I’ve known her through all of stages in life, but never this happy and never this complete.
Kim + Chris
Married May 24th, 2014
Interested in booking a session? Contact me: ashley @ thestorkandthebeanstalk dot com.
Mother + Son Session, with Paty & Paulo
I’m all for unplugging, but it’s pretty cool when you find yourself three thousand, four hundred, and thirty three miles from home meeting up with someone who found you on Instagram. Just saying.
Paty + Paulo
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Interested in booking a mother | child session? Email me: ashley@thestorkandthebeanstalk.com.
A Family Session
Patrick, Maegan, & Zoe
Arizona
Interested in booking a session? Email me:
ashley {at} thestorkandthebeanstalk {dot} com
Sebastian + Taylor
Sebastian
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& Taylor, Arizona
Interested in booking a session? I’d love nothing more. Please email me, ashley {at} thestorkandthebeanstalk {dot} com.
Childhood Unplugged
A lake, somewhere in Arizona, on an evening where the light danced and the moon – in the distance – eagerly waited it’s turn to shine.
We have been spending more and more time outdoors now that the weather is not only inviting, but practically begging for company. My back has been getting stronger as well; every so often I turn a corner and I turned a new one right around the 6 month mark.
I’ve also been making a greater effort to let the boys explore since so much of what they knew as routine and home has been otherwise flipped upside down. A bit of freedom of exploration and joy of discovering in the midst of otherwise hectic and chaotic times.
Please join me in supporting the other photographers participating in the Childhood Unplugged movement by clicking here to see all our submissions. You can also follow us on instagram (@childhoodunplugged, where we all take turns moderating) and be sure to use #childhoodunplugged for a chance to be featured on our feed.
A Family Session
April, Andy, Eldon, and Poe
Joshua Tr
ee, CA
Interested in booking a session? Email me:
ashley {at} thestorkandthebeanstalk {dot} com. And, as always, thanks for your support.
Mothers & Daughters
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” -Roald Dahl
Interested in booking a mother | child session? Shoot me an email for information on my special Mother’s Day package: Ashley {at} thestorkandthebeanstalk {dot} com.
His & Hers
Never has there been a more dynamic duo. Well, in my book anyway. I suppose Simon & Garfunkl and, perhaps, Cheech & Chong may say otherwise but Jimmy Marble and Amanda Jasnowski go together like peanut butter and jelly. Everything these two touch turns to gold. Jimmy’s style is reminicent of a contemporary William Eggleston and when mixed with Amanda’s out-of-this-world relationship with light, these two can do no wrong. Take a look for yourself.
HIS @jimmymarble
HERS @hokaytokay
Wonder what a collaboration between these two would produce? Wonder no further. They teamed up last summer for ReForm School’s summer catelogue. Check it out:
Now if that ain’t eye candy, I don’t know what is.
And, seriously, all this isn’t enough, Mr. Jimmy he-does-it-all Marble also sells banners. 
I mentioned the Like Knows Like project in my last feature of his & hers, long ago. Recently featured was Amanda (@hokeytokey). You can check it out by clicking here.
An Engagement Session, with Kim & Chris
Let me capture your love. Email me: ashley {at} thestorkandthebeanstalk {dot} com to book your session today.
Travel Sessions
Now, how’s that for a long shot?
Mothers & Daughters
“You will never have this day with your children again. Tomorrow, they’ll be a little older than they are today. This day is a gift. Breathe and notice. Smell and touch them; Study their faces and little feet and pay attention. Relish the charms of the present. Enjoy today, mama. It will be over before you know it.” -Jen Hatmaker
In the spirit of Mother’s day, I’m offering a reduced rate when you book your mother-child session within the next two weeks: ashley {at} thestorkandthebeanstalk {dot} com.
A Family Session
My beautiful friends Marin & Evan, and their new baby, August.
Interested in booking a session? Email me: ashley {at} thestorkandthebeanstalk {dot} com.
Photo Field Trip
I’ve written and erased this post about a hundred times and, for a bit, settled on letting the pictures speak for themselves in an effort to leave out any negativity. But, I always keep it real on here and I don’t want this experience to be excluded.
I had a great time, I did. I met some fantastically amazing people – some that I have met before, others that I felt like I knew because we’ve forged such a strong friendship already through instagram alone, and others that I met for the first time and loved.
Photo field trip was something that started as a small-ish gathering. I remember emailing the person in charge about my picky eating (I eat like a 5 year old, in case you didn’t already know) and she personally assured me that if I couldn’t find something I’d like that they would order me pizza. Not that I thought that would actually happen, but I liked the idea of it being small and personal. The event blew up, however, and not long after that email they opened up several other spots and what was once a not-so-big-event suddenly became a 300+ person event.
If you didn’t know anyone, ie. if you are not active in the instagram community, I imagine it carried the potential to be a lonely event. There was that same anxiety present as when you walk into the lunchroom at a new school and wonder where you are going to sit and who is going to talk to you.
I took several different classes; some were great and others were just okay. In the end, I walked away more stoked on the social aspect than the educational aspect.
I feel like this all has to be said because it has yet to be said. It’s not said to discount anyone else’s experience, as I too came home motivated and on “on a high”. I know others who did not, however, and that makes me sad.
In any event, I hope to return next year if for no other reason than to meet up with a handful of other photographers that I now call real-life friends. I also hope to return and put my nerves to the side and branch out and meet more people and perhaps make some of those that are less familiar with the community feel a little more welcome.
Arizona Sessions
Image design by Janet Lurssen
Instagram: The Pros + Cons
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Joining instagram, for me, has become more than joining some social media app; in joining instagram, I’ve become part of a community of mothers, photographers, and like-minded people. Whether it be one of those days where caring for two young boys has got the best of me or one of those days where recovering from surgery has me feeling more or less defeated, the community I’m part of on instagram always lifts me up. I’ve received an overwhelming amount of support and encouragement that leaves me feeling incredibly grateful and humbled daily. That’s pretty special.
I am my own worst critique. Truthfully, I can’t stand looking back at stuff I shot just six months ago because I feel like my vision is constantly evolving. Being able to shoot and post on a daily basis, even if it is just with my iPhone, keeps this vision I speak of fresh and new and ever-changing.
It keeps me humble. There are so many talented people that post award-worthy images every single day.
They say with everything, you get better with practice. And it’s true. Shooting daily with my iPhone has encouraged me to see things differently through my real camera; to adjust settings, expose differently, capture light in new ways. The more you do something, the better you get; plain and simple.
Never before have I thought so far out of the box. Scrolling through my feed, little seeds are planted and, in time, they sprout and grow into something entirely their own. I’m sitting on so many ideas that literally sprint back and forth in my mind and the creative energy soothes me like heroin to an addict.
I’ve met people through instagram that quickly became real life friends. And friendships are always beautiful and treasured things.
Instagram has been a great way to connect me with clients. It feels so good when someone contacts me about a session and mentions they found me via instagram. To me, this means that they like my work on a daily basis and that’s one of the best compliments around. I consider it one of the biggest honors and privileges to photograph other people and/or families, so to be chosen in an era where the photography market is saturated with photographers, it’s pretty special.
I love supporting others. Though it takes a lot of time and preparation, I love taking over the @childhoodunplugged feed because I love getting the opportunity to showcase the work of others. It feels so good to give back and introduce others to images that have touched me or influenced me in some way. Again, this speaks -in part- to the beautiful instagram community. 
– – –
Art gets monotonized. It’s bittersweet. At some point, someone snapped a lovely picture of themselves from above enjoying their latte and the next thing you know there were a thousand photos from other photographers with their favorite book on the table and their hand holding their coffee mug, from above. Same thing with shadows on the wall; makes me wonder if any of us can refrain from placing our kid directly in the afternoon light on the wall in an effort to create something we saw before. Want to know what kind of shoes someone owns? Just search their feed for a #fromwhereistand photo; pretty sure we all have one. I’m guilty of these too, so in no way am I pointing fingers or naming names. We influence each other and, as I said, it’s bittersweet.
Art produces energy and, at times, I sense a negative energy; I think it stems from some sort of weird competitive aura. People get all weird about how many likes they get on their photos or how many followers they have. I hate having to wonder if people tag me in an image because they are hoping I tag them back (and thus bring them some new followers) or because they really care #widn (what I’m doing right now). I’ve read posts where people have admitted to feeling anxious over what to post and if people will like it. Others have attested to being in “posting ruts”, which insinuates that there is some sort of weird inner pressure to post something even when you’re not feelin’ it. People get carried away and seem to lose all sight of perspective.
By the same token, I recently learned that there is an app that notifies you of when someone “de-follows” you, which I think is just pure craziness. Again, when it becomes more about the numbers and less about the content or the relationships, a tragedy has occurred. I personally like following many different people who shoot a variety of things and in an effort to keep it intimate, I like to keep the number of people I follow to a minimum. And thus, I “un-follow” people all the time so that I can follow someone new instead. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like their work, not at all. You wouldn’t go to a museum over and over again if they continually featured the same artists, right? I like to mix it up and it hurts my heart to think that some may take offense to that.
There are a ton of very, very successful photographers that don’t have a huge instagram presence or following. So, when I come across someone who hangs to every follower as some magical number that’s going to launch their photography career, I’m reminded that there are small picture thinkers and big picture thinkers. The take home message: ignore
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your number of followers.
Let’s be honest, it’s a time suck. And talk about sending the wrong message; “No, Hooper, you cannot watch another episode of Curious George” -says the mom who has her face buried in her phone as her thumb goes up and down the screen flapping back and forth like a motor on a boat. Perhaps just as important as picking your phone up is putting your phone down. My children are still too young, but I feel for the parents who confess that their children have given them a hard time for spending more time documenting their lives than being present in their lives. It makes my heart ache because it’s impossible to do both.
Robots can take over your feed. Who knew? I know nothing of this nor do I want to, but it’s weird. By the same token, kinda creepy when you see someone you’ve never met steal photos of your kid and post them as if they are their own photos of their own kids. Again, this has yet to happen to me but I’ve seen it happen to many others and it makes me cringe with disgust and disbelief. I’ve also come across others that have had their images stolen and used for advertisements with no credit given to the artist. This infuriates me.
The amount of “likes” you get, or don’t get, on a photo can affect you as an artist. For example, I always get more likes on the photos I post of my boys. As soon as I post a well shot image of my best friend, or husband, or a plant, I don’t get as much love. You have to remember the platform you’re using. The general public seems to like bare naked baby butts over an artistically shot image of a plant. It’s important to remember that not everyone on instagram is a photographer, rather the instagram community as a whole is a mere representation of the public in general. I don’t let the amount of “likes” I get, or don’t get, affect what I shoot or what I post. 
What are your pros and cons to using instagram or social media in general?
*All images shot with my iPhone 5
A Maternity / Family Session & Interview, with Jessica Kraus
Because sometimes one interview isn’t enough… (You can read the first one here)
Tell us a bit about this pregnancy thus far.
Well it’s been, for the most part, pretty pleasant. Other than the kidney stone issues during the second trimester, It’s been just as enjoyable as each of my experiences prior. Though I should say that I do have preventative cerclages (stitching the cervix closed) placed early on with all of my pregnancies (aside from the first) so there’s that to deal with, but it’s a simple procedure and they typically remove the stitch around 38 weeks. With Leon I was put on a couple months of bedrest to help ward off preterm labor issues I was dealing with – which was downright tortuous – so anything outside of that really kinda pales in comparison.
How pissed are you that you can’t drink beer? Really though, admittedly, I had a beer or two while pregnant. I don’t think it’s a big deal. But how pissed are you that you can’t drink a lot of beer?
I think it’s always harder for me in the beginning. I really like beer and typically tend to drink more in the summertime so it’s an abrupt end to that aspect of your social life, but I’m fine now. Plus I’ve replaced that vice with Chocolate, so all is well. But I can’t say I won’t be pretty darn happy to see margarita in my lap at some point after the baby, when the weather warms up.
I read an article about how strangers like to give you advice when they know you’re pregnant with your first but by the time you’re pregnant beyond your fourth that those same strangers look at you more dumbfounded because they now realize you probably know a lot more than them. How’s that for a run-on sentence? Have you experienced this?
I’ve had my fair share of advice tossed my way but it’s never bothered me. Some of it has even been incredibly useful. But yes, by this stage no one is offering any life changing tips or suggestions by way of child reaering. Choosing to have four children these day totally mystifies a lot of people. We get that “look” regularly, and the typical congratulatory remarks feel a bit different with each pregnancy, but, I get it. A big family is not for everyone. Mike and I were always set on wanting three kids, four was a loose “maybe”, but in the end we decided to make a go for it. I mean, really, what’s one more kid at this point? Our home is already constantly a messy, chaotic, loud madhouse most days but it’s what we love. There is never a dull moment and as grueling and exhausting as it feels at times, it’s a hundred precent worth it. Always.
With four kiddos, I’m assuming you have to rock a full on mom-mobile. Do you feel any less cool yet? I suppose you will. Just kidding. I’m pretty certain you can make a minivan look cool.
I honestly could care less about new cars. Anyone who knows me would attest to that. I’ve never cared about my daily driver and I likely never will. I just want anything that will cart around as many people as possible and be dependable and get us to the beach. I hate picking out new cars more than anything though, so it might take awhile. It’s the old cars we love. The weekend joyrides that we hold dear to us, so as long as we have something cool to make our breakfast runs in, I’m happy.
I had intentions of co-sleeping, but it just didn’t work for us. Both of my boys, as well as my husband and I, slept better in our own beds. Do you have a plan for sleeping arrangements?
Oh gosh, I am super strict when it comes to kids and their sleep schedules. Only because with each baby I realized more and more how vital my own sleep became to all of our well being. Having them in bed with me meant I wasn’t getting good solid sleep, so while I do love a newborn sleeping beside our bed for the first 2 or 3 months, I usually try and get a patterned sleep schedule established as soon as possible. I mean, let’s be honest, naps save sanity. It’s the only time I get anything done so it’s crucial. Plus as much as I love to cuddle and lay with them in bed, I also take pride in watching my babies fall in love with and gain security in their own sleep space. Listening to them coo and talk themselves to sleep is my favorite. All of my boys loved their cribs, and their naps (up until recently) And I like having the bedroom to ourselves as a couple at a certain point too.
I assume your fourth baby must just fall out of you, right? Kidding.
Yah, that’s about right. I’ve had ridiculously easy labors so I am expecting this one to just about “fall out”. Rex was born within an hour of arriving at the hospital, and the others not much longer. Knock on wood this one follows suit.
Hooper was 9 lbs. and Van was 9 lbs 8 oz. I’ve heard they get bigger, and thus, I’m scared to have a third. How big were your first three?
Arlo was born a month early and weighed just over 6lbs, Leon was a little over 7 lbs and Rex was 8 lbs even, so I guess they do keep getting bigger.
How much to you think Rex will help with the baby? That was a joke. Don’t comment. I’ll bet Arlo could lend a helping hand though, no?
We try not to think about Rex with an infant too much. The last time he played “peek-a-boo” with my friend’s baby girl he sent her into a fit of hysterics. He’s . . . um, quite intense, so maybe seeing his brothers be calm and gentle might help? We’ll see. Arlo, though, he’s a lot of help and Leon too. They’re going to be amazing with a baby I think.
I think there’s a lot of pressure out there, partly due to blogs and social media, to hold ourselves to unmatchable mom standards; to breastfeed f o r e v e r and only feed our kids food we grow in our own gardens and to homeschool and so on and so forth. Can you speak briefly to these pressures and how you manage to sell yourself on the fact you rock as a mom? Because, really, we all rock as moms…
I don’t get too caught up in all that. And I try to never pass judgment on my end either. I’ve always said, we’re all in this together. Everyone loves their kid(s) A LOT, and at the end of the day we’re all doing the best we can. Some things work for different families and households and I just find it very unfortunate when women allow themselves to stand so divided because of differing parenting views. It’s hard work, we should all be more embracing and encouraging of one another. Luckily I’ve been able to surround myself with a few ladies who feel the same way so the support helps tremendously. Also, the more kids you have the more you start to really cling to: “don’t sweat the small stuff’ type credo. Some days you just roll with it and know tomorrow is a new day and things turn around pretty damn quick. No matter how trying it feels at the moment.
I don’t give advice to new moms other than to remind them that what feels permanent is most always temporary. What advice, if any, do you offer to new moms?
Trust your instincts. And learn to laugh about the plights you are faced with daily. My boys drive me insane constantly throughout the day, but most of the time I think the trials are hilarious. There is humor in all of it. And really, it’s such a fleeting time. You blink and your babies turn into boys and boys into men. Goes by way too fast. . .
Before you became a mother, how many children did you envision yourself having?
From age 4-8 I claimed I was going to have twelve babies. I drew pictures and named them all. Then, when I was around ten, I became much more practical and decided on six. Six was my number for a long time. I’m at four now, but everybody knows Rex already counts as two (maybe three), so . . .
Your boys are nappers. So are mine. I always envisioned myself being a “carefree” mom who could give two shits about schedules. But, when the boys miss their naps there is hell to pay and you better believe I’m the one that has to flip the bill. In hopes that you hold all the answers, tell me how you balance structure with non-structure; routine with spontaneity.
We just do. 75 precent of the time we rely on specific lunch hours and nap times, ect, but there are days I just throw it all out the window because of whatever we have planned. Sometimes it’s awful and I regret it and sometimes they pull through and it all works out. I’ve learned to just go, and not worry too much about the day’s possible outcome. Otherwise we’d probably never leave the house. I mean, they do do much better when they’re rested.
A babysitter just showed up at your front door and volunteered to watch the kids. How do you and Mike spend your evening?
Oh easy. Mexican food, margarita and a movie.
Not that the right tune takes away the pain or makes the pushing easier, but do you have a labor tunes playlist? I had fun making CD after CD but as soon as those contractions started, I wanted to tell James Taylor to kiss my ass. It was fun making them anyway and I suppose it helped me envision a beautiful, magical, music-playing-baby-slipping-right-out birth; even though that vision was all far from the truth. I digress, are you making a labor tunes playlist?
No, I won’t be making any playlists. Like I said, I deliver quick and I’m done. I want to go home immediately. We both do. After Rex was born I was ready for champagne and was (irrationally) fantasizing about going out to dinner. Seriously, it felt like a party, so there’s not much down time. We get to the hospital, have a baby and start begging for release soon there after. The last time we went home after ten hours and we were grateful. But this time I might not push too hard, a little quite time away from the boys, to get to know the new baby sounds kind of dreamy now that I sit and consider it more.
Some women write up elaborate birth plans that they hand over to the nurse in the hospital. I’ve even read about some moms writing up a sort of contract that they have their doctors sign. I’ve heard of other moms who simply show up to the hospital and tell the nursing staff to take good care of them and leave all the decision making to someone else. I had planned on a home birth, so when I ended up in the hospital I gave one instruction: please don’t offer me an epidural (I greatly regretted this decision – in the moment – when I was clinching my teeth and yelling at anyone in the room to apply counter pressure). Do you have a plan or a vision, rather, of how you would like things to go? If so, paint us a picture.
I just hope it goes as smoothly as the first three. They were all great, stress free experiences so I’ll be lucky if things happen the same way with this one. No birth plan, or instructions. You’ve met me. I’m not the most organized person in the world. Lists are just not my thing.
Briefly touch on post-partum body image. I always dreamed of imagining myself pregnant, frolicking around in a field of tall grass, not a care in the world. When I became pregnant, I watched as my body changed and I felt that little sense of impending doom — like I would never be the same. I’ve come to terms since and – though I have a long wishlist, just like anyone else – I don’t hate my body or the way it’s changed. Tell me about your experience.
Well, I don’t mind the changes in body during pregnancy. I enjoy being pregnant so that doesn’t phase me, but have to say that with each baby, it’s been harder and harder to fully “bounce back.” Weight wise, I tend to loose the weight easy enough, but it’s muscle tone that’s mostly affected. Meaning I have to really work a little harder at getting back to where I’m happy with my body after each baby. And the older you get the harder it is as well, so I know now to truly savor all the indulgences I allow while pregnant. It will all have to end soon enough. And then it’s all back to salads and light beer. Counting calories and skipping doughnuts.
JESSICA KRAUS | Blog | Etsy | Instagram
End Times
I don’t put my camera down when Hooper or Van cry. For me, it’s just as important to capture their tantrums as it is to capture their cough-cough normal (insert asterisk) behavior. Nothing really captures toddlerhood as well as a toddler crying their eyes out because they can’t have what they want when they want it. That’s why I want to buy Jill Greenberg a beer.
In 2006 she took a handful of portraits of children crying with the intention to express her disgust with the Bush Era. She was upset the future was not being taken into consideration and argued that we were living as if in “apocalyptic times”. She called her project “End Times”.
Instead of making a political point, she received a ton of backlash for “abusing” children for the sake of a photo.
If you consider taking candy from a baby abuse, then aren’t we all guilty? Greenberg states, “The moms would hand them a lollipop in some cases, or they would offer them their cellphone—and then just sort of ask for it back. And basically the child was throwing a tantrum to try to get this candy or toy back, sort of putting on a show in a way”. This very same scenario happens constantly both in my home and when shooting children during family sessions. The only difference is that this reaction was her objective; where many other photographers would stop shooting, she started.
I remember looking at a photo of the beautiful Nirimi and her lovely daughter. Someone commented on the photo asking why she never looks happy in her photos and her response was something along the lines of smiling being unnatural. And she’s entirely right.
The beauty, for me, in photography is capturing authenticity.
Greenburg agrees, stating “Making children cry for a photographer can be considered mean. But I would say that making children laugh and show off their jeans for an apparel ad is just as exploitative and less natural. Toddlers’ natural state, like 30 percent of the time, is crying, and it doesn’t indicate pain or suffering”.
Van doesn’t speak in sentences but I guarantee you that if you were to care for him for any length of time, you’d know his wants and desires. That’s because he communicates through a varying degree of whines, moans, cries, and -oh yes- pointing.
In any event, I think this series is brilliant. What do you think?
You can read more about the series by clicking here. And you can read about the backlash she has received by clicking here.
iPhoneography
Times have changed, haven’t they? Nowadays, anyone with an iPhone can call themselves a photographer. And for good reason. Have you seen what some people are creating with just their iPhone? It’s incredible. And so fun. I’m a huge fan of instagram and the community I have found within it. I’ve made friends with loads of other moms, photographers, and bloggers alike. Prit-E cool.
Every now and again, someone will ask me how I edit my photos either here on my blog or on instagram. Truthfully, I hate this question. I hate it because there is so much more to a photo then how it is edited. In my opinion, there are three key ingredients to producing a beautiful image and they are exposure, lighting, and composition. And all three of these ingredients need to be present at the moment the photo is taken. There is not much you can do, in terms of post-production, with an over-exposed, crappily lit, and ill-composed photo.
With all that said, I want to share some tips I’ve learned along the way; Simple tips for improving the photos you capture of your everyday life on your iPhone.
1. Shoot in landscape mode. This isn’t a setting on your iPhone, rather I’m suggesting you hold your phone horizontal as opposed to vertical when taking a photo. You’ll be able to see the frame better. 
2. Experiment with AE/AF lock. You can read about how to use it here. It makes focusing easier. I use it some of the time.
3. Shoot by windows or doors. It’s amazing what natural light can do. If the kids are playing, sometimes I’ll set up a trap and plant myself where I want them to go. I’m like a magnet, they always find me.
4. Think about your composition. Ask yourself what’s included in the photo and why. Don’t rely on cropping later, include only what you want in the shot when you shoot it.
5. Take your phone out of your purse. Sure, there’s that fine line of being that annoying mom constantly hiding behind her iPhone snapping shot after shot of her kid instead of just being present in the moment. I get that, I do. Sometimes I like putting my camera down just as much as I like picking it up, so you have to find your own balance and what works for you. What I would encourage, however, is to take your camera out during the seemingly mundane moments. There is so much beauty in the everyday; the morning light when you’re just waking up, your child brushing her hair before school, you husband walking in the door after a long day at work… Everyone remembers the birthday parties and the first day of school, but I’m telling ya, there are beautiful things happening everyday. 
5. Take multiple shots of the same subject, espcially when photographing kids. I think I took at least six different shots of the one above, all within less than a minute, but you’d be surprised how different each of the six were… between movement and blinking and distraction… you’ll need at least six tries (or I do anyway). Though I should mention, funny enough, I almost always end up chosing the first photo I take anyway. But insurance feels good, doesn’t it? That’s why we all pay out our butts for car insurance we (hopefully) never use.
6. Try different angles. If I’m photographing my kids, I like to get down to their level. Shoot from above, shoot from below, shoot into the sun, shoot away from the sun. You’ll learn quickly what works and what doesn’t. That’s the beauty in digital, right? Your mistakes are never a waste.
7. Edit your photos. Sure, exposure, lighting, and composition are the main ingredients but editing is the quintessential icing on the cake. Never rely strictly on editing to make an okay photo great. An okay photo will always be an okay photo, in my opinion anyway. I edit almost all my iPhone pics with the VSCO app. Other apps I like are PicTapGo, Snapseed, and Afterlight. Each of these apps also have their own cameras with different settings. The VSCO app, for example, has separate focus and exposure rings. 
8. Share em’. Join Instagram, yo. Your life will never be the same. You can follow me @thestorkandthebeanstalk.
What are your tips and tricks to iPhoneography?
*All images in this post were shot with my iPhone 4 /iPhone 5
A Maternity Session, with Anne Rivera
Please, introduce yourself to my readers.
Hi, my name is Anne. I’m married to my best friend Ruben and mom to our four (soon to be five) wonderful children. I’m a macrame and music enthusiast, thrift store lover, a somewhat lazy blogger and an etsy shop owner.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Orange County, Ca.
Is it crazy to ask a Mama like yourself, pregnant with your fifth babe, if you plan on having anymore?
Well, no. None of our children were planned so I suppose it’s never a crazy question. That being said I honestly don’t feel like my body could take another pregnancy. I don’t mind giving birth and I love the kids but being pregnant is not something I necessarily enjoy.
How messy is your house? I mean, seriously, there’s soon-to-be five of them.
Hmm, well it’s certainly not a museum! The downstairs is usually pretty picked up. I vacuum nearly every day and typically save a full tidying up for the evening before my husband gets home, otherwise I’d be picking up all day long. The upstairs has a tendency to be messier but I really try to keep things somewhat orderly because a full blown mess is upsetting to my mental state. We don’t have a ton of toys as I routinely go through them and donate what doesn’t get played with. I think the best way to keep a handle on it is to have a place for everything (I’m still working on that!) and to not have a lot of excess and multiples.
Your style is on point. Will you dress me?
Sure! Your body type looks good in anything!
No, really. Please, pick out some clothes for me.
Since 95% of my wardrobe is thrifted we’ll have to make a thrifting date 🙂
Quick! Five tips for the thrifts.
1. Look in every section. Things get put down randomly all over the stores so you never know what could be hiding in an unexpected area.
2. You have to go often.
3. Know that you aren’t going to find something amazing every time. It’s hit or miss for everyone.
4. I usually will go in with a few things in mind. When you’re keeping an eye out for something in particular it’s easier to find.
5. Go without kids if you can 🙂
Your home is decorated so lovely. Can I have the rug in your living room? I joke. Really though, is most everything thrifted?
Oh, thank you! The rugs were hand-me-down’s from Dad actually. He and my Step mom bought them in the southwest a long time ago and when they moved to the house they’re in now they didn’t use them. They sat in the closet for years until I asked if they were interested in making me very happy by giving them to me. They did! Other than that, most of the decorative things are thrifted and the furniture is store bought. I’m still holding out on art until I find pieces that I’m in love with. I’d rather stare at a blank wall than a painting or photograph that is only there temporarily.
Describe a typical weekend at your house.
Loud.
How did you and your husband meet?
We met through mutual friends but coincidentally worked two doors down from each other. He had come in to eat at the restaurant I worked at and noticed me. A few weeks later I came into the store he was managing to buy a shirt for New Years Eve and he came over to help me. After I left I put two and two together and realized he was the guy my friend kept telling me about. A couple weeks later I was with said friend and we went to go see his band play. We ended up missing their set but when he and I walked past each other and met eyes we said something like, “oh, hey it’s you!”. That was 15+ years ago and we’ve pretty much been together since.
Tell me about your husband’s band.
He sings and plays guitar in a band called Bordertown Saints. Classifying bands can be tricky…he said they are Americana. It’s my favorite band he’s been in thus far. His songwriting has definitely blossomed over these past 3 or 4 years.
Describe the girl you were in high school.
Let’s see…I was definitely not a popular girl. I was similar to how I am now in many ways. I had a good group of friends and we went to A LOT of concerts and local shows. I still have most of my concert ticket stubs. I was pretty quiet, didn’t date many people and wasn’t overly interested in school. I started thrifting in high school and had some really amazing clothes that I unfortunately got rid of my senior year when I became gothic. I still apologize to my parents for putting them through those two years. They were dark days indeed 🙂
I want to eat Marianne. Can I?
Sure! She’d probably let you 😉
I read that you’re into eating raw. How about the other members of your gang? I have a hard enough time getting Hooper to eat chicken nuggets, not sure what he’d do if I changed it up so drastically. Advise me.
I’m no expert but I think a lot has do with what their first foods were. My oldest son Max was fed as advised by the pediatrician (baby cereal and jarred baby food) and he is by far my least adventurous eater. The rest of my children were fed what we ate and lots of fresh fruit and I find they are more open to raw foods. Shane and Marianne grew up drinking green smoothies and many of my raw recipes so they will typically eat what I make or at least try it. If they have no other option except what you place before them they will eventually eat it. They won’t let themselves starve. Also, as much as love to eat healthfully, we do eat fast food occasionally and I let the kids have sweets and soda sometimes. I believe moderation is the key. I don’t want them to grow up and go junk food crazy because they never had it as a kid. Raw desserts are great way to start because they are sweet and what wee one doesn’t like sweets?!
Your backyard is a nature preserve. I’m jealous.
It is a big treat! One I am very grateful to have. The best part for me is all the birds. Now, if I could just identify all of them 🙂
You’re on an island, alone, and you can only listen to one song. Which do you chose. Okay, fine. That’s hard. Choose three.
WOW! Hardest question ever! I’ll attempt to answer it although I know I’ll be unsatisfied with my answer in 5 minutes. Ok, here goes nothin’- Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major by J.S. Bach, Brokendown Palace live by Grateful Dead and Return of The Grevious Angel by Gram Parsons. But how could I live on a deserted island without Neil Young, Tom Waits, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Bob Dylan, The Doors and… Yeah, I take it back. I would definitely need a Neil Young song in there, maybe Helpless. Hahaha, nevermind. I can’t answer this question!
Do you ever stop doing dishes or laundry?
Nope. Nor does it ever seem that I’m caught up. Ideally I should be doing 2 loads a day, five days a week but I don’t. The older kids help but it’s still never ending. The cooking and dishes are endless as well because we rarely eat out. But at least I enjoy making meals! Laundry… it still hasn’t gown on me.
I support home birth with my whole heart. I tried to have each of my boys at home and have ended up in the hospital both times (though still managed to have a natural, unmedicated birth). I know you have experienced both a hospital and home birth. Can you touch briefly on the pros and cons of each?
It’s such a personal preference. I know plenty of women who love going to the hospital, who would rather schedule a c-section and those who have no interest in feeling any of it. To each his own. I don’t judge but for me home births are FAR superior to hospital births. My first two were born in the hospital with the typical song and dance of being induced, epidural and episiotomy. I had wanted natural births but I think I was just too young and unknowledgeable to fight for what I wanted (I was 20 and 22). I didn’t think I had a choice. One of our friends had a home birth around the time my second was born and I was fascinated! I didn’t know that was even an option. I told my husband that if I ever got pregnant again that I wanted a home birth. Well, 7 years later I was pregnant again (and then again 2 years later) and I had the best experiences.
The only con of a home birth I can think of is it’s easy to start being too active too early. Since you’re at home you can easily forget what a huge ordeal your body just went through and end up walking around too much. Pros of a hospital birth- you’re already there in case of an emergency. Cons (it’s been 12 years since my last hospital birth so perhaps things have changed since then?)- even though you are just about to do the most physical thing in your life, you aren’t allowed to eat, you are more likely to have unwanted and sometimes unnecessary procedures done to you and you have to birth on your back not in a position that’s comfortable to you.
For this upcoming birth I will be back at the hospital due to insurance. I plan on doing things differently this time although I think it’ll much harder to have an unmedicated birth in the hospital. I’ll have to let you know how it goes.
How has this pregnancy differed from the others?
My first three pregnancies were great. Nothing about my everyday life changed really. These last two pregnancies have gotten progressively harder. This one being the hardest. I can’t exercise at all or even walk far without being incredibly uncomfortable and in pain. It really is a cross but obviously well worth it. Let’s just say I’ll be very happy when the baby gets here!
Your children range in ages from 2 to 15. What’s been your favorite ages thus far and why?
Each age totally has it’s own pro and con’s. I think a really fun age is 5. They are old enough to have a conversation with you and are curious about all sorts of things. They have passed the baby stage and are more independent but haven’t reached the teen years. It’s a nice calm before the storm when they still think you have all the answers.
It took me longer to love my second than it did my first. After my first born, I became a witness to how your love for them grows day after day. So, when I had my second, I knew the love I had for him that first day would piddle in comparison to the love I’d have for him in just a few short months. And, sure enough, I was right. Can you relate? How has bonding changed from one child to the other, for you?
Hmm, I feel like I bonded the same with all of them. Having children really young was way different from being older but I always felt that immediate bond upon seeing their little faces.
You look much to young to have a 15 year old. That’s not a question, but rather a statement. You can respond to it if you wish, or pocket the compliment and move right along.
Hahaha! I was 20 when I had my first, which is young nowadays. People think I’m his sister all the time.
Tell me about your Etsy shop.
I sell my handmade macrame plant hangers and vintage clothes. I’m hoping over this next year to slowly cut back on the vintage and try to concentrate solely on macrame and other handmade goods.
My husband and I hope to open an Etsy shop this year. Advise for first time shop “owners”?
I’m no authority on this but I find the more you list, the more traffic and sales you get. Great pictures help tremendously but I think you’ll have that covered 😉
Anne Rivera | A Cup Full of Sunshine | Etsy
iPhoneography @ The Define School
I have loads to say about instagram and iPhoneography, so much so that I’ll be sharing different thoughts on the topic once a week or so over the next month (or so). I wanted to start by introducing you to three different classes that The Define School now offers to strengthen your iPhoneography skills. Yes, there are classes on how to use the camera on your phone. Sound crazy? If you saw what some people are doing with their iPhones, it wouldn’t sound so crazy. Kevin Russ, for example, has been described as the Ansel Adams of iPhoneography; and for good reason, his work is mind blowing. Makes you wonder if the fancy cameras are even worth it.
I’ve had many of friends purchase a DSLR and come to me asking how to use it. And, truth is, it’s not something you can teach someone in one sitting. And, truthfully speaking, it’s not something a lot of people have the patience to learn in the absence of true, innate passion.
But the iPhone is easy to operate. So easy, in fact, that you can’t go to a concert or Disneyland or playground without seeing a whole heap of moms (and dads) with their phones out and pointed in their kid’s faces. The iPhone has made everyone a photographer.
What many don’t know, however, is how easily you can improve the quality of the photos you capture. Simple things like tuning into composition or becoming a storyteller through your photographs. Within each of us, there is an artist and the iPhone is fantastic in that it can easily bring the artist in all of us to the surface.
The Define School has teamed up with the iArtist Collective to offer three different classes on iPhoneography. Here’s a bit about each one:
The Foundation of iPhoneography, by Audrey Breheney, goes over the inner workings of your iPhone’s camera, lighting and composition, apps and social sharing platforms, organization and storage of your photos, as well as fun DIY projects.
Self + Art, by Carolyn Mara Borlenghi, speaks to exercising your creativity, tools to battling road blocks, and battling criticism.
A Mother’s Story, by Soud Thammavongsa, discusses documentary style photography, images that capture you in an individual role as a mother, and applying your newly-learned approach to your everyday life.
Let me know if any of you decide to sign up for the classes! And check back over the next couple of weeks as I will be sharing some iPhoneography tips as well as some pros + cons to instagram.