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Behind the Lens guest series

I love taking photos. Even before we had the boys, I was snap-happy, and out of our group of friends, I was always the one who had a camera or phone at the ready. I literally have thousands upon thousands of photos, and although they are mostly in digital format now rather than in albums, I love looking back at them. They all have a story to tell or take me back to a certain time of my life.

To me, they are as important as the memories I have in my head and will leave a reminder to my future grandchildren and great-grandchildren of what our lives were like.

Last Summer, I decided to up my photography game, especially on Instagram. From that spawned an idea to start up an Instagram Community, #UnPocoDeToDoUK, with some of my close blogging buddies.

I also wanted to start running a guest series in 2017, and it felt right to have a photography theme behind it, too. So this January, I am launching my “Behind the Lens” guest series.

Behind the Lens guest series

The Behind the Lens guest series will be a new regular feature on the blog, aiming to showcase fellow bloggers sharing a photo (or photos) of their choice and discussing the story behind them. It could be a special captured moment like a baby’s first steps, a family holiday or simply a photo that holds special memories.

The first guest post will start on Wednesday 11th January 2017.

If you would like to participate in this guest series and require further information, please email me to get in touch.

Our Family Holiday in Malta

To kick off this series, I thought it was only apt to share a couple of snaps of my own and tell you the story behind them.

The following photos were taken back in July 2013. It was our first holiday as a family of four, and M was only five months old. Mr H had been working ridiculously hard and had not had much time off at all. He managed a whole two days of paternity leave when I gave birth  (the joys of having your own business), and so this holiday was much-needed family time for all of us.

It was a strange time really. I’d been struggling with adjusting to having to look after two little ones. Despite the fact that we are all smiling in this photo, one of the things I remember most about that holiday was that E didn’t want to spend much time with me. It upset me quite a bit, but looking back at it now, so many things had changed in his life. He’d stopped going to the childminder he’d been attending since he was 10 months old as I started maternity leave. Then, not long after that, he started nursery two mornings a week. Just as he settled into that routine, his new brother came along! It’s really quite a lot to take in when you are only just three!

He spent the majority of the holiday stuck to his daddy’s side, preferring his company to mine, but who could blame him? I couldn’t do all the fun things Daddy did. I had M, who needed changing and feeding every few hours.

It was also the first holiday where Mr H and I realised we couldn’t be culture vultures. We went into the main town one afternoon to soak in some history. However, with a toddler that needed carrying, a buggy to manoeuvre over bumpy ,windy roads and M in a baby carrier – it was no mean feat! Thankfully, we’ve adjusted our expectations, and holidays have gotten a little easier as the boys have grown older!

Although our Malta holiday had its ups and downs, it was also one where E gained huge confidence in the swimming pool. M also went swimming for the first time too. We also went on our first boat trip and found out first-hand how handy having a half-board holiday resort is!

Want to take part in the Behind the Lens series?

If you would like to participate in this guest series and require further information, please don’t hesitate to email me.

Posts will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and will run every Wednesday. All posts will be shared and promoted across my social media accounts (tagging you where possible).

You can read posts from the rest of this series here

Related posts:

My London – a new weekly guest series about the places in London we loveMy London – a new weekly guest series about the places in London we love Behind the Lens with Mummy to DexBehind the Lens with Mummy to Dex Behind the Lens with School Runs and Shopping TrolleysBehind the Lens with School Runs and Shopping Trolleys Behind The Lens with Organised JoBehind The Lens with Organised Jo

About The Author

Picture of Maria
Hello and welcome to Suburban Mum! I'm Maria and I'm mum to two boys - E who's 14 and M who's 11. This blog is about my family, the ups and downs of being a working mum and everything in between. If you want to find out more about me and my family head over to our About us page.

63 thoughts on “Behind the Lens guest series”

  1. topfivemum

    This is such a lovely idea! A picture says a thousand words and, for me, helps fuse my memories onto my brain. I’d love to take part in your guest series. I’ll drop you an email! Thanks, Ruth #sharingtheblogLOVE

    Reply
  6. Becky @ Educating Roversi

    I love this series and can’t wait to read more. It’s fascinating hearing about other people’s lives. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  7. Ali Duke

    This is a great idea for a blog series. I always love seeing other peoples pictures on Instagram, especially all the wonderful moments we all capture of our children.
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  16. Peachy and her Mommy

    That’s a great idea. I’m a bit of a photography addict myself. In the first year of Peachy’s life I think I took about 10 thousand photos. My husband makes fun of me all the time. He claims I have to cut back or we’ll run out of space to store all the USB sticks by the time Peachy is 18. I say we’ll just have to move to a bigger place. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  19. Tori @ The Mama Nurse

    This is such a great way to share the blogging love! Very creative too, I haven’t seen a guest post idea like that before!
    #KCACOLS
    Tori

    Reply
  20. Alana - Burnished Chaos

    This is such a great idea for a guest series, I’d definitely like to take part at some point. I’ll drop you an email x
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  24. Fran Back With a Bump

    What a great idea and a photo really does speak a thousand words…or sometimes not as there can be alot behind a photo. Thanks for hosting #kcacols x

    Reply
  25. Gabriela Green

    I really like the idea since most of our pictures have a story behind them.
    My problem is that I always end up having too many pictures to handle since technology nowadays allows us to take so make pictures 🙂
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  27. Nicola

    I love looking back on old photographs and remembering the good times. Holidays with little ones are tough but they definitely get easier as they get older. Ours are now 18, 12 and 6 and are finding holidays more and more pleasurable every time we go away. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  28. The Tale of Mummyhood

    What a great idea! I love looking back at photo’s, time passes so quickly so it’s great to snap loads of memories!

    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  31. Nicky Kentisbeer

    This has once again reminded me that I shall get through my to-do list this week. Just watch me Maria!! You’ll be hearing from me #KCACOLS

    Reply
  32. Sarah @tortoisehappy.com

    My husband is the photographer in our house. My attitude is ‘snap a 100 and 1 will turn out well’, whereas he’s good at light, composition, and all that kinda stuff!

    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  33. Sonia

    We loved Malta and would like to go back! I need to get a bit more practice in photography before I join in but will be watching for inspiration! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  34. Rainbows are too beautiful

    What a wonderful idea for a series. And what a fab shot from your hols! Can’t wait to see more. #kcacols

    Reply
  38. Sharon Parry

    Loved reading this Maria and seeing the gorgeous pics of your family. I know what you mean about not getting to see much in the way of culture! I still don’t get to do that and mine are teens. Anything like that is declared to be ‘boring’! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  40. Katy - Hot Pink Wellingtons

    I love looking back at photographs and feeling all those memories come flooding back, and I love hearing the story behind other people’s photos too. I do miss a holiday where you could cram in a bit of culture! Maybe in a few year’s time… #KCACOLS

    Reply
  41. Amie

    I love taking pictures too! I was also always the one in the gang with the camera out and now with little ones it’s so much more fun is t it 🙂 #KCACOLS

    Reply
  42. Ky

    Oh this is a great idea for a series. It’s always nice to know more about the photos and why they were taken. I absolutely love taking photos as well, and this year I’m really hoping to improve my skills.x #kcacols

    Reply
  43. mainy - myrealfairy

    Great idea for a series. Another form to express ourselves in. Sometimes its so hard to find the right words then you see a photo that you’ve taken and it can transport you right back to when it was taken.
    Mainy
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  44. Sarahbel

    I love the idea of this series. I’m trying to improve my photography but also struggle with the idea of editing an image to perfection so it doesn’t reflect the reality and propagates the ‘everything on social media is perfect’ myth – great to hear the warts and all stories about the image!!! xxx #kcacols

    Reply
  45. Kimberley | Oh Just My Little Blog

    What a lovely idea. It’s amazing how photos bring back memories of feelings even when the photo shows a happy front x #KCACOLS

    Reply
  46. The Mum Reviews

    This is a fab idea. I’m not a great photographer, but my photos will have a meaning behind them so I can try to capture a moment in time that I’d like to remember. I remember that time in my life when my husband and I realised we had to do tourism “differently” now that we have kids! #kcacols

    Reply
  48. Carolina Twin Mom / Mary Peterson

    Fantastic idea! My pictures are far from artistic, but every now and again I will take a picture that tugs on my heart a little more than the rest. I’d be happy to be a part of the series, if you don’t mind smart phone pics! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  51. Becky Clark

    What a great idea for a series. I really enjoy series based around photos. Like you I’m very snap happy and pictures mean a lot to me. one of my goals is to take part in more series this year so you can expect an email from me
    Lovely post and great pictures #KCACOLS

    Reply
  53. Helen @Talking_Mums

    Hi Maria, I remember our first family holiday and the realisation that the key to a happy holiday was to go at their pace and have no expectations to do anything in particular – no agenda!

    I would love to take part in the series, will send you an email x
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  54. lucy at occupation: (m)other

    Sounds like a good idea for a series!
    And your word about adjusting with two children (one being three) really resonated. Have you written more about it? If so can you send me the links…? (@puddlemother on twitter if you tweet them) We’re in the adjustment period now. It’s getting easier but slowly! #kcacols

    Reply
  55. Cal at Family Makes

    I love the idea for this series. Photos evoke so many memories, even those which aren’t told in the picture, as you’ve discussed here. I’m looking forward to seeing more of them. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  58. Sarah Barrett

    Beautiful pictures. Just capturing a moment with a very different feeling behind it. They say a picture says a thousand word but you’ve shown the opposite. #KCACOLS. Would love to join in please.

    Reply
  59. Laura - dear bear and beany

    Lovely idea for a series. Beautiful photos, I’ve never been to Malta but it always looks a lovely place to visit. X #KCACOLS

    Reply
  60. Nicole | The Professional Mom Project

    My photography is definitely something I need to work on. I guess it just takes lots of practice and imagination. #kcacols

    Reply
  61. Mrs Mummy Harris

    Great minds think alike!!! Sounds like that holiday was the welcomed break you all needed! I’m desperate for a holiday this year but hubby has loads of courses this year so all money is to be spent on hotels and petrol, so im thinking of tagging along and making a long weekend out of it!
    I emailed you back in the week – did you get it? #KCACOLS

    Reply

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