next year...

For nearly a year now

a monthly feature on this blog

(and by far my favourite post each month)

has been my Me and Mine post.

A monthly photo of us as a family

and a bit about what we've loved that month.

It sounds so simple,

but in reality the simplest things

are often the bits most overlooked.

The Me and Mine project grew out of a New Years resolution that I made last year.

After discovering that in my daughter's first three months of life

we had managed to get only two photos of us all together,

neither of which were particularly great

I decided to challenge myself to get one photo each month for 2013.

It seemed pretty achievable 

to get 12 photos.

And I knew I'd be so pleased I had them at the end of the year.

I knew I'd probably blog them,

because that's what us bloggers tend to do;

we share what we're up to.

But sometime in mid January 

I wondered whether it might be something that other blogging mummies felt they would want to do.

I approached six of my favourite snap-happy mamas

and was utterly thrilled when they all said yes.

And the rest they say is history...!

I think I speak for Becky, Charlotte, Chloe, Katie, Lauren, Lucy and I

 when I say it's been a really fun and rewarding project.

We all really spur each other on,

and it's so nice to really share in something that we all feel so strongly about.

And it's been amazing seeing people join in month after month

and seeing how much they all really value the prompt to get a family photo each month.

I'm delighted to say that all seven of us will be back for Me and Mine 2014.

In fact I think at this point, it would be hard for any of us to stop.

It's pretty addictive once you get started,

and the stash of family photos I have from this year

(far far more than the 11 I originally thought I'd have at this point)

never fails to make me smile.

So on the last day of every month you'll find us proudly posting our family photos

and asking you if you want to join us.

But I'm always one for a challenge.

And photo challenges are my favourite sort of challenge.

And where my focus on family photos has increased this year,

I've been less good at getting snaps of my kids together.

So, having loved the monthly formula from Me and Mine

and knowing that blogging things means I definitely do them,

I approached some more of my favourite bloggers.

And would you believe it,

all 9 of them said yes!

Turns out lots of mamas feel pretty passionately about recording their children

and like a bit of challenge too.

And so Annie, Carie, Chloe, Jess, Hayley

Katie, Kelle, Keri-Anne, Lauren and I give you Siblings.

A challenge to photograph your children together once a month.

On the 10th of every month we'll all be hosting our own photos on our blogs

as well as the linky to enable anyone else to join in if they want to.

And we really would love you to join in with us.

But I am a total glutton for punishment

and also a big romantic,

I didn't think the children should get all the attention.

Plus next year is a big year for my husband and I

as we celebrate 10 years of being together

and 5 years of marriage.

So to mark a special year for us,

I thought a monthly couples project would be just lovely.

You can see where I'm heading next can't you....?

I emailed some lovely, lovely bloggers,

they said yes

and so Me and You was born.

Using the same format as Me and Mine, and Siblings,

Becky, Charlotte, Fritha, Kirsty, Lauren and I

(and our lovely other halves)

will posting on the 20th of each month.

A day dedicated to remembering what came before the babies.

None of these family photo projects are about amazing photos

- although I have learned so much about family photography this year

and am hoping to learn more next year -

these projects are about recording your family

just as they are

right now.

It's not about waiting for the perfect day,

or waiting until you've lost a bit of weight,

or got a bit better at photography.

It's about knowing that in the future

you will want to be able to look back at these days 

and remember exactly how you were, together.

And one final thing,

while I'm talking about projects for next year

and all things photography,

well there is a brand spanking new site

that you need to check out

called I Heart Snapping.

I've been working hard with Katie and Hayley

to bring this exciting project together

and we want it to be the go-to-place for all things family photography.

So please check it out

and get involved with what we'll have going on over the coming months.