self

These women. You women. Yes, all of you reading this right now. I'm talking to you. I'm over here, waving humbly from the corner of my family room plunking away on the family desktop computer, surrounded by piles of paper, a to-do list a mile long, and bad light. I'm tired. Already weary of all the small curve balls that this first week back to school has thrown. I sit here, feeling displaced. Because, my office is too much of a mess to sit in. Because my own computer (that is usually in my messy office) crashed. Because life is imperfect and I am just making due, as all of us do when we need to.

I can share all of this with you because I know you understand. Because I know you can relate.  You're nodding your head empathetically, supportively, kindly. I know you are. Because you have been here before. Because you care as much about the struggle as you do about the successes. This month, you've applauded my new book. This week, you wished me happy birthday. And today, you're being kind and gentle with me because you know I need it. It's what you do. It's what you've always done. It's just who you are. All of you. I have grown to know that about you over the past five years. It's what makes this place so special. Thank you for that.

This month has been a grand celebration of elevating the everyday. Every single one of your images has meant that you are with me, with us, as we share our lives with one another. That we are all in this together. That's what it's all about. Thank you all so much for joining me, for joining us as we explored what it means to elevate the everyday in honor of my book. It has meant so much to see your responses to each prompt.

And now today, as we wrap up the month, I want to see more of you. We want to see more of each other. Today we are asking you to share yourSELF. Because you so lovingly point your cameras to the world around you, capturing all that matters to you with such tender and kind eyes, it's time to capture yourSELF with the same kind of love. And if for a single minute you feel shy or unphotogenic or not enough, I encourage you to visit the I am Enough Collaborative. The stories there will give you the perspective you need to be good to yourself and share a shot of your beautiful, unique and awesome SELF.

Every comment left here between now and Sunday 9/2 at midnight will be entered to win a copy of my book Elevate the Everyday: A Photographic Guide to Picturing Motherhood. And don't forget to tag your images #sselevate.

Comments

[Caryn]

Lovely post, Tracey. I would be so happy to win a copy of your book! :-) http://www.flickr.com/photos/instamaticgratification/7898825608/in/photostream

[elke1403]

This post is the perfect wrap-up to this awesome elevating month.
It`s been not only fun but truly inspiring to see all these beautiful images and posts.
Thank you!

[Trish]

Love your 'I am Enough Collabrative' series and would love to get my hands on a copy of your book!

[Yvonne]

me, MYSELF and i

Thank you Everyone it has been fun!

http://afightingoptimist.blogspot.com/2012/08/myself.html

[Gabriela]

What a lovely month, what a lovely group of ladies, and thank you for helping us elevate our everyday...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gamaraca/7841158698/in/photostream

This is me thinking o f life and the curve balls it has giving me lately!

[marina sorr.]

thank you, Tracey.
for the goosebumps that reading your words here has given me.
for your truth and courage and vulnerability. for all the work you do, together with all the other amazing shuttersisters, to create and nourish this beautiful space here.
for sharing and allowing me to share.
thank you for this month of elevating the ordinary.
this is my selfie:
http://instagram.com/p/O_Yln3Frxq/

[melissa]

A fun month!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissatalbert/7899574652/in/photostream

[Karen]

Me.
Happy Friday all and Happy Labor Day weekend! Today is my LAST day of working at the bank. Next week it's off to the NC coast to find a job and LIVE :) Yayyyy!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80357694@N06/7559862192/in/photostream/

[Dotti]

Well, here I am. Don't say you didn't ask for it!

:-D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dottirinehart/7680861372/

[Kelly]

Seems so fitting that I was just listening to a podcast yesterday
that talked about understanding that we are enough exactly how we are today.
As I approach the birth of my second child with my 2 year old, I'll be leaving my job
and staying home full time. This has made me question am I enough? Thanks you
for your inspiring posts!

[audrey]

Awesome post! I'm feeling it all today, I so appreciate this! Would love to win a copy of the book! :)))

[Jean]

I love this post! This is a self-portrait, taken on day 365 of my first 365 photo project: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deburenphotography/6286813570/in/set-72157625228115035

[Claudia]

This has been a busy month for me, so I haven't participated as much as I would have liked. But always enjoy the inspiration beautiful ladies... thank you! :)

[elise]

this month has been such an amazing month...each day filled with elevating the everyday and opening my eyes to how special those everyday things can be! it was so much fun to see through the eyes of others their interpretation of the daily word! thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to play along...you women are inspirational!

[Erin Friedman]

Thanks for the chance to win - I'd love it.

[marina sorr.]

thank you so much, Tracey.
for this post which has given me goosebumps.
for your truth and courage and vulnerability.
for all the work you do, together with all the other amazing shuttersisters, to create and nourish this beautiful space.
for sharing and allowing me to share.
this is my selfie:
http://instagram.com/p/O_Yln3Frxq/
(this is the second time I am trying to post this: the first time was three hours ago, I am trying again because I haven't seen the first attempt published. if both come up, please consider just one for the chance to win the book, obviously!)

[tara]

i love these faces. xoxo

[Patricia]

Today I am at Crater Lake National Park with family. But when I return home, there will be a mountain of work waiting for me. For now, I am enjoying this moment.

[Cherish]

I've loved following along this month. What a great way to end - with ourselves:)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cherrybee/7897440004/

[beth]

Thank you for the month of challenges, I feel like it gave me so much to think about and ruminate on. I'm looking forward to taking more photos next month, and these faces are taking me forward. So inspirational, I don't think my thanks can convey my gratitude.

A few pictures for these past few weeks:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65102482@N04/

[Kathleen O.]

Hi! http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/7900791292/in/photostream

[life in eden]

This group helped me take my life in new directions, reminded me there are still friends to be made in life, still dreams to be dreamed. Thank you ladies.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/7900841784/in/set-72157623309568555/

[beth lehman]

i have loved seeing so many women today.. how fun. i would love a copy of the book, too. this month was really fun!

[Vanessa]

I loved this! The idea that my bad days, the ones with the funk are received with the same smile as the my happy days really clicked inside my head. Thank you for the beautiful adventure this was and has been. Oh and yeah, I'm smiling at you.

[fro]

thank you shutter sisters for one more great month :)

[Meghan @ Life Refocused]

It's been an awesome month. Sending you love and hugs. Here's my most favorite recent selfie... http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghandavidson/7850658776/in/set-72157625339995238

[Anna]

A wonderful post, Tracey! I have enjoyed this month of amazing everyday-ness and would love to win a copy of your book. Take care.

[Diane M. Schuller]

I admire each and every person who was featured in this collage for doing a self portrait. I have tried and tried and tried but they are never in focus and the odd one that accidently turns out in focus is horrid. So I quit and doubt I'll try again. I'll keep my camera pointed away from me -- that seems to work best :~) I continue to admire everyone who can successfully (or not) take a self portrait.

[Leah : tinylittleseahorses]

loved this post Tracey! I really enjoyed the prompts this month.
Here's mine :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leahhug/7902185610/

[Emily T]

Beautiful pictures and awesome words. Thanks for the reminder to turn the camera around once in a while.

[cheris]

It's on my wishlist! But just in case, I'll sign up here too. Oh, and here is my Self, from the Now You class this spring (which I highly recommend) http://www.flickr.com/photos/liffords/sets/72157629530238090/

[Anita]

Love looking at all the lovely faces over on IG! It's hard for me to shoot myself but I jumped in. Thanks for the chance to win!

[Lee Ann]

Thank you Tracey for allowing us to share! It's been a fun month of sharing, even on the days that I thought, "oh, not that...I can't share that with everyone!" But I did and it was good to step out of the box--even if just a little side-step. Here's to hoping for another month!

[Kate L.]

I'm so glad I've gotten just a teeny bit more involved this month. Thank you.

Here's one I took while I was taking Andrea Scher's Superhero Photography class this winter.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/71179909@N05/6820632441/in/photostream/

[Anika]

If to join the IG group...how have I not dine that already?!?
Thanks for the chance to sang a copy of the book!

[Jennifer]

I would be so happy to win a copy of your book! I have read the Shutter Sisters blog for quite awhile and enjoy it very much. I just found you on IG. So glad!

[Kari]

I have loved following everyone's elevate pics on instagram this month!

[Christineellen]

Great post and and a great prize!

[Megan Keller]

What a great way to wrap an amazing project! I had so much fun allowing my creative juices rule my brain each day to focus on something for ME! Thank you so much for all the inspiration each and everyday! It is wonderful to feel a part of a such a wonderful community of women.

[playcrane]

Proud to be a contributor to the I Am Enough Collaborative. So many awesome selves there!

[Jeri Taira]

I've visited before. Popping in and out. Sometimes I've shared words. August drew me in. It was through the OWP prompts on IG. The people in this community were more than I expected. I love it here. I believe it's perfect timing to join in and make some friends.

Thank you for encouraging us to elevate each day being true to ourselves. God Bless.

[Karrie G]

Thanks for this post Tracey. It was especially fitting for me this morning, as I snuck over here for a distraction from my own sea of office chaos. And now, as usual when I leave this place, I feel calm, inspired, and understood. Can't wait to pick up a copy of your new book.

[melissa]

gorgeous women. thank you for being brave in your beauty. and thank you for the generous and exquisite offering.

[Kim N]

Awesome and congratulations on your new book! I look forwarding to buying a copy soon! But I secretly hope this means you will be doing more classes or picture series... I love those!

[Sherralee]

Wonderful post capping off a stunning month.

Here's my selfie...it's a bit different...more of a meditation on growing older...

http://flic.kr/p/bZLrmN

Congrats on the book!

[leaca]

I would love a chance to win your book.