take off that camera strap and win a pretty new one

Competition now closed – Thanks for all your wonderful entries!

One downfall of being the family photographer is that you will often end up missing out on being IN the shots.  We hear adults say “I hate having my picture taken” so many times on family portrait shoots.  That really is too bad because photography is not as much about vanity as it is about memory.  And if it really is a combination of vanity and memory for you, embrace blur and the healing brush in photoshop.  The point is, remember to be present in your children’s photographic memories of childhood…for them.

To encourage you to stop hiding behind the camera shield and to get a chance to “meet” our readers, we would like to run a contest!

To enter:

  1. Take a shot of you and your little one/s.  (No little ones?  Just you will be perfect.)
  2. Upload that photo to your corner of the internet (a blog, flickr, twitter, a public facebook page etc)
  3. Link back to beyond snapshots (using this url http://www.beyond-snapshots.com/blog) and tag the photo with ‘beyond snapshots’
  4. Come back here and let us know about it!  (Leave the link to your photo in the comment section so we can see it.)

At the end of the week we will pick the finalists, and put them all up here on the blog and start the voting. The image with the most votes will win their choice of gorgeous camera strap generously provided by:

To get you inspired, here are some photos of Rachel with her kids. If you have a remote, great. If not, there are a few ways to get the shot. Self timers, shooting into a mirror, or holding the camera out at arms length. Have fun and be creative. We can’t wait to meet you!

Remember:
You have until Saturday evening (US time) to get the shots up for us to see and we will post the finalists next week.

{ 3 trackbacks }

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January 26, 2010 at 11:50 am
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January 29, 2010 at 1:49 am

{ 136 comments… read them below or add one }

Tara January 27, 2010 at 5:28 am

Such beautiful straps! http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefan_iv/2254000672/in/set-72157605296958135/

Aimee January 27, 2010 at 5:54 am

This falls in line with the reason why I started a year in photo project for myself this year. And it reminds me that I haven’t taken very many self portraits so far…. :) And I decided to take one of myself without my kids. I hope that doesn’t disqualify me from your little contest here.

So, here I am:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/putyourflareon/4307175504/

fat mum slim January 27, 2010 at 6:01 am

I’ve just blogged it: http://fatmumslim.blogspot.com/2010/01/beyond-snapshots.html

I’ve also put the bathroom shot up too from last week. x

Miz Booshay January 27, 2010 at 6:46 am

http://flickr.com/photos/10294868@N04/3634822575/in/dateposted/

oh my those are a lot of numbers….hope I got it right :o )
My little girl chose this shot.

adrienne January 27, 2010 at 7:05 am

Thanks for this. I haven’t taken a single picture of myself with the baby since he’s been born…
Anyways, here we are!

Pauline January 27, 2010 at 9:25 am

Here’s mine!!! :)
Although the camera noise on my face is bugging me terribly!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28731532@N04/4307007273/

Sarah January 27, 2010 at 10:08 am

Take 1 :)
http://sarahvanwijck.blogspot.com/2010/01/beyond-snapshots.html

Lindsey January 27, 2010 at 10:45 am

I’m so glad you have this contest, I have very few photos of me and my son. I’ve taken a dozen in the last few days! Here is my favorite one so far:)

http://www.flickr.com/lincollins/4307060321/

Jordan January 27, 2010 at 12:15 pm

http://www.flickr.com/Teamcullen721/

Amanda January 27, 2010 at 12:20 pm

Here’s my entry! http://twitpic.com/zxg9k

Sarah January 27, 2010 at 1:15 pm

Me with my little one (of sorts), sorry he is a little fluffier than most peoples….

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarahkanesnaps/4307449313/

Great straps! :)

charlie jones January 27, 2010 at 1:53 pm

love this! i needed some motivation.
http://www.hushmama.com/2010/01/27/beyond-snapshots-reminding-me-to-include-myself/

abbey January 27, 2010 at 2:00 pm

What an awesome contest!!! I CHERISH the pictures I am in… whether they are horrible or great! I am so rarely in them with my kids!! :)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2611593&id=704561853

hope this works, it won’t let me copy and past the web address!!

Elise January 27, 2010 at 2:15 pm

Very cool blog.

Here is mine. Soon I’ll have the little one to photograph :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/otypioupiou/4308127360/

Kim January 27, 2010 at 3:08 pm

It’s a horrible blackberry photo – but it’s one of my favorites:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3538870&l=638aac528f&id=581321219

Aurea January 27, 2010 at 3:36 pm

Here is my shot with me in scene:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aureagvt/4308450488/

Krysta January 27, 2010 at 5:20 pm

I don’t know if it has to be new, but I’m giving it a whirl. …and just realized I have almost no pictures with the boy. :(

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24199589@N06/3427771578/

Rachael January 27, 2010 at 6:20 pm

I was inspired to take this shot after reading your bathroom blog tips. This was taken in the mirror after bath time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachaelkerr/4307962957/

Bailey January 27, 2010 at 6:44 pm

Here’s mine!
:D

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3147276&id=629906556

Liya January 27, 2010 at 7:12 pm

I am hooked with this idea :D it’s really fun! Managed to get some sharp SP today;)

http://liyafendi.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/sewonot/

Aurea January 27, 2010 at 11:24 pm

If I could post a second shot of us, it would be this one, or this one, or even this one.

Phoebe January 27, 2010 at 11:26 pm

well i’m only 15 so apparently i don’t have kids haha. though my love one is my dog, lola.
so here’s a photo for lola and i.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phoebelee1995/4249893513/in/set-72157623026108073/

i love your photos rachel and peta. :)

Kristin January 28, 2010 at 1:05 am

Here is our entry: http://www.flickr.com/photos/khh/4140359751/

Carrie Davis January 28, 2010 at 1:53 am

Oh how I would love to have a fancy new camera strap.

Here’s mine:
http://davispartyof3.blogspot.com/2010/01/snuggles.html

Elena January 28, 2010 at 2:47 am

Never in the pictures….story of my life!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8025992&l=48cc2c6268&id=536575036

Sarah January 28, 2010 at 4:50 am

Here’s a picture of me and the dog :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiantstar/4307842929/

Lisa G. January 28, 2010 at 5:39 am

my son & i.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yarnattacks/4309756020/

raymenie January 28, 2010 at 5:54 am

Not my little ones, but little ones who are a big part of my life :-)
http://oldmoonphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Beyond-Snapshots/11067383_zEJUL#774770608_xVUrJ

Tanya January 28, 2010 at 6:44 am

Here’s with one of my kids that I love http://www.flickr.com/photos/33021401@N00/4309913222/

Michelle Pixie January 28, 2010 at 8:02 am

Here is one of just moi…
http://pixiedreams8.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/moi/

Tania McCartney January 28, 2010 at 8:02 am

Have you been following me??? How did you know I’m never in the shot? Love this challenge. Now, because I’m so scarred from not ever being photographed, I shall to summon the courage to enter! Great blog.
Tania (Australia)

Sasha January 28, 2010 at 10:17 am

it’s a selfie by the window, mid-winter in British Columbia. It’s a rare photo of me that I like, but here’s one.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26385665@N05/3242257642/

Tarnya January 28, 2010 at 10:37 am

I’d really much prefer to be on the other side of the camera, but here we are.
Thanks for the kick up the inspiration ;)
here we are

Bree January 28, 2010 at 10:47 am

Oh how true this is of my life! Hopefully you’ll be able to accept an older picture that I had access to on Flickr (my troublesome computer is visiting the doctor at the moment and I can’t access current photos or upload current photos)… I blogged the older photo on my blog this afternoon.

http://bleach226.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/a-glimpse-of-me/

Luca January 28, 2010 at 10:48 am

Me and my Sofia…she is already curious about the camera :-)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29595804@N04/4309607419/

Elena January 28, 2010 at 10:55 am

…and because this is also a “family contest” … here is Sofia with her mom Elena
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29595804@N04/4309583721/

Meg January 28, 2010 at 11:14 am

Wow, this is so true. In fact, I’m going to make a point of having myself in at least one image a week for my 365 now. My girls spend every waking moment with me, would be a shame if they didn’t have anything to reflect that when they are older…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7565577@N04/4309691473/

Jennifer January 28, 2010 at 11:15 am

Any advice on how to get a toddler to sit still for a picture? I haven’t figured it out yet. Thank goodness for motor drives.

Lindy January 28, 2010 at 1:57 pm

I had quite a lot of fun with this! thanks!
http://lindychristopherphotography.blogspot.com/2010/01/getting-in-photo-daily-life-photoblog.html

Jeni January 28, 2010 at 2:08 pm

I love the pictures of moments with my daughter. My favorites are candid moments that my husband captures. This is my favorite. It’s a bit old. She was only a week old in this photo and I was recovering from a c-section. She’s now two and very independent. But I miss those days when she would just sleep on me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeniholland02/4309995229/

Colby Beats January 28, 2010 at 2:57 pm

Love this… Thanks!
http://www.flickr.com/colbybeats/4310086369

Amber January 28, 2010 at 3:48 pm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amberlu/4284953259/in/pool-beyondsnapshots

Amber January 28, 2010 at 3:49 pm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amberlu/4310179457/in/pool-beyondsnapshots

Everyones work is just so inspiring! Thank you all for sharing these little moments…

Jayna @ Yankee Drawl January 28, 2010 at 3:52 pm

This got me working on both my camera and processing skills! My girls and I had such a fun time trying to get all of us in a shot together.

http://yankeedrawl.com/2010/01/iheartfaces-texture.html

Rachel January 28, 2010 at 5:21 pm

(hands raised! us too!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/starparticle/4311049296/

Natalie Barnes January 28, 2010 at 9:04 pm

What a great competition, just the inspiration I needed to take a photo that I’m in for once. http://tinyandlittle.blogspot.com/2010/01/photo-presence.html

Pantelina January 28, 2010 at 11:36 pm

I was trying to push the timer button! :/

http://flickr.com/photos/45276786@N04/4311491296

Dali January 29, 2010 at 12:04 am

Great blog!!!!

Amber January 29, 2010 at 1:24 am

One of a few pictures of me with my daugther. I guess I need to add “get out from behind the camera” to my ‘To Do’ list for the year.

http://www.flicker.com/photos/7685110@N08/4235883876/

Amber January 29, 2010 at 1:33 am

Oops! Here’s the correct link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7685110@N08/4235883876/

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