Mothers with a camera, we all know one. Some are seasoned pro’s, some have all the latest kit with no idea how to use it. Most begin at the time of a new addition in their life, in that period of adjustment, the period when they realise that something so small has turned their world upside down and changed their outlook on, well, everything. Generally they start their photography journey with this new life, telling themselves that they are going to capture all those little moments they do not want to forget. They put all their time and effort into learning how to use the camera so they can capture everything perfectly. They start looking at all the technicals, exposure, white balance, is it on the rule of thirds?? and they are happy, for awhile. Then as time goes on they begin to look at their work and feel deflated, they consider themselves not good enough, that no one will like it… They have forgotton, forgotton why they even started their journey in the first place. They have forgotten that once they didn’t care if anyone liked it, that they only cared about the moment…..
I forgot….. I have found myself trying to create images that looked a certain way, fulfilled certain criteria, rules. I directed my children, to the point where they hated my camera…. I literally would point it in their direction and they would scream and run away. However I have come to a decision, the decision to be honest, to stop competing with myself, to stop looking at an image with my head and start looking at it with my heart. At the start of this journey I would devour photography blogs and on occasion would literally gasp out loud at an image. I miss that. I want to feel inspired, I want to look at the world through new eyes again, to capture it warts and all. I don’t want to look back at a carbon copy of someone elses life, I don’t want my life to look like a generic image that replicate those in a magazine. I want to see emotion and creativity and light and dark. I want to see something real. So my happiness this month is to start breaking rules, to be true to yourself regardless of what is considered correct and live in the moment.
Follow the link at the end of this post to see my lovely friends Rebeccas blog, to see her take on happiness this month.
Please keep breaking the rules, my friend! Seriously these are amazingly gorgeous images of your lovely girl. I adore how your capture her spirit in these images. I can feel your excitement in these! <3 <3
I absolutely love them!!!!!!
This is just precious! An absolute delight to look through, and thanks for the reminder (as a fellow MWAC, I can definitely relate)
Oh Lou don’t be that hard on yourself. I love your style and the way you look at the world. Don’t compare yourself to others. You are unique and this set is brilliant. I can feel the joy, I can hear the giggles, I can feel the warmth and most important I can feel the love and your connection.
BTW what a beautiful bedroom. I love the color on your walls. Which one is it?
Isn’t that the truth! I could have written this word for word. Keep feeling inspired because these shots are stunning, full of light and energy and they ooze happiness. Great work Louise 🙂