As a new mom attempting to both nurture a baby and run a business from home, (more like the closet in my master bedroom, since my office has been transformed into our daughter’s nursery) one of the aspects of my life I’ve determined not to let slide is my passion for bringing inspiration home. Despite the chaos that some days bring and the juggling act that this season of my life is proving to be, finding inspiration at some point throughout my day is one of the main things that keeps both my life as a mom and my career as a photographer bright with hope and beauty.
.jpg)
I decided to challenge myself during the month of January to use Instagram as a platform through which to share the things that inspired me on a daily basis. Sometimes I was inspired by photos from my archives, and other times I would find myself completely enamoured by something as simple as a carton of eggs, speckled and shiny and perfectly formed. And some days I’ll admit to being at a complete loss for something to shoot or share, so I would madly scour my home’s shelves and alcoves for something pretty. In the end, those moments of frantic perplexity challenged me to find beauty in the things I already possessed and to see them anew and be grateful for their place in my life. Ultimately, I ended the month proud of how I’d pushed myself to seek beauty and inspiration on a daily basis, and I realized that the days with my daughter and my projects as a professional were richer as a result. I found myself talking to my baby Lauren about oak trees and textiles and the magic of colour. Within my work I was noticing patterns and trends towards certain styles and preferences–and letting go of the ones that didn’t thrill me, thus refining my own creative style and processes. I was having more fun with cooking again, and dreaming up ways to show love to my husband and those around me. Last night, for the first time since Lauren was born, I lay awake in bed unable to sleep between feedings. I had a lot on my mind, but one of the things I couldn’t shake was my excitement for the photo shoots I’ve got coming up. Vivid colours, unique ideas, beautiful styling, and rich photographs swirled around in my mind. I’ve got a GREAT year ahead!
With all that in mind, I decided to drum up a contest that would enable me to bring more inspiration to others. I’m currently putting together an inspirational package to help inject beauty and creative inspiration into one lucky winner’s wintery day. Local artisanal olive oil from Olivina, a copy of Kinfolk magazine, lustrous hand-finished French ribbon by Froufrou Chic, a book of custom postcards photographed on 35mm film by Yours Truly featuring local landscapes and published by Artifact Uprising, and plenty more surprises sure to brighten your day and bring inspiration into your home.
I’ll be highlighting certain elements of the inspiration package over the coming week and will announce the contest’s opening and closing dates as well as how to enter SOON! In the meantime, feel free to follow me on Instagram to see where I found inspiration throughout the month of January! http://instagram.com/jaimelaurenphotography
“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club” — Jack London, Author