My Life in 52 -WK6 | In Home Lifestyle Photographer

Life in 52 Project: Week 6

“One of your favorite things to do lately is switch up your wardrobe. A small stain, a smudge of jelly, a drop of water… they’re all wonderful opportunities and perfect excuses to change your outfit or try on new shoes. No speck goes unnoticed and everything is quickly made right after putting on a fresh pair of clothes and casually throwing a tulle skirt or flowly dress on top.
For a while I fought your desire to change so many times a day, (the laundry was becoming unreal) but you’ve mastered dressing yourself and are getting very good at putting your clothes back in your drawers… so model away my little fashionista.”

My Life in 52 - WK3 | Tanae Sorenson Photographer

Week 3:

“Lexa baby, look how big you are. You really aren’t my baby anymore. This week you started preschool and you couldn’t be more excited. I was worried your shy disposition would get the best of you and make it hard for you to go to school, but you dove right into your new environment and loved every minute of it. You are my sweet, smart, playful girl with wild hair you love to twirl and whose penetrating eyes still give me chills and an itch to grab my camera. ”

My Life in 52 Project - WK2 | Tanae Sorenson Photographer

Don't mind me as I quickly catch up with posting my weekly love letters. Every week for the entire year, I plan on taking and posting an image of my daily life. Often, they will be images capturing memories I want to remember, and sometimes, like this week, they will simply be descriptions of my week and the little thoughts that cross my mind.

Life in 52 Project | Week 2:

“This has been a week of embracing everything exactly as it is. Grandma is gone, routine is still non-existent, and we are taking things nice and slow. I sit nursing Addie, feeling exhausted and wondering what I have to show for the day, when I look over and notice the soft light on your face Alexa. You are flipping the pages of your book so tenderly, patiently waiting while I nurse baby sis. No more than 40 minutes ago you were having an inconsolable tantrum and wanted nothing to do with me, but now here you are. Sweetly reading me stories. I embrace you and you, forgiving as always, embrace me back. I pull out my camera and we all huddle in close because this week and every week this year, all I really want is to breathe you in. You my sweet girls and this challenging yet wonderful role I strive to measure up to as your mother.”

If you want to learn more about my 52 Project, feel free to read about it, (or even start your own project!) here. Also, for monthly tips, inspiration and tools on how to capture meaningful moments of your family, don't forget to sign up for my FLM (Family Legacy Makers) Newsletter.

Creating a Family Legacy - My Life in 52 Project | Tanae Sorenson Photographer

Every year I choose a project to work on. For the past two I've attempted a 365, (taking a photo every day) but both years I found myself falling short and feeling overwhelmed with the thought of editing and posting an image Every. Single. Day.

New Project. New Year.

With a toddler and a new baby, I suffer pretty hard with the mommy brain right now, so shooting my family life consistently solidifies the year for me and helps the passing time feel less like a blur. That being said... I have a toddler and a new baby. Photographing, editing, and posting an image every day to social media is not realistic for me right now or even desirable.

So, I've decided to work on a less beefed up (but still super cool) version of a 365 called a Project 52.

Rather than taking a photo every day, I take and post one photo every week. Waaaaay more manageable sounding for my mommy brain right now. (Crossing my fingers.)

I Want to Do a Project 52 Too! Do I Need to Be a Photographer to Participate?

Definitely not! If this sounds like something you want to do, all you need is a camera, (or a phone) and a desire to photograph someone or something in your life every week that you love, value, or want to remember. You can read the full project description here. Or you can even join this super cool group of others (M4H Project 52) doing the same project here.

A Year of Visual Letters

With my photo every week, I plan on writing a little blurb or 'love letter' to my girls about our lives from the week. My hope is to turn this project into a book at the end of the year that my family, but especially my girls, can look back on and read. Images are powerful. I love how a single photograph can bring back a forgotten memory, preserve a beautiful moment, and make me feel something bigger than myself. When I couple that with a few of my own words and thoughts, it gives a photograph even more depth, life, and meaning for me. And that's my real goal. Not perfection, just consistency in recording what's most important to me. My family. This is the year I create a legacy with more life and meaning for me and the people I love.

Creating Your Family Legacy

I plan on posting my weekly's here regularly, so join my mailing list to follow along and / or receive tips, inspiration, and free tools to help you document your family's story this year. Keep up the good work documenting your story friends.

Week 1:

“It’s official. It is a new year. You, my sweet Adelyn (or Addie-bug as I like to call you) joined our family in November and we are now nicely settled in our new home in England. When I imagined our lives, I never guessed we would be a military family, or that we would be stationed in Europe not once but twice! It all feels a little dreamlike. We love our new home and are soaking up this rare opportunity to live abroad for so many years, but I’ve got to confess... living on the other side of the globe makes me miss the days when I never had to drive more than an hour, (sometimes only 5 minutes) to see my family. Which is why this Christmas was so special. Grandma Suzy came down for a visit. Grandma does not travel often and mommy felt so lucky to have her here and so happy that she could see and get to know both of you, my sweet girls. Do you know how special you are? Do you know how much you are both loved? I hope you always do.”

If you decide to jump in on this project, or join the M4H Project 52 group, let me know in the comments below so I can follow along and cheer you on.