I really love my little house, but it never has seemed neat or finished enough to feel worthy of a photo session. However, I finally made peace with the fact that the beauty of my home isn't negated in the least just because it's not in its idealized state!
Sunday afternoon, I decided to just go for it: I went around the house and captured scenes of Gaskinland. I didn't clean up or move a thing. And I loved the result: not only did I reveal the essence of our home, but also the fact that it is a place where life gets lived:
Yes, a a disgusting pile of dirty dishes can be beautiful - it's evidence our family is well-provided for:
This is everyone's favorite spot in the house. It's definitely well-used and well-loved. I keep matching black slipcovers on the couches when I want it to look fancy. But this is its everyday look:
Andy runs his own business from home - he's here in the living room all day, every day. I love his laid-back fearlessness. I love that he's a risk-taker who would rather eat PBJs every day and see his babies grow up than have the financial security of a salary job but be far from home all day. I love his constant presence in our home. I love him!
What this mess really says is, "Amy has been spending so much time cuddling her sweet newborn baby, she doesn't care if her studio gets turned into a junk pile for a while:"
Not only is a bunk bed a great space saver - but it makes a great fort during the day. Ronnie and Alexa share the top bunk, and Penny sleeps on the bottom. Evie will join her when she's big enough:
The clothes house of four amazing little girls:
So...what does every day look like for you? Are you brave enough to capture your house, your projects, yourSELF at this very moment in time - no set up or clean up involved? We often post ideal snippets of our lives, but rarely do we allow others a glimpse of a non-contrived setup of what we most passionately want to reveal about ourselves.
Join the Keep It Real group photo pool I've created on Flickr, and contribute your tasteful snapshots of real life.
Here are the rules:
1. Keep the material limited to subjects and projects in your daily life that help define you - whatever it is that you live and breathe these days.
2. Only post pictures that are not set up. These are snapshots of real life, not idealized compositions.
3. Basic editing (Cropping, Color/Levels) is fine.
4. If people are in your shots, please keep clothes on. Postpartum bodies are awesome, but please be modest.
So, liberate youself! Come as you are, and share the beauty of your life just as it is right now!
