Easy Bunting DIY

Hello loves! First off, I want to say thank you for all of your sweet comments and words from yesterday's post. They mean the world to me, and make me so happy!

Since I know all of you are getting ready for a fun Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to share this easy bunting diy so you could decorate and party in style. I have been making a lot of these strings of buntings lately for my sweet friends who are having babies soon! I have also decorated some drab areas of our home with them too and just love the sweetness and fun they bring to a room.

Here's what you'll need:
- scrap fabric (I used felt because it doesn't fray, some thick coffee bag scraps I have, and some pillow case fabric)
-A pattern for your triangles
-double fold bias tape (or you can make your own!)

Here's what you will do:
1. Get a piece of paper and cut out a square, roughly the size and width you want your triangles to be. I like mine smaller, but some people like to make really large bunting triangles!
2. Fold your paper in half and cut it diagonally across (this will make a triangle)
3. Depending on how long you want your bunting to be, cut out that many triangles respectively. I always over cut so that I don't have to make a mess again for just a few more triangles.
4. Load your machine with thread that matches your double fold bias tape.
5. Place your first triangle about two inches away from the end of our tape, inside the "double fold".
Sew your triangle into place. Keep adding your triangles and you work your way down your bias tape... I made mine in a repeating pattern, but you can do whatever works for you!

Viola! You have some pretty  bunting for your parties this weekend!

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in case you missed it:

Monday, I shared some tips and tricks for planning your first mini session as a photographer

Tuesday you got to meet some of my favorite people, and see their maternity photos!

Thursday we talked about being brave with our stories, and some thoughts on this business of blogging. 

Hope you guys have a fantastic weekend, see you Monday!

I Will Be Brave With My Story So Others Can Be Brave With Theirs

I have been mulling over thoughts in my head for the past couple of weeks, and I have waited a while to put them into writing because I am scared of how they will be received.. scared of rejection.

I started this little space a year and a half ago, diving into it not really knowing what I was up against, or what kind of ride I was in for. I didn't know I would fall in love with blogging and the community it brings.. and what a refuge this space would be for me during some of the darkest days of my life.

As a blogger and writer, there is always this fine line we walk in sharing our lives with the internet. You put yourself out there not knowing if anyone will be receptive, and if they are you know they could choose to be mean instead of encouraging. I walk this line every day. I want to share the deep recesses of my heart with you, but hold back because it's so deep and it's so personal and it's scary to let people I don't know into those spaces.

And I only want to share my story because I want to be brave, and I want to give you the courage to share yours.

Somedays I get caught up in the "stats" of my blog. And I ask myself why am I not gaining new readers? Is there something wrong with me? Why am I not as well received as other bloggers who have been writing for a couple of months and already have 1,000 followers? Days like those I want to throw in the towel and quit it all together. I want to leave this space and pat myself on the back because "at least I tried." Those days also make me want to re-shift my focus.. focus more on things that aren't as meaningful like outfit posts and pictures of pretty flowers. But then I know if I did that I wouldn't be true to myself. (and honestly I have always wanted to do outfit posts, but I am scared you will  think I look silly or that you may judge me because most of my clothes are older, or they are second hand.)

I wake up every morning and pray over my words, over this blog. I pray that in some way, somehow it will leave a lasting impression on someone.. and that God will be glorified in my life through this space. Oftentimes I feel like I fail Him in that prayer.

A year and a half ago I started this space because I knew I had something to share. I knew I lived differently than a lot of people, and I wanted to help those of you who have food allergies on intolerances. I wanted to chronicle our life, and I wanted to find a way to provide income for our family.

A year and a half ago I had no idea I would meet some of the kindest and most genuine women in the world through my blog. I am amazed how God has brought me together with friends who walk through the same pain I walk through, friends who have lost pregnancies, and friends who are simplifying their lives and filling their homes with beauty. You all amaze and encourage me and give me more strength than you will ever know. I am humbled that this space has been used to connect people, and bring lives together.

My focus for this blog has shifted several times over the past year and a half. Ultimately, I think everyone writes and shares because they want to add beauty to the internet and world. Because they want to touch lives and hearts and they want to offer gracious words into your home.

And I write because I want to encourage, and help and lift you up. I want you to come to this space and know there is someone on the other side of the computer screen who truly treasures your comments,  your feedback.. and who cooks and creates with you in mind. Sometimes I think, "oh I'll make this project because I know it would make their homes so beautiful!".

But at the root of it all is Christ. I want you to know that the only reason I am able to write, and the only reason I am here today is because of His grace and His power. Each morning when I am able to wake up and have enough energy to go about my day I am thankful to Him for continually healing my body and my spirit.

I have walked through the valley of the shadow of death, and some of those moments I have shared with you on this space, but many of them I haven't. But through each of my dark and painful days I hold onto the e mails you send me and the letters I get in the mail encouraging me. From people I have never even had the chance to hug! As much as I hope to bring light into your life, you have brought it ten-fold into mine.

This business of blogging is a beautiful, and often discouraging, and trying, and life giving business. I am thankful I had friends who pushed me to start this space a year and a half ago.

Outfit details: shirt: everlane, Pants: H&M, headband: Hilary Frazier

Stefanie & Pierre

Stefanie and Pierre are two dear people in our lives. They have invested in us  in some of the darkest valleys we have walked through.. showing us what true community is. Stefanie took me to the hospital the day I had a miscarriage, and has been a voice of God's love and truth in my life since we met. They honored me by asking me to take photos of them during this stage of their marriage. A little baby girl will debut in their lives later this summer, and I know they are going to have a family filled with love, laughter and God's grace. You can see more of their sweet & beautiful photos here.

Planning Mini Sessions (for photographers)

A few weeks ago I spent the Saturday in Nashville shooting six mini sessions with Marc of Vera & Harper . We had been planning for these sessions for almost three months, and learned a lot in the process of planning AND during the day of our sessions. I thought it may be beneficial for you guys if I shared how we did things, and what I learned along the way.

Planning:
Marc and I started planning several months ago for these sessions. Marc is an event designer, so she was in charge of all the props, and I was in charge of the photos- editing and delivering them to our clients. The first thing we did was set up a secret pinterest board and pinned away tons and tons of ideas. Marc was wonderful to take those ideas and run with them. In the end she had about three different "scenes" our clients could choose from- all running in the same color scheme. She was smart enough to bring props and toys for the older kids to play with, so they would enjoy the session.

Another part of the planning involved securing a location where we didn't have to have a permit to shoot. A local park worked great for us, and the clients LOVE IT. The day before our shoot, we realized that there was 90% chance of rain the day of our sessions. At the last minute we were able to secure an alternative inside location as well. We ended shooting 3 sessions outside, and 3 sessions inside. In hindsight, we wish we would have stayed in ONE LOCATION, and had our clients just come to us there. It ended up being A LOT more work on our part to set up in three different locations, AND a lot of headache communicating time and location changes to our clients the night before.

We also determined our price: $95, which we would split 50/50. Our clients had to sign up for a 30 minute time slot and pay a $25 dollar reservation fee to secure their slot. This made it so that people wouldn't drop out at the last minute. As a photographer, I have learned it is ALWAYS in your favor (and the clients favor) to take a deposit for any type of session. 

The Session Day:
We arrived to our first location (the local park) an hour before any of our clients would arrive. We had time to determine exactly where we wanted our shoots to take place, set up, and make sure all of my gear was in order for the quick sessions.

We promised our clients 30 minutes of shoot time with at least 15 edited, high resolution images. For each session I ended up taking about 200 frames (some more than this) so I could make sure I was giving everyone the best images possible. In the end, I ended up editing around 30-40 high resolution images for each client. I always try to under promise and over deliver.

For each client it was important to have them sign a contract (which included a photo release for me to use their photos) and a contract of the price they paid ALONG with their address and contact information. 

After we finished at the park, we rushed to our indoor location for the families who didn't want to bring their kids out in the rain. We set up quickly and had two different set-ups for the clients to choose from. Again, trying to give them as many options as we could.

Next we rushed to another clients house to do a quick session with her 7 day old newborn baby. (PRECIOUS!) All in all, we shot from 10 am until 5 pm. It was a long and tiring day.

What I Learned:
1. It was wonderful having Marc with me to worry about all of the decorations and session styling, during and beforehand. I really don't think I would have been able to do all of this alone. She thought of EVERYTHING, and allowed me to focus on posing our clients and taking the perfect photos.

2. We undercharged for the sessions. Not only did we spend over 30 minutes with each of our clients, but all of the time that went into making the props, editing the photos, and putting together beautiful packages almost made these sessions not worth our time. Next time we will know how to make things more efficient.

3. Advertising for the sessions on facebook was a great move. I was able to target our audience, and our reach was a lot farther than just our friends and family.

4. We will only shoot in one location next time. It was too stressful and too expensive to shoot our sessions in three different locations. We will make sure the location we choose has an INDOOR and OUTDOOR option.

5. Mini sessions are a great marketing tool. People who passed us in the park asked for our cards, our clients have requested more mini sessions and also full sessions as well. Our business cards got in more hands than they would have other wise, and we were able to make a good impression in our community as we are beginning both of our business. It was a win-win situation for US and our clients.

All of the sessions are now live at m. newsom photography , so head on over to see each session in it's entirety!