I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures, even before digital cameras were popular, but I never considered learning about photography until after our son was born. At that time, my dedication to reading and practicing in order to take a better photograph was born out of necessity.
Just like other new parents, my husband and I took our baby boy in to have his pictures taken. By the time he was a year old, it was clear this was next to torture for him. He didn’t just cry or squirm, he was flat out miserable. After trying to have his two-year pictures taken, and failing miserably, I started to take them myself. When we found out a year later that he had autism, his reactions at photography studios made a whole lot of sense.
Being the perfectionist that I am (for better or worse – ha), I wasn’t overly happy with the snapshots I was getting. Purchasing a Canon DSLR and learning to shoot in manual was a game changer for me. Now I could take portraits of my son in an environment where he was happy and relaxed.
I practiced every chance I had, and that included our dogs. Jasper, especially, has been the subject of many photo shoots ranging from puppy pictures to images taken in front of the Christmas tree.
I now enjoy taking pictures of everything from wildlife to flowers, from sunsets to family portraits. All of them serve as a reminder of the every day joys in life.
My love of photography and our experience with our son were both a huge inspiration for Laurie Blake, the heroine in my book, Finding Peace. Laurie is a struggling photographer trying to make enough money to keep her studio, Capturing the Moment Photography, open. While she lives to take photos, her passion is helping families with special needs children.
Laurie meets with them ahead of time in their own home so they don’t have to take their children to a strange studio. When Laurie goes back later to take their portraits, she lets the children lead the way. Giving the children the opportunity to play where they are most comfortable is the best way to get pictures the family will treasure forever.
GIVEAWAY – Do you have a hobby or something you enjoy that brings you peace, inspires you, or both? Comment below, and you’ll be entered for the chance to win a $5.00 Amazon gift card. A winner will be chosen randomly on July 6th and contacted by e-mail. I look forward to reading your responses!
~*~
Tuck is determined to keep Laurie safe, even if it means risking his own heart in the process.
Police Officer Tuck Chandler works hard to protect the citizens of Kitner, Texas. He’s also good at holding women at arm’s length. Jilted by his fiancée for his dedication to his job, he’s not about to open himself up to hurt like that again.
Laurie Blake is a struggling photographer. After growing up in a wealthy family, she’s determined to make it on her own, even if it means doing it the hard way.
When Tuck is assigned to a puzzling burglary involving Laurie’s fledgling photography business, he goes into it with his usual perseverance. He wants to help her – if she’ll let him. As the case unfolds and the mystery deepens, another question arises.
Will their pasts get in the way of a future together?
Available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited
Melanie D. Snitker is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes inspirational and sweet romance novels. She and her husband live in the beautiful Texas Hill Country with their two children who keep their lives full of adventure. They share their home with two dogs, a guinea pig, two lizards, and four frogs. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys photography, reading, baking, computer games, and hanging out with family and friends.
I do enjoy my craft work. I like to knit, sew, crochet and embroider. It’s all very relaxing and handy.
Your photography sounds amazing! My favorite me time moments are definitely reading, lol, and then writing about the books I have read?
I like taking photos but don’t take as many as I should. I use to do cross stich but now at times do scrapbooking which I really enjoy.
The book sounds interesting I have several friends with children with special needs. I can understand your son having issues at the studio. While I don’t have autism since my headpain started around 6 years ago I am super sensitive to noise and at bright lights.
I enjoy cross-stitching. I think it is relaxing because I have to focus on counting, colors, etc. so it blocks out other thoughts. And, when I’m finished with a project, I have something to decorate my house with or a gift!
Lately, my husband and I have been going to the local beach to watch the sunset. He bought a camera and has already taken almost 1,000 pictures since May! I use my cell phone and have been surprised at how well some of them have turned out.
These pictures have become my screen saver and I have also copied them on to a digital photo display that changes every five seconds. It is nice to view what we’ve both captured as it allows me to reminisce on the beauty we saw and the time he and I have been spending together.
Lovely post, Melanie. I can relate to your desire to learn how to take photos with your son in a relaxed environment. Reading is my preferred way to relax. If only I had more time to indulge my love for reading, lol. Thanks for sharing with us. :)
This story sounds great! I love to crochet and run. Crocheting brings me peace as I have to sit still. Running inspires me. I just need to invent something to take notes as I run lol. Pieces of my story will come to me in the middle of my 3 or 4-mile run and I’m afraid I will forget it before I get back. Thanks for this great post!
Hi Melanie! Besides reading, photography and cooking brings me peace and inspires me. My mom and I have always enjoyed taking family pictures. Unfortunately we are never in pictures. Therefore there are few photos of my mom and I together. Since the digital age, I have 33,000 stored on my desk top. The majority are of my sons, pets, grandchildren, flowers, food, and the beautiful SW Michigan beaches. This summer I am organizing these photos, because I enjoy creating photo gifts for family and friends. Best wishes this 4th of July week. Enjoy time with family and friends.
That’s great, Mary! I’m impressed that you can knit and crochet. While I can crochet well, I’ve never been able to knit. And embroidering is beautiful!
Thanks Paula Marie! I think reading is an awesome way to get some me time. I haven’t had as much time to read for a while, but I am making the time now. I’ve missed it!
Scrapbooking – how fun! I’ve seen how creative the pages can be. Do you have a group you meet with, or do you pretty much do it as a way to get some “me” time? Either way – it sounds great!
I’m sorry about your head pain :-( I imagine that does make it hard to go out and deal with places that have a lot of noise or bright lights. (((hugs)))
How wonderful, Ellie! My mom used to cross stitch, and I have a beautiful picture she made for my husband and I for the Christmas after we got married. I’ve never tried it, but I can see where it would take a great deal of focus, but be so relaxing as well.
Going to the beach to watch the sunset and take photos sounds amazing. What a great way to end the day! Using the images you both have caught as screen savers but also on the digital photo display is a great idea. I think that sunsets are some of the most beautiful things we can see! Best of all is the time you two are spending together.
Hi, Narelle! Thank you! I’m with you, I wish I had more time to read than I do. I’m determined to make more time beginning this month, though. Just because I’ve got very little me time and I find my creativity and patience in general suffers if I don’t at least have a little from time to time! lol
Thanks for sharing, Sally! I love that you have running to help inspire you, and crocheting that helps you to relax and have some peace. What a great combination! What kinds of things do you enjoy crocheting? And if you invent a way to take notes as you run, you’ll definitely have to share LOL I was going to suggest a way to dictate, but running would mean you’re all out of breath. Well, maybe not you, but for ME it would. Ha!
Love this sweet story about your son/pictures! My ME time is spent reading! I love to read Christian fiction and really appreciate you authors who provide those books for us.
Happy Fourth!
Hi Renate! How neat that you and your mom always enjoyed taking family pictures. I understand your plight of never being in them, though. That’s the bad part about being the photographer! I know I wish I had more photos of my dad and I together, and now try and at least get selfies of me and my mom so I’ll have those. Creating photo gifts for friends and family is a great idea. I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July as well! <3
Thanks so much, Jackie! Spending “me” time reading is a great way! Thank YOU for your kindness! I hope you have a great 4th of July!
This is so cool that you were able to identify why your son was miserable and that you came up with a fantastic solution. Woohoo for you both. I have my sewing room where I can disappear and just relax and de-stress
I also enjoy taking pictures of my flowers and garden but would love to take a photography class. I enjoy many crafting and sewing to relax. Happy 4th Of July.
Reading brings me the most peace. I can curl up on the couch with a book and forget about life’s problems for a while. I especially enjoy reading when it’s cool and raining. For some reason, I always feel closer to God then.
Thanks for sharing the background to Finding Peace! Enjoyed that story.
I also love taking photos and capturing either a large landscape or seascape, or a microcosm. I also enjoy reading and gardening (veggies more than flowers).
Scrapbooking is a way to play with colors and design, which almost always inspires me.
i love fashion, mixing patterns and color. Nail polish designs as well.
Hi, Lori! Yes, it’s worked out well, and I discovered a real love for photography I didn’t know I had to begin with! lol Wonderful that you have a sewing room where you can go and work on projects to relax. What do you sew?
A photography class would be a lot of fun. I hope you get to take one sometime – you should make a point of it! I hope you have a happy 4th of July as well!
That’s wonderful, Linda! I was just thinking about how nice it is to read when it’s raining. We had a little rain shower just a few minutes ago. I love the way everything feels when it rains.
I always enjoy seeing your pictures when you post them. You do a lovely job! Seascape images are so beautiful!! That’s neat that you enjoy gardening. I want to try veggie gardening, but I do NOT have a green thumb. LOL
That’s awesome, Lila! I so admire people who scrapbook! I just started getting into planners with stickers and washi tape and while it’s fun, it’s been almost overwhelming at first. lol
How fun! I don’t wear a lot of nail polish, but I admit I will run into videos online of people creating nail polish designs and I’m amazed. It’s an art, that’s for sure!
I enjoy craft day at my friends house. We make wood plaques jar candles anything we can think of and I have given some of the crafts as gifts. Some beautiful things have come out of craft day!
That sounds like so much fun, Pam! I love that you and your friend do that together. What a great idea!
I enjoy making cards. Mom has been making them for over 23 years, and I’ve always helped. Now, though, I’ve been making my own, while still helping her. We’ve got to start working on Christmas cards soon!! Neither of us likes waiting til the last minute! Plus, if you want to get good stuff to use on them, you’ve got to start early or everything is picked over!
Your pictures are very pretty. I enjoy reading and playing games on my Kindle.
I unwind by reading, but I do love to take pictures! Years ago my husband got me a card-making software program, so I’ve used that to put my pictures on greeting cards. Also, whenever Shutterfly offers 10 free cards, I put my pictures on cards there.
I crochet baby blankets for the most part. When I’m running I am out of breath and my chihuahua walks to my run. So…I am probably the slowest runner around lol. But as my son likes to tell me, at least I’m running. So there’s that. The same is true with writing. Even if you only write one word, you’re writing. And one word will lead to two and so on and so forth.
Trudy,
Making cards sounds like so much fun! Do you make them using stamps? Or is it all paper or stickers? I’ll bet they are beautiful! How neat that you and your mom do that together, too. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Mary. And both of those sound great!
That’s a great idea to have some of your pictures made into greeting cards. I never thought of that!
Hi, Melanie!
My biggest hobbies are reading and knitting! By the way Finding Peace sounds like an awesome story that I would love, I just added it to my wish list and look forward to reading it! ?
Your son is right, at least you’re running. Good for you! Like you said, every little bit eventually adds up and it matters!
Thanks for your response, Caitlyn! That’s great that you enjoy knitting and reading. I’ve always wished I could knit. I hope you enjoy Finding Peace when you get a chance to read it!
First on the head pain now I am having botox 4 times a year I can handle things better. Still cant go to a live sports game (well can go to ones that don’t have many attending). I can’t handle going to the movies. But you tend to adjust.
On Scrapbooking I haven’t done much this year just made a small album which was mainly photos and a few decorations for a friend. I baby sat her two cats for 8 months and still miss them but when she left I gave her the album of photos I had taken of the darlings.
I normally go to a local workshop but this year hasn’t worked out partly due to my lack of funds. I don’t drive and to get there and home requires a taxi and then the fee. But now I have a new bike I am hoping to get to the July one. Its nice to get out and be with others. I use to sell creative memories items so have so much stock. I also was told early on simple pages mean completed albums. I would rather put several photos on a page than have an elaborately decorated page with one photo. You can still be creative with simple pages. Am currently doing my trip to Canada.
I use to do cross stitch samplers as a wedding gift. Its something different and has a lot of love in it.
That’s awesome, Ausjenny!
That’s great!
I’m glad the Botox injections do help. I’m sure you do adjust, and it’s good you know what things to avoid completely so as not to be in too much pain.
Oh what a great idea to make that little album for your friends with the photos of their cats! I’m sure she loved that!
I hope you’re able to get to the July scrapbooking workshop. That sounds like a lot of fun!
Reading is my current favorite hobby since it’s easy on the body. I also love to quilt but I’m spending less time on it lately.
That’s wonderful that you quilt. I’ve always wished I knew how, but it looks so complicated!