I was quickly losing my drive to shoot for myself and found myself creating for the “audience” at hand. Stepping back allowed me to see what really made my heart swoon. Things like the candid silly moments with my kids, more documentary style shooting, and free lensing.

Ultimately, I need to do this for me. Not for the likes or features. Although they’re fun, those feelings are fleeting. I need to create for me and me alone.

When there is that much beautiful work being put out there, it’s hard not to step back and feel like what I’m producing just isn’t cutting it. But we all start in different places and grow at different paces.

During my break I looked back through my years of archives and the growth was obvious. So for now I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing. The only thing I can control is the effort and heart I put into my own work.

The start of my social media fast was quite sobering. I had no clue how much I was missing all around me when I was nose to my phone all the time. I felt like I had missed so many of the little things happening with my children, which was crazy… Capturing and experiencing those fleeing things were the whole reason I initially set out on my photo journey!

Since I wasn’t posting, I didn’t feel as compelled to pick up my camera for every little thing. Rather, I’ve been preserving the moments that really move me. I’m finding myself living more of my life rather than documenting/sharing it.

As with anything in life, too much (even of a good thing) can be harmful. I’m not planning on staying off social media forever. In fact, after a nearly two month hiatus, I’m about ready to dive back in. But the way I approach it will be different.

My notifications have been turned off. I’ll shoot and post for me and me alone. And I’ll remember to put down the phone, step out of the virtual reality of social media, and back into my own beautiful, busy (and often crazy) world.