How I Got the Shot | Bubble Storm Backdrop

by SimplyHollyJo on August 14, 2020 , No Comments

This post will be a continuation of the How I Got the Shot series, where I show some times simple, and some times more complex was to get the shot. Behind the camera things that I do to produce a final image. In this case it involves a somewhat unexpected bubble storm. Sometimes there are kids or other people involved in a shoot that desperately want to do something specific or play a larger part. Depending on the situation, it can be worth it to just run with it and try something out. It may not work out in the […]

the birth story of my first child | early arrival

by SimplyHollyJo on August 11, 2020 , No Comments

In honor of the National Son and Daughter Day, I am going to share the birth story of my first little guy, who decided to come early at 36 weeks and 4 days. I feel the need to start this by saying that I had moved states about three weeks prior to having my son. My recent activities included unpacking a house, sealing grout, setting up a nursery, and generally working on lots of stuff. Even afterwards my midwives didn’t know why I went into labor early. I guess he was just ready to be out and about! Woke up […]

Where to Print Photos from Your Session

by SimplyHollyJo on August 4, 2020 , No Comments

I get this question ALL the time. ALL. THE. TIME. So read on to find out where and how to print photos from your session. Digital vs Print First thing is first: print those photos! Don’t make the mistake of letting them hide away on your computer or phone, to never be seen in print. You could do a photobook, or order prints and canvas to decorate your home. Whatever you do, show those bad boys off! Make your house your own! Where to Print MPIX I HIGHLY recommend printing your images through MPIX.com. This is in NO way sponsored. […]

Preparing for Your Photo Session

by SimplyHollyJo on July 28, 2020 , No Comments

People are always telling me how intimidating portraits or family photos are for various reasons. As someone who gets family photos ever year, as well as planning portrait sessions for my kids, I fully understand! So below I am sharing some tips for making the most out of your session, as well as ways to help make preparing for your photo session just that much easier! WHAT TO WEAR The number one issue I hear families discuss is what to wear. Especially for family photos when you’re trying to dress multiple people. People have different styles and color preferences, but […]

Relaxing in the Grass | How I Got the Shot

by SimplyHollyJo on July 24, 2020 , No Comments

I did another How I Got the Shot from this session and said how this little girl and her brother were not really interested in this session. B was actually very interactive and helpful. She wanted to help me with my blanket and gear, and was eager to show me things. So I used that to my advantage to help get some shots of her relaxing in the grass. The “Trick” As I’m sure I’ll state multiple times, these aren’t really “tricks” so much as tools, or ways to reframe “problems.” By taking what I learn from kids in these […]

Homemade Stock | My Go-To Recipes

by SimplyHollyJo on July 21, 2020 , No Comments

There are some thing that I simply love to make from scratch. Some of them are less time consuming than others. Homemade stock, much like homemade yogurt, has a long start to finish time, but little hands on time. I’ve been making it for years and slowly perfecting my process. A couple notes about ingredients. I simply keep our meat bones as they are cooked in other meals. I place them in bags and put them in the freezer until I’m ready to make a batch of stock. I’ve also heard of people getting bones from their butcher. I simply […]

Family Recipe for Irish Coddle | Finding the Flavor

by SimplyHollyJo on July 17, 2020 , No Comments

Years ago my husband and I started going to the Weston Irish Festival in Weston, MO. For several years we went if we were in town, sometimes even planning trips to visit family during the festival weekend. It’s something that we’ve only done a couple of times since having kids, but one of our favorite parts of the festival is the Irish Coddle. Yum. Eventually we were no longer satisfied with only eating Irish coddle once a year, and attempted to recreate it at home. This is the story of the journey I took to the beloved recipe we now […]

Favorite Supplements for Kids | Family Wellness

by SimplyHollyJo on July 14, 2020 , No Comments

The health and wellness of my children a definite priority in my life. I am always trying to find the best ways to help their bodies stay healthy and function well. Sometimes I have to get creative because kids can be averse to things like eating vegetables every day, or eating more than their favorite vegetable. Over the last few years as a mom, I have found our current line up at supplements for kids. Below are ones that I keep on hand and use when I can convince my kids to take them, or when we need them in […]

How I Got the Shot | Standing for Joy

by SimplyHollyJo on July 10, 2020 , No Comments

Kids are not always ready for family photos. Or any photos at all. That’s okay! I know, as a photographer and a mother, how stressed parents feel when their kids are less than cooperative during a session. But I just run with it! Kids are kids! They want to run, explore, play, and not sit still. So I just explore capturing kids using that energy. For the Heritage Park family session that included B, both he and his sister wanted to run and explore. So I just went with it and found ways to tie their desires together with capturing […]

Weighted Blankets for the Whole Family

by SimplyHollyJo on July 7, 2020 , No Comments

Our entire family sleeps with a weighted blanket now. I would have never imagined that. Years ago I learned about the benefits of weighted blankets. They are often used for children with sensory issues due to their calming abilities. The many benefits sounded like music to my ears. My mother had also heard about weighted blankets in a round about way through her doctor. She has fibromyalgia and her doctor suggested sleeping with a comforter with magnets sewn into it. She didn’t notice if the magnets helped, but she really enjoyed the feeling of the WEIGHT of the magnets. Some […]

July Bible Reading Plans | Bible Engagement

by SimplyHollyJo on June 30, 2020 , No Comments

Who needs some guidance for staying in the Word this month? Just me? Okay. Anyway, while gathering some resources for getting organized this summer, I found some fun July bible reading plans. Some even had fun activities or writing aspects. I thought I would share some of them here for anyone else that might be looking for some fun direction. Freedom Themed: What better way to celebrate the month of July than with verses about freedom and being set free! I love how this one is organized and themed! Power of the written word: I am a huge fan of […]

How I Got the Shot | Tucked in the Flowers

by SimplyHollyJo on June 26, 2020 , No Comments

Some times you need some behind the scenes work to get the shot. I wanted to share a few things behind creating this floral middle school grad photo below! From Here, to There (Before & After) The image below shows the original photo as captured and then the final product. The original is a little darker, with less contrast and pop. There wasn’t actually a whole lot of work that needed to be done in post-processing. That’s exactly how I prefer things. Even if I want to get creative, I still want my in-camera work to be well done. It […]