I started to take photos because I wanted my own photos to be showcased in my blog posts. When I started I had no idea if what I was doing was good or not, I just did it. No one ever complained about them (LOL) and to me the photos were of course, amazing.
What started out as wanting to use my own photos, has evolved into so much more than just the act of snapping a picture for my blog. Stopping and taking a photo of a tree, a flower, of how the light comes through the window, has become a mindfulness pause in my day. It’s become a way of connecting with my intuition and following its guidance. It’s a moment in meditation. It’s me being one with what I’m photographing. It’s magic, it’s passion, it’s JOY. It’s my feelings in the photo, making taking a photo a deep and rich experience.
If you’re not already giving yourself the gift of a daily mindfulness photo pause, I’m encouraging you to do so. You don’t need an expensive camera, I take all my photos with my phone, it’s what I have with me all the time, so it’s super easy. Before you go out set the intention to find something to photograph, guaranteed you’ll find something or someone and let that be your daily fun practice.
At first I felt very self-conscious about taking a photo outside, I thought everyone is looking at me. I’ve gotten over it. I don’t make taking photographs an impossible thing, I make it easy and fun. I don’t compare my photos to anyone else, I don’t worry over if they’re perfect, I let my intuition guide me, and I shoot what I like. And it doesn’t have to be a photo outside, it can be a mindfulness pause right inside your home. I take photos of family, I stage photos for a particular blog post. I take photos that never make it to publishing. Inside or outside, doesn’t matter, what matters is that I take a moment to pause and to connect with my inner self to create.
The other thing that’s happened is that I developed a connection and a love for photography and I want my photos to be visually attractive. When I shoot I look for composition and light. I use two apps for editing, Phonto and WordSwag. These apps allow me to highlight and use text and they are free to download. There are many more apps that are great that you can find in a google search. And I’ve also taken a couple of online photography courses.
I took all these photos of my neighbors tree over the last few days. I told my neighbor that technically you could say that the tree is mine since some branches overlap into my yard, LOL. I have a relationship with this tree, I’ve watched it grow from a seedling, I love this tree we greet each other every day.
Stopping to take a photo is a mindfulness act, a moment in meditation, a connection between you and the subject you’re photographing. With every photo we’re creating a composition, our images tell stories, and we’re creating a moment of magic and wonder that fills us with JOY. JOY. JOY.
I’d love to know if you’re practicing a daily, mindful photo pause already. Or, do you want to start and you have questions. I’d love to know.
Blessings
