Shutter Sisters

Letting the pictures do the talking

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Without having to say a word, I love how a photograph I have taken can convey just what I need it to.  We’ve heard it all our lives: A picture is worth a thousand words. With all the fabulous photo and slideshow programs available now, it makes it easier than ever to put those photos in a slideshow to share with others, conveying everything that needs to be said.  Add a little music and you’ve got a real treat.  

I recently put together a slideshow as a thank you for my lovely friend for all that she does for my son’s school and the students that love her so.  I asked her friends, family and co-workers to choose a word that comes to mind when they think of her.  Each person then came up with their own idea how they wanted to highlight the word they had chosen and I then photographed them.  Everyone was so creative! The slideshow turned out beautiful and my friend was moved to tears by all the kind words. 

I’m not the only one doing this.  Just recently a gorgeous slideshow was made in honor of one of our sisters, Kristin AKA Maine Momma, for her birthday, made by a beautiful bunch of women using their photography and creativity to express what needed to be said.  How lovely it is when a photograph can do all your speaking for you.

Share with us today your creativity or ideas.  Who knows, maybe you’ll inspire another.

Our Legacy in Photos

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This is my great-aunt Sallie Myrtle Cook, born in 1896. I have just begun to start researching my family tree and I came across this photo of my great-aunt which I found online.  When I saw this photo for the first time, it hit me just how important old photos of any kind can be.  I myself have hundreds of old family photos going back to probably the 1930s, but nothing earlier.  Suddenly, the need to preserve my family photos is more important than ever.  We are lucky that being in the 21st century, it’s easier than ever to do.  Still, I’m thankful to those family members before me who kept those old shoeboxes full of old photographs. 

How about you?  Do you have shoeboxes full of old photos tucked away in a closet somewhere or yellowing in an old photo album?  Have any thoughts of what you may do with them? Who knows, maybe one day someone will find one of your old photos when researching their family tree!

Encouraging Words

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The day I received these little “I Love You” cards in the mail, I was out the door and leaving them at all kinds of different places.  The day I took this picture, my husband and I had gone to lunch.  As we were leaving I quickly slipped one into the holder and then quickly took a picture.  I love to keep a little photo momento for myself.  I so enjoy leaving little cards or notes for others to find.  I find myself wondering about the person who finds my card.  Did it bring a smile to their face? Did they maybe take it and pass it on to someone else?  If I don’t have a card, sometimes I’ll leave a little hand written note which works just as well.  Either way, hopefully I’ve made someone smile. 

Want some cards of your own to leave for someone to find? The ladies over at Kind Over Matter have some gorgeous free, downloadable quotation cards that you can print out.  Print some up, tuck them in your purse or camera bag.  If you decide to leave one somewhere, take a picture and share with us.  We’d love to see the joy you’re spreading, too! 

 (“I Love You” cards available here)

Life Lessons

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This is my third year photographing the kids at my son’s elementary school as they learn and rehearse for their annual school musical.  My goal is to capture, in candid shots, the joy the children get from doing this and to share it in a slideshow for their friends and families to see on the night of their performance.  It’s no secret that I love to photograph children.  Out of the hundreds of photos I get to take of these kids, there’s always one or two shots that reach right inside of me and give my heart a squeeze.  I am amazed at how comfortable these kids are in their own skin, not worrying about what anyone thinks or if their outfit for the day matches perfectly or not.  As an adult, I can’t remember when I last felt like that.  It’s those shots that are little lessons in my life, courtesy of another beautiful child.

How about you? Do you have that one shot that has captured your heart? Do share!

Perfectly Imperfect

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She wore the too big dress and too big shoes for a project her mom and I were working on and she managed to hobble outside so I could take her picture.  She really hadn’t been in the mood to do it and it was obvious.  She could barely stand in the shoes so we decided to let her sit.  It took both of us to gather up the folds of tule and satin so she could sit down and once she sat, we stepped back and had to laugh.  Her expression was priceless and the shot was too good to pass up.  Was it the look we had originally intended? Not at all, but it worked.  It was the perfectly imperfect shot and in my experience those shots usually end up being my favorite.

What about you? Do you have a perfectly imperfect shot? If you do, please share.  We’d love to see it. 

obsessions.

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Obsessions (noun):the domination of one’s thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.

I have a beautiful tree right in my yard that changes with the seasons and brings me great pleasure.  In the autumn as the tree begins to shed its orange and red leaves, a whole new world opens up to me.  The tree is just outside of my balcony and I’m able to sit quietly in my patio chair and observe the world of the gorgeous finches that grace the tree.  I have to admit: I’ve become obsessed with these birds.  They entrance me with their expressions, as if they’re watching me watching them.  I’ve never really paid much attention to them before but now, I can’t get enough of them.  Even more so, I cannot take enough photos of these little guys.  I’m now known in my house as “The Bird Lady”. 

What about you? Is there something that you love to photograph over and over again? Please share…because I don’t want to be the only one with an obsession! 

Capturing Memories

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 I am drawn to the elderly like some people are drawn to babies.  Growing up, I had my great-grandmother in my life for the first 33 years until she passed away thirteen years ago at the age of 96.  At that time I was busy with my career and starting my family but now, all these years later, I wish I would have taken the time to sit with her more, ask her questions about her life, listen to her stories.  I am lucky enough though, to still have my 90 year old grandmother in my life.  As well as asking her questions and listening to her stories, I want to capture the memories as well, so I now photograph her.  Her eyes, her face, her hands…they tell their own story, too. 

A year ago in Rangefinder magazine I read a very moving article on photographer Steve Bedell and how he came to photograph the elderly in a healthcare facility that he calls ‘the forgotten generation’.  The photographs he took were then given to the family members of those that were in the facility.  What a wonderful way to help keep the memories alive for the recipients of those beautiful photographs.

We’ve all taken pictures that have moved us, maybe even enough to give them to those who we know will cherish them.  Please share the photos that move you.  We’d love to see them. 

A picture really is worth a thousand words

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My camera is always with me, quite literally, through the good times and the bad times.  Like everyone, I photograph my vacations or my family and friends, but I also photograph events that aren’t always so pleasant.  When my son, who has chronic lung disease, contracted the dreaded Swine Flu last October, my camera was with me.  There’s nothing worse than seeing your child, or any loved one for that matter, so critically ill and not being able to make it better.  The only thing I had complete control over was my camera, so through my lens I documented what was occurring.  It helped me tremendously but more importantly, as my son became better it helped him, too.  I let him take pictures which gave him a sense of control.  He took pictures of his nurses and doctors and of the medicine that he had to take; I took pictures of him and tried to use my photography to say for me what I could not put into words.  I didn’t know how people would react to my pictures of that event, but after viewing them a friend’s words said it best for me, you have such a gift for explaining emotion through your photography.  It was then that I realized that was exactly what I was trying to do.

Not all photographs have to be of such a serious event for us to experience the emotion of the moment.  Please share with us those photos of yours that strike a chord of emotion in you.  We’d love to see them.

Oh Christmas Tree

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I use to be very picky about how my tree was to be decorated.  I would spend weeks looking for just the right ornaments and would always have some sort of theme for my tree.  Now that I have kids, that no longer is the case. Instead, there are homemade ornaments made my tiny hands from years past and special ones given to me by friends over the years.  I love them all and I love to photograph them.  However, that’s not always so easy.  Many come out blurry or they are overexposed or underexposed.  It’s taken me awhile, but if I take my time and do it right, I get some pretty good shots.

If you’ve tried to take photos of your ornaments but it’s just not working for you, Me Ra Koh shares a great, step-by-step tutorial on her blog that is extremely helpful.  Give it a shot and share with us.  We’d love to see the ornaments that make you smile. 

Magic of the Moment

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My grandma was, and still is, a strong-willed woman and the family matriarch.  She’s cranky and crotchety at times, and at 90 years of age, she’s entitled as far as I’m concerned.  I have so many memories of her that fill my mind. It’s hard for me to see her age and I constantly wonder, will this be my last Christmas with her? 

My 9 yr. old and 13 yr. old boys are her pride and joy.  When I’m with her, she tells me that she’s tired.  I’ve lived a long life.  I’m ready to go, she says.  But then get my boys around her and she perks right up. I think they’re what keep her going and that’s a good thing.  I’m not ready to let her go, not yet.

When it came time for my Christmas card photo, I definitely wanted to use her in the photo.  When I was trying to figure out what would be the best way to position her hands and the ornament, my 9 yr. old came to the rescue. Mama, I know how I want the picture to be.  I’ll put the ornament in her hands and help her hold it with my hands.  So he took the ornament and gently placed it in her hands and then just as gently, placed his hands with hers.  The lump in my throat was huge.  It was truly a magical moment, one that I will cherish forever.  

Please share with us the magical moments of your life.  We’d love to see them.

Story and Photograph shared by the newest regular contributor here at Shutter Sisters, the wonderful Chris Sneddon (aka JeroldsSis) of Everyday Heartbeats. We’re so glad she’s here.