Last year for my birthday I posted my Day in the Life of photography exercise. I started thinking this month what a fun project that would be to do each year around my birthday. So a few days ago I completed another Day in the Life of project. They really are quite fun if you haven’t done one yet.
Last year, I challenged myself to one photo an hour. This year I just took pictures throughout the day. It is fun to look back at last years project and see how much our life has changed in one short year.
Although all these photos aren’t portfolio worthy they forced me to look at everyday activities different. You have to slow down and think about how you can capture this typical activity in a fun way.
This post is OVERLOADED with images. I have several images of one activity.
In honor of my birthday today, here is a look at a typical day in the life of…me at 31.
8:04am One of my girls comes in to see if I’m awake. Not a bad way to wake up.
8:18am Heading downstairs to let the dogs out. Good morning, Charlie!
8:22am Gus hurt his knee and is on “rest” which means I have to take him out on a leash 24/7.
8:29am Saw some awesome dew on the ground while out with Gus, ran inside and grabbed my macro. I’m sure the neighbors thought I was nuts crawling around on wet grass.
8:41am Guess who’s up? Yes, I know I’m spoiled rotten with three kids who like to sleep as much as mama. Most days she is a ray of sunshine when I walk in, but today she is fighting a cold.
9:02am Cook the kids breakfast.
9:35am Out the door to work out and swim lessons.
12:14pm Back home and playing.
12:27pm I challenged her to read me 100 books over the summer. We made a sticker chart so you know she is on board.
1:15pm Lunch
2:50pm This is not a typical activity. Maybe a once a year activity. We headed to the movies.
5:14pm Hurry to the store to grab a few last ingredients for dinner. Apparently, they must skip through the store.
5:50pm I sit down to answer some emails and get some work done.
What my kids are doing – These beads are the best (Thanks to my sister for reminding me about them).
Crawling around and playing with anything she can get her hands on.
Twirling in the backyard of course.
Wishing she was twirling in the backyard.
6:35pm Starting dinner. Our favorite, Spaghetti and Bacon! It’s like a pasta carbonara. A staple in our house.
Just keeping it real. Here’s my view while I’m cooking. I decided to get a close up of my table because I know each year I do this project my table is the perfect example of our season in life. Our table is the heart of our home and I love that it shows what we do during the day and my lack of ability to keep it clean, which I’m sure will never change.
There you have it! Sorry for the picture overload. I hope you will do this creativity challenge. If not only to boost your photography but as a fun way to document a normal day.
Great post!! I loved the pictures. Thank you for sharing your day with us.
Thanks! You should give it a try!
How fun!! Love all the pictures!
Thanks! it was a lot of fun! Give it a go!
This is amazing, You home is so neat and clean, a dream home indeed. Kids are so cute. You’ve taken very good shots, i must mention few of them, the water drop of wet grass, baby looking backyard through the window, movies shots, kid reads etc. Thanks to share with us.
Don’t let the photos fool you! My house is far from neat and clean. Thanks for your sweet words about my photos :)
Is it weird that these pictures strangely made me sad because I miss you?
Not a bit! I miss you!
Wonderful post! I’ve always wanted to try a DITL; maybe this Summer. I love the reading challenge! It makes this teacher’s heart soar =)
Yes, I’m a former teacher as well so I like to challenge her :) Hope you get to do one!
Enjoyed your DITL post! And…Happy Birthday!
Thanks! <3
Amazing photos! Thanks for sharing. Happy birthday!
Thanks so much!
love love love! great images :)! so glad you shared.
Thanks! I’d love to see you do one!
I love that you did this, Courtney! Your day looks wonderful, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! <3
Thanks! It was fun and exhausting :)
Just wanted to thank you for all the educational posts…think I’ll try this! I love your style…photographic and teaching style!
Thank you :) I’m so glad you enjoy all the posts!
Thank you for sharing your DITL. I love the photos and how they tell your story. Your website is wonderful and I am so glad I found it. You post so may wonderful tips. A huge “thank you”!
Thank you! I hope you get a chance to do the project :)
I love the basket of books in the car…just added that to my car today!! happy bday..Liz
Oh good! We had it left over from a trip and it sure does make my life easier :)
Love this idea, so often we forget to really take in the day to day. And where do you go to the movies!?! Where you in a leather recliner??
I know, fancy right? I couldn’t believe it when we walked in :)
This is an awesome idea for a project! I’m definitely going to put one together when I have a little more time :) Thanks for the inspiration!
I hope you do! It’s such a fun way to capture your day!
What a great idea and what a lovely home you have. I love the light in your pictures.
Thanks!
LOVE this. I do these as well! Those posts and the pictures are always my favorite. http://livinglikethekings.com/category/a-day-in-the-life-post/ (hope it’s ok to share mine)
Love yours! So glad you did one! Wasn’t it fun!
I love it! Question: in the picture of your little one staring out the window, what settings did you use? I have trouble not getting a totally black subject when I’m pointing straight at the window. You got such lovely lighting in that one!
I love this! I have not tried to photograph a day in my life, but am inspired to give it a try!
You should definitely try it! It’s so fun!
Oh I LOVE these photographs! They are so REAL, and your children are precious! Maybe the photos aren’t “portfolio quality.” They are real, and that’s what it’s all about.
Thank you for this blog, and for making photography fun. I’m just a beginner, but those other websites and blogs are just too complicated. I get just enough to work on and have fun with, and you don’t make me feel dumb because I don’t understand everything all at once. God bless you!
Thanks for your kind words!
I love this idea, Courtney! I think I’m going to try doing it one day :). Do you display these pictures anywhere, or just add them to your annual album? Just curious :). It would be fun to have a separate album just for these pictures that you add to each year. It’s crazy how much has changed in a year. Can’t believe you were still in Oki last year. Oh how I miss it there! Love all the natural light in your “new” house though :). Miss you!
I hadn’t thought about what I’m going to do with them. I like the idea of putting them in an album to look back on each day over the years. I know, I can’t believe it’s been a year too! Thanks!
I’m catching up! I love this post! Can’t wait to do one myself at some point! :)
My favorite was the one with you in the shot, your daughter reading. It brings all these photos into a more beautiful perspective when mom is in “the life” of the photo.
One of these days, I am going to do this! I think about it every.single.day! It’s just trying to figure out how I would get certain things, like me cooking or me doing the dishes. I will have to become best friends with my tripod. :D
I think this is a wonderful project to do so that my children can look back on what an ordinary day was like for me, with them as little babies. I would absolutely love to see what an ordinary day was like for my mom when I was a child. I really need to just plan this thing out and do it!! ;)
Courtney, do you have templates that you’d recommend using once completing this fabulous project? Like say, to share your images all at once on your Facebook page?
Hey! I don’t have a template that I use. But check out this post, maybe you can find something there – http://clickitupanotch.com/2010/12/126-free-collage-templates-for-pspse-and-lightroom-why-didnt-i-think-of-that-wednesday/
I really enjoyed the photos! and yes, you are very blessed to have such beautiful little girls! it reminded me of when my boys were young. They are grown men now, i miss those days. This is such a great idea for a photo challenge! i may have to give it a try! even though my life is fairly boring compared to yours ;)
i loved this little peek into your day. the photos are so bright and pretty. i have a really hard time taking good shots of my kids are they meander around the house, but i’ll have to give this a try.
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing! I’m going to do this for sure!
What beautiful children, beautiful photos and a beautiful home. Oh, to have those skylights. I think if I were to do this, I would be constantly checking my frame for things I needed to clean up before clicking the shutter button. ;)
ha ha I did do a lot of clearing stuff out of the frame ;)
Such a wonderful post, awesome photos captured. Thank you for sharing, I can’t wait to do mine.
Love this!!
your flowers are so pretty behind your table! i love your home. And such a great day in the life. I was wondering how you managed to get such a white background for your breakfast shot?
Thank you :) I have a white table and just make sure my white balance was correct :)
i guess it was! very nice :)
Love the pictures. By really want to know your usual carry around lens. Coz I can see you used different lenses here.
I’m having trouble choosing lenses.
That is a tough and personal decision. Here’s a post I did on what lenses I have and when I tend to use them – http://clickitupanotch.com/2014/05/peek-inside-a-photographers-camera-bag/
Thank you for sharing such a personal part of your life. I love the idea and hope to capture a day for us to. Love your quality of pictures and unique views.
I love this post- I have never thought of doing it on my birthday…. So good! Is there any way you could share pics of your girls rooms to get all that natural light? We have lots of windows but I don’t seem to let that much in.
Thanks! I’m not sure I understand what you are asking. Are you looking for photos of their windows? They each just have one window in their room :)
What an awesome idea. I have days though that I think the pictures would seem very boring but definitely going to try it!!
thank you for sharing…..Happy birthday!
I just love it!! Amazing post on amazing blog :D
I will do it tomorrow ;)
Awesome! Have fun!
Hi Courtney,
Thanks for the post as I has given me some great ideas. Your pictures are great! Couple of quick questions…are you blessed with a honest has wonderful amounts of natural light or did you have to use a flash for the indoor shots. Also would you mind sharing what Len/s you used? Thanks!!!!
I used only natural light as I don’t have any flash. I believe most of these were taken with my 35mm 1.4.
You have a beautiful home and beautiful kids. Nice article. Loved the pictures!
Beautiful pictures. Beautiful family! That was a great idea to document a very special day! It makes you realize how bless you are!
Very inspiring!
Best wishes 💜