What can I say about this shoot….well, let’s start by saying how much I love these little munchkins! Then let’s talk about how out of practice I am for actually composing shoots. I kept making comments during this 30 min shoot like, “I’m a little rusty, or out of practice”. The kids could sense my impatience. Jake wasn’t talking and joking which means I had my “serious face” on and my “don’t talk to me voice” tuned in;) Well, it turned out beautifully even though I didn’t have a plan. I think Tré summed it up in a nutshell when he made the comment, that I was a better photographer BEFORE the Valentines shoot! LOL!
Let me tell you why I started doing Valentine’s of my own about 5 year’s ago. Well, it was all about showing off my talents at first and impressing (no pissing off) other mother’s. Then I started to feel the tension and the shoots started getting more out of control. I was feeding my ego just fine until I realized that this wasn’t about the kids at all. I just wanted to get noticed and have my love tank filled. The insanity needed to stop! So the last 3 years I started having the kids come up with their own ideas and the whole family works together to create something we are proud of. It has all payed off!!!! Today they came home from school with huge smiles on their faces after such a big day full of love and excitement. We went through their V-Day cards from kid’s at school and I asked them to talk about their favorites. They of course, pulled out the ones that were handmade, or pictures on them. This holiday has joined the rest of mainstream and has become all about candy and BORING characters promoting the latest hot movie. Nothing about those tiny little cards say….”I see you or I love you”. It makes me a little sad…a lot sad, actually. People (including kids) appreciate art and it is proven that they will go back to the cards that are handmade or have a little special twist to them that make them personal.
I got an e-mail the other day from a mother of a child that was in Jalena’s class last year. She said that she was thinking of us as Valentine’s approached because of the adorable card from last year. I knew that the card made her remember a sweet, little face of a little girl so full of love, that it brightened her day. That’s what I’m talking about. I know I am going to think of a sweet boy in Jalena’s class when we use the special heart crayon that looks like he made it with his Mom (maybe not, but at least it makes us thing) when we go to color with it. So I beg of you….get over the whole…”I don’t have time…or it’s a lot of work, no one will notice anyway” mentality, when it comes time to give out cards next year. They don’t have to be pictures, or photoshopped, or anything crazy complicated. It’s about you and your kids working together to CREATE something that is going to bring a smile to someone’s face and make them know that they are loved!
Here is a little bookmark that should make it a little happier to read your next book:)
They all wanted to come up with as many ways to say ‘I love you’ through a pic. I had to fit a lot on the boys cards because they picked a lot of favorites;)
Jake and I worked on this spinner idea that we got from a scrapping site….SO CUTE!!!
I hope everyone has an amazing Valentine weekend filled with self-love and ability to really FEEL all the love around each and every one of you. I love you all readers…I don’t ’see you’, but I feel your love:)