. adobe photoshop cs6 classroom in a book
8. adobe photoshop lightroom 5 classroom in a book
9. humans of new york | brandon stanton
9. humans of new york | brandon stanton
10. capture the moment | sarah wilkerson
thanks for stopping by my blog! to read more about how i learned to work with clients, check out how i learned to pose my photography clients. and to follow along with my everyday journey with photography, be sure to follow me on instagram!
hey, are you on my exclusive email list!? it’s totally free! be sure to sign up so you can be the first to know about my latest photography tips + tricks and so i can inspired you on your journey with photography.
need some photography tips + tricks? check out what posts are trending below!
.jpg "Top 10 Photography Books Every Photographer Should Own - bethadilly photography")
Letters to My Little One | 26 Weeks In My Belly
.jpg "Letters to My Little One | 26 Weeks In My Belly | bethadilly photography")
tuesday, january 19, 2016
hello peanut!
you are quite the little rascal, according to your daddy. you just move and move, and kick away all day. it is the most amazing feeling i have ever felt and, even though i am so excited to hold you in my arms, i think i will miss your little kicks. i wake up in the morning and fall asleep at night feeling you move around in there and it just makes everything about me smile. and your daddy loves to feel you kick and move around, as he exclaims, “geez!” and “whoa!” when you high five and cuddle against his palm. even your little puppy brothers crave your kicks, as they lay their heads on my belly to wait for a little bump, bump from you.
you finally experienced hiccups for the very first time last tuesday, at 25 weeks 4 days. even though i thought i felt them before that, i wasn’t certain until i felt them last week. those were definitely hiccups and i couldn’t help but giggle as you hiccuped away before finally falling asleep. it was simply darling. and we count your kicks every single day. the doctor said you should kick 10 times within 2 hours and…you kicked 10 times in 41 seconds last monday! oh my goodness, did we laugh! we have been tracking your times and you have definitely set a new record.
as i am finally feeling ready to eat more than just spaghetti, we are enjoying all sorts of yummy things. and we sure are drawn to anything spicy! and grapes. spicy and grapes. so random, but sure delicious. but it’s still the oatmeal that you adore the most. we can feel both legs and arms wiggling around in there after a good bowl of cranberry apple walnut oatmeal. oatmeal for the win!
and the one thing that i wonder every day is…are you a little lady or are you a little gent? waiting to find out until the day you make your debut has been such a fun adventure for your daddy and me. it’s the only thing your daddy has ever wanted, as he thinks it is the only true surprise in life. and i can’t wait to see the look on his face on your birthday when he tells me what you are. lady or gent, we don’t care. we just want you.
but i think i have a feeling of what you are. i think i do. i make your daddy laugh as i take all the gender quizzes and read all of the old wives tales to predict what you are. and really, some of the quizzes are so so silly. but i am obsessed with taking them and bribing you to reveal what you are. often i will ask you, “kick once if you are a girl and kick twice if you are a boy.” and every time, you do something different. you are teasing me, i am sure of it. but i love you for it, because i truly love the surprise.
i had an amazing dream about your great grandpa the other day, whom i miss dearly. in my dream i was dancing with him, as he congratulated me on expecting you. it made me wake up feeling so content, knowing that he knew about you. even though it is silly because i know you are with him right now, just waiting until the day when you get to be with us. in my dream, i asked him if he would tell me if you were a boy or a girl and…he did! i excitedly asked, “but why would you tell me?” and he told me, “because i am so tired of watching you take all those silly gender predictor tests!” that’s your great grandpa for you, always so funny. i woke up laughing and couldn’t wait to tell your daddy all about my special dream.
until we see you, i know you are being well taken care of. there are so many amazing people in heaven taking care of you, and i know they will each give you a kiss before they give you to me. give them a kiss back for me, okay? i know every day that we are already so lucky to have you and i can’t wait to start this new life will you holding each of our hands. it’s going to be amazing.
love, mommy
to read more of my mama bee adventures with #babyadilly, check out the posts that are trending below!
completing a 365 photography project was the best thing that i ever did for my photography. it taught me how to see my everyday in an interesting way and how to portray my life through the lens of my camera. even better, completing a 365 photography project helped me build my camera skill in ways that i never thought possible. instead of fumbling with my camera and guessing what settings to choose, i learned how to become confident behind the lens and master manual mode.
for those of you who don’t know, a 365 photography project is where you pick up your camera to take a picture every single day for an entire year. and because i have seen so much progression in my photography through this project, this year i am starting my third 365 photography project. seeing how successful my photography has become because of this project, i am passionate about encouraging others to complete this project as well. and although it may sound intimidating, here are 8 tips that will help you complete your 365 photography project successfully.
>>this post contains affiliate links. thank you in advance for supporting bethadilly photography!<<
8 Tips For Completing A 365 Photography Project
.jpg "8 Tips For Completing A 365 Photography Project | bethadilly photography")
1. join a community.
this is the most important step to take if you want to have complete a 365 photography project sucessfully. joining a photography community not only connects you with other people who are completing a 365 photography project too, but it also holds you more accountable with your project. when you are in a community with others, you feel encouraged to continue photographing because you know others are waiting to see your daily picture. as a perk, photography communities like #thebethadillychallenge on instagram provide daily photo prompts to inspire your daily photo. daily photo prompts can be really helpful as you will never have the dreaded excuse of, “i just don’t know what to take a picture of today.” you are given the prompt every day, and you get to run with it!
2. get on social media.
just do it. whether you decide to start a blog or start an instagram account, get on social media. it is important that you have a place to share your work with others. it is important to have a place to showcase your work, as posting your photography will help hold you accountable. just like joining a community is important, so is sharing your work and getting encouragement from others. and in return, watching other photographers complete their 365 photography project is a great motivator for you to continue yours, as you watch their creativity bloom.
3. create a routine.
just like any task or goal, creating a routine simplifies everything! the main reason why photographers don’t finish their 365 photography project is because they feel like they don’t have the time. not true! yes, we are all busy. yes, it’s another thing to add to our day. but just build it into your schedule. during my first 365 photography project, i made a point of taking my daily photograph in the morning after breakfast. after doing this over and over again, it was just another part of my day because it was a built in routine. so schedule a time to pick up your camera…and do it! before long, it will just be another part of your day.
4. reward yourself.
whether you reward yourself monthly with a pedicure, or you reward yourself at the very end of the project with a new lens…pick a reward that will motivate you! during my first 365 photography project, i decided that i would make a photo book of all my daily photos at the very end of the year. on the days when i felt uninspired, i would remember my end goal of making a photo book and that really pushed me. so pick something, whether it is a new camera bag or a fabulous pair of shoes…pick a reward that will motivate you!
.jpg "8 Tips For Completing A 365 Photography Project | bethadilly photography")
5. download the collect app.
having the collect app on my iPhone is a great daily visual for me to use as i am taking my daily photos. every month, you are given a blank calendar template and you can place your daily photo on the calendar as you take them throughout the month. not only is it a quick and easy way to see that you did indeed take your daily photo, but it’s also a wonderful monthly collage of your photography! and as you complete each month, you will notice your photographs improve as you improve your photography skill.
6. make a list of happy things.
listen, you are going to get in a photography rut. i am not going to lie and say that every single day it is going to be easy. there are going to be the days when you feel uninspired. but creating and keeping a list handy helps. sit down and create a list of all the things that make you happy. whether it is seeing your little one jump off the school bus at the end of the day or pulling a baking sheet of cookies out of the oven, make a list of all those things that bring a smile to your face. then, tuck that list away in your camera bag and pull it out on those days when you are feeling uninspired. trust me, this works! and your list will bring a smile to your face, too!
if you need some extra inspiration, check out my tips to inspire your photography when you are in a rut.
.jpg "8 Tips For Completing A 365 Photography Project | bethadilly photography")
7. practice a specific skill.
whether it is conquering manual mode or tackling low light photography, pick a skill that challenges you a practice it. just like you made a list of all the things that make you happy, make a list of all the photography things that technically intimidate you. then, conquer those intimidations! for me, i was really intimidated by my lensbaby because it seemed like i just wasn’t getting it! one month, i decided i was going to pick up my lensbaby composer pro sweet 35 more and more so i could finally conquer it! and i did. by simply being intentional about picking it up my lensbaby and using it, i grew more confident with my new lens and it is now one of my favorites to use. 365 photography projects are all about photography growth, so pick some photography goals that you want to achieve and do it!
to read more about what is in my photography bag, take a peek at my photography gear!
8. take your camera everywhere.
yep, everywhere. to target, to the dentist, to the park. take your camera everywhere! why? because you never know when a photographable moment is going to occur and you are going to want to be ready for it. don’t miss moments because your camera is sitting at home in a drawer. put your camera in your camera bag and leave it there! my camera literally lives in my journey bag so it is always ready to go when i am. and yes, i have pulled out my camera during grocery shop outings and pulled over to the side of the road to capture an autumn horizon. and i do this unapologetically because i don’t want to have any regrets when it comes to my photography.
completing a 365 photography project is going to be a challenge. there are going to be the days when you want to quit. but don’t! it is so rewarding and you will never do another project that will improve your photography skill as much as a 365 photography project does. just keep these tips in mind as you are completing your project and get going! and if you want to join us in #thebethadillychallenge on instagram, we would be happy to have you!
-
-
Thank you for taking the time to inspire the rest of us. I am a self taught photographer and came across your blog last week after beginning a project 365 this January. I have read many of your posts and find the information very helpful. It is refreshing to see you share your knowledge and tips so freely to encourage others and lift us up with you. Thank you again.ReplyCancel
-
Thank you for taking the time to inspire the rest of us. I am a self taught photographer and came across your blog last week after beginning a project 365 this January. I have read many of your posts and find the information very helpful. It is refreshing to see you share your knowledge and tips so freely to encourage others and lift us up with you. Thank you again. @joanneelisephotographyReplyCancel