LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems!

LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems!
March 30, 2020

We are living very isolated lives right now, and yet thanks to modern technology we can still stay relatively connected. I am blown away by all the amazing content that is coming up online to help people cope. One of My family’s favorite online sources of joy is Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems! Both Blithe (my 7-year-old) and I love to draw so this is fun and therapeutic for us both. Everyday after we put Cadence (my 2-year-old) down for her nap, we get our paper, pencils, and crayons and learn from Mo Willems.

During Lunch Doodles, Mo shows you around his studio, talks about his creative process, teaches you how to draw and doodle, and encourages you to develop your own ideas. He even references feelings kids might be experiencing right now in a very gentle, kid friendly way. I highly recommend this amazing and completely free program. Look at all the things Blithe and I learned from Mo last week!

Go check it out at https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems I can’t wait to see what you and your kids create!

Sending You Love

Sending You Love
March 28, 2020

I am missing all my friends and family during this unprecedented and scary moment in time. This past week felt like an entire year, with a constant flood of conflicting emotions. Under normal circumstances we turn to others for support during a crisis, but in this strange world the very connection we crave is the root of the problem. It definitely leaves me feeling helpless. So no matter what you are feeling, I’m sending you a virtual hug. And I want you to know I am here for you. For a phone conversation or a FaceTime meet up. If you need someone to go to the grocery store for you or you just want a funny movie recommendation, please reach out. We are so much stronger than we think, and we will get through this.

And no matter what shape we are in when we can finally come together again, we will lift each other up. I believe in the collective good, and I believe in you. So try to find the bright moments in the dark, and hold your head high. Even though we can’t physically be together, you are constantly in my thoughts and I am sending you love daily. Together we’ll get through this.

How to Take Better Photos of Your Kids

How to Take Better Photos of Your Kids
November 8, 2019

Think of yourself as a storyteller.  And to tell a good story you need some context.  Many stories can be told within a single photo, you just have to make sure you include the right details so the viewer will understand what is happening. The best advice I can give is to think about your story from a different perspective.

Most parents take pictures of their kids at roughly the same distance all the time, but getting in really close or standing far away can really help tell the story.  For example, you know when your kid is doing something naughty because they know they can get away with it- like pulling an entire roll of toilet paper off the roll.  You feel the urge to go into the bathroom to take that photo, but the reason your kid is doing that is because she is all alone- so that is a really important detail. My advice-try taking the photo from hallway- that way you can capture your kid’s mischief while they are all alone in the bathroom. It gives more context, tells the complete story, and gets a little more of the emotion you are feeling into the photo.

Then there are photos that are all about the little details- like the unusual way your child holds their spoon or the sweet way your kids hold hands. These little details can easily get lost in a photo, especially if taken from far away. Try getting in really close and taking a photo of just their hands or the minute details that are most special to you.  This will really highlight exactly what you were interested in at that moment in time. 

There are the times you want to get down low to show the perspective of a small child, or the dog. Being able to view the scene from the same vantage point really helps the viewer understand what the was being felt in that moment.

Other times, getting up high is the best option. You can include more of the scene from up high, which is a great way to show the chaos that exists in life with small kids.

Changing the perspective of your photo is a quick and simple way to improve your photography, even if you are only photographing your child to preserve memories. Hopefully you find these quick tips helpful, and I can’t wait to see the photos you capture and share! Please comment below with any questions you might have about photographing your kids. I would love to chat.

Not a Baby Person

Not a Baby Person
October 21, 2019

I’m not a “baby person.”  And I realize that’s probably not the best way to sell myself as a newborn photographer, but stay with me for a moment.

I don’t feel the desire to hold other people’s babies like so many people do. I feel awkward and uncomfortable. I can’t quite figure out how to position their little body in my arms so that the baby will be comfortable, or I’ll be comfortable for that matter. I find myself counting down the minutes I have to hold the baby before I can give them back without being rude. 

But when I had my own babies, that awkward feeling was never there. My babies and I fit together like puzzle pieces. We were one and the same. And when I held them I was never counting the minutes. My heart just filled with more love ever moment that we were together. 

That is why I love newborn photography. I love watching families become one with their baby.  Whether or not you start out a “baby person,” your baby will make you their person.  And you will find more love for that tiny being then you ever thought possible. That’s what I want to capture.    

Photographing newborns with their families is breathtaking. There is magic in capturing that developing relationship. As I have learned to  embrace that I am not a “baby person,” I have found a much more fulfilling role as a newborn photographer. The special memories you make with your newborn are moments to treasure, and I find it so beautiful to play a small part in welcoming your newborn home!

To book a newborn session with Julia Matthews Photography, please contact julia@juliamatthewsphotography.com. I can’t wait to capture the special connection between you and your baby!

Special thanks to my dear friend Maureen Cassidy for capturing some of my first moments with my youngest.

Top 10 Favorite Children's Books

Top 10 Favorite Children’s Books
October 10, 2019

I’m a children’s book junkie! I started out as a teacher and have always loved quality children’s literature. I already owned hundreds of children’s books before I had kids. My husband was always dragging me out of the children’s section at the bookstore to keep me from filling the whole house up with children’s books. As a photographer, I love seeing a family come together to share a tender moment and a great book. Thinking about updating your collection? Here are some of my family’s current favorites-

1. Dragon’s Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

2. Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin

3. Those Darn Squirrels Fly South by Adam Rubin…basically anything by Adam Rubin

4. The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

5. A Loud Winter’s Nap by Katy Hudson

Are you noticing a trend? We like funny!

6. The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Ross Burach

7. King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood

8. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

9. Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey

And last but not least,

10. Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds
(This is a delightfully weird book my daughter asked me to buy at her school Book Fair. The very next day she convinced her grandmother to buy it as well. Apparently is worth having two copies).

Hopefully, these titles will bring laughter to your bedtime stories, as I know they certainly have to mine! Did I miss any of your favorite children’s books? I’d love to hear your thoughts--share away!