Never let your schooling interrupt your education.

Finding Your Joy Giveaway from Willette Designs: Back to School Week

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This giveaway has ended–thanks for entering.

Our previous two giveaways focused on materials to use for our kids, but today’s giveaway goodness is all. about. you.

Can you believe it?!

I probably don’t have to point out to you that as homeschooling parents we sometimes become so caught up with the busyness of teaching our children that we forget about ourselves. This is dangerous, as it leads to burnout, frustration, and even resentment–not the homeschooling atmosphere we’re trying to create!

So that’s why I’m pleased to share the details about a new photography e-journey from Willette Designs, called Finding Your Joy.

Here’s a description from Kelly of Willette Designs:

“When you really look at all the photos you have of your family, how many photos are there of YOU? I discovered, after printing my family photos for the year, that I was only in a handful of over 1000 photos.

Finding YOUR joy is my personal quest to better document my own life (and my quest to help you do the same).  I would hate for my children to see all of our family photos and wonder where I was (when in actuality I was there…just behind the camera).

This three week online e-journey will help you explore how to capture your own life in photos and how to escape from always being behind the camera.

Class begins September 7, 2010, and the lessons are emailed once a week and presented on a private class forum website.  Along with weekly lessons are free template downloads, video tutorials and photoshop and photoshop elements video tutorials.  The class is a do-it-at-your-own-pace class….you can download the materials and do them later.”

Willette Designs provides all levels of photographers with tools such as the popular set of seven posing guides, the keepin’ it real workshop workbook, and other on-line camera workshops. Kelly’s blog also includes free tutorials and downloads weekly.

Today Willette Designs is giving away three spots in the upcoming Finding YOUR Joy e-journey to three lucky readers!

How to Win

Everyone has three chances to win. Choose one or all three!

1. Comment on this post, and answer this question: Are you usually behind the camera when it comes to documenting family life?

2. Visit and “Like” Willette Designs on Facebook. Leave a separate comment here to let me know you’ve done so.

3. Subscribe to Simple Homeschool by email or in your feed reader. Leave a separate comment letting me know you’re subscribed.

This giveaway will end at noon EST on Saturday, August 21st and is open to commenters 18 years or older. The winners will be announced on Sunday–good luck!

About Jamie C. Martin

Jamie is an introverted mom of three, who loves books, tea, and people (not always in that order), and avoids answering the phone when possible. She co-founded SimpleHomeschool.net in 2010 and began IntrovertedMoms.com in 2020.

Jamie is the author of four books, including Give Your Child the World (reached #9 on Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers list), and her latest release, Introverted Mom (an ECPA bestseller). Her work has been featured by LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow, the Washington Post, Parents, Today Parenting, and Psychology Today.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christine

    It’s hard to find the time for any focus on myself with homeschooling and all the research and planning that goes into it.
    Yes, I’m usually behind the camera.

  3. Jules

    Are you usually behind the camera when it comes to documenting family life?

    I have actiually been trying to get my associates in photography for YEARS…taking a class here and there as I can finance it… This would be AMAZING!!
    Jules’s latest post: New York Day 1!!

  11. Christie

    I’m ALWAYS behind the camera! I went to go look for a good profile pic for facebook and had to go back over 6 months ago!

  14. Amanda

    Oooh. This class sounds awesome! Yes, almost always behind the camera…rarely in front of it, though that’s slowly improving as my boys are getting more competent with using the camera themselves. 😉

  19. aimee c.

    my husband usually takes the photos, but i’d love a good photography challenge! thanks for the chance!

  31. MomStarr

    Yes, I am regularly running to get the camera to catch that moment i want to be able to look back on when all my precious ones are old and gone from this place. I have enjoyed doing more photography since I got a new Nikon. Fun fun fun!!

  36. kAMB

    Yes! I am always behind the camera and have a hard time getting the whole ‘self-portrait’ thing down. 🙂 Great skills to then teach my kids:)

  47. Meghann P.

    I’m definitely behind the camera – I’m the only one in the family who remembers to bring it. I’d love to be in more of the pictures, but it’s hard to get my husband to take any. 🙂

  52. Claire

    I would say that most times I am behind the camera. I do try and come out from there from time to time, so that we do have a few family photos. A person sometimes forgets though because they are caught up in the moment.

  53. Angela

    I am often behind the camera, but recently my son has developed an interest in photography… so most of the photos of me are terrible or blurred. ; ) I hope to share my love of photography with him.

  59. Catherine

    Yes, I’m almost always behind the camera, which is where I like to be. But I’d also like to have some lovely shots of my children with me.

  63. Jennifer

    I am always taking the pictures! Everytime I go to order pictures I think my children are going to wonder where I was when I was always just taking the pictures. The class also starts on my birthday. It would be a great present! Thanks for another great giveaway!

  72. Claire

    I am almost always behind the camera! When I’m not, I’m trying as hard as I can to get out of the shot.

  75. Jessica

    I’m almost always behind the camera- I don’t like being photographed, but I’d like to have more pics of me with my kiddos!

  80. Christie

    I am “the” picture lady and I am never in front of the camera.

    We were just at the funeral of a beloved aunt this week and her son, an only child, could not find a picture of him with both his parents… I don’t want that to be me someday.

  83. Ellyn

    Am I the one behind the camera? Um, yes! I’m the one that takes the family portraits for my sister-in-law. I’m the only one that brings a camera to family functions. I’m the only one that has a camera that isn’t on their cell phone or a disposable (yes, they still make those). So all of the photos that I have of me with my family are usually from my husband grabbing the camera really quickly when I set it down & snapping a shot of me from behind. NOT the most flattering photos. I’ve got one good set of self photos with my son when he turned 10 months. I LOVE those photos, but haven’t been able to figure out a way to recreate them. It’s like I had an out of body experience. *sigh* I would love to be able to get more. I would love to have photos of myself with my husband, with my step-son (who is now bigger than I am), with my mom, with my grandpa. I really wish I had one of me with my grandma, who has passed on. I have wonderful photos of these people that mean so much to me, but none of me with them.

  85. Ellyn

    I’ve been subscribed to Simple Homeschool (well, the whole group) since I discovered you! It amazes me how my mom was able to homeschool myself (a middle-schooler) & my brother without the internet…while working part-time!
    Ellyn’s latest post: Pocket Diapers for Sale

  89. Mary-Sue

    I’m either behind the camera or my husband is, but when I”m taking photos, they’re usually of him and the kids. I notice when he takes photos they’re just of the kids! Not many pics of me, that’s for sure…

  92. Bethany

    My hubby is a photographer by hobby but I still take most of the kids photos with my Cannon G7 or my cell phone! That’s all I really know how to use…

  94. Alisa

    This rings so true for me! I can probably count on both hands the number of pictures I have of myself! I’m always behind the camera!

  95. shannah

    I am always behind the camera! but do try to get one of the kids age 9 and 7 to get a shot of my husband and I. we started doing this after my husband was making a photo album for me for our anniversary and had a hard time finding any photos of him and I together.

  97. Jessica Young

    I am usually behind the camera. I have realized that based on the photos of the last 2 years vacations, you would not even know that I was there! 🙁

  99. Chelsey LeCompte

    As a mom who loves to takes pictures, I’m always behind the camera. Makes me a little sad when I go back to look at the pictures because it’s almost like I’m not there, looking for a way to change that 🙂

  105. Jasmine Wolf

    I’ve been looking for this kind of home schooling.
    And yes! I’m usually most of the time behind the camera. My husband once said that I’m the family photographer.

  106. Amber

    “like” willette on facebook. so happy to hear she is in ghent. lived there for a short time years ago.

  107. Angela

    My husband and I really take turns documenting the events of our lives. I try to capture the day-to-day blessings that he doesn’t always get to see and he does a wonderful job with the special events and trips to visit relatives.

  110. Amber Fischer

    yes, often behind the camera, unless my little ones are role playing and one is a photographer.

  115. helen blumner

    yes, i am often the one taking the pictures of family life. that’s ok with me, but i wish my dh took better shots.

  117. Leah Schroeder

    I love this idea! I’m almost always behind the camera and if I’m in front of it its almost never when I’m aware so I usually look crazy.

  118. Kelly Cook

    Yes, whenever I’m looking for a profile photo to post online I end up with some haggard looking shot that it a couple of years old! I take most of the pictures, but that doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing. This ought to help!
    Kelly Cook’s latest post: Geranium Essential Oil

  121. Monica Bird

    Behind the camera about 99% of the time and when not the hubby is clicking the pics so fast that we are lucky if we get 1 or 2 decent ones.

  127. Meredith

    I’m always behind the camera…in fact I’m trying to make it a point to be in more pictures with my children, husband and friends (even if that means handing over the camera and getting a picture that I might not think perfect) I know that I will look back and wished I had done that more in the future! Thanks for a great giveaway!
    Meredith’s latest post: Smiley Happy People

  134. Sarah

    Yes, I’m *always* the one documenting our family’s lives. I want so much to be included in the photos, but feel that I have to pull teeth, or go through such a hassle to set up a tripod. 🙂 Perfect giveaway!

  137. Jenny Freehardt

    I am definitely usually behind the camera. And, right now, that’s what I like- for many reasons. But I know I will come to regret it one day if I don’t stop it now!

  138. v long

    I use to take all of the photos but now that I have teens they want ‘control’ of the camera.

    I “like” Willette on Facebook…Thanks!

  141. sheilla turner

    I also am one of those people that stand behind the camera, In fact over the past 8 years of my life, my husband’s life and children’s life, I can look at pics that I have taken to document various blessings or day to day events and i am in about 10 of the pictures. We just got back from Maine, I had 774 pictures taken, in that amount I am in 2 pics. I love to take pictures to remember my children when they were young, one day i will regret not having any pics of me so that my children can remember me being with them when they were younger.
    Sheilla Turner

  142. kara f.

    i’m -most of the time- behind the camera….w. a few ‘camera held by myself in front’ close-ups w. my kiddos. (:

  146. hi kooky

    I love photographing and am almost always behind the camera. I realized not too long ago that I want my boys to be able to see more of me with them in the photos. It makes me sad to imagine them looking back through photos and not seeing me with them. (Even though I was right there snapping the shot…). I think this class sounds like a fantastic idea!
    hi kooky’s latest post: zzzzzzzzzzzz

  161. Aaron

    I am usually behind the camera. I need to remember to try and incorporate myself into more pictures for my kids sake later in life. I would love to learn some pointers on how to go about that.

  162. Angie

    I am behind the camera 99.5% of the time!! Would love to find out how to get in front of it more often 🙂

  163. Yvonne

    I’m a huge fan of Willette photography style and it would be awesome to win a spot in her class. Thanks for this opportunity.

  167. katie leonard

    Though I am not always behind the camera… I’m not in very many pictures of ours. My husband and I do take turns with the camera but he is really into photography and loves taking pictures of the kids. “finding your joy” sounds like a great opportunity.

  169. katie leonard

    (i’m just going to go for the gusto here and do all three 🙂 )
    Just subscribed to the blog feed…. finally. 🙂

  170. Amanda

    I’m always the one behind the camera. Hubby is not a fan of taking pictures, so I have to ask him to use the camera to capture me. That’s one great thing about spending time with my in laws a few times a year. My MIL is always shooting photos, which means that part of me is captured.

  173. Corinne

    I think the last time a photo was taken of me with the kids my third son was still in my tummy….he is 18 months old this month! I am definitely the camera girl at this house!

  176. Angela

    My husband is usually behind the camera, but I don’t usually pose for the photos – I usually just put the kids in the photos.

  183. Danielle

    Yes, I am always behind the camera! I have been camera shy since childhood and also have type A tendencies with respect to our family photos!

  184. kirsten

    The reason there are no pictures of me is because homeschooling has made me FAT. Does anyone else drowned their anxiety in potatoe chips? You need a diet give away!! 🙂 Love your site!

  186. Aubrey R

    I am most certainly behind the camera, though I have been trying to do more with the timer and get in front, too. Thanks for the giveaway!

  187. Kimberly E

    I’m always behind the camera. I’ve been realizing lately how few pictures there are of me with my kids. 🙁

  199. Sara

    I’m always behind the camera! I don’t really like how I look in photos most of the time, so I don’t really mind. However, it would be nice to actually be in some of the photos at times 🙂

  200. Sara

    Love this blog, found it through Simple Mom and have been following for a while now. All three checked!

  204. Jardinière d'Eveil

    Finding My Joy from France would be very nice ! I’m already a follower of this blog, and I also like Willette Designs on facebook ! 😉 And yes, most of the time I am behind the camera when there is family pictures…

  210. Lindy Sellers

    Hello there!
    Yes, I am always behind the camera. Loads of pictures of my children and husband but not many of me.
    I would love to learn to take pictures of my children along with me that don’t look like I am taking them…… like the classic holding out the camera at arms length and getting your arm in the shot. LOL.
    Thanks for offering the chance to win.
    Lindy

  212. cristina eklund

    I am subscribing via email ( i just signed up yesterday). i love this blog. i am starting homeschool this year with my 4.5 year old, and a 2 year following close behind. i myself was homeschooled 6th-highschool and never thought that would be my choice of education for my own children. i appreciate that the women on this blog represent contemporary, young moms that are homeschooling, encourages me a ton that we aren’t weirdos!

  213. cristina eklund

    great idea from Willette Designs! i just started trying to include myself in photos with the cheesy “holding the camera at arms length”. i find myself a bit embarrassed though when in the photo it obviously looks like i’m taking pictures of myself (only other moms would understand). if i could get them to look like someone else took them-that’d be great!

  215. Gilda

    I’m always behind the camera. Out of 600 pictures from our week long family vacation, I was in maybe 3 pictures. Others had pictures where I was on the side, or behind (or holding the camera, no surprise)… but I looked awful in those. I figured the kids would know I was behind the camera in all the pictures, but never thought about if they would wonder “What did Mom look like then?” Because as you look through scrapbooks, you see the progression of how the kids have grown, but what about mom. Not to mention I have lovely pictures of our girls and their daddy and non of me and them. That is a bit sad to me, but even asking people to take pictures of me and the girls never turns out to my liking. (Am I photo snob?)

  218. Andrea

    I have to agree! It’s usually myself behind the camera. I would love for my kids to see me sharing & enjoying life w/ them.

  219. Jenna C.

    yes, and I do get comments from friends and family, asking where I am in all of the pictures. But you know, they never offer to take pics of me with my kids!

  223. Charis

    I’m pretty much always behind the camera and have been feeling like Wilette for a while now. I don’t want my kids to think they did all the activities with Dad or by themselves! 🙂

  224. Charis

    I subscribe to Simple Homeschool. Don’t homeschool yet, but plan to start in 2 years when my kiddo is ready for kindergarten. I figure it’s never too early to start learning!

  226. Kathy

    I’m always behind the camera, unless I ask my husband to take a photo of me with the kids. I love taking pics of my kids and would greatly enjoy some photography lessons. It would also be wonderful to learn how to have photos of me (as mom and teacher) in family/school photos. Willette Designs has a great idea. Thanks for the creative giveaway!

  227. Jessi

    I am definitely always behind the camera. I do kid and family photography as a side hobby and though I capture my own children well, I don’t capture myself. Would love to win the class!

  229. Susan

    I am ALWAYS behind the camera! If my hubby takes pics, they are almost always blurry-his parents are the same way and my parents rarely take pictures, so it’s up to me to capture my children’s lives on “film”.

  231. tina

    YES, i am always behind the camera. I love taking the pics, but once in awhile it makes me sad to think that there are so few shots of me with my sweet kids and wonderful hubby.

  240. emily

    I’m usually trying to capture the moments that pass so quickly. I would really like to take the time to DO something with the images I’ve captured, however! 😉

  245. Jamie

    I am almost always behind the camera. I bought my 6 year old a camera in hopes that I might show up in a few photos.

  246. Tiffany

    Almost always the one behind the camera! Try to jump in a picture here and there just to prove my existence.

  249. Staci A

    I am always the one behind the camera. The only photos of me are taken with me arm holding the camera out as far from my face as I can!

  252. Kacey B

    Yes, I too am usually behind the camera. I have alot of pictures of my kids and my kids/hubby but not as many with me and the family, unless we’re doing a formal photo shoot. I’d love to have more pictures of me and the family.

  253. Dawn

    I’m an aspiring art photographer, so I’m usually the one wielding the camera. Funny… I was just telling my partner the other day how few pictures there are of me these days, like you could probably count them on a hand or two.

  255. lisa todd

    I am behind the camera 99.9% of the time, my kids always look back at photos and ask where i was. I yearn for a photographic journey of every moment with my family. I was not blessed with a husband and children until I was over 40 and I feel like I have waited forever and want to preserve as many special moments as possible in a beautiful, memorable way.
    lisa todd’s latest post: Member of a Club…part II- The storms of life

  264. Kristen

    Absolutely. I’m rarely in photos, since I’m the unofficial family photographer. When I can, I try to remember to hand off the camera, so we have proof that I actually exist!

    I have no training whatsoever, but I loving photography. This would be a great opportunity.

  272. melissa

    I am always behind the camera (unless my son wants to take a picture of me….which in that case my head is usually not included in the picture–HA! HA!)

  273. heidi sink

    I was just doing a card for my husband and realized that I had very few pics of myself to put on it.

  277. Kristina

    yes, i’m usually behind the camera, but i also pull out the old “holding the camera self portrait” bit or taking my picture in the mirror.

  279. abbie

    I am usually behind the camera documenting life. My children are a bit young to start doing this, I am perhaps a bit insecure about my appearance, and I am a bit of a controller, and don’t think others can get the the shot I crave. I guess this course would be the start I need to lighten up a bit no? 🙂 Great giveaway!

  284. Danyelle

    I’m always behind the camera. Out of the hundred photos taken at my baby’s 1st birthday last week, my face was in zero pictures.

  286. Amie

    I am always behind the camera, this would be a great excuse to get myself in front of the camera and document me!

  288. Bridget Stevens

    I find that out of every 100 pictures I might be in 1, and that always bugs me! ha ha. I have been getting better with the self timer mode, but with three young squirmy kids it can be hard to get them to be in the pictures with me!

  291. Valerie

    I’m often behind the camera, but even when I am not, I rarely seem to be in the photos. I needed a photo of me recently, and it was really hard to find a decent one of me. Sounds like a great class – I’ve been itching to doing some more photography lately.

  293. Christine Chaluisan

    I am always behind the camera, who else would document the beautiful lives of my children…………They are my favorite thing to shoot.

  294. Rana

    I am usually the one behind the camera. Lately I have been trying once a week to take a photo with me and the kids or our whole family. I love having memories of all of us together.
    Rana’s latest post: Blog Vacation!

  300. Mab

    I am usually behind the camera.
    I am slowly getting better to remind my older boys to take pictures of me though…

  302. Mary

    I am ALWAYS behind the camera unless I ask for my husband to take a picture of me and the kids or if we set it up on timer for a family picture (which isn’t often).

  305. Libby

    Oh, I am always the one taking the pictures. I’d love to find creative ways to later show my kids that *I* was here, too!

  307. Celia

    YES!!!! We just moved, and I discovered I have so few pictures of me with my kids! Must change that…

  311. Denice

    Of course I’m subscribed to Simple homeschool. I love reading it! Sometimes I jump right to it when I see it in my inbox. Sometimes I savor it and don’t open it till later 🙂
    Denice’s latest post: Missionary Mail

  312. Ashley

    YES! I am always behind the camera! I made the same discovery that Kelly describes — there are very few photos with me in them and that’s not what I want in my girls’ scrapbooks!

  315. Sarah

    I am always behind the camera, and when I do get in pictures, I feel kind of silly, or not candid enough (too posed). I want to feel like a part of everything.