The Spring Shoot

Spent the afternoon with a car full of 8 year old girls. The bulk of our conversations centered around who has lost the most teeth, what the state animal is for Montana, Texas, and California, and who has made it through nearly the entire school year without pulling their, "card" - this last conversation got a little heated.....

And there was the singing. Lot's of singing.

The world of an eight year old girl - absolutely glorious! 

Cheers & Happy Monday!

Lily For Poppins Day!

Spring is here and we are SO happy to finally see some color on the trees!

We have some fun stuff planned for this weekend, can't wait to have a full recap for ya'll on Monday!

Cheers!

P. Day

Monday's Thought: Overcoming mommy guilt

I recently had lunch with a seasoned mom of ten. My goal was to pick her brain as to how to make my children be perfect. I wanted a formula - a solution for this crazy season of life I am currently in. 

As I drove to meet this lovely woman, a thought came into my head. It went like this...

You are searching for something that cannot be found. What you really need is my power in the life of your parenting. What you really need is my Spirit to soften and change the hearts of your children. 

What you really need is more of me.

My raging soul was quieted right there in the parking lot and I felt humbled.

We are so quick to read books and articles as to how we can be better moms. We run hard toward women whom we perceive to have it all figured out and strive so greatly to be just like them - tying our joy and peace to how well we emulate  them each day. This is not all bad. We should read and grow in wisdom. We should seek out those who are seasoned and faithful for advice. However, I fear that we are reading so much and looking at others so intensely, that we fail to see the third and most important part of our parenting journey. We want a formula -  a good work we can do so that we feel successful and accomplished as mothers - not a savior who sustains us in the trench. In doing so, we make parenting our kids about us and not about God's great power working in the heart of our families. 

I know this has been true for me. I hate the day to day struggle. I want the calm sea. NOW!

Praise God for that wonderful thought in my brain as I sat in my car and waited for my lunch meeting. As I pondered the motive of my heart, a  foundation was being laid for the most lovely lunch date in which I came to see that this seasoned mother (that I hoped to call savior by the the end of the meal)  had the very same advice for me.

He is enough for my parenting.

His grace is sufficient.

And as a bonus - he takes my very good work -- which at times equals massive failure -- and multiplies it -- reaping the beautiful fruit of righteousness in the hearts of my little people. 

I simply persevere. trust. hope. wait. love, listen... I seek God first and place my identity as a mom upon the truth of his Word not on my day to day victories or failures.

This is how I overcome mommy guilt and glorify God in my parenting. I feast on the fact that HE is enough and that the same grace which saved me from sin and death, will shine like the morning sun in my home and in the hearts of my children. 

what a liberating thought, my friends!

Cheers and have a great week!

Love, P. Day

Team Moreau For Poppins Day!

Such a beautiful place. Such a wonderful family. I came home feeling so incredibly happy to capture a portion of their life together. Enjoy!

Georgia Loo For Poppins Day!

Never underestimate the power of a flowie dress!

What To Wear

Choosing an outfit for a photo shoot can be a very stressful endeavor. It's so stressful in fact, that there is an entire industry geared toward helping people prepare a proper look when they are taking photos. While I am most certainly NOT a stylist, I do know what I like and would love to share my thoughts on the subject.

So, Poppins Day takes on your photo-ready-wardrobe. Ready. Set. Go!

First and foremost - What kind of photo shoot are you planning to have? 

If it is an adventure shoot - well, it's all about dressing the part. No need to expound on that.

If it is a family shoot for a holiday card or just a yearly pic, read on.....

1. Dress for your personality.
Embrace who you are because the more comfortable you are, the better your photos will be. That is why we suggest that your wardrobe be something you love. You should chose an outfit that reflects your way, your style, YOU. For example, I recently hired my dear friend, Hannah Sons, to take photos of me with my parents. It was going to be the last photos we would ever take together because my mother was very ill with cancer and dying. I chose our outfits with her personality in mind. My mother was a vivacious woman, full of energy and color yet at the same time, quite feminine. SO, I chose a pink striped top. The fabric was delicate and very feminine - complete with gold buttons, while the print was very bold - just like my mom. When I look at those photos, I am not just seeing my mom's face, I am seeing her way. The outfit I chose for her helps to communicate that. Dress for your personality!

2. Do Not Match - Compliment.
Matchie photo shoots took place in the 90's. I know this is hard sometimes, especially for our lovely type A friends, BUT there is a new way and it is fabulous so let's all embrace it together, shall we! Your photos will thank you later. How does this work, you may ask. Well, I am not a stylist remember, I simply know what I like - so if my description reflects my ignorance please be gracious... Just as I will be gracious if you show up for a photo shoot with your family all dressed in jeans and a white tee shirt. :)

I like to choose a color and then hang out on that side of the color wheel as I build the other outfits. Then, for fun, I add a punch of color from the other side of the wheel. For example: Here are my children. Do you see how complimentary they are?... I hung their whole wardrobe on my son's lion sweater. I chose Blue as our base and then added some warm tones for interest - red, gold, etc...

3. Sprinkle Patterns - Don't Flood! 

When everyone is wearing a pattern - and all of the patterns are different - it becomes a massive distraction. Patterns are a lovely addition to an outfit and can add a lot of interest. They can also serve as a great unifying piece when worn properly. For example, in the above mentioned photo, My youngest daughter is wearing a floral patterned dress. It is hard to see in this particular photo, but the same blue that is in my son's sweater, and my other son's tie - is in her dress. She is the unifying piece. And so that she is not stealing the show, I put a navy cardigan on her so that she does in fact, bring unity to the wardrobe.  You can sprinkle a pattern via a scarf, tights, a headband, etc. OR you could place one of your subjects in a pattern as seen here. 

4. Capture the Quirks

If your four year old refuses to take off her bathing suit 24 hours a day, seven days a week - then perhaps we want to get her photographed not just in a proper outfit of your choosing, but in her swimmies as well? So many times families show up for a session and are so flustered over the fact that their kid will not take off their sunglasses or needs to have their favorite toy car in their hand.... Here at Poppins Day, we say roll with it. The goal of life is not perfection, therefore, the goal of our sessions will not be as well. (don't worry, we will get some photos without the glasses on ;)

Here's one more for fun. 

Complimentary & Holding leafs because not even Santa Claus could talk those kids into leaving the leaves alone.... We roll with it, folks!

Cheers!

P. Day

Adventure Shoots

Childhood is the land of belief. It's where trust and joy intersect and find a cozy home.

That is why Poppins Day adores this little season of life.

Our Adventure shoots embody this spirit. We schedule out a few hours and create a world where all of your child's interest - whether that be Indiana Jones, Fairies, or Priates - come alive.

It makes for one fun day, that's for sure and a treasured photo album for your family!