Capturing My Life - Project 365 with Kate Butler

Well this is a fun week of photographs!

Anne and Em tell me I take a good picture. And I try. And I'm super flattered when they compliment my photography. Let me get one thing straight: I'm not a professional. I don't take pictures for money for other people. I'm loving this little hobby for another reason completely. I'm a mother first and foremost. It took me a lot of years and a lot of heartache to finally have the opportunity to be a mother. My son's name is Charlie and he is the light of my life. So I started getting into taking pictures because I wanted to start a photo history of our life. A history of my life as a mother and our life as a family. I wanted them to be good pictures too. So about 4 months before Charlie was to come into our family I bought my first DSLR camera. The Nikon D40. The price was right for the beginner that I was. And then I read, and read, and learned. And practiced and practiced and then practiced some more (that means taking TONS of pictures). I'd say after about two years I have the basics down pretty good and I feel pretty confident behind my lens. But what I love most about it is what I capture.

Our daily life.

On January 1st of this year I started Project 365. It's basically a personal project to take a picture every day of the year. A big commitment but I jumped at the chance to see what would come of my very own project 365. So I dove in head first and haven't looked back. Now don't get the wrong idea. I have skipped days. Some days it's all I can do to snap one picture or find something interesting enough to document. But it has made me think outside the box of what makes a fun/interesting picture. I definitely haven't been perfect nor has ever photo been ready to post in a magazine. But it's our real life.

Of course you can start your own Project 365 any time. You don't need a fancy camera. You don't need to be a professional. You don't need to wait for the first of the year. It's a way to gain confidence while capturing your life. What's better then that? And if I can tell you anything, you won't regret trying it! Charlie has changed so much over the last year and I wouldn't remember the small things if I didn't have them recorded.

But enough talking... I've compiled a bunch of my photos so far from the year:

January 5th:
So happy I captured these cute focused faces. Focusing on those pancakes we had for dinner.

January 18th:
A family photo that melts my heart.

January 28th:
Laundry all over my messy house.




February 2nd:
Another cold sore. (I'm not sure why I wanted to remember that.)




February 19th
The first time Charlie walked outside! I remember it like it was yesterday thanks to these pictures.




March 15th:
A Sunday afternoon at the park. Just the three of us (can you see my shadow).




April 9th:
Dinner time for us.




May 2nd:
Movie night with Mark while I crocheted.




May 26th:
I love this picture. We traveled a lot this summer and this picture sums it up.




August 24th:
A brownie for an afternoon snack.




August 25th:
They don't have to be perfect to be perfect to you. This picture is terribly out of focus but I absolutely love it!




September 1st:
I needed a time out from being a mom this night so I lounged on the front lawn and captured this.




September 7th:
On the beach at sunset. I sure love his baby curls!




September 26th:
My favorite boys.

That was a lot of pictures. I had a hard time choosing! I have so many favorites!

I hope this gives you the boost you need to document your life with pictures whether it be once a day, once a week or once a month. I've had fun doing it! Have your camera ready, you never know what you're going to get.


Thank you so much, Kate! So fun to see the essence of your everyday life in these shots. I hope everyone is feeling inspired with new ways to capture everyday moments in their lives. We've received some great entries for the photo contest. Don't forget to send yours by tomorrow (Friday) evening. We'll be posting examples soon and we'll announce a winner on Monday! Thanks!