Project 365 Redo

I don’t know about you, but I have not been doing so well on my Project 365. So, I’ve decided I need to set some new goals to help me achieve this… and really, help me preserve the everyday moments.

I realized that when I made the goal to take a picture everyday, I didn’t think it through. I hadn’t decided what kind of pictures I wanted to take. Do I want to take pictures of my family? my dog? the everyday nature outside my house? I had no idea. And I also hadn’t thought about what I would do with the pictures once I had them. Did I really just want them to sit on a blog forever?

Originally, I took pictures of random objects—an apple on my desk, a small notepad of colored paper, a shelf on my wall. But these didn’t really make for the interesting stories I wanted to preserve. I didn’t want to follow a blog so uninteresting and I’m sure no one else wanted to either.

So, here I am… at the beginning. It’s not too late for me to start over. But this time I will do it right.

First, I need to decide what my ultimate goal is. Really, what I would like to do is create a coffee table book with the 13×11 Legacy storybook, displaying nature shots. I’m not the best photographer, but having such a goal will help me learn. After I have completed this goal, I can move on to other picture-taking goals that will help me preserve the moments.

Second, I already have a blog and a camera, now I need to make sure I set aside some time each day to take the photos and post them on my blog. I don’t have much time in the morning, but I could certainly find time after work.

Third, I need to be sure to record the story. I am a writer, as are you all, after all. With each post I could write a creative blub—whether it is an explanation, poem, quote, or made-up story.

Once I feel I have the photos I need I can easily design and create my book.

There you have it. I can still participate in Project 365 even if it is a little late and I missed quite a few days. And it helps to have a bigger purpose in this goal.

Summary of My New Project 365 Goal

Ultimate Purpose: Create an 13×11 Legacy storybook, featuring nature shots.
Execution: Everyday after work (except on weekends when I will have more time) I will take a few photos of the nature around my house or wherever I happen to be. I will then post some pictures on my blog along with a creative blurb. Once I have all the pictures I want, I will create my book.
Start Date: May 11, 2010

You can view my blog Light and Rain (also found in the sidebar). Go ahead and give me photo tips and make sure I keep on the ball.

Here are just a few templates at http://MyStoryBookLady.com you can use to generate some of your own Project 365 ideas. You can also view more in the Template Gallery.

Project 365 Revised designed by Darcie Toom
12×12 storybook, Template ID: 25695

Nature’s Bounty designed by Susan Chaney
13×11 Legacy storybook, Template ID: 2260

 
Jill Means’ Family Photo Album designed by Jill Means
12×12 storybook, Template ID: 29158

from blog.heritagemakers.com

Keep Working Your HM Project 365

Let’s face it. HM Project 365 sounded so much fun in the beginning, but now we’re forgetting to take those pictures, getting busy with other things, and feeling bad for missing so many days of photo taking already.

However, we also want to take those pictures. Project 365 was started not to create busy work or become a distraction in our lives, but to help us capture the moments so we don’t later say, “I wish I had taken a picture.”

So, if you haven’t started yet, feel you don’t have time, or feel guilty for missing a few days, no worries. You can still find great opportunities to capture the moments. Here are just a few suggestions:

Use Your Phone: You most likely carry your phone with you everywhere. So if your phone has a camera, make use of it. HM Art Director Jeremy English has made great use of his phone’s camera. In fact, his entire HM Project 365 blog is full of pictures he has taken from his iPhone. Take a look here.

Carry a Camera with You Everywhere: If you keep a camera in you purse or your pocket (depending on the size), you won’t have any excuses for not taking that perfect photo opportunity.

Look for Special Opportunities: The opportunities to take a picture are everywhere. Take a picture of your pet eating, your kids playing, your home-cooked meal, the snow on your car, the first bud of spring… If you walk throughout your house with your camera, you’ll find great subjects for your photo shoot.

Get started today at http://MyStoryBookLady.com

From blog.heritagemakers.com

Betty Miller

Your Storybook Coach

http://MyStoryBookLady.com

Project 365

From blog.heritagemakers.com...We’ve got a new goal here at Heritage Makers and we want you to join in all the fun. And the best part, all it takes is a camera and a computer. And… the reward at the end of the projects will be worth all the effort.

Here’s the scoop. We are starting our own Project 365. What is a project 365, you ask? It’s capturing the moments, the memories, the little events. It’s exactly what Peter Cary with Digital Photography School describes it to be. The idea is to take a picture ever day for 365 days… a whole year.

Peter says the goal is to “make photography an every day event, with hopes of improving the art.” But we’re going to change our goal to something a little more helpful for preserving, not just the image of the memory, but the entire picture.

So, here’s how to begin:

• Start a blog with a free blog site such as Blogspot or WordPress.
• Start Project 365 by taking at least one picture with you camera everyday. You can take pictures of your kids, your pets, nature, your home, anything.
• Upload your photos to your computer and post one photo everyday on your blog.
• Write a caption or story to go with it.

(See examples of Project 365 on Peter Cary’s article at Digital Photography School.)

Now, how does this help you in the long run? Sometimes making your heritage storybooks can be frustrating. Maybe you get to the end of the year and wish you had more pictures. Maybe you have some really good photos but you don’t remember the significance. Maybe you wish you had remembered to take that picture of your son falling asleep in his dinner.

As you continue with Project 365, you will develop a habit of preserving your memories that will make storybooking that much easier.

But, there’s another part to Project 365 that we want you to participate in. Send us your pictures and every week we will post the top photo for that week. Plus, we want to see your blog and how you are preserving memories. We’ll put your blog link on our blogroll. Send blogs and photos to sholman@heritagemakers.com or jringger@heritagemakers.com. Also on the blogroll, you’ll find links to home office staff blogs that are also participating in Project 365.

And don’t forget to share your photos on Twitter (use the hashtag #hm365 when posting), Facebook (post on the HM fan page), and flickr (join HM Project 365 group). You can take a look at our flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagemakers.

Now is the time to make a great new year’s resolution and preserve your memories everyday.

Betty Miller "My StoryBook Lady"

http://MyStoryBookLady.com

Betty@MyStoryBookLady.com

404.729.0388

My Challenge To You for 2010...

Happy New Year!  I challenge everyone to join me in Project 365! Take a picture everyday to capture 2010 in a special way. This template allows you to showcase each day & tell what your favorite pic of the week was. Don't just think big events & kids...think about the little things that make you smile & shape your life. Anyone can use this template with our free account & you can share it next year with, or without, printing it. Check it out! http://MyStoryBookLady.com