Last Friday I thought it would be fun to have a couple kids over for a play date (sisters) and have a little photo shoot. I’m at the point in my photography journey that I feel I have enough of a grasp of the technical stuff to exercise a little creativity, and I’m at a place where I’m really excited to exercise that creativity whenever I can.

Unfortunately, my kids are over it. Well, that, and also I’m their mom so there’s that whole, “Really, mom? REALLY?” ‘tude they have going on. Other people’s children, however, find my camera novel and listen like little sweethearts when I tell them to stand there and look here… but DON’T say “cheese!”

So I commandeered my friend’s children and made it sound like she’d be getting a great deal by letting me take their pictures, when really, I was the one who was having all the fun.

Aren’t they the sweetest?!

I was inspired to do (okay, basically stole the idea of) the baking themed shoot from the amazing Ariana from Becoming Mom (who was inspired by Sandy Wagerman of Lucky Ladybug Photography).

I got all the supplies I needed at Target (but of course). The baking supplies and “LOVE” wooden blocks were all found in their dollar section, and the colorful heart backdrop is a vinyl tablecloth from a Valentines end cap in housewares. We didn’t have time to find or make aprons, so we just folded a hand towel (also found in the dollar section) in half and ran a ribbon through it, then tied it around the child’s waist. Though, you really can’t see the apron much in these pictures.

I was glad I got some great pictures of my friend’s children with this set up because I knew mine wouldn’t cooperate with the idea. All is not lost, though. I managed to score this beauty of Kendall, which I turned into a wallet sized card for him to exchange at school.

Fitting, what with his love for all things sports.

Leyna did manage to model her pretty Tea Collection dress.

Have you entered to win that $100 shopping spree yet?

And, overall, she just had a grand time licking and chewing all the new photo props and hanging out with her little bestie.

Oh, and these pictures were taken in front of the floor to ceiling window in our newly enclosed home office. I never realized what beautiful light comes in there most of the day until we put a wall in front of it. Scott doesn’t know this yet, but I’m brainstorming ways to turn it into a home office SLASH mini studio. He’s going to rue the day he ever bought me that camera.

Kendall is 3.5 and Leyna is 1… annnnd they already get annoyed at the sight of my camera.