our virtual community

images courtesy of #ssmoment via instagram

from top left: @wilburandfern @leslieradams @runningchatter @lucyloomis

I don't know about you, but watching the images pour in from Saturday's Shutter Sister Moment (in real time!) was truly inspiring for me. Many of us long for a tribe. A collective, a group of like-minds with whom to gather. We all know this world is spread far and wide, that's why so many of us gather here, right?

We might not be able to chose our family, but we are most definitely free to choose our tribe.

Ladies, I couldn't feel more blessed to be part of this tribe. Seeing these images come in via Instagram (over 1300 images.. wow!!) and linked to this blog really made me feel connected to this amazing community. I think we all enjoyed it so much that we are planning to have more live feeds in the months to come! yay!

That said, I spent saturday with my family at the coast... and yet each and every one of you was in my heart; tucked away with visual pleasure, knowing in my spirit that we were all out there doing our thing... together yet separate. In this online world, finding connection like this is so important.

Thank you all for joining us in our Shutter Sister Moment. Haagen Dazs was over the moon with joy to see all the imagery pour in as well. Let us not forget the power of photography, ladies! What we are doing matters.

Our random number generator selected #29 as winner of the $100 gift card! thank you, linderloo, for sharing this image with us! Today, to celebrate the last day of July, please share with us your favorite moment from the month!

shutter sisters share a moment (in real time)

Today is the day! Get out your cameras and capture your summer moments with us as you are living them today, in real time.

Tag your images via your favorite social media platforms (below are some Instagram gems) with #ssmoment and #hdmoment and watch the collective visual magic unfold.

Just by sharing a moment with us, and leaving a comment sharing what your summer moment looks like here today, you'll be entered to win a $100 Visa card, courtesy of Haagen-Dazs to use for some more summer fun!

Thanks for sharing your summer moments with us today!

::

please add the direct url to your 'share-a-moment' photo below.

1. Erin	2. justine gordon	3. Daily Practice	4. Kate	5. Carito	6. Karen Marie
7. Viv Halliwell	8. Robyn	9. UpGemini	10. Debbie Ealer	11. melissa	12. Gabriela Bout (gamaraca)
13. Gabriela Bout (gamaraca)	14. fro	15. Linda	16. Paige B.	17. Jennifée	18. smallroots
19. Emme	20. Jeri Taira	21. Meg	22. Roban	23. Laura	24. jan@twoscoopz
25. Liberty	26. claudia	27. Siobhan Wolf	28. Siobhan Wolf	29. lynne	30. Lynne
31. life in eden {amy}	32. cathy~mycornerthoughmylens	33. anngeedee	34. La Cámara de Mamál	35. La Cámara de Mamá	36. Lynne
37. Chelsea	38. Brigid korce	39. melissa	40. melissa	41. melissa	42. Dori Melton
43. Meghan @ Life Refocused	44. geetlee's nook	45. Puna@LifeSignatures	46. Penelope Pink Skates	47. Deb Taylor	48. Jennifer Hagedorn Dizon

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

when the road calls

 

Summer is my time. Weeks before the first day of summer and all I can think about are bright-colored cotton sundresses that hang in my closet, happy clumps of daisies that wait to pop up yellow and white in my garden and the cool, turquoise waters of the neighborhood swimming pool. I dream about snow cones, drive-in movies and road trips like other people dream about fancy new cars and luxury vacations. I can't help myself.

.

But I think maybe what I love most about summer are the road trips. Summer is road trip season. June rolls around and the road calls out. At my house, we are only too happy to heed the call, to pack the car up and go. We build time into our trip so we can stop along the way-- wherever, whenever we feel the pull. These summer adventures with my family are my favorite, my happiest times. These are the memories I hold close.

.

Today, share with us your favorite shots from the road. And 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).

Birthday celebration

We celebrated my oldest son's seventh birthday this past spring.  For him, it was friends and family and cupcakes and gifts.  For me, it was remembering the light that he brought with him when he came into my world. 

* * * * * * * * *

Words and photo essay by the lovely Melissa Talbert.  You can find more of her photography on her blog and on Flickr. 

We're loving the new photo essays feature here at Shutter Sisters! If you have a collection of 6 images you'd like to see featured here as a photo essay, give us a shout. We love hearing from you and showcasing your work.

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!