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.