Being Present is the Best Present This Holiday Season

Have you ever seen this photograph?

It's been all over Facebook and Instagram and other social media sites and apps.  It's very telling.  What do you see going on here?

Your presence is the greatest gift you can give.

Did you know that years ago, before we had a gadget that was approximately 3.5x6 inches, we actually sat around the table at dinner and enjoyed each others’ company?  Or in the living room, playing board games and laughing over stupid jokes and eating popcorn?  Did you know that we went on walks together and explored the neighborhood or new areas?  Did you know that we soaked in the moment as it happened?

Today, most of us are carried away with recording every moment of every day.  We do that through our smart phones and tablets and computers, and we love technology. Gosh how we love freaking technology!

Didn’t Napoleon’s brother, Kip, sing to his bride a song about loving technology? “But not as much as you, you see! Always and forever!”

But did you know that when you are always recording, you are looking at life through a screen, rather than with your eyes, and your brain doesn’t quite work in the same way?  Instead of watching it happen right before you, with awe and wonder and excitement, and all of those good feelings, you’re watching through a screen as it happens, and thinking, I can’t wait to get this on social media so everyone else can see it! 

And we wonder why we feel like we miss out on certain things.

We had actual conversations, about real things, not about video games and our “friends” on a gaming platform.  We could look at each other in the eye and be close, and whisper secrets.  We could write on notepaper and fold it into an origami triangle and pass it to each other in class.  We did things together.  We could touch, feel, hear, see, smell, FEEL… everything.

Today, we are so intrigued with virtual reality, that anything actually depicting reality is scary.  We’ve found virtual safety being the controller of a video game in our hands, because it’s easier to do that than to call someone on the phone and go out for pizza.

Have you looked around at your family at a gathering, and more than half are checking their Instagram or Facebook, because they want to know how many likes they have from a meme they shared?

Think about it.  Here they are, surrounded by people they love, and who love them, but they aren’t getting the serotonin and dopamine levels from those people.  They are getting them raised by literal strangers.  The moment that they pick up their phone to check the latest scores, or text, or email, they are disconnecting themselves from the people in the room.  Twenty minutes can go by very quickly when lost on a device, and looking up, bleary eyed, notices everyone else has gone out for a lovely walk to look at holiday lights in the neighborhood.

We’re all guilty.  Most of us have these devices, and for our children, we have fun, educational game apps so they can be calm and get lost in a world of virtual reality.  We all do it.  I know I do, but I’m making a change. 

This holiday, I’m going to put my phone in my purse, put my purse in another room, and I’m going to enjoy my family members.  I’m going to talk to them, and laugh, and play, and go for a walk, and help prepare food, and clean up, and laugh some more.  My being present will mean so much to them.  But more than that, my being present will help me feel better.

You see, like many people, I deal with depression.  Well, hello, most artists do, ha!  Remember what I said about serotonin and dopamine levels?  I’m so done with raising those because of sharing silly memes that will quickly get forgotten, or sending a text, or playing a stupid “find the hidden object game” and get to the next level.  I’m going to be purposeful about raising my levels and do it the old fashioned way, and really enjoy my loved ones.

I invite you to join me.  Being present will be the greatest gift you can give your loved ones, and yourself.

PLEASE NOTE:  NONE OF THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ONES THAT I'VE TAKEN.  I DO NOT CLAIM COPYRIGHT.  THEY ARE STOCK IMAGES.

The 5 Photographs You Don't Want to Miss Taking This Year During the Holidays!

The 5 Photographs You Don’t Want to Miss Taking This Holiday Season

Ever look at other people’s photos and think, why didn’t I think of getting that one?  Here’s a checklist of the 5 most important photographs you can take this holiday season.

___ Baking with Grandma.  These are some photographs that will be treasured for years to come by your children as they grow older, and have kids of their own some day.  Baking is a huge tradition for many families, and Grandmas have the best cookie recipes!  Perhaps creating a Grandma’s Cookie Recipe book for when your kids are older, complete with these photographs, would be a treasured keepsake.

___ All the cousins playing together.  It’s not often that cousins get together, and so to have fun photographs of these kids together, climbing at the playground, sitting on a retaining wall, cuddled up on Grandma’s couch, building legos together, eating ice cream… These are the sweet photos that they will enjoy so much when they are older.

___ Photos of you with your parents.  It’s great for you to get a photo of you with all of your siblings and your parents, but how about something sweet of you, and your mom and dad?  That’s often overlooked, and to have that kind of snapshot is priceless as you raise your own family.

___ A photograph of your mom and dad under the mistletoe, kissing.  That can never get old.

___ Photographs of you and your kids.  So many moms are the ones taking the photos… and they get cute ones of dad and the kids.  Encourage your partner to take photographs of you with the kids…  or else, 20 years from now, your kids will wonder why there are no photos of them with you in it!  Show your partner some ideas on what you’d like, and then take those photos.  And don’t worry about having those extra 20 pounds, or the roots in your hair, or the wrinkles in your face.  The photos are the important thing.  And, if taking care of those extra 20 lbs, roots, or wrinkles is super-important to you, I know some people who can help you with that.  But that’s another conversation!

Hopefully, this has helped you figure out some photographs you want from this holiday, and inspire you to take even more!  Share your holiday photos on our Facebook page, and show us what you did!  We can't wait to see!

3 Tips on Getting the Best Snapshots During December

3 Tips on Getting the Best Snapshots During December

Ever wonder why your photos during the most wonderful time of the year don’t turn out as wonderfully as you thought they would?  Here are 3 tips on getting awesome photos with the camera on your phone!

 1.  Light is everything.  If you are in a lowlight setting, chances are your photographs are going to have noise, those pesky little red-blue-green dots that are scattered everywhere like glitter, but not as pretty.  The newest phones have pretty good settings for lowlight areas, but your best bet is to be in a well lit area.  Are you looking for a pretty shot of your sweet daughter holding a battery operated candle?  You’ll want to place her in an area that has ambient lighting, like near the holiday tree with lights, to be able to get the best effect.

2.  Get on the floor.  Getting on the floor with the kids at their eye-level will give you the most interesting photographs.  Seeing the room, the decorations, and other loved ones from their angle gives you a new perspective and helps you see things differently.

3.  Relax.  If you aren’t getting the photograph you want, change things up, and come back to it later.  Snacks and a drink will help any young’un revive and take the pressure off.

We hope that these three tips help you!  Making sure that you get all of the beautiful snapshots of your family during the holiday season will help you to remember it well.  The best way to enjoy them, though, is not on your phone or on Facebook; printing them in a fun album through www.mpix.com is one of many ways to enjoy your photographs.  Holding a printed photo, an actual, tangible representation of a moment that you love, is a much different experience than viewing them on a hand-held device.

Honey Bee Photography believes in the printed photograph.  No digital photograph can replace a print.  We do not receive any payment for mentioning mpix.com or any other consumer lab.

5 Tips on How to Get Along During the Holidays Without Driving Each Other Crazy: Multi-Generation Style

5 Tips on How to Get Along During the Holidays Without Driving Each Other Crazy:  Multi-Generation Style

It’s exciting for young kids, knowing that their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are coming for the holidays.  After all, it means a ton of fun with people they know and love.  However, the convergence of all of those people onto one house can be rough, so here are 5 tips on how to survive the holidays.

1.  Sort out a bathroom routine.  Everyone will need baths and showers daily, so putting together a schedule is a great idea, especially with teens.  It would be useful to have a 10 minute shower rule, with a schedule posted on the doors of the bathrooms, so everyone can keep up.

2.  Communications about bedrooms is vital.  Sharing with your family that you’d prefer not to have a toddler diving under your duvet at 6 am is perfectly acceptable, and making sure that you close your doors for privacy is crucial. 

      

           3.  Cooking together.  Some family get-togethers include a cooking schedule, meaning each family is responsible for cooking one night for everyone during the visit.  This is a great time to discover new foods, but picky eaters might still enjoy chicken nuggets and mac and cheese.  Don’t be offended if little Ronnie doesn’t like your Southwestern fish tacos.

       4.  Time is important.  Getting everyone out at the same time for a huge family activity can be a little tension-inducing, so having a printed schedule of daily activities is a great idea.  Giving 30 minute reminders to everyone is helpful, make sure everyone has gone to the restroom, and piling into cars can be an Olympic sport.  Allow extra time for getting to places, too, because of traffic.

      5.  Be flexible and relax.  It’s the holidays, so there’s bound to be unusual times to eat, different things to do, and different people to get to know.  That’s the joy and fun of the holiday! 

We hope you’ve found this helpful!

Here at Honey Bee Photography, we believe that spending precious time with your family is important.  Being present and in the moment, soaking up every beautiful thing, is an amazing gift to give to your children and grandchildren.  Honey Bee Photography will be available for multigeneration sessions the week between Christmas and New Year’s.  Here’s information on availability.

Fun Things to Do for Kids Ages 2-92 in December 2018

It's the holidays and many times, families are always looking for new things to do and new traditions to embrace.  I've put together a fantastic guide for extended families to enjoy doing throughout December, but especially the time between Dec 19-Jan 1.

Please note that I've found these all through Facebook events.  Please visit these events' pages and thoroughly read to ensure that the event hasn't been canceled or rescheduled.  Honey Bee Photography is not responsible for any events that we've shared with you.

Now through Dec 31 An Old-Fashioned Christmas Garden

Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department presents our 25th Anniversary Old Fashioned Christmas Train Garden. 

New design every year!

Includes Charles Richter's Christmas Garden!

Free admission, although donations are gratefully appreciated.

Opens Sunday, November 18, 2018
Closes Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Weeknights: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Weekends: 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Now through Dec 31 A Production of Cinderella at Imagination Station

This wacky retelling of the beloved fairy tale takes Cinderella on a royal adventure complete with a wisecracking rat, evil stepsisters, and a smitten prince. When Cinderella’s stepmother forbids her from attending the ball, her fairy godmother convinces her that if the shoe fits - wear it! True love may await her if only she can put down her sword. Just the right fit for the holiday season! Best for ages 4+.

Now through Dec 31 Zoo Lights at the National Zoo

FREE and Open to the Public 5PM-9PM daily - November 23 to January 1 (*except Dec. 24, 25 and 31)

Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights a part of their annual holiday tradition. A free event, ZooLights includes live music performances, tasty winter treats and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. More than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland complete with a dazzling light show set to music!

All through Dec Grand Opening of Christmas on the Potomac and ICE

Be one of the first guests to experience ICE! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas by joining us on opening day! Favorite characters including Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and friends will come to life in colorful, larger-than-life ice sculptures and thrilling two-story tall ice slides. Then continue the fun in our Christmas Village with more than a dozen activities and excitement for the whole family!

Dec 19-24 The Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees

 December 19th & 20th 6-8pm, and December 21st-23rd 6-9pm. Come see over 30 themed trees and a special "Who-Ville" Display. Admission is FREE but we are asking if you can please consider donating non-perishable food and/or gloves, scarves, and mittens for our local shelters and food banks. All trees sponsored and decorated by Kent Island American Legion and Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department Volunteers.

Dec 20  Ugly Sweater Run 5k

It's that time of year again! Christmas cookies, holiday shopping, presents under the tree...and yes, UGLY SWEATERS galore!

Break out your best holiday get-up and join Fleet Feet Sports Annapolis for a festive Ugly Sweater Run!

Prizes will be awarded to the UGLIEST Holiday sweaters! 

Meet at Armadillo's restaurant for a fun run through downtown. We'll run past the Christmas tree at City Dock as well as some festive lighting displays around downtown. All fitness levels welcome. Please wear your lights and reflective gear for safety. 

Dec 21 The Baltimore Christmas Market

Celebrate this holiday season with a trip to the Christmas Village in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, an authentic German Christmas market running for its 6th consecutive year.

More info ➜ bit.ly/baltimorefun

Dec 22 Reindeer Rides At the Rhiel Farm

Come on down to the farm for a Reindeer ride (pony rides)
Hot cocoa, snacks and fun!
$10 per child (pay at entrance)
Please RSVP and follow the event for any updates

Dec 22-23 Ring in the Holidays at the Senator

It's that WONDERFUL time of the year, and it is so nice we're showing it twice!

Join us on Saturday morning, December 22nd AND Sunday morning, December 23rd at 10:00am for our ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE to benefit the GEDCO CARES Food Pantry!

Featuring Frank Capra's
Its a Wonderful Life
(1946 | 130min | DCP)

Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers & Beulah Bondi

Dec 23 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Presented by Hallmark

An amazing spectacle of holiday music, a light show, and dramatic effects await you at this delightful concert, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve.  Tickets are still on sale.

Dec 26-Jan 1 Lights on the Bay

Lights On The Bay is an annual holiday light show featuring a two mile scenic drive along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay through Sandy Point State Park, with more than 70 animated and stationary displays depicting regional and holiday themes. 

From our popular classic displays and lighted tunnels to our North Pole Village & Enchanted Fairy Tales, Lights on the Bay has plenty of twinkling lights sure to delight all ages. 

Dec 30 A Budweiser Clydesdale Miracle on Annapolis Street

West Annapolis Business Affiliation (WABA) announced that the Budweiser Clydesdales, one of the great American icons that draws massive crowds everywhere they appear, will attend “A Miracle on Annapolis Street” on Sunday, Dec. 30 as part of the festivities leading up to this year’s Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. Scarborough Capital Management, Hyatt Commercial and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Annapolis Church Circle are major sponsors of this event.

A portion of proceeds from this event will benefit Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation’s 290-acre retreat for recovering service members, their families, and their caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“The West Annapolis Business Affiliation is excited to welcome everyone to charming Annapolis Street for an event that will have activities for residents and visitors of all ages,” said Frederik De Pue, President of WABA.

Dec 31 New Years Eve Annapolis 2019

The City Of Annapolis presents family friendly activities and entertainment starting at 3pm at the Weems-Whelan Memorial Field (behind Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts) from 3pm-5pm along with activities for the kids including moon bounces, slides, obstacle courses, face painting and fun with both the Annapolis Fire Department and the Annapolis Police Department . Plus enjoy Crabtowncurbs Cuisine food, live music by Priddy Music Academy and fireworks begin at 5:30pm.

HURRY... There's Still Time, But It's Running Out!

Hi there! We're at the beginning of the holiday season, but you still have time!

We have ONLY 10 SPACES AVAILABLE for holiday cards this year.

Call today to book your session and get ready to create the holiday cards you've always wanted! 240-766-8966

The Secret Sauce

Sounds simple enough, right?  It really is... And my secret sauce is delicious and fun and fulfilling.  I know you'll love every minute of it. 

If you know that you would love to have a very different photography experience, give me a call.  I'd love to speak with you and find out all of the amazing things about your family that makes your heart sing.  My number is 240-766-8966.

Safety First: A Photographer Explains Why to Take Clear, Identifying Photos and Videos of Your Child.

It’s back to school time for families all over the US, and especially here in Maryland.  One thing that parents forget to do is to update the ID packs for each child.

With all of the smart phones that the average family has, and thousands of photos and videos on each phone, it’s hard to remember that updating ID packs for children is super important to do.  So, after you put a reminder on your calendar to do this this weekend, read over these tips to help you put together a packet that will help you, just in case something happens to your family members.

•  Have an Inking Party!  Get a stamp pad, easy to find at any craft store or on Amazon,  and have each child line up to do finger and thumb prints on paper.  There’s a template at the bottom of this newsletter, easy for you to print, and fill out.
• Handwriting assignment!  Have your child write a paragraph on the same page, that has their handwriting, with their signature/handwritten name, and have them answer a couple of basic questions, like what their favorite color is and favorite animal.  Older kids can write about their favorite music or shows on tv.  Take a photograph of the page.
• Have a photo shoot!  Getting down to your child’s eye level in a well-lit area, take some photos of your child with different expressions.  Have him or her give you a happy look, a sad look, a mad look, a thinking look.  Have him or her dress in clothes that they would wear regularly, a school uniform, or their outerwear.  If there is an unusual birthmark, scar, or other “mark” on your child, photograph that as well.  Remember, this should be updated every 4-6 months, as kids grow quickly, get their hair cut, get glasses, etc.
• Create a video production!  This should be fun, and then saved in DropBox, OneDrive, or some other cloud-based product, so it’s easily accessible.  Like the photos, these should be updated every 4-6 months for the same reasons, a growth spurt, a hair cut, or new glasses.  The direction that you should give your child is to tell a story, so you can get a basic speech pattern.  Then tell a couple of knock knock jokes to show how that child interacts with something funny, have him or her sing, and then video him or her walking, running, tumbling, sitting down, standing up, going up and down the stairs.  You never know what kind of movement your child does that will help to identify your child in the case that something happens.
• Next, print the photos of your child, and place in a page protector along with the sheet that your child filled out with writing and fingerprints. 
• Take the photos and video that you have created and place in its own album on your smart phone.  This way everything is together and easily accessible.

This is something I came up with many years ago, after my son and I were separated at Six Flags back in 2005.  One of the scariest moments of motherhood is to lose a child, so I turned this experience  into a great lesson.  This happened before digital cameras were a real thing… but I used my camera to photograph him, my video camera to take video of him, and did his fingerprints and had him write his name and… well, I never needed it, but I had it.

It is my wish that you have this page and use it as often as you want to update.  I hope that you’ll never have to use it, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you have this done.


I hope that you have a wonderful beginning to the school year.

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I Hate Going to the Dentist (5 minute read)

What do you hate doing?

I hate going to the dentist; I admit it.  There’s always been a fear of going.  My mom used to call it “visiting the dentist”, as if changing that one word was going to make going sound like a fun time.

I do NOT feel like sitting in a dentist’s chair, with a person holding metal tools, peering into my mouth, is fun.

Now, I’ve had a couple of really great dentists!  My dentist in Anchorage, Dr Christiansen, was so fantastic. Once, I had developed an ulcer on the roof of my mouth, so I went to him to have it lanced;  in my memory, he’s the Dr. Pimple-popper of dentists!  We also had a laugh over my bovine implant in my gum at another time.  We shall never forget that episode.

So aside from those stories, let me tell you this:  I will STILL do everything I can to avoid going to the dentist, especially those who don’t use laughing gas.  Breathing in that gas that just makes everything seem hilarious, even when the hygienist is poking around.  But here’s the thing about avoiding the dentist; at some point it could be too late, and you could lose a tooth, all because you avoid going to the dentist.

I hear this about being photographed, too. 

“I know we should do a 3-generation session, and we will, but I need to lose about 50 lbs first, before I get in front of the camera.”
“I know I need to bring my 10 year old dog and 2 teenagers in to be photographed, we’re just so busy, I can’t find a good time to do it.”
“I hate getting my photo done, but I know that I need to be in a photograph with my husband and kids.  Can you hide me behind them?”

And here’s the sad part:  getting around to losing those 50 lbs may take too long, and you might lose a parent.  Dogs have much shorter lives than we do, and how sad is it that that photograph might never happen?  Your kids are going to get older, and you and your husband will, too.  The magical ages of young childhood last for only a certain amount of time, and then all of a sudden they are 10+ years and going every-which-way, and you’re the one driving them to their activities.

I understand that the thought of taking a photograph is risky for a lot of adults.  “What if I lose weight next year, then I’ll have photographs of me at this weight forever! Ugh, I can’t stand to see that!”

What if I told you that by working with me, together, we’ll create the family photographs of your dreams?

My answer to that is, “When we plan your photography session, we’re going to plan outfits that are flattering for everyone, including yourself.  I’ll pose you to ensure that you look great, and my camera angle will be at a place that will make you instantly look like you’ve lost 8 pounds!”

What would it mean to you to have a photograph that YOU LOVE of your family?  Not a photograph where the kids look cute, and that’s good enough for you.  But one where you look stunning, your kids look like they are having fun, and your husband looks like he’s enjoying himself, too.

What would it mean to have a photograph of you, your siblings, and your parents together?  A photograph that, every time you see it, years from now, you’ll remember what it was like to embrace your dad and smell his aftershave?

What would it mean to you to have a photograph of your kids and your dog, one that pulls at your heartstrings, and helps you to grieve a little easier when he ventures on to Rainbow Bridge?

Just like avoiding the dentist and losing a tooth, avoiding getting your photographs done with great intention of doing it someday may result in never having done it, and I can tell you that the regret can be enormous.  Snapshots are great, but artwork that you display on your walls that tell a story of your family is so very important.  You’ll get to see these photographs every single day in your family room, and so will your guests and loved ones.  They are conversation starters and will help you to relive the experience of when you reconnected with your husband and kids, when you talk about them to your friends, and then you’ll fall in love with them, all over again!

And how good does that feel to know that you entrusted such important photographs to a photographer who cares about your photographs just as much as you do?

 

It feels as good as it does to know that my dentist cares about me and my fears as much as fixing my tooth, and that my mouth will feel better when it’s all done.

Make the goal, this year, to get your family’s photographs done, with purpose and meaning.  If you have a pet in your family, or 2 or 7, I’d love to offer you a gift certificate that will help save you money, contribute to a worthy cause, and create lasting emotional attachment to a moment in your family’s history.