I don’t know if you guys know this or not, but I’m in the process of starting a photography business. Yep. I know, right? With what time? Ha, I’m thinking the same thing. But I’ve been having so much fun with sessions and building my portfolio and I’ve learned so much in the past few months I can’t stop now. Owen sometimes tags along to sessions with me and my camera is on me 90% of the time around the house so he sees me with a camera a lot. Lately he’s been showing interest in my camera, wanting to press the button and look through the view finder. Wanting to facilitate his interest in photography as much as possible, I began searching for a toy camera for him. I didn’t love all the blinking lights, annoying noises and the cheap materials the ones I could find were made of. I was looking for a little something that would let his imagination run wild. He’s not used to the over-stimulating, noisy, light-up toys. They used to scare him when he was little and still to this day we take the batteries out of his toys that make noise – not because we’re mean but because he plays so much better with them without all the distractions. I want him to interact and play with the toys, not just sit and stare at them. Spending most of the first two years of his life in Germany (the home of wooden toys), he’s really only ever played with wooden toys (I stocked up before we left) and I’m trying to stick with that as he gets older. I absolutely love seeing his creativity soar when he plays. I have several favorite toy companies and we can certainly talk about them sometime but today I’m here to tell you about one in particular.
Favorite Shop Friday: Little Rose & Co
You know what I think is one of the most convenient things about the 16 hour (give or take) time difference between Korea and the US? When I get up on Saturday morning and realize I forgot to do Favorite Shop Friday, it’s STILL Friday in the states! It still counts!
the shop: Little Rose & Co
This wooden camera is exactly what I was looking for. They come in many different colors (I went with black to match my Nikon), have a neck strap, a viewfinder, a lens that rotates for focusing, a mode dial that turns, and the shutter button moves up and down. It’s very durable and well constructed. It’s made of birch plywood and painted with non-toxic chalk paint, then sealed with a water based non-toxic sealer.
And it’s a dream come true for (photographer) parents who don’t want all the noisy bells and whistles on their kids’ toys. Let those innovative juices flow!
He wears it around his neck everywhere we go and loves to take pictures with it. It makes people smile. Everything and everyone that gets their picture taken by Owen gets told to “say cheese,” or “smile,” or to “look at Owen,” and then he says “click” when he presses the shutter. “I’m takin’ a picture!” It bursts my heart, I’m so proud. His favorite subject to photograph is Della. Well, and fish and animals, too.
I love how cute it looks hanging around his neck.
It’s one of the most adorable toys ever. Not only is it an awesome toy for Owen, but it also doubles as nursery decor. Owen is very good about putting his toys away where they go (he inherited our OCD) and he knows his camera lives on the bookshelf in Della’s nursery. Well, for now. Della is getting her own camera so Owen can start keeping his camera in his room, but in the meantime though, it’s the perfect touch.
And now for the part I know you’re waiting for because I know you want one for your favorite little photographer…
the discount: LITTLEROSE20
Head on over to Little Rose & Co and buy yours today with this 20% off discount! Whether it’s a gift, for your own kids, or as decoration in your living room, you’ll be glad you did.
xoxo