“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”
A gift for your family: 10 ways to simplify your 365
December 2013
When I sat down to design our families annual Christmas card I realized there were certain months where I had hardly any photos. Like none. Yea, I had lots of vacations and "big" moments. But, I feel like that's not where life is really lived. It's in the day to day everyday stuff. Choosing to cultivating gratitude in those in between moments is really where it's at. And I was sad I had missed so much of those. Not only for me, but to show my kids (through what I choose to prioritize as an important photograph) the importance of this daily gift. Sooooo, without over analyzing and thinking it through to much (which for anyone that really know me, is HUGE), I started.Now, after completing a full year and into my second, I wish I would have stared sooner. If you're even slightly thinking you might like to give this a try. Do it. Don't think about it. Just start.
To help you out, I've put together 10 ways to simplify your 365 project :).
2. Start with the end in mind
What do you want at the end of the year? Please don't let them sit on your hard drive, have a plan. A family book? A book of each child? Just try to take a few minutes to reflect on what would mean the most to you to have in your hands. This will help determine what and how you shoot. Sort of a little reverse engineering if you will. It can help you make less decisions on a daily basis if you have some parameters in place. And less decisions on a daily basis are always better ;).
3. Just do it
Don't over think it. Don't be stuck in decision or perfection paralysis. Just take it day by day. Start today. Start at the beginning of next month. Don't worry about perfect. Done is better than that. Which leads me into....
5. What's really important
That this is a gift. To you. This is your gratitude journal. Your way of showing the world what shines the brightest in your eyes.
Lightroom
BONUS
11. You'll get better
As a bonus, guess what? Your photography will get better. Weather you are a mom with a camera, a hobbyist or a professional, the only way to take better photographers is to .... drum roll ... take them! Shoot every day. Try new things, new perspectives, different light.
I can't wait to see what you create.
Honor Studio Special Mothers Day Event Open for Registration
Hello friends! We are well into March, which only means spring is right around the corner and so are our exciting new events that are planned for the studio.
First, Honor Studio is happy to announce our Celebrating Mom's event will be held on Thursday May 7, from 10am to 4pm.
This will be a memorable day for you to either come into the studio with your children, or purchase this for your mom and have a generations session. As well, through this event, we hope to assist the Central Alberta Women's Shelter by asking all of our booked clients to bring in any much needed item and you will receive one additional digital file. If you book a session, more information will be sent your way.
We would love to have you join us in the studio for this special day. If you would like to make a booking, you can contact me at youandme@leighagraf.com.
HALFWAY . PERSONAL
On a whim (which is my usual decision making style), on the last day of 2013, I decided to join the 365 photography project trend. And here I am halfway through the year (where did the first half of 2014 go?), and have actually carried it through!
It hasn't been perfect, and I've missed a few days here and there. But I didn't go into this project expecting it to be. I call it an "organic, let's see what happens as we go" kind of process ;).
So, as it turns out, I feel so passionately about this project (and encourage each and every one of you to join me) that it actually brought me out of ignoring this poor old blog. Which is pretty epic as I have been ignoring it since FEBRUARY.
It has become a true gratitude project more than anything else.
Clear eyes. Open hearts.
Try it. Even for a month. 5 minutes a day. Download and process your photographs once a week. Print an album at the end of the year. Memories for a lifetime.
Happy summer everyone!