Want to take a photo a week?

My camera has been in my bag for a while. To be honest, it's a pretty nice bag, so it has been very happy in there, but I am acutely aware that it's there.

I missed a lot of photo opportunities over Christmas - I didn't get the sparkly tree bokeh of the perfect cookie making shot.

I've been feeling the pressure.

I did a photo-a-day challenge a few years back and I got some awesome photos.  My photography skills improved immensely and the images from that year are some of my favourite, but it really started to stress me out.  I would come home at 630pm from a day at work and still try to hit my theme for the day. I loved the result, but I felt that the pressure to participate took away from other elements of my day.

Left to my own devices, I still took some shots that I loved, but gradually the number dimished and I lost a bit of mental focus.

Last year, I didn't take that many shots at all (well...that I actually kept!)

My instagram feature page @lifewellcaptured was born from a desire to encourage you to keep your camera with you, and capture some images of your life that you love.  It's been great, and you have been a big inspiration to me.  This year though, we have decided to add a bit more focus to it with weekly themes.

I feel like because a theme a week is only 52 photos it should be do-able.  If this were the film days (anyone else remember them?) it would only be 2 rolls of 36, with space for a few dodgy shots!

I am hoping that a theme a week will give me focus without stress, and I hope it does the same for you.

Follow along with the themes on @lifewellcaptured and use the weekly theme (which this week is #lwc_new ) But if you don't feel that the theme fits, then pick up your camera and share your current viewpoint using the tag #lifewellcaptured.  In the end, you will be the winner just by picking up the camera and capturing those precious moments of 2017 which will not come round again.

I look forward to seeing what you share!

​Emma