Are you like me? You have 30,000 photos stored on your phone just sitting there doing nothing. Nobody views, admires, shares or prints them. Precious moments and memories just wasting away, and then you drop your phone, misplace it or it is stolen.
The other day my Mother asked me to send her some photos of the children over the last few years, and I just knew that this was going to take me forever to organise. I had no systems or files on my phone, no organisation at all. The process of scrolling through 30,000 photos on my phone, looking at other devices and even photo albums, gave me a headache. Not to mention it chewed up a huge chunk of my time when I am already such a time poor Mother. I thought, surely in this day and age sharing our special moments should be less complex and more time efficient.
Momatu is an app that you can download onto your phone enabling you to easily capture, sort and share life’s precious moments in a way like never before. Through using this service, you can co create and share a digital timeline with others, by providing them with an enjoyable way to ‘organise the past, capture the now and create tomorrow’s history together.’
‘The best moments happen in the blink of an eye but leave a lasting impression on our lives. Capture, share and enjoy each and every moment that matters to you, with Momatu.’ This resonates with me so much, and I’m sure that it does with you!
There are several different elements to the Momatu app. These include:
Photos and videos – You can take them within the app of add them from your phone’s library, after they can be assigned to a timeline. I have personally made one for Chloe’s first two years of year life.
Journal – Entries can be added allowing more layers to your timeline, like notes on special parties or important days.
Milestones – Words can be added to images and videos allowing you to record important moments like your baby’s first tooth or the moment they walked.
Quotes – Records things like first words, moments of expressed joy or loving times by adding quotes to your images and videos.
Once you have created your beautiful timeline full of photos, videos, journal entries, milestones and quotes, you are able to share it with your family and friends. Only the people you have selected are able to see your timeline and it can be added to, keeping everyone you love up to date with the important moments in your children’s lives. No one will ever need to ask you to send that important photo again!
Not only is Momatu a ground-breaking private sharing platform, but you can also bring your images and timeline to life by ordering products like prints, photo books, calendars and mugs.
As I mentioned before, prior to Momatu I was dreadful at organising the 30,000 photos stored on my phone. Hardly any of these gorgeous moments and images had been printed. I mean I’ve have been married for seven years and still don’t even have a wedding album! The fact that I can regularly add my favourite photos and most important memories into each of our children’s timelines on the Momatu app is a total game changer for the way I store, mange, share and view them.
Recently for Chloe’s second birthday I gifted her a photobook version of the timeline that I had created for her in Momatu. The process was simple, easy and efficient because I have been building on her timeline over time. Now at night before bed we look at the photos in her book and discuss those special moments, like her first outing, our favourite holiday and her first food. As much as we love to read story books, Chloe gets so much joy from seeing photos of herself and her own family.
Nailing your family photos
It’s no secret that I love family photos. To me they are a memory that lasts a lifetime, and I just love capturing as many moments as possible on camera and film. I am often asked how I manage to pull off stunning family images with busy children in them. So here are my top ten tips for nailing your family photos whether with a photographer or ones you take yourself.
- Plan your shoot in advance and go into it with a clear vision. Think about how you would like the photos to look and feel.
- Bring props for the children e.g. sweet treats and toys. Things that they are naturally interested in but are also in theme with your shoot style (colours, location, vibe etc.) It all needs to make sense.
- Be prepared by packing a backpack full of snacks, water, sun cream and mozzie spray.
- You may need to relax your daily routine for the day of the shoot. For example, if I have a photoshoot that I know will keep my littles up until later that night, I always push their lunch nap back a bit so that they don’t get over tired later.
- Feed hungry bellies before you start unless food is a part of your prop plan. The last thing you need is someone wanting a full dinner 5 minutes in.
- For babies it’s helpful to bring along a squeaky toy that can dangled from the front of the camera, then pressed to get his/her focus.
- Don’t give up if someone isn’t happy. If the baby is having a few tears don’t just call it a day, try moving position or using a distraction. We all know that tiny whinges normally turn into goofy smiles.
- Consider child placement. For busy toddlers try safely using things like stools and chairs to place them in position that they are less likely to run from.
- Bring multiple changes of clothes for the whole family. Not just so that you have options for the shoot but in case there are any accidents.
- Let yourself relax into it. Often for the first few photos everyone is feeling very uptight, but by the end of the shoot they are having a hoot. I find the images achieved get progressively better as the shoot goes on, so don’t rush off too quickly too!
A special offer for my followers
Momatu is a product they I highly recommend, and I would love to gift you with an exclusive code offering you 15% off of your first order. Code – off15
To download the Momatu app click here and to visit their webite click here.
*Disclaimer: At times this website contains posts where items and experiences have been sponsored, gifted or blog posts have been paid for in return for advertisement/promotion. Where this applies it will be clearly stated at the bottom of the blog post. Natalie Sullivan and www.thissweetlofeofmine.blog only endorses brands/items that her family uses, loves and highly recommends. To read the full disclaimer see here.
