Filed under: "Mommypreneur", About "Mommy", MommyTalk | Tags: hobby, Photography, rekindle
Before I became a mom I was really into photography, particular black and white photography using film. I loved it! I took classes, joined photography groups, went around town just to shoot city scenes. My husband even built a darkroom at our old place for me. I would spend hours in there learning new processing techniques and developing pictures. It was such a joy for me.
When I got pregnant with my first, I didn’t spend as much time developing pictures for fear that the darkroom chemicals would affect the unborn baby. Then when my son was born, I simply didn’t have time to dedicate to the craft like I used to. Shortly after his birth, I also got a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera which allowed me to get some of the dark room results in a shorter amount of time (although it still wasn’t the same)…and more and more I started to use automatic mode (instead if manual mode)…and then after awhile, my DSLR started to become a bulky burden to travel with (along with the diaper bag and other kids). Next thing I knew, my iPhone became my go-to camera since I always had it with me wherever I went. So slowly and eventually, I gave up the art of photography. I hadn’t even realized that it happened.
At the end of last year, I was invited to join a 365 Photography Project with other professional and amateur photographers. It’s a project where you take a picture a day and share it with the group. We started the project on Jan 1st of this year. I thought it would be fun to not only participate (and shoot again!), but to also see tons of other photographs as well…from both professionals and amateurs alike.
Can I tell you how much I enjoy it?! I love shooting, I love talking photography with other people with similar interests, I love sharing my shots and seeing other people’s shots. I love that it’s a low pressure situation and that I’m starting to view things with a photographer’s eye again. In the beginning most of my shots were taken with my iPhone, but I did dust off my DSLR and started playing with manual mode again. I’m so rusty, but I welcome the challenge.
This whole experience helped me realize the importance of doing something that I love for myself (something other than resting and/or relaxing). Why hadn’t I thought of that before? My pre-mom self still exists, even though parts of it have been dormant for 7+ years. My love for photography is still alive — of course now it’s in a different form, and that’s okay, because in a lot of ways I’m different too. I’m a busy mom and entrepreneur — but I somehow have found the time to also shoot. Is so fulfilling, and I think it helps spark my creativity — which benefits other areas of my life as well.
The 365 Project I’m a part of is on Google+, but I share quite a few of my shots on Instagram as well. You’re welcome to check them out…my alias is kool_ing.
Is there something that you loved, but let fall to the wayside (maybe without even knowing)? Try revisiting it…it’s so nice to fall in love again.
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MommyBusiness's Blog 
Would you believe it, Ingrid? Your post – inspired me to move my dull thoughts to a place where I think it’s supposed to be! Lemme see if I can get it all out of my system soon.. – So thank you! 🙂
I’m looking forward to see your photos soon!
Comment by @justbeingarlyn January 28, 2013 @ 8:37 amHi Arlyn! Thanks for reading. I’m so glad you were inspired — I hope you continue to push those dull thoughts away — everything is a matter of perception. Hang in there 🙂
Comment by Ingrid January 28, 2013 @ 9:05 am