Me and Mine – October 2017

Me and Mine October Family Photos

This month I thought I would change up the way I write these Me and Mine posts a little. Due to the fact that I have started co-hosting ‘My Family Adventures‘ with Kerri-Ann which is a monthly round up post with various pictures from throughout the month I thought I would make this post more about the one thing they started for in the first place. The Photo. When I began linking up to Me and Mine at the very start of my blogging journey almost two years ago it was all about the photos, about taking them, and most importantly about having them at all. I had realised that as a family we had so very few of us all and this made me really sad.

Of course now well into my blogging and photography journey this has changed immensely, we now have more than I could ever wish for and I will always have my blog to thank for that. But the sentiment remains, it is all about these photos here and the incentive to take them. With that in mind, rather than a round up of what we have been up to this month I would like to recap on us as a unit, the dynamics of my little family right here and right now. To document the relationships that shine through to me at the very moment that these photos were taken because as we all know it changes quicker than we can catch our breath and suddenly we can’t recall the finer details any longer.

People often comment on our family or siblings photos and say how happy or relaxed or together we look, and of course at that very second that is the case, some days that is the case and the picture is real in that sense. But as any family photographer, or even any family knows, it isn’t always without a meltdown, a grumpy face or a bit of casual bribery here and there, so I will also be including the outtakes, the behind the scenes if you will, just to throw them in the mix and really, who doesn’t love an outtake?

So, here goes. This week has been half term and we have all loved having Eva at home. Every day has been different and the end of the week Eddy had time off work too so it was lovely to have some family adventures. These photos were taken at the National Memorial Arboretum at the weekend, right at the last minute so we basically had to get the photos – I will never learn! We went there particularly because Eva has a new obsession which is collecting pin badges and she really wanted to go to the Arboretum to get a Poppy badge for her collection with the year on. If you haven’t been to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire it is well worth a visit, among so many other things it is a beautiful site and a pretty perfect backdrop for photos.

We have actually taken our Me and Mine here before in May and June this year and I had visions of where we might explore next. Maybe leaves and gorgeous autumnal colours, I get far too excited about these things. As we got there the sun was shining and the girls immediately ran to the sensory play garden. It is filled with quotes from a famous poem and I adore reading them as the girls play. It really does have a way of making you reflect and Eddy and I even sat on the bench side by side and watched as they played together, it was pretty perfect so I thought we could just take them there. These shots are taken off the cuff grabbing the children in between playing and setting the tripod up wherever I could. Easy right?

But they are not without troubles! Roma is the joker of the family, she is the one that will run off in a different direction at any given moment. She has always been like this but I do think it has been worse recently, for one very big reason. Eva! Although she is definitely the rule follower, the one that will stand still, not move and generally listen when told we are taking some photos and we will be back to playing in no time. She is also the one that, whilst stood still exactly where she needs to be, will be in fits of giggles at her sisters mischief and we all fail to keep a straight face when Roma looks over her shoulder to grin back at her. We have fast realised that yes she has always been trouble but mostly she just wants to make her sister laugh, to make anyone laugh and you can’t blame her for that!

You may be able to see here too that the children have black nail varnish on, not something I would usually allow them to sport. Eva had a Halloween themed birthday party the day before and completed her witch outfit with black nails, so of course Roma had to follow suit too. As much as these things may become annoying to Eva at some point in the future right now she wears the eye roll with pride on her face.

And Eddy and I, we tend to laugh in the face of the comedy we see evolving before our eyes and trying not to argue about the fact I would like to take another shot or have cut his head off, again, oops. But mostly this month it was all good fun and despite a little miscommunication when I thought our coffee break was a break and we would come back for more and he thought it signaled the end of our trip, once we got over that it was as stress free as family shoots go. As infuriating as it is to have to take 20 shots when it needs just one, you can guarantee a genuine smile when we are all in place, or there abouts. As I look back on them, just 24 hours later, it always raises a smile. I can’t look through them without a fluttering in my heart and a smile on my face at this little unit we have created right here. Not perfect and not without fault but still standing here, together.

xx

Me and Mine October Family PhotosMe and Mine October Family PhotosMe and Mine October Family PhotosMe and Mine October Family PhotosMe and Mine October Family PhotosMe and Mine October Family PhotosMe and Mine October Family Photos

The outtakes, if you have got this far I am sure you know which one is to blame for the outtakes (well apart from me forgetting that my husband has a head) Chasing Roma around is basically my life right now and the irony of the words inscribed in such a beautiful way in them is almost too much!!

Me and Mine October Family PhotosMe and Mine October Family PhotosMe and Mine October Family Photos

 

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14 Comments

  1. October 31, 2017 / 9:28 am

    Gorgeous photos as always and I love the outtakes. I love the quotes on the steps and on the stone and the way that these photos really do capture some wonderful family moments. #meandmineproject

  2. October 31, 2017 / 9:43 am

    Oh I love this and these photos! Outtake are always brilliant! I love that you cut your hubby’s head out completely on one! Haha! 😉 I love photos with personality, it just adds so much to a picture! xx

  3. October 31, 2017 / 11:43 am

    I forget Andy has a head a lot and it’s even worse when he puts one of the girls on his shoulders! Love the quote on the steps x

  4. October 31, 2017 / 4:03 pm

    Beautiful photos. Outtakes are the funniest. I thought we had the perfect shot at the pumpkin patch yesterday only to realise that hubby’s eyes were closed again and I had to set it all up again and make people wait. lol Life of a blogger. #meandmine

    • November 5, 2017 / 10:47 pm

      Life of a blogger and photographer is definitely tricky sometimes! I have it on burst so hopefully at least one shot is ok! x

  5. Jess Soothill
    November 1, 2017 / 9:38 am

    What beautiful photos and I love the out-takes too. Mine used to pose perfectly until they got a little older and than Harry would only pull faces at the camera! Jess xx

  6. November 1, 2017 / 11:11 am

    Oh I love the outtakes. I think they are my favourite part. I would share some outtakes but generally they are full of my angry face because the kids won’t stay still haha x

    • November 5, 2017 / 10:48 pm

      Haha yes some of mine are too, much less than it used to be though as I have realised that fun and laughter is the best way to remedy the many shots we sometimes have to take! x

  7. November 6, 2017 / 3:31 pm

    Gorgeous photos as always Laura – and I love the outtakes. sometimes my photos are all outtakes lol! Also love the wording on the steps and the stone! Xx

  8. November 10, 2017 / 1:02 pm

    Oh babes I know I say it each and every month but these are so beautiful. I love the blue skies behind you the location is stunning what a lovely place for family adventures. I love the various ways you capture your family. Mine give up after photo three that’s all I am allowed. lol #meandmineproject

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