2013 DIGIFAM SPEAKER: Laura (Lolli) Franklin

This is a series of interviews with the speakers of Digital Family Summit 2013, October 11-13.
Read all of the speaker interviews
See a list of our speakers
See our full schedule
Register for the conference

Laura (Lolli) Franklin is a Washington DC-area mom of 5 teen and pre-teen kids who is just as busy as you might guess. When Laura was in elementary school, her dream was to be a Mom and a writer. She never anticipated that she’d fulfill that dream so literally as a lifestyle/family blogger. Her blog, Better in Bulk , is her creative escape, her social circle, and now her full time job. Laura has partnered with brands like Pepperidge Farms, Disney and Adobe and is also a regular content writer for Proctor & Gamble’s parent sites.

In addition to a full editorial calendar for her blog, juggling piano lessons, team sports and feeding her family, Laura also manages to make time for a small local photography business, where she focuses on casual, natural light portraits.

twitter: @1momof5
website: http:/betterinbulk.net

How did you get involved with blogging?

I started my blog in 2007 after being inspired by my sister and a close friend. Blogging was a perfect fit for me – I have always loved to write and after I started having kids, I discovered a love of photography as well. Having my own space online to create and share was a dream come true for me. Since my kids were still young when I began blogging, I started out small and slow, but within a few years I was able to branch out and grow my site to where it is today.

What’s your favorite technology to help you blog/write/tweet/edit?

The tool that helps me the most in my blogging is my camera. Although I do consider myself a story teller, I find that those stories are much better when illustrated.

What blogs do you read regularly?

I love randomly hopping around the blogosphere to see what’s happening with other families. I regularly visit food, craft and parenting bloggers for ideas and inspiration.

If you could travel back in time and send yourself a message, what would it be?

Don’t be so scared of new things. I love this quote that I recently heard: “Courage is about being afraid and doing it anyway!”

Any advice for young bloggers?

Be passionate about what you’re doing, whatever it is you’re doing! If the passion and excitement are gone, then either look for a way to ignite that passion again or move on to the next big thing.

What do you think is the greatest opportunity for digital teens today?

The one thing that I love the most about blogging and being active in social media is that I am growing and stretching myself everyday. I feel like there is great potential and opportunity for growth when more people are using their creative energy for good on a regular basis.

What’s the biggest danger facing digital teens & their families today?

I think the biggest danger that digital teens and families face today is being so dependent on technology. As much as I love my computer, phone, iPad, etc, it worries me that they are too much a part of everything we do.

What are you going to talk about at the conference?

I am partnering with Robin Zachary, a fantastic New York based stylist, to lead a hands-on workshop on food blogging, styling and photography. Be prepared to lick your fingers and come away with some amazing ideas (and photos!).

What’s next for you after the Digital Family Summit?

My next project is…sending my oldest daughter off to college. After Digital Family Summit, we’ll be sending off college applications and then, hopefully, we’ll spend the next few months preparing to send her away to school. It’s scary and exciting!

Who are your Creative Heroes?

My little sister, Andrea, is my hero. She is the photographer that I hope to be someday and I always turn to her pictures for inspiration and ideas.

Do you have any hobbies other than digital media creation? What are you passionate about?

I love to cook (I’m actually fairly good at it!). And I’m passionate about chocolate. Some people might say that I’m an expert at managing a whole bunch of things at once, but I just call that mother-of-a-big-family survival.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Adam Gertsacov is the co-founder and co-organizer of Digital Family Summit.  He wears many hats, including those of a professional clown, an author and publisher, an artist/educator, a non-profit administrator, a P.T. Barnum impersonator, a flea circus impresario, and the esteemed hat of the Clown Laureate of Greenbelt, Maryland.