Taking Pictures (A Special Pinterest Poser Challenge)

I am not a professional photographer.  I don't even own or have access to a fancy camera anymore. I don't have enough money to hire professional photographers or the wall space to display that many photos.  BUT I love to take pictures and I don't suck at it.

For this week's Pinterest Poser Challenge,* I'm sharing a favorite Picture Project and some picture taking tips.  Not because I copied it from Pinterest, more like Pinterest inspired me to do it.  

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week I detail a new project/idea/recipe inspired by Pinterest.
**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

Even though I take a thousand pictures of my family every week, I started a pretty cool picture tradition a few years ago.  When Wade turned one, I decided to take a picture of all the kids in front of the cool barn in our town. The barn is a store that sells rock salt for driveways, propane for grills and a lot of other things.  In fact, it is the same store/barn that Tim used to come to as a kid to buy feed for his family's chickens.  Yo, this barn goes way back with our family.  And now, every year we go back and take a picture there.  

It seemed like a cutesy idea five years ago.   It has grown to be so meaningful to me.  Looking back at how much my kids have changed in the past five years makes my heart explode with love and gratitude and holy shit where does the time go I can't believe they were babies just a few years ago and now at least two of them look like mini adults thoughts.  

Youngbloods at the barn in 2014

Youngbloods at the barn in 2012.

Youngbloods at the barn in 2011.

Youngbloods at the Barn in 2010.

I recently saw a story in The New York Times about a group of sisters that have been photographed every year since 1975.  Click here to look at the pictures, they are so moving.  I hope my kids let me photograph them every year for forever.  

My pictures are not taken with a fancy camera, I probably get the lighting all wrong, but I don't care.  I captured the wobbly knees of baby Wade back in 2010 and JT's curls!, Lucy laughing with wild abandon in 2011 and Peyton looking comfortable in his own skin in 2014.  

The whole photo shoot has gotten a little easier over the years mostly because we aren't worried about Wade crawling or wandering off or crying.  The kids know the quicker they smile, the quicker it will be done.  This year, we went to the barn in between the kids' basketball games and they changed in the minivan.

Tim is my trusty assistant every year.

Here are some of my very impressive kid photo shoot tips that I have learned over the last five years:

If you are wondering what happened to 2013, we didn't go to the barn. What?  How could I have done that?  Ugh.  Never again.  But we did still take pictures and they were still awesome.

Youngbloods and their dog 2013.

Tim was there helping for that one too of course.

Have you made anything inspired by Pinterest lately?  Let me know in the comments or over on my Facebook page. 

Come follow me on Pinterest (click here).

Here are some of the Pinterest projects I've done/made/attempted.

Gluten Free Pretzels- click here

Cinnamon Sugar Doughballs- click here

Painted Lockers- click here

Melted Beads- DIY Suncatcher- click here

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Garland-- click here

A Delightfully Simple Birthday Party--click here
Make An Awesome Omelet--click here
Outdoor Lights Inspired by the show Parenthood- click here
Herb Garden with Chalkboard Pots- click here
Backyard Graffiti Art with kids- click here

Happiness Notecards- click here

Gluten Free Rainbow Cake- click here

Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies- click here

Make Your Own Magnets- click here

DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here

Dixie Cup Lights- click here

DIY Ornaments-click here

Gluten Free Clay- click here

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here

Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click hereThe Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here