Hey Reader—

In less than a week, this Christmas will be a memory. 🥹

The wrapping paper? Gone.
The tree lights? Unplugged.
And your kids? Just a little bit older.

That thought stopped me cold this morning. 😳

Maybe it’s the eggnog + snickerdoodles diet I’m on, or the whole short-days-busy-schedules combo, but I’m spinning a little at how fast these days are flying.

One minute I’m planning… the next, I’m wondering how we got here so fast.

Here’s what I’m reminding myself—and what I want you to hear:

This season is magical.
It’s also a whirlwind.
Both things can be true.

And as your family photographer, I want to pop in with a little plan—so you don’t:

❌ Snap a million photos but forget to actually enjoy the moment
❌ Leave your phone in the other room and regret not having a single shot
(I’ve done both. 🙋🏼‍♀️)

Here’s Your Permission Slip:

You don’t need to document everything.
​You just need to notice a few moments worth keeping—and capture them intentionally.

Think back to film days: quality > quantity.

These are the photos your kids will look at in 20 years.
These are your eyes in the future.

The goal? Capture the moment—then put your phone away and be in it.
No posing. No perfection. Just real, beautiful life.

3 Quick Tips to Capture the Magic

☀️ Light is everything.​
Open the shades. Face a window. Head outside and face your shadow.
You want soft, even light—so you can see their eyes clearly, no harsh shadows or squinting.

📷 Use the Wide–Medium–Tight–Detail pattern.​
This is how I shoot every session. It takes seconds, but tells the whole story.

• Wide: show the whole room
• Medium: step in for the classic photo
• Tight: zoom in on their face, their joy, their eyelashes
• Detail: a cookie dough-covered hand, a single ornament, the little stuff

Then? 📱 Put down the phone.

👩‍👧‍👦Mom, get in the photo.​
Set up the shot, then hand off your phone—or better yet, grab a simple iPhone tripod.

Leave it set up in a nearby room. Pull it out, pop in your phone, jump in the frame.

🎞️ BONUS: Try video!​
Do the same 4 shots as above, just record instead.

Hold your phone horizontal, add slight movement, and grab a few 4-second clips.

After Christmas, drop them into a free app like CapCut to create a simple home movie. 🎬

Screenshot This Reminder List:

Want more tips to up-level your mom-tography this week?

👉🏼 Grab the free BGP guide: 10 Tricks to Take Better iPhone Photos Today​
👉🏼 Read: 5 Tips to Take Better Photos of Your Kids on the blog

They’re made for this week—busy, sweet, once-a-year kind of magic.

I hope these help you stay present and preserve it. You’ve got this.

Warmly,

In need of a last minute gift for your parents or grandparents?

My grandma wrote a book! At 82 years old, she sat down and documented her life story. Read the full story here →​

A few Christmases ago, we introduced her to StoryWorth and asked if she’d like to write down her memories. She said yes. We gifted her a subscription… and quickly realized it was far more of a gift for us than for her. Week by week, she poured her heart into those stories. It was a true labor of love—and one we’ll treasure forever.

Fast‑forward to Christmas 2023. We were cozied up around the fire at the cabin when she handed us a hardcover copy of her book. There were tears. It’s a generational gift—her life, our family’s roots, and a piece of history told through the voice of someone we love dearly.

This isn’t an affiliate link—just one friend sharing with another in case you’re looking for something meaningful at the last minute.

Little idea: pair a StoryWorth subscription with updated family photos… a gift that will be cherished for generations. 😉

On the blog, I’m sharing:

• How StoryWorth works
• An interview with the author (my grandma 🥹)
• How we organized the process
• The exact questions we asked

​

​​​

​portfolio • blog • Inquire​

You're receiving this email because you opted in at BethieGrondin.com or joined me for a BGP Event and want more tips sent straight to your inbox. You can likely also put up with the occasional Gilmore Girls & coffee reference. Please note that this email may contain some affiliate links. I may get a small kickback from the referrals but I only recommend tools used in my own life.

Copyright © 2024 | Psalm 116:5 | Gilbert, Arizona

​Unsubscribe | Update your profile​