surprises everywhere

At first, I found the request for shooting an office party to be puzzling. I imagined dozens of people in slacks making awkward small talk, while balancing shrimp cocktail on their knees.  Why in the world would someone want to document this?! But I agreed. And when I showed up, I realized why they'd hired me. It was a group of 13 people who had worked really hard together for years. It didn't feel like a "networking event" as much as it felt like a genuine celebration of dedication, and accomplishment, and joy. There were pride-filled tears and hugs, and laughter. And since they seemed more like family than co-workers, that's how I wound up shooting them. It was a sweet reminder that it's always about the people. It was also an unexpected treat to find an empty office in the back, with the best window light ever! I used this room for headshots. This is Mr. Boston, with his awesome parents Jesi and Winston. They all have a special place in my heart, not just because they are so fun to photograph, but because Boston is single-handedly responsible for the Red Sox winning the World Series last year. Yep. AND, in the spirit of surprises, I'm totally going to rat Jesi out right now. Look closely...can you see her toes? Looking all painted and cute? When she took off her shoes, only TWO were painted! She is a girl after my own heart! Congratulations everyone at United Lending!

How about you? What surprises do you have in store for us today?

chasing chance

My favorite photography subjects are my two young boys and birds, all types, as long as they flit and scurry and FLY (sorry ostriches). Capturing either can be both breath-holding and heart-thumping because these subjects do not stay still for long. And I don't want them to. I don't want to capture their stillness; I want to capture the fitful, unpredictable beauty of their wildness. I want to capture them taking off.

I am not a peaceful person by nature. And therefore, I don't feel it is my calling to shoot photos of the calm and soothing landscapes of this life. A pretty still life here and there, sure. Who can resist? But what I have found in taking photos over the past few years is that I love to chase chance with my camera. I love not knowing what's going to happen next. I love the challenge of waiting for the moment, and I love waiting to see what arbitrary magic the shots will reveal. My favorite photos have come from such moments.

As for finding some peace, well, for me, the peace is actually what comes as I gaze upon the outcome, a colorful moment frozen before my eyes. I find my peace (and my thrill) in the capturing, as I see them, of the random and wild little miracles in my life. Then I can continue to live the unstill life I am quite possibly destined to live, but I can also find some serenity in what unfolds. The way I see it, to steal a few potent words from Wendell Berry's poem "The Broken Ground": "What is left is what is." Well hello, peace.

As with most artful motives, there is a dilemma at the core of this methodology: do you snap quickly (and wildly) without regard to mechanics of photography in hopes that you'll capture the magic. Is this just downright lazy and amateur? Or do you pick up your camera gently, think wisely, swirl the dial to the appropriate numerology, take aim, check focus, hold your breath, and hope that in doing everything right, the magic will reveal itself—that's if the subject's still around to capture after all that? I have to say I don't have an answer here. I've had luck with both. But luck is exactly what it is for me. So, at what point, do you decide to prop up the luck with practice, knowledge, and applied expertise? Or do you? Maybe you just keep following the magic.

I'd love to see how you've captured "wildness"—may it be in nature or your everyday life. Do tell us is if your capture was luck, finely tuned technique, or a combination of the two.

Photo and words shared by Honorary Shutter Sister Sheri Reed of happinest  and today is pretty .

The Making of a Shutter Sister

"Mommy, where is my camera?!" she called out as we hurried towards the door. "I don't wanna go without my camera."

I remember what it felt like to take my first photos.  Such power. The notion of capturing a moment in time and keeping it in view forever. It was a good feeling, and I knew from the age of seven that I loved holding a camera to my eye and looking at life through a viewfinder.

When I purchased my digital SLR a little more than one year ago, I shelved my first digital point and shoot in a cabinet. The "antique" had a dent in the side from a careless fall and a frustrating delay at the click of the shutter, but it did have the ability to shoot video, so I kept it.

My five-year old daughter asked about it one day as I walked around our backyard looking for little gifts to discover and shoot. "Can I take pictures with you..." she asked. "...with your old camera?" I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of that idea sooner, but her proposal was a fine one. Of course. So I ran inside, grabbed the camera and taught her where to look and how to zoom. 

And suddenly... it clicked.

* * *

Do you remember your first camera or your first few shots? Have you shared a camera with a child in your life? Did his/her perspective surprise or inspire you?

oss - august 2008

Jen at Cherry Vanilla Studios creates images that gently lead us down the road to the magic of everyday; soft and sunkissed reminding us of how life should be lived.

When I saw the shot above I was immediately smitten and that she calls it Chasing the Sun only makes me love it more. It whispers to me of the last of the lazy days of summer…

For more images of inspiration created by amazing women, please click around today and let creativity seep into your summer skin.

Meryl is honoring this shot by ojoyous1

Rachel is honoring this shot by Sarah Luke

Debbie is honoring shot #8 in this post from Amber at Skyward Journey

Maya/Springtree Road is honoring this shot from Shelli Bond Pabis

Lora is honoring this shot from Ella

Andie is honoring this shot from Kristin/Maine Momma

Amy is honoring this shot by allisonbird

Tonya is honoring this shot by Stephie Fry

Corey is honoring shot #2 in this post at Life’s Little Adventures

Sheri is honoring this shot from justmakeit

Dr Lyn is honoring this shot by Just Hay

Melody A is honoring this shot by Cosi!

Emily is honoring this shot of her daughter

Sarah-Ji is honoring this shot by Emily

Terri is honoring this shot from Kristin/Maine Momma

Johanna is honoring this shot from Danisoul

and Diane is honoring both this shot by saramarie and this one by Jeroldssis.

Thanks everyone for your participation. We’ll be doing it again next month when the signs of fall begin to reveal themselves and the whole world changes…

You can email us with your nomination anytime at click@shuttersisters.com.

See you then! 

don't go

Sigh. This is the part of the summer where I panic because it'll be over before I know it. I start wondering what summer activities I can cram into the remaining days. I know it will still be warm for a few months, but when the kids go back to school it just isn't summer anymore. And I don't even have kids! But I do have a husband who's a teacher, and in a couple of weeks he'll be welcoming his students back to school. And my nieces and nephews won't be as available to hang out as they have been. So I'm going to keep my camera clicking away while the grass is green, the corn is high and the evening light is golden.
Do you guys have any "end of summer" photos to share?