Photography Recap: November

Happy Monday, everyone! As I sat down to write this post over the weekend, it hit me that I only have one more month to recap. Just. Like. That. It is crazy how easily this post has become to write.

I am not sure if I ever explained the entire reason why I write this particular series. See, at the beginning of the year I sat down one afternoon and scribbled some goals onto a notebook. I was making a plan for what I wanted to accomplish throughout the year. Do more with photography. That was something that I wrote. I wanted more purpose with my photography.

If you have ever planned to accomplish anything, you know you need a little more than the words “do more”. You need actions and ideas and plans on how you are going to “do more”. And to be honest, this wasn’t the first year I had ever wrote “do more with photography”. By the end of a year, I would still be in the same spot. We have all been there before. However, this year I was determined. I was doing something.

As I sat there, I wrote down a list of things that held me back. How do I find something interesting to shoot each month or even each day? I don’t see my every day life as very interesting. I work and cook and play with my dog. That is my life. How do I see it differently? How do I comfortably carry my camera around and keep it safe? It is heavy. And, once I have all these photographs, what do I do with them? My laptop is out of space already. I’ve tried this before and failed… What happens if this year is the same? 

Here I was with a goal and a list of things that held me back and a determined spirit. What did that lead too? The creation of this series. I was going to shoot more photographs. Maybe not every day. But, at least five photographs a month. That would be at least one photograph a week. I would pick up my camera every week. That was more than I did the year before. Goal accomplished. To keep me motivated, I would blog about it. Blogging would hold me accountable because if I started a series on here I would have to finish it. End of story. Goal accomplished. And to make photography easier I was going to find a bag that was stylish and comfortable. I’ve blogged about my Kelly Moore Bag previously. Goal accomplished. I had a plan. I was determined. And this year was going to be different.

Here I sit. The month of December. Writing about the 11th month of the year. The 11th month I have photographed. And I am excited to see this goal come to an end. When I started this, I had no clue what I was doing. I feel that way quite often actually. What I have learned is you don’t always know what to do. You don’t know what will work. But, if you try something. Anything. It is better than doing nothing. That idea felt present throughout the month of November as well. Just. Try. Something. Try putting together a Christmas background for family sessions. Try shooting from different angles. Different heights. Different locations. Try having all the dogs in one house together to make travel throughout the holidays easier. Just. Try. Something. And that is what shows in my November photographs… Enjoy!

<Scouting places to shoot family sessions. November gave me my first ever adventure into shooting holiday photographs. In August, I sat two down with two local photographers to get their opinions on photography as a business. Both mentioned that fall would be a great time of year to experiment with photography more as families often need pictures during the holidays. I took their advice, rounded up a few friends, and did something that I had never done before. And it felt great accomplishing that. A big THANK YOU for the help and support from everyone!><What you don’t see in this photograph is construction going on all around me. What you miss is the line of cars parked to the left and the stop sign further to the right. So, why does this photograph make me so happy? Because I’m learning how to look around me, eliminate distractions, and compose a shot.><Just. Keep. Stirring. Thanksgiving Prep and Making Cranberry Sauce.><A black, a brown, and one with white paws. This was the first Thanksgiving these guys were all together. And I have to admit, I was a little nervous. Y’all know Jack – he is the one in the back with white paws. He is shorter and stockier and doesn’t run as fast and hates swimming (the other two guys love water). I was little nervous my little guy wouldn’t be able to keep up. I feel silly even thinking that now because in reality these guys did great that afternoon with all the swimming, running, and squirrel chasing. That’s how I spent my Thanksgiving afternoon.>

<Family Day at the Zoo.>

One of my favorite post to write are these monthly photography posts. I love putting these together because it shows the growth in my skills, keeps me motivated to continually pick up my camera, and allows me to see what I accomplish each month as it was my goal this year to improve my photography. For me, seeing progress is extremely rewarding. If you missed any part of this series, you can check them out here:

January Photography Recap

February Photography Recap

March Photography Recap

April Photography Recap

May Photography Recap

 June Photography Recap

and July…. I vacationed 🙂

August Photography Recap

September Photography Recap

October Photography Recap

Thank you for keeping up & enjoy your day! – XOXO