Why I chose this dress for our anniversary photoshoot

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I'm a photographer, I love being the one controlling the camera, but not necessarily the one in front of the camera.  Yet, I force myself to get uncomfortable for the sake of preserving our families memories!  I have to keep reminding myself that I want to be more concerned about remembering this time in life than I do about the extra pounds i'm still carrying.  

Since preserving memories is important to me, I've learned what looks good on me in camera and I thought many women would be interested in hearing the same.  Here is what I look for when choosing MY outfit for family photos.  And that is the key Ladies...choose your outfit first, because you want to feel beautiful and confident in what you are wearing!

1. Color

I typically have a specific color in mind for the look that I want.  However, I know blues look good on me, so I tend to always incorporate it in our family photos.  I always choose my outfit first and then coordinate my families outfits around it.  

2. Cover up what you don't love

Right now, i'm not digging my arms/legs.  So, when I was searching for a dress for our anniversary photos I knew I wanted a long dress with sleeves.  If you don't want it to show on camera...cover it!  Also, I love long flowy dresses on camera.  They are so feminine and look beautiful, this is always my first choice for women!  Layering is another way to cover up what you don't love.  Adding a jean jacket or kimono can be super flattering and slimming.  Also, if you don't want it on in every photo, simply slip it off! 

3.  Accessorize

Scarfs, statement necklaces/earrings...all look so lovely on camera.  These pieces add interest and texture.  Small stud earrings and light chain necklaces won't always show up in camera.  So don't be afraid to add a little extra pop of color in your accessories! 

4.  Put on a little extra makeup

It's what movie stars do right?! Now I'm not talking about stage makeup, but maybe an extra layer of blush and mascara.  Like I said, a little bit extra goes a long way on camera!  

5.  Don't feel confident in front of the camera?  Fake it baby! 

If you feel awkward, chances are you will look awkward or timid on camera.  Try your best to relax, take deep breaths to allow your body to relax too!  Don't be afraid to let your personality show!  Do you love to laugh?  Then laugh with your kids!  Do you love to snuggle?  Then snuggle up next to that man of yours!  A great photographer will help guide you into these natural moments, but don't be afraid to let loose a little and even get a little silly! Because when joy and love are captured on camera, it is absolutely stunning!  After all, that's the goal of your session, to capture what makes your family special and unique!  

Still unsure what to wear?  Here are some examples of dresses I love for women to wear at my sessions.  Hint: Long and flowy! 

The dress that met all my criteria when I was looking for something to wear for our anniversary photoshoot!  It happens to be one of my favorite colors too! 

Shop This Look

I love dresses that have extra detail, like it's off shoulder, and ruffle/button detail on the bottom

Shop This Look

This staple Kimono is a great layering piece and can also break up a dress with a busy pattern

Shop This Look

How to Decorate for The Fourth of July without spending money!

I am not a self proclaimed interior designer...just an avid decorator!  I especially love to decorate for each holiday and season.  This however can be challenging when you are on a budget!  So, I wanted to share with you how I decorate for the 4th without spending money!  

1. Go gather all the red, white, and blue things you can find around your home!  

In the picture above you see everything I found from simply searching for three colors!  I was pleasantly surprised!  (confession:  I did pick up those American Flags at Target in the $1 bin, because I simply could not find the ones I used from last year!)

2. The mantel is a great place to get creative and festive with every season/holiday

I like to think that our mantel is the center of our home, and so just keeping some simple decorations on the mantel that can go well in any season...makes for a great place to just add a pop of color with every holiday/changing season.  Below is a photo of what my mantel looked like before I started decorating for the holiday.  

~The framed maps of Savannah (where we live) stays up all year round.  It's a great neutral decoration that can work in any season.  I also have the idea that I could print some free printables out for the holidays and put them in the frames as well!

~ I change my vases and foliage out seasonally.  As you can see I have a shell vase, this comes out only in the summer!  My green vase works well in any season.

~ My mantel is big and so I have shells displayed on the left for Summer, and lanterns and candles on the right.  My lantern/candles are another set of items that work well in any season!

~ The wooden crate on the hearth and the brass bucket also typically stay out and I just change what is inside of them.  

So think about your mantel, what staple pieces can you leave out all year round...and then simply add either the seasons colors to it, or replace a few items to make it look more festive? 

3. Start In the Center of your mantel

I knew I wanted to hang the three American flags together in the center of my mantel, so I started there.   I always like to have something in the center and then work my way out.  Symmetry is important in decorating your mantel.  If you have too many items on one side, it looks lopsided or messy.  So work to get just the right amount and size of items on both sides.  Also, make sure your bring in varying textures and heights of items.  You don't want it to look to matchy matchy.  

4. Don't neglect the hearth

For a long time I didn't have anything on the hearth, I just never realized it needed something.  Until I inherited this wooden crate and needed someplace to put it.  Hello...sitting on the hearth filled with festive blankets, is the perfect place!  It also brings in more texture and warmth to this space that is filled with so much cold brick! On the other side of the fireplace I have a brass bucket and I've been filling it with foliage, I think I need to add some twinkle lights to it!  Yes, any season where I can add twinkle lights, is my favorite season!  haha! 

And the final reveal of the 4th of july mantel....drumroooollll......

In case you are wondering how I hung those American Flags...tape!  I know I know...like I said, I'm not an interior designer people! 

What is your favorite place to decorate in the home?  

FYI...if you are wondering where those red white and blue pitchers went in my photos...I decided not to use them on my mantel...but instead put them in my dining room!  Also, if you watched my instastory about this, you saw that I also wanted to include a watermelon into my decor!  Haha!  Here is what I came up with ...

Anyone else love milk glass?! 

DIY Fathers Day Gift

It is always difficult to come up with a creative and simple Father's Day Gift, isn't it?  I mean what do you buy men who have everything?! 

Do you have a Dad, Grandpa, Papa...in your life that uses handkerchiefs?  Then this is the Father's Day gift for you!  Our Grandpa and Papa have loved carrying around their personalized handkerchiefs, and it is such an easy project!

What you need:  1. Handkerchiefs (can buy them at department stores/amazon...) 

                            2. Fabric Crayons or Markers (Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby...)

                            3. some creativity!      

We have also adapted this gift for Mother's Day using Tea Towels! Happy Crafting and Happy Father's Day!

Duct Tape Art that even Boys will love!

A friend of mine casually mentioned to me awhile ago that her sons love to make things out of duct tape and card board.  So keeping my expectations low of my boys (because one boy of mine in particular does not get excited about "crafts"), we gave it a try!  

Actually my original plan was to go to Hobby Lobby and let my boys pick a craft out.  HAHA ok everyone laugh with me (instead of at me)...because looking at all the crafts at Hobby Lobby they were like "ehh, no mom we're good."  So instead we hit up the clearance aisle.  Did you know there was a clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby?! Yep...check the back left corner of the store by the scrapbooking supplies!  There we found .30 cent washi tape and $1 duct tape!  

I handed them their duct tape, cardboard, and scissors and told them to make something.  So off they went... 

To my surprise they were still going at it after an hour!  And I loved seeing what their little creative minds came up with!  

he made a computer

..."just like daddy's!"

I give you...

1. The computer

2. The army truck, complete with a garage and lots of ammo!  

3. The robot named Fred who is powered by throwing trash inside.

The weekend was exhausting! When is nap time?

Doesn't this photo look glorious?!  Yet do you wanna know the truth behind the photo?  

There's a mama and a daddy chasing kids in every direction (that's why the chairs are empty!  Haha!) changing diapers, all the while trying to stroll one fussy babe to sleep and yelling at the others to not go so far into the water.  

Do you ever find yourself looking forward to the weekend or a vacation so much, and then when it gets here...it's not all that you built it up to be in your mind?  Where's the rest you thought you'd get...(somehow I forgot I had 6 kids).

Lately everything we have done together as a family has proved more exhausting in the end.  I feel my soul longing for rest, and that tug on my soul is Jesus calling me to come sit with Him.  But yet, I keep striving for rest in other places.  I think...if I could just take a quiet nap, or go to the beach, or actually have a restful vacation void of toddler tantrums then i'd feel so much better!  When will I learn..."come to me all who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest."  HE makes rest so simple, because HE is the source of rest.  Jesus is the one my soul is truly longing for.  

When I actually do sit in silence with Him and pray/read my Bible.  He shows me where my heart is off and offers me a fresh start and a renewed mind.  Yes vacation and weekends DO sometimes lead to rest for me (every good and perfect gift is from above...thank God for those sacred moments!).  But lately I've been finding that my weekends and vacations have often fallen short.  And when they fall short, I feel my mind slowly spinning out of control in anxiousness and in striving to try to find my next place of rest.  When actually all I need is to do is go "sit" with Him for a few minutes.  No, Jesus isn't a magical genie...but He is the source of life.  His words (often spoken to me through the Bible) breathe life into my soul.  His words are often so very different than what I naturally believe or desire, and it retrains and refocuses my mind.  Jesus says, "I have come so that you may have life, life more abundantly."  

Maybe this past weekend was less than for you, or maybe it was one of those sacred moments.  But let us not base our new week off of what the weekend was or was not.  Because what I need to remember on Monday, is that Jesus offers us life and rest in all 7 days of the week.  Not just on the weekends.  And He is perfectly able to refresh and renew me on a mundane Monday.  

downpour | Hilton Head Island, SC | laurie schultz photography

"Remember that time we out ran a storm, then went back for more and got caught in a torrential downpour?"  

I'm pretty sure this was the most epic photoshoot I have done yet.  We had about 20 minutes together before it started to rain on us, we then hid for about 5 min under a tree, the rain stopped so we went back out for more and had another 5 min before the torrential downpour got us good.  Everyone had such a good time with this though and we definitely made memories that i'm sure these kids won't forget soon!  Honestly, I LOVE all of these photos, especially the rainy moments...and am ready to do another session just like this!  So...who wants to book a rainy day session?  I can't thank these clients and friends of mine enough for their amazing attitudes and ability to just have FUN and go with the flow.  Their fun personalities definitely show in these photos!  

Together again | Tybee Island, Ga | laurie schultz photography

The sounds of a deserted beach at sunrise are some of the most relaxing and soothing sounds (the roar of the waves, seagulls muffled squawking).  This gorgeous family agreed to meet me at sunrise when the threat of rain kept increasing for later in the day.  As I waited for them at the end of the beach pathway, I started to hear muffled voices walking toward me, those muffled voices turned into joyful and excited chatter.  It had not even been 48 hours since this family had been reunited (part of this family lives in Africa!), and you could hear and feel the joy and excitement they had of just being together again.  What a joy for me to be able to capture this special time in their family's life.  This also was the littlest member of the family's first time at the beach!  His first time putting his toes in the sand and in the warm ocean water.  What a fun morning it was experiencing all of this with them, I quickly fell in love with them.  

it's a boy! | savannah photographer| laurie schultz photography

Last week my niece came to visit!!  We had so much fun showing her and my brother and sister in law around town and having impromptu dance parties at night.  Also, I have to add that my niece favored me over my husband...which is like a HUGE win for me because my husband is a kid magnet (sorry babe! hehe).  While they were here we had to sneak in some maternity pics...because look how gorgeous they are!  We snapped these photos so quick because hello it's July and like a bazillion degrees outside!  This session is proof that you can still get beautiful family photos taken in the heat of the summer!  Anyways, I cannot wait until I get to meet my newest nephew, let the countdown begin!