Jill Krause
  • Home
  • Pick My Brain
  • Shop Ebooks
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Free Downloads
  • Reviews & Recs
    • A Hairstylist’s Advice For Cutting Your Kid’s Curly…

      February 17, 2020

      Tips To Keep Your Winter Screen Time In…

      February 13, 2020

      Motherhood & My Fear Of Germs Have Evolved

      January 10, 2020

      He’s Talking! A Toddler Milestone Update & Toy…

      December 17, 2019

      4 Ways We Are Preparing For Cold &…

      November 19, 2019

      Feeding Tweens & Finding Balance

      November 6, 2019

      No More Screen Time Shame + A Biofinity…

      October 29, 2019

      Our Tween’s First Phone | A Palm Phone…

      October 26, 2019

      IKEA KURA Hack With Pegboard

      September 23, 2019

      Egg Bites Are My Not So New Obsession

      September 17, 2019

  • Buy My Pregnancy Book

Jill Krause

  • Home
  • Pick My Brain
  • Shop Ebooks
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Free Downloads
  • Reviews & Recs
    • A Hairstylist’s Advice For Cutting Your Kid’s Curly…

      February 17, 2020

      Tips To Keep Your Winter Screen Time In…

      February 13, 2020

      Motherhood & My Fear Of Germs Have Evolved

      January 10, 2020

      He’s Talking! A Toddler Milestone Update & Toy…

      December 17, 2019

      4 Ways We Are Preparing For Cold &…

      November 19, 2019

      Feeding Tweens & Finding Balance

      November 6, 2019

      No More Screen Time Shame + A Biofinity…

      October 29, 2019

      Our Tween’s First Phone | A Palm Phone…

      October 26, 2019

      IKEA KURA Hack With Pegboard

      September 23, 2019

      Egg Bites Are My Not So New Obsession

      September 17, 2019

  • Buy My Pregnancy Book
Photography

Don’t Overthink Beautiful Photos Of Your Messy Life

by Jill Krause June 2, 2019
written by Jill Krause June 2, 2019
Don't Overthink Beautiful Photos Of Your Messy Life

Over the weekend, I was outside in the early summer Texas heat with Wallace. It was after he devoured a piece of cheese pizza and before I cared enough to wipe his face. He had a pair of plastic fake glasses from who knows where, and a can of sparkling water. A great opportunity for beautiful photos from this messy situation.

picture of Wallace with plastic glasses and drinking sparkle water

His cheeks were red and his sweaty curls were stuck to his damp head. His shirt was filthy, his knees scraped. He was what we might lovingly refer to as a “hot mess.”

Be sure to read to the bottom for a $4 off coupon code for my ebook Picture Play!

picture of Wallace taking is glasses off

He wound up in a shady spot in front of the setting  golden sun. There I was sitting on the pavement with my phone- the best camera I had access to at the time (and really a pretty incredible camera, TBH), and so I started snapping as he played with the glasses, putting them on and taking them off- upside down then right-side up.

picture of Wallace posing with his glasses

Directing Your Child

I directed him minimally, mostly just trying to get his attention so I could get him to look at me for a few brief moments. I really dislike over-directing my kids for pictures because it makes us all mad. Rarely do I end up with the shot that’s in my head anyway, so I’ve learned to just use my feet and my knees and to follow and squat and get what magic I can.

picture of Wallace posing with his glasses

I’ve also learned I have to sometimes take A LOT of shots to get a few gems. And that’s fine and ok because that’s the beauty of digital technology- we can delete what doesn’t work.

So I snapped and I snapped, and the results are a beautiful freeze frame from that sweaty late afternoon with a 2 year old who just ate pizza.

picture of Wallace taking the glasses off

You don’t have to dress the kids up or even clean them or brush their hair to capture moments you’ll treasure. Your messy reality is the beautiful picture.

picture of Wallace playing under a picnic table

Now, definitely approach how and where you take the photos thoughtfully. Mind your lighting and your background distractions. Play with portrait mode on your phone if you have it, and remember that does best with a LOT of natural light.

picture of Wallace posing with his glasses

Direct your child a little bit if you need to. See if you can entice them to follow you to a shaded spot, maybe away from the sewer connection in the background (#RVLife). But don’t pose them. Don’t ask them to say cheese. Don’t hover above them.

Be patient. Follow them. Get on their level…

picture of Wallace siting on on a picnic table bench holding his glasses

or below.

Thoughtfully Edit Your Photos

Thoughtfully edit your photos later, and you might surprise yourself. You just might look at these pictures of an ordinary day and a hot mess, and think, “I need to frame this.”

collage of Wallace and his glasses

Not sure how to take the best pictures you can with your phone? Need some help learning how to edit them without relying on expensive filters? Check out my ebook Picture Play! Over 75+ 5star reviews from people with all levels of photography skills saying they learned to take and edit photos they love after reading Picture Play. I have a $4 off coupon code for a limited time. Use code PPMAGIC at JillKrause.Shop

Click below to get my eBook! Learn how to take and edit photos you LOVE with just your phone and some free/cheap apps!

Picture Play by Jill Krause
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jill Krause
Jill Krause
Jill Krause
Latest posts by Jill Krause (see all)
  • It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way | Advocate For Better Eczema Treatment Options - January 19, 2021
  • Radical Self Love Is Contagious - January 13, 2021
  • There May Be A Better Way To Manage Your Migraines - December 10, 2020
messy realityphone photographypicture playtoddlers
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Everything I Know About Potty Training
next post
Fresh Beat Band: Where Are They Now

More For You

Holiday Photo Card Tips & Ideas

3 Common Phone Photography Mistakes Parents Make

Get MAGICAL Pictures at Walt Disney World With...

How To Smooth Skin Without Overdoing It Using...

Playing With Perspective & Light For Better Pictures

4 comments

Chocoviv June 6, 2019 - 8:53 pm

It is the random ones that steal my heart every time…

Reply
14 brilliant ideas for last-minute gifts for Dad | Father's Day Gifts 2019 June 12, 2019 - 1:47 pm

[…] also are fans of Jill Williams Kraus and her photography tips on her website for capturing life’s imperfect moments perfectly. You might even order her […]

Reply
No More Screen Time Shame + A Biofinity Energys Contact Lenses Review & Free Trial | Jill Krause October 29, 2019 - 5:07 am

[…] I’m really excited to work with CooperVision because I know Biofinity Energys contact lenses are a product a lot of you can benefit from. Listen, we are all using devices a lot, and for a lot of valid reasons. […]

Reply
3 Common Phone Photography Mistakes Parents Make | Jill Krause November 12, 2019 - 5:11 am

[…] get in the habit of photographing the mundane and ordinary moments. These are the memories you will love and cherish years from now. And you are uniquely positioned to […]

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

* By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Let’s Be Friends

Facebook Instagram Pinterest Email

Hi! I’m Jill

Hi! I’m Jill

CLICK For More About Me!

Popular Posts

  • F*** COVID SCHOOL

  • Fresh Beat Band: Where Are They Now

  • How To Smooth Skin Without Overdoing It Using Snapseed

  • I Didn’t Expect My Older Kids To Love The Nugget So Much! | GIVEAWAY |

  • Our Jayco RV Is For Sale!

  • Moving On

My Brand New eBook Is Available On Presale NOW!

The Blog That Made Me A Blogger

A Self Care Movement

Free Downloads For Your IG

Make Your Phone Photos Dazzle!

Pregnant? This One’s For You!

Follow Me

Facebook

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019

Our RV Travel Adventure

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

@JillKraus.e

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube
  • Email

@2020 - All Right Reserved, all content property of Jill Krause. Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Back To Top
Jill Krause
  • Home
  • Pick My Brain
  • Shop Ebooks
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Free Downloads
  • Reviews & Recs
    • A Hairstylist’s Advice For Cutting Your Kid’s Curly…

      February 17, 2020

      Tips To Keep Your Winter Screen Time In…

      February 13, 2020

      Motherhood & My Fear Of Germs Have Evolved

      January 10, 2020

      He’s Talking! A Toddler Milestone Update & Toy…

      December 17, 2019

      4 Ways We Are Preparing For Cold &…

      November 19, 2019

      Feeding Tweens & Finding Balance

      November 6, 2019

      No More Screen Time Shame + A Biofinity…

      October 29, 2019

      Our Tween’s First Phone | A Palm Phone…

      October 26, 2019

      IKEA KURA Hack With Pegboard

      September 23, 2019

      Egg Bites Are My Not So New Obsession

      September 17, 2019

  • Buy My Pregnancy Book
@2020 - All Right Reserved, all content property of Jill Krause. Some links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.