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practicing the art of an ordinary life

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52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 30}–Chocolate Lava Cakes

52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 30}–Chocolate Lava Cakes

Welcome to Week 30 of my Pinspiration series! Before I get started I would just like to acknowledge that, yes,

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52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 28}–Mac & Cheese

52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 28}–Mac & Cheese

Welcome to week 28 of my Pinspiration series! It usually happens about this time of year.  I am sick of

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52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 27}–Photographing Fireworks

52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 27}–Photographing Fireworks

Welcome to Week 27 of my Pinspiration series! With the Fourth of July this week, I thought I’d do a

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52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 26}–Mixed Media Art

52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 26}–Mixed Media Art

Welcome to week 26 of my Pinspiration series!  Can you believe we are half way through the year?! I have

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52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 25}–Fourth of July Deco-Mesh Wreath

52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 25}–Fourth of July Deco-Mesh Wreath

Welcome to Week 25 of my Pinspiration series! For this week’s project, I am revisiting the deco-mesh wreath that I

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52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 24}–Southwest Taco Cups

52 Weeks of Pinspiration {Week 24}–Southwest Taco Cups

Welcome to Week 24 of my Pinspiration series! This past weekend we went to visit my parents to celebrate Father’s

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  • Memory Keeping 2019
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AROUND THE WEB

Regular Contributor to Focusing on Life.

Story Teller for Ali Edwards Design Team

Currently Teaching at Big Picture Classes.

My Portfolio - Kelly Ishmael Photography

My goal for memory keeping projects this year is s My goal for memory keeping projects this year is simply this: to have fun. For me that looks like telling the stories I want to tell with a playful approach. Trying not overthink everything or make it harder than it needs to be (two of my special talents in life lol).

So with that mindset I started my 2023 album using a combination of the @aliedwardsdesigninc January 2023 Stories by the Month™ Kit and the Open Story Kit™. I love the invitation to look ahead to the coming year with an open heart. 

As always, thank you for letting me share my stories with you!

#craftthestory #scrapbooking #aestorykit #storykitlayouts #6x8album
Every afternoon around 4:00, Daisy sits on the rug Every afternoon around 4:00, Daisy sits on the rug by the front door and barks up the stairs where I sit in my office. Reminding me that it’s time to go walk. No matter how cold or wet or gloomy the weather is. (I mean how can you say no to that face.)

Most of the time I take my camera. You know me…always on the lookout for a little magic. And that day it was the reflection of the bare trees in a puddle of melted sleet. I loved how it told the story of the day and the season.

Photographing reflections can change our perception of reality. And in today’s installment of my photography series, I am sharing the story of how the act of changing my focus helped me change the story I was telling myself. And brought me a little more peace and hope in the process.

You can see all the posts in this series via the link in my profile.
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#asseenonmywalk #ethereal_moods #still_life_nature #transfer_visions #tv_allnature #tv_closeup #jj_justnature #raw_allnature #moody_tones #inspirenaturenow #charming_nature #kaieverydaymagic
I spent a lot January cleaning up and making space I spent a lot January cleaning up and making space in my physical surroundings which almost always translates to the feeling of having a little more headspace. And I’m happy to have the space and time for other kinds of projects now.

Also, this is your friendly reminder that fresh starts don’t have to happen on January 1st. It’s not too late. You didn’t miss the boat. 
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#gatheredstyle #foreverfaffing #loveliest4 #astilllifestyle #floral_faffery #still_life_gallery #tv_stillife #jj_still_life #tv_living #global_ladies #transfer_visions #tv_neatly #tv_flowers #tv_retro #etherealmoods #moody_tones #moodforfloral #moodyflorals #curated_nature #ihavethisthingwithflowers #stylingtheseasons #petalsandprops #floralperfection #thefolkpr0ject #blissfulphotoart #creative_florals
When I’m feeling uninspired in my photography pr When I’m feeling uninspired in my photography practice (or let’s face it - even a little bored if I’m being perfectly honest), one of my favorite exercises is to create a photo essay. Which is what I did last Friday when I baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies. (swipe to see more of the story)

Simply stated, a photographic essay is telling a story through a series of images. And similar to its written counterpart, the goal of a photo essay to communicate ideas to those who will view it. 

Understandably, my use of the word “essay” might trigger your PTSD from having to write papers in your high school English class. But I promise, this is way more fun. And keeping with the food theme, here is my version of a “hamburger essay” only translated for photographers:

🍪 Choose a theme (the subject or focus of your story) 
🍪 Take a variety of shots (include close-ups and different angles)
🍪 Cull your images (five to ten is usually a good place to start)
🍪 Add some text (this could be longer or shorter depending on the story you want to tell)

Finally, make your photo essay about something fun! Document the process of something you love doing. Document a day in your life. Go on a little adventure and tell the story of what you saw and felt. 

In the same ways that writing an essay improves our communication skills, photo essays can help us develop our visual storytelling skills. From organizing our ideas to promoting critical thinking to observing different perspectives, photo essays are powerful tools for creating stronger, more compelling images. And in the process, we learn more about ourselves and grow as photographers.

So here is your assignment should you choose to accept it - create a short photo essay this week and share it. Tell us a story about your life in photos. (Feel free to tag me in it if you’d like!) I promise it will be fun. And the good news is that no one is going to grade it. It’s an easy A.

PS. A huge shout out to my uber-talented OG photography friend @kellykardos whose beautiful food photography was my inspiration for this exercise.
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#cookies #foodstories #tv_living #tv_foodlovers #photoessay #heresmyfood #transfer_visions
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Some of My Favorite Topics

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