PHOTOGRAPHY

BEACH, PHOTOGRAPHY
5 Must Take Beach Photos
- August 17, 2017
Taking photos of your kids at the beach can be both overwhelming and difficult with all the different variations of shots, light conditions and hazards to your camera (water and sand!). Today we’ve got professional photographer and self-proclaimed beach addict Laura Parker of Laura Parker Photography here to help you capture five incredible photos of your kids on your next beach adventure. She’ll walk you through camera settings, sunlight conditions and show you how to frame the perfect shot.

With summer upon us many of us find ourselves filling our cars to the brim and headed straight to our favorite beaches. As a native Californian my family finds itself escaping for the coast more times than I can count. Even though most of our beaches here in Northern California are not all that warm in the water – they sure are beautiful! And while the thought of bringing a camera down to the beach seems a little nerve wracking (i.e. water!! sand!!), you won’t regret packing it along for the ride when you come home with gorgeous images of your kids. Here is a list of five must take photos to capture on your next beach adventure.

1. Sunrise/Sunset

Depending on what time you arrive at the beach or leave, you can’t beat the scene at these two times of day. In the morning, the sky is pastel and the light is soft and gorgeous. In the evening as the sun is setting, the sky really puts on a show. It’s also a great time to capture reflections in the water. This image was captured right as the sun was setting below the horizon. No wonder these times of day are called “golden hours.”

2. Silhouette

When the sun is getting ready to make a dip below the horizon is a great time for silhouette photos. Beaches at sunset are the perfect place to get that classic simple silhouette framed against a bright background. To achieve this look place your objects in front of or near the setting sun. Force your camera to set its exposure based upon the brightest part of your picture (the background) and not the subject of your image – that way your subject will be under-exposed and very dark (if not black). Our beaches often get socked in with fog so getting a bright silhouette shot is always an added delight on gorgeous clear days!

3. Magnitude

Did you know that ocean covers more than 70% of the earth? No wonder we feel so small when we stand next to it! Using a wide-angle lens is a great way to show the expanse of the sea and the smallness of people in comparison. This is an especially great photo to take if you’ve got a large chunk of the beach all to yourself. For the below image, I used a 35mm lens to really showcase the size of the ocean compared to my husband fishing. Include a bit of foreground and the sky above to maximize your negative space.

Bonus tip: When taking photos with a clear horizon, make sure they are always straight!

4. Details

Don’t focus exclusively on the big picture to the detriment of capturing all those little details. Think about what things catch your eye? Is it the way your children have sand clung to their tiny hands and toes? The sandcastle they have been building? The beachy curls in their hair from the salt water? Make sure you capture some images with just their hands working or their feet crawling. Get up close and focus on the small details. Shoot from up high (your perspective) and down low (theirs). When you make the composition interesting, it tells a story for you. I loved this shot below of my daughters tiny shoes next to my dog’s paw prints in the sand.

5. Joy

If you do nothing else, make sure you capture the joy of the beach and the thrill of going to the ocean. There’s something magical about the beach and children can always feel it. The beach can be and is messy, but it’s an incredible full-body sensory experience. A visit to the ocean can make you feel small, yet very connected to nature and your surrounding. Enjoy it, capture it…but most of all, have fun and run wild!

What are your must-take photos at the beach?
INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY, SUMMER, WATER
Tips for Capturing Amazing Sprinkler Photos
- July 20, 2017
I am absolutely thrilled to bring you today’s guest post from Kristie of L Photographie on how to take amazing sprinkler photos of your kids this summer. Kristie is a great friend, a former sorority sister, and my family’s personal photographer. She’s also a wonderful teacher and has become one of my go-to resources for all things photography-related. Since it’s a million degrees outside, I thought this would be the perfect time to share this post with you. Kristie’s sharing some really great tips and advice on things you can do to capture some truly adorable and classic summer fun of your kids running, jumping, and dancing through the sprinkler. Give it a read, then set up that sprinkler in your yard, grab your camera and let the kids run wild!

Classic summer fun with the sprinkler

Warm sunshine, carefree laughter, and the unmistakable sounds of children’s glee—summer is a season that brims with cherished moments. The joy of playing in the sprinkler is an exhilarating burst of unrestrained laughter and unbridled excitement for kids. As water jets and arcs in sparkling patterns, their eyes light up with sheer delight, toes eagerly touching the refreshing splashes that cool the summer heat. With carefree abandon, they dart in and out of the water’s path, their giggles echoing through the air as they leap through shimmering curtains of droplets, creating a symphony of radiant smiles and unforgettable memories.

And what better way to freeze those timeless memories than by capturing your kids in the midst of their exuberant summer fun? From the sheer delight of running through the sprinklers to the unbridled joy of jumping and dancing, these heartwarming scenes are the essence of childhood. As a parent armed with a camera, you have the power to immortalize these fleeting moments, creating a treasure trove of photographs that will warm your heart for years to come.

Tips for taking adorable sprinkler photos of your kids

In this post, we delve into the art of photographing kids as they revel in the magic of summer and the splendor of sprinklers. We understand that these moments are both spontaneous and ephemeral, making them a delightful challenge to capture. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or someone who simply loves documenting family moments, I hope these tips will empower you to freeze those candid instances of pure happiness.

Today, we’ll explore various techniques to not only preserve the vivid colors and playful expressions but also to convey the sheer energy and unfiltered emotions that define these summer escapades. From understanding the best camera settings for action-packed scenes to mastering the art of timing and composition, we’ve got you covered. Moreover, we’ll delve into the world of post-processing, providing insights into how you can enhance the vibrancy and charm of your photos without sacrificing their authentic essence.

1) Sunset is best (consider your light)

If you have the chance to shoot closer to sunset, do! The sun sets late in summer, which can be difficult with many kids’ bedtimes, but even two hours before the sunset is going to give you much better results than the harsh midday sun. Plan a post-dinner run around the yard for the kids (consider it their bath!). You’ll want to take a few minutes to get everything set up before the kids are running laps around you screaming for the sprinkler to be on (at least that’s what happens at my house), so plan accordingly.

2) Backlight your subject

Set up the sprinkler where you can “backlight” your subject – this means you want the sun hitting your subject’s back. You and your camera should face the sun. If you’re in the shade, look for little streaks of light hitting the ground – that’s where you’ll want to place your sprinkler – right in the sunlight. You’ll get some amazing light hitting the water that will help bring your photo to life! If you and your camera can be in a spot where your camera is in shade, even better – you’ll avoid lens flair and get better contrast in your image.

3) Be aware of your background

Keep an eye on what is in the background of your photos. Although you want to generally point your camera West, towards the sun, you can cheat a bit and go at an angle to get the best background with the fewest distractions. With water being a big part of your image, you’ll want to find a darker background (dark trees, bushes, a fence, dark color house). If the sky is your background, the water flying around will blend right into it and go unnoticed.

4) Lens choice

Choose the longest lens and focal length you have and scoot waaaaay back! This will help for two reasons: (i) A longer focal length will compress your photo and help the background blur out, so that the water and your kiddos are the focus, and (ii) you won’t get wet! Well, no promises on that one! I like to shoot with my Canon 135mm lens for sprinkler action.

5) Shutter speed choice

This is a big one! Especially because of those fast kids you’re about to capture and the water flow! For running through water, I would suggest keeping your shutter speed around 1/1000 or higher to freeze the action. Once you start to dip down into those 100s, you won’t be able to stay as tact sharp and may end up with blurry photos. If you’re not yet shooting in Manual Mode, you can switch to “shutter speed priority” mode – which will read “TV” on your camera dial. Make sure to also choose a higher ISO (to let more light into your camera, as the high shutter speed will take light away).

1/1250 sec, f/3.2 135mm, ISO 800

1/5000 sec, f/2.2 135mm, ISO 1000

1/500 sec, f/3.5 135mm, ISO 1600

6) Get creative

If you would like to play with some creative blurry water, you can dip your shutter speed to a very low number. I’d suggest not hand-holding the camera – set it on a table or lawn chair (or a tripod, if you’re feeling fancy) – then capture your kiddos from behind. Since they will be moving, their faces will not be sharp, which is a distraction in your final image. If you capture them running away from you, it can be a fun creative blur with your water.

You can also get creative with different camera angles. Get down to the kids’ eye level or even lower to capture the scene from their perspective. This angle can make the water arcs and droplets appear larger and more immersive, showcasing the excitement from their point of view. Alternatively, try shooting from a higher vantage point, looking down on the kids as they move through the water. This angle can capture the overall layout of the scene, showing the patterns created by the water and the kids’ paths.

Focus on details by capturing close-up shots of wet hands, bare feet splashing in puddles, or the water droplets on their skin. These shots can evoke a strong sensory connection to the moment. Frame the kids through the streams of water or the spray of the sprinkler itself. This can add a playful and dynamic element to your photos.

1/8 sec, f/13 135mm, ISO 250

7) Shoot through for sharp photos

Of course, with kids running excited through water, they are going to be moving FAST. Even with a quick shutter speed to freeze the action, you might have trouble nailing the focus with lightening fast kids. If you’re having issues finding that exact focus sweet spot as they run around, try to “shoot through” the action. Here’s a quick explanation of how to do that to get the sharpest results.

Switch your lens to manual focus and set your focus on the center of the sprinkler stream. Wait for your kiddo to come close to running through and press and hold your shutter to take multiple shots. Make sure your camera is on it’s continuous shooting mode, so you can fire off more than one shot.

At some point during that run through the sprinkler, your kiddo will run right into your perfect focus! Yes, you’ll end up with a lot of out-of-focus photos to dump in that series, but it is worth a few rounds of trying this if your Auto Focus finger isn’t keeping up with your kid.

8) Enjoy the fun!

Give the kids some distance and just observe the fun! Kids are naturally going to be silly and active and smile when the water excitement starts. Nothing is worse than trying to play while your parents bark orders at you about how to do it. (Am I right?) Just pick the best spot for you and your lens and wait. Watch how their little personalities just shine!

Remember, the goal is to capture the genuine joy and playfulness of the moment. Both camera angles and any fun props should enhance the story rather than overshadow it. Be open to spontaneous moments and let the kids’ natural interactions guide your creative choices. Be patient and enjoy!

9) Super simple post-processing

If you want to take your images to the next level, here are a few simple post-processing tips to enhance your photos of kids playing in the sprinkler:
1. Adjust exposure and contrast: Start by adjusting the exposure and contrast levels. Increase the exposure slightly to bring out the vibrant colors and details, and then fine-tune the contrast to ensure a dynamic range between the highlights and shadows, giving your photos depth and dimension.
2. Boost vibrancy and saturation: You can try to increase the vibrancy and saturation of the colors to make the water droplets and summer hues pop. Be cautious not to overdo it, as you want the colors to look lively and natural, not super saturated or neon.
3. Crop and straighten: Use cropping to improve the composition and remove any distractions from the edges of the frame. Straighten the horizon if necessary to ensure the photo’s balance and alignment.
4. Enhance sharpness: Apply subtle sharpening to bring out the finer details, such as the water droplets on the kids’ skin or the textures of their clothing. Use a light touch to avoid introducing noise.
5. Selective editing: If your photo editing software allows for selective editing, consider darkening or blurring the background slightly to draw more attention to the kids and the action in the sprinkler.
6. Remove distractions: If there are any unwanted elements in the background that detract from the main subject, use the clone or healing tool to remove them discreetly.
7. Add a touch of warmth: If you need to, you can adjust the white balance to add a touch of warmth to your photos, capturing the sunlit essence of the summer day. This can help convey the inviting and cheerful ambiance of the scene.
8. Fine-tune skin tones: If capturing close-up shots of the kids, pay attention to their skin tones. Adjust the color balance to ensure natural and flattering skin tones, avoiding any unwanted color casts.
9. Consider black and white: Removing the color completely for a black-and-white image can sometimes really make the image pop. Play around with this option and pick a few to convert to b/w.
10) Share your images with us!

Now, please tell me you’ll set up the sprinkler in the yard this weekend and capture some fun shots of the kids! And if you do, please post them and tag us on Instagram (use our hashtag #runwildmychild) to be featured on our page. If you have any questions about camera settings, equipment or anything else, please leave a comment below, and we will be happy to answer your questions.

More photography resources

If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!

About the author

Kristie Cromie is the owner and portrait side of L Photographie, a fine art boutique photography studio in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri consisting of four amazing photographers. Kristie has a background in journalism and graphic design, specializes in family and newborn sessions, helps run the business and teaches a Camera Love class for parents that want to take better photos of their children. When she’s not behind the camera or computer, she’s chasing her two-year-old daughter, keeping up with her seven-year-old son, plus renovating a house from the seventies that was covered in blue shag carpet.

You can find Kristie and the rest of the L Photographie crew around the web at the following spots:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY
Tips for Taking Great Photos on Stone Mountain
- June 29, 2017
We’re bringing you a great guest post today from Holly Davis of SunshineAndHolly.com. Holly lives in the Atlanta area and is sharing her tips, advice and recommendations for taking great photos at the top of Stone Mountain. If you have a kid-friendly outdoor adventure, outing, trip or activity that you’d like to share on our site, click that CONTRIBUTE button at the top of the page for more details.

If you’ve been to Atlanta, chances are you’ve heard of Stone Mountain, the largest exposed mass of granite in the world. Stone Mountain is a quartz dome with an elevation of 1,686 feet. The top of the mountain is a landscape of bare rock and rock pools, and it provides stunning views of the surrounding area. Stone Mountain is more than 5 miles in circumference at its base and the summit can be reached by a walk-up trail on the west side of the mountain or by the Skyride aerial tram.

We live pretty close to Stone Mountain and visit often to enjoy the park attractions and climb the mountain. One thing we love to do while visiting is to take a ton of pictures on top of the mountain. The blue sky and white clouds make a beautiful backdrop, and on clear days you can even see the downtown Atlanta skyline! Over the years I’ve taken lots of photos of my kids and family members on top of the mountain, and have learned a few tips and techniques that I’d like to share with you today for getting the best possible photos.

Take the Skyride

There are two ways to get to the top of Stone Mountain. The first is hiking up the 1 mile trail to the top. But be warned – it’s a good workout! The trail isn’t stroller friendly, so if you’ve got little ones, I suggest riding the Summit Skyride instead. It’s a high speed Swiss cable car that will zip you up to the top of the mountain (825 feet up) in minutes. It’s fast and really fun for little kids, too. So if you’ve got littles that are too small to hike or if you don’t want to be dripping sweat in your pictures, the Skyride is the way to go!

Bring Sunglasses

On sunny days, it’s super bright up at the top of the mountain. We forgot to bring sunglasses for the kiddos once, and they were squinting or closing their eyes in every picture. Do yourself and your eyes a favor, bring some sunglasses.

Watch for Fences in the Background

We’ve taken some pictures that would be beautiful if it weren’t for the darn fences and powerlines in the background. Yes – it’s a good thing the fences are there so people don’t get too close to the edge, but they can ruin an otherwise beautiful picture. If you don’t want fences and poles in the background, make sure you position your subjects high up on the mountain and away from them. Sometimes a small pole or fence can be Photoshopped out, but there are plenty of places to take photos where the background is nice and clear.

Wear Sturdy Shoes

Even if you’re taking the tram up and not hiking, the top of Stone Mountain is not the place for heels, flip flops or wedges. It’s a huge mass of granite – there are craters, boulders, loose gravel, and giant pools of water. Don’t risk anyone falling and getting hurt – make sure you wear good solid sturdy shoes.

Get off the Trail

Since most of the people are either hiking up the mountain on the trail or riding the Skyride, the middle of the top of the mountain can get crowded. To avoid getting photos with people resting, snacking, and taking their own pictures, get off the trail. Walk slightly to the left or the right of the hiking trail and you can find great spots with beautiful views that aren’t overrun with hikers and selfie-takers.

Consider Wearing Your Hair Up

It can be very windy at the top of the mountain, so unless you want to be constantly pushing your hair back out of your face, consider a ponytail or braid. I learned this lesson the hard way!

If you find yourself in the Atlanta area on a beautiful day, consider checking out Stone Mountain. Pack a picnic lunch and your camera, hop on the Skyride, and go take some amazing photos on the top of Stone Mountain!

More photography resources

If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!

About the author

Holly Davis is an Atlanta-based blogger, wife, and mother of two wild children. As a self-proclaimed “on the go mom,” she’s happiest when she’s outside soaking up the sun and exploring new places with her family. You might say adventure and entertainment are in her blood, because before becoming a mother, she spent 15 years working for a company that owns and operates theme parks. These days, when she’s not traveling and exploring, you can find her trying out a new recipe in the kitchen, listening to Dolly Parton, blogging about motherhood, or planning her family’s next big adventure! Follow along at SunshineAndHolly.com.
FRIDAY FAVORITES, PHOTOGRAPHY
Friday Favorites: Outdoorsy Instagramers
- June 16, 2017
Happy Friday, friends! For this week’s installment of Friday Favorites, I’d like to share a few of my favorite outdoorsy Instagramers with you. Two of my biggest passions are getting kids outdoors and photography, so I get very excited when I find other like minded parents with a drive to get their kids exploring outdoors and an eye for images. Each of these accounts are full of gorgeous photos, beautiful words and lot of outdoor activities. We have a few professional photographers, but there are also stay-at-home moms, bloggers, doctors, adventurers and free spirits. We’re featuring accounts from across the country; from the Pacific Northwest and California to Texas and Tennessee, from the mountains to the beach and everything in between. Their styles are all different and unique, but they all share of love of nature, a love for their children and a love of capturing special moments in time.

I’ve featured images from each of these accounts on the Run Wild My Child Instagram page (I hope you’re following!) and you will certainly see them again. I have found Instagram to be a wonderful place to not only find photography inspiration, but to scout locations and get ideas for planning your own outdoor adventures with your kids. I’ve included some fun info on each of the accounts below with links to their feeds and their answers to a few questions about getting their kids outside. I hope you’ll go check them all out and follow along on their adventures!

@bethcagnoni
Beth Cagnoni – mom of four kids (3 boys and a girl), ages 15, 11, 8, and 3

San Diego, California
- Favorite outdoor activity to do with your kids: My kids love the beach, so that’s where we spend most of our time. But my favorite thing to do is fruit-picking: apples, strawberries, blueberries, etc. There’s something so timeless and nostalgic to me about it. Then we take it all home and I make pie or cobbler or jam.
- Biggest struggle with getting kids outdoors: My kids constantly want to be entertained and they want scheduled activities. I find it difficult to get them to just be play creatively outdoors in our neighborhood.
- What you’re looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: I’m looking forward to beach time and pool time this summer. It gets pretty hot here in San Diego, so we will be spending lots of time by the water.
- Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: I find family activities help get my kids outdoors. If we all go mountain-biking, to the beach, or to play tennis together, it gets us all outdoors and enjoying the activity.
@seasalt.and.evergreens

(formerly @justbethwithaj)

Beth E
Seattle, WA
- Favorite outdoor activity to do with your kids: My favorite is exploring the beach near our house. I am so happy there, and I think it rubs off on the kids. It’s an easy outing that we are all familiar with, and it is close by, so we don’t have to do much planning. All of that makes it makes it extra enjoyable. I know many of my photos look like we are in the middle of no-where, but usually we are just out and about at urban and suburban parks and beaches.
- Biggest struggle with getting kids outdoors: Living in the PNW, it is definitely the weather. Appropriate and good quality clothing helps, but there are some days it is just too wet and stormy to muster any enthusiasm about going outside. If the wind isn’t bad, I usually make the effort no matter how hard it is raining or how cold it is (for some reason wind really bugs me, and scares me a little.)
- What are you looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: We have a lot of camping trips planned, and I am very excited to do these with the kids. We always pick campgrounds we know will be good with the kids. We plan waaaay ahead of time to make sure we have campgrounds and sites that will suit our needs. I am also really excited about watching the solar eclipse with them on August 21st!
- Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: When I decided to stay home with my kids after my second son was born 2 years ago, and my oldest was then 2 years old (my boys are now 2 and 4 years old), I made a resolution with myself we would go outside a good part of the day, every day no matter the weather. At first it was hard when the weather turned bad, but after awhile, it mostly just became habit. The more I did it, the easier it became for all of us and its sort of second nature now. Start small – you don’t have to go anywhere in particular, you can just explore your yard or your street if that’s all you have time and energy to do, but doing it often will make the big trips easier too.
@laurabird_k

Laura Keenan
Salt Lake City Utah

laurabirdblog.com
- Favorite outdoor activity to do with your kids: Ooh, this is tough to choose one. Especially since we get to enjoy all four seasons. Favorite Winter activity is skiing as a family, even our not quite two year old & pregnant mama get on skis! In the summer, my favorite is camping!
- Biggest struggle with getting kids outdoors: My kids are happiest outdoors as am I, so we can’t get out quick enough each day. It can be a lot of work though. Depending on the weather and how long we’ll be out, multiple changes of clothes & plenty of food for the tribe may be needed!
- What are you looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: Camping! We try to spend as much time in the mountains and near water as possible. We even back packed in when we just had one kid, but haven’t been brace enough to attempt this since adding a second kid.
- Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: Do it daily! Once you get in the habit, it’s just a part of life. Regardless of the weather. Be okay with messy kids. Be okay with no real plans or destinations. Just being in nature is good for everyone!
@ashleydscheiderphotography
Ashley Scheider

Tacoma, WA

Official Hike it Baby Photographer

Favorite outdoor activity to do with your kids: Hiking!

Biggest struggle with getting kids outdoors: Getting past the parking lot. For some reason, from the car to the trail head, there seems to be way more meltdowns than actually on trail.

What are you looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: Waterfall hikes and the hikes that are closed off over the pass during the winter!

Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: Just go! They can go in their pajamas, just throw a jacket over them, grab a squeeze pouch and go. Getting them out will help your sanity and theirs!
@aprilcphoto

April

Western Oregon

http://littletreesphoto.com
- Favorite outdoor activity to do with your kids: Hiking, camping
- Biggest struggle with getting kids outdoors: How much I need to pack. It’s amazing how much more stuff is needed with two extra littles in tow!
- What are you looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: Camping at some of our favorite remote places and also bringing them backpacking for the first time (they’re 3 & 5 and finally able to lug packs for short distances).
- Do you have any advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: Just get outside, and repeat. I’m amazed at how comfortable my kids are in inclement weather and how excited they get about sleeping outside, and I have it all to thank to taking them outdoors since they were babies.
@daytripsla

Ralph DeFelice

Pasadena, CA

http://www.daytripsla.com
- Favorite outdoor activity to do with your kids: In the summer, we hike and climb in the local mountains and the Sierras, and spend time on the coast – surfing, tide pooling, and just hanging out on the beach. We do a lot of weekend day trips and some longer road trips. We are also learning how to climb with help from some friends. In the winter, we snowboard and ski, and we spend more time in the desert than at the beach.
- Biggest struggle with getting kids outdoors: As a single, urban-dwelling parent with a full-time job, the biggest struggle is just managing time. I only have a handful of weekend days each month when I have the kids all day. I have to be ready to take full advantage of those opportunities, and I rarely let a free day go by without doing something significant with the kids outside. It’s easy to make excuses, to put it off until next weekend, to schedule the kids into weekend activities to avoid doing anything else, to succumb to peer pressure about what you “should be” doing with your kids, to complain about traffic, or just to be too tired. Living in Los Angeles, nature does’t come easy. You have to make an effort.
- What are you looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: We are gearing up and practicing for our first backpacking trip this summer. We are hiking into a mountain lake in the Sierras to spend at least two nights. I did so many serious backpacking trips with my parents growing up, and I am really excited to graduate from car camping and take our camping experience to the next level. The kids will complain on the hike, I will have to stay patient and calm, but once we get there I know they will love and be so proud of their accomplishment.
- Do you have any advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: The biggest barrier I’ve seen for parents getting their kids really out into nature is fear. Fear of the unknown and fear of failure. What should we do? Where should we go? What should we bring? How far is the drive? What is there to do when we get there? Is it safe? Are there bugs? Or bears? Will it be cold? Will the kids have fun? And on and on. Going on a your first camping trip or real road trip can feel overwhelming. It takes practice and planning and failing a few times to get it right. To get started, my advice is go small and go often. If you’re out doing something every weekend, your chances of failure might increase but your risk decreases. If an occasional day trip doesn’t work out or it rains or you get lost or someone gets hurt, it’s not a big deal. Work your way up to longer trips – one-nighters, two-nighters. And build your confidence. Take notes, remember what you forgot. And more importantly remember what you brought that didn’t need. Connect with influencers on Instagram, ask questions, join meet ups, adventure with other families. Make a plan and a commitment to go on adventures, and don’t let anything change those plans. The kids will survive missing a soccer game or a birthday party.
@ericaeldridgephotos

Erica Bowton

Nashville, TN

http://www.ericaeldridgephotography.com
- Favorite outdoor activity to do with your kids: playing at the beach or collecting rocks at the lake – we love the water!
- Biggest struggle with getting kids outdoors: sunscreen in the summer and coats in the winter – lots of fights about these things
- What are you looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: playing in the pool
- Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: If we’re feeling unmotivated, which happens to us all the time, I’ll usually pick a new fun spot to go to and make it an “adventure.” We are lucky to have lots of parks and lakes around us, but it could just be to a local park or a splash pad or a nature walk down the street. Sometimes we’ll go on a nature hunt and I’ll draw or list things for them to find.
@nicholettat

Nichole Quinn
Houston, Texas
- Favorite outdoor activity to do with your kids: I love to go on adventurous walks with them and find new parks.
- Biggest struggle with getting kids outdoors: I don’t have much of a struggle getting my boys outside. I can’t get them back inside to do homework or take a bath.
- What are you looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: I am so excited for summer. I can’t wait to go to the beach with them. We love to make sandcastles and play in the waves.
- Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: I would advise parents to really limit electronics and television starting from a young age. We try to stick to only an hour of television during the day. We started talking walks outdoors with the boys from a young age and always encouraged outdoor play. Sprinklers and a water hose provide hours of play!
@forestnfolk

Darby & Nicholas Ficek – parents of 8 kids
Southern Oregon
forestnfolk.com
- A little about @forestnfolk: We live in beautiful Southern Oregon just steps away from the evergreen forest. Let’s start with me: I grew up with crazy hippie people who lived off the redwood forest, didn’t drink milk or eat anything processed. I was a barefoot, crazy haired real wild child. My parents were exceptionally in tune with nature. My father was a 3rd generation forager. He knew every name of every weed, floral or spray. He knew its purpose, if we could eat it or if it was possible to wildcraft. They were some of the most down to earth people you could meet and if you did you fell in love. So naturally I inherited their love for the forest, all of its creatures and it’s magnificent creator. My husband grew up in Bend with a little straighter narrow parents, but indeed outdoorsy. At age 5 he started to hike 10-15 miles pretty frequently and at age 8 he hiked a 50 miler. If there’s a trail in Bend…he knows it. Some of his fondest memories as a child are on backpacking trips were his father would read huge chapter books late into the night with a flashlight in their tent. So you take two who grew up with the forest as a constant at their feet … you put them together + they make a lot babies and then you get forestnfolk.
- How do you do it?!!: Our whole marriage we have had comments about ” how do you do it?” ” How do you adventure and travel with all those kids?” Well, the secret is having trust in yourself. I mean yes, snacks, lots of water, games and the occasional bribery of gummy bears, but if you believe in yourself as a parent you can do it. I tell my children often you can do anything you put your mind to. I’m not saying it’s easy peasy. Sometimes I want to pull my hair out just to get out the door, but when we do it’s ALL worth it.
- Biggest struggled with getting your kids outdoors: I feel like some parents think getting outside is harder than it really is. The truth is children thrive in an outdoor environment. I think being outside is a whole lot easier than being indoors, to be honest. They’re open to imagination out there….they have room to roam….to create the ability to be resourceful for themselves including self awareness. They learn a sense of responsibility. They have a connection with nature….With living beautiful things around them…it’s quite astonishing actually to see them develop this yearning for themselves. Trust me I have eight children. It’s extremely nerve wracking when we are stuck indoors and they are asking me to entertain them. Not that I don’t love creating creative outlets just saying it’s easier on me to let them be wild in the woods.
- What are you looking forward to doing most with your kids this summer: I look forward to many years of outdoor adventure. This summer we don’t have huge plans other than some pretty big hikes with the older kids and a few camping trips. Those camping trips are simple. They are close by. They are cheap, but I know we will be making some of the best memories of our lives. Some of my favorite memories with our kids outdoors are nothing really special, I mean we have some crazy stories to tell from Angel’s landing, trecking the rainforest and caves of Thailand to Kauai’s Napali coastline, but none of them compare to the sweetest sounds of little feet hitting the trail next to us or the wide eyed amazement of finding a new creature. Watching them gaze with astonishment at a magnificent horizon. To watch my children fall in love with the world in front of me is by far my favorite experience. Adventures are definitely apart of our lives, but THEY are the greatest adventure yet.
- Advice for other parents about getting their kids outdoors: It’s hard to keep up a persona of a constant outdoor life. I am more than just an outdoor mom. I am mom who reads books in bed, who cooks, who vegges out on Netflix. My kids are more than just adventure kids. They live in a home full of love, they play with legos, they play sports, they are ballerinas, and brothers and sisters. Instagram and these social networks are wonderful ways to meet friends, to feel inspired and away to be creative, but sometimes they don’t show the messy, the real and that is what I enjoy seeing and being. When you create an environment that is relatable it’s easier to connect. It’s refreshing and inspiring. Life is a journey and we are all a wild child on our own adventure trail. Whether it be learning to tie your kindergartener’s shoe, planting a garden or on the cliffs of Kauai. I look forward to seeing each and every family trail and like REI says every trail connects…I candidly think we connect. I have met so many cool people out there from all over the world. Although I want to share our love of the forest…there are still these folks behind the scenes. These real folks who live real lives. Thus I created forestnfolk. I figured if I’m not one’s cup of tea (adventure feed) then they can move on, but as for my tribe we ride real….
If you look up the definition of wild it says it is living or growing in a natural environment. If we raise wild children to play outside in a natural environment they will flourish. They will develop a since of belonging with their environment and appreciate and want to take care of it as well as grow up to be adults who install the same behaviors in their children an so on. Their natural environment can be anywhere from the forest, park or right in their very own back yard. It feels natural to be in an environment outdoors because we were made to be apart of it. I love meeting wild children big and small. I love being a wild child and I love raising wild children. Here’s to all the wild childs across the globe. May they run, may they be messy and may they be real.”

A huge thanks to all these amazing outdoor parents for sharing your beautiful words and worlds with us. Make sure to follow them on Instagram and let them know we sent you their way! We’ll be featuring more of their gorgeous images on our feed over the next week.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY
30 Must-Take Summer Photos
- June 14, 2017
At the beginning of every season, the kids and I try to come up with a bucket list of things we want to do and places we want to visit over the next few months. Having a bucket list is a great way to get their input on their current interests and what’s important to each of them season by season. It’s also nice to have that list of things to do to refer to when we have a free day or weekend and need ideas when the boredom kicks in.

Summer bucket list of photos

Our summer bucket list includes some activities that we can do at home or nearby, but it’s mostly a “wish list” of all the fantastic adventures we’ll take and trips we’ll make. It doesn’t necessarily take into account all the little details of summer life that I want to make sure get captured in images for the kids to look back on. Therefore, the photographer in me (or fauxtographer) also loves having a list of particular classic photos that I want to capture of the kids each season. My list is less location driven and more emotional driven. Of course I want images of the kids at the zoo and the amusement park, but even more, I want to make sure I get a shot of their smiles as they play in the sprinkler, the look of wonder when they catch a firefly, their dirty feet and scabbed knees at the end of a long summer day.

These seasonal must-take photo lists can be used year after year to capture the essence of the particular season and document how much the kids are growing each year. While the items on this list may not be specific places to visit or activities that are planned, each item is quintessential to summer and reminds me keep my camera out and help create memories for them that may not necessarily be at the top of a bucket list.

30 Must Take Summer Photos

1. Around a campfire
2. Eating ice cream/popsicles
3. Fishing
4. Riding bikes
5. Flying a kite
6. At the splash pad
7. Picking fruit
8. Playing Frisbee
9. Chasing butterflies
10. At the beach
11. Sidewalk chalk art
12. Picking flowers
13. Swinging
14. Playing in the sprinkler
15. In a tent (camping)
16. Catching fireflies
17. Blowing bubbles
18. Climbing a tree
19. Swimming
20. Playing in a creek
21. Watching fireworks/sparklers
22. Hiking
23. Having a picnic
24. Water balloon fight
25. Skinned knees/dirty feet
26. Watching a parade
27. Playing catch
28. At the farmer’s market
29. Eating corn on cob or watermelon
30. Running a lemonade stand

Can you think of any other classic “summer” images to include?

More photography resources

If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!