5 podcasts to listen to now
I'm a big fan of podcasts.
I follow the occasional podcast series (S Town is brilliant) but mainly I use it to find interviews with people I admire.
After finishing The Handmaid's Tale recently and LOVING It, I found myself searching for a podcast interview with Elisabeth Moss. There's a great one here about her career and how she prepares for her roles.
Running errands, on a daily commute, tackling a boring household cleaning job - I've realised these are all perfect times to listen to a podcast.
Here are a selection of my favourites I have listened to recently:
The Moth - Each week brave souls stand on a stage and share real life stories. They can be uplifting, shocking, sad, hilariously funny but always gripping and fascinating. This one with the actor Ethan Hawke talking about his stepfather is one of my favourites.
Andy Puddicombe - founder of Headspace - LinkedIn Speaker Series - A series of sad events led Andy to take a totally different course in his life - firstly becoming a buddhist monk and later starting Headspace - making meditation more easily accessible to you and me. This is a really honest, open interview. The Headspace app offers a free trial and I can't recommend it highly enough.
S Town - or 'shit town' - A really gripping podast that will stay in your mind for days/weeks afterwards. I wrote more about it here. Not to be missed.
Kristina Karlsson - Mastering your habits - Kristina started the gorgeous stationery brand Kikki.K. Here she talks about her morning routine which involves journaling and reading from 5am onwards and how she masters her habits. She's a real inspiration to me and i'm obsessed with Kikki.k stationery!
Magic Lessons - Elizabeth Gilbert wrote Eat Pray Love 11 years ago now. In this series she helps creatives develop their ideas with the help of a professional. My favourite is episode 202 where she calls on Brandon Stanton, a photographer who wrote and photographed the Humans of New York blog and later book. He helps and offers advice to a photographer who is working on a tricky family documentary project.
Any podcasts you can recommend? I'd love to hear in the comments below.
3 great places to print your pictures
Remember the days of waiting in line at Boots to collect your photos?
Then you would perhaps find those annoying stickers all over them?
Thankfully printing your pictures is so much easier these days. A simple upload to your phone or computer and a parcel through the letterbox a few days later.
I'm on a mission this year to print more of my pictures - rather than leaving them in folders on my desktop.
So this week I want to share some of my favourite places for printing pictures - ranging from high quality art prints to an almost free option still producing lovely results.
Watch this video for my top 3 suggestions:
The Print Space
If you're looking for high quality prints to frame, this is a great bet. Easy to upload images and postage is quick. The Print Space
Artifact Uprising
For something a little bit different head to Artifact Uprising. They also print cards, calendars & photo books. The square print set above is my favourite and if Instagram is your thing, these prints are perfect. Artifact Uprising
Photobooks App/Freeprints App
The Freeprints App allows you to have 45 free prints a month (you just pay postage). The new app Freeprints Photobooks offers you a free photo book each month - again, you just pay the delivery cost. Both apps are available from the iTunes store - Freeprints & Freeprints Photobooks
3 Thrillers & Dramas not to be missed
The last few months have seen some brilliant thrillers and dramas hit our screens and bookshelves.
There's nothing better than spending the evening or weekend binge-watching a new show, rather than waiting for it to be drip-fed week by week.
Here I am sharing three of my favourites that I have watched, listened to or read over the past few months.
If thrillers are your thing, you'd be mad not to miss these - enjoy!
TV - Top of the Lake- China Girl
I was pregnant and exhausted when I binge watched Top of the Lake Season 1 one weekend. I know some people gave up after the first couple of episodes finding it a bit weird. I was almost one of those but stuck with it and loved it.
Season 2 is faster-paced (the epic New Zealand landscape has been swapped with the energetic and vibrant Sydney). China Girl once again follows Elisabeth Moss as a Detective Sergeant as she tries to solve a suspected murder case, whilst also tackling demons from her past and trying to reconnect with her daughter Mary (played by Director Jane Campion's real life daughter).
There are plenty of twists and turns, humour and award-worthy acting, particularly from Moss and sidekick Gwendoline Christie. I read that Christie loved the first Season so much, she emailed Jane Campion, the director asking for a part in the second season. The bold email move paid off as she was cast as Detective Miranda Hilmarson and puts in a star performance.
Top of the Lake - China Girl - Available on iPlayer.
*If you're a fan of Elisabeth Moss there's a great podcast here of her talking about Top of the Lake and The Handmaid's Tale.
Books - The Adversary
Picked as a Waterstone's recommended read in July, The Adversary by Emmanuel Carrere is a fascinating and hard to put down true story about the ultimate deception.
Jean-Claude Romand is in prison for murdering his wife, two children and parents in a small town in France. He tries to cover his tracks by setting fire to his family home, is left injured, but makes a recovery.
The author, fascinated by the case, connects with Romand through letters in prison, follows his criminal trial and speaks with his friends. What the author uncovers about Romand is incomprehensible and hard to believe.
Available from Waterstones and Amazon.
Podcasts - S-Town
I probably don't listen to enough podcasts and this should really change. Sometimes there's nothing better than putting on your headphones and tuning in to a great interview or series. This one had me gripped from the start.
S-Town tells the story of John B. McLemore who calls into the radio show and tells the host Brian Reed that he might want to investigate a suspected murder in his 'shit-town'. As the series unfolds and the podcast changes directions, we learn a lot more about John, his life and loves. It's shocking, sad, at times funny and captivating as we hear recordings and conversations between the two men and wonder where each episode will take us next.
It also proves how there's more lurking below the surface of relatively anonymous small towns and the hunch by the This American Life team to follow this story and dig deeper paid off.
Available from This American Life and iTunes podcasts.
So now I've finished these (sob), I really need some to watch/read/listen to next. Any suggestions? Let me know in the comments below.
A week in Guernsey
A brief trip back to Guernsey - our week away from the hustle and bustle of London life.
The mix of sea air, great food, relaxing strolls and one too many ice creams (particularly if you are aged 1 & 3) was just the tonic we needed.
Our girls were wide-eyed and excited by so many little things from travelling on the train and plane to dipping their toes into the sea for the very first time.
Even the rain (it rained 2 days during our week) was exciting for Alice, our 3 year old, who was thrilled to see the droplets forming on mum's purple Agapanthus or 'rain flowers' as she called them.
I aimed to have my camera on me all the time. There were a few near misses (sand and cameras really don't mix) but it was great to capture the small everyday moments - impromptu yoga moves by Alice for my dad, the girls enjoying breakfast with my dad and warm hugs and hide and seek with mum.
Back in London and putting Alice to bed last night, I asked her what she'd like to do in the morning- a haircut? trip to the shops and a babycino?
'I want to go to Guernsey in the morning' came the reply.
8 Summer Beauty treats
I'm definitely one of those make-up/beauty hoarders.
I'm the first one to jump in and snap up a good deal/freebie with purchase (thank you Clinique Bonus Time) but often some of those beauty bits are left to gather dust in the bathroom cabinet.
So I'm trying to be a bit more selective with what I buy now and I've put together a few of my favourites I can highly recommend for the Summer:
Kiss the Moon - Glow After Dark Face Polish
A perfect pampering treat in a generous sized pot. Open the lid and it immediately smells like a super high end posh spa and leaves your face feeling and looking refreshed. A perfect gift for you or a great friend. From Kiss The Moon £30
La Roche-Posay Effaclar - Unclogging purifying sego-controlling mask anti-shine & La Roche Posay Toleraine Ultra Nuit
Annoyingly I'm prone to breakouts despite no longer being a teenager. These creams are the first I've used for ages which are actually helping to control things. They are both light and non greasy and even better are very reasonably priced. From Boots from £16
Elie Saab Le Parfum Resort Collection
I've been wearing Jo Malone for a few years now but fancy a change for the Summer. Designer Elie Saab has produced this gorgeous fruity and fresh fragrance in a generous sized bottle. From Fragrance Direct £40.95
Neom Organics Energy Oil
I'm a huge fan of Neom ever since I was given Neom Bath Oils as an engagement gift. You dab a little of this oil on your wrists and take some time to breathe it in. It's the perfect size for your handbag and also perfect for using to kickstart your energy levels after lunch. From Neom Organics £8
St Tropez Everyday Tinted Body Lotion
I'm a lazy fake tanner so this is perfect for me as you simply apply it when you want a bit of extra glow. No streaks or embarrasing marks, just a hint of warmth on my legs. From Boots £10
Bobbi Brown Luxe Lip Colour - Retro Red
Hmm red lipstick... I always feel I'm 5 years old and have raided my mum's make up drawer when I wear it. I think as I'm quite pale it can look a bit dramatic. I took the plunge recently though and got some advice from the Bobbi Brown counter. The sales assistant suggested retro red (its very bright). I tried it when out when meeting friends for dinner last week and actually loved the bolder colour. From Bobbi Brown £27
Blush Pink Leather Cosmetics Bag by Autograph, Marks and Spencer
Tucked away in the corner of the store was this make-up bag. Do I need one? Of course not. Do I love it? Yes! It's roomy, it's a beautiful blush pink colour. Best of all, it was a bargain. From M&S - £12.50 for similar style in silver
8 courses to kickstart your Creativity
I read a great quote recently:
Invest in yourself. Read books. Find Mentors. Listen to podcasts. Every day is a school day. - Mark Ormrod
I'm always on the lookout for short courses to improve my photography or just simply to learn a new skill.
Modern Calligraphy, Brush Lettering, Watercolour Painting, Street Photography - these are some of the evening/day classes I've taken over the past year.
I really think short courses are a great way to test the water and see if an idea could lead to a regular hobby.
Calligraphy has become a regular hobby I practice in my own time. I find it really meditative and if I'm feeling stressed or anxious, getting lost in creative lettering is the perfect tonic.
I've put together a list of 8 courses I've done over the past few years - some offline and some online, all have been fun and given me food for thought!
1. Modern Calligraphy & Brush Lettering - two separate classes run by Quill London in Islington. The courses get booked up really fast but if you sign up to their mailing list, you can book a class as soon as they become available. Owner of Quill Lucy Edmonds has just published her first book called Modern Calligraphy - perfect for total beginners and those who want to keep up their practice.
2. I took a Watercolour Painting class one afternoon at West Elm, a pretty amazing homeware shore in central London. Led by illustrator Emma Block and fuelled by cups of tea, we settled into a corner of the store on a Sunday morning with the sun streaming through the high windows and painted the fresh flowers in front of us. A pretty relaxing start to the day!
3. Street Photography - I joined Street Photographer Paul Russell for a brilliant six hours pounding the streets of central London. I wrote about it in a blog post here.
4. On Creative Live I came across a truly inspirational photography workshop by Kirsten Lewis. She's a fantastic US based documentary family photographer. Her class gave me lots to think about with my own photography work and she introduced me to many photographers to research and learn from. You can download the class and watch it in your own time.
5. kikki.K run workshops. Yes, for stationery addicts like myself this is BIG news. If you haven't come across this company, then check it out. They simply do the best planners/diaries/organisers and now have stores in the UK. I signed up to their Goals workshop at the Covent Garden store. Very relaxed and over a glass of fizz, you learn how to use the kikki.K goals planner by setting monthly goals you'd like to achieve. Whether it's booking the holiday you keep contemplating or trying that Pilates class, there's something about writing things down that helps get things done. If you're in London or passing through, book in for one of these evening classes and you won't be disappointed.
6. Click in Moms is a US website aimed at photographers of all levels. I've now completed my fourth class through the site. The classes I have taken have been breakouts, which means you have downloadable content to watch in your own time; but you can also interact with the class teacher and others doing the course over a couple of weeks while the breakout is live. Look out for classes by Kirsten Lewis (mentioned earlier), Maria Manco and Ginger Unzueta. All are brilliant photographers.
7. To Creative Live again and this time a blogging course. I decided a couple of years ago I really wanted to give more thought to my blog. April Bowles Olin's course Build a Successful Creative Blog is fun, really inspiring and with tons of blogging content ideas. Most importantly she'll give you the confidence to just go for it and get writing. Available to download and watch in your own time.
8. Tammy Strobel of www.rowdykittens.com is your go-to guide to getting started with journaling. It's something I wanted to start doing for ages (I wrote about it here). I took Tammy's journaling class. She sent out emails every couple of days for a few weeks with tips, prompts and advice. This class helped give me the confidence to not feel silly about journaling and make it part of my day. Her new book Everyday Adventures can be bought here.
Got any suggestions for courses on or offline that you've done? I'd love to hear in the comments below.
5 Photography Documentaries to watch now
I’m always intrigued to know how photographers tick. What kit do they use? How did they get the shot? What made them want to photograph in the first place? There have been some brilliant photography documentaries made over recent years. I’ve been thinking about my favourites and here they are:
Which Way is the Front Line from Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington
April 2011, Misrata, Libya. A group of photographers are sitting in a car with their driver. The Bee Gees' ‘How deep is your love’ plays on the radio. Outside of the car is a war zone. A voice is heard asking ‘Which way is the front line from here’. That day, photojournalist Tim Hetherington, along with Chris Hondros, a Getty Images photographer were fatally wounded. This film is a wonderful tribute to the photographic career of Hetherington made by his personal friend Sebastian Junger. It also includes an in-depth look at his photography career and includes tributes and memories from his loved ones.
Available on UK iTunes
Bill Cunningham New York
‘The best fashion show is definitely on the street, always has been, always will be.’ The words of Bill Cunningham, photographer for the New York Times. He worked for the newspaper for almost 40 years before his death in June 2016 and was best known for his candid shots of fashion on the New York City Streets. This profile of Cunningham provides an interesting insight into his life and work both through his own eyes and those of the fashion world.
Available on UK iTunes
Don’t Blink, Robert Frank
Named by the New York Times as the most influencial living photographer, Robert Frank is a pillar of American photojournalism. He produced the iconic book ‘The Americans’, a highly influential study in post-war American photography. Filmmaker Laura Israel worked as Robert’s editor for many years but she was reluctant to approach him about the idea of a film at first as he had turned down other directors. She did ask him though and Robert agreed to being the subject of the film. The result is a great insight into his work, family, friends and day-to-day life.
Available on DVD at Amazon.co.uk
Finding Vivian Maier
A mystery box, loaded with film negatives is bought at auction for $380. The photographer: an unknown by the name of Vivian Maier. Maier worked as a nanny. What nobody realised when she was alive was that she had taken and kept hundreds of thousands of street photography images during her lifetime. Telling the fascinating story of how the images were discovered, this film also talks to those who knew her as a very private woman. She is now considered one of the 20th century’s greatest photographers.
Available in the UK from iTunes
The President’s Photographer
Missing the Obama days? I recently discovered this documentary. It's available to watch on YouTube (divided into four parts). It follows Barack Obama’s official Photographer during his White House years, Pete Souza. The film gives a fascinating insight into Souza’s role, capturing key moments in history mixed with behind the scenes shots of Obama with his family. Souza had his own office in the White House, a room previously used as the official barber shop of past presidents! The film is a glimpse behind the scenes of a photographer who has created key images in history.
Available on YouTube
Any I haven’t mentioned? I'd love to hear your recommendations in the comments below.
My career change: How I switched radio for photography
It's 1996. I'm skimming through University brochures in our careers room at school. What do I want to do when I grow up? I don't have a clue.
I always just assumed you get a job and that's it. Yes, you switch jobs for more money or when you get bored, but your career more or less stays the same, right?
Aged 25 and I was five years into a graduate job as a Radio Journalist. Yes, I loved my job but something was missing. I REALLY wanted to do something else more. That something else was photography.
So how do you suddenly switch from one career to another? For me it was a case of being brave and just going for it. Would it work out? I had no idea. Was it madness to leave behind a great job in radio? Maybe.
My career change plans had a slight stumbling block. I had no photography experience (apart from one evening class course). But I put my application together and applied for an MA in Photojournalism (the journalism experience sealed the deal and I was accepted on the course).
There's no doubt about it, I was WAY out of my photography depth when I started the course in 2005. It was really tough; I won't lie. My classmates had incredible portfolios while my own was a collection of snapshots.
But I loved the degree, made great friends, and learned so much. Ater graduating it opened doors for me in Photography and Picture Editing at The Press Association, Daily Telegraph and FOX TV channel.
Going back to uni isn't an option for everyone financially or practically but doing short courses (either online or an intense in person class) is worth looking into.
Building a website is another great way to get your work on show. It doesn't need to cost the earth and websites like Squarespace give you a chance to build your own for free and try before you buy. That's where I started and I pay about $100 a year for my site.
Setting up an Instagram account and learning about hashtags will get your work seen by others in the field.
If, like me, photography is the direction you want to head in, get reading. Join your local library and read tons about other photographers. We were encouraged to do this on our MA course and I've done a lot of reading recently, rediscovering some of the masters of photography and discovering new photographers.
Figure out who your favourite photographers are and learn from their work.
Magnum photos is another great resource, so settle down with a coffee and take inspiration from some of the best.
Want to read more? Here's how I'm trying
Ever get the feeling you're spending too much time online? It dawned on me recently that I needed a little 'tech break.' Sat in bed, with an actual book for a change, I attempt to scroll down the page with my finger. Yes scroll, down the page of the book like it's my iPhone. Not cool. Something has to change.
I want to read more in 2017. It's been a New Year Resolution. The problem is, when do I find the time? It's not easy when we lead busy lives. So I have decided I need to stop complaining and just go for it; make time to make it happen. Here's how I'm attempting to bring more reading back into my life:
• The library. A bit obvious maybe but I only joined my library a few months ago. My first challenge has been to read more about photographers I admire. One great tip I discovered if you live in London like me, is that you can reserve books from any London borough online. I've already borrowed and read at least a dozen beautiful, expensive, hardback photography books. Each reservation is just 60p and you get the book sent to your local library for collection.
• Schedule time. So when do I find time to read these lovely books? I've actually found a great local cafe and I escape for an hour at the weekend, taking a photography book with me. I know I'll have peace and quiet away from home to soak up the material.
A model backstage at London Fashion Week squeezes in some reading time before a catwalk show. Pic: Katie Collins/PA images
• No wifi. We went on a cruise recently and I decided not to buy an internet package. And it was great. I really didn't miss being online. It felt like I could clear my head. I also got so much more reading done. Any train or tube journeys are also a great opportunity to catch up with reading without the distraction of online.
• Keep notes & ask for recommendations. I've started writing down all the books I read in a year. Bizarrely when my family got together last Christmas, I discovered my brother had done exactly the same thing. We'd also both given our books a rating. I love looking back to see how much I have read in the past 12 months and getting ideas for new books to try. My family have also started a Secret Santa with books; a great way to share a favourite book with others and get a discussion going.
I also recently came across this great article on how to read more. It really struck a chord with me and got me thinking about how I can improve my reading volume even more. It's a great article and I hope you enjoy it:
https://hbr.org/2017/02/8-ways-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year
5 things I've learned about street photography
I'm stood in the middle of a busy London junction. People are fast approaching from every direction.
This is my first real taste of Street Photography. I've stepped slightly out of my comfort zone and am taking an afternoon workshop with Photographer Paul Russell.
I've long been fascinated by Street Photography and touched on it in my press photography days. But I want to know more about it.
I have lots of questions to ask Paul whose work first caught my eye in the Street Photography Now book.
There are three of us joining Paul. For the next six hours we'll be pounding the streets looking for inspiration and a better understanding of how it all works.
As the hours tick by fast and my memory card is filling up rapidly, I've picked up 5 key things to take away from today and that I hope in time will improve my Street Photography:
1. Get close - I quickly realised I wasn't getting close enough. Later in the afternoon, I felt myself becoming braver. It takes some practice as you don't want to be too obvious in taking someone's picture. I always made it look like I was photographing a building in the distance and never made eye contact. As my lecturer at University always said: Get Close, crop in the camera.
2. Use a small camera - I started off by using my Canon 5D mark III with a 35mm lens. It's a wonderful camera but its too big and obvious for Street Photography. I switched to my much smaller Fuji Finepix X100. This was so much better. I felt like I blended into the crowd much more and could easily be mistaken for a keen, snap-happy tourist - perfect!
3. Consider your shutter speed - When people are involved (and on the move), you really need a fast shutter speed. I kept mine at 1/500 or faster all afternoon to freeze the motion.
4. People vs Detail - Street Photography doesn't always have to mean people. As Paul explained, some great pictures can be taken showing evidence of human behaviour (e.g rubbish stacked up, pigeons eating rubbish, broken shop window etc). This is a project I'm excited to explore further. Paul showed us examples of pictures without people but with plenty going on in the image to ask questions and generate a reaction.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice - it's harder than it looks. I'll be honest, I thought Street Photography would be much easier. Capturing fleeting moments, thinking about composition; there's a lot to consider. Sometimes its hard to see the moments in the chaos. But nobody said it was easy and well established street photographers can end up taking one good photo a month.
What was I hoping to get out of the workshop and where do I go from here?
I feel like I've picked up some fundamental tips for doing Street Photography. I now know which is the best of my kit to use and how best to approach it subtly.
Most of all, I feel more confident doing this type of photography. I'm looking forward to doing more of this longer term as a side project.
I hope to pick up my camera for a few hours at a weekend and take to the street. For me its also about noticing the small details on the roads/streets everyday. A really fascinating shot could be literally at your feet.
Paul Russell led this Street Photography Workshop in central London. He is a member of In-public and his work features in the brilliant Street Photography Now book. Details of his future workshops can be found on his Instagram and website.
Further reading: I'm currently reading books by these Street Photographers: Matt Stuart, Garry Winogrand & Joel Meyerowitz
If you've read any great Street Photography books that you'd recommend, let me know in the comments below.
Journaling (for those who don't journal)
I start my day with a glass of warm water, a slice of lemon and yoga stretches whilst leisurely reading the paper...
No, not really. Are you kidding? I have a 3 year old and a one year old so I am probably on my second caffeine hit of the day and will have stubbed my toe on Duplo by 8am.
I am however very impressed by those who manage to squeeze in some 'me time' before the kids wake up. 5am starts are not for me right now; maybe one day.
One thing I do always do is sit down with a decent breakfast of toast, eggs, cheese and a cup of tea each morning - something I have to do to regulate my blood sugar, being a Type 1 diabetic. It's actually my favourite meal of the day (and I was always guilty of shovelling down a croissant on my morning commute a few years ago).
I've also started journaling in the morning. It sounds very hippy, I know, but all the research and articles I have been reading point to it being a great way to start the day. The truth is that for a long time I didn't really know where to start and felt a bit silly doing it.
I then came across an article on My Morning Routine which mentioned The Five Minute Journal. 5 minutes later the book was ordered and it arrived a few days later.
So what's good about it? It's a template journal so you fill in the blanks.
I find it gets me focused and I start the day with a positive mindset. I jot down what I'm grateful for and what I want to achieve that day. I revisit the journal later before lights out and write down what made today great and what could have made it better.
I don't manage it everyday but when I do fill it out, I feel better for it - less anxious, happier and more grateful. So if like me journaling is something you'd like to try, this might be worth a go.
T1 Diabetes - Five ways to wear an insulin pump
This blog post is aimed at insulin pump users like myself who have struggled to find clothes to wear. I hope this helps with inspiration and ideas!
It's one of those mornings. I'm staring into my messy wardrobe and I don't know what on Earth to wear. I'm not just being picky; I'm genuinely stuck.
A few weeks ago I was fitted with an insulin pump to help manage my Type 1 diabetes, diagnosed 2 years ago. The pump is an amazing piece of kit and I love it already. I am however finding it odd having a pager sized device with tubing attached to me at all times. I was dreading sleeping with it but surprisingly that's been perfectly fine so far. Clothes-wise though, it's left me stuck. Suddenly casual dresses I'd wear on a daily basis to ferry the kids round are tricky to wear when you need easy access to the pump.
So what's the solution? I've been googling around and scanning Pinterest for ideas and inspiration for how to wear my new friend. I've come across some clever solutions and ideas for ladies like me, genuinely stumped:
1. Storage bra - most other female pump users I've spoken to wear their pump clipped to their bra. I've tried this and I don't find it hugely comfortable but it's an option. During one of many online searches for pump fashion, I came across a couple of sports storage bras. These clever designs are aimed at those who want to store their mobile phone/house keys/money while they run or take part in exercise. These by The North Face (blue) and Senita Athletics (pink) are the best I've found so far for my pump.
2. Waist bag - OK, let's be honest. We're talking about a bumbag. Mine is a buttery soft toffee-coloured, leather number. I actually bought it a few years ago before I even had Type 1. It's the perfect size for my pump and another option to consider. Waist bag by Clare.V
3. Storage shorts/leggings - another clever idea. The shorts are a great option if you want to wear a dress with a fuller skirt. I have a wedding coming up over the summer and plan to carry my pump in these. The leggings help solve my everyday dress dilemma, as the side pocket allows for easy access to the pump. Both the shorts and leggings (below) are by Senita Athletics.
4. Stickers - some days I don't bother hiding my pump - I am happy to have it on show. A late night scan of Instagram recently led me to several websites selling stickers for pumps and CGMs. I've chosen the palm leaves design for my pump and feel like a little bit of my personality is stamped on my new companion! The palm leaves design (below) is by Prikkedief.
5. Personal shopper - A week after getting my pump fitted I booked in to see a personal shopper at my local department store. It's usually a free service, many department stores offer it and there's no obligation to buy if nothing takes your fancy. During my two hour appointment, Helen, my fashion consultant listened as I explained I needed solutions for wearing the pump. She came back with a selection of comfortable trousers with pockets and looser fitting tops. I left the store a little poorer but with a bag full of new clothes and a spring in my step.
So these are just some of the solutions I have found so far. It's an ongoing challenge but it seems more pump wear is coming onto the market daily. I'm confident that it'll become easier as time goes on - more clothes will come onto the market and the pumps will get smaller.
I'm constantly on the look out for new ideas to try and would love to hear how other Type 1's with pumps wear theirs. Let me know:
Twitter - @K_J_Collins
Mood Board
Welcome to my brand new Mood Board page where I'll be sharing my photos of people, places and things that inspire me.
As we are now settling into 2017, I've been thinking a lot about what I want to achieve this year.
From developing my documentary family photography to learning a new hobby- modern calligraphy & brush lettering - there's plenty on my to do list!
Watching more films, actually going swimming (rather than thinking about it) and getting our baby to sleep through the night are also high up on the agenda!
I'd love to hear your suggestions for places to go, films to see and books to read in the comments section below.
Happy New Year!
A morning documentary family session
Since our two girls have come along the weekends have certainly changed (definitely no more lie-ins!) but they have also become even more special and precious. There's something lovely about Friday evenings - work is cast aside in favour of time together, time for favourite things - films, stories, food and games.
I recently photographed the Russell family's Saturday morning routine. It was lovely to see and capture those special family moments - spontaneous giggling, reading favourite stories, cuddles on the sofa, playing with a favourite train set.
Those are real life moments, not posed in any way. Here are a selection of pictures from our morning shoot:
5 tips for great family photos (with a self timer)
As our baby turns 6 months, I've realised we don't have a single photo of the four of us.
Getting some professional pictures taken is definitely on my to-do list but we've just not got round to it. Life has been busy.
Last weekend I was determind to get a picture - the four of us, our little family, my camera and a self timer. Easy right?
It took patience, a lot of patience with a toddler running into the garden after every shot and being dragged back to the sofa for 'just one more!' We got there in the end though.
Here are some of my tips for getting that family shot:
1. Choose your weapon - you may have an SLR or compact camera and a tripod. You may be looking to balance an iPhone on a pile of books. Choose what works for you and work out how to use the self timer function.
2. The set-up - my advice (particularly if you have young children) is to decide on your location in advance (ideally close to a window with some natural daylight). Clear away clutter and any distractions. Use an adult to pose for a trial shot and see how it looks. If you have everything set up in advance, you just literally need to bring the children in and get going.
3. Patience- we bribed our toddler with a biscuit and entertained her with songs. She was not playing ball but we just kept persevering with the self timer, taking numerous shots.
4. Eyes to camera? Do you want everyone looking at the camera? We tried shots some looking at the camera and some away. The image I chose was less posed and more natural. This is the style we prefer but the beauty of the self timer is that you are in charge and you can try lots of different options.
5. Editing - my editing for clients is done on my desktop computer with Photoshop software. Increasingly for day to day family pictures of our life at home I upload my pictures straight to my iPad using an Apple card reader. I then use the VSCO or Snapseed apps to crop, tweak colours and contrast or change to black and white.
Before & After
Before
After
As you can see I chose to be close to a window with plenty of light. I had originally tried to include a painting we have in our kitchen but in the end decided the painting was a little too distracting and cropping in closer would work better. I also decided without the painting, I preferred the picture in black and white form.
Using the self timer is definitely something to try out. It takes a little planning but great to have a family photo ready for framing on your mantelpiece.
The magic of stories
Bedtime stories are a big deal in our house.
Stick Man, Not Now Bernard and Giraffes Can't Dance are just some of the favourites on loop each evening. They take pride of place at the end of our 2 year old's bed.
Some of her books are gifts, recommendations from friends and their children (Goodnight Moon).
Some are stories I loved as a child and have tracked down on eBay late at night (There's a Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake).
Then there are some new discoveries that caught our eye in a local bookshop.
Stanley's Cafe by William Bee I found when pottering on a lazy Sunday morning in Wimbledon Village. This particular morning I put myself in charge of the book selection, refusing to be sucked in to buying another book with a certain pink pig on the front.
It was the beautiful illustrations that first caught my eye.
The book tells the simple tale of Stanley the Hamster and his day to day life working in a cafe.
Setting up the cafe for the day, cooking breakfast, baking a birthday cake, washing up and home to bed. Stanley's routine was quickly picked up by our 2 year old. It wasn't long before she knew the character Myrtle (regular customer) likes 'a nice cup of tea' (much like mummy).
When our little girl wakes up in the morning she will often be heard (on the baby monitor) reading Stanley to her toys in a kind of gibberish language but with the intonation of an adult narrator.
A few weeks ago I discovered Stanley's Colours. It's a smaller in size board book introducing little ones to colours through modes of transport. Our little girl would listen intently and I could see the penny drop as she gradually started to pick up and repeat the names of the colours in front of her.
The end of the day always feels the toughestThe exhaustion of having two children under 3 kicks in, the caffeine has worn off and my bed is calling. But storytime and watching our toddler devour the words and stories in front of her is magic.
Before you know it that 'just one story' has turned into five and a happy little girl full of imagination has nodded off to sleep.
Summer reading - Deep by James Nestor
"Everything down here seems half developed, awkward, slow moving, and crippled in some way- failed experiments from God's test kitchen. But this assumption couldn't be more wrong. In a world without light, looks don't matter. What does matter is efficiency and adaptability, and each of these animals, as awkward and ghastly as it might appear, has evolved to fit into its own tiny niche in a harsh environment that would destroy most other creatures"
James Nestor, author of Deep on viewing sea life 2,200 ft underwater
Having immersed myself in baby books over the last six months, I was ready to get stuck into something completely different.
Deep has been next to my bed since I unwrapped it from under the Christmas tree.
Part travelogue/part science/part memoir, the book explores what lurks at the bottom of the sea.
The journalist James Nestor doesn't just speak to scientists/freedivers/explorers; he gets stuck in.
He learns to freedive, a notoriously dangerous sport where divers descend to depths of 702ft (the world record), just holding their breath.
He watches Freediving competitions where competitors sometimes return to the surface unconscious or bleeding. This wasn't enough to put him off and he still embarked on learning the practice himself - brave man.
He pays for a ticket to explore 725 feet underwater in a submarine built by hand.
He visits Aquarius, an underwater habitat in the US where researchers (aquanauts) live temporarily and are monitored 24 hours a day. Humidity ranges from 70-100 per cent and infections, mould and earaches are rampant.
He also sets out to swim with dolphins and sperm whales and shares his breathtaking experience.
I'm no great sea swimmer, always worrying about what creatures I might be stepping on. But I'm fascinated by the sea and what is hidden in its depths. Freediving seems crazy to me but I am so intrigued by it. Nestor's book is full of first hand experience, interesting facts and is a full and frank account of one man's journey to get know the world in which we live.
I have learnt so much from this book, more than I can remember learning in any geography lesson at school. This is a great Summer read I can highly recommend.
Deep is available from Waterstones and Amazon.
A photo a day
When I got my phone upgraded to an iPhone 6 at the end of last year, I made two decisions. Firstly, I would learn more about iPhone photography. Secondly, I would use the iPhone camera daily.
The iPhone is definitely no replacement for my DSLR. Let's face it, my Canon camera is big, very expensive and when going from A to B with children, pushchairs and a change bag stuffed with nappies, it isn't always coming with us.
With a camera so easily accessible in your back pocket, taking pictures everyday has never been easier.
I've put together some tips on photographing family in and around your home:
1. Catching the light. Get close to a window with daylight. Turn off any lights in the room. Remove clutter that might show up in the picture. You may need to move furniture a bit closer to the window. Try using a piece of white card or a reflector to reflect the light and brighten faces.
2 . Photographing your children? Have time and patience. Getting our 2 year old to sit still and smile at the camera? Not going to happen. I actually prefer pictures I have taken of her happily playing. My advice would be to clear some space near a window & choose some toys or an activity. Or let them happily play in garden, avoiding harsh direct sunlight. Let them play and have fun and photograph the results. Be patient and take lots of pictures.
3. Phone vs camera? Use what works for you. I use my iPhone 6 to take most of my pictures for Instagram. A few times a week I will plan things a bit more and take pictures with my Canon 5d Mark III DSLR camera. I have a fixed Canon 35mm lens that is great for capturing family moments.
4. Get in the picture yourself. This is something I'm trying to do more. I realised recently it's never me in the pictures with my children. I want that to change. Last week I dusted off my tripod, attached a Joby GripTight GorillaPod and hooked up my iPhone. I set up the shot while our toddler was asleep, clearing background clutter but intentionally including one if our favourite paintings in the frame. When our 2 year old woke up, I gave her a lolly and we had about ten attempts at the shot with a self timer until I found one I was happy with.
5. Take time to edit. When I do a baby or family shoot for a client, I'll spend the equivalent of 1-2 full days editing the images in Photoshop. When I take pictures for Instagram (usually on my iPhone) I'll always use the apps VSCO or Snapseed to lighten and brighten shots before publishing. It takes just a few minutes and looks much nicer than slapping on an Instagram filter.
6. Printing and sharing. Artifact Uprising remains my favourite printing site. We chose them for our new baby thank you cards and their stylish square print sets. I'm a big fan of Apple coffee table books and they do great personalised photo calendars that don't cost the earth. I'm hooked on sharing pictures everyday through Instagram. It's also a fantastic way to get inspiration from people all over the world.
