Picture Perfect Project V3: February 2016

Another month of photos is done.

Goodness does it seem like the year is flying by with the first two months of the year already over. 

Today I'll be sharing February's photos for our 2016 Picture Perfect Project.

I kept things the same as last month. I love the idea of taking my photos in the same spot every week but the lighting in that room is proving to be a challenge and wanting to cause some unpleasant shadows in my photos and that is really starting to bug me. So I'll either get over it or pick a different location.

Let's take a look!

February

Week 6

Emily has been quite the over smiler aka sarcastic smiler lately. It has made for some "Interesting" photos.

Oh and look, a Minnie Mouse dress!

Week 7

These photos have made me VERY aware of how often I just let the girls wear headbands and don't really fix their hair. So this week I braided M's bangs and gave sister some pig tails. 

Week 8

Emily's birthday week and she wore the best Minnie Mouse dress ever.

It's like a Minnie lovers princess dream come true!

Week 9

The shadow and lighting was especially terrible this day.

This was the morning of our overnight get away.

The girls just "HAD" to pose with their new Build-A-Bear friends. 

And that wraps up February and 9 of 52 photos.

2016 so far...

January

Now it's your turn to link-up!

Grab the button from my sidebar and share the photos you've been taking lately.

Beth // Our Pretty Little Girls

Courtney // Sweet Turtle Soup

Desiree // Macke Monologues

Elizabeth // Chasin Mason

Stephanie // Wife Mommy Me

Whitney // Work It Mommy

An InLinkz Link-up

Picture Perfect Project V2: January 2016

Today is month two of the Picture Perfect Photo Project.

Last month I shared my collage of photos from 2015. 52 photos for 52 weeks and boy oh boy the end result was a hot mess. I was proud that I managed to take 52 weeks of photos, but a bit embarrassed by the end result. 

But with disappoint comes a chance to do improve. I made some goals to organize, edit and watermark my photos and this month I have done just that. I also picked a new photo location and plan to use it for the entire 2016 year. Not only will this help things to look more uniform but it will be neat seeing my chalkboard designs in the background too.

So far I already feel like I am doing a better job compared to 2015.... 

but since we're only one month in I won't get overly confident.

January 2016

Week 1

Happy New Year, unfortunately Marissa was feeling a bit under the weather this week. A mom can always tell a kid who isn't feeling well by the look in their eyes. I also must point out Emily's adorable new Minnie outfit :).

Week 2

Marissa wore her very first infinity scarf that I decided to "store" for her in my closet ;). 

Week 3

I found a "new" Minnie shirt at the top of the closet. I am pretty sure my mom bought this for E two years ago and it just now fits. I chose this photo because of those faces. How could I not choose the goofy one?!

Week 4

This week was a sunny one. I was a bit disappointed with the photos but they could've and have been worse. Emily wore a sister hand me down. Marissa wore this for her Pre-K photos when she was her sisters age. Memories like that always make me smile.

Week 5

Somehow before I escaped to IKEA I got both girls dressed and ready for church with daddy. Plus I actually remembered to take a photo! Emily was feeling pretty sassy this particular morning. 

5 Sundays down, 47 left to go! 

Now it's your turn to link-up!

Grab the button from my sidebar and share the photos you've been taking lately.

Beth // Our Pretty Little Girls

Courtney // Sweet Turtle Soup

Desiree // Macke Monologues

Elizabeth // Chasin Mason

Stephanie // Wife Mommy Me

Whitney // Work It Mommy

An InLinkz Link-up

Picture Perfect Project V1: My 2015 Recap

A year ago I challenged myself to start taking more photos of the girls. I decided on once a week and chose Sunday as the day I would photograph them. Let's be honest here, we're homeschoolers and the pajamas all day stereo type does tend to be true in our house about 50% of the time.

Over the course of the year I managed to take 52 weeks of photos slightly improving my photography skills along the way. But all of this comes with a few mess-ups, lessons I learned and even a confession.

Here is what I learned from my first year long photo challenge.

1. I need to be more organized in storing these photos. Next year I will do one folder and they will all be clearly labeled. The chaos at the end of the year from not being organized is overwhelming.
2. I messed up my photos. There were 2 week 17's, a different font one month and at the end I just gave up. Be consistent, correct or do what I am planning to do in 2016 and skip the labels. 
3. I confess some weeks I didn't snap the photo on Sunday. There are a times I remembered on a Tuesday... or Friday ;). But I still ended up with 52 photos and that is all I care about. The precise timing is just a minor detail.
4. Some weeks you just have to take what you get. That's just how it is and that is okay. 
5. Capturing beautiful photos is always nice but when you overly focus on perfection with young kids nobody has fun. Trust me on this one.

So here they are 52 weeks of my girls!

Some of the shots aren't ideal, the end result is a bit messy, but the memories are so worth it.

I'll learn from my mistakes and move forward.

Beth // Our Pretty Little Girls

Courtney // Sweet Turtle Soup

Desiree // Macke Monologues

Elizabeth // Chasin Mason

Stephanie // Wife Mommy Me

Whitney // Work It Mommy

In 2016 my plans for a yearly photo challenge changed a bit for the better. My Year of Sundays received a much needed name over hall (thanks ladies) when it became the Picture Perfect Project, a monthly photo challenge link up. The idea is for you to challenge yourself to take more photos, however that may look for you, and link up with us on the second Thursday of the month.

Starting today!

If you missed out on this month it is never to late to join!

Grab your camera and start clicking.

2016 Goals

My plans for 2016 will remain the same, one photo a week for 52 Sundays in 2016.

I hope to find more consistency in 2016, organize my photos better, improve my photography skills, add a watermark to my photos and actually edit them. But I suppose we will see how I do with all of that over the course of the year.

Now it's your turn to link up!

Grab the button from my side bar and add your post.

Happy picture taking!

An InLinkz Link-up

Do you have a photo challenge for 2016?

Any goals or plans to share?

Christmas Tree Photos & A Pajama Party {2015}

From the time I purchased my camera I have been dreaming of beautiful Christmas tree photos. I had to wait almost an entire year, but I feel like I can say the wait was totally worth it.

A few random thoughts before sharing some photos.

*These photos are hard.

*My girls are amazingly patient. 

*A speed lite changes everything.

*I still feel like there is so much more I could do to improve... next year.

*I found it easiest to get the camera focused on auto then switch into manual so it wouldn't keep resetting.

So here they are, our "official" 2015 Christmas pj / tree photos.

(I used a speed lite on this one)

So funny that this was our pj photo shoot and this moment happened. They really were getting sleepy.

I think it is impossible to not yawn while looking at this photo. 

My girls

(I used a speed lite on both of these individual photos)

(I used a speed lite on this one)

(A few I took without the speed lite)

And my favorite shot of all.

(pitch black how with a 50mm lens on aperture priority)

It was really interesting to see the difference in the speed lite photos compared to those without. It definitely helps to make them less grainy and dark but really warms them up and can be a bit tricky to reign in. 

All in all I don't feel like I can complain. Especially when I look at that last picture of those sweet sisters holding hands.

The girls Christmas pajamas were once again a present from Meme.

She picked them up at Kohls.
 
Today I am linking up for a pajama party with Stephanie, Crystal, Elizabeth, Whitney and some other great bloggers.

Do you have any Christmas tree photo tips to share?  

Picture Perfect Project Link-Up Announcement

I am pretty sure that I have been anticipating this day for about 3 months now #notevenkidding.

In January of 2015 I challenged myself. My challenge was to take one photo of our girls every Sunday. Rain, shine, snow, no matter what I'd snap a photo. After about 10 months of photos this is what I have to look back on.

BEST challenge ever. 

Some weeks my photos have been frame worthy, other weeks I totally blew it, but I kept taking photos.
This little challenge has turned into a year of photos that I know I will always cherish.

The only pictures you regret are the ones you don't take.

Month after month your comments would come in about how much you loved this idea and one day it occurred to me, why not ask you to join in? I reached out to some fellow picture loving blogging pals and invited them to co-host a monthly link up with me.

Just like that the Picture Perfect Project was born. 

Whitney - Work It Mommy // Stephanie - Wife Mommy Me // Beth - Our Pretty Little Girls // Courtney - Sweet Turtle Soup // Desiree - Macke Monologues // Elizabeth - Chasin Mason

In 2016 we want you to create your own photo challenge.
Once a month, every week or every day. However many photos you want to take & whatever you want to take them of.
The point is to set a goal and use your camera. 

On the 2nd Thursday of each month we invite you link up with us.
You can share your photos and post about your photo challenge progress (or failures) from that month. You can also check out what other bloggers are taking photos of and maybe get some great ideas or photo tips.
Challenges are always more fun when we do them together.

Think about your 'Picture Perfect Project' for 2016 and make a plan.
Then set a date to start, grab our button and mark your calendar to join us on January 14th!

 We can't wait to see your photos!

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What will your 2016 picture challenge be?!

Project Sunday {November 2015}

Good morning!
Since December has proven to be the busiest blogging month ever I thought I would take advantage of a Sunday to catch up my 2015 photo challenge.
Last year I challenged myself to take one photo of the girls every week. I can hardly believe that this Sunday starts the last month, I have almost completed the challenge!
November had 5 Sundays so let's take a look at weeks 44-48!   Week 44

The week I straightened Emily's hair for the very first time... so weird. 

I did decided that if Emily had straight hair she and Marissa would look A LOT more alike.

Week 45

Those little ladies sure do love their cow girl boots!

Week 46

The Sunday I was horribly sick.

Week 47

Marissa in her favorite vest and Emily in a big sister hand me down.

Marissa sighed when she saw Emily put that dress on. "Oh mom, I LOVED that dress."

Week 48

We snapped photos for Meme's Christmas card later this day. 

I love these shirts.

So close to finished.

And now for a teaser...

If you have loved following this challenge throughout the past year, make sure you check back tomorrow for a special announcement!

Have a great Sunday!