let's share a moment between us

You may recall earlier this month we mentioned sharing a collective moment together, as a special way to celebrate this month of moments. You know, kind of a sisterly thing. That moment will be taking place one week from today.

Please join us from wherever you may be on Saturday, July 28th and share a moment (or lots of moments) with us...all of us...together.

Beach day, pool side, water park, road trip, bike ride, county fair, picnic, ice cream shop, whatever your idea is for the perfect summer moment, we want to share it with you. Kind of a like a big group hug, through pictures.

Want to join us? YAY! All you need to do is take pictures of you doing whatever it is that you're doing next Saturday, July 28th and share them via your favorite social media platforms; instagram, twitter, facebook, flickr, etc and tag your images #ssmoment. And because this summer sister moment has been made possible with the help of  Haagen-Dazs, we'd love it if you also tagged your shots #hdmoment too so your photos can be considered for the Haagen-Dazs 50 Summer Moments e-book, coming out in the fall. Fun!

Then, we would love to round up all the best photos from your day, in the comment section on next week's post so be sure to check in and leave your links. We just might be giving away a goody or two that day, just for kicks!

Please grab our "share a moment" button (check it out up there on the left) , show it off around your corner of the web and let everyone know you'll be sharing some time with Shutter Sisters next weekend. It'll be one super-awesome collective summer moment!

You in? Sweeeet!

a timeless sparkle

Wrapping up a long, busy week I spent some time sorting through some things. Thoughts, feelings, and stuff. Funny thing about going through stuff (on any level) it takes a lot of work. But, it also often yeilds surprises and maybe a treasure or two.

 I found this pristine Polaroid that I forgot I had. Camera case, manual and a few other accessories made the discovery all the sweeter. Despite her age, she's got plenty of sparkle left in her. And I'm guessing because of her age, she's got shine that only a gem like this one can provide.

I loved the synchronicity of this find as I have had all kinds of nostalgia on my mind lately with the coming of my next class Picture Black & White. Class begins this week and I am all geared up for some monochromatic magic. I do hope you join me.

And speaking of joining in, I want to thank you all so much for supporting the #shot4shot project over hte last week. Today may be the last official day of the project but the need for support and awarenss will continue so please, keep spreading the word about Shot@Life! Don't forget if you did play along to send a link to one of your shots from the week to our email so you can receive your complimentary 'thank you' photo journal from Paper Coterie. YAY!

Speaking of your shots, today is Best Shot Monday and the last day of April so it's time to share your best shot with us and send off this month with some sparkle and shine.

Just for fun, we're giving away a spot for Picture Black & White today so leave your best shot link to be included in the random drawing. Commments must be left by midnight EST  tonight (4/30) and winner will be announced on Tuesday. 

Oh, and the lovely Kate shared such a sparkly weekending shot and the link to her blog was broke. So be sure to pop by today and tell her what a great shot it was!

***congrats to Heather for winning the spot in Picture Black & White. Woot!***

Heaven

Image shot with a Lensbaby.

On the first day of spring, we braved the cold Portland rain, threw our suitcases in the back of the car and headed for the airport. I couldn't help but feel giddy. Giddy to be leaving it all behind for a couple of days. And when our little plane finally landed in Palm Springs four hours later and we stepped out onto the tarmac, out into blinding bright sunshine and wide open blue skies, I wanted to cry. Giddy is maybe not even the word. This trip to Palm Springs had been in the works for months. The fine folks at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club had invited me down all the way back in August but due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn't actually able to take them up on the offer for a good six months. I know now that the timing was perfect, that the whole thing had come to fruition at exactly the right moment and as our cab pulled into the driveway of the Ace, I felt my shoulders relax. I looked at my sweet friend Nataly (who I'd invited along for the ride) and I think maybe I squealed, I don't know. 

When it comes to traveling, I am notorious for over-planning. I get excited about new cities, new places and want to learn everything I possibly can so that I can plan extraordinary experiences. I try to leave room for things to just happen but more often than not, we are rushing from one thing to the next. With Palm Springs, I let all that go. My only plan for our 48 hours was to just let things unfold. To raise my camera when it felt right. To wholly surrender to the experience. And for 48 hours, that's exactly what we did. We wandered the grounds and lounged in hammocks. We laid in bed and listened to records. We drank mexican coke in white flannel robes by the patio fireplace and ordered room service. We hopped in and out of the photobooth (and then in and out again) and borrowed bikes from the Ace to ride into town. We floated on our backs in the swimming pool and looked up at the stars. We sat in the quiet of the diner and talked. Sometimes I picked my camera up, sometimes I didn't. 

It was exquisite. 

I didn't want to leave. Ever. I wanted to send for my husband and children and maybe a few of our things. I wanted to start a new life in room 237. But when the time finally came to leave, I felt rested and ready to go, ready to take on the real world and a hundred other little things. And as our cab pulled away, my mind jumped ahead to October. I couldn't help but feel excited about Shutter Sisters Oasis. And I couldn't imagine a more perfect place for it. 

Today, share with us a time when you just let it all go, relaxed into life, and allowed it to unfold.

***Just a reminder: Registration for Oasis opens today, at 9am Pacific Standard Time. We do hope you can join us!***

Oasis

We are beyond thrilled to announce Shutter Sisters Oasis. We can think of no better way to gather together to celebrate our sisterhood. Registration opens at 9am PSTon March 29th.  Start packing your bags!

When was the last time you gathered with your sister friends? Share a photo with us today!

gather

Happy March 1st!

I personally love the month of March for two reasons. The first is that I celebrate my birthday in March and the second is that spring will arrive this month. These are both great reasons to get together with friends to celebrate! Which brings me to the announcement of our new One Word for the month of March, which is gather.

During the shorter, colder days of winter it often seems easier to snuggle into our routine and spend more time at home. And while moments spent alone or with immediate family is always important, it's also lovely to connect with old friends and meet new people along the way. So as spring approaches, we encourage you to make an effort this month to have some face-time with the friends who just "get you". Or gather up a group of photography lovers like yourself and enjoy being the in the company of like-minded people. 

We all have to admit, as much as we love to gather here online (and we really really love it!) nothing beats gathering in real life. And since we're on the subject, it seems like a great time to announce our 2012 Shutter Sisters Oasis gathering. All the details, like when registration will open, will be shared in the near future, but for now just the thought of gathering again with our fellow shutter sisters is enough. Start packing your bags!

And as you gather, take the time to document some of those sacred moments and share your images with us all month long in our One Word Project Pool on Flickr (tag your One Word photos this month with the following: owp, gather, march). Your photo may be featured here!