In my journey of blogging, I have come to find that I love it so much more if I involve others in the process. This means I can engage with other people in my community, share ideas and experiences, and get a first-hand look at how other families work and interact.
I started hosting community craft parties and just play dates in general to help socialize my daughter more and to still be able to do what I love. This means that the parents attending knew that while we were there to play, I may be taking pictures to use for blogging. (See information on signing a waiver below). One of the great things about hosting these kind of parties is that I also get to see if a craft works in other family settings or not AND I can have a variety of ages in attendance. For instance, my daughter who is almost one will sometime not be able to participate in a great idea I may have, or maybe an older child doesn’t like something a younger attendee does.
For the bloggers out there, I highly recommend hosting these parties. It’s a great time for socialization for your kids and for yourself! I know that I feel so much more refreshed if I can get some interaction in with other moms and see other families enjoying life. Stepping out from behind the camera, computer, and just out of the neighborhood is so refreshing.
Here are some ideas for blogging moms and hosting get-togethers:
1. Always advertise in safe, local groups, but try to find some attendees that you may not know! New friends are always fun. (Craigslist is obviously not the answer here so I recommend looking for Mommy & Me places. Even the YMCA has lots of moms roaming around with their kids)
2. Have a Photo Release and General Waiver. This ensures that even if those that attend are your friends that you have a record that you played by the rules and that they are aware that you will not only take photographs, but that they understand what it means for you to use photographs. It’s nice to have a file on hand because you never know who might get upset. Download my own photo release and general waiver here.
3. Take 2 or 3 activity ideas with you. This means families can pick what they would like to make or do. It also usually means that you can get pictures for several posts at the same time if you have several kids or families come to your event.
4. Make sure that you tell moms what they might need to bring. If you don’t think you will haveenough markers, let them know. If you may have a really messy activity, make sure they know to have an apron or grungy clothes for themselves and their kids.
