#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up

by with No Comment Show you were thereUncategorized

I don’t know if it was the busyness of Christmas or just life in general, but this little community of mine has been sadly neglected for the last couple of months.  But I’m back!  With a renewed fire in my belly to get in more photos and to get other parents to do the same.

As it’s Sunday I’m getting back into the groove with a round up of some of my favourite photos that have been shared with #ShowYouWereThere over on Instagram in the last few weeks.

Starting with this beautifully bright photo from Abbey at The Son and The Moon.  I have to admit I’m not sure I would think to take sunglasses away on a winter break, but it looks like they’re an essential item to pack if this photo is anything to go by!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfyJ3TTHzBn/?tagged=showyouwerethere

 

My next pick for this week is from Wendy at Naptime Natter.

I love how open and honest Wendy is about mental health topics, especially as they relate to parents.  This question of ‘who am I?’ is one a lot of parents ask themselves I think, and it can take a long time to figure out the answer.

 

Next up is this wonderfully cheerful photo from Jo at Pickle and Poppet.

It’s just such a happy shot, and the type of photo I would take if I was in London for the day, with the London Eye in the background!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfoeEp2BRyv/?taken-by=pickle.poppet

 

My last choice for this little comeback roundup is from Nikki at Tinker and Totsy.

I just love this perfectly imperfect photo so much, I’m a big fan of photos that show personality, that we’ll look back on in years to come and laugh at when we remember the poses and faces our children used to do when the camera came out!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on instagram, they always bring a huge smile to my face!

 

Now, my turn.

This is the first photo from my month-long challenge of getting in a picture every day.

My husband took it for me, out in our back garden in the first little bit of snow we had here in Swansea.

woman with scarf outside

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.

 

where are all the mums parents

Where are all the mums?

by with 12 Comments PhotographyShow you were there

Where are all the mums?

I deliberated for quite a while over this question.  Wondered if I should change it to ‘where are all the parents’.  But in the end I opted to stick with mums, because this is something that does seem to be more true for mums than dads.

When you look through family photo albums, whether they’re physical albums that you hold in your hands, or digital ones you scroll through on Facebook, you see loads of smiling children, and quite a few smiling dads.

But where are all the mums?

mother and son hugging

I was chatting to a few of my friends the other day, as we watched our children play together after school.

We were talking about how many photos we take, and how often.  And unsurprisingly the conversation turned to the fact that us mums are so often the ones behind the camera and not in front of it.

The thing is, this isn’t a new revelation.

We’ve been discussing it for years.  

Photographer Sue Bryce has been urging women to exist in photos for a long time.  A whole host of people have written posts on the subject, about how important it is that the mom stays in the picture.  I’ve written posts on this topic in the past, telling parents that we need to get in more photos and dismissing various reasons why we shouldn’t get in front of the camera.

Yet somehow, despite all our best intentions, we slip back behind the camera.  We stop setting the timer.  We forget to hand the camera over.

I’m as guilty of this as everyone else.  And this is something I feel really passionately about.

There are just so many reasons that we end up disappearing from our family albums.

For a lot of women it comes down to the fact that they don’t like how they look at the moment.  They’re heavier than they’d like to be, they’ve not washed their hair in days let alone found time to put on some mascara or lipstick.

For me it’s more about the effort required to get in more photos.  Which is silly really, because how hard is it to grab the children and take selfie?  Is it really so much effort to hand the camera to my husband and ask him to take a few photos?

The thing is, I know all this.  I’m aware of the need to exist in photos, to show that I was there.  I know that it’s not all that hard to do.  And still weeks and months go by and I’m not there.  I take photos of the children and my husband, but I’m not there with them.

So each year I set myself a challenge.

For the month of March I get in a photo every day.  This will be the fourth year I’ve done it, and I know from past experience that it’ll be a bit of a struggle at times, a lot of fun at other times, but most definitely worth it in the end.

I’ll take selfies, set timers, use my remote trigger and my husband, whatever it takes to get in front of the camera.  Some photos will be just me, some will just be parts of me.  Some will be with my children.  Some will be posed, some will be candid.

I always hope that doing this project for a month will inspire me to keep getting in photos on a regular basis.

But for some reason I still end up fading away, slipping behind the camera again.

I’ll keep fighting though, to exist in more photos for my children.

And I challenge you to fight with me.  Show your children you were there.  Let go of all your excuses and get in the damn photo.

You don’t have to do it every day.   You don’t have to do it every week.  Just do it more than you do now.

And when you do, don’t let the photos hide away on your computer or your phone.  Print them out and place them proudly in an album for your children to cherish in years to come.  Share them on Facebook and Instagram for the rest of your family and friends to see.  And if you do, please do use #ShowYouWereThere so I can see them too.

#ShowYouWereThere is my little Instagram community that is a celebration of parents existing in photos both with and for their children.  I’ve neglected it a bit lately but the arrival of March and my daily photo project marks its revival.

Any and all photos that feature you in some way, please do share them.  Whether it’s a picture of you with your family, a mirror selfie or a close up of your hand holding your favourite coffee cup, it all counts.  It all shows that you were there.

It’s all a step towards us not having to ask that question – where are all the mums – any more.

Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday
#ShowYouWereThere round up

‘Show you were there’ round up

by with No Comment Show you were thereUncategorized

It’s Sunday, which can only mean one thing around here – time for another round up from my lovely little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

In case you’ve not heard about it before, #ShowYouWereThere is all about getting more parents in more photos.  So any photos that feature you, or your partner, in some way, shape or form then just tag them with #ShowYouWereThere when you share them on Instagram to join in, and potentially be featured in one of these little round ups!

Now, on to my four favourite photos that were shared in the last week.

First up is this beautiful bump shot from Lyndsay at Fizzy Peaches.  It’s funny when you think how long the 9 months of pregnancy can seem, but then the same amount of time flies by once they’re born!  Violet will be one before we know it!

 

My second pick for this week is from Cath at Battlemum.

It’s such a lovely photo, that hopefully helped Cath to remember the good moments from this week rather than just the rough day that she talks about in the caption!

 

Next up is this lovely photo from Jaymee at The Mum Diaries.

It’s just such a happy picture, it really made me smile this week.

 

My fourth and final pick for this week is from Lianne at Ankle Biters Adventures.

I love how cosy they look in this photo, and I also really love Lianne’s comment about how different her children are from each other, it’s something I find so fascinating to see in my own children!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on instagram, they always bring a huge smile to my face!

Now, my turn.

Last weekend we went out for a walk on the beach and around Victoria Park, where we stopped to take a few family photos for November’s Me and Mine project post.  We managed one or two nice ones, and a few sillier ones, which so often end up being my favourites.

How great is Rhys’ face and pose in this one?!

show you were there family photo cwmdonkin park swansea

 

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

by with One Comment Show you were thereUncategorized

It’s Sunday, which can only mean one thing around here – time for another round up from my lovely little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

In case you’ve not heard about it before, #ShowYouWereThere is all about getting more parents in more photos.  So any photos that feature you, or your partner, in some way, shape or form then just tag them with #ShowYouWereThere when you share them on Instagram to join in, and potentially be featured in one of these little round ups!

Now, on to my four favourite photos that were shared in the last week.

First up is the beautiful wintry photo from Suzy at Our Bucket List Lives.  I just love the look of wonder on her son’s face, and the intense stare from the owl!

 

My next choice for this week is from Wendy at Naptime Natter.  I’ve featured Wendy several times before, and I always really love seeing her photos over on Instagram.  All the expressions in this particular photo just really made me smile.

 

Next up is this picture of the lovely Esther from Inside Out and About.

Not only does she look fab in this photo, I also love the fact that she was celebrating her sister’s graduation, how amazing is it that she came away with a 1st!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb14YCuhLE3/?tagged=showyouwerethere

 

My last pick for this week is from Kerry at Kerry Louise Norris.  This is just such a sweet photo, I had to share it!  And now I want to go out and get matching pjs for me and my family!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on instagram, they always bring a huge smile to my face!

Now, my turn.

A quick selfie, from a bright autumnal trip to the park last weekend.

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

by with No Comment Show you were thereUncategorized

It’s Sunday, which can only mean one thing around here – time for another round up from my lovely little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

In case you’ve not heard about it before, #ShowYouWereThere is all about getting more parents in more photos.  So any photos that feature you, or your partner, in some way, shape or form then just tag them with #ShowYouWereThere when you share them on Instagram to join in, and potentially be featured in one of these little round ups!

Now, on to my four favourite photos that were shared in the last week.

My first pick is from Amy at The Smallest of Things.

There’s just something about the way her daughter is looking at her that makes me smile!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BblkmEJh5tU/?tagged=showyouwerethere

 

My second pick is from Vicky at Team Triffic (Ted Wears Organic).

I love this picture so much, twinning is most definitely winning!

 

Next up is this lovely photo from Kirsty at Kirsty Ralph.  Kirsty has captured such a sweet moment in this photo, I love it!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbL92YBnsWL/?tagged=showyouwerethere

 

My last pick for this week is from Hayley at I am River.

There is always so much joy in the photos that Hayley shares of her with her family, they never fail to make me smile!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on instagram, they always bring a huge smile to my face!

 

Now, my turn.

Last Sunday we braved the cold and went for a walk along the seafront, not long before the sun disappeared for the day.

I took some photos of the children together for this month’s siblings project post and then handed the camera over to Steve so that I could jump in a few pictures too.

show you were there

I still have to make a conscious effort to loosen my grip on the camera and hand it over, but I’m hoping that the more I do it, the more it will become second nature, and the more photos of me with my children there will be!

 

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

by with One Comment Show you were thereUncategorized

It’s Sunday, which can only mean one thing around here – time for another round up from my lovely little Instagram community #ShowYouWereThere.

In case you’ve not heard about it before, #ShowYouWereThere is all about getting more parents in more photos.  So any photos that feature you, or your partner, in some way, shape or form then just tag them with #ShowYouWereThere when you share them on Instagram to join in, and potentially be featured in one of these little round ups!

Now, on to my four favourite photos that were shared in the last week.

My first pick is from Lucy at Mrs H’s Favourite Things.  It’s such a sweet mother/daughter photo, but more than that, I really admire Lucy’s openness and honesty in her captions.  CBT is something I’ve been looking in to, as I think it might help with my anxiety, so it’s really good to know that Lucy is finding it helpful.

 

My next pick for this week is from Alex at That Butterfly Effect.

Well done to her son, this is such a gorgeous photo, and I love how Alex wrote in her caption that when she looks at it what really shines through for her is happiness, because that’s what I see too.  I love photos where there’s a real connection between the person in front of the camera and the person behind it!

 

Slight change in pace with my third pick for this week!  This photo from Elaine at Entertaining Elliot just really made me laugh.  I think we’ve all been there haven’t we, trying to get a ‘nice’ photo with our children!

 

My final choice this week is from Wendy at Naptime Natter.

What can I say, I really can’t resist a photo of a baby-wearing mama!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on instagram, they always bring a huge smile to my face!

Now, my turn.

Nerys and I went out for a quick trip to Cwmdonkin Park yesterday, and ended up staying and playing for nearly 3 hours.  She pushed her Elsa doll on the swings, went on zip wire and whizzed down the big slide.  We went to the little cafe and ate welsh cakes and brownies.  We played hide and seek in the play park that has very few good places to hide in it.  And we took photos.

show you were there round up 5 november

So often I get too nervous and self-conscious to take these kinds of photos, using the timer function on the camera to run into the frame.  But I’m so pleased I got over it and grabbed this picture yesterday!

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

by with No Comment PhotographyShow you were there

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

In case you’ve not heard about it before, #ShowYouWereThere is all about getting more parents in more photos.  So any photos that feature you, or your partner, in some way, shape or form then just tag them with #ShowYouWereThere when you share them on Instagram to join in, and potentially be featured in one of these little round ups!

Now, on to my four favourite photos that were shared in the last week.

First up is this lovely family beach photo from Nikki at Tinker and Totsy.  Sounds like her family had a great start to their half term last weekend!

 

Next up is this blustery picture from Suzy at Our Bucket List Lives.  I love that she managed to get this fab photo while almost being blown away!

 

My third pick for this week is Jaymee at The Mum Diaries.  I just really love this family photo, I honestly believe that you don’t always have to be looking at the camera and smiling for photos!

 

My fourth and final photo for this week comes from Sabrina at The Mummy Stylist.  I love how bright and colourful this photo is, and it makes me want to go out and get some fleecy pjs for myself!

 

Thank you so much to everyone who is using #ShowYouWereThere, I love seeing your photos popping up over on instagram, they always bring a huge smile to my face!

Now, my turn.

I’m so pleased, I’ve managed to stick to my pledge again and had a few photos taken of me this past week.  We were all in our kitchen with the camera set up to take some family photos for October’s Me and Mine post, and I asked Steve to take a quick few of me and my girl.

show you were there 29 oct

Nerys was trying her best not to smile for the photos to start with, but as you can see she didn’t last long before bursting out laughing!

 

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.