my 2014 photo project

I am attempting another 365 project this year.  What's a 365 project?  You take a photo a day, every day, for a whole year.  I finished one in 2012.  A photo a day of the girls.  I did have to cheat some here and there, but I ended up with a collection of photos that I love and that are, sadly, waiting on my hard drive to be printed.  I tried another one last year, fizzled out sometime in April, and then gave myself a free pass to quit.  I don't regret it.  It was getting stressful.  But, I did know that I wanted to try again this year. 

Why do a project at all when I'm already being pulled in so many different directions?  A few reasons.  One, I needed to do something that challenged me in a creative way, aside from figuring out how to keep three kids clean, healthy, and happy while simultaneously keeping our home halfway tidy and being a wife.  Two, I'm really wanting to improve my photography skills, but have limited time, so shooting just a few minutes everyday seems to be something I can handle. And three, because I'm stubborn and refuse to ever admit that I can't do all the things.

All.  The.  Things.  I say it a lot lately.  And while I know I can't actually do all.  the.  things.  I certainly do try.  And then some.

I decided they would all be phone camera shots.  I always have my phone with me.  I can edit my shot, on my phone, while cooking dinner, and singing Frozen songs.  Multi-tasking at its best.  The handy dandy phone camera is probably the only reason I might succeed at this project.  Plus, a part of me wants to prove that it's not the equipment that makes the photographer.   

If you're on Instagram, I apologize, these shots are all repeats.  But, I wanted to post a few favorites here.  I certainly won't be posting all 365 of them.  When you're doing a project like this, I think one of the hardest things you must accept is that not every shot is going to be amazing.  You have off days.  Days when you forget to shoot until after the sun goes down.  Days without inspiration.  But you shake it off, pick your shot for the day, and move on.  Because the next day, you might end up with something you really like. 

And if you're wondering, I'm following the daily word prompts from Clickin' Moms (@clickinmoms on IG).  There are probably a hundred different 365 project prompts available on the internet, this just so happens to be the one I'm following.

"the sky today"

"backlight"

"table top"

"dry"

"clouds"

"emerging"

"perfect"

"glittery"

"out and about"
I was super excited when this one was feature on the Clickin' Moms blog!!

"juxtaposition"

"reflection"

"three"

I try to include the kids as much as possible, but they are generally less than cooperative.  And, honestly, it's nice to have an excuse to shoot something different.  The best part?  For the first time in a long time, I feel good about what I'm creating.