*This post is sponsored by Animoto.
If there is one thing that I love about photographing my everyday, it is the satisfaction of seeing my life in photographs at the end of the year. It’s a way for me to preserve my memories forever and, one day, share what my everyday once looked like with my children. I cherish these photographs. And because I cherish them so much, I love to share my year in photos with my friends in family. One of the funnest and easiest ways for me to share my photography with everyone is by making a video collage of my photos through Animoto. Not only does it take only minutes to create a beautiful video, but the video just makes my photos come alive once it is paired with the perfect song. Plus, with just a click of a button, I can share my video quickly on social media! And because social media is the perfect way to stay in contact with friends and family, I love using it as a way to share what’s going on in my little world.
Our friends at Animoto want to make sure you have a quick and easy way to show off your images that you have taken over the year.
Use the coupon code: cheer2015 to save 20% off.
Even though picking up my camera every single day to capture a photo seems like quite a commitment, it is something that has become so very important to me. And with the new year quickly approaching, I love to encourage photographers to take on the challenge of completing a 365 photography project at the New Year.
Yes, it is another thing to add to your day.
Yes, it is going to be a little work.
Yes, it is going to require a little thought and organization.
But it is also going to be one of the most rewarding projects.
If you are still in doubt on whether you should take on the challenge of tackling a 365 photography project, remember the following reasons why I think you should!
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No.01You never know what moment you are going to capture!
Just like anything in life, every photo is a surprise! When you wake up every morning, you don’t know what your day is going to bring. But by carrying your camera along with you to capture part of your day, you are guaranteeing that you will capture something special about your day…even if it seems simply ordinary at the time. Even the ordinary needs to be remembered. Most of my year contains photos of my coffee cup routine or an adventure I took to the market. But then there was that one morning, where my picture was of our very first baby’s sonogram. Even though I hoped, I didn’t know at the beginning of the year that one of my daily photos would be of something so life changing and precious. And that is the best thing about photography projects…the surprise of it all! You never know what the year is going to bring, so make sure you have your camera ready so you don’t miss it!
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No.02Your children will thank you for it.
Whether you have children yet or not, it is important to photograph your everyday for them. If you have children, your photos will most likely include your day to day adventures with them…which will be so very exciting for them to look back on in the years to come. If you don’t have children yet, like me, it is just as important to photography your daily life. There is nothing more fun for your children than seeing what your life was like before you had them. Children love to see what you looked like, what you did, and what you were passionate about.
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No.03That feeling at the very end.
It really is hard to describe that beautiful feeling at the end of the year, when you take your final and 365th photo. It’s a feeling of joy. Of relief. Of unbelievable accomplishment. And, believe it or not, it is a feeling that you will feel over and over again. You will feel it every time you see your images. This is why it is even more important to celebrate the completion of your 365 photography project with your family and friends by making a video through Animoto. Whether you want your video to include every single photo, or just a glimpse of your year with your favorite moments, it is so important to share all of your memories.
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No.04Your photography skills will soar!
Oh, the improvement! This may be the most exciting thing about a 365 photography project. There is something to be said about what an impact picking up your camera every single day can do for your photography. I could talk about this forever! To keep it short, I was amazed at how much my composition, photography style, and camera skills drastically improved throughout the year with every photo that I took. By the end of the year, I could visually see an evolution in my photography skill as the days and months went by because I was learning so much about photography every single day. I always tell photographers that completing my first 365 photography project was the best thing I have ever done for my photography.
Have I talked you into beginning a 365 photography project at the New Year yet!? I hope so! Of every photographer who has completed one, there have been no regrets! Whether it is to photograph memories for your family or to help improve your photography one day at a time, there are too many wonderful reasons for you to pick up your camera and take a picture every day!
Do yourself a favor, take a few minutes and create your own video showcasing your year. Please share it on our Facebook page when you do. I’d love to see your year in review!
In a posting this fall someone mentioned at Ap or website that automatically printed the pictures on your photo roll into a small book. Do you know the name of any such thing?? Thanks
Hello Pat! I believe it is called Chatbooks!
Yes, you’re making me want to do Project 365 again. I have been doing it since the beginning of 2009. Yes! No year has been perfect but I never gave up … until I took an unplanned break from photography almost entirely this summer. I have been planning to do a project 52 again in the new year but reading your post I’m reminded that the daily habit really helps. The important thing is to keep it simple. Thanks for the inspiration.
You are very welcome! Happy to inspire and I hope you decide to do another daily photography project in 2016!
Do you have a favorite lense you keep on your camera everyday for most of the shots? Also how do you organize a project like this? A folder on your desktop diligently adding one edited photo a day to it? I’ve always wanted to do this, maybe 2016 will be my challenge year :)
Hello Deb! Yes, I keep my Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens on my camera for my everyday photography, and occassionally use other lenses but mostly use my 50! http://bethadilly.com/my-photography-gear/ To organize my yearly photos, I start a new Lightroom Catalog at the beginning of the year named “2016” and every daily photo goes in that catalog!
My kids are grown and off on their own. I don’t have grandchildren. What in the world will I take 365 pictures of? I know I’m limited by my imagination, but, I AM! If I record the monotony of my life I could very well go insane. You all are young and full of life and ideas. Do you have any suggestions?
Now just a minute Michelle! I am 62 and go out for walks, or see something at the mall that is cute, or even in my backyard or a friends garden can be fun to shoot. Pick a specific topic to work on for a week, like Christmas ornaments and lights. Drive around the neighborhood and photograph your neighbor’s lights. THen print them and slip into their mailbox for a surprise!
In the warmer weather, I have a pass to a local garden and love to walk there and play with taking photos of the flowers. I went to Target and bought a little stuffed Olaf (from the movie Frozen) and take him with me to put on benches and in trees and plants. People watch me and giggle because it is fun. Enjoy!
My kids are 21 and 24 and not home either, so I look for other things to capture that I like.
-Keep snapping
Robin
Great question, Michelle! I have been doing a daily photo project for the past two years and, even though I am due with my first in April, I don’t have any children yet. I simply take pictures of my everyday. Whether that is as boring as going to get groceries, or as exciting as stumbling upon a beautiful path of vibrant fall leaves. I think not having children during my projects really has pushed me to find the beauty in all of the little things, as I haven’t been able to use a subject in my daily photos. If you need to be inspired daily, you should join in on >>the bethadilly challenge<< that I host on bethadilly.com! I provide daily photos prompts every single day to help inspire your photography! I will be announcing the January 2016 prompts very soon, but until then you can learn a little more about the project here… http://bethadilly.com/the-bethadilly-challenge/
I found your 365 Photography Project Tips page, perfect! I’ve just downloaded the Collect App, you truly are so inspiring, getting excited to start the new year with a photo a day!!
Yay! Glad you found it!
I have done a Photo-a-Day for about 5 years. For the first 2-3 years I used Blogger to post and share my photos, but I became bogged down in life and tood the shortcut by using my iPhone and the Project 365 app. This past year I learned some HDR and editing applications and use Snapseed. The photos are varied from work, to home activities or just something I pass by. Does anyone ever publish their photos? My kids are 21 and 24 and do not live at home so it is hard getting pics of them. But I love looking back and seeing what I shot a year ago, or two years ago.
Wow, Robin! 5 years is so amazing, you should be so proud of yourself! I personally publish my daily photos every day on Instagram, because it holds me accountable and also it helps me connect with other photographers. I also publish them from time to time on my blog and then create a final book at the end of the year with all of my photos in it!
Ha! is that Crazy Love by Mindy Gledhill? love that song.
In other news, I haven’t been following you (am now…) so I did not know you were expecting!! Congrats!! I’m so so excited for you!!
But about the actual blog post… I did project 365 november 2013 – 2014 & only missed three days. honestly, it was extremely hard. like wow. I’m only 15 (turning 16 next tuesday) so I obviously don’t have kids, but I do have a lot of siblings (we’re not mormon or catholic, though.) so while I had plenty to shot, I’m just shy about taking my camera out. This year I did project 52, except I tried taking two pictures a week and honestly, I loved it, but it’s almost too easy. I end up putting it off until like friday and saturday and then taking crappy pictures… but thanks to my blog, I have kept with it. but seriously, after reading this I might reconsider doing project 365 this coming year. what I had the most trouble with was staying on top of the editing. It can get exhausting. you probably wrote a blog post about it (point me to it,) but any tips?
thanks! love your work!! <3 lottie
Hello Lottie! Thanks so much for the congrats! And great job with your photography project! I would say that, because I post my daily photos to Instagram every day, it really holds me accountable to get them edited right away. When I do my daily photos, it really helps me if I edit right after I photograph instead of keeping images on my camera. Right after I photograph, I am really excited about my image and can’t wait to get it into it’s final edited state so I edit right away. It also makes it much easier to have a manageable 365 photography project because I am editing as I go instead of having to edit at the end. It has honestly just become a habit and a part of my everyday! I was shy about taking my camera out too in the beginning, but after awhile you will just get used to it! Just have fun!
thank you! I will definitely try to start editing right away. Sounds like that helps a lot. Glad to hear that confidence is something you can grow in!!
This was beautiful Beth! Thank you! And yes, I am feeling very inspired to giving a 365 project another go. I’ve tried several times and never been successful.
Silly question: is there a way to post directly to an Instagram account from your desktop? Is that how you do it? Load your picture from your camera to your computer, edit in Lightroom, and then post to IG?
Hello Emily! I really hope you decide to take on the 365 photography project next year! As for getting your DSLR photos to Instagram easily, I use Dropbox! After I edit my photo in Lightroom, I export it to Dropbox. If you put the Dropbox app on your phone, you will simply open up the app and your photo is right there! It is a lifesaver and makes it so much easier to transfer your photos really quickly! There isn’t a way to post to Instagram through your desktop unfortunately, but if you just export to Dropbox it is just as easy!
Thank you! I never would have thought of using Dropbox. So simple!
I found a great way to keep track of my photos as well as join others who are doing a 365 project. Go to 365project.org. … If you do, find me there as WildOlive!
Photography communities are such a great way to keep you motivated! Glad you found one that you love!!
Boy does this post speak to me. I have vacation pictures with my Mom from 2 years ago that I’m still trying to edit. I feel it’s the only downfall of being a photographer. Client’s pictures always come before our own. I’m wanting to start the new year off right so I’m to try the 365 project and share them :)
Oh, I can totally relate! I always put my clients before my personal work too! I think by establishing a habit of editing right after you photograph will really help you out here! It is honestly just a habit that you can get yourself into and you will thank yourself for it because you will always be caught up!
I stepped up to the plate this year, to take on the challenge, “Project 365”. I assigned myself a theme per month, to make it more interesting for me. For example, “rocks”, “wood”, “geometry”, “high low, near far”, and the four seasons. I am very proud to say that I have not missed one single day since January 1, 2015! Only 15 days to go!
I am also publishing some of my favorites (two months at a whack) with My Publisher.
Thanks for throwing out the challenge, Courtney!
PS: I am thinking that this year I may challenge myself to take one photo per week.
That is so awesome, Linda! You should be so proud of yourself!
This is very inspiring! I would love to start my own 365 Project but I have some questions. Do you carry around your DSLR with you everywhere? I travel to New York on a daily basis and I don’t feel safe carrying my really expensive camera on the trains or buses. I’m at work most of the day so I don’t see my family until it gets dark :( how does everyone manage daytime photos with your family? I feel like all my photos would be at night and I wont be able to get that nice daylight light! Unless its on the weekends only. Any tips would be appreciated I really want to start doing this!! Thank you!
Great question, Sita! You can use any camera you want to do a 365 photography project! In fact, a lot of the photos in my slideshow above were taken with my iPhone. While I do carry around my DSLR on a daily basis, you definitely don’t have to. As for the lighting…please don’t let lack of light limit you from taking photos of your beautiful family! Just raise your ISO and keep photographing! I think it is more important that you document photos of your family than to have pretty light…even though light is so nice! I would just use the light when you can, but continue to photograph even when it’s dark! And really play with the light on the weekends! :) I really hope you decide to take on a 365 photography project, you will do great!
Great advice! I’d love to take a photo a day, as they say, practice makes perfect!
I agree, practice can really make a difference! Plus, you have 365 photos of your daily life in the end as a bonus!