Shutter Sisters

Express Yourself

By

Tap tap tap…may I have your attention please…the word on Amazon Street is that our new book, Expressive Photography: a Shutter Sisters Guide to Shooting from the Heart is just about ready to be shipped!

And yes, we are beside ourselves! What better way to kick off September’s One Word Project than to do it with lots and lots of heart? How? By using the word express as your inspiration for the month.

Express youself! Your love, your joy, your passion, your point of view, whatever it may be. We want it all.  All you, expressing yourself in your images. Heart and soul.

And since it might be a little tricky to have a Karaoke sing-along to celebrate our book’s release, we thought we’d just give away a few books this month, starting today!

Express yourself in the comments today (between now and Saturday at midnight EST) for your chance to win a copy of Expressive Photography, hot off the presses.

And while we’ve still got the mic, we’d like to express our thanks to our US publisher Focal Press and our UK publisher Ilex AND we’d like to express our gratitude to all of you for your support and participation over the years. You are truly the best ever!

Edited to add:

CONGRATULATIONS to Rachel at A Southern Fairytale for winning a copy of our book! YAY!

Comments

  1. Ooooh, oooh, pick me! Pick me! {Hand waving enthusiastically in the air here in Italy.} Congratulations to you all here!

  2. So glad to get my hands on this book……I am inspired and awed daily by the great captures shared here and on flickr!!!

    Thanks for the chance to win and express my love of the captured image!

  4. Ladies this sounds like a fun type of book just made to fit in with my camera where picture taking is fun fun fun!

  5. Sounds like an interesting book.
    A lot of photographers are spending so much on learning the technique getting ultra sharp images or great lighting but we have to remember that the content is more important. That's when a photograph taken with a mobile phone can be better than one taken from a DSLR.

  6. I am sooooo looking forward to getting my hands on this book. I fear I have not expressed myself as offen as I used to as of late and I'm wanting to change that. I plan on doing more writing and photography and I'm looking for inspiration. Congrats on your book!

  7. Congratulations, ladies! What an exciting moment for you!….Crossing my fingers in winning this. :)*

  13. Congratulations on your book release! Sounds sure to be a wonderful inspiration to become braver in my own photography and not just go for that 'safe' shot.

  16. congratulations!!!! I so look forward to have my copy of it!!!
    and thank you for the choice of the word of the month, it is so very tuned with how I feel these days.
    and I love the shot of your so beautiful daughter, Tracey.

  18. Oh, congrats!

    I would love to get a copy of this book, I am taking a photography class at my local tafe right now & slowly learning how to use my camera.

  21. as Rumi said" Let the beauty you love be what you do"….congrats on doing it….and doing it so well!!!

  25. yay for early! I have been feeling stuck in a rut lately – and I think this is just the thing to help!

  29. Congratulations! You inspire every day! And I love your photos! They make me stretch my camera skills. Good luck with the book! Would LOVE to have one!

  32. I could use a dose of inspiration and it would be such an honour to win a copy of your book!
    Congratulations to a job well done, you ladies are amazing!!

  37. Just found you guys and LOVE your style and blog! I've been looking at your blog for hours! Congrats on your book being published! Crossing my fingers that I win!!

  40. I would love to have a copy of this book! …I also have to note that I love when prompts have a few meanings. It helps to stab at it from multiple angles. Thanks for all of these opportunities!

  43. What? How exciting! I missed that this was in the works but soooo glad to read it is almost here. Pick me, pick me! I can't wait to see it!

  44. ooooo…i WANT one of those!

    thank you, shutter sisters, for inspiring me when i felt mt creative juices were not flowing.

  45. I'm not a cell phone user, but this book would be a great way to keep Shutter Sisters nearby when I'm out with my camera. It would definitely be a camera bag staple.

  48. Congrats on the new book! You must be so excited. I can't wait to get a copy – the inspiration started when I stumbled upon your website and I'm hungry for more.

  50. Just finished Tracey's "Picture Summer" course, and I never go anywhere without my camera anymore! I would love to continue this new-found love for my photography journey with a copy of this book!

  53. Congratulations!!! Well, I'm waiving my hands, yelling "pick me" and jumping up and down 😉 This is totally against my nature, but of course I'd be happy to win this book 😉

  54. Ooooo! So looking forward to getting my grubby hands on this one! WANT! I started carrying my camera everywhere with me, but now I need to actually pull it out more often. Need some inspiration! Woo!

  56. Congratulations on the book release! I make a point every day to visit your site for the encouragement and inspiration it gives me to get to know my camera better. I'd love to add this book to my library so I'd have Shutter Sisters with me at all times.

  65. I have your new book sitting in my Amazon cart, waiting for it to be released here in the UK. I have a fair few photography and dark room manuals, but yours is one I think will really help change my technique. Very excited!

  67. I cannot wait for the release of this book! I'm forever grateful to Shutter Sisters for encouraging me to pick up my camera & shoot more than just event worthy things.

    oxoxo!

  69. Congrats! I'm going to take a wild guess that the girl in Dorothy shoes and sports socks on the cover is Sarah-Ji's daughter? 😉

  72. I'm new to your site and I absolutely love it!! I'm inspired by the pictures you post every day!! Congratulations on your book!! I can't wait to get mine!!

  73. I just did a little tush push boogie on the couch!!!
    I can't wait to see the book!

    I've been so inspired by y'all over the past year of knowing y'all. Karen introduced me to Shutter Sisters when I met her after BlogHer09 and then when she introduced me to Maile and Tracey at Mom2.0 I came to realize that y'all's beautiful photography is an expression of the beauty of your souls.

    I've been so inspired by ya'll collectively and individually and I thank y'all from the bottom of my heart <3

  76. I just found your website recently and I love it!! I've been feeling my photography start to change lately and have been devouring books as I develop my style – I can't wait to read this one!

  79. I am so excited for this book! It's definitely going on my Christmas list….although I may not be able to wait 'til Christmas, so I'll probably end up buying it for myself as soon as it comes out!

  81. Tracey Clark and Shutter Sisters have given me the jump start I needed to take my photography to the next level. I love all the inspiration I find around here, and would LOVE a copy of the book! Congrats on it's release!!

  84. I can't wait to see the book! I could use the inspiration, guidance and support. Shutter sisters is my primary go to for inspiration.
    thank you!

  88. I was just speaking with a friend about photography; expressing my love for it as well as my frustration.My camera overwhelmes me at times, but I keep experimenting. When asked what kind of pictures I like to take I described various things. But know i know it expressive photography that I love to take. Congrats on the book! Also I love my Lola bag! And so do my friends…I'm spreading the word 🙂

  99. I'm hoping this book will kick-start my shooting again. I've been rather lazy with my photography, and blaming it all on general busyness. Poor excuse, I know. Here's to new expressions! (And heartfelt congratulations on publication…how very exciting!)

  109. Congrats on the book. How exciting for all of you and for us too. Photography is one way to express my inner-self and I would love some more tips to do a better job of it. You ladies are my inspiration.

  112. I've got my copy pre-ordered and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Of course, if I were to be fortunate enough to win a giveaway copy, I guess I'd have pay it forward with a giveaway of my own 😉
    And just for fun, get a load of my boys and i "expressing ourselves" today:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4953957290/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4953957200/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4953364477/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4953361583/

  115. This book looks wonderful!! I've been keeping my camera with me at all times lately (much to my kid's dismay), trying to catch what I often would otherwise overlook.

  118. Can't wait to see the book. Thinking that yesterday was the release date, I headed to the bookstore for a copy. Walking around, I realized that it was only September 2nd, not September 3rd!

  120. How exciting – congratulations! Hmmm….how to express myself today? Well how about a smile? 🙂 After being up all night with the stomach flu that's about the best expression I can muster but my heart is truly bursting, just can't get my weak body up and about for a jig. 🙂

  122. Pick me please!!! I just got a RebelT1 and am shooting at anything and everything
    please help! I need some guidance before I annoy my poor kid and she'll never
    want to take another picture ever again 😮
    -Thank you ?

  124. Thanks for the chance to win… I think the book sounds amazing.. I am finding all sorts of ways to express myself these days by experimenting with creative things.. Including photography, I just love it!

  125. Congrats on the book! I can't wait to have my copy (hopefully one I win!) and to soak up all thats beautiful. This is truly an amazing site and I love all your work. Thank you for expressing yourself and for inspriring me to do the same!

  131. Brilliant! Congrats to you on your book! Looking ever so much forward to reading/viewing. Friendly hello from Denmark.

  134. congratulations on the upcoming release of the book. Today I began expressing my personal self on my blog. Usually it's strictly business but I'm working on an ongoing project called "My neck of the woods" since I live in such a remote area. So today I posted my first installment and it's a personal expression of me and where I live, work, and create.

    http://www.dianeschuller.com/blog/?p=3054

  135. seeing just a few of the pictures taken by these ladies has inspired me to grab my camera today and head out to catch some north carolina fall. great work!

  137. Shutter Sisters, you gals are awesome! Thanks for all your inspiration and talent that you share with everyone, I am constaantly inspired by your words and images. Congrats on the book, can't wait to get a copy!

  140. I love this site. It gives me such inspiration. Cannot wait to hold in my hands a copy of your book…..

  141. Congrats ladies!! Since stumbling upon your website one day, I have found new joy and interest in my camera. I am looking forward to learning new things!

    Bises,
    Ashleigh

  144. A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know. Diane Arbus (1923-1971)
    thanks for sharing your secrets.

  146. I am new to your site and totally inspired! Would love to win a copy of your book and take my photography to another level
    congrats!
    anna

  147. Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing the book – I bet it will be great. Your site is always such a great inspiration! Thanks!!!!

  148. I am so excited to get a copy of this book…it has been in my Amazon basket for ages waiting for its release. Thank you for a chance to win…

  151. Congratulations on the book – that's wonderful!! 🙂 Looking very much forward to reading it – I plan to treat myself to it once this stress period at work is finished and my creative energies start flowing again; I have very, very little of it at the moment, and it's kind of dreadful.

  152. I love the cover of the book and it has some of my favorite colors. Congratulations on an expression of your creativity and joy of photography. . fay

  155. Much success with your new photography book! I know it will be packed full with inspirational material.

  159. Beautiful! I'm sent so many people to this blog for inspiration. Now I will be able to give them a tangible resource to use to inspire and create magic with their lens!

  161. Congratulations on the book's publication! I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy, get inspired and grab the camera. Thanks for sharing. Dare I add a "Pick me, please!" plea?

  162. Reading about ways to shoot from the heart? I am in love already! I have found photography and writing to be the best ways for me to express myself and my creativity, and anything I can get my hands on to be further inspired by is heaven. So, can't wait for the book, and let me the 162nd person to express my congratulations toward you by continuing to follow your blog, your inspiring words and photographs, and getting amped up for the book!! 🙂

  163. What a beautiful book! I would love to win a copy to better my photography with the your help.

  167. So Excited!!! So very excited to get my hands on that book!!! Congrats to you and THANK you for sharing your knowledge and for inspiring me!!!!

  169. Congrats on the book! I've already ordered mine but I can think of others who would love to be "gifted" it.

  170. I am looking forward to seeing this beauty in real life! I know it's going to be one I want to have on my coffee table 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

  171. Congratulations ladies! Expressing yourselves all over the place!! lol

    Your "express yourself" theme connects so dearly with me….I'm a new photographer as from June of this year. Photography (or rather the sense of creativity and expression that comes with it) has taken over my life – It has given me a voice. It's allowing me to communicate how I experience the world with others, to connect with a world in which I've felt largely disconnected for many years. I'm absolutely bursting at the seams to learn how to "make" the pictures that I see through my eyes and to express the subtleties of feeling visually. And it is through shutter sisters that I began this journey, so a heartfelt thank you…a thank you for helping me speak my truth again. 🙂

  172. The audience has spoken and they love you and WANT THIS BOOK! I can see why. You are such a great source of inspiration, fun and light. I want to grow up to be like you.

  174. Sounds wonderful; I'd love to be entered into the contest for such a wonderful looking book! Inspiration ahoy!

  175. "Woot, woot, hurray" – that's me expressing relief, excitement and joy 30 minutes ago when I finished a very long work-week. I'm now on vacation and would love to win a copy of this book so I can hone my photography skills while I explore, play and visit new places. Fingers crossed.

  176. The cover speaks volumes! Can't wait to see inside. Congrats on the publication Sisters and much success in this venture.

  177. If I hadn't read MeRa's blog when you pitched in to help her when her father had that terrible accident, I would not have known about your amazing website!! I feel blessed that I can now check Shutter Sisters and Me Ra's for daily inspiration. I am so looking forward to your new book!!! You are filling a niche and void for us because there isn't many books being published now for us mothers who I think take the most important pictures of our children. That said, I know your book will give me many ways of putting my life in perspective. Congratulations!!

  183. What good news that the book is shipping early. I'd better go stalk Amazon (or maybe I'll win it!)

  184. According all the amazing inspiration on this site, I bet the book is going to be amazing!! Congratulation!

  193. Awesome! I love the picture on the cover! Can't wait to open the pages! Thanks for the chance to win it.

  194. How exciting!!! I would love to a copy to help jump-start my photography again. I feel like I've fallen into a slump!

  195. would love to win a copy of the book. so happy and excited you all of you. I look forward to reading it soon if I win one or have to buy one. 🙂

  198. I am just so excited about this book. I just finished picture summer, booked into picture fall and please pick me as I live in the middle of nowhere in England and it will take me longer to get a copy of this fantastic book!

  199. Sometimes, like now, I express myself in silence…in robotically doing what must be done.

    Would love to win a copy of what I know is an expression of pure photography passion.

    Congratulations, Shutter Sisters.

  202. Can't wait to get my hand on your book! Now that everyone can be a photograph, I believe that shooting from the heart is how you can be unique.

  203. Expressing my excitement that I cleaned out my cabinets above my desk area in my kitchen. My first fall project is under my belt. Now on to project number two. I'd love to win the book. Photography is also on the fall project list too – More photos more photos, shoot more shoot more…………. Thanks for the chance to win. ~Chrissy

  204. I'm super excited to get your book….I love the focus about content vs technique. Love your website and thank you for expanding my skills

  205. This sounds perfect for me. With both my girls away at college and my son in
    sixth grade, I'd finally have the time to do something for me!

  210. Oh! oh! oh! I am just getting started really, and have just signed up for my first photography course since I was about 13 years old, this would be such a great reference for me on my journey!

  215. Congratulations on the new book! I'm looking forward to reading it and learning from The Shutter Sisters… I want to take pictures with heart and soul too!

  221. Having the time to practise photography and finding the female photogs of the Shutter Sisters community has been a highlight of 2010. I'd love to win a copy of your book!

  223. A friend of mine told me about your website, since she told me I have been hooked. The joy that you share in your posts and the photos on the blog are beautiful and definitely give me some creative envy, you can almost feel the emotion in many of the photos, they definitely tell a story. On that note, I cannot imagine how wonderful your book will be if it is any comparison to the blog. When does the book come out "for sale"? Thanks so much and keep up the good work!

  225. I would love your book. I have very recently been umeploymed and have been trying many new ways to express myself. I consider myself the most ametuer photographer. No fancy camera, I just photograph the things and people I love and hope it turns out. And if not I try again. I am a scrapbooker that orginally only scrapbooked my son's baseball life. I have recently been doing pages and projects for me and am loving it. Just another way to use my creativity and express "ME"!

  226. I have been eyeballing this book on Amazon for awhile now…. Can't wait to get a copy! Crossing my fingers!!

  227. so happy i learned about your site through red river paper blog! your site is fantastic. i just got a brand new d90 and i scour every nook in the net for tutorials and tips 🙂 still getting the hang of it hehehe i bet your book will help me tons in understanding better photography…. thanks for the chance!

  229. OH! Can't wait to get my hands on this book!! What an inspiration Shutter Sisters has been to ALL of us!! Thank you, ladies!!

  233. Now that I'm retired, I decided to take up photography. I'm really a newbie and I enjoy looking at all the photo blogs and flickr sites. Looking forward to learning and sharing……