Nursing Essentials: What Worked For Me

As a new mom, I was so confused about what I needed to nurse efficiently and discretely. I (stupidly) decided not to buy a lot of clothing before giving birth. After I had Helen, I had very little time to do much shopping. I wish I had known then what is useful and what doesn't work. Let me share my experience with you:

Empire Nursing Top | Nursing Tank | Hoodie | Nursing Cover | Boppy

Of course every mom will have different requirements for their nursing wardrobe. I personally TRY to stay modest as best I can (it's a LOT harder to do when you're nursing). And I prefer to keep my stretch-mark-riddled belly to myself, thankyouverymuch. 

Here are some items that I have found useful so far in my nursing experience.

0-3 Months

I basically lived in nursing tanks. They were so comfortable as my body adjusted to feeding another human being. Nursing tanks do NOT provide very much support, so I made sure to wear a thick hoodie on top. Otherwise I would leak through. How embarrassing. 

My favorite tanks were from Target and Bravado.

During these first few months, when Helen was feeding for an hour (or more!) at a time, I had to have my Boppy. I picked one up second-hand for a couple dollars. Now that Helen is older (and a faster nurser) I basically never use it, but it was a life saver at first. And I used it to make tummy-time a little more enjoyable for her (see this video).
I couldn't have lived without a nursing cover. My mom picked one up for me second-hand, but there are lots of cute styles online. Some moms can get by with just a blanket, but Helen is an active nurser and there have been many times I'm happy the cover is hooked over my neck.

Cami: Maurices | Shirt: American Eagle

3-6 Months

During this time I was still trying to figure out what worked for me. I tried the whole lift your shirt up from the bottom, pull down your cami thing and it drove me CRAZY. My shirt would stick to the cami and I got really frustrated as I tried to get ready for nursing and stay modest while holding a squirming, desperate baby. Not fun.

Then I discovered the cami + v-neck method. If you wear a camisole with stretchy straps you can easily pull is down and the v-neck aside for quick and easy access. 

However, this method is not the most discreet. You definitely need to wear a nursing cover if you're concerned about keeping covered.

6 Months - Present
Around this time I purchased my first actual nursing shirt. I fell in love and wore it all the time. If I could afford it, I would buy all nursing shirts. They are so easy to nurse in and are quite discreet. I haven't been brave enough to do it, but it would be possible to nurse without a cover with one of these shirts.
I really like THIS brand (I'm too embarrassed to say their name on my blog) and Milk Nursingwear.

Underpinnings
As far as undergarments go, I really like this kind from Target. I had heard that the underwire variety could make you get clogged milk ducts, so I bought several garments that were wire free. I hated all of them. They still had some sort of poky plastic for shaping and it always dug into me. Underwire is just more comfortable for me.

Other Things I Didn't Like
I bought a couple of nursing shirts from a company that is now out of business. They were cheap, but so not worth it. They were the "lift the hem" access type and they drove me batty.
I also tried the Undercover Mama tank. It sounds nice: turn any shirt into a nursing shirt! My problem was that it was too low for my modesty comfort and it's made from cotton which sticks to everything. When I tried to lift up my outer shirt, it just stuck to the fabric and the tank came up with it, exposing my postpartum (jiggly) belly.



So those are the things that have worked/not worked for me.

For all you veteran moms out there: What worked well for you?


Note: Some links are affiliate. All opinions are my own.

How to Improve Your Portrait Photography with a Point-and-Shoot

I read once that Ansel Adams could probably take better photos with a camera phone than most of us could with an expensive camera.

You may think because the only camera you can afford is a point-and-shoot that you can never take professional-looking portraits. Wrong! With a little knowledge & practice you can make your camera perform. Here are a few tips.

#1: Turn Off Your Flash!

Instead of relying on your flash to provide adequate light, move closer to a window. The lighting is much more natural and soft. Most point-and-shoot cameras should have an option to turn the flash completely off.

Probably the best thing you can do to improve your photography is to ensure that you have great lighting. Even with a very expensive camera, it can be quite hard to get a good shot in horrible lighting. Experiment with different light sources. Natural light from a window is usually the most flattering, as is the light outside just after sunrise and just before sunset.

#2: Be Aware of Your Focal Length

Did you know your focal length changes the appearance of your photos? At the wide end (zoomed all the way out) your photos are distorted; zoomed in, they’re compressed.

Say you want to take a closely cropped portrait. Instead of just moving in close, back off a ways and zoom in. Notice how distorted John’s face is in the first photo. His nose is disproportionately large. This is fine if you’re going for the wide-angle look, but it’s not the most flattering composition. Now notice how much more even the second photo is and how the background is blurred. All I had to do was back up and zoom in. That simple.

#3: Shoot at Eye Level or Slightly Above

This is the most flattering position, especially for models that are overweight. Also, have your model tilt their chin up slightly. This will ensure that you get no double chins!

#4: Shoot at an Angle

Instead of just shooting your model strait on (the mug shot), angle yourself so that the face and body are 3/4 in view. This is much more flattering.

#5: Decide Whether to Crop Close or Tell a Story

There is no right or wrong here. Just make sure that you decide whether or not to tell the story or crop close.

#6: Edit Your Photos

Most photos can be improved with a bit of editing. Adding contrast, fixing color casts, and softening facial imperfections can really boost your photo. Brighten the eyes a bit (if needed) and sharpen. There are many good free photo editing tutorials online, and even some free photo editing software.

Then again, you don’t want to go overboard on the post processing. Heavily altered images just look unrealistic.

And there you have – my six tips for improving your portrait photography with a point-and-shoot.

All photos were taken with a Sony DSC-H3 and edited in Paint Shop Pro Photo.

Do you have any tips for point-and-shoot users?

P.S. Yes, a good camera can really make taking good photos easier, but don’t let your cheap camera stop you from practicing!

3 Responses to How to Improve Your Portrait Photography with a Point-and-Shoot

1. Gabby 
   March 16th, 2012 at 10:30 am Moderate
   Thank you so much for this one! Great post!
   Have a nice weekend! =)
2. May 13, 2012: Capturing Special Moments | Gifts by Genius: Unique Gifts & Products 
   May 13th, 2012 at 12:45 pm Moderate
   [...] How to Improve Your Portrait Photography with a Point-and-Shoot [...]
3. Abigail 
   December 28th, 2012 at 7:31 pm Moderate
   Thanks! I needed this! :)

Katelyn, With a Point-and-Shoot

Taken with Reuben’s Sony DSC-H20

Shutter: 1/50 sec. ~ f/4.0 ~ 32.3mm ~ ISO 100

How I got the look:

Positioned camera with sun at back of subject. Backed away from subject and zoomed in to eliminate wide-angle distortion.

Do you shoot with a point-and-shoot? Any tips for getting great shots?

3 Responses to Katelyn, With a Point-and-Shoot

1. Robin 
   September 22nd, 2011 at 10:49 am Moderate
   Hi Erica Lea :)
   I have a fairly simple point and shoot camera…..a Sony DSC-S750. I would love to know if this picture of Katelyn (gorgeous!) has been edited or photo-shopped in any way or is it straight out of the camera??? I would love to have a fancy shmancy camera but I just can’t afford one right now. I am a stay at home mom and I take pics of my kids all of the time. I would love for them to turn out as beautifully as this one!!! Any suggestions you have would be much appreciated!! Thank you!!
   PS Love your blogs!! Thanks for sharing your wedding photos….absolutely beautiful.
2. Erica Lea 
   September 22nd, 2011 at 11:21 am Moderate
   Robin: Yes, I edited the photo using Paint Shop Pro Photo XI. Most photos can benefit from a bit of a touch-up! For portraits, I usually soften blemishes, whiten eyes and teethe, and enhance the eyelashes and lips a bit. I also like to adjust the color if needed (usually photos are a bit too “warm” or “cool” before editing).
   Here are a few tips that I have found useful:
   Turn off your flash. Most on-camera flashes are pretty awful.
   Step away from your subject and zoom in. This is much more flattering than standing close to your subject and using a wide angle.
   Experiment with different angles. Most people look best when the camera is at eye level or a bit above.
   Edit your photos! A little boost in post can turn a boring photo into something exciting.
   Don’t over-edit your photos, though! You want it to look natural. :)
3. Robin 
   September 22nd, 2011 at 2:10 pm Moderate
   OMGsh! Thank you so much!! I will try it out these tips. Can’t wait to see how they turn out. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. Very sweet of you :)

A Quick Photography Lesson – Lighting

I do not claim to be an expert. I do not claim to have advanced beyond amateur in photography. But I would like to share a few things that I have learned in my 3+ years of snapping photos.

**End of Disclaimer**

Light. The essence of photography. It doesn’t matter how expensive your equipment is. If the light in which you are shooting is horrid, your photos will reflect it.

Here is a quick example of how lighting can go from boring to magical.

One day early this spring we set off in search of mushrooms. I decided to bring my camera along in case we found anything. As we strolled down the path, I snapped a few pictures, like the one above. Not a horrid shot, but kinda boring.

Then, I saw light shining through the trees on the trail ahead. I readied my camera.

Here’s the photo SOOC (straight out of camera). See what a difference a little light can make? See the awesome rim lighting on Katelyn & Dad? The leaves dancing with light? Beautiful.

Photography is about waiting for that perfect moment. It’s about being alert and aware of your surroundings. So next time you’re out shooting, take your time and search out some lovely light.

Yours ever,

Erica Lea.

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3 Responses to A Quick Photography Lesson – Lighting

1. Maria 
   December 3rd, 2010 at 10:11 am
   Light makes all of the difference. I always love your photos. You are very talented!
2. heather 
   December 3rd, 2010 at 10:14 am
   Expert, amateur or in-between, you have talent. Lots of it. Thanks for sharing your tips!
   Cheers,
   *Heather*
3. Kathryn Grace 
   December 3rd, 2010 at 11:36 am
   So true! It’s so worth it to be patient and wait for the right light – it can make a world of difference!

Evening Light

Evening (about an hour before sunset) is my favorite time to take photos, be they landscapes or portraits.

The lighting makes everything glow.

Give it a try! I think you’ll love the results.

2 Responses to Evening Light…

1. Sereina 
   June 4th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
   Evening lighting is gorgeous!
2. Krista 
   June 17th, 2010 at 1:17 am
   So I Love Amanda’s glasses! Your photography is splendid!