Capturing Life’s Moments Daily

Every morning before I leave the house, I check the batteries in my digital camera and then I toss my Canon point-and-shoot in my purse so that no matter where the day takes me, I’ll always have my camera with me. I’m just over two months into another year of a 365 Project – taking a picture a day challenges me to look at my life differently, to capture my moments with my camera, and to preserve the moments that might otherwise be forgotten. Carrying my camera has become habit – and when it’s not with me, the absence is palpable – it’s not just the physical weight of its absence, but a part of me feels bare without it.

I’m not a photographer. I am a woman who likes to take pictures. I like to capture my children being hammy, posing with their big grins. I love to candidly capture my oldest playing chess with her brother, or my youngest coloring. I like taking macro shots of flowers and I love when I get a great shot of a colorsplashed sunset. I prefer to shoot outside or by my window (I’m not 100% thrilled with the flash on my point-and-shoot, which is okay – natural light? WAY more flattering).

Those are moments to treasure. Those are moments that might have been forgotten had I not just pulled my camera out of my pocket or my purse and took the shot. I don’t have a fancy-schmancy camera. While I someday hope to get a “big girl camera” (I’d LOVE to treat myself to a DSLR, it’s just not in the cards right now), I find that even my cell phone can get some pretty awesome shots. My point-and-shoot? With a little bit of experimentation and a look at the instruction manual, I’ve gotten some pretty awesome captures with that camera (if I do say so myself!). It’s not about the equipment, it’s about the moments.

Have your camera ready – snap pictures – take pictures of anything, everything. Take multiple shots of the same thing. Take candids, take posed shots.

And when you’re done and you’re uploading them to your computer (don’t forget to back them up! Nothing worse than losing your photographs due to a cranky hard drive), select your favorites. Share them with family and friends via email. Use Flickr. And print some. If you’re into scrapbooking, you’re probably familiar with Creative Memories – well, they have a prepaid digital plan now – so you can use them to print your pictures too. The cost is competitive, and if you’re already using CM for your digital scrapbooking projects, it’s a cinch to print. Visit the Creative Memories Digital Center to find out more!

Tomorrow when you leave your house, make sure you’ve got a camera in your purse and don’t let those moments get away. Shoot anything, shoot everything. Each picture is a moment to remember.

Photo Source: Image is my own. Taken with a point-and-shoot.