Before ringing in the new year (the beginning of a new decade and the year I turn 40), I knew I wanted do something more.

What that something was, I didn’t know.

As a family photographer and someone who uses social media as an outlet to share and connect with others, I find myself inspired daily by talented lifestyle photographers who share their everyday lives through beautiful images. Many who post daily, regardless of how ordinary the day might be or seem. Those are the moments I want to remember and the moments I want to freeze in time, those are the memories I want to document for my family.

So as the clock struck midnight and we welcomed 2020, I made the commitment to myself, along with a group of other photographers, to take one photograph each day for one year…The 365 Project.

Seems pretty simple…right?

Not even close. And for so many reasons.

In order to do a project like this, I knew I would have to have my boys on board. My boys are currently 6 (6 and a half if you ask him) and 3 years old. Like many boys (and girls I’m sure), they rarely want their picture taken. It’s a constant balancing act for me as a mom and photographer. As someone who loves having my camera on me all the time to capture those special moments, I don’t want my boys always feeling like a camera is in their face. Because of this, there’s been many days this month that I have photograph a fleeting moment as it’s happening- no planning, no grand vision, many photographs taken with almost no time to adjust my settings and many times moments they don’t even realize I have my camera. Just authentic, messy, but real life moments.

And then there’s been days, many of which were during the school week, that I had to carve out a few minutes before the night ended to take my photo of the day. Almost every day after school I’ve asked my boys if they had any fun ideas for a picture or if I could take a quick photo of them. I have loved their input. Documenting the world around them through their ideas and vision has been so much fun for us. They both love (like most kids) seeing the image immediately after it’s taken and many times this inspires them to try something new or direct me in some way. I love their creativity and it pushes me too. Those have become some of my most favorite images this month. Again, not a lot of planning and sometimes activities or things only a parent could love and appreciate, but still moments I will forever cherish.

And then the days that I’ve had no motivation to take a single photo (day 19, day 22 and day 30)- let alone cull, edit and share them. But I want to stick to my goal, something I sadly rarely do these days. I might not love every single photo on it’s own and many of them might not be share worthy, but as I whole I’m pretty obsessed.

So without further ado….here’s my every day moments of January 2020 (31 days).