Filling Shoeboxes – Memories not to Miss | 31 Days of Photo Tips, day 31

Okay, so mostly I’ve been talking about photography in terms of being a successful photographer – making better images so the meaningful moments you do capture are beautiful. But over these 31 days together, my goal was to make sure you had more than just part of a shoebox of photos for all your kids’ childhood memories.

My into post was littered with photos of my childhood – photos that don’t even fill a shoebox. This post, in conclusion, is littered with meaningful photos of my boys through the years.

The very first photo of all 3 boybarians – Father’s Day 2003

By request of my friend Deanna – here are shots you could capture every year. I started with November instead of January.. because, um… tomorrow’s November (eek!). And to encourage you not to put it off until January!

July 2006

November

• Thanksgiving tablescape – the dishes & decor will some day look nostalgic and meaningful
• pic of recipe card in grandma’s handwriting
• Pies and those once-a-year dishes
• mom cooking the turkey
• dad cutting the turkey
• the whole family together – candids will be so treasured in years to come!

December

• the ornaments
• trimming the tree
• wish list or letter to Santa in the kids’ own handwriting
• the time on the clock when the kids woke up
• the kids wrapping gifts for their loved ones all by themselves – this is especially charming for the little, little ones
• Christmas morning breakfast
• all dressed up for celebrations
• cousins together, your parents with your kids, any family member you only see once or twice a year

December 2006

January

• New Years hats, blowers, and fun decorations
• pics of the sleeping family member who didn’t stay awake until midnight
• self-pic of who you kissed to ring in the new year
• pic of handwritten resolutions
• Your house and trees covered in snow (or whatever the south looks like when it’s not 90 degrees! )

February

• making Valentines – spread out of paper, scissors, doilies, glitter, glue, etc. their little hands working.
• treats made for the holiday – the process pics are often better than the finished product pics.
• weather photo – your child in her coat & boots, bundled up outside.
• sledding
• hot cocoa and marshmallows

March

• St. Patrick’s day parade
• all dressed in green
• first day playing outside without the parka and frostbite
• first day of spring – this is especially funny if, like here in Iowa, you have 3 feet of snow still.
• Shamrock Shakes!

April

• rainboots stomping in puddles
• playing in the rain without umbrellas
• sidewalk chalk drawings
• first plantings, or first peeps or early blooms
• dying Easter eggs
• Easter clothes, baskets, and traditions

May

• Tulips
• caterpillars on little fingers
• flying kites
• Mom on Mother’s Day – with the kids
• Grandma on Mother’s Day – with her kids and grandkids
• Pic of thermometer showing beautiful temperatures finally!
• Memorial Day picnic settings, flags and parades

June

• last day of school pics – perfect for side by side with first day pics!
• bare feet in green grass
• berry picking
• the grill and the grillmaster making BBQ
• Dad with his kids
• Grandpa with his kids and grandkids
• Catching fireflys
• Campouts in the yard

July

• running through the sprinkler
• sparklers – trying painting with light with a long exposure!
• photograph the expressions of your family watching fireworks, instead of the fireworks
• 4th of July picnic, lemonade, burgers, summer salads
• beach visit (here, that means lake beach. hope you have better luck by you!)
• at the pool
• thermometer when it breaks 100

August

• garden in full bloom
• the midway at the fair
• kids trying fair foods
• frying an egg on the pavement on hot days
• back to school sales and shopping finds
• first day of school – yes, homeschoolers, you too.
• your child with his teacher

September

• last camping trip of the summer, or end of summer activities
• Labor Day picnic, parades and flags
• apple picking at the apple orchard
• making pie or applesauce with your goodies
• Football game day apparel

October

• in front of the fall colors
• holding a big yellow or orange leaf
• carving the pumpkin
• pumpkin patch and hayrack rides
• the glowing jack-o-lanterns – be sure to include some of the house, too.
• costumes and candy stash
• planting indoor paperwhites or bulbs to bloom in time for Christmas

September 2009

If you can capture many of these precious moments together throughout the year, your children will have tons of photos of meaningful family time and traditions – images and stories they can share with their kids and grandkids, illustrated by the pictures you made.

June 2010

Thank you for spending 31 days here this month. With hundreds and hundreds of 31 Day series participants, I know your RSS readers were overflowing. I appreciate you spending them here with me. I hope you’ll consider subscribing and come back once in awhile to visit and say hi. Sweet Shot Tuesday will resume as usual tomorrow. Hope you’ll join us!

Thanks to Nester and all the 31 Dayers for a fun month.

Happy Halloween! Now – go take some photos!

xo,
Darcy