A New Season

I'm a true California girl. I live for summer, so when the days grow cooler and the days become shorter, it has always been a difficult transition for me.  I would pout my way through autumn, because really, finding a true fall season in Southern California is pretty much impossible. A couple of years ago I decided it was time to stop pouting about it and find fall on my own and I have.  Pumpkin patches? Check.  Apple picking? (yes, even here in SoCal!), check.  A yummy pumpkin latte? Well, that's a given.  But what truly signifies the changing seasons for me?  Football!  High school, college, professional, it doesn't matter.  Fall is in the air, people.  Even for me, this born and bred California girl.  :)

Share your stories of how you celebrate the changing season. Show us your autumn.

We are giving away one $100  Paper Coterie gift card EVERY SINGLE DAY of September! Share a comment each day before midnight EST for your chance to win that day's random drawing. Be sure to leave links to your story shots. 

no distractions

Racing against the clock today trying get a million things done all at at once, I felt more scattered than focused. Late in the afternoon I was on a call with a friend (someone I'm working with on a big project) and  before we could even get into the work part of the call, I was interrupted on my end by my daughter bounding in from her first day of High School. I got immediately distracted, Uh, er, I think I have to go. But, I really need to talk to you about just a few things. Uuuuh, er, um...shoot. Let me think.I paused for a moment trying to figure out how I was going to stretch myself to be in two places at once; with  my work and with my daughter.

Go, go, my friend ordered,That is much more important than this. Go. We'll talk later.

Indeed.

How was it that so quickly I lost sight of what really was most important? How easily I tried to put off what was happening under my roof, with my kids and keep them on hold while I worked? There's a lot of that around here with projects and pressures and so many things to do. It's amazing to me how often I say, give me a minute.

But sometimes, there's the non-negotiables. The things that matter so much that everything else must fall to the wayside; the other demands of the day totally blocked out until all you can see is right in front of you; no distractions. There is such a freedom in those moments. The freedom of letting go and being all in.

When my kids were babies, there was a lot of that kind of time. When you didn't have a choice. When tiny mouths needed to be fed. When small bodies needed to be rocked. When bright eyes needed you to pay attention. No distractions. It's so different now and yet so much the same. Sometimes though, it's harder to see the need. But rest assured, it's still there.

Whether you've got teen-agers or babies or spouses or parents or pets or friends or neighbors or anyone or anything that might need you, remember the non-negotiables. When all you can do is be there and be all in. 

Show us today how you capture a moment through your lens that removes everything but what matters the very most.

the best moments

"The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing time… The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile." - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

As a photographer I've found out that it's essential to fully embrace what defines me and makes me unique, and work hard towards the direction of my own goals and personal dreams instead of someone else's. But what I also realized is that dreams change. All the time. And with new dreams comes the necessity to challenge what I know, step outside my comfort zone and learn new things.

When I started taking Polaroid photos I had to learn about the different cameras and films, how to slow down and mindfully craft the composition of each shot. When I started my own business as a child/family photographer I had to pull out my digital camera's manual more often than I'd like to admit and understand and establish sound business practices. Lately I've been working with non-profit organizations and learning about poverty, exclusion and how best to use my skills to help promote social change and make a difference. And most recently, as I am crawling all over the city to photograph homes for a travel website, I am learning how to shoot with a flash.

It's not always easy. Learning often comes with uncertainty, fear, frustration, and yes, mistakes. But when we cling to what we know, to our comfort zone, never addressing the things that we are afraid of or curious about, we cut ourselves off from the opportunity to find and develop new creative strengths, to discover what we can do and become who we really are.

Today tell us: what are some the big and small challenges that you’ve overcome lately and that have helped you become a better photographer? When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone? Is there something that you've always wanted to learn but were too afraid to tackle? If yes, how about taking the plunge today?

every step you take

 

I consider the various phases and stages of my life like stepping stones; one after the other being set down just in time to catch my next step. Looking at each step as an important and integral part of my journey helps me to live without regret. If I believe that each stone was essential, then what I might have considered missteps weren’t missteps at all. On the contrary, they were totally essential to get me to where I am now. I wouldn’t be who I am without everything that I’ve been through. Good, bad or otherwise. And I wouldn’t have gotten this far down my road without every single step.

I am often asked to share my story of how I became a photographer. Of how Shutter Sisters came to be. Of how all the pieces of my story fit together. So much of it seems unlikely and yet it all somehow makes sense. Telling my story has helped me remember the steps I took, one after the other; often times unaware, unsure of what my next step would be. Truth is, I just kept taking it one stone at a time. Some leaps were bigger than others from one to the next.  Sometimes I was more sure-footed than others. As I moved forward, I didn’t always see the connection or understand the correlation from step to step. But, now looking back, I can see that each step was there for a reason. Each decision I made and each decision that was made for me (you don’t always get what you want) had its place and its purpose. It’s always an empowering process for me, to share my story. It reminds me of all my stepping stones.

Today, I encourage you to think about your story. Study your past. Look back upon your own stepping stones. Remember that you have been led to this place. That you have traveled far to get here. That every part of your journey holds some responsibility in why you are here.

Let’s see some sort of stone or pathway or your own feet even...something that honors every step.

When There Are No Words

I received a text that my best friend was in the hospital, a text that was not unexpected.  Within 24 hours, her core group of girlfriends, myself included, fill her hospital room.  At times serious, we discuss chemo and medical procedures and pain management.  At times funny, we talk about some of our best times together, our laughter so hysterical and loud that a nurse comes to the room and closes the door.  My girlfriends know and expect that my camera is with me.  It's my security blanket, my safety net.  When I can't find the words to speak, I let me camera do the talking for me.  When a hand reaches out and takes a hand resting on the hospital bed, I lift my camera and quickly take a shot.  With a lump in my throat, I know this photo speaks all that I or my friends cannot speak and without a doubt, we will cherish it forever.

Today, show us those special photos that do the talking for you.  We'd love to *hear* what they have to say.