exhale

When life gets hectic and we forget about ourselves it's important to check-in from time to time. Take a moment to do a little self-reflection today. Find a quiet moment and ask yourself some check-in questions: How do I feel today? What am I grateful for? What could make me happier?

Lately I'm craving time spent outdoors alone with my camera. I'd love to find a quiet spot and spend the morning shooting for fun. It's been a while since I've done anything like that but I know it would be refreshing.

If you have a recent self-portrait or just a photo that prompts some self-reflection please share it with us today.

self love

It is such a nice change of pace to occasionally switch up the subject of my photos. I spend most of my photographic energy on people, whether candid shots of my own family or more formal portraits of others. So turning my lens toward nature or architecture from time to time keeps me excited about the possibilities of an image.

Sometimes I notice that I lose a little motivation looking at everyone else's amazing photos. How will I ever take an original photo when it seems like everything has already been done? In the age of Pinterest, Flickr, Facebook, and numerous blogs it is easier than ever to compare ourselves to others. There's nothing wrong with searching for inspiration and keeping up with a community of like-minded people. But when we feel the wave of self-doubt approaching it's important to take a step back and remember what makes photography special for each of us.

So today I encourage you to share a photo that makes you proud & happy. Forget about the technical aspects or how it compares to other people's photos, but do tell us why you love it.

work

I've enjoyed the benefits of both working in large offices and working from home and both have their positive aspects. But it's nice to have a furry companion while I work to make the the environment more comfortable and conducive to creativity. How do you prefer to work?

Today, share your 'work' photos.  Be sure to tag your images #sselevate and play along with us.

favorite space

As I looked at the Elevate the Everyday prompt for August 2nd and began to think about my favorite space, I started by doing a mental tour of my house. As I imagined each room, nothing stuck out in my mind quite like this corner of my son's room. Before naps and bedtimes we snuggle into this comfy rocking chair to read books and sing songs. These are rare quite moments amongst days filled with constant activity and motion. I am grateful for this space and what it represents.

We are ready to elevate the everyday this month! Show us your favorite space in the links below and add them to the One Word Project pool on Flickr. And be sure to tag your images this month with #sselevate.

touched

Bees are a pretty big deal in the life of my one-year-old son. He has developed enthusiastic feelings for anything with black and yellow stripes but until a few days ago his only bee reference had been the ones he saw in books and toys. His tiny finger would point as straight as possible while emphatically exclaiming "BEEE!". But last weekend we found ourselves surrounded by beautiful wildflowers buzzing with hundreds of big fuzzy bumblebees. The real deal! These little workers were focused on their job and not the least bit interested in the little voice repeating the same word over and over again ("bee? bee? bee?"). And they certainly didn't mind the pointed finger reaching out to gently pet their back. What an exciting moment for a little boy and equally as thrilling for his mama.

I'm so thankful to be able to capture these small, but victorious moments. Do you have a special moment to share?

Don't forget to tag your shots #ssmoment, all July long, and join Shutter Sisters as we play along with Haagen-Dazs and their 50 Summer Moments project. (tag #hdmoment)