Documenting Life During Quarantine
After almost a year into this pandemic, we've likely gotten used to a lot of things. And even though it doesn't always feel like it- it won't last forever.
Imagine it's 5 years from now and you're talking about the pandemic, what do you want your children to remember about this time?
Here are some tips for documenting this unique time we’re living in so you’ll have tangible proof of all the challenges and the beauty in this current season.
One: Have fun and keep your expectations low. Isn’t this a secret to happiness in general? The nordic countries frequently get regarded as the happiest- and I’ve learned from my time there- their key is they keep their expectations low, which often leads to great satisfaction with life. I also think this is a pretty good approach to parenting at all times: in a pandemic, in quarantine, during virtual learning, or even during a normal year. Regardless it's a good thing to keep in mind whenever you're photographing your kids too! Often my ideas of how I’d like to photograph my son don’t go as planned, so I try to stay loose and keep it fun!
Two: Photograph the things you are doing that you might never do again. For many families, life before the COVID-19 pandemic was fast-paced. Appointments, playdates and extracurricular activities. Now, playdates have been replaced with facetime calls, waving hello through windows and hand-written letters. Think about the everyday occurrences that have changed significantly in your house — school, exercise, social outlets — and capture your new normal with your camera.
Three: Silver Linings and Finding gratitude in the unexpected. What are some good things which have come from this time of isolation? Are you spending more time together? What do you look forward to each day? My son and I go on daily walks and bike rides (sometimes twice a day), stopping to inspect fire hydrants and cracks in the sidewalk. I love seeing what his eyes are drawn to. And remembering that we have more space in our schedule for these leisurely activities is something I treasure.
Four: Take a Walk: Sometimes a change of scenery is what we need to change our moods, but it's also a nice way to capture this time in our lives. Take a walk around your neighborhood and document what you see. You may delight in all the rainbow flags and handmade Black Lives Matter signs you see around your neighborhood, so why not take photos of this? Taking pictures of how things look in your neighborhood is meaningful no matter how simple. Sometimes these parts of our lives are so woven into the day-to-day that we forget to appreciate them let alone document them.
Want to grab a free printable that includes these four tips, and four additional ones?
These are important stories we'll want to remember and want to tell our children when they are older. These photos will become the keepsakes that will mark your journey through this unique time in our lives.
I’d love to know what you find and learn!
Email me at katrina@fiftytwohundredphoto.com