I have found a group of women in the Springfield area who enjoy photography as much as I do and who encourage and support each others own personal journey. In addition, we all realize the value of capturing not just those “special moments” but the every day moments. Together we are embarking on a 12 month photography project.

Each month we will try and take personal images and blog on them. The theme will be “What ___ looks like.” Each month we will each choose to fill in the blank with our word of choice. Some of us may choose to use the same word all year and some may choose to change it up each month. We will each link to the next photographer until our circle of is complete.

We hope this project inspires you to take more pictures of your own families! Make sure to read through to the end and then visit the link to Courtney Westlake Photography!

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This month: What Life Up Close Looks Like
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Before I share my visual images, I have to share a little background.  A couple weeks ago I received a 100mm 2.8L macro lens on loaner.  I used it a few times for some newborn images and fell in LOVE with it.  The ability to capture not only the tiny toes but the little ridges in their fingernails was amazing!  I knew that had to be my next purchase.  Since I am no longer booking outdoor toddler or family sessions (outside of my baby club families) I knew that my 70-200mm 2.8L would die a slow death in my arsenal of lens.  And so I did it, I listed my 70-200 for sale and bought the macro.

This is definitely my new favorite lens both professionally and personally.  I love the creamy bokeh it produces in portraits and the tack-sharpness it has with the tiniest of things (check out the little dangling ant below!)   Earlier this month while playing outside with my daughter and husband we came across a HUGE bug.  We weren’t sure what it was, but it was pretty cool.  My husband said “go get your macro!”  Not only was I able to capture the beady little eyes of the bug, but I also captured the sweet angelic eyes of my little “bug.”  And of course, my easiest subject to photograph, our dog Amy.    I absolutely adore how you can see the sky in her eyes as she sweetly laid in the grass.

So here you have it.  All shot with my beloved macro lens.

Now, check out the blog of Courtney Westlake Photography here and continue the circle!