Thinking about Project 365...

[LauraBean]

I did Project 365 in 2007--took a photo every single day. This is before I was scrapping, and was actually the catalyst for my trying digital scrapbooking. I found the discipline of taking a picture every day to be both wonderful and difficult, and had no desire to do it again in 2008. But I'm thinking about it for 2009.

Now that I'm a scrapper, though, I'm thinking about how to scrap the photos (if I take the plunge again). I would love to see some simple, clean templates designed just for this--so, 7 pictures to a page. I'm imagining something like Ali's December Daily templates, just designed for a week's worth of photos. Maybe an optional two-pager included?

A product like this just might push me over the edge for 2009!

[katrinak]

I'm going to give it a go for 2009 too...loved it for 2008 and missed just a few days!

I'll be using the DD Picture A Day group over at Flickr too!

[Mary Rogers]

good idea Laura!
I know I am going to commit to this project. We just got a Nikon S60 so I can have it with me always and leave the big camera at home.

I was spending a little bit of time this afternoon thinking about how I want to set this up:
gonna keep it simple
weekly layout goal
7 photos and a bit of journaling
uniform design

I may even design a little template myself....

I will leave the big stuff (events, bdays, etc) for my regular layouts

you can read more about the concept as presented by Becky Higgins
here

[katie pertiet]

I've been working on this and will have a 2-page template for each week with 3-4 options so they can be mixed up throughout the year!

[readstoomuch]

Sounds great girls! Wheww ... commiting to 365 is daunting for me. I can't wait to see what ya'll do with this.

[Britgirl]

I nearly did it, but found missing a few days was all it took to put me off my track.... maybe take it easier on myself this coming year and do a week as a page,- five pictures, ten pictures, seven pictures, fifty pictures - whatever that week throws up. I do love Anna's books shes made of weeks all thro the year.
look forward to your new templates katie, they always inspire me!

[Mary Rogers]

ohhh katie - thanks so much!!
looking forward to seeing what you come up with

[LauraBean]

Super, Katie! I'll keep my eyes peeled for it.

And, Mary, thanks for the link to Becky's blog; seeing her kit of the month advertised in CK is actually what got me thinking about this again after a year off, and I'm pondering her non-digital approach as well.

I REALLY want to do this. I have to make it a priority and stick to it! Woohoo! I am getting excited! I am thinking of having my kids help me a bit and get their perspective throughout the year with pics and journaling.

[dugarner]

Eek, I'd love to try this, but I'm worried I have enough interesting things to take pictures of. If I tried it, I would commit to a page per week, I can't afford a book any bigger. Though I guess that would replace my annual family scrapbook. If I did this, I would keep it simple like Katrina's December Daily; the same background, something neutral. I find myself in fits over finding that perfect embellishment, and it really paralyzes me.

[LauraBean]

Dugarner, the year I did it there were plenty of days I didn't have anything obviously interesting to photograph, but that was what was so cool about it. I forced myself to take a picture every single day, and that made me go find something to take a picture of. I found in the process that many ordinary things are really interesting! There were still days when the photo itself was downright boring, but many of my best photos that year came on days when I thought there was nothing interesting to shoot.

Mine for 2007 are posted on a blog I used solely for that purpose: 365 in 2007. Just in case you want to take a look!

[MIDA78466]

This is really interesting---I would love to try it but I'm with Sarah--I feel like I won't have pictures. My problem--I office out of the house and often don't even leave it. It get's boring taking pictures of the dogs every day!! You get my drift. If I expect to get better with my new camera, I have to take pics, right? Still thinking about it.

[Teri A]

I have been thinking about this too. I kept up pretty well with the DD flicker group for about half the year, and then just missing a few days snowballed into many. I love the challenge though and believed that it made me a better photographer. Here's to a new year of pictures whether they are daily or weekly

[dugarner]

Laura, your blog is great! What an encouragement. I think there are lots of things I overlook, but my routine most days is the same trip to the church building (we're there 6 days a week), then home. I live in a boring town in the middle of nowhere. But I'd definitely love to try!

Sarah

[katrinak]

Originally Posted by dugarner

Laura, your blog is great! What an encouragement. I think there are lots of things I overlook, but my routine most days is the same trip to the church building (we're there 6 days a week), then home. I live in a boring town in the middle of nowhere. But I'd definitely love to try!

Sarah

Oh Sarah part of the great fun is seeing the details you've always looked at in a new and different way! Some of my favorite photos from this year were of bottles, food, flowers, just pieces of my everyday world that I hadn't noticed before. And the great side benefit? You improve your photography AND your family becomes so accustomed to seeing your camera that they don't freak out when it comes out anymore. My 3 year old now points out things he'd like pictures of! (sometimes including himself!)

[mugsbigsis]

Ok count me in! (I think. .. ) Hope it doesn't turn out to be all dog photos. :O\

[dorah]

Now this sound really fun to me. And definitely a way to improve my photography skills. And what could be better to go with it than Katie templates. I'm in.

[Carol Elliott]

Laura - loved your 365 in 2007 blog! I've done all right on the DD flickr group since I started this year, but want to try for 365 in 2009. I agree that if you miss a few days it can be hard to get back into the routine. The one incentive I have (and love) is that my sisters check out my flickr on a daily basis. I get emails from them on the days that I don't post! This year I want to take a photo every day and not skip days or post one from another day in its place. Speaking of which ... I need to go take a picture!

[anke]

It really sounds like fun and it might be easier than having to post a photo every day. That's what got me with the flickr group. Doing it once a week might not be so bad and it would force us to take pictures!!!! I am still thinking about it

[donitab]

I'm seriously thinking about doing this - I think the challenge of taking 365 pictures will force me to look at things differently.

And, you might have a plan for the days you absolutely can't (or don't) get a picture made - like a journaling block describing what you did or why you didn't get a picture made.

Let's do it!

[hulseyfam]

I like the sound of this, but frankly doesn't it sound completely overwhelming to anyone else??? I did a Christmas activity, game, story or something simple with my kids everyday in December and I'm sure glad to see it coming to a close because I'm not sure how much more I could take. Obviously a picture is a lot easier, but then you have that much more to scrap and I can't even scrap the big events. I'm going to have to think on this.

[lat4005]

I am so intrigued by this. I take pictures nearly every day anyway since my kids are so young. But I am finding the more active they are the more apt I am to skip a day here or there on really busy days. I was wondering if anyone had either a web site (or blog) or any suggestions on taking photos (like ideas for shots) or for always remembering your camera?

[LauraBean]

I did find it pretty overwhelming at times the year I did it, and I still haven't decided whether to try it again. There were more than a few days when it was more a burden than a fun project, but I was determined not to "fail," which I defined as missing a day. I'm stubborn like that where my ego is involved. So I just don't know... My dd, who did it with me in 2007, is thinking of doing a once-a-week commitment, which would be more doable, for sure.

CK magazine has a list in the current issue of 365 photo prompts--it may be online as well.

[PaulaSG]

Somehow I completely missed this thread -- I took a photo a day for 2008 (or at least I have so far!). I'm currently working on an album that will have one month on a double page spread. I made my own template for that and am working on filling in the placeholders. I'll go and post a month so you get the idea and will link it up here.

ETA: Here are pages for January 2008: Jan -page 1 and Jan - page 2

[lat4005]

Thank you so much for the great tip Laura! I did find the list from CK online. Printing it as I am typing this. Woo-hoo! That is a great place to get started as I run out of ideas and I am sure not every picture in this project needs to be of my kiddos.

[JALong]

Wow! I never really considered a photo a day for 365 days. Sounds like an amazing challenge. I will seriously think about it! If Katie is making templates it sounds like it may be possible to achieve.

[sarahorton]

oooh I love your pages, Paula!
Thanks for calling attention to the CK prompts, Laura.
I love the *idea* of doing this. I wonder how disciplined I can be with it.... I think I'm going to try it this year

[shhbabymine]

paula - i love the way you combined the pics for a monthly view. i really like this idea - and though i almost did atleast a photo a day this year i never posted.... but i will say it makes you find so many little things that you easily overlook in our normal routine and day to day schedules..... i agree with katrina that some of my fav photos this year werent of the big events - but really some cool shots of ordinary things - things we often forget to include in our scrapbooks... great idea - hope to stick with it all year...

[luv2cre8]

I'm in! I was going to say, "I want to try this" but this has been in the back of my mind for about a month now and it's time to commit. I just visited the DD Flickr group. What a terrific source of inspiration.

[Myra]

I really want to try to do this. I started with good intentions last year, but...

Katie - I can't wait to see your templates. Paula - I love what you've posted in the gallery so far. My new year's resolution (along with my annual list) will be to do this! And I've written it here, so you ladies can hold me to it!