Hannah Nielsen » Documentary Family Photographer Seattle Portland and Worldwide

7 Things I learned from Shooting Every Day – Portland Documentary Family Photographer

A few days ago I finally added the rest of my second 365 (366) project to my Facebook album. For the record, that is 731 days. In a row. And yes, I’m just posting it now. Six months after I was done with it. I may have been a little burnt out! But now that it’s done, I wanted to share my reflections. Here is what I learned from shooting every single day for 2 years straight.

  1. If you shoot every day, you will learn and get better. You just will.
  2. Just because you’re learning and getting better, doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy every minute of it! There will definitely be days that you do NOT want to pick up your camera. I had days when I just wasn’t feeling well, or it was a busy day full of errands, or Bennett was in a toddler mood…Some times it was a big time effort.
  3. You will shoot way, way, WAY more than one image a day. I have roughly 24000 images from the two years…from this project. That doesn’t count client work. (No, I didn’t edit them ALL!)
  4. Your perspective will change as the days go on. Unless you have a VERY different personality than I do, you can’t possibly shoot the same thing in the same way every day. You have to learn to look at things differently. And changing perspectives changes your work. Did I mention the whole learning and getting better thing?
  5. “Nothing in nature blooms all year round. Be patient with yourself.” I’ve been seeing this quote all over the place lately. I don’t know who said it, but it sure is the truth! There were definitely lulls where I couldn’t create anything worth sharing or loving. I shared them anyway…and they’re images of my kid so I love them anyway. But creativity and inspiration truly come in waves. At least for me.
  6. Your favorites will not be your technically perfect images. I sort of knew this already…I never seem to gravitate towards the “perfect” shots. But the ones that stop me in my tracks when I’m flipping through are the ones that make me choke up or laugh. The ones that have emotional pull. Or the ones that remind me of a specific time in our lives. I love the moments the best. (And a few of my baby’s perfect little face haha!)
  7. You will never regret the time you put into a 365 project!! Bennett’s first two years are documented so intricately. He will know, without a doubt, that he was (is) so very loved. And my mommy heart that is falling apart, now that he’s about to start preschool, has something to spend time staring at while I try not to cry on his first day!

And just for fun…some favorites from Bennett’s first two years:

documentary family photography - newbornPIN documentary family photography - sad babyPIN documentary family photography - baby facePIN documentary family photography - happy baby with dadPIN documentary family photography - baby playing with pillowPIN documentary family photography - sitting babyPIN documentary family photography - 9 monthsPIN documentary family photography - sink bath babyPIN documentary family photography - in the hospitalPIN documentary family photography - crocodile tearsPIN documentary family photography - baby in cribPIN documentary family photography - learning to walk on the beachPIN documentary family photography - Ergo Baby PIN

documentary family photography - standing babyPIN documentary family photography - getting ready for a bath babyPIN documentary family photography - baby looking out the windowPIN documentary family photography - baby learning to walk up the stairsPIN documentary family photography - baby looking through the window with reflectionPIN documentary family photography - baby dressed like manPIN documentary family photography - baby with spoonPIN documentary family photography - baby playing in the waterPIN

documentary family photography - baby helping dadPIN documentary family photography - baby splashing with grandmaPIN documentary family photography - baby with wet facePIN documentary family photography - baby dirt gardenPIN documentary family photography - sleepy babyPIN documentary family photography - laundry dayPIN documentary family photography - baby with best friend bearPIN documentary family photography - toddler brushing teethPIN documentary family photography , Olympic Sculpture Park, baby climbing chairPIN documentary family photography - toddler funny facePIN documentary family photography - toddler with dad waking upPIN documentary family photography - toddler at homePIN documentary family photography - toddler at the parkPIN documentary family photography - toddler getting face wipedPIN documentary family photography - family in front of homePIN documentary family photography - toddler on trampolinePIN documentary family photography - toddlerPIN documentary family photography - toddler in the snowPIN documentary family photography - toddler first hair cutPIN documentary family photography - toddler on a hikePIN documentary family photography - toddler on a balance bike with helmetPIN documentary family photography - toddler in the darkPIN documentary family photography - toddler with a bikePIN documentary family photography - toddler on a climber at the parkPIN documentary family photography - toddler with a Dyson vacuumPIN documentary family photography - toddler looks like dadPIN documentary family photography - toddler gazing out the windowPIN

documentary family photography - toddler blue eyesPIN

 

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