Monthly Challenge: sweetness and love

February’s photo theme was “sweentess and love”. I had ideas for cute photos of Ben and Lily, sweet Ben looking cute, and lots of creative props. Only, when I went to use those props, I was thwarted by a willful toddler who I forget wants NOTHING to do with the camera. *sigh*

So, I had to cheat, and use a photo that I already posted with my weekend update. My “sweetness” is my favorite pie, baked by my husband’s grandmother (lemon meringue pie):

And my “love” is of course, Ben. This was taken ad hoc one night, during one of our “play” sessions that we have after dinner. Ben loves to put on fireman hats, and we both run around the house putting out fires. He is all about the camera when he can see himself, so I used the front facing camera on my phone to snap this one, and he hammed it up for me :)

So, technically, I wasn’t practicing with my “real” camera… but it’s a photo in the theme ;) I’m going to make a concerted effort to think of an idea to execute beforehand for March’s theme. My biggest problem is that I’m a “pray and spray” shooter. I take photos with whatever the situation throws at me, and hope I got a few good moments. Which, I know is how “lifestyle” photographer tend to shoot (not spray and pray, but not with pre-planned ideas in mind)… and really, I think I lean more towards enjoying “journalistic” style photographs that tell a story about the events going on around me. I rarely think of an idea for a photo and then try to recreate it. So that’s what this challenge is all about for me… trying to reach outside my comfort zone :)

Such fun times! I can’t wait to see what Rebecca from “Francis Family Fun” came up with this month! :)

(Ben is 3 years 2 months 2 weeks and 1 day old)