This post was sponsored by Blurb. All content is my own.
Pictures are a way to tell our stories, capture memories, and give us inspiration. There are many reasons why you need to be taking more photos, of anything and everything, no photograph is ever wasted.
I love photography; I've always loved photography. I've told you numerous times on this blog that before I became consumed with food photography, I used to be all about nature and architecture photography. Four years of photography classes in high school and spending my weekends finding random locations in New Jersey to take new shots. Then college and turning this blog into a business happened. My photography hobby fell to the wayside and the only photos I did (and do) take are for my recipes. To say that I've missed just taking out my camera and driving around to find a new location to just shoot and get creative is an understatment. I've made a promise to myself that for 2017 (when the weather gets warmer) I plan on going on my old photo adventures once again to rekindle my long lost hobby.
The thing about taking photos is that you get to capture an interpretation of an object, a person, an environment, a moment in time that can be saved, enjoyed, shared, and reflected upon forever and by anyone. As I was looking through my old photos I'd taken years ago, I noticed that each on evoked a different feeling, a different memory, and a strong inspirational desire to go grab my camera that very moment. I quickly was drawn to my favorite photos that I remembered loving back then, but also had to chuckle at some of these others. No photo is ever wasted. Even the "not so great" ones provide a smile, silly memories, and a perspective on growth.
One thing I regret and won't ever be able to fix, is the lapse in photos I have of my family. We have tons of pictures as kids, but once I was in my tween-teen years and beyond, the amount of "people" photos that were taken in my family drastically lapsed. I always had a strong desire to take portraits and candid shots of my family, but I either just lived in the moment (during events and holidays) or people just didn't want their photo taken. Those are not excuses and with "no photograph taken is ever wasted", this makes me so sad. I want to capture the beautiful inspiration and memories that I've done with my other photography with my family and the people around me. We all need to be taking more photos. No photo is ever wasted (even selfies). Yes, we should live and experience the moments in our lives, but we should also capture those feelings, the smiles and laughs, tears and anger, in photographs too. I'm making another promise to myself (and I hope you follow too) to not only rekindle my hobby with my old photography subjects, but also with the people and simple everyday moments around me.
To keep my newfound motivation and inspiration going, I decided to create a photo book on Blurb.com, an independent, creative book-making platform online. I uploaded all my favorite photos, picked out the template I wanted and used their book-making tools to craft exactly how I wanted my photo book to look. I loved being able to choose everything, from the paper to size of the photos on each page. Once I finished and placed my order, I was so excited to receive it. Now I have a beautiful coffee table photo book of my own photographs that I can pull out whenever I want or need that spark of inspiration!
Once we all start taking more photos, I think creating a beautiful custom-made photo book to put them in is just the thing. They'd make for stunning gifts too! You can create your own on BlurbΒ and use my discount code: STRENGTHSUNSHINE for 25% off*. So join me in my mission to take more photos and then craft them into stunning books we can share for years to come!
So tell me:
+ Do you take a lot of photos of your loved ones or are you lacking in that area too?
*Offer valid through May 15, 2017 (11:59 p.m. local time). Valid only for photo books uploaded to and purchased through your own account. A 25% discount is applied toward your product total with no minimum or maximum order amount. This offer is good for five uses, and cannot be used for digital purchases or combined with volume discounts, custom orders, other promotional codes, gift cards, or used for adjustments on previous orders.
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Cheryl
Thank you for sharing the post! When my kid was a baby, I love taking photos of them, filming a video of their first steps... But after several years, it seems I forgot this habit π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Never forget to snap some shots!
Brittany
MORE photos is definitely a necessity on my end. Thanks for the reminder!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! Thanks, dear!
Meg
Your book looks beautiful! I love taking photographs. At the moment it's mostly my kids but I'd love to start taking more landscape photos again
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
And you should do that! Don't wait another day π
Susan
I go through photo taking phases. Sometimes I photograph absolutely everything. Then other times, I get lazy and forget to take photos. I do love Blurb and creating photo books.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea! It does ebb and flow, that's for sure!
Michelle
I take lots of photos. Sorting them is a chore.
PS: The message from your mum above is very sweet π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I bet you could make some lovely books though!
Haha, thank you, Michelle!
Tina von S
I love taking photos but sadly, I can't take my photos on my phone anymore, because my camera roll is full of screensots of memes and such. Gonna take photos more soon. Hopefully π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, you sound like my mom! (i.e. get a REAL camera!)
Sue
I love photos and take far too many but at least I have beautiful memories to treasure.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's what matters!
Gentle Joy Photography
I take tons of photos... but I agree... I should take more. Thank you for the reminder. π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We can never take too many!
Janet Vinyard
Hi Rebecca, Great post! Fortunately my maternal grandparents were photographers so I have many photos of family. Of course the down side of that is having to decide which photos to keep when there are so many! I like to take photos and scrapbook. I feel sorry for people who have very few or no pictures from their childhood - sad! Thanks for sharing your photos! Blessings, Janet
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm glad I have so many of my childhood, but I'm sad I've missed out on these more recent young adult years!
Rhonda
I love this post, and I love taking pictures. Life got in the way last year, but I plan to resume my picture taking ritual this year. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? It feels so good to know we have beautiful memories to look back on when we do take photos!
Mary
Maintaining my blog means I take pictures of everything. I never know what I'm going to use at a later date, but I need to start taking pictures for fun, without my blog in mind. Excellent post Rebecca.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Take everyday photos just for you!
Nina
I've always loved taking photos. I just think they all have a beautiful story behind them.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They do! I love how they dig up old memories even so many years past!
Alicia Owen
I take tons of photos of my kids, crafts, and outdoor stuff. But, I need to get better about letting my 4 year old taking pictures of me even though I don't like having my picture taken. I won't always be around and she'll enjoy those photos.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Let her take ALL the photos! You could create some fun books together!
Barbara
This is very inspirational. I take a lot of photos, but not nearly enough of family. I am the caretaker of my Father's many, many slides. He was a good photographer. I have wanted to create a book of his pictures and give each of my sisters a copy. I haven't started that project, yet. I need to get going on it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think using Blurb will make the processes much easier for you!
Lisa P
Love this! And all of your beautiful photos... I hope to go on some of those photo adventures with you as soon as the warmer weather gets here! <3 Love, Mom
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Xoxo π