St. Augustine Photographer | Project 365 : November

I love photography. I love looking at pictures, taking them, creating them - all of it. I have been so fortunate to turn what I love into a career. As this year went on I was photographing for my clients - but I wasn't creating anything for myself - and if I was I felt guilty because I had a million other things I 'should' be working on.

When I'm shooting for fun - I learn new tricks. I perfect old ones. I get to play around and make mistakes and just create without pressure.

So - this year I'm making a point to do just that. To stop- even if only for the briefest moment - pull out my camera and document what inspires me. I don't really have any guidelines other than that.

Every day for 365 days I will shoot something for myself. I'll blog 1-3 images from every day and share them with you bi-weekly to keep myself accountable. I would love your feedback. Some days I'm finding I'm more inspired then others, some images are better than others, but I make it a point to get my camera out every day regardless. 

This batch of images I was drawn to do all black and white. Who knows if that will continue - or for how long. I am giving myself full creative control with this project and am excited to see where it takes me. I have a few things in mind that I would like to learn from this project - but as with most things in life - I will probably take away very different lessons then anticipated when it's all said and done. 

So brace yourself for loads of pictures of my kids and likely lots of babbling from me.

This is #Project365 

 

 

Day 1 : November 15

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Day 2 : November 16

Day 3 : November 17

Day 4 : November 18

 Day 5 : November 19

Day 6 : November 20 

Day 7 : November 21 

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Day 8 : November 22 

Day 9 : November 23 

Day 10 : November 24 

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Day 11 : November 25 

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Day 12 : November 26 

Day 13 : November 27 

Day 14 : November 28 

Day 15 : November 29

Day 16 : November 30

Flagler Hospital Birth Story | St. Augustine Birth Photographer

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Some babies come before their due date. Some come after. Seldom do they come on the actual day they are expected - but this little lady did! When I was editing this session at one point Adele came on the radio and it felt most fitting - so I'll let her take over this blog post from here: 

When the rain is blowing in your face,
And the whole world is on your case,
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love.
When the evening shadows and the stars appear,
And there is no one there to dry your tears,
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love.
I know you haven't made your mind up yet,
But I will never do you wrong.
I've known it from the moment that we met,
No doubt in my mind where you belong.
I'd go hungry; I'd go black and blue,
And I'd go crawling down the avenue.
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love.
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Tomorrow

Tomorrow. 

I'll floss tomorrow.

I'll give up dairy tomorrow. 

l'll start to exercise tomorrow.  

I'll take my camera out and just shoot what inspires me tomorrow. 

I'll start a positivity journal tomorrow.  

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In my personal life this year has been especially trying. One road bump after another. Every time it seems as though there is a light at the end of the tunnel - closer inspection just reveals another head on collision.  Damn these times are hard - but things will get better, tomorrow. 

The news about Paris took my breath away. It was purely devastating. My heart hurt so deeply and my well versed friend anxiety started to rear its unwelcome head. 

It has been so easy to get sucked up in the negative, and get stuck on the shitty luck we've had lately. But the reality is, despite the excessive crud, and despite the overwhelming amount of uncertainty in our current situation, we are tremendously blessed. Paris was yet another reminder of that which has been weighing on my heart lately. 

It's as though life has been trying to teach me the importance of really living in the present, of being present. When I look back to all that has taken place this year, I harden. When I look ahead to the future I am paralyzed with uncertainties. But when I stop and breathe - I realize that in far more moments then not- everything is OK - I am OK - and I am still breathing. 

When I heard of Paris I was flooded with a million emotions. But, given my context, I felt an overwhelming need to really be more thankful and positive TODAY - not tomorrow.  

Some day, tomorrow won't come. And if that day is indeed tomorrow, I don't want to have wasted my today waiting for better times. 

I have three beautiful happy healthy souls in my care every day. I don't want to waste another minute overlooking them, or overlooking life, for the sake of stress. I'm sure I will fall. I'm sure I'll get caught up in things that don't really matter- but today my desire is stronger then ever to see the light and to embrace it. To be present and to be thankful for this ever so chaotic and beautiful ride of life.