If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably noticed a huge change in the style of my photos over the past couple of weeks. Instead of random (and usually crap!) snaps from my iPhone, they’re much more considered, and hopefully, much prettier!

Almost none of my photos recently have been ‘live’ ones – in fact, most of them were taken last year or earlier this year, but they are all photos that I am proud of. Instagram is by far my favourite social media platform, and yet it is the one I didn’t take as much care over. As well as sharing images with followers, I also want it to be something nice for me to look back on, something pretty. That is the sort of aim I’m going for from now on. It will still be our lives, but just the nicer photos. That’s not to say it’s not ‘real’ – they’ll probably be some photos of the kids looking like they’ve been dragged through a hedge backwards, and things like that, but the actual quality of my photos will be better and a bit more curated.

Most of them (all of them!) are outdoors photos so far because that seems to be where I take better photos. I understand lighting and angles much better outdoors. However, I am practising taking photos indoors, and, hopefully, you will see them pop up on my feed soon!

So, for those of you who don’t follow me on Instagram, here are a few snaps from the past week.

My biggest boy is in his last week of reception. This year has gone incredibly quickly! 

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 18, 2016 at 1:21am PDT

This is a throwback from last year – the National Memorial Arboretum. It’s such a beautiful, peaceful place. 

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 19, 2016 at 1:30pm PDT

Last summer we went to @twycrosszoo . Im not normally a fan of zoos but Twycross do so much for animal conservation . It was a great day out and we loved getting close to the butterflies! 

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 22, 2016 at 12:18pm PDT

Playing in the woods 

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 23, 2016 at 1:28am PDT

Sunlight in the woods

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 23, 2016 at 6:34am PDT

I love this photo of Alex and Harrison with their Uncle Simon (@coop46) at the National Memorial Arboretum last year. They absolutely adore him, and really look up to him.

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 24, 2016 at 8:27am PDT

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 24, 2016 at 11:17am PDT

The kids are always picking daisies and dandelions for me, presenting them as if they were the most beautiful flowers in the world. At that moment in time, they are the most beautiful flowers to me. 

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 25, 2016 at 7:04am PDT

Playing on the beach in Tenby last year. They keep asking when we can back to the ‘seaside with the coloured houses’. 

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 25, 2016 at 1:12pm PDT

I really, really hate birds, but I love peacocks. Their tails/feathers are so beautiful,and colourful. 

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 26, 2016 at 12:12am PDT

Warwick Castle. A beautiful place for a day out.

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 26, 2016 at 7:22am PDT

The harbour at Tenby. One of my happy places. 

A photo posted by Rachel Cooper | Blogger (@coffeecakekids) on Jul 26, 2016 at 10:32am PDT

What do you think of my new Instagram style? I’d love some feedback!