I got this sweater a while ago. It’s so fun, and I love the metallic coating. Who says skulls are just for Halloween? Not me!
This was a “self timer” shoot. Maya kept saying “Again! Again!” She loves running back and forth from the camera to the “spot” haha
On me…
So, about 60% of the shots I take are with my tripod and a timer. 20% my husband takes, and the other 20% one of my parents take. (*edited to add* As I’ve gotten better with this process, I now take about 98% of the shots of me/me with Maya). When I take images with my tripod and timer this is how I do it.
1-Put my camera on a tripod.
2- Find something I can focus on. I’ve used a chair, Maya’s stroller, a long stick stuck in the grass, and then I figured out I could use a light stand. Most people won’t have a light stand, so just use anything that will stand on it’s own that’s at least 3 feet tall. (*edited to add. I now tie something onto the top of my stand, so that the camera really has something clear to focus on. I actually tied a little stuffed animal to it :})
3-Have your lens on auto focus. Focus on your fake subject, and while you still have the shutter pressed halfway down, move the focus to manual. This will keep the focus locked where you want it.
4-Mark where you had your fake subject. If you are shooting at a shallow depth of field, a few inches will matter. I usually use a leaf or a crack in the pavement.
5-Either use the self timer button or a shutter release. I’ve got both, but end up using the self timer, so that I don’t have to worry about having something in my hand. Plus, a lot of the times that’s how I get good laughing shots on my own. I might trip on my way back to my spot, have a neighbor drive by wondering what the heck I’m doing, or just laugh at the hilariousness of it all.
Ok, truth be told. It doesn’t ALWAYS work haha. I almost scrapped this post because I totally messed up on the focusing, but why just show my success stories? Maya now thinks it’s a fun game. Press the button, run to the spot…go back to the camera. Over and over :).
It also helps to have a handy assistant to lug all your gear around for you 😉 
Good Luck!!
On me…
Sometimes when there’s a trend I want to try, but I’m not sure I can pull it off…I dip my toes into it (haha) That was so cheesy, I can’t believe I wrote that, but hey…so true! Especially in this case. 😉
I‘m wearing yet another pair of DL 1961 jeans. I cannot say enough how comfortable these jeans are! 
Maya’s take on color blocking…or, just stripes (whatever :)) 
On me…
I feel like stripes are always in style… I love black and white paired with a pop of color in the shoe.
I swear I wasn’t thinking “stripes all around”, but alas…it happened 🙂 This was at Maya’s birthday BBQ with her 4 legged brother Max. 
Can’t believe she’s TWO!! 
On me…
So, this is exactly what I would wear on a photo shoot (ie-when I’m photographing others :)). The only addition is that I normally wear boots in the fall because I’m traipsing through fields. These jeans are super comfortable, because they have a lot of stretch yet don’t stretch out. The dark comes in handy because it doesn’t show dirt. All of these advantages translate over to day to day motherhood haha. 🙂
This particular photo shoot was very special though. The nugget turns two today!
I cannot express how much love and happiness she has brought to me the last two years. She has more joy in her little finger than most people have in their entire bodies. She makes me a better person every single day…
On me…
Boots- Faded Glory (Thrifted, but similar here. Love these!)
Here’s Maya wearing a vintage dress (probably MORE than 20 years old…)
I used to wear a lot of black. A LOT!! Then I made a conscious effort to work color into my wardrobe, and I love color now. That said…it’s still my security blanket. When I’ve indulged a little too much over the weekend or am a little brain dead and don’t want to think about what to wear….black is the easy answer.
These Adriano Goldschmied jeans are amazing! I may have two pairs in the denim too (made one pair into capris for the summer :)). The elastic waist band is SO comfortable, and there’s no bulge when you wear long tunics. Yet the denim, really is denim-not a legging. I actually wore these when I was pregnant too. I wish they would have made them in even more washes! 
Poor nugget got into a tussle with the cabinet and lost… Oh, and btw, if you follow us on Instagram, you’ll know how much I spent on this ADORABLE faux leather jacket 🙂
On me…
I am so drawn to printed denim (another fun way to mix up my denim addiction!), yet I get caught up on how to wear it. I’ve decided I’m not one of those people that can mix prints and get away with it, so I keep it pretty simple with my top choices. Over the summer I wore these with a plain white/black T or tank top. Now that it’s getting colder, I thought I’d stay with the same simple color choice.
Btw, Seattle, you are killing me with this weather!!! One minute-pouring. The next minute-sunny. All the while…WINDY. Ugh.
It hit me today that I’ve only shown the bags I carry in one post. As a mom, we all know that the diaper bag is a staple in our day to day life. I was determined NOT to get a diaper bag that looked like a “diaper bag”, and was giddy when I found this one by Nest! The best part is that it doubles as a camera bag for me, and the lining also zips out for easy cleaning/turns it into just a cool purse!
Maya’s take on the printed jeans…
On me…
Boyfriend jeans have been a trend for a while now. I’ve tried a few pairs… They are incredibly comfortable, but I’m not a big fan of the longer rise that usually comes with them, and how they make my butt look (c’mon, that’s HUGE in jeans decisions :)). So…now I cheat and just buy up a couple of sizes on a normal pair. This is especially great when I go thrift shopping and find pairs not in my size=boyfriend jeans! That was the case with the pair I’m wearing here. This particular pair was hemmed already and about an inch too short. Was I deterred from scooping up a pair of Seven for All Mankind for less than $10? NO! Roll them, I say 😉
Ps-it’s been raining CONSTANTLY in Seattle, so…inside pick for this one. I’ll try and get more creative later.
When you go the “boyfriend” style route, it’s best to pair it with a tighter fitting top. That way you don’t look too frumpy (NOBODY WANTS THAT!) This sweater isn’t too tight, but it’s more fitted. 
Then I dug this leather jacket out of the trenches. I have had this particular jacket for over 10 years! I’m such a hoarder… BUT, I find that things always come back around, and I’m SO glad I never got rid of it! 
And Maya’s take on the rolled too big jeans 🙂
On me…
I have a slight obsession with white jeans. THAT is not exactly “mom friendly”, but we have stain remover, so I indulge my obsession every now and then and hope for the best. It’s a good thing I have 4 or 5 (ok, maybe more) pairs…
This particular pair is DL 1961 Kate Slim Straight. I talked about my love of DL 1961 jeans here. Their 4 way stretch is SO comfortable! I bought this particular pair over 2 years ago, when I was pregnant (I only wore stretchy non maternity jeans when I was preggers!) They’re one size bigger than I normally wear now, but that just makes them kind of a skinny boyfriend fit 🙂
I like adding a little pop of color to a neutral outfit. 
During these last days of summer/early fall the temperature changes pretty drastically over the course of the day. Layering is key… 
Am I the only mom that walks out of the house and 75% of the time realizes that I match my kid? I like to buy clothes for Maya that I would wear, so I guess when I’m in the mood for something…it trickles down to her 🙂
So… Chambray shirt with a pop of color (she picked the shoes)….who wore it best?? haha
Yeah, I agree. She did 😉 
On me…
Jeans- DL 1961 Kate Slim Straight (old, but denim version here. Similar style (on sale!) here.
Tank- Target Long and Lean
Jean shirt- Levi’s (very old) similar here.
Belt- Linea Pelle (old), but similar style here. Color option here.
Shoes- Superga (on sale!).
On Maya…
Jean shirt- Thrifted (similar here)
Jeans- Old Navy (thrifted, similar here)
Shoes- Jack and Lily
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