Ideas for photos with you in

The ultimate list of photo ideas to get yourself in more pictures

Once a year I spend a month making a point of getting in a photo every single day.

I’ve been doing it since 2015 and it is always a challenge to come up with ideas for photos so I don’t just end up with 30 identical portraits or selfies.  See, I don’t just want a photo of me for the sake of collecting photos of myself, I want to record my life as it is at that point.  I want something more from the photos than just pictures of my face.

I actually went looking on google recently to try and find some inspiration for self portraits and ideas for photos I could take of myself and couldn’t find what I was looking for.  So I’ve come up with my own list of ideas.

If you’d like to try and get in more photos both with and for your children, here is my ultimate list of ideas for photos you can take of yourself, or that you can get someone else to take of you.

The ultimate list of photo ideas to get yourself in more pictures

 

The classic portraits

  • A full body posed photo.  Either taken by someone else or by you with a remote/timer
  • A posed headshot or head and shoulders portrait
  • A posed, everyone-look-at-the-camera family photo
  • A more relaxed family photo where you’re looking at each other and interacting rather than smiling at the camera

Classic portrait ideas to get in more photos

 

Photos of you on your own

  • Reading a book by yourself, in your favourite spot in the house
  • Getting ready for the day in front of the mirror.  Drying/brushing your hair.  Putting on your make up.  Whatever you normally do each day.
  • Holding your favourite mug
  • Close up self timer/remote photos of your face/hands/hair
  • Close up detail shots of jewellery that you love to wear
  • Your shoes/boots while out on a walk, taken by you simply looking down
  • A phone selfie
  • A mirror selfie
  • Close up of details on a favourite piece of clothing
  • Enjoying your favourite snack
  • Working on your laptop/making something
  • Making a meal
  • Overhead/over your shoulder photo of you preparing a meal/making packed lunches
  • You doing other household jobs like loading the washing machine
  • Your shadow
  • Your silhouette – by a window, outside, at sunset

Ideas to get in more photos

 

Photos of you with your family

  • Feeding your baby, whether it’s breastfeeding, bottle feeding or spoon feeding your baby who is weaning
  • Enjoying food with your children
  • Cuddling your children on the sofa
  • Reading a book with your children
  • Cuddling your children in bed
  • Watching TV/the iPad in bed with your children
  • Playing with your children while they’re in the bath
  • Drawing/colouring with your children
  • Playing a board game
  • Helping with homework
  • Helping your child brush their teeth, get dressed, get ready for the day
  • Baking together
  • Your view of you holding hands with your child
  • Shots taken from behind of you together

Ideas to get in more photos with your children

 

The thing to think about, if you want to be in more photos that really mean something to you, is going beyond the standard posing and smiling for the camera type photos.

Start thinking about the normal, everyday parts of your life that you might like to capture.  And don’t disregard the ‘boring’ things, the chores and routine things you do every day or every week.  One day those things will change too and having photos of them will be amazing for sparking memories of this stage in your life.

I have photos of me loading the washing machine with Nerys.

Not the most exciting thing, and definitely not the prettiest of photos, but I love them for the memories they bring back of her as a toddler so keen to help me with everything I did.

Use this list as a jumping off point, then take some time to think about the things in your life at the moment that you might miss one day.

Then get to work recording them in photos, for you and for your family.

#ShowYouWereThere round up

Show You Were There round up

It’s almost the end of the month, and it’s Sunday so that means it’s time for another round up from my little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

In case you’ve not come across it before, #ShowYouWereThere is all about getting more parents in more photos, both with and for our children.

 

My first pick for this time is from Steph at Steph’s two girls.  I love this photo of Steph and her girls, and her caption is kind of what Show You Were There is all about.  So often it’s only when we go to find a photo of ourselves for something that we realise how few we have.  It’s so important that we make a real conscious effort to get in front of the camera more!

 

Next up is this lovely family photo from Emma at Sophie Ella and Me.

It’s such a gorgeous moment captured, and I really love the light and tones in the photo.

 

My third pick this time is from Katy at Hot Pink Wellingtons.  I always love seeing Katy’s photos and this one of her with her youngest son is no different.  It’s so lovely, I would absolutely be printing it if I were Katy!

 

My last choice for this round up is from Jen at My Mummy’s pennies.

You can’t beat a proper hug like this when things are a bit tough, and I love how it looks like they might topple over in a minute from hugging so tightly.

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on Instagram, they always make me smile so much.

 

Now my turn.

I was sent some clothes to review recently and we headed to the park so Steve could take some photos for me.  Now, I’m not a natural model, I clearly don’t know how to pose like the other girls on Instagram.  But I do like the photos that he captured.  They look like me.

Show you were there round up


If you’d like to join in with my little community and possibly be featured in my next round up (with a nice link back to your blog!) then just share a photo of yourself over on instagram using #ShowYouWereThere.  It’s all about getting more parents in more photos.  And if you’d like to take part in my guest post series ‘The photo I’m thankful for’ then take a look at this post or email me at thisgloriouslife@gmail.com for more information.


 

#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up

I’ve had a bit of a break, but now it’s once again Sunday morning, and that can only mean one thing.

Time for another round up from my little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

My first pick for this week is this amazingly joyful collage of photos from Jen at Spoonfuls of glitter.

I challenge you to look at these photos and not smile!

 

Next up is this wintry photo from Bex at The Mummy Adventure.

I just love this mummy/daughter moment, as well as the bright and colourful coordinating ski-wear!

 

My third choice is from Elaine at Entertaining Elliot.

This is such a lovely family photo, and such a good reminder in Elaine’s caption of why I started #ShowYouWereThere – the fact that it is so easy to take hundreds of photos of our children but somehow so much harder to remember to all get in a photo together!

 

My last pick for this time is from the lovely Wendy at Naptime Natter.

I was so happy when I found out that Wendy was pregnant, and I am loving her honest posts about the ups and downs of pregnancy and how getting through the tough parts really does make you feel like wonder woman!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on Instagram, they always make me smile so much.

 

Now my turn.

In the Christmas break we had a few lovely walks along the beach at Swansea bay, perfect for blowing away the cobwebs!

While we were there Steve took the camera from me and grabbed a few photos of me with the children, and here is one of my favourites.

Show you were there


If you’d like to join in with my little community and possibly be featured in my next round up (with a nice link back to your blog!) then just share a photo of yourself over on instagram using #ShowYouWereThere.  It’s all about getting more parents in more photos.  And if you’d like to take part in my guest post series ‘The photo I’m thankful for’ then take a look at this post or email me at thisgloriouslife@gmail.com for more information.


 

#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up

It’s Sunday morning, and that can only mean one thing.

Time for another round up from my little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

My first pick for this week is from Donna at What the redhead said.

I just think this is such a lovely photo of Donna, taken by Mel from Le coin de Mel.  And I’m just a little bit in love with Donna’s jumper!

 

Next up is this lovely family photo from Nikki at Tinker and Totsy.

If you click through to Instagram you can see all the family photos they’ve taken in the same spot over the years; it’s so lovely to watch the family grow and change!

 

My third choice is from Suzy at Our bucket list lives.

It sounds like they were having an amazing time, and look pretty snug in those outfits!

 

My last pick for this time is from Natalie at Cooper and Tahoe.

How lovely is this photo?  I would love a picture like this of my husband with the children!

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on Instagram, they always make me smile so much.

 

Now my turn.

We went on a little break to Bluestone last week, and had an absolutely amazing time.

One of the highlights was the Kingdom of the Elves which we had heard so much about but had never been to ourselves before.

The children were a bit nervous to start with, so didn’t want to join in with the dressing up part, but I did my bit and had some mouse whiskers drawn on my face.

Show you were there dec 16

It really made me smile seeing so many adults around the resort and in the blue lagoon with red cheeks and whiskers painted on.  You can’t help but get caught up in the magic of it all!

 


If you’d like to join in with my little community and possibly be featured in my next round up (with a nice link back to your blog!) then just share a photo of yourself over on instagram using #ShowYouWereThere.  It’s all about getting more parents in more photos.  And if you’d like to take part in my guest post series ‘The photo I’m thankful for’ then take a look at this post or email me at thisgloriouslife@gmail.com for more information.


 

#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up

It’s Sunday morning, and that can only mean one thing.

Time for another round up from my little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

My first pick for this week is this gorgeous mother/daughter photo from Donna at What the redhead said.

It’s really made me want to go out and get matching tops for me and Nerys!

 

Next up is another photo with some rainbow twinning going on, from Katy at hot pink wellingtons.

I just love everything about this photo!

 

My third choice is from Leah at home family life.

I have to admit I’m quite enjoying seeing festive photos like this pop up in my feed!

 

My last pick for this time is this photo from Colette at we’re going on an adventure, that just made me smile so much when I saw it.

Who would’ve thought Halfords would make such a good destination for a date!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on Instagram, they always make me smile so much.

 

Now my turn.

This photo was taken on a walk through Clyne woods the other day.  I’m so aware at the moment that my children are growing up fast, and I want to hold on to these moments, and these little hands, for as long as I can.

show you were there


If you’d like to join in with my little community and possibly be featured in my next round up (with a nice link back to your blog!) then just share a photo of yourself over on instagram using #ShowYouWereThere.  It’s all about getting more parents in more photos.  And if you’d like to take part in my guest post series ‘The photo I’m thankful for’ then take a look at this post or email me at thisgloriouslife@gmail.com for more information.


 

#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up

It’s Sunday morning, and that can only mean one thing.

Time for another round up from my little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

 

My first pick for this week is this festive family throwback photo from Kerry at Kerry Louise Norris.

I love Christmas traditions like the one Kerry and her family seem to have started with visiting the winter wonderland in Cardiff each year, it’s so lovely for everyone to look forward to!

 

Next up is this brilliant photo from Adam at IronStyles.

I just absolutely love this moment that he’s captured, and the smiles on both their faces!

 

My third choice is from Lucy at Mrs H’s favourite things.

I’ve always loved feeding the ducks with the children in the park, and remember going to do the same with my mum when I was little.  It’s such a simple activity, but so lovely to do with our children.

 

My last pick for this time is this rather dramatic photo from Jaymee at The Mum Diaries.

I don’t think I’d really appreciated how big the Angel of the North is before seeing this photo!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on Instagram, they always make me smile so much.

 

Now my turn.

Actually, it’s my husband’s turn this week.

This was taken last weekend as we walked along the seafront from the cenotaph to the civic centre to see the Pages of the Sea event.

show you were there

 


If you’d like to join in with my little community and possibly be featured in my next round up (with a nice link back to your blog!) then just share a photo of yourself over on instagram using #ShowYouWereThere.  It’s all about getting more parents in more photos.  And if you’d like to take part in my guest post series ‘The photo I’m thankful for’ then take a look at this post or email me at thisgloriouslife@gmail.com for more information.


 

#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up

It’s Sunday morning, and that can only mean one thing.

Time for another round up from my little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

My first pick for this week is this lovely mummy/son moment from Nicola at Mummy to Dex.

I’m normally a coffee drinker but Dex’s hot chocolate looks so good with all those marshmallows in it!  And how cute is his little skeleton outfit!

 

Next up is this gorgeously sunny photo from Jo at Pickle and Poppet.

I just love this moment that Jo’s husband captured, and the fact that he encouraged her to get in front of the camera so he could take it!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpiADaPhQIP/

 

My third choice is from Rachel at Mini and Mabel.

This is just such a lovely photo of Rachel and her sister, and the location is just gorgeous!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bppn6_WloIC/

 

My last pick for this time is this amazing family photo from Lisa at and then she clicked.

Don’t they make such a brilliant zombie family?!  And I love the story behind how this photo came about!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on Instagram, they always make me smile so much.

 

Now my turn.

Last week we spent a chilly morning at the beach with Steve’s brother and his family who were over for a visit.

I took a few photos of the children in this gorgeous and warm bobble hat, then asked Steve to take a couple of me with it on too.  This is one of my favourites out of all the pictures he took.

The hat we were all taking turns wearing is this year’s children in need hat and buying one is a great way to support Children in Need as well as keep yourself snug and warm this winter!

Show you were there


If you’d like to join in with my little community and possibly be featured in my next round up (with a nice link back to your blog!) then just share a photo of yourself over on instagram using #ShowYouWereThere.

My post ‘show you were there – getting more parents in more photos‘ explains what it’s all about if you’re still not sure!

And if you’d like to take part in my guest post series ‘The photo I’m thankful for’ then take a look at this post or email me at thisgloriouslife@gmail.com for more information.