Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

| By | | 279 Comments

Our Weekly Baby Photo Project Continues

Clara’s first birthday last Saturday made for a natural conclusion to 52 weeks of fabric-filled photo-y goodness (click here to see ’em larger).

ClaraPics 52 Grid

But we’re going to keep going. Kind of. Before we move on to that though, let’s talk about the last photo-filled year.

ClaraPic First Final2

We’re just as surprised as anyone that we managed to maintain our weekly ritual fifty-two times in a row. In fact, today is the first Friday in 12 months that we haven’t busted out the camera, a yard of discount fabric, and a white-onesied Clara, and then used Photoshop to add the week number to her onesie after the fact. It’s kinda sad in a way. But just looking at all of the photos that we captured of our growing bean cheers us up pretty quickly. And it really surprised and flattered us to hear from many of you who were doing your own version of the project with fabric and photoshop too. The craziest thing about our weekly photo session is that our project actually got featured in a book about photographing kids: Mamarazzi, by Stacy Wasmuth. Yeah, we’re kind of in shock. And the grandparents went freaking crazy (“our grandbaby is famous!”).

ClaraPic Mamarazzi

And of course there were all of the sentimental items that the project spawned around here – like the bound photos books that we’ve ordered for ourselves and the grandparents (more on those when they arrive), the photo display that we created at Clara’s party…

ClaraPics On Fireplace

… and the items that Sherry sewed out of the leftover fabric – like her birthday banner and quilt:

Lag Banner Closer3

Quilt Not Quilted

For any of you who have considering starting (or are in the midst of) a similar project of your own, we thought it might be helpful to toss up this link back to the original “making of” post for a look at how we took and edited the pictures. Though we should add one piece of advice that didn’t become clear to us until recently: your baby won’t be a motionless blob forever!

In the early weeks many of you said “I can’t wait to see what you do once she starts moving around!” At the time we wondered how hard it could be to keep the bean on her back. Heck our biggest challenge was getting her to move enough to make the picture somewhat interesting in the early days (“oooh, that burp looked like a smile!”). But as you can see from many of our recent pictures, of course it was harder than we originally thought. Once those rolling / crawling / pulling up skills kicked in, let’s just say that Clara had little interest in waiting patiently for me to white balance. These last few photo sessions could be subtitled as “how many parents and objects are needed to block a baby from crawling off a daybed while singing and waving your arms around frantically?” The answer: a lot.

ClaraPic Rolling Around

We did find that giving her an object to hold (aka: to distract her) helped make her less wiggly – like the carrot in her Easter photo (week #49). So part of us wished we had included an object from the beginning – even if for the first few weeks it just laid by her side. Plus, if we had used the same object throughout there would be a clearer reference for scale.

The only object that was consistent in our pics was her onesie, but that wasn’t the clearest way to show off her growth. In fact, it almost looked like she got smaller when we switched from a (tight at the time) 0-3 month size to a (loose at the time) 6 month one for her 14 week picture.

ClaraPic 13 14

Because of that hiccup we actually squeezed her into that some 6 month onesie for the rest of the project (don’t worry, it stretched enough that she was plenty comfortable). The irony is that she’s such a tall glass of water that some 18-24 month pants are too short for her, but miraculously the onesie just stretched to fit her the whole time.

So even though there are a few things we might’ve done differently (someone suggested starting her in a 12 month onesie from the beginning so we could watch her gradually fill it out), we’ve got no regrets. We’re just turning those lessons learned into “adjustments” for the next year. So without further ado, here’s the beginning of year #2.

ClaraPics 12 Month Pic

We were really excited to use the fabric that we designed on Spoonflower for this shot. As for what’s different, allow me to point out the obvious (or maybe not-so-obvious):

  • Her onesie says “months.” Since her week-to-week changes became more subtle as she grew, we figured this would still do justice to her developments over year two (while also making it a more manageable project for mom and dad).
  • She’s sitting. Rather than fighting her to stay on her back, we’re embracing her desire to move and be upright. We figure this also gives us the flexibility to capture a crawling, standing, or even walking picture down the road.
  • She’s wearing a skirt. In addition to her pose, we’re gonna be less strict about her wardrobe this year too. As long as there’s something white on top to photoshop the week month onto – it flies. Since we had fun doing special things like a Halloween costume (week #24) and a Santa hat (week #32) we thought it might be fun to mix things up.
  • She’s on 2 yards of fabric. One yard of fabric wouldn’t cut it for this new sitting set-up. But since we’re only taking 12 pictures (times 2 yards = approx 24 yards of fabric), we’re still buying half as much as we did for the last 52 weeks this year. Happily we snag almost all of our fabric on clearance or with 50% off coupons from places like Hancock or JoAnn. And sometimes we use other backdrops that we already have on hand (we like to work in random duvets and towels and shower curtains that we have too since it keeps the budget down when we don’t feel like springing for new fabric).

So that’s the new plan. We’re excited to continue the project in some form, while letting the first year stand alone as a complete and finished set of pictures. We’d hate to “ruin” what we started by trying to keep weeklies going and then abruptly fall of the wagon somewhere randomly around week 71 or something. Plus, if taking these sitting pictures turns out to be easier, maybe baby #2 will get this treatment from the start (or an entirely new photo project concept – who knows).

ClaraPics Sunroom Set Up

And yes that’s green painter’s tape holding the fabric in place. Would you expect anything less from us?

Psst- We announced this week’s giveaway winner. Click here to see if it’s you.

Comments

  1. caitlin says

    have you heard of blurb.com? You can make and self publish your own book of anything–photos, text, poetry, literature…. It isn’t always the cheapest but it looks slick as heck if you ever wanted to collect the photos and bind them. I used blurb to make a book about an art show/fundraiser I manage, and the finished product was super quality with the photos we used to design it (and has made shopping the fundraiser around to people way easier). anyway, if you ever wanted to make books easily for multiple relatives, I highly reccomend it! (and you can google around to find a coupon that makes a 20-page book something like 10bucks…)

    just thought you/your readers might like to know!

    Reply

  2. Isabel says

    It’s amazing to see the 1 week and 1 year photo side by side. She seems so tall for one year! She looks like she could be a ballet dancer from the 12 month photo :)

    Reply

  3. amanda says

    So I think that this is a genius idea! I’m really starting to take an interest in photography – especially child and infant photography. I was wondering – would it be some kind of copyright infringement to use this idea and the photoshopping tutorial to have a photography business doing this? I love your blog and your ideas and I know you work so hard to keep it updated and interesting. But I just can’t help but want to start doing this for families in north carolina! I think it’s priceless. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’d never go after you or anything, but people might be sad if they learned that there was already a free tutorial online to help them get this look and you were charging them for it. Maybe if you linked to our tutorial and showed them it was free and available online but they still wanted your services that could be the way to go? I think since our project has been published in a book, maybe having your own spin on it would be great – that way you can really own the idea and get people excited that it’s something new! For example, using blocks to spell out the age or having them wear something different or using fabric in a different way? I don’t know, maybe just play around with it to end up with something you love that feels uniquely you? There must be a ton of ways to photograph kids on fun backgrounds and indicate how old they are in each shot! Good luck and have fun!

      xo,
      s

  4. Pixie says

    This is a great project plus it will be wonderful for her to look back on once she is older. I agree with your observation that incorporating an object from the beginning would be a great way to keep things consistent once it’s needed. I will also note that starting with a 12 month onesie will be helpful in showing growth.
    I’m excited to see her grow from month to month. I’m also looking forward to her outfits!

    Reply

  5. Sarah K says

    I LOVE the weekly first year photos! They look so great on your fireplace & I bet they would make an adorable collage wall treatment somewhere in the house!

    I also really like that you’re changing it up a bit for the next year. It will be so cute!

    Reply

  6. SarahMF says

    I love that you are continuing the photos. It is so valuable, and it will be great to look back on.

    What kinda scared me was when I was looking at the photos on the brick wall at her party I kept thinking that you didn’t put them all up because it doesn’t look like 52 weeks. But that is everything! And I realized that a year is nothing and time goes by so fast!

    Reply

  7. laura says

    I only did monthly shots my sons first year but they are still so fun to look back on! I even recall forgetting to take a picture of Ryder on his official 9 month day until like 9 pm so his 9 month photo is of him sound asleep! Not ideal but still very sweet! I’m crazy like that in that I had to have it on the actual day….weird I know. ;)

    Reply

  8. Meredith @ La Buena Vida says

    For me, the real challenge was once Lizzy started running. There’s no way I could get her to sit still for a photo shoot now, even with lots of candy bribery, lol!

    I’m definitely curious to see if you guys will run into difficulty with the photo shoots later on in her second year, and what your solution will be–I know you’ll figure it out!

    Reply

  10. Stephanie says

    You all are an inspiration, keep up the good work. Yesterday was the first time my 2-year-old specifically said “no pictures, Mommy” when I tried to snap a shot for our neglected blog. Say what?! I thought I had a little while before I heard that one…

    Best of luck with your photo project :)

    Reply

  11. D. Dallas says

    You should print each pic onto fabric, make a quilt out of the squares to match her bday gift! Would be a lifelong keepsake!

    Reply

  13. Christine says

    We did a similar project with blocks for our little ones. Each month on their birthday, I took pictures of them with blocks with the month spelled out (one, two). It got lots of fun as they got older watching them eat the blocks or putting them on their back as they crawled off.

    Much easier for me with my lack of photoshop skilz! I love that Clara will have a tangible memory of her first year.

    Reply

  15. Cathy says

    Someone early on in the comments asked if you would ever stop your Clara project. You’ll figure it out as you go, and it may change with any future additions to the family. We have two daughters, 23 and 21, born in February a day apart. The day our younger daughter was born, while we were still at the hospital, the grandparents took a photo with the then 2 year old in front of a tree that blooms every year around that time. Since then, every year we have taken “birthday tree” pictures (even though we’ve moved twice since then and have had to buy and plant new birthday trees!). The girls made a book for me several years back, and even though they are grown, they would be sad to quit the tradition. The younger one even makes a point to return home from college so that we can be sure to get “birthday tree” photos for the year. So a tradition can start unwittingly and become something very important within a family!

    Reply

  17. Julie says

    I just LOVE your blog…thank you for sharing your very fun lives with us! :) In the last picture from todays entry, there is a corner of a rug/mat shown…I have been looking ALL OVER for something just like it…where did you get yours?? Thank you for your advice!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That was from World Market a few years back. Maybe ask if they still have it (they could cut it to size, so you can add or subtract rows- it’s pretty cool). Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  19. Erin says

    I have loved the Clara photo project and I’m excited to watch it continue. You’d be amazed at how much they continue to change before your eyes in the 2nd year.

    I hope to flatter you (because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right:) by stealing you lovely idea when I have a second:) Also excited to see how you keep her still once she starts to walk. We tried to take monthly photos of my now almost 2 yr old son, but once he was crawling at 8 months and walking at 10 months it got so hard. These days is nearly impossible to get him to sit still. Even my quick DSLR is no match for my fast boy:)

    Reply

  21. amanda says

    Thanks so much Sherry! Yea… this would be years down the road – so who knows what will happen! And if I even have any photography skills… I really appreciate all your advice and tutorials though. I will be buying your book when it comes out! I think everyone should since you’ve given us so much over these years. Can’t wait!

    Reply

  22. Liz says

    Have you thought about transferring all these pictures to fabric and making a quilt out of them or did I miss that in the story above. Would be a wonderful thing to pass on to her when she grows up too.

    Reply

  23. Margaret says

    this is such a great idea. if i’m ever blessed with kids, it’s definitely a tradition i want to start in my family!

    Reply

  24. Jenny says

    I narrate my life too. Also known as “talking to yourself”. One of the perks of having a six month old is now people think I’m talking to the baby! I look less like a crazy person :)

    Reply

  27. Alicia M says

    I love this project! I sooo plan on copying you guys some day :)
    One observation… I think it’s super cute that Clara started the 1 week picture with her hand near her mouth and finished the 1 year picture the same way! Way to be consistent kiddo! ;)

    Reply

  29. Amy says

    is it wrong that my fav weekly photo is the one of the bean on the packing box? LOVE IT…great project and congrats on the book feature…

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I love that one too! So much. What a fun slash crazy time. I just remember how exciting it was to get into our new house! Wahoo. Still so happy to be here.

      xo,
      s

  30. Jennifer says

    Just a tip, when you lay the fabric – try not to have a 90 degree angle where the floor meets the wall. Pull the fabric forward so it’s a nice smooth curve. You will have fewer wrinkles, and you won’t get the shadow that shows floor vs. wall. When photographers use seamless paper, that is how they do it. The farther the subject is from the backdrop, the less halo-shadowing you’ll get too from your light source.

    I am due in less than 6 weeks and still can’t come up with a good idea for a monthly picture. I can’t do weekly b/c I am going back to work. :-(

    Reply

  31. Monika says

    I love the addition of the skirt in the monthly photo. It will be neat if you can dress her up in a special or significant outfit each month. Some of my favorite baby pictures of me and my brother are of us in outfits given to us by our grandparents.

    Reply

  32. Rebecca @ RemadeHome says

    Ohh! Love it :)
    Seeing you in the last picture made me chuckle as it brought back memories of trying to get my kids’ Christmas picture this past year. I wound up giving them each a cookie as Grandma stood behind me and dropped things off her head to make them laugh. We wound up with super cute, genuine smiles although their mouths were full of chocolate chips-lol! I just made the caption say “may your hearts be full of laughter and your bellies full of cookies” Whatever it takes to get a cute shot, right? :)

    Reply

  33. Shay says

    You had inspired me to do this when my Little Man was born I’ve missed a few weeks in between…but kept up with it for the most part. My Mom and the rest of my Family live 7 hours aways so my mom really enjoy’s the weekly picture updates on my blog. Thanks again for the idea!

    Reply

  36. Katie @ J&KHomestead says

    I just love the creative simplicity of this photo idea. And your changes for year 2 will keep things interesting. This is one idea I definitely want to steal when we have our first baby.

    Reply

  37. janie says

    It would probably get you caned if you admitted it, but I personally would organise to have a test curtain/shower curtain/rug or whatever at home the weekend I was due to take a picture, even if I was taking it back the next day. It would be super green, instead of buying all that fabric!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I actually love ending up with the fabric so I can do projects like the banner, quilt, etc (I want to make a beanbag, clothes, a tote, etc- I’ve already pinned a ton of ideas on Pinterest, haha).

      xo,
      s

  38. Kim says

    Such an awesome idea! And so glad you are continuing to do it. I wish we had done this with each of our girls. We did video our first girl every month until about month 8, but then totally slacked off as I was still working full-time. With baby #2, sadly we didn’t do anything even monthly. Oh well, I’ll suggest it to my girls and hopefully they can do it with THEIR children :)

    Reply

  40. Carolyn says

    Very cute! My husband I don’t have any children yet, but I will certainly be taking some weekly/monthly photos when we do. You guys are great!

    Also, I started following you on Pinterest. The whole site is so much fun. I. Am. Obsessed. In fact, I just pinned something you might like from West Elm’s sale section. Have you seen these yet? They aren’t quite animals, but cute anyway. I really like the one on the left!

    http://www.westelm.com/products/modern-gnomes-c187/?pkey=csale-accessories

    Reply

  41. Robin says

    Looking forward to the month-by-month Clara series. I think I’ve sent the link to everyone I know for Clara’s first year photos.

    When I saw this linked to on The Purl Bee’s website, I immediately thought of you and all those fabric scraps. I know Clara is a little young for a matching game — or maybe not! — but it looks like a fun project and I’m guessing it doesn’t have to even be a sewing project. (Hello, hot glue gun.)

    I’m ready to go digging through my fabric stash now, too. I know I have tons of felt. And these fabric tiles look like they could double as coasters, too.

    http://www.thestudentteacher.com/journal/2011/4/26/felt-and-fabric-memory-game.html

    Reply

  42. max in canada says

    Love this idea-you guys are superstars for sure. Please, please, make sure to do this for bean or beanette(s) number 2 or 3! As one of 4 siblings, there is a serious lack of photos of the later kids early years :(

    Reply

  44. Carol N. says

    I looked back at all of her pics right before her birthday and it is amazing to see how she has grown. She still has John’s ability to make cute faces though doesn’t she? I look forward to seeing her monthly pics this coming year. Is she trying to walk yet?

    Reply

  46. Katie says

    I am definitely going to use your idea and take weekly photos when I have a little one:) You do amazing things and are so creative and crafty! I know you like print/font- have you ever checked out wordle? You can make word clouds and I used it to DIY some New Orleans art. You should check it out if you haven’t- I think it will be right up your alley! Happy Friday!

    Reply

  48. leah says

    I love this. I never thought to do a weekly or even monthly photo project of my boys, and seeing yours makes me wish I could go back in time! It really is so great and Clara will love it when she gets bigger. She won’t believe how tiny she was, it will be a good frame of reference for her to see herself get bigger. Awesome!

    Reply

  49. Nancy Shirley says

    I am glad you are continuing also. I think you should stop at three years of age and then she may start preschool and you could then do the first day of school pictures. I managed to get my daughter and son to cooporate until 8th grade and after that they refused!

    Reply

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *