intentional parenting Archives - Page 11 of 12

Tell My Story Photography Classes

This is NOT your average photography class. It’s not just about the camera and what all those words mean: aperture, exposure, ISO, composition, shutter speed.

Though we’ll learn a lot about how the camera works and how to take better “technical” photos, the heart of this class is focused on the WHY behind the picture taking. Because as long as you have a why, you’ll figure out the how. That’s what makes this class different than any other photography class out there.

It’s about the people and relationships we’re taking pictures of. How we can grow closer to and more in tune with our children (and spouse) through the gift of photography.

How we can be more intentional mothers using photography.

How we can use photography and displaying photographs to tell a better family “story”.

And how we can help our children learn who they’ve always been and give them a sense of love and belonging in a world where we all desperately need to feel that.

And we’ll have fun! And laugh. A lot. I promise.

The first portion of the class will be completed online where you can work at your own pace and learn the elements of taking “technically” better photographs. Then we’ll use that foundation of knowledge in an interactive, hands on class where you will learn how to be in control of your camera and get consistently better photos. You will be able to practice what you learned in the online portion of the class with direct access to me for help.

Then we’ll tie it all together and discuss how to get emotionally better photographs. And how the gift of photography can help us be better parents and create an intentional family story.

Don’t just take my word for it. Hear it from people who have already attended the class:

“I’ve had my camera for almost 3 years now and still have never learned how to use any manual setting. I either had “no time” and/or it was too overwhelming to try and find a class that would help me without talking over my head. Lindsay takes beautiful pictures so I was so excited to hear what she has to say–about picture-taking in general. She told us not only about tips for taking better pictures, but WHY we should be taking pictures in the first place. She also taught us the basics of the manual settings–SO HELPFUL. The setting was relaxed and it was all in one day. I loved it. I truly believe that picture taking is THE BEST INVESTMENT…I really needed to learn more so that I can practice and end up taking better and better pictures so that my kids can remember their childhoods with better clarity. THANK YOU LINDSAY! I recommend this class to everyone!” Jacqui

“I learned so much from taking the “tell my story” class. Lindsay was very thorough in the way she explained parts of the camera and different concepts. It was also great to have her teach as we completed the “practical” portion of the class. The class changed the way that I take pictures and even the way that I view photography. I have such a greater appreciation now. I would highly recommend taking this class!” April

“This photography class taught me so much more than how to take my camera out of auto (so excited that I now know how to use manual mode.) Lindsay was awesome, she taught the importance of catching those everyday moments that tell the STORY of my life! I am awful at journaling. I am now committing myself to break out my camera and capturing the happy, the sad, and the everyday things that make up my STORY and my families STORY!!” Natalie

“This class gave me time to think about why I take the pictures I take and am I taking enough of the pictures that matter to me and my family. I learned some great tools to help me do that and I now feel more inspired than ever to take more and better photos of our lives–photos that tell a story about who we are and not what we want others to think we are. Thank you for letting me be a part of this.” Shara

“I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to participate and be a part of the class yesterday. It was such a day well spent. You are passionate about what you do and why you do it and I left inspired in ways I did not anticipate. “ Kim

“I’ve had my camera for a while now. It’s a nice camera and sometimes I get really awesome pictures. But sometimes I don’t. Now I understand how to control my camera so I consistently get the pictures I want. I loved the “live” shoot we did so I could practice what we had learned and have you there to answer all my questions. I also really liked the section of the class where we talked about why the pictures are so important and how we can use photographs to really tell the stories of our children’s lives. Finally I understand what all those photography terms mean and what all the dials on my camera do, and I am excited to practice so I can consistently tell the story I want to tell with my pictures.” Brittany

“I look at the way I take pictures and the day to day things in my life in a whole new way! I’m so excited for this new approach to my photography and life! Thank you” Sarah

“I wanted to tell you thank you for the photography class! I have been playing/practicing (ALL IN MANUAL) and I think I at least know which numbers mean what, and how to adjust! I think it will take me a lot more practice and maybe a new AUTO FOCUS lens for christmas:). I actually really loved the first half of the class about WHY to take pictures and how to tell my kids stories better. I am determined to start looking for the mundane things that I know I’ll miss. Thanks again…

you’re a good teacher!” Kamie

**Class sizes are small so each person gets individual attention and help with their camera settings as well as plenty of time and opportunity to ask questions.**

CLICK HERE FOR FUTURE CLASS DATES OR TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEXT CLASS

*Sign up with a friend and you each get $20 off. E-mail me directly to sign up with a friend.*

Any questions–Email me: [email protected]

{Design for the Tell My Story banner done by the ridiculously talented Meredith Carty. You can find her here.}

The “every day”

When I started doing photography it was 100% for the money. Not because I was passionate about photography or shutter speeds or f-stops. Not because I was artistic or creative and I needed an outlet. Not because I had a “good eye” or was naturally talented at taking pictures. I saw an opportunity to make money (which I like) photography sports (which I LOVE) so I went for it.

My perspective when I first started as a photographer and my perspective now are radically different.

The truth is, I still don’t take pictures because I’m passionate about photography. I take pictures because I’m passionate about the people IN the pictures. And the stories of their lives.

When I learned how to take pictures of people (not just sports), I knew my style wouldn’t be typical. I quickly started to learn how powerful a photograph can be. Sounds dramatic, but it’s true. A photograph can be more than just a photograph. A photograph can show a persons soul. It has the ability to tell the world who someone IS. And that’s not a small thing.

As my style developed as a photographer, my mission became to focus on personality and relationships. To have emotion in my photographs. To tell, without words, who someone is.

“Sometimes a perfect memory can be ruined if put to words“ Nova Ren Suma

I attended a seminar where another photographer said “The power we possess to bring out someone’s inner most soul is an art form. We allow people to see pas their insecurities and see who they really are.” I believe that.

This has completely changed the way I take pictures of my own children. And the importance I give to the photographs I take (and display) of them.

As a parent, one of my main goals is to allow my children to be who they already are. Images are one way I can help them discover who that is. Photography has become a tool in my life to help me be a more intentional, present, and aware mom. To appreciate my children more. To be aware of who they are and who they are becoming. To document their lives. The good AND the bad. And to document our families story.

Photography has given me more patience. More love. More compassion. More awareness. And most importantly, more intention to live a purposeful life. That’s why it’s SO important to me and why I want to share that gift with other people.

It’s the every day stuff. What they do from day to day that show who they are. So in my opinion, the pictures I take of my kids in my own home are by far the most important kind.

“Photography is a gift because it allows us to see the beauty in what can feel routine and mundane.” Ashley Campbell.

The EVERY DAY

“The mom stays in the picture”

To all moms.

If you read nothing else in your lifetime (besides God’s scriptures), please, please, puhlease, read this:

“The mom stays in the picture“

I can’t expound too much, because she says it so perfectly. But. I always have something to say.

We send messages to our kids all the time. Intentionally and not intentionally. They’re always watching. Always listening. And always paying attention whether we think they are or not. They say moms have eyes on the back of their heads. Well kids have ears on every inch of their body. And eyes that see and then mimic what they see.

What is the message we send to our kids, girls and boys, when we won’t get in pictures? How do they interpret that?

We tell them to love themselves. To be happy with who they are. To know they are a literal child of God and their soul is worth something. We say, say say. Tell, tell, tell. But what do we DO? What do our actions say to our kids? Because that’s where they’re getting the real message. From what I do. Not usually what I say.

I get it. It’s not always fun to be in a picture. Especially when we’re tired, bloated, feeling gross, and on and on and on. For me, I don’t love asking other people to take a picture of me. I just don’t. It feels weird and kind of embarrassing (even if it’s my own husband). “Hey, I’m awesome, take a picture of me.” But I’m getting SO much better at it. Because I think it is so so so important for our kids to see pictures of us. WITH them. Being a part of their lives. No matter how we look or feel. Because they don’t care. They just want us. Just the way we are.

And some of us allllll by ourselves. Doing nothing. Or doing things we love! So our kids can see we are people to. And we like to DO things.

(this was my very first time waterskiing, thus the “holy crap I’m going to die” face)

And now that nearly all of us have smart phones with built in cameras and self-timers, there’s NO excuse!! Stay in the picture moms!!!

Tell My Story Photography Class

This class is currently under development to switch to an ONLINE format. You can go HERE for more info on the online version.

stories

“A million miles in a thousand years” by Donald Miller. I’m slightly obsessed. I’m not being dramatic when I say it changed my life and my entire perspective about what really matters and what we’re all doing here in this crazy hard life.

Reading this book is what initially compelled me to start this blog. I’ve been resisting for several months (you can read about that here), but the time has come. Time to quit thinking and start acting.

There was a story in the book that haunted me. I thought about it for days and continue to think about it often. Because it answered SO many questions about why kids stray. Why they don’t do what we want. Why they choose bad friends. Why they may make some bad choices. Why they don’t want to be at home instead of with friends. Why they go in directions we never hoped for or intended.

These are the words Miller wrote:

“When I got back from Los Angeles, I got together with my friend Jason who has a thirteen-year-old daughter. He was feeling down because he and his wife had found pot hidden in their daughter’s closet. She was dating a guy, too, a kid who smelled like smoke and only answered questions with single words: “Yeah,” “No,” “Whatever,” and “Why?” And “Why?” was the answer Jason hated most. Have her home by ten, Jason would say. Why the guy would ask. Jason figured this guy was the reason his daughter was experimenting with drugs….

The night after we talked, Jason couldn’t sleep. He thought about the story his daughter was living and the role she was playing inside that story. He realized he hadn’t provided a better role for his daughter. He hadn’t mapped out a story for his family. And so his daughter had chosen another story, a story in which she was wanted, even if she was only being used. In the absence of a family story, she’d chosen a story in which there was risk and adventure, rebellion and independence. “She’s not a bad girl,” my friend said. “She was just choosing the best story available to her.”

I pictured his daughter flipping through the channels of life, as it were, stopping on a story that seemed most compelling at the moment, a story that offered her something, anything, because people can’t live without a story, without a role to play….

So how did you get her out of it?” I asked. And I couldn’t believe what he told me next.

Jason decided to stop yelling at his daughter and, instead, created a better story to invite her into.”

I was most struck by the line “He hadn’t mapped out a story for his family. And so his daughter had chosen another story…”

This got me thinking. Really thinking. Have I mapped out a story for my family? And is it a GOOD story? One in which our kids will want to be a part of? It scared me that I couldn’t answer definitively yes. That I knew where we were headed and why. That we were being intentional about our parenting, our thinking, our actions.

I read a comment on instagram (and for the life of me can’t remember who said it): “We all end up somewhere, but few of us end up somewhere on purpose.”

I started thinking about everything I do. Every.thing. What am I doing and more importantly WHY am I doing it? Am I headed somewhere on purpose?

It has made me stop and reconsider all of my “systems”. For myself and for my family. Are we doing things just because other people are doing them? Or because that’s just the way things are done? Or are we carving our own path? Doing things because that is what is best for our family regardless of what anyone else is doing or thinks?

So I’m entering the new and unfamiliar world of creating a story for my family. One with values, and purpose, and direction. And I’ll be honest. It’s not easy. At times it has been downright discouraging and I feel confused and frustrated. But it is also inspiring and full of hope. And I am determined to face the obstacles ahead and create a family story I can invite my kids into. One that will allow them to be everything they already are. And to show God we remember him and will do all we can to make him proud.

{I am fully aware that kids do what they do for a million different reasons. And even if we have an amazing story to invite them into, a family filled with intention and action, they will still sometimes stray in ways we never imagined. I’m only stating there are ways in which we can try to prevent them going in directions harmful to themselves. Because as parents, all we really want is for our kids to be who they were always meant to be}