Creating Beautiful Memories
The nice thing about my profession is that it allows me to meet a lot of people who have unique stories and experiences. What makes it even more lovable is that I get to take great photographs of these people. Obviously, these individuals are strangers to me, but somehow we find a way to connect with one another. Through my profession, I was able to meet several clients. Surprisingly, some of them have touched my life completely.
Photography is not for everyone, which is why some people still fail miserably at it. Sometimes, no matter how much a person tries to excel in a profession, he would just fail for so many reasons. When this happens, this does not mean that the said person is unskilled. A possible conclusion is that he has chosen the wrong career to invest his time and efforts.
Try to look around you and see if some people in your life are not happy with their decisions. Do you have a brother who failed in pursuing a career in photography? In this article, we are going to discuss some of the tips and tricks on how you can help someone who has many frustrations in his life:
Continue reading “Counseling for Frustrated Photographers (Nourishing Your Mental Health)”
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My husband, Charles, tried his hand at nature photography just last year, and it puzzled me then. Sure, he has always loved communing with nature – he can almost instantly distinguish a type of bird from the shape of the nest and the color of its feathers. But Charles has gone through anxiety and was also diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He is over-energetic, and he finds it hard to focus and sit still.
This is why I found it strange that he preferred to be quiet and still in a peaceful bird hide for several hours, concentrating on feeding the birds so that he could take pictures of something enchanted on his camera.
Most of us often believe that we must stop and look directly at nature for us to benefit from nature. However, Charles had discovered something therapeutic in wildlife and nature photography.
The Healing Effects
He is not the only one reaping the benefits of nature photography. Liz Brewster, a doctor at Lancaster University, studied the connection between mental health and photography. She studied the impact of sharing and capturing images on individuals who reported a range of diagnoses and those who were not diagnosed with anything at all.
After her study, she established that nature photography could be valuable for all forms of mental health problems. She claims that it permits mastery of practical skills, offers a creative outlet, and takes much focus and patience, especially for wildlife and nature photographs. She adds, “I believe there is something relevant in that. It decelerates us amidst this quick-moving society.”
A participant in the study of Dr. Brewster describes how she felt. She says that nature photography forced her to take another view of the world. She also added that taking photos is a postural thing. When a person is depressed or anxious, he is often looking down or hunched over. Taking photos of nature encourages you to position your head up, or perhaps squat down and view something extraordinary, like ‘stopping and smelling the flowers.’
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An Essential Part Of Healing
Photography alone is beneficial, but when it is mixed with nature and wildlife, it appears to have even more benefits. Tony Darwin from California is diagnosed with anxiety and clinical depression and has experienced several mental breakdowns, two of which have resulted in hospital admissions. He utilizes landscape and wildlife photography as an essential aspect of his healing. He says that unraveling a passion for nature and photography is a therapeutic thing for him.
Tony describes getting out of the hospital for the second instance. He became agoraphobic and didn’t want to leave his house. “My mom encouraged me to commune with nature by visiting the gardens, turning on the timer to take selfies with the nature around me, and jotting down the ways of how I felt while I was there.”
He felt more comfortable and eventually more relaxed to go out of his house, slowly increasing his time until he was strolling down the nearby beaches. On the beach with the blue waters and clear skies, just being there made him feel amazing. When he began capturing images of his walks, he discovered that focusing on that exact moment provided him some headspace, and his anxieties eventually disappeared.
The Social Aspect
Aside from the therapeutic effects of being outdoors and viewing life from a different angle, Dr. Brewster’s study also revealed some social benefits of nature photography. She reports that people who tried their hand at photography projects established better connections and relationships. This is perhaps achieved through photo sharing and social media interactions and through getting together with members of the photography community.
According to Dr. Brewster, most individuals can use captured images to open up about aspects of their lives that they find challenging to talk about, including mental health issues. “Photography,” she says, “can be a vital kind of self-care.”
The doctor’s study entailed photography of all types, but she observed that nature and wildlife photography appears to bring certain benefits. A participant diagnosed with cancer explained elaborately how he had been capturing images of garden plants and birds and how this has altered his entire routine. She claimed that discussing her long walks on the forests and coasts and taking pictures of these amazing creatures seemed to give her peace and healing.
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Discovering Calm Behind The Camera
Nature photography can surely be appreciated alone, but getting into a photography community can provide more social opportunities that could be therapeutic and beneficial. Broken Light Collective is a group created by Danielle Hark, a professional photographer based in New York. He has an online gallery that is devoted to individuals who were affected with mental health conditions. Danielle went through major depressive bouts and had discovered that photography was an effective instrument that helped her go through life with lesser pain and misery. She then created Broken Light Collective to inspire others to try their hand at photography as well.
You could take a leisurely walk taking spring hues using your latest iPhone lens or simply nestle in the lakeside with a Nikon, just waiting for an hour or two for that egret to do its first catch. Either way, it appears that nature and wildlife photography can navigate you serenely into the moment. All you need to do is to step outdoors to reap its benefits.
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These tips for self-therapy using photography comes from no less than licensed art therapists that we have talked with. Most of these professionals refer to their experiences with their clients, but we are also hoping that these recollections will serve as inspiration. Many activities can be applied for individuals utilizing therapeutic photography strategies to help themselves enhance their mental and emotional well-being. Of course, not all strategies will work for everybody, so you are encouraged to try those you are comfortable with.
While you can check out these tips to discover new things in your life, it is vital to remember that there is always a possibility that applying the strategies might elicit unexpectedly tough memories or emotions within you. If you realize this happening, you could choose to scrutinize this further by visiting a professional therapist.
Learn To Do Meditation
This entails encouraging the clients to try mindfully and deliberately connecting within while studying everyday things and circumstances. Observing your own emotional responses is a crucial factor of transformation, as one cannot change what he is not conscious of. It is also a way of helping an individual slow down, mindfully observe, and connect to his internal world.
After taking some photos, it would be beneficial to engage in a brief writing exercise regarding the photos brought. Art therapists typically ask their patients to utilize non-judgmental words while seeing the photos, like, “I’m noticing that these shades are opening up emotions of happiness and calm right now.” They may also say how they feel when they were taking those pictures.
Experiment On Collage
Collage is a method that experts we spoke with mentioned often. They said that cutting figures from a picture and placing them into a fresh context encourages a discussion about ways to improve their lives. They add that we are really not as trapped as we may think sometimes. Recontextualization can be done.
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The initial project that these experts talked about was making a series of collages from photos that displayed and honored their significant others. Actual pictures of family members and also photocopies were utilized to make beautiful collages. Phrases that portrayed each member of the family, colored paper, and clip art were integrated with the images for every college page.
Investigate
For seasoned photographers, a challenge regarding therapeutic photography strategies is letting go of expectations. Another means to do that is by investigating and exploring new things. Don’t focus too much on doing it the right way. Rather, focus on what makes you feel curious or what interests you most.
You don’t really have to own an expensive DSLR. You can use a toy camera or your smartphone. Barter your regular gadget for something else, or take pictures of a brand-new thing or place.
Try Recording Events From Your Life
To be clear, you can attempt to do this activity by yourself, but if you were not doing it with the supervision of an art therapist, it wouldn’t be described as art therapy. Literally, art therapy occurs when a patient or client works with an art therapist – someone who is trained in the mental health field.
However, it doesn’t imply that reflective activities like art-making by yourself are not beneficial. It is crucial that if an individual who is not a therapist utilizes therapeutic strategies, they use them only personally without another individual.
Envision Your Feelings
One mental health professional that was interviewed recalled having his patients record their feelings and study them figuratively. He says that another patient of his also used photography as self-therapy to record her emotional process and other feelings. This particular patient would break some dishes and then take pictures of the shards – where they fell and sometimes arranged intentionally. The photographs that the patient took had a significant definition as it had helped with the feelings that she was having a hard time managing.
Seeking A Professional
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Ultimately, photography as a form of self-therapy is effective, although seeking the help of a therapist can help individuals reflect in various ways than they could on by themselves. Anybody who attempts these activities on their own and perhaps does not find much should not set aside the idea. The process of photograph therapy will be smoother, more organized, and more powerful with the supervision of mental health professionals.
Individuals can utilize therapeutic photography strategies on their own or in groups. Still, a licensed therapist can make a safe space for unraveling these strategies more completely and at the same time evading possible triggers. Naturally, if at some point you realize that mental health problems are interfering or impacting your life, the initial step must be to contact a mental health provider for help.
Photography as a therapeutic tool can be subtle, and occasionally, what is uncovered is unnerving. This is a great reason why it can encourage individuals to do therapeutic work with a qualified professional.
When you see an old photo of yourself or loved ones from years back, what do you feel? Pictures of these events probably trigger a rush of memories and emotions. Snapshots of a trip overseas, your graduation, your first day at work—these probably make you remember how excited, happy, or nervous you were.
Photos are windows to our memories and experiences, capturing moments in our lives. We might associate feelings with specific memories, and photos may remind us of these. They tell our stories, both happy and sad, those that end well and those that don’t. The adage remains true: a picture is worth a thousand words.
Images are also potent tools for evoking emotions, and at the same time, they can be key to our relaxation. Because of this, counselors might make use of a technique called guided therapeutic imagery. This method makes use of the power of images to relax us. Guided therapeutic imagery might be a good fit for you, especially if you are a photographer or interested. Read on to learn more about this powerful form of meditation.
Guided imagery has been used as early as the ancient Greek period. Countries like China and India have also used this technique to be a part of traditional, religious, and healing practices.
During the 1970s, Dr. David Bressler and Dr. Martin Rossman pioneered the use of guided therapeutic imagery in counseling, integrating it with the treatment of physical illnesses such as chronic pain and cancer. Today, the technique is an established alternative and complement to medicine.
Guided therapeutic imagery is a type of meditation. To begin, you must be in a quiet place with little to no distractions. You must be in a comfortable position, one you will be able to hold for a while without fidgeting.
During the session, your counselor will provide verbal directions for you to follow in your mind. For instance, they may ask you to envision a very peaceful place. It may be a natural landscape or even a comfortable room. It depends on what peace means to you.
Your therapist will instruct you to use all your senses to capture the whole scene. They may ask you to include sounds, textures, and even aromas in your imagery. During these moments, you must abandon any thoughts besides that of the relaxing imagery. This is why guided therapeutic imagery is a good healing method.
Aside from influencing your mind, guided therapeutic imagery is also designed to relax your body. When your mind is focused on the calming imagery, your breathing deepens, allowing your muscles to relax. This will relieve tension and possibly aches that you feel in your body.
There are different techniques used in guided therapeutic imagery. One popular method is listening to guided imagery scripts. These scripts can be in the form of audiobooks or voice recordings. Once you have learned the technique, you may practice using scripts without the help of your counselor.
You can also do guided therapeutic imagery in a group setting. Your counselor can refer you to support groups that use this technique in counseling. There are also yoga classes that incorporate guided imagery.
Another technique used in guided imagery involves the use of music as part of the therapy. This technique is similar to the use of hypnosis. The relaxing music played in these sessions can also help you reach a state of relaxation faster. A major difference between guided imagery and hypnosis is its purpose. The use of hypnosis helps a person become more accepting of new beliefs.
In recent years, guided therapeutic imagery in counseling has been a popular method in stress management. Studies show the effectiveness of guided imagery in reducing disorder symptoms. Some of the mental and emotional problems address through guided therapeutic imagery include:
Additionally, guided imagery in counseling can also manage maladaptive behaviors. It can help control impulsivity and compulsion. Your counselor can also use guided therapeutic imagery to manage your pain and blood pressure and enhance your performance.
Imagining a peaceful and calming scenario can be difficult in a world with a lot of distractions. Like any counseling method and technique, guided imagery has its pros and cons. Depending on your personality and lifestyle, you can assess whether guided therapeutic imagery is for you.
Firstly, the good things. Unlike other stress management techniques such as yoga, guided imagery is also more inclusive. People with physical limitations can engage with the session without the risk of being injured.
Guided imagery can disrupt negative thought patterns. This will help you become more resilient towards stressful events. As a result, you will be influenced to have a more positive mindset. This can affect your mood and attitude throughout your day and your overall quality of life.
The only con for guided therapeutic imagery is it can be difficult to master. We live in an age where information travels at a very high speed. Entertainment is at the tip of our fingers. It will take a lot of practice for you to immerse yourself in your mind completely. However, with the use of audio recordings or the help of your counselor, you will be able to enjoy this technique.
Guided therapeutic imagery is just like taking photographs. But instead of taking pictures with a camera lens, we use our minds to create a live, vivid scenery. If you enjoy photography and the visual arts, you may enjoy incorporating this practice into your daily life. The few minutes it takes to practice guided imagery can greatly affect your mental and physical well-being.
This technique can improve the connection of your mind and body, providing easier access to your inner wisdom. Despite being a new method, guided therapeutic imagery in counseling offers an efficient alternative approach to improve your health.
“Killing yourself slowly is still killing yourself. Wanting to die is not the same as wanting to come home. Recovery is hard work. Not wanting to die is hard work.” This is the most famous quote from feminist poet Blythe Baird’s book, Give Me A God I Can Relate To.
In the Spoken Poetry industry, Blythe has left her mark as an influential spoken word poet. She was the youngest competitor in the National Poetry Slam in 2014. Her poetry collection discusses many issues, like eating disorders, mental health, feminism, gender and expression, and a lot more. Many of her poems are based on her experiences, like her suffering from ED and depression. To Blythe, poetry has greatly served as an outlet for her feelings, ideas, and struggles.
Blythe is an example of how art has become highly beneficial to people with mental health illnesses. Numerous findings have yielded promising results on the cognitive effect of creative expression. People find an outlet with art. It allows them to explore their creative soul, use their imagination, and improve their self-esteem. Because of these, art has become an integral part of mental health treatment approaches.
Art can take many forms. Blythe chose poetry. But you can also take up other forms such as painting, sculpting, pottery, digital art, theater, photography, and even music. If you are currently receiving counseling, you can raise the idea of complementing your talk therapy sessions with art therapy.
One of the most popular creative activities many counselors recommend nowadays is photography. A lot already do it because we live in the digital age, and it’s more common. Many people have it as a hobby, a pastime activity. Some work as photographers. But some use photography for its therapeutic benefits.
Photography is defined as the art of creating pictures with the use of a camera. With new technology emerging here and there, it is relatively easy for people to take photos. Back in the day, the most commonly used tool for photography was film cameras. But now, there are hundreds of different digital cameras readily available, including mirrorless cameras and sports action cameras. Even smartphones offer the convenience of having a camera feature for immediate photo-taking.
It may seem counterintuitive for your counselor to advise you to spend more of your time in front of your phone or camera, but research tells otherwise. Photography will allow you to maximize your time outdoors, finding hidden gems, exploring exciting things and interesting places. Spending your days out will significantly improve your psychological well-being as the sun is a natural mood booster. If you visit amazing sites and move around a lot, it will also serve as a physical exercise for you.
Through photography, you may also experience self-discovery, which is essential for your psychological welfare. You can render your thoughts and feelings in the form of pictures when words fail you. It is a healthy outlet to release your pent-up emotions and instead create meaningful art. There is a literal emotional release that helps you with stress relief as well.
Science also backs up studies suggesting how making art, like taking photos or drawing, can trigger your brain to release dopamine. Dopamine is a neurochemical often referred to as the “pleasure hormone.” Once dopamine is released into our body, it makes us feel happier.
There are different types of photography you can experiment with during your counseling. These varying types mainly depend on the subject being photographed, which you can relate to or help you relax.
Self-portraits, headshots, and pictures where the individual’s or group’s emotions are captured fall under portrait photography. It is one of the most popular types of photographs. Many people love portraiture as it shows raw emotion, focusing on the eyes. As they say, eyes are windows to the soul. It may be a good choice for you if you have a hard time showing your feelings.
From the name itself, pet photography’s subject is pets. This type of photography may be ideal for you if you love pets. Animals are a big help in many people’s mental recovery. Animals are used in animal therapy—another well-known type of therapy available for mental disorders.
Some mental health sufferers turn to food for stress relief. Turning the stress eating into food photography is like hitting two birds with one stone.
The great outdoors is waiting for you to explore it. Going on an adventure will undoubtedly be great for your mental health. You can also meet people to go on a venture together. Having adventures and exploring the outdoors can give you a sense of freedom and openness to the world. It can also boost your social confidence, which would help your psychological well-being immensely. It would be best if you have as much fun and sun as you can. So double up your travels by doing photography.
Perhaps seascape or ocean photography is what most people with mental illness will consider. The sea is already calming on its own, only watching the waves rise and fall. But with photography, you can explore the ocean so much more while also helping yourself mentally recover. You can also try sea diving and capture photos of marine life, such as corals and sea turtles.
Landscape photography is the opposite of ocean photography. From the name itself, the main focus of this type of photography is capturing lands. Like bodies of water, bodies of land appear calming to some people too.
You do not necessarily have to be good with arts to enjoy its benefits. Art is subjective. If you feel what you are creating is art, no one should tell you otherwise. Doing things that provide tranquility and clarity of mind can be very beneficial for your mental well-being.
Wait no further. Go forth and create art, whether through photography or not. Find an artistic outlet, relieve your feelings, and try to eliminate emotional roadblocks. Who knows? You might have a knack for creativity and discover a hidden talent of yours.
You may have heard the terms panic attack and anxiety attack used by most people interchangeably. They seem to have the same meaning, some of which may include shortness of breath, nausea, and rapid heartbeat. But in practice, anxiety and panic have distinct features, and behavioral health providers use these phrases for specific disorders and symptoms.
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What triggers an anxiety attack?
Stressful or devastating health problems are among the most common triggers of an anxiety attack. Other equally potent triggers include specific medications like cough syrup and birth control pills, concerns about employment, money, and bills, and pessimism.
How does an anxiety attack feel like?
When you are suffering from an anxiety attack, the first thing you realize is losing control over yourself or the situation. You may have chest pain, and your heart beats much faster than usual. You feel like you’re choking and find it difficult to breathe normally. You also tremble and experience hyperventilation. You feel like you are going crazy.
How do you calm an anxiety attack?
Initially, you must acknowledge that you are experiencing an attack. Then you try to regain control by closing your eyes and breathing in and out slowly and consciously. It also helps if you count if you steadily count every time you breathe. You must learn how to question and fight your thoughts to gain control over yourself eventually.
What’s the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack?
Anxiety attacks usually happen as a reaction to a perceived danger or stressor, while panic attacks can occur without any trigger at all. Panic attacks are severe and distracting, and their physical symptoms are often worse than those of anxiety. There are times when anxiety symptoms are mild to moderate. Additionally, anxiety symptoms last longer than panic attack symptoms, which typically resolve in minutes.
What is the best medicine for anxiety attacks?
Benzodiazepines are among the most popular anti-anxiety drugs recommended by doctors for immediate pain relief, while SSRIs are prescribed for a longstanding anxiety attack. However, these medications do not cure anxiety but provide temporary relief. They also come with safety precautions and side effects.
What should I do after an anxiety attack?
Listen to your body and breathe in and out so that you can slowly relax. If the adrenaline is still there and your body is still warm from the rush, physical activity like walking outside so that the built-up energy can go somewhere. You can also diffuse some oils, such as lavender or chamomile in your room for a more relaxing feeling.
What happens after an anxiety attack?
Some people feel warm and energetic after an anxiety attack because of the fight and flight response’s persistence. Still, they feel very tired of others, as though the adrenaline has expired and a tremendous crash has followed.
Is it OK to sleep after a panic attack?
You will most probably have difficulty going back to sleep right after a panic episode, as you will be restless just thinking about what caused the episode in the first place. Also, you’ll most likely be concerned that it’s going to happen again. It might be all right to sleep, but you must take some steps to get rid of the panic attack.
What is the aftermath of an anxiety attack?
When an anxiety attack has finally ended, most people are relieved, and they can gradually relax. However, those who experience severe anxiety go through an emotional lag when all heightened emotions have dropped down. They are left feeling spaced out and shattered.
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How do I stop feeling jittery?
If you’re a coffee drinker, the first thing you should do is not drink too much coffee for that particular day, or you can lessen your caffeine intake regularly. Another reason for feeling jittery is anxiety, and you can get rid of your jitters by practicing deep breathing and relaxation techniques like muscle contractions. It is also important that you drink plenty of water so that you are constantly hydrated.
Why does my body feel shaky inside?
There are several reasons why your shake inside, but one of the most common reasons is anxiety. When someone is anxious, his body can react as if his body is being attacked, causing adrenaline release. This may lead to bodily responses such as shaking, shortness of breath, and palpitations.
Why do I feel shaky and weak?
Weakness and shaky hands can indicate anxiety, but they could also mean that you suffer from hypoglycemia, hypertension, low blood pressure, dehydration, or sleep deprivation. They could also indicate more severe conditions like congestive heart failure or stroke.
Why do I feel jittery and shaky?
Shakiness is a common indication of anxiety, and it is something that a lot of people experience at some point in their lives. When you are anxious, you also feel nervous and jittery due to the imbalance of chemicals in the body when activating the fight and flight response.
What causes a person to shake?
Nervousness and anxiety often lead an individual to shake. It is a symptom that most people have experienced when anxious, but there may be other reasons why the body shakes, medical conditions like hypoglycemia and hypertension.
Are shaky hands a sign of anxiety?
Trembling or shaky hands is a usual physical indication that you may go through when you have a social anxiety disorder. When you are anxious and shaking, your fight or flight response may be active.
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Anxiety is among the most prevalent mental health disorders that affect approximately 20% of American adults every year. Anxiety can have a considerable impact on an individual’s life, but only very few who experience symptoms ask for help or treatment.
Effective treatments can produce better results and improve one’s well-being, so you must speak to your doctor if you are experiencing anxiety or panic attack symptoms. Women actually have a higher likelihood of having anxiety symptoms, so the Women’s Preventative Services Initiative now suggests screening for anxiety for all females above 13 years old.
A mental health provider typically asks you questions regarding your symptoms, and these include factors such as duration, intensity, and the effect it has on your usual everyday functioning. Depending on your assessment results, your provider can then provide a diagnosis based on the DSM-5 criteria.
After six months of waiting, I got the key to my brand-new house last month. Woot woot! It was among the most significant projects I could ever take on in my life, considering I poured all my savings into it.
The house meant two things for me. Firstly, I managed to prove that I did not need a man to become a homeowner. Many women got hitched early just so they wouldn’t need to worry about housing and other issues, but I did not want to do that. I always said that I was a strong, independent woman, and that’s what I showed everyone.
Secondly, it was a reward for all my hard work since I started working full-time at 19 years old while also going to college full-time. Most people around me said that I might need to give up one of them eventually because it was rare to find success when your attention was divided into major tasks. I proved them all wrong when I graduated as a Summa cum Laude and earned a managerial position at work. Hence, I was only 25 years old when I bought a piece of land in the neighborhood and built my house in it two years later.
My Mother’s Two Cents
My parents were the happiest – perhaps happier than me – when I brought them to the construction site for the first time. Dad hugged me tightly and repeatedly said that he’s proud of me; Mom cried so hard, uttering praises to God for blessing me with intelligence and a good job. When they accompanied me on the day that the contractor handed over the keys, Mom cried some more until we toured the still-empty house and asked her how I should decorate it. I already bought the couch and bed and other furniture – I was merely lost when it came to decorative items.
Mom replied, “You can add whatever decoration you want because it’s your house, not anyone else’s, but you should have family photos on display, too.”
At first, I wanted to protest. I was a single woman at my prime; I thought it would be awkward to bring a man home after a date and make him see the cheesy pictures I had since childhood. But since I asked for my mother’s opinion – and she did not volunteer it – it would be rude not to indulge her with a few photos in the living room and my home office. I just made sure to use Velcro tape to remove them quickly if I ended up not liking them.
How The Family Pictures Soothed My Mental Health
Inhabiting my new home meant that I had to move out of my parents’ house for good. And though it was only a 30-minute drive away, I still felt a little depressed, knowing that I would not wake up to my mom’s delicious meals every day. Thankfully, the family pictures were there to remind me of the sweet and fun times that we had together. Even when we could not FaceTime or visit each other, I would still see their smiling faces if I turn my gaze on the shelves in my office or walk around the hallway.
I initially thought that the family pictures would curb my desirability in front of potential male partners, but they genuinely helped me weed out the guys who wanted nothing more than a one-night stand. After all, the photos showed how much I valued family, so it likely meant that I would not put out for anyone (which was true). If I was honest, that’s how I attracted my current boyfriend, John, who also dreamed of building a family of his own shortly.
One of the things I dreaded about owning a house was entertaining guests because I had never done that – I feared that they would want to leave after 30 minutes out of boredom. However, I realized that the family pictures worked well as conversation starters as people would go straight to them and ask me what we were doing in those images. When my coworkers came for the first time, they even made a game out of my baby pictures, figuring out how old I was in them.
Soon enough, I found myself printing more family pictures and putting them in matching frames. I even bought a piano that looked like what my parents had so that I could arrange the photo frames on top of it. It was a little piece of home away from home, and even my mother loved it. She said, “I can see you decorating your place with more photos once you have a family of your own.”
Hmm, although I have no idea when that will happen – I think I am still too young to settle down – I can tell that Mom’s prediction was not far off. That’s especially true now that I have seen the beauty of displaying family photos at home.
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Almost everyone is bringing along a camera in their purses or pockets nowadays – because almost everyone has a smartphone – but then it is clearly no substitute for a professional camera. It has been and always will be the perfect tool to use if you want to capture a beautiful family picture in your home. If you recall your own childhood home, maybe you would imagine the family photos hanging on the walls of your bedroom or the dining hall, down to the clothes that you wore and the whole family’s faces when those pictures were taken.
Indeed, family photos make a significant reference point in getting to know your connection with the family and cherish the memories that last a lifetime. The heritage of family photos could go on through your kids’ own families as well, so it is important to really spend time and effort on them.
Here’s why taking family pictures is important for child development.
It improves a child’s self-confidence.
Psychologists agree that family photography allows kids to learn who they are and where they belong. Pictures enable them to get a sense of awareness intuitively, instilling feelings of compassion, belonging, and self-worth. To help your kids improve their self-confidence in practical ways, it would be great if you could display pictures in their bedrooms so that they get to look at them before they go to bed and when they wake up. These serve as visual reminders that will give them a sense of security and relief, to know that they have a family that they can run to despite whatever challenges come their way.
It keeps track of their growth.
Annual family photos are accepted when it relates to school photo shoots, so why don’t you do yearly family shoots too? Children grow up so fast, and the ability to seize those changes as they occur, and as a family, is quite a significant treasure. A lot of families regret the fact that they were not able to take enough pictures together over the years. Some parents love to take photos of their kids every day using an identical pose up until their teenage years to keep track of their growth.
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It teaches them to instill family values.
Capturing images for the future and to honor family provides children with a healthy sense of warmth, closeness, and family integrity. Particularly for teens growing up in the selfie world, photography is inclined not to be linked to the family as a unit that much. Hence, family photos are a perfect means to rebuild the connection between family and portraits and cherish those connections. There may be times in their lives that they don’t want to get their photos taken, but eventually, they will come to love them as they grow older.
It helps children know where they stand in the family.
Parents should be mindful not to ignore the significance of visual clues in strengthening the family, particularly when children are younger and are still learning about the value of family. Yes, you might have many cheerful photos kept in photo albums or on your laptop, but these are only available when they are intentionally opened. A framed family portrait placed in the home functions as a short but perpetual reminder of where you belong. The simple act of gathering together to have a photoshoot will also enable your kids to appreciate the idea of family trees and perks their interest in the whole clan.
Suggestions For Taking Awesome Family Pictures
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Conclusion
A challenge to the usual professional family photographs is often the cost that is associated with photo studios and the requirement to pay for extra images that you can be truly satisfied with. But with the advent of hundreds of photography studios that have opened for business, any kind of style that you want is available, and some are definitely affordable and practical. Book your family photoshoot soon and keep the memories for a lifetime.
In an unexpected situation like this where there’s a Coronavirus outbreak, a lot of people are trying their best to adjust. Most individuals keep track of their health, maintain social distance with others, survive the financial crisis, and many more. And along with all the sacrifices they need to face, the perseverance in dealing with life change is present. For most couples who want to settle and bring their relationship to the next level, getting married becomes challenging during this pandemic. There are a lot of things that couples need to consider.
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Smart Financial Decisions
Surely, couples who are planning to get married already made some arrangements. Probably, some of them previously managed to set up their schedules and everything they need to have a memorable wedding day. But since there is an outbreak, most couples intend to spend their hard-earned money in a more practical way. Couples are aware of the pandemic situation, and they know how important every penny is. Thus, they become smart in making financial decisions. That is why most weddings during this pandemic tend to be small and less extravagant. Couples are putting more effort into saving their money for future use instead of spending too much on a one-day celebration.
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Cancellations And Apologies
As much as couples want to see everyone they love present on their most special day, most of them are canceling and apologizing for the inconvenience. Some of these inconveniences include changes in schedules, flight cancellations, and reservation refunds. Honestly, there is nothing much to do with this unfortunate situation. That is why couples are trying to become open about their situation as much as possible, and guests are okay with that. Admittedly, it is a sad decision to do because some of the guests are maybe expecting to be there and celebrate with the couples. Unfortunately, the need for cancellation is a must.
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Limited Social Connection
Weddings are expected to be celebrated by a lot of people. Family, friends, relatives, colleagues are expected to be there. But in this time of crisis, people attending the wedding are few in numbers. That is because they follow the social distancing protocol. Honestly, it is quite sad to have few people around on a very special day for couples. But considering the situation and the health of the people who are going to attend, it is much better that couples leave it that way and only invite a few individuals. That is why weddings during this pandemic time sometimes only have less than ten individuals in the ceremony. Only those important people who play a significant role in each couple’s lives are given the opportunity to witness a memorable scene.
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No After-Parties
Weddings are supposed to have after-parties. It is the most fantastic part of the celebration where people get to know each other and have fun with the crowd. But since there is an outbreak, weddings in this time of the pandemic are disregarding after-parties. Truthfully, it is a bit sad because that is the most enjoyable time of the wedding. It is where people dance, drink, and celebrate with music. There are games in the program, and guests of all ages can join as well. However, no matter how exciting a wedding can be, couples are trying their best not to put their loved ones in a devastating situation during this health crisis. Thus, most weddings at this time often end with only a ceremony and no after-parties.
Indeed, couples are in a situation where their patience and open-mindedness are tested. But considering the pandemic crisis, they should continue to consider what is best for everyone.