I LOVE photographs, taking them, printing them and looking at them. I love that we have a large collection of moments to look back over, but I am camera shy. I hate having my picture taken. But my boys need me to be in the family photosgraphs.
Since my double mastectomy and subsequent weight gain, I do not like having my photo taken. I would go as far as saying I HATE being photographed. I do not like the way I look, but this is my issue and recently the boys have started to notice that I am not in the picture so I resolved to change it. When Rosie Parsons offered to come and take our photo’s as a family I knew that I couldn’t say no, even though that was my first response.
Rosie is an award winning photographer with over ten years experience and she made the whole experience painless. But more than we love each and every one of the photographs that she took. They capture our love for each other and our family dynamic. What more she took these images after a ten-hour car journey with her fabulous tribe (3 year old triplets and their one year old brother).
Rosie really understands the importance of capturing family moments as she is aware of just how fast time flies now she has children of her own. Rosie wants to encourage us all to take great photo’s of our family and be the best family photographer we can. With this in mind, she has created a course to help us capture stunning photos of our children without tearing our hair out, nagging or resorting to bribes!
I am really excited by Rosie’s photography course for Mums (and Dads)! She has a real talent for pressing pause on family moments and capturing the joy. She is also a really great teacher and her videos are easy to follow and provide simple actionable instructions. She gives you the ability to turn a snapshot into a piece of artwork.
Do you get confused about how to find the best lighting or position yourself for the best shot? Rosie demystifies the secrets of composition, helps with shortcuts to getting genuine smiles. She will teach you how to find beautiful light on cloudy days and where to position yourself when taking photos indoors.
Doing this course with Rosie is like having a friend by your side as your take your photographs. Want to find out more about the course, then Rosie has an excerpt and more information here. If you use the coupon code MADHOUSE you 40% off from until midnight on Wednesday 18th August.
So back to my experience. If anyone knows my boys they are not in anyway performing monkeys, but Rosie really brought out the best in all of us. She chatted to me about clothing (coordinating not matching) and put us all at ease within minutes of meeting us.
We didn’t spend hours on a photo shoot. No, we were all over and done within a couple of hours and we managed to have fish and chips too and introduce Zak Rosies youngest to rock pooling, well sitting in a rock pool in his clothes!
She photographed us in familiar surroundings to us but captured it all in a new light. I really love that Rosie made me feel more confident in my skin.
She even managed to capture the husbeast smiling and his motto is “groucy with style”!
You know what I want to print each and every one of the photographs she took and I have promised to spend more time in front of the camera rather than just behind it.
Have you ever had a family photoshoot? Do you like having your photo taken?
This experience has really taught me that I need to be in the family photographs, no matter what size I am. My children need to be able to look back and see me in them. No matter my size, my kids think I am beautiful and they wanted to have their photographs taken with me. let this be a lesson for all of us.
I love this post! (and your sandals too actually!) It really is important for mums to be in front of the lens and not just behind it! I’m not in many of our photos but we do try and take a monthly one together for the me&Mine project, it’s run by dear beautiful bear, you should join in if you don’t already! These are such great pictures of you all
I know what you mean. We have hardly any photos of me because I hate myself in photos (and I have no excuse – my weight gain is just weight gain). But you are right. It’s important that I’m in the photos.
I forgot to say that your boys have grown up so cool and handsome. xxx
Beautiful photos of a beautiful family. Rosie is very talented and has clearly captured the essence of you all. x
These are such beautiful photo’s Jen. I’m exactly the same as you and hate having my photo taken and so don’t have many of all of us. something I’m trying to change a little. xxx
I completely agree. Everyone should be able to treasure memories through photos and not look back and remember that they were uncomfortable and hid behind the camera. Mums are also so often taking the photos that they get left out! Selfies have fixed this to a point but it is important to get lovely decent family photos in too- and it shows our kids good body image too!
Oh these photoa are absolutely gorgeous I love them – shes really captured your happy family jen. My favourite is the one where you are all walking down he beach and you are looking at maxi. You are all beautiful
This does ring true as I’m very rarely in any photos as I don’t like to be either, but you’re right, I should be. Your photos are beautiful, you all look so happy x
Wow beautiful photographs – every single one is lovely. The photographer sounds like an amazing woman in herself!
When i look at photos i instantly pay attention to a face and what their reaction is. It is lovely to see you in a photograph and so happy with your family and thats just how i imagined you would be.
Keep on making memories – you make gorgeous children! xx
PS… I dont mind being in front of a camera (second nature to me from modelling days) however my Husband hates it so we hardly have any family photos
I am so guilty of this – I do try to make an effort now and again though.
Oh I really agree, I have always shied away from having my photo taken and as a result there are very few of me with my older children. I wish I could change that now. I can make sure I’m in some photos with my younger children though. Your photos are amazing, you all look so happy and relaxed.
Aw lovely photos of a lovely family.
I always make sure I have plenty of photos with me in them – they may not be the ones I share online but I still have plenty 😉
I so agree with you! Beautiful photos and I love your sandals 🙂
Well you look gorgeous and you must love this photos!
I don’t think kids care what size their mum is, as long as she’s there. We tend to see the person we love, not what they look like, so well done on these amazing photos that you will all treasure. You look like a very happy family – they are lovely.