Monday, January 19, 2015

Family Photo Shoot: Hot Chocolate Bar


Yay! I've been looking forward to sharing this! While we were together with lots of family for Christmas, we wanted to get some family photos taken. I suggested having the first part of our photo session be all the group shots and combos we wanted {coming up this week!} but then to have something sort of fun and light-hearted for some more candid shots during the second half.

Turns out, it is hard to announce to people to relax and just be candid! I sort of had a few ideas in my mind of how to set up, but most of the work was done the night before prepping in a quiet kitchen while others were all asleep or off doing other things and then just setting it up mid-photo shoot. That swoony wooden carafe was a serendipitous find buried in a cabinet where we were staying!

Let's see - what else? The cup sleeves were a printable from Better Homes & Gardens December issue. Cups with brown kraft sleeves were a Target find. The black paper was a great after-Christmas clearance find along with the chalk markers. Straws were from Michael's dollar bins, napkins from Target, I dried the oranges and strung cranberries and mini marshmallows! And, we served Crock Pot Hot Cocoa - YUM! Seriously the BEST hot chocolate ever!

In addition to a fun wrap-up to our photo session, that hot chocolate tasted soooo good when it was sooo chilly outside! I love that you can see the steam in a pic or two and even our breath in a pic or two! Photo credits for this post: Jen Lints

I should also note that I was absolutely giddy when we finished the whole photo shoot and all the fun - I absolutely loved it! This was not the case for everyone - ha! But, I certainly enjoyed myself. It was 18 degrees when we started that morning and probably not much warmer when we finished - but it was an absolutely gorgeous crisp Colorado morning. Snow, sunlight, the smell of cold and snow, making memories and sharing beauty together. Swoony.

































PS: I've really enjoyed cracking the comment box open again lately! Thanks so much for your comments, emails and sharing your thoughts!

13 comments:

Leanne said...

those are so precious! the kids are getting so big!! love the one of your sister and you so much!!!

Ginger said...

I love the pics of the house where you stayed. Was it a private age residence or a rental? It looked huge and isolated, b :) t not like a regular cabin. happy New Year!

*carrie* said...

Of this turned out so cute. Thanks for all your hard work, vision and attention to detail. It is so fun to have these pictures! Love you!

Wendi said...

Your attention to detail never ceases to amaze me!

It looks like it was tons of fun. Love the picture of you and Carrie.

Mom said...

Love these photos and the memories of our fun time together. You're right that not everyone thought that the photo shoot was as fun as you did, but your enjoyment/excitement about it is part of my pleasant memory. :) Thanks for all you did to make it a reality. This darling hot chocolate bar was a great addition to the already gorgeous backdrop we were enjoying for our photos. :) Love you, Mom

Deborah said...

I love seeing all your pictures of Christmas! Could you give us more info on where you stayed--if it is a public place? Thanks for opening the comments up. I've missed seeing the conversation. :)

Kelli said...

Love these pictures and all the details you put into the hot chocolate bar. Fun memories being made... The best!

Anonymous said...

Just lovely!!! Sweet memories made and shared around your wonderful creative efforts!!! Love!! tammy

angie said...

I tend to like these kinds of pictures even more than the posed shots. My faves: Carrie and Naomi face-to-face, you and Rachel (with the quintessential CO hair static!)
People come alive gathered together around food or drink, which is why many choose to meet for coffee. So, the hot cocoa bar brought cold hands and warm hearts together. Picture perfect!

Anonymous said...

I love the black and white photos! You did a really nice job on the hot choc. bar……

Coleen

Mrs. Chrissy T said...

Love them all! Really like the one of you, your hub, and daughter! Super precious!

Jenny said...

I love your creativity, Monica! These were so much fun!!

Jen said...

I love that you were able to take something that MOST moms would be VERY stressed about--family photos with lots of people-and make it a fun and memorable time!