8 Things I Keep On Hand For Blog Photos

Blog Photos. You can buy them, get them from free sites, or take them yourselves (don't steal photos! That is rude). Over the past couple years I have been teaching myself new ways to take, edit, and stage photos for my blog and Instagram all with my iPhone. There are tons of tutorials for smartphone photography out there and you can get inspiration for staging from other peoples photos (especially on Instagram). I've been asked a few times what I keep on hand for my photos, so today I'm going to share my must haves with you!

1. White Foam Board

This is essential for flat lays if you don't already have a desirable surface that can be moved into the natural light. I get mine from the Dollar Tree, so when they start looking shabby, or the cats decide to claw it up, it's easily replaceable.

2. Trifold White Poster Board

Also from the Dollar Tree. These are good for using as a light reflector as well as a backdrop for smaller item photos.

3. Cute Office Supplies

Paperclips, pencils, pens, notepads, etc. I have a couple of different color sets that I got from the Target dollar section. They always have new stuff for each season. Dollar Tree also has some basics too, although they don't always the cute matching colors.

4. Calendar

For 2016 I got a clipboard calendar from Target. And this year I have a spiral one from the Dollar Tree. I use these (usually with seasonal items) for my first of the month photos on Instagram and have used them here on the blog as well for "currently" posts.

5. Fake Flowers/plants

Why spend money on real ones all the time? Especially if you have allergies or a super black thumb. For lots of my photos I have fake flowers and plants in them. The secret is to get ones that look more real than others. You know what I mean, some fake flowers actually look really fake, while others don't. What's great about them is you can store them and use them for several years. I get some from the Dollar Tree (you get lucky when they get in the new shipments) and some from Target, JoAnn's, or other craft supply stores.

6. Candles

Most of you probably have candles around the house already. Pull the ones you already have that match your color palette or season. Or you can get cheap ones at, you guessed it, the Dollar Tree. Walmart also has a nice selection that isn't terrible expensive either.

7. Mugs

We all have mugs because we all can't go without coffee or tea, amiright? These are a staple in blog and Instagram photos. They don't always have to be cute or have a nice saying on them. I have some plain white ones my mom gave me that I use a lot of the time. OR you can always save your Starbucks cup and use it for photos a few more times.

8. White or Light colored fuzzy blanket.

This is a new one for me, but I've been wanting one for a LONG time (I got one for Christmas). They are great for beauty product shots because the bottles won't roll away like they do on hard surfaces. I've seen them used a lot for those sitting-with-a-mug-and-computer/book shots. You know the ones. Check TJMaxx, Ross, and other discount stores for the fake fur rugs and blankets. Walmart and Target have the fleece blankets that have the cream/white fuzzy side like the one I have.

I like to grab little things I have around my house to use in photos as well. Like my elephants figurines, books, eye glasses, jewelry, tchotchkes, etc. Raid your house to find items that go with the theme of the photo you want. Did you buy apples at the grocery store this week? Put some in your photo! Have a giant bag of skittles (just me? ok... #pregnancycravings)? Pop them in a bowl and put it in your photo! Made popcorn for snack? Use it!

I also use my laptop and iPad in photos as well (and sometimes I use my iPhone and take the photo with my iPad). Use what you have already! You don't have to spend a fortune to get good photos.

I always try to use natural lighting when possible. It gives the clearest and brightest images and makes editing easier. And my favorite apps for editing on my phone are Afterlight (it's def worth the $.99) and a free app called Color Story. I use PicMonkey (they now have a phone app!) and Canva to make graphics for my blog. Both are free to use, but have paid upgrades you can purchase.

What do you keep on hand for photos?

The Truth Behind My Instagram Photos

Instagram. I don't know about you, but it's my favorite social media outlet. When I first started using the photo sharing platform, people mostly just uploaded random photos of themselves or pets or food with captions describing what was happening maybe (please don't go back and look at those posts). Hashtags weren't a thing and I had like ten followers. Two were ex boyfriends, two were best friends, one was an old roommate, and the rest were all those "friends" from high school that you never really hung out with but added them anyway cause you're nosy like that.

These days though Instagram is a whole different world, especially for bloggers. When did it become all staged fashion photos, flat lays,  #handsinframe, and coffee cups next to sprinkle donuts. We all strive to get those likes and we work hard to keep our followers engaged. But does your Instagram feed portray you accurately? I know mine doesn't. What social media profile these days, amiright?

Social media is a lie.

If that statement is true, and we all know it, why do we let what we see from other people make us feel envious,  have petty resentment, and make catty comments to ourselves or other friends? Lord knows that is not what I want to happen as a result of my Instagram pictures. And if that has happened, I'm going to shatter that perception right here, right now. Or you could totally disobey my previous request and scroll all the way back to the beginning of my page and shatter that perception yourself.

Firstly, it takes me HOURS to get one or two good photos when attempting to do the ever evasive flat lay.

Secondly, nearly every photo has some kind of editing done. Most of the time it's very simple, like brightening and sharpening.

Thirdly, I take at least 20 photos (usually more) of everything else I post. Because the angle matters, good lighting matters, and backgrounds matter.

Fourthly (I feel like I'm just making these words up now), Sometimes I crop the one photo in different ways and to make two or three different photos. #lazyphotographer

Fifthly, I do NOT have a fancy camera. ALL my photos are taken with my iPhone and sometimes my iPad. Yep. #cheap

Sixthly... ok I thought I had a sixth thing. I can't think of it now, but I'm sure there is one. And I'm pretty sure that you could totally fill this place in, if not add a few more.


So there. The truth behind my Instagram. All out in the open. So don't you dare let my feed give you negative feelings cause it's only half real. ok? ok.

Summer in the Winter

Happy New Year! We are back from our vacation and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate my bed, my couch, my kitchen, my furkids, and my home. Vacations are lovely, but coming home is always the best part.

We have great stories to tell, but I know what you really want to see is all the pictures, amiright?

We're on a boat!

Our tiny room! But we had a lovely view.

Trying to tan.

No land in sight!

Almost to Grand Cayman!

I wish we could have taken pictures of Stingray City Sandbar, but this will do.

Mornings at sea

Jamaica Mon!

We got to meet a dolphin!

The dolphin's name is Secret.

Secret likes to dance.

and give kisses

Awwwwww

He likes to get kisses too.

Jamaica is seriously beautiful.

Norwegian's Private Island - Great Stirrup Cay

Lounging on the beach.

Can't go to the beach without a feet in the sand pic.

Sunset at sea

Don't be too jealous. We just got 2 inches of snow over the weekend. One extreme to the other haha!

2015 Year in Review

Another year has flown by. We are another year older, another year wiser, and we've got another year's worth of experience under our belts. Lots of stuff happened, but I'm going to focus on the good stuff. That's what we do here at Knock on Wood, we stay positive.

January - We had a good bit of snow early in the year, and Bear just had such a great time playing in it. Winter is his favorite time of year, and he can spend hours outside just enjoying the chilly weather.
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February- Philip got baptized! It was so emotional for me and his mom.
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March - I got my first certificate for being on the Dean's List! #smartypants
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April - We ventured down to Georgia to visit my mom and celebrate our first married anniversary. Everyone came over for Easter, and it was the first time we got to meet my little nephew.
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May - Robbie joined our little family. And it's been so great for Bear to have a playmate. Plus, Pumpkin has a new snuggle buddy.
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June - I chopped my hair off, and it made for some pretty awesome pictures.
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July - We went to Branson for the 4th. I had never been and it was really fun exploring the city and doing new things.
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August - I found these amazing and comfortable pants. Plus I turned a year older... boo. 
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September - I recieved my letter that invited me to be a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda. Basically it's a nerd club for people who are in the top 20% of their class.
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October - I finally finished our gallery wall. And it's my absolute favorite corner in our house. So many memories and faces we love.
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November - Hubs and I got to meet Cassie and Matt when we had our first ever professional photo shoot. I am so pleased with the pictures! We had some printed to expand our gallery wall, and they made great Christmas gifts for our families.
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December - Hubs let me glitter his beard!! He lost a bet you see. But isn't it pretty??
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2015 Most Viewed Blog Post: A TIE between 6 Tips for Better SEO on Blogger and Silver Linings 

How was your year?

Captured on Film

If you follow me on Instagram, you're probably jealous that I got to hang out with Cassie from Sage and her husband Matt two weekends ago. If you don't follow me (or Cassie or Matt), you should, and after this post you, too, will be jealous of my blate (blogger date) with Cassie and Matt. Just saying.

Let me give you a back story of sorts: when I asked my mom what she wanted and what she thought my grandparents would want for Christmas, she told me they would love some professional photos of me and Hubs. We don't have any because we eloped and that doesn't require a fancy photographer and stuff. So, I started researching photographers in our area. I found a few, but they were on the higher end budget wise and all of them offered prints instead of digital copies.

And then BOOM. I remembered that Cassie's husband is a photographer. I found his website, Matt Boness Photography, and checked out his work. AH-mazing. His prices? Even more AH-mazing. So I reached out to Cassie hoping that she'd tell me he's not all booked up so close to the holidays, and she did! She, Matt, and I chatted about the theme and vision I had for the photos, then we set a date to meet up and make it happen.

We had so much fun! At first, posing is a little awkward, but after a few minutes, and Cassie's creative direction, we felt very comfortable and at ease in front of the camera. Matt took us all over the area surrounding the historic columns on the Mizzou campus, and the day couldn't have been more gorgeous.

Once the shoot was over, we walked to this lovely little tapas place they discovered close to campus. I can't remember what it's called, but everything on the menu looked delicious. The four of us fell into an easy conversation and there was a little bit of a beard bond between the guys. Cause, you know, beards are awesome and manly. I cannot wait to hang out with them again!

We got our photos the following Wednesday, and I literally squealed with delight when Hubs handed me the package. And then I cried because the photos were so wonderful. Matt was able to capture so much feeling in these photos. My parents and grandparents (and the in-laws) are going to LOVE them. I have plans to get one blown up to hang on our wall and our Christmas cards are going to rock this year!

So if you're in the mid-Missouri area and need photos taken, I highly recommend Matt. I've already told him we'll use him for all our future photography needs. Can you blame me?

Through The Lens - November Moments

I was tagged on Instagram by Kristen at Treats and Travels to showcase my favorite photos from November for her Through The Lens Link-up. I loved this idea and I finally got around to doing this post today, better late than never right? School has been keeping me so busy lately, that I almost forgot about it. There were so many wonderful photos to choose from, but I narrowed it down to my absolute favs for you. There's a little story behind each one too!

1. I was snapchatting a few friends and took an amazing selfie. I just had to save it. Sometimes you get the best ones when you aren't trying too hard.

2. Being a Psychology major, I have to write paper ALL. THE. TiME. This sometimes takes away attention from my fur kids, and they do not like that at all. These two snuggle bugs figured out how to get some mommy time while I was finishing up a mid-term paper.

3. Early on in the month I found on that I made the Dean's List!! Now I have proof that I'm smart!

4. My new addiction to Peppermint Mochas at home. *insert heart eyes emoji here* I didn't realize that this creamer was so amazing. I'm glad it jumped into my cart that day at the store.

5. Hubs and I have a date night each week, usually the same day we go to the grocery store. Sometimes I make him stop and pose for a picture. Got a good one this time!

6. After adopting Bear, I realized that he is the perfect motivation for me to get up and get moving more. So now we have a sweet little walk schedule that is benefiting us both!

7. I snapped this little gem the day we adopted Bear. We were waiting for the ok to go meet him, when Pumpkin decided she wanted under the blanket with Hubs.

8. This is my favorite picture right now. One morning, we were taking our usual route, and Bear just stopped. Then I turned around and saw this sunrise. He turned a bit and just stood there very still. It was like he was telling me to take this picture.


What were your favorite photos of November?

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