"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still." - Dorothea Lange

Way back when - in the year 2008 - I spent my days hanging out with this little one while my husband and other two kiddos were at school.

I miss those days.

Recently, I have been trying to get caught up in my photo books and am starting with 2008. And I have spent a lot of time going through the 8000+ (NOT kidding) photos I took that year. I had just purchased my first dSLR. About 2000 of those 8000 pics were of leaves and flowers and water drops. And the other 6000+ were of my three little munchkins. Many were overly processed in Photoshop with heavy vignettes, oversaturations and strange "creative" effects.

The composition may be lacking. The direct flash may be unflattering. The processing may be overkill. But the moment is there. And it is a moment and a time I never want to forget.

Things are a bit different now. I take less snapshots and more "portraits". Which is not necessarily a good thing. As I progress in my photographic journey, I am much more critical of myself and have a hard time snapping moments just because they are moments. I find myself hesitating when the background is cluttered or when the light is unflattering or when my kids are wearing stained, unmatching clothing and haven't brushed their hair in a few, um, days.

But as I am going through my thousands of photos from years ago I am reminded of why I started loving photography in the first place! And I am realizing that my quest for continually improving my work has actually started taking me away from what is really important. I love photography because I love capturing moments - whether they are "perfect" moments or [very] imperfectly perfect moments. I don't want to lose a single one of those moments.

So here's to more snapshots and more imperfections and lots more memories!!!!! Happy Friday!

Until next time!!! XOXO!!!