Keeping the Moments

“If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.”
~ Linda McCartney

Lately, I’ve been treating my camera as more of a tool-of-the-trade than the little extention of our life that it used to be. Though I absolutely love the fact that my phone is usually with me and it’s easy to capture a quick moment, well and the fact that Instagram has become one of my BFFs, I’ve realized that my “real” camera has taken up it’s place on the back-burner of my desk and most of the time I only pull it out for projects and special occasions.

But life doesn’t stop, little moments continue on and even with a simple click of my phone’s button or sealing a certain laughter-rimmed smile to my memory… I want to go back to capturing some of these precious seasons of our lives and keep them with our family’s story that’s being written everyday, before they slip away.

This weekend, I vowed to get back behind the camera… and not for a project, not for someone else, or another deadline, or a special occasion. Yes, I do enjoy capturing all of that as well, but I needed to get back behind the camera for my family, for our little moments, and keep them.

I’m not going to put pressure on my admittedly hormonal, pregnant self for a photo-a-day project, because well, that would be kind of like putting a sign up in front of the house announcing that all the doors are unlocked and we’re leaving for vacation… it’s asking for trouble. But if I happen to grab the camera every day and snap? Great! If I manage to do it twice a week? So be it! The point, I want to see these photos and remember that afternoon where a weekend cold front blasted through Florida and winter gave it’s last kiss goodbye. I want to feel the chilly air as we decided to get everyone out of the house for walks and overcome a case of the crankies. I want my memories to recall the smell of cut lawns as we rolled and wrestled in them.

I want that for other days as well… snapping a photo (be it perfect or not) of my family being themselves and relishing that moment. Maybe I’m being greedy, but I want to keep the moment.