And I love it.
It’s a good feeling. A motivating feeling. I welcome these ideas when they come. They are a happy distraction to any of the more mundane, necessary, or regular tasks in a given day. And I’ve learned I must make time for these sparks. They are gifts. Gifts I must give in to.
I know I can count on these seedlings to show up for me every now and then and I look forward to them. I love them, in fact. It’s like God blesses me with an inkling as though pixie dust is sprinkled on me and I feel as though I could fly with the adrenaline rushes as I internally ponder and plan at the same time as I wait and see what steps to take next for this idea to actually come together to a finished thing. It puts a pep in my step as my hamster-wheel brain churns. I’ll be on the lookout for anything that will bring the idea more and more together until it just feels ready.
I typically procrastinate on things, but for some reason, this particular sort of project is easy for me to get into. I know I have a time limit because typically the ideas surround my daughter who will only be the age she is at the time for that little bit longer. The time limit is natural and not enforced by anything other than time willing and my own stipulations. Before I know it, she will grow another quarter inch, have longer or shorter hair, less baby teeth and more permanent teeth, outgrow the current size clothes and shoes. So, I know I must act fast—while the boots fit! This particular season of her life will flit on by and I have a strong urge to capture it. If I do not act, I know I will be sorry. I take it as my responsibility. One that only pays on emotional returns and years (and possibly tears) of looking back.
And it means I’ll get to play. We get to play together—while she still loves to play (which I hope is still a long while). The very idea of her outgrowing play wrings my heart.
Play always. Keep the wonder.
This sort of playful project is one that I take quite seriously only for the value it has for me. (Although, I know that one day she’ll appreciate the images, too.) There’s always a balance—I need elements of play and creativity mixed with a little bit of purposefulness.
So, I must nurture the little seed of an idea. I’ve learned over time to trust that the seed will grow. My idea will work out. It will grow to a final beautiful project that feels right and “meant to be”. And that’s just the best!
I know, for example, every year I’ll want to do a Fourth of July shoot, but I might not know all the details right away. I might keep that little seed of an idea in my head based on one article of clothing. My mom surprised us with a sweet little ruffle denim jumper when she was but five years old and that was the catalyst. I remembered my daughter previously got a little cowgirl hat from a birthday party as a party favor that would work well with it. I later wandered into my favorite kids’ resale shop another day and found the most adorable pair of cowgirl boots exactly my daughter’s size! Then I came across a second-hand layered red-white-and-blue skirt scattered with stars and stripes that felt just right and she already had a little white top to go with the ensemble. Plus, we still owned two glittery star clips since she was a toddler. And my brother-in-law’s 1962 Chevrolet truck was parked under a tree at my parents’ property, an idyllic place to make a photograph. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any more adorable, my parents have a little shed in their yard with a sign that read, “Fresh Flowers” that I noticed mid-photo shoot. We just had to get a bouquet of actual flowers. This was turning into two very sweet and very fun thematic shoots!
Yes, please, and thank you! Everything felt aligned.
My daughter would never be this height again nor fit in these clothes again, have this length of hair again, and who knew how long those baby teeth would hang in there. I feel the need to document it all.
My heart was giddy as I gathered the necessary items for these themed photoshoots for this time and place.
This creative process is crucial to my well-being. It’s like therapy. Creation therapy!
Once she was dressed, I just let her explore and just tried to make her look into my cyclops lens occasionally as I snapped away.
So, creative souls out there reading this, if you’ve made it this far, I wonder if you have the same desire to make photographs of the sweet moments in your life whether they be created or organic. If you do, I urge you to be on the lookout of the things that spark an idea in you and then be aware of the complementary things that present themselves to you so you can create the vision, thus making a happy memory for yourself and by default, without even meaning to, your subject—whether that be your kid, your parents, your friend, your pet, anyone you choose to spend time with in this way—and capture something sweet, beautiful, funny, special, touching, or good.
Recognize the serendipitous things that feel like happenstance. They’re magic. Little happy accidents in life that make it feel so energizing and fun, reminding us that life is amazing. See them as blessings and go with the flow and have fun with gratitude. No pressure. All gifts.
I promise your heart will be fuller for it.
